“That won’t be necessary.”
“The detector alerted me of–”
Quietly, I spread my arms. My blazer shortened at my wrists as they rose. The guards’ unkempt fingers patted down them simultaneously. My abdomen was next in the search, followed by my waistline.
His brows furrowed as he discovered the Glock on my hip. He paused momentarily before continuing.
Down my back.
Down my thighs.
“Oh,” he exclaimed as his hand made contact with the one strapped to my leg, underneath the flowy skirt that stopped at my ankles.
He’d found the gold he was searching for in the mine. Our eyes met as his mouth slackened with astonishment. Bemused, he tried conjuring words. They, too, weren’t necessary.
You’ve met the twins.
I tilted my head leftward.
“Ma’am, you can’t br–”
“They gowhereverI go.”
“You ca–”
“Jerald,” I said, stepping deeper into his personal space and straightening the collar of his shirt. “Don’t lose your life for a job that barely pays you enough to take care of your family. You’re barely surviving on two incomes at the moment.”
I placed a hand on his right cheek.
“Don’t play savior today or you won’t make it home to your wife. You’ll be forced to watch her struggle off one income from the grave and there won’t be a thing you can do about it.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat.
“I’m a girl’s girl through and through, but before that, Jerald… I’mmygirl. So, home to your wife or attempt to retrieve two of the three firearms on my person?”
Slowly, Jerald stepped backward. He returned to his seat with his eyes still planted firmly on me.
“Have a nice day, ma’am.”
“I will.”
With squared shoulders and an elevated chin, I strutted across the lobby of the high-rise complex. It was brimming withbusinesses of all kinds. I could still feel Jerald’s eyes on me as I pivoted, turning the corner where the elevators were.
I stilled at the wondrous sight before me. My cheeks swelled as my lips spread across my face. My heart shattered and recovered simultaneously.
“Royce–”
Dressed in all black, Mercer held open the elevator door.
“This way.”
I stepped on, greeting him in the process.
“Well… hello, sir.”
Though his smile was hard to come by, I was rewarded almost instantly.
“What’s up, sis? How was the journey?”
