He looked at me, that little bit of hurt still in his eyes
“You think I can’t protect you.”
It wasn’t a question. I closed my eyes briefly.
“That’s not what I said.”
“But it’s what you scared of.”
Even mad, I couldn’t let him think that.
“No, baby. It’s not. I know you’d do anything to protect me. But Targen… this—” I flashed my ring, “I hate the fact that this got here because of so many half-truths and fear.”
He shook his head violently. “That’s only a small part of the story, Theory. That might be why you married me, but it’s not why I married you.”
And that was all it took for most of my anger to melt away. I unfastened my seat belt and moved toward him. He looked unsure of what was going on. I kissed my teeth.
“Boy, if you don’t let this seat back so I can get in your lap! Stop acting like you don’t know I’m slightly big back. Done ruined the moment.”
I grumbled.
“Milaya?”
“Huh?”
“I’m six-seven. Ain’t no farther back.”
Oh. He had a point. I stuffed myself between the steering wheel and his chest and grabbed his beautiful face.
“Please don’t doubt how I feel about you,” I said softly.
“I’m feeling very doubtful,” he said, trying to sound pitiful.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, yeah?”
“Very, extremely. I think you should remind me.”
“You a mess,” I said before kissing him thoroughly.
By the time we separated, he was cupping my face.
“I need you trust me,” he said.
“I do,” I promised, feeling that soft haziness that kissing him always clouded my brain with.
“The way I had to leave, there was no time to handle Chauncey because I definitely wanted to handle him. Maximagreed to watch him. That doesn't mean he's spent the last year getting to be chill. My brother is a lil psycho.”
“You don't say?” I mumbled dryly.
Targen scowled at me. "Not too much, now. Anyway, he likes to play psychological games. This past year, he's been torturing that nigga. Keeps letting him think he's sneaking off, usually out of the country. Once, Maxim let him fly all the way to Zurich on a private plane, had his guys pick him up on the tarmac. Another time he was in Rome, stashed in a villa for a whole month. Just enough time for him to think that he might be free. Went to sleep one night in a California King, woke up in a Texas warehouse. On and on. Maxim has destroyed every home that nigga has taken cover in, just to let him know, there's no hiding. He about broke this nigga's mind.”
“Damn.Game of Thronestype shit,” I said with a bit of grudging admiration.
“Exactly.”
“But Kemp said he's missing again–”
“Missing right in a high price facility, trying to convince himself that the boogeyman ain't real. He'll be permanently dealt with soon,” Targen promised.
