Page 140 of Dagger

“You trust me?” I asked, dipping my chin.

“More than anyone,” she whispered.

My hand raised to cup her jaw. “When this is over, we get serious. I wanna spend all our time together, doin’ all the stuff we missed out on; maybe go on vacation to a beach somewhere. I need to get Bear and Henderson outta the way, so I need all my focus to do that. But there’ll be a break in the clouds soon, Leesy. Sun’s gonna shine all the good shit down on us. You ready for it?”

She burrowed her cheek into my hand. “I can’t wait.”

My eyes fixated on her soft, pink, pillowy bottom lip, and I swiped my thumb across it. “That’s my girl.”

Her pretty greens lowered to stare at my mouth, and slowly, like a magnet pulling in both directions, our faces moved closer.

Her jasmine scent enveloped me, and my heart swelled in recognition.

This was my Leesy, my beautiful girl. Somehow, we’d gravitated back together, and my soul sang with our closeness.I’d been starved of her for so long; having her back like this made me goddamned giddy.

Our lips were so close I could feel the warmth of her soft breaths. The air around us enveloped me like a warm hug. It was natural, so right, and so us that my gut settled just for having her in my arms, the same way it did more than thirty years before on that beautiful night in San Diego—the last time we were this close.

Our lips touched, and she sighed against my skin; then suddenly, my door flew open, and a loud—and angry—voice boomed, “What the fuck’s goin’ on here?”

We jumped apart as if an explosion had been set off.

“Aren’t you a bit old to be makin’ out in cars?” the same voice demanded.

Slowly, I closed my eyes and heaved a breath before craning my neck and glaring at Atlas. “Speak for your fuckin’ self, asshole.”

“You got nearly twenty years on me,” he muttered, his face twisting. Black eyes slashed angrily toward Elise. “What goddamned time do you call this, young lady?”

She let out a squeak like she was trying not to giggle. “Five-ish?” she sassed.

One bushy black eyebrow cocked. “You givin’ me lip?”

She winced. “Maybe a little. But if you hadn’t interrupted and got all growly, I’d be giving John lip right about now.”

I let out a snort.

Atlas’s mouth thinned, then folded his beefy arms across his wide chest. “Stitch is inside. Needs you to watch Reno while she grabs an hour’a shut-eye.”

Elise’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?”

An innocent look stole over my SAA’s face. “Would I lie to you?”

Elise’s lips twisted. “Hmm.” She turned to me. “I better go inside.”

Leaning forward, I tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek, murmuring, “Thanks for a good night, baby.”

She beamed. “I’m the one who should be saying thank you.” She turned toward the door.

“Wait!” I ordered.

Leesy’s head whipped around to face me. “What?”

I threw my door open, jumped down from Bessie, and rounded the hood. Then, grabbing the handle to Leesy’s door, I pulled it open and offered her my hand.

Atlas held his hand to his mouth and coughed, “Suck up.”

I helped Leesy down and turned to my brother. “Have you got nothin’ better to do than stand there yankin’ my goddamned chain?” I slid an arm around my woman’s shoulders.

He pondered that for a minute. “I can honestly say, no, I haven’t, and anyway, who gave you permission to take my ma out until five A-fuckin’-M?” He leaned forward, getting in my face. “You, Prez, are skatin’ on thin ice. Me and my ol’ lady are still discussin’ if you’re worthy. Until we come to an agreement, my ma’s off-limits to you.”

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