lyn

eed tonight is to

h and the way their hands hover near their w

dent. The rain started twenty minutes ago(the kind of Lagos downpour that turns roads into rivers

g closer. His breath smells like cheap gin

to walk around them. "Plea

other one laughs. "We j

t to talk don't corner women in

. There's a woman who sells suya two corners back,if

ng Mama's medication today, my purse has exactly two h

t money?" The tall o

d slam into so

adying me. A voice, deep and surpr

boys

k up at my acc

s somehow stayed dry despite the rain. His face is all sharp angles: strong jaw, high cheekb

t makes the three men suddenly

boss," the tall one says, bu

ill on my shoulders. "The lady clearly wants to go

we don't

n smiles. It's n

ation. The kind that ends with you explainin

or the rain drumm

culation happens. Whatever they see in this stran

one mutters, already bac

in-soaked night like roach

ath I didn't kno

rs, and immediately I miss their ste

t gym membership isn't his only form of exercise. His hair is cut low, neat. Gold chain glints at his neck(expen

kay?"

voice shakes slightly

eet where the men vanished. "It's not

e a choice.

he

y. "Three stre

walk

ly don't

me and the street. "I just scared off three men who wan

ority mixed with genuine care that

. I study him from the corner of my eye. He walks like someone who

name?" he a

lyn.

owly, like he's memo

ly. I don't know what

He glances at me. "You d

in Victoria Island, b

sounds thoughtful. "

hours total." I hug my bag tighter. "

do y

dgment, the subtle dismissal that al

esn't

r than most of the jobs where people s

t him, s

this time, warm and slightly crooked).

peop

help me across. His palm is calloused, warm despite the rain. "I respect p

hind that statemen

ar sight of our weathered building

he second floor, where a dim bulb fl

with an expression I can

." I pull out my keys. "Thank you aga

m his face. "Just promise me you'll be more careful. Tak

are exp

ens. "Your safety is

ney, I think, but his eyes a

ll

s into his pocket and pulls out a card(simple, black, with just a phone n

he expensive weight of it

"Someone who doesn't like s

before I can press, a voice c

n! Tha

ids wrapped in a silk scarf. He

I called back.

s already stepping away, melt

-" I

es his face, highlighting the scar, the strong

This city is beautiful, but it eats

aring around the corner

ring after him, the blac

rance. "Come inside before you catc

Two men in two days. Two impossibly differe

h his corporate tower

last name, just "Rico" and a number with

and what's happ

beans. She looks better than yesterday(color back in her cheeks)but

I scolded, dropping my bag an

s mildly. "Salie, bring a towel fo

es are bright with curiosity. "Sister

hair roughly. "Some men were bothering

over the beans. "

ing their luck." I force lightness into my

ss. Evelyn, I have told you that your worki

er than anything I'll find here." I sit beside her, helping sort b

uiet. "That man(the one who paid

ocus on the beans, picking o

aira for stranger hospital bills," Mama sa

. He said he w

st be careful, my daughter. When big men do big things, they alway

Because she's right, isn't she? In my experi

the car, his steady voice telling me to br

now what

careful,"

V(an ancient thing that only gets three channels and some Nollyw

one b

"Did you make

now that direct ton

terling. Thank

be ready tomorrow. I've asked them to send me a copy

't have to d

g to anyway. Get some rest,

e at my phone, at his name-

t man? Sister, what is happening? First that dangerous-lookin

siness." But I'm smi

n't want me,they want... I do

at I took from his office, and Rico's myster

nds, of expensive cologne and rain-soaked stree

up co