Page 59 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
Reign covered her mouth. “Oh my God, I’m sorry.”
Markus’ fake scowl turned into a laugh. “Gotcha. That Motrin you got is amazing. I don’t feel shit for real. Just some soreness.”
“You get on my damn nerves,” she huffed, turning to look out the window.
At his house, Reign stood in the foyer, taking it all in. It was spacious and beautifully decorated, but it was cold. It was lonely. It wasn’t a home.
“You want a tour?” he asked, picking up the liquor bottle off the coffee table and putting it away.
“I’m not going to be over here after this, so probably not necessary. You’re not running game on me,” Reign quipped. “Let me show you around, and then somehow we never end up leaving. Nope, hurry up.”
Markus laughed. “There’s doorknobs and shit that’s different from your spot.”
“Emilliano, go get dressed.” Reign couldn’t help but laugh as she leaned on the wall.
“You can sit down.”
“Nah, you probably got women in and out of here. I’m not trying to ruin my nice clothes I just got.”
He cut her a look and headed to his bedroom. “I don’t have women in and out of here.”
“The tube of lip gloss says different, but go off,” Reign called back, looking at the random heel in the corner, lip gloss on the table next to an earring. Spiteful placement, more than likely by an ex. None of it fazed her because she wouldn’t be moving in or creating expectations that made it easy for him to let her down. Almost twenty minutes later, Markus was back downstairs in gray cargo pants, Ameechii sweatshirt, fitted cap, fresh Timbs on his feet, and of course, his gun reloaded and placed in its signature spot.
Half-naked or fully dressed, uncut or fresh cut, the man was gorgeous, and he knew it. It was telling in the way he offered a lopsided grin. “Does this match your fly, or do I need to change?”
“It’ll do,” Reign muttered, turning away, her nose still enticed by his scent. “Going to tell me where we’re going?”
“For starters, we’ll hit Mercer Grove for the street food fest. Then I’m going to teach you how to shoot. If you’re going to be running the salon, you need to be able to handle some shit in the event I’m not around to do it.”
“I have to keep a gun on me?”
“Ideally.”
“Okay, make sure I don’t know how to use it too good. The way you like to break in, I might use it on you.”
“Never that.”
Side by side, they tried various dishes from the food truck vendors, grabbed fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmers, and pastries. From there, they stopped by an empty shop, dusty from the repairs.
“What are you going to do with this?” Reign questioned.
“Maybe another boutique. Not sure yet.”
“I think, if it counts, it can be used for a lounge. Something upscale. A cash business if that’s what you’re looking for.”
Markus looked over at her. “If all goes well by next month, I’ll be the biggest distributor in the north. So yeah, that’s what I’m looking for.”
“Cash businesses would be your way to go. It’s just this building?”
“Acquiring more in the city. Let me find out you know something about business planning?”
She gave him a weary smile. “I was sixteen and on my own, I had to figure some things out.”
“Noted. Come on, let me teach you how to shoot.”
Her body pressedto his was starting to move to the top of the list of things he needed. It was grounding. It was the one thing that could ease his mind, making him feel like he wasn’t spiraling out of control. Her scent transferred to his sweatshirt, her back expanding and shrinking as she steadied herself to pull the trigger.
“Don’t anticipate it, just breathe and fire,” he coached softly, holding her hands steady. “Ready?”
