Page 76 of Real's Love

She looked over her shoulder at me. “Actually, you did at some point. You want me to believe the real estate thing, but you show up here with three guys who look ready to burn everything and everybody to the ground. And you were vague about what Aaqil is so envious of. So, yeah, you lying, but you wanna act like I’m the one on some spy shit. Boy, gon’.”

She scoffed and I had to hide my smile. Yeah, she was right. Her little worrisome ass was too smart for her own good and this version of her with the attitude and the fly mouth was sexy as fuck. Spy shit or not, something was up with Everly Love Miller, and I was just the nigga to find out what it was.

What the fuckkinda country hell had Real brought us to?

I had wondered that since we got off the plane and stepped into one of the darkly tinted SUVs he'd gotten for us. Apparently, we had a spot in a little city called Ruston, but his lady was further out in the country. A blur of pine trees, two-lane "highways," and small ponds and lakes passed us by as I drove, my unusually quiet friend in the passenger seat, Juvie and Markel in an identical SUV behind us. When I finally pulled up to what he called the “Miller Homestead,” my opinion dropped even more. The houses and trees, and the little I could see of a pond were beautiful. But it was a security nightmare. Multiple houses, land as far as I could see, and not one tower or anything I could spot except a security fence to protect it all. There was a gated entry to the property, staffed only by one person. A small sign hung above it with what looked like a ranching symbol and their name. I frowned at how cutesy the shit was. Country life must be making Prime soft.

I was doubtful even as Prime and some of his crew rose from their seats on the big, wraparound porch of the main house, a rambling yellow structure with green shutters that looked like it came out of a kids' story.

"She in there?" Real asked as we climbed the porch steps.

Prime nodded. "So is my wife. Don't make me kill you, Real."

Real laughed lowly. "Only problems I want are with Evanie... Everly," he corrected, his face looking bitter.

"Not too much," Prime warned.

"Preciate you looking out, but she's mine to deal with," Real asserted, his eyes on Prime's.

They stared at each other for a long minute before Prime finally nodded.

Seconds later, we were through the front door and into a huge living room with laughing, half-dressed, pretty women. Now, I was there to watch my friend and business partner's back. I trusted his judgment so much that I had killed for him and vice versa. He would give his life for me, and I'd gladly return the favor. But I forgot all about him when my eyes landed onher.

She wasn't laughing or dancing or yelling like the other women. Her beautiful face sported a small smile as she watched them, but she was curled up in a chair that swallowed her short frame, arms wrapped around her legs as she watched.

Real and his girl had words as the room got quiet and then buzzed with the women's smart remarks and threats. I heard Prime settling them down and realized Everly had led Real somewhere, but my eyes were still stuck on this shorty in her light blue tank top and pajama pants. She was looking at me, and a lot of things played across her face. Curiosity. Interest. Discomfort. Fear. The last two were unacceptable and I was about to say something when she jumped up.

"I should start breakfast," she announced before damn near running out of the room.

She took all the oxygen and light with her. That's what it felt like, like I was going to suffocate if I didn't get back in her presence fucking ASAP.

"Well, Everly got the other one. What's yo' name, Big Sexy?" a pretty woman with fake blonde hair and a real smile asked me.

"Targen," I bit out, not wanting to be rude, but not interested in anything except getting toher.

"Well... Targen, you must be thirsty after that long trip. Would you like some water?" a younger woman with a head full of locs and a septum ring asked me.

"I'm good, thank you."

She looked at me, her eyes seeming to see way too much.

"You sure? Cuz Theory just went to the kitchen. She could fix you some while she preps breakfast," she continued.

"Theory," I repeated. "In the blue?"

"Yeah. In the blue."

"Pip, what you doing? He ain't going back there with her!" the blonde woman fussed, her easy smile disappearing as her eyes cooled.

"Cynt, leave that girl alone. You know how she is," the woman I presumed was the family matriarch spoke.

Warm brown eyes looked me up and down and finally, she nodded, her graying head inclining once.

"Sure you don't want no water, baby?" she inquired.

I cleared my throat, suddenly thirsty as fuck. "Pip" spoke up again.

"All the way at the end of the hallway."

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