Page 26 of Memphis

“You nervous or something?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Hell no! Why wouldIbe nervous?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you think one of your other niggas might be in there, and of course, in that case, I’ma have to kill them.”

“Did I kill your wife?”

“I didn’t expect you to. I’m the only one of the two of us who’s in love…right?”

“Correct, but maybe I would kill her just to hurt you,” she posed, her right eyebrow arched.

“Now, you know that wouldn’t hurt me. Someone wants to mess my head up, let them touchyou. I’ll fuck everything and anything up over you.”

She chuckled bitterly. “Riiiight…you gonna get the door or what?”

I climbed out the vehicle, noting Moody’s car parked behind mine as I walked around to her door.

He guidedme into the building, his hand on the small of my back, his body heat and scent making me more than a little woozy. The history between us made being with him both nostalgic and heartbreaking. He was my first love, and the worst thing about that was he knew it.

As we were greeted by the hostess, who was eyeing him like he was a brand-new Birkin, he let his hand drop to my waist, pulling my body into his.

“Pierce,” he said, his voice as commanding as ever.

The hostess dropped her gaze to a bundle of papers that lay on the podium before her, quickly jerking her head back up. With wide eyes, she said, “Yes, Mr. Pierce! So good to have you with us tonight. Let me show you to your table.”

Bo grasped my hand as we followed her into the massive space teeming with elegantly dressed brown bodies. Several people greeted Bo as we threaded our way through the maze of round tables to our own. Others may not have spoken to him,but their eyes were on him. They had to feel it, that pull he had, that invisible but absolutely undeniable magnetism that allowed him to own any room he entered.

Once we were seated, I fixed my eyes on him.

When he finally looked at me, he smiled. “I’m known for giving great gifts.”

I shifted my gaze to our surroundings and smirked, knowing that wasn’t the truth. The truth was he oozed power and anyone with a pulse could feel it. “Oh, really? That’s it?” I questioned.

Leaning in close to my ear, he murmured, “Nah, it’s you. They’ve never seen a woman so beautiful, so fucking fine. They want you, baby.”

I turned my head, frowning as he stared at me. “Everybody, Bo? Theyallwant me?”

He nodded, licking his lips. “All of them. I hope I don’t have to kill anyone tonight.”

Shaking my head, I said, “There you go, tryna act like this thing between us is real.”

With a peaked eyebrow, he replied, “This thing between us isextremelyreal to me. I love you. I have loved you from afar for damn near three decades. I dreamed of being with you again. If I had one goal in my life, it was you. You’re everything to me, King.”

There was sincerity in his eyes and his voice, but I couldn’t let myself accept his words. That would be dangerous.

“Stop,” I hissed. “I’m willing to play this little game with you for the sake of my sister, but we’re not going to pretend this is some star-crossed lovers shit. You didn’t choose me when you should’ve. Nothing will change that.”

He had the nerve to look hurt, so I gritted, “Fix your damn face.”

His eyes flashed before he grasped my chin, pulling my face so close to his that his lips touched mine as he spoke.

“You don’t get to tell me how I feel. You don’t get to rewrite history. I love you whether you fucking like it or not. This shit between us is real, whether you like it or not, and I’ve always,alwayschosen you…whether you believe it or not.” His voice was a low growl.

Oh, so I’d pissed him off, huh?

“Fuck. You,” I rebutted, my words slow and deliberate. “Fuck you and your declarations and lies and bullshit.”

Before he could respond, a voice said, “Rochelle? I thought that was you! Been a long time!”

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