Page 4 of Memphis

“And how the hell am I leaving this place? You fucked up my clothes,” I fussed.

“I’ll get someone to bring you some got damn clothes. Now, shut up so I can finish fucking you. Shit!”

I did shut up, but not because he told me to. I shut up because I’d accomplished my mission and thwarted whatever declaration of affection his stupid ass was about to make.

Plus, the dick was good.

Shidddd, it was excellent!

2

“Hello?” I said into the phone as I stepped out of the elevator. “Lil?”

“Why haven’t you been answering your phone? I tried to reach you last night and earlier this morning!” was how my sister replied. “I thought I was gonna have to send Ray outto find you or something! You know you’re supposed to let me know when you get back in town!”

Ever since myyoungersister, Lilith, found out about my profession, she had turned into a damn mother hen or something.

“Lilith, you do realize I’m an adult and I’ve been doing my job for literal decades, don’t you?”

“Whatever. How was your trip?”

“Great. I’m excited to add new products to our offerings at theFaceCard by Memphis King Day Spa.”

She was silent, but she knew better. We were on the damn phone! I wasn’t about to tell her shit about my trip over the phone.

“What was so urgent? I know you weren’t just calling to ask about my trip,” I continued.

“Oh! I wanted to remind you of the little get together Daddy invited us to. You know we gotta do it potluck-style since Pauline isn’t around to do the cooking. Do you know what you’re bringing?”

“Something store or restaurant bought, that’s for damn sure.”

“I figured as much.”

I made it down the hall to my apartment to see my front door slightly ajar, and as I reached into the back waistband of the leather pants Bo had bought me and grabbed my gun, I told my sister, “Hey, I gotta go. I’ll call you back,” and ended the call. Easing the door open, I held the gun up, letting it lead me into my home, and rolled my eyes when I saw Jerryn sitting on the sofa, his long legs stretched out before him.

“You get on my fucking nerves,” I gritted as I shut and locked the door.

He smiled. “Just showing you I was right, like I usually am. Security is too lax in this building.”

Rolling my eyesagain, I stated, “Security knows you, negro.That’show you got up here.”

“Right, but I could be a clone, an imposter.”

I stared at him for a moment before saying, “How you can manage to be a goofy ass and a genius at the same time is actually astonishing, and why are you here? I gave you a key to use in case of an emergency.”

“Thisisan emergency…of course.”

My stomach popped, dropped, and locked it, but my voice was calm and steady as I asked, “What emergency?” Had we made some mistake during the last job? Hell no! We didn’t make mistakes.

“Montana and I are concerned about our Raja.”

Raja, Swahili for King. My hacker, Montana—not her real name—had given me that nickname. Speaking of my favorite hacker…

“Montana can speak for herself, and why would either of you be concerned about me?” I asked.

“You froze.”

Sighing heavily, I dropped into an accent chair, placing my cell and small handbag on the little table beside me. “I didn’t fucking freeze. Ineverfreeze.”

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