Page 78 of The Prodigy

“You shot him?”

He smiled. “Let’s just say it was quick, and we didn’t make him suffer.”

I sat silently while my mind raced. Not because I’d just found out my husband was a double-murderer. I was reeling because itdidn’t bother me. Not even a little bit. It actually kinda turned me on.

Was this what my father was so worried about? And Dario? That I’d be corrupted? I mean, I still felt like the same old me, but maybe they were right. My thoughts were starting to change, and that was kinda scary.

“Why you wanna know me so bad?” He stared at me intently. Goosebumps prickled on my skin.

“Because,” I said. “You’re my husband. Technically.”

“You like me, huh?” He smirked. “That dick got you choosin’.”

“We’re already married, stupid. And you choseforme.”

He laughed. “It’s all good. I can admit your pussy got me choosin’. You caught a nigga off guard with that shit, for real.”

“Okay, so we both liked it. What happens next?”

“First off, I didn’t just like it. I loved it. And as far as next goes, I guess we just…keep doing what we been doing.”

I nodded. “How would you feel about me being a Windermere?”

His brows creased. “You mean like…changing your name?”

“Yeah. Is that too much?” I waited expectantly, pretending it didn’t matter and I didn’t care, when in reality, I very much wanted him to want me to do this.

“Nah. That ain’t too much. I mean, not if that’s what you want.”

Knowing him a little now, I knew that was the closest I would get to a clear and obvious approval.

“I know we haven’t talked about where we are relationship-wise, but it just feels right to me.”

He nodded. “It feels right to me, too.”

“And not that I’m saying we have to stay together.”

“Right, I know. I was thinking the same thing. It don’t really mean anything.”

“Right. So we’re on the same page then. That’s cool.”

“Yeah.”

Awkward silence filled the air.

“So what are you working on?”

He sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Numbers. Which I fucking hate.”

“Don’t you have somebody to do that for you?”

“Yeah, but that don’t mean shit. My daddy always checked behind the number man. You can’t trust nobody.”

“You can trust me.”

He stared at me, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You tryna be part of this?”

“Maybe?”

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