Page 18 of Memphis

My eyes were still wide as I said, “Yes, my dad got me one just like it before I left for college. I hardly use it, though.”

“Right. Um…can I ask you something?” he questioned, his voice suddenly timid.

I nodded.

“Do you…you got a man?”

My heart jolted as I answered him. “Not right now.”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin. “Good to know.”

11

Now…

“Itold you I don’t need you. I’ll holler at you when I do,” I said, moving to close my front door.

Moody blocked the door with his huge ass foot. “I know. Your moms didn’t get the memo, though. She sent me over here.”

“Okay, report back that you came, and I told you to leave.”

“C’mon, man. You gotta call her or something, let her know I followed orders. She ain’t just gonna take my word for it.”

“I’myour boss, not her.”

He shrugged. “She’s my boss’s mother. She gon’ always pull rank as far as I’m concerned.”

“I should fire your ass.”

Again, he shrugged. He knew his job was safe since he’d been working for the company since I was a kid. Still, my mother using him to try and micromanage my life pissed me off. I’d sacrificed a lot for the family and The Agency, but I wasn’t sacrificing Memphis, and her trying to make me keep using security was a part of that. It wasn’t just about my safety. It was about control, and she could hang that up. I honestly didn’t understand why she was still trying that shit with me.

“Just… hold on a minute,” I said, lifting the phone I held in one hand. My gun was in the other. Before I could place a call to my mother, one from Memphis came in. I’d let her leave the house to meet with her team, so I wasn’t going to miss talking to her.

Turning my back to Moody, I answered it with, “What’s up, King?”

“Why you whispering? Your wife over there or something?” she replied.

“Don’t play with me,” I grunted.

“I’m not playing with you. Did you not marry her?”

“Did I not divorce her?”

“That’s what you say…”

“So, you don’t believe me now? Wait, are you jealous of Layla?”

“Why in the fuck would I be jealous of her? I’m actually pissed you two broke up. I liked that she took your attention off me.”

I chuckled bitterly. “Nobody could ever do that, and you know it.”

“You make it sound like you’re obsessed with me. That’s unhealthy; you know that, right?”

“Might be unhealthy, but it’s true, and ain’t shit I can do about it.”

“Whatever. I was just calling to see if you plan on feeding me tonight or if I need to grab something before I come…before I return.”

I grinned. “You almost said ‘come home,’ didn’t you?”

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