Page 67 of Memphis

She smiled. “Neither am I. I’m merely a woman who believes in protecting what’s hers.”

“The only thing you care about protecting is your money, or rather, your access tomyhusband’smoney. That, plus your little ego.”

“Touché. I do care about my family, too, you know? I love your husband, no matter what he might have told you.”

“Lady, he ain’t had to tell me a got damn thing. I’ve seen you in action, remember?”

“That…at the time, I believed his feelings for you would cloud his judgement. Bo was always so methodical. I’d never seen him like he was with you. I knew he’d give you anything.”

“And he did. Sucks for you.”

“No, I think you’re an excellent choice to run The Agency with him.”

“Mm-hmm.” I lowered my voice and added, “If I find out you had anything to do with this, I’ma fuck you all the way up, and then I’ll fuck Zaccai up for good measure. Get away from me andstayaway from me. When they call for visitors, do not get your old ass up. You can see him when I leave.”

She blinked a few more times before leaving just as Ray returned.

“You good?” he asked as he reclaimed his seat.

“I’m fucking perfect.”

“Aw, shit. You ready for war for real.”

“Yep. I just need to see him, and then we can get to work. The first thing I need to know is where the fuck his security is. Their base is across the street from our house. The split level one with the gray door.”

“I can put the Gutierrez twins on that right now.”

“Good. I’ll get in touch with my team, too.”

An hour later,I was informed that Bo could have visitors. When I saw his family members stand and begin walking towardme, I shot them a look that made them stop in their tracks. Ray went with me but hung outside the room while I entered it.

Bo’s eyes were closed, and I took a minute to observe the monitors, IV poles, and IV bags. There was also a bag of blood. He was off the ventilator, but still, there were so many contraptions and tubes attached to him. I hated seeing his wicked ass like this. It would’ve broken my heart if I wasn’t so damn angry.

His eyes popped open and quickly found me as if he’d sensed my presence. Emotion filled them as he visually surveyed me.

“I wasn’t hit. I’m fine,” I assured him.

He nodded, squeezing his eyes shut. “Come here, baby,” he said, his voice weak and raspy.

I did, grasping his hand. In turn, he used his free hand to beckon me closer, and I lowered my head so that my lips nearly met his.

“You sure you okay?” he whispered.

“Physically, yes. Mentally? That’s another story.”

“You ready to fuck somebody up. I can see it on your face.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“My security?”

“I don’t know what happened to them…yet.”

He nodded.

“Hey, I don’t want you to worry about that. Just get better.”

“Look through the database. Get 75GL for backup. You can trust him. I don’t…” he stopped, shutting his eyes for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was weaker. “I don’t want you out there alone. Somebody gotta have your back.”

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