Page 291 of Kentrell

Then she swallowed… slow and thick like the truth was stuck in her throat.

All these years… thinking she was protecting me.

But she’d really been keeping the truth locked away.

“Kentrell… that shit don’t even matter no more?—”

“The hell it don’t!” I cut her off, leaning in close, dropping my voice low so the COs wouldn’t catch none of this. “You took a charge thirteen years ago… told me it was to protect me?—”

“Kentrell… if I would’ve told you what really happened, you would’ve snapped… and still ended up where I am today.”

That hit different.

My nostrils flared. I leaned back slow, kicked my chair out hard, not wanting none of this anymore.

“Kentrell, sit back down!” she called after me, but I was already halfway out the room… too far gone to stop now.

My mind reeled… spinning with every revelation.

Pokie showing up here to talk to my mama.

Her being the missing witness all this time.

Taffy popping back up with her so-called secret she’d been carrying for Yam’s bitch ass.

Star being planted to keep tabs on me.

Malcolm pulling strings… trying to send me after my shorty…

And the whole time… this muthafucka scared of the day I’d start asking the right questions about that night.

“FUCK!” I yelled, slamming my palm against the top of my car as I yanked the door open.

I climbed in, heart pounding, rage burning hot in my throat.

My hand moved on its own… snatching my phone from the cup holder… scrolling to a number I swore I’d never use.

I hit dial.

The line picked up on the second ring.

“Ah… I was hoping you’d call.” The voice crackled through the receiver, smug like they’d been waiting on this day.

My jaw clenched.

“Meet me at 1300 South Lake Shore Drive.”

TWENTY-TWO

ZOE

I could feelthe tightening around my waist and smiled, eyes still closed, back pressed to his hard chest. The warmth of him surrounded me, thick and steady, just like the name I’d traced across the center of his chest an hour ago… right after he loved me to sleep.

I should’ve been tired. Iwastired. But my body didn’t care. Neither did his.

“Mmm…” I moaned low as his hand snaked over my hip and dropped between my legs.

I didn’t fight it. Didn’t even flinch. Just opened up for him, giving him full, easy access to what he already owned. After everything he’d done to it? Yeah… it was his now. Claimed with his mouth first… then his words… then that damn dick.

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