Page 19 of Love Letters From Memphis

Yandi chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, okay. If you say so. Listen, that Gabriel brother that’s locked up… Igotsto have him. The connections I could get being associated with this family alone would make this worth it for me.”

“Gabriel? What was his first name?”

“Noah. The dark-skinned cutie that favors Trevante Rhodes.”

“Oh yeah, now he was fine as hell. He looked a little bit too rough for me though.”

“That’s just my type! Hopefully, we can get some conjugal visits without being married. He looks like he got that heavy dick. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water. Mm!”

Lei doubled over in her seat as she laughed heartily, because she knew Yandi was telling the truth. If there was a way for her to sneak inside the jail for some sex, Yandi would do it with no hesitation. Lei admired how liberated Yandi was sexually, because she had always been a bit more reserved. While Lei had no problem becoming intimate with a man she deemed worthy, it was never as casual as it was with Yandi. Even with her not being in a serious relationship for years, she still took her time getting to know men and trying to build some kind of secure bond before giving herself to them.

“Girl, if you don’t stop. Them people are not going to let you have a conjugal visit if y’all aren’t married.”

“You never know until you try, and if we match, I’m definitely going to try.”

“I believe you,” Lei said before chuckling and taking a sip of her cocktail. She hated to admit it, but Londen Graham had her feeling the same way. As soon as his profile picture popped up, Lei squeezed her thighs together and bit down on her bottom lip. The physical reaction she had to him made her want to skip his profile, but her fingers had a mind of their own. They moved her mouse until it hovered overMatchand clicked it. “I’m going to see if Mercedes has matched with anyone yet. Hopefully, we don’t pick the same guys.”

“I know, right? That could get messy.”

“I don’t think so. Mercedes is actively dating but I’m not. If she wants someone that I match with, I don’t mind unmatching him.”

Yandi sucked her teeth. “Fuck that. It’s every woman for themselves. You got six figures on the line, just like she does. Don’t make it any easier for Lexus to get that money off you.”

Lei didn’t bother to reply. She wasn’t hard pressed financially, so this bet wouldn’t change her at her core. If she didn’t have the money to blow, she wouldn’t have agreed. No man or amount of money would cause her to treat Mercedes or anyone else poorly for that matter. This was one of the times Yandi showed just how out for self being in survival made her. While Lei would always respect the honesty of it, that was a character trait that made her look at her friend a little differently.

twelve

Each timehe lifted the weights and felt them hover over his chest, Londen coached himself to go harder. For some reason, he allowed Noah to talk him into adding an extra fifty pounds to bench press, but Noah refused to be defeated. Even if it felt like his arms were about to break, he’d finish his set.

“Let’s go, brotha. It ain’t on you, it’s in you. Show these niggas why you the beast.”

Noah slapped the beast tattoo that was on Londen’s neck, causing him to release a growl and push his way through the rest of the reps in the set. As soon as he lifted the last one, Londen stood, hopping on the tips of his toes as he beat his chest.

“That’s my nigga.” Noah grinned as they shook hands and embraced.

“You got next?” Londen checked, and even though Noah replied, their attention shifted to a guard as he called Londen’s name. “Yeah?”

“Warden wants you.”

Londen had never been one to wear his thoughts and emotions on his face—that was one of the rules his OGs had taught him young. With one bob of his head, Londen followed the guard, lips lifting upward at the sound of Noah telling the guard not to try no funny shit. Even without the warning, Londen wasn’t concerned about that. Though he was locked up, he wasn’t imprisoned byanything. Both he and Noah ran the institution with their money, power, and respect. There wasn’t anything Londen couldn’t do besides walk out of those doors toward freedom.

The walk from the outside workout area to the warden’s office seemed to take forever. As soon as Londen stepped inside, his eyes scanned the small square space—tan walls with a few degrees on them, a dark brown, chipped desk set right in the middle of the room, short metal storage containers were on the far-right wall, and there was a gray fan with dust buildup blowing right in front of the warden’s desk.

“You can wait outside,” Bloom instructed, dismissing the guard with a wave of his hand.

“What’s this about?” Londen questioned, cupping his hands in the center of himself.

Bloom waited until the guard closed the door behind him to hand Londen his cell phone. Londen looked down at it before accepting it, and the sight of Lew on the screen made his heart drop. If Ace Lew was calling to speak to him, something wasn’t right. They’d agreed when Londen started his sentence almost ten years ago that it was best if they removed all forms of communication and connection. The only thing Londen cared about was receiving that payment from Ace January first of every year. As long as that happened, Londen was good.

“Yeah?” Londen spoke, turning his back to Bloom.

“My daughter has joined the pen pal program. Get ears in place to make sure I can get intel on who these men are that she connects with. I don’t want her dealing with anyone that ain’t damn near Jesus in that motherfucker.”

As amused as Londen was by Ace’s tone and words, he was stuck on the fact that he said his daughter. Last Londen knew, through rumors alone, Ace’s daughter had been kidnapped at birth. Did this mean she returned?

“Daughter?” Londen repeated. “She’s older than nine, right?”

Ace chuckled. “Yeah, she’s thirty-five. It’s Lei. My baby girl… She’s been back with us for ten years now.”

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