Page 141 of Possession

“Yes. Your highest score was in math.” I look up at him. “I’m totally taking credit for that, by the way. I quizzed you for days. Then Science.”

“What about the other sections?” he presses.

“Do you want to see for yourself? You passed, Rocco. Every section.” I look over the screen at his surprised eyes. “But there’s more.”

He frowns. “What do you mean more?”

“There are levels. Pass, college ready, and college ready plus. You’re right on the line for college ready and college ready plus. And you’re really high in math.” I slam the laptop shut and lean forward. “You’re so smart and have no clue what you’re capable of. Maybe I should be your mom.”

He stands and cracks his neck before doing the same to his knuckles. “No fucking way. I don’t need my friends giving me shit about you being a MILF.”

I look up at him. “I feel like a mom. At the very least, a big sister. I’m so proud of you.”

“You know what this means, right?” Rocco bites.

I find it hard to swallow over the lump in my throat. I have no idea what will happen to Rocco in two days. I want to pack him up and take him with us. Brax assured me he’s done everything he can to make sure Rocco would have options, but he’s a man. It’s on him, and he has to make the right choices.

I shake my head and clear my throat. “What does this mean?”

“It means Boz is going to make me keep taking these damn accounting classes.”

Tears prick my eyes. I can only squeeze out one word while holding my emotions together. “Probably.”

He flops on the sofa next to me. “At least I have three meals a day while I’m here, right?”

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

“Family dinner tonight.” I try not to think about how it will be one of our last.

“Cool,” he says, but doesn’t ask what’s for dinner. He doesn’t care. Eating three meals a day is a luxury for him.

I want to give him something else to focus on. “You want to turn on a movie?”

He reaches forward and plucks the remote off the coffee table. “Yeah, but I get to pick. I’m the one who’s college ready plus.”

I shoot him a smile and do everything I can to control myself, so I try for a joke, but it comes out lame. “Anything but porn.”

He gapes. “You think I’d watch porn with you?”

It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “I was joking.”

“First of all, no. Don’t joke about that. And second of all, do I look like I have a death wish? Boz would literally kill me.”

Well, after what I learned this afternoon, it wouldn’t be the first time.

32

PLEASURE

Brax

Cartel members are simply refined drug dealers.

But not by a lot.

They might think they’ve leveled up, but they have no clue. They don’t spend months running drills, or hours upon hours at the range, or train for tactical maneuvers.

---