Page 7 of Memphis

“Ihavebeen home…at my apartment. You wanna see me, you know the got damn address.”

He shook his head, releasing a bitter chuckle. “We’ve talked about this. I want you inmyhome, inmybed every night you’re not working.”

“We didn’t talk about a fucking thing. You said that shit and I ignored it because you don’t give me orders!”

“Nice to finally see Lilith in the flesh. She looks happy. She’s pretty, too. So is Umber. But you? Oh, baby…you’re exquisite. I’m so proud to call you mine.”

“Are you threatening my sister? You tryna go back on your word?”

“No, I’ve kept my word. Your sister is safe. Your brother-in-law left The Agency with no backlash or consequences. He’s walking free with intimate knowledge of the inner workings of my organization. You are still working. You made those demands. I only made one: I get my woman back,allof her. I have let this shit go for over two fucking years because that pussy you kept from me for far too long got a little mind control over me. I can admit that.” He lifted a hand, placing it on my cheek. “But now, your time is up, my love.”

I knocked his hand off my face. “Stop calling me that shit.”

“Nope.”

“You are a real piece of excrement, Bo Pierce.”

“I know, but you like it.”

“The fuck I do! Listen, I’ll spend three nights a week at your house. Final offer.”

He slowly shook his head again. “Everynight unless you’re on an assignment.”

“I could kill you, grab my gun while you’re asleep and blow your fucking brains out.”

“You could…but you won’t.”

“I could kill your right now.”

“You’re not gonna do that, either,” he said, grasping my chin with one hand and planting a kiss on my lips. “Every night, King. I want your scent on my sheets, I want your body against mine, and I want that pussy on demand. Come home.”

I hated when he touched me, when any part of his skin met mine. It was like there was a potion in his pores that made ithard for me to think. His touch, so fucking familiar, was like acid to my resolve.

“Fine. Will you go now?”

“I don’t get to meet the fam, baby?”

“Hell the-fuck no!”

He grinned and was leaning in to kiss me again when a voice broke us apart.

“The hell you out here kissing a man like you sneaking or something for? Bring yo’ mean self back in here so I can meet the man who got enough nerve to date you,” my father yelled from the front door.

Shit.

Her family was…eclectic.They were nice people, nicer than what I imagined she’d come from. Not that my love was evil, she was just not…nice.

“Well, Memphis. You gon’ introduce your fellow?” her father boomed. The older man was big but smaller than I’d seen in past photos. He looked good for a septuagenarian.

Looking up from her plate at the huge table, Memphis said, “Oh, yeah…everybody, this is Mephibosheth Pierce. Mephibosheth, this is my family—my sisters, dad, stepmom or…moms?”

Oh, she was playing dirty as hell giving them my actual name.

Okay.

Bet.

The patriarch nodded. “That’s right, my Candy is back from seeing the world!”

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