Page 56 of Double

“Probably. But right now, she’s under guard protection.”

I sucked my teeth. “Those guards are as corrupt as Gillespie.”

“They’re private guards. I heard they were hired by Judge Deity Bosco.”

My mouth fell open. “Wow. And they let them in the jail to guard her?”

“It’s Judge Bosco.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Listen, if you wanna go back and sign your paperwork, I can offer you protection. Nobody will fuck with you if they know you’re with me.”

That was when Double finally spoke. “Nah. She’s good. I don’t need nobody to protect my wife. I got that.”

Shaun’s face showed his surprise. “Your wife?” His gaze bounced to me. “You’re married? To an American?”

I nodded. “Yeah.” I slid my hand inside of Double’s. “And I’m not really worried about that money. I mean, I have twenty years before it falls into the hands of the state.”

He eyed me. “That’s not what I heard. I heard that Gillespie is making moves to have you declared dead so the money can be released. He’s spinnin’ the narrative that your captors probably threw you into the ocean. He had divers searching for you for a minute. He’s really pushing the idea that you’re dead.”

“He never stops.” I couldn’t believe that not only did he try to steal my hand in marriage, and my virginity, he was also trying to steal my money. That pissed me off. “Thanks for letting me know all this, Shaun. It was a really great show. We’re going to get out of here. I have a lot to think about.”

“Yeah. Thanks for coming out. It was really good seeing you.” He gave me another one-armed hug before shaking Double’s hand.

“You okay?” Double asked me as the two of us headed toward the exit of the venue.

“To be honest, I don’t know how I feel,” I admitted.

20

My Wife, My Life

Double

On the evening of the third Thursday in May, Tinsley and I walked into the foyer of our home. We were dressed for the Petals and Pearls Affair.

“You nervous?” I asked her, dropping to my knees to wrap the strap of her left shoe up her shin and secure the clasp.

“A little bit.” She teetered slightly before finding her balance as I fastened the right shoe.

I stood to my feet, and she adjusted the lapels of my suit jacket. “Yeah, this is some stressful shit.”

“I’m just glad that one, we’re doing this together, and two, that your grandparents agreed to help guide us for this next year.”

I took her hand in mine and kissed her palm. “Say word.”

“Word,” she joked.

“I have something for you.” I turned to the console table, opened the drawer, and pulled out the velvet box.

“More jewelry? You’re spoiling me, Double.”

“You’re my wife. What else am I supposed to do to you besides love on you and spoil you?”

“And you do both very well.” She put emphasis on the word very.

That made me pull my gaze away from the velvet box and put it on her. “Don’t get bent over in this foyer, Mrs. Waters.” I took a beat. “And Sweetheart . . .”

“Huh?”

“Either get on some type of birth control or vocalize to me right now that you understand that I’m gonna end up getting you pregnant. I feel like you’re not takin’ the possibility of getting pregnant seriously.”