Page 68 of Emergence and Ascendance

"I know. Thanks, Tez."

"Now go forth and get your back blown out by Sexy Enemy.”

"Goodbye, hoe."

I could hear her laughing as I ended the call. I hung up. Even with all her insanity, she had a point. I spent too much of my life following other people's expectations. Maybe thirty days of breaking the rules was exactly what I needed. And if those thirty days happened to include Christian and his playroom, then I was going to enjoy every minute of the time… and him.

twelve

Christian.

When I got to Omari's, the hostess guided me to a table that wasn’t near the main dining area. The restaurant was busy for a weekday afternoon, a testament to Elias's skill at blending upscale cuisine with Mediterranean fusion.

Ezekiel wasn’t here yet, so I checked my watch, ordered a bourbon, and surveyed the room. My week had been long as hell already and the last thing I needed was more complications.

"Devereaux in the flesh."

At the sound of my name, I looked up and found Balor Allen, better known as Trouble, standing beside my table with a takeout bag in hand.

"What’s up, Trouble?"

“Ain’t shit, chillin’. What’s up with you?”

“Waiting on Ez?”

He lifted the bag. "Dinner run. Keiris's favorite. She’s working late doing inventory so I stopped to pick up something for her."

I motioned toward the chair across from me. "You on a job too or just a food run?"

Trouble was a bounty hunter who made a point of using everyday shit to catch up with his marks. That was how he’dended up meeting his wife. She was on a dinner date, he was on a hunt for the guy she was with.

"Just food today." He set the bag down and dropped into the chair. "But business is good, so I’m not complaining."

"This city is full of gotdamn criminals so I know for sure you stay busy."

Trouble laughed. "Says the man who's called me twice in the past year."

"But you’re not tracking me down though. Very different.”

He grinned and nodded. I used Balor several times to track people who were trying to stay off the grid. There weren’t many people who could hide from him, at least not in our city.

Trouble nodded and checked his watch. "Let me head out though. If the food is cold, I’ll be right back up here. Keiris don’t play about that shit."

I chuckled, knowing how he was when it came to her. "Happy wife."

His ass smiled big as hell. “Indeed. Hit me up if you need anything. I’ll holla at you."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Trouble gave a two finger salute and headed for the door. As he left, Ezekiel walked in, nodding briefly to Trouble before making his way to my table.

He filled the seat Trouble had just vacated. "Traffic was a fucking nightmare. Half of downtown is blocked off for some art festival."

"You’re good. I haven’t been here long. What’s the deal?"

“They're pushing harder than usual."

"What did they say to you?"

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