AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But it does. They are your family,” I push.
“Kenzo likes you, and Kyson is warming up to you. You hurt his ego, is all.”
“And Pops?”
“It doesn’t matter if he likes you. He knows where I stand now, and I will not have anyone insult you. I’ll happily show him how to appreciate you by taking a knife to his neck.”
“So violent,” I whisper.
“For you.” He leans in and grabs the back of my head, pulling me in for a kiss. He kisses me on the lips and smiles against them. “You taste like hamburger…” he kisses me again, “and all the things I want in this life.”
I can’t help but smile.
I never knew I wanted someone in my life the way he has inserted himself into it, until he did. Granted, our relationship has been rocky. But I think all the best ones start out that way.
We finally get out and head into the apartment.
My phone rings, and I answer it without a second thought as I enter the bedroom and hear the shower turn on.
“You’ve reached Sage from You Beat It, We Spit It. First, let’s start with your name.” I step out of the bedroom so he can’t hear me. I open the apartment door and stand in the hallway as I wait for the person to speak.
“Hello, Trouble…” I drop the phone and turn back to see Zuko, shirtless, holding his phone to his ear as he leans against the doorjamb. “Seems you have been hiding something from me.”
I smile at him.
And then I turn on my heel and run.
THIRTY-THREE
Zuko
As the skirtof her black dress fans out behind her, I keep watching.
I’m impressed by how fast those legs can go considering she has those sky-high heels on. Pocketing my phone, I chase after her. She’s fast, but I’m a hell of a lot faster. Catching up to her, I wrap my arm around her being careful not to touch her midsection in case I hurt her.
She yelps but stops.
“Why did you run, Trouble?” She is breathing heavily and locks eyes with me. “Are you scared?”
“No,” she states.
And I believe her.
“How long have you known it was me?” I ask. “Every time I called, I mentioned the other woman. When did you figure it out?”
“In the bar, that first night when you walked up to me to save me from that dude.”
“I heard you speak that night, and when I asked for your name, and you told me it was, Alaska I thought I must’ve been mistaken. But then…” I reach for her and pick her up bridal style and carry her back to her place.
“But then?” she asks, her eyes on me as I walk. “When did you work out it was me?”
“When I stayed here the first night and your phone wouldn’t shut up.”
Oh, shit.
“Do you need money? Is that why you do it?”
“I always need money. I’m going to hustle for money until the day I die,” she answers truthfully. “It’s what you do when you go from never having any to finally finding some. You never want it to go away again.”
