Page 47 of Memphis

“But you reassigned her hit!”

“Yeah, I did. To me! It was my way of working around the systems built into the company. You know all cases that aren’t handled in a timely manner automatically get reassigned.I preempted that. Then, I put out the word that she was off limits…before you asked me to.”

“You…what? I don’t believe it.”

“I can prove it. I can show you the database, the records, everything I have access to. I can give you the fucking passwords and you can see it all. Hell, it’s all yours anyway…wife.”

The first tear fell unbidden, the ones that followed, too. The only thing I did purposely was kiss him, fall into his arms, and utter words that had been bottled up inside me for damn near three decades.

“I love you,” I whispered.

This man actually gasped as he squeezed my body so tightly, I was sure I’d be sore later. “I love you too damn much, King.Too damn much.The negotiating was fucked up and I know it, but I would’ve done anything to get us to where we are now. My bad on that shit, though. For real.”

“I know. I believe you, and I’m glad we’re together. I’m glad. I’m…happy.”

“Me, too, baby. Me, too.”

25

The only appropriate soundtrack for the first few days after we returned from our honeymoon would be Soul II Soul’sBack to Life. I touched base with Jerryn and Montana so we could finally go over what went wrong with the Mexico job and how we could avoid it in the future. Jerryn was upset that his source was late with the info about thesenator’s partners, and Montana apologized for not seeing it coming, although that really wasn’t her job. With that handled, I arranged for my laundry service to pick up my clothes and gave Bo’s chef a tour of my kitchen. I also called and checked in with my family. Additionally, I spent hours arguing with Bo about a bodyguard he’d hired for me.

For me!

I didn’t need a damn bodyguard! I was a whole-ass killer!

Two weeks after we’d returned home, we still hadn’t reached an agreement on it. So, when he came to me, eyes serious and determined, I just knew we were about to resume the argument.

“Bo, I don’t give a fuck what you say—” I began.

He dropped onto the sofa next to me and sighed as he interrupted me. “I’m not trying to argue about that anymore. I need to show you something.”

“What?” I snapped.

“You gotta be mean all the time? Damn!”

“Gotta keep my guard up because you might be showing me a picture of your side chick or something.” I was kind of kidding and kind of serious at the same time. Yeah, he got on my nerves, but he was only allowed to annoy me, no one else.

“I’m not even entertaining that dumb shit. Let me see your hand.”

I frowned as I held my hand out to him and watched him turn it so that the palm was facing the ceiling. In it, he placed a key and what I recognized to be an external hard drive device.

My eyes rushed from my hand to his face. “What is this?”

“The keys to the kingdom. You’re my wife, my partner. No more working in the field for you. You’re gonna run this shit with me.”

26

Receiving the keys to the kingdom, The Agency, involved a field trip to a warehouse found on the outskirts of town. It was off an access road and hidden behind miles of trees. The driveway consisted of barely visible ruts in the overgrown grass and weeds, but the façade looked shiny and new, metal and steel bearing a severe contrast to therustic landscape surrounding it. He pulled to a stop in front of the heavy-looking stark white metal door. His usually unseen security pulled in right behind us. I supposed it was impossible to be stealth out here.

Bo retrieved his cell from the center console of his car, gripping it in his hand as he began to speak. “I’m sorry about what happened…before. I know I’ve already apologized, but I don’t think I can apologize enough,” he said, his eyes focused out the windshield.

“Then look at me and say it,” I challenged.

He chuckled as his eyes met mine. “So fucking mean…”

“And you love it.”

“I do.” He leaned in and kissed me, adding, “I’m sorry. I wish none of it happened.”

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