I glanced at the clock. Hours had passed. It’d worn off.Mostly. “Your keys,” I growled, mentally executing a plan to get rid of this mildly comforting, natural booty fan.
“If you scratch my baby …” Washington ground out a warning.
The rest of his threat didn’t penetrate because my pain level skyrocketed from ten to a trillion while I shoved my naked behind into my slacks. Wished they were sweats. A size or two bigger. I forced the keys from Washington’s fisted hand. “If I wreck it?—”
My big brother made a gurgling noise as if the same knife that slid into me had lunged into his heart. I smirked. “I’ll buy you two more. Twins.”
“Okay. All of y’all my witnesses.” Washington smirked, then he sighed. “Should I drive?”
“Nah.” This was between me and Journey.
As I tookmanlybaby steps, Momma snapped, “Drive safe, because you can’t afford tocompensatemeif something happens to you. I’ll kill you myself!”
Understood.
Did I really? I just needed tonotpull out my stitches.
When I got to the lot, I didn’t have to call my brother to ask where his car was. With one press of a button, lights flared from the accessible area.
“Who is this man?” I muttered, hunched as I walked to the car. My brother had never gotten a parking ticket.
Not before his son.
Or his divorce. Now he’d parked his fully-capable ass in the accessible lot.
I sank into the Bentley sports car, thanked my hammies for all they’d ever done on the field, then disrespected Momma’s wishes while driving like I had extra lives.
If Journey vanished with no word, no promise, I’d never find her again.
And the part that burned me worse than the knife in my back?
I couldn’t bring myself to let go.
The Bentley purred when I shifted gears onto the street where Journey lived.
I cut the engine, pulled the keys at the sight of two figures. One gorgeous and shapely, the other short, a shock of tiny twisties outlined in the night. Journey and Darius argued at the door. Blue lights flashed on the ground with every stomp of his foot.
Man, all of Momma’s prayers and my physical fitness helped me climb out.
“My toys. Mommy, I can’t leave Brody and …” Darius cried, trying to tug from Journey.
She flicked a fearful glance over her shoulder, eyes closing to shut out the bright lights I left on her. And her lies.
She hadn’t verbally lied. But those eyes? They told a lie every time they sparkled in my face.
Those hips? Swayed for me. Definitely lied … with each sway, they said,I’ll never leave.
That mouth?
Made for me.
Yes, she’d lied to Momma the day we met. Now? She’d lied. To. Me.
Damn right there’d be consequences.
She squeaked, holding Darius at her rear, hand cupped at her forehead to shade the bright light. “Montana …”
“Chère, don’t be afraid.”Yet.
