Page 182 of Kentrell

Because once I crossed that threshold… Pokie would recognize me.

Even if I played it off. Even if I acted like I didn’t know her from a can of paint…

She’d know.

There was too much history between her and my mama for her not to.

“Fuck it.”

I shook off the hesitation and climbed out the truck. Hands in my pockets, slow steps up the walkway, then the stairs.

I opened the screen door.

Music drifted from somewhere inside—The Isley Brothers…Voyage to Atlantis.

But the second I crossed the threshold…

The music cut.

And Zoe’s voice came slicing down the hallway.

“Are you kidding me?!”

That put some pep in my step.

I followed the smell of bacon and the sound of Zoe going off. The layout was simple. Recently remodeled—open kitchenflowing straight into the front room. From where I stood at the door, I could see everything.

Eggs still sizzling in the pan.

Zora—in a silk robe—clutching it tight against her chest like it could hold back whatever this moment was about to become.

Her eyes jumped from her daughter…

To me.

And just like that…

Every bit of color drained from her face.

I caught it.

Tried not to react.

Zoe caught it too—only she read it wrong.

To her, it probably just looked like her mama was surprised to see a strange man standing in her doorway.

She didn’t know what the fuck was really happening.

“Icannotwith you!” Zoe huffed, palming her forehead as she fought back the tears pricking at her eyes.

“Myboss!” she screamed suddenly, spinning and throwing her hands toward the couch like she needed physical proof that she wasn’t making this up.

My gaze followed her point—and landed on him.

How the hell I missed that, I didn’t know.

Darius Anderson.

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