“I guess you like it?” I asked. She straddled me and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“I love it!” She covered my face in kisses. “But Cash, who does this? That closet is damn near bigger than my apartment!”
I chuckled. “You know my audio gotta match my visual, shorty. I told you from the jump I wasn’t coming off you. It wasn’t enough for you to hear it—I needed you to see it.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” she said.
I slid my hands up to rest on her thighs.“There’s one more thing,” I said. “I made it official—I’m stepping down from heading the crew. Jelani’s gonna run everything now.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “So you’re retired?”
“Not quite,” I laughed. “I’m getting more involved with our commercial real estate company. It’s not completely legal, but it’s more about making deals and less about running up on niggas.”
A thoughtful look crossed her face. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? And not just because of me? I don’t want you stepping away from something you built and then regretting it later.”
“What happened to ‘I don’t date dope boys’?” I teased.
“I recall someone swearing up and down they were a businessman,” she shot back playfully.
“Mhm,” I grinned, brushing my thumb along her leg. “But to answer your questions, this ain’t only about you. I’ve been thinking about it for a minute—way before we met. The shit in New York just made me move up the deadline, but this was always the plan.”
She studied me for a moment, her hand drifting up to stroke my beard. “I love you,” she said softly.
“What?” I’d whispered those words to her when I thought she was sleeping back at the safe house, but hearing her say them now?
She leaned down to kiss me. “I love you, Cash Maurice Banks,” she repeated. When she sat back up, a coy smile tugged at her lips. “And I know you’re unhinged ass loves me too.”
“Yeah, I love you, sweetheart. Real bad.”
I pulled her down into another kiss, this time it was slow and deep. She moaned softly, her body pressing into mine.
She pulled back and licked her lips. “Mm. Let me show you how much I appreciate this penthouse you just bought us,” she giggled, sliding back so she could unbutton my jeans.
CHAPTER34
JASMINE MILLER
“So, when are we meeting him?”Mama asked, resting her hand on her chin. “The condo is beautiful, but I’m ready to meet the man who swept my Jazzy Bear off her feet.”
Telling my parents I was moving in with Cash hadn’t been easy, but at the end of the day, I was a grown-ass woman. Six months might not seem like a long time to know someone, but with everything we’d been through, it felt like we’d lived a lifetime already.
When I finally told them, my parents, understandably, had their reservations. But I reminded them that despite Cash’s wealth, I was still working and making my own money. I wasn’t dependent on him—even though he’d started making those “just cause” deposits. I never asked for them, but wasn’t about to tell him to stop.
Honestly, I didn’tneedthe money. Since Marcus and I were technically married, a portion of his assets came to me after he died. The rest went to his family—people I never contacted and thankfully hadn’t heard from. As much hell as he put me through, that might’ve been the kindest thing he ever did. Cash made sure everything else was handled. His lawyers stepped in and tied up the rest of the loose ends.
“Soon,” I said, settling onto a stool at the kitchen island. “He has some work things to wrap up, and then we’ll figure out time to come up there. I promise you’ll love him.”
Her tone softened. “Well, you look happy, and that makes me happy. I just want to make sure you’re maintaining your independence. You know we raised you to stand on your own.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Is that my Jazzy Bear?” Daddy’s voice boomed in the background.
Mama rolled her eyes and leaned closer to the screen. “I don’t know why he’s asking when he can clearly hear you,” she whispered. “Yes, Reg, it’s your daughter!” she hollered back at him.
Daddy’s face appeared next to hers, crowding the frame. “When are we gonna meet this friend of yours?” he asked, raising his thick eyebrows.
“Daddy, please,” I laughed. “Like I told Mama, soon.”
