I throw my head back and laugh. “I’m counting on it. Takes a crazy woman to be an Old Lady.”
His eyes sparkle. “Really?”
“I’m working on it, Bolton.”
He grins as he disappears inside the house.
I make my way up onto the porch, pull a pack of cigarettes from the pocket inside my vest, and light up. The nicotine rush feels good. I’d kicked the habit in the pen—cigs were power and I couldn’t afford to squander it—but out here, I could indulge when the urge hit. I held the butt between my finger and my thumb wondering what my next step with Blue would be. I’m known for my patience. Revenge is best served cold, and killing quietly with no witnesses is a waiting game. When it comes to Blue, I’ve been waiting, dreaming, and longing too long to even think about going slow. She’s lucky I even let her leave the bedroom. I take a long drag and glance up as a car comes down the street.
The black Dodge Charger is just the one I’ve been waiting for. I blow out my smoke and stub out my cigarette in an ashtray. She parks, and my eyes are glued onto her ass. My woman is a curvy girl. My teeth ache to sink into her firm flesh. I’d never been about the stick skinny type, and this woman gives me plenty to hold on to. I dig that. I drag my eyes up along the rest of her body and stop at her face.
Her brow has a crease cutting into her smooth skin. Her eyes are dark with what looks like worry and her lips turn down at the corners.
I stand and walk to meet her at the top of the stairs. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Bluebell. Do I need to go stomp someone’s head in?”
Her eyes grow large. “You’d do that?”
“Fuck yes. You have to let them know out the gate you’re not playing. You been without protection for a long time. If I need to update your status, I’m down for it.”
The shock on her face pisses me off. “Fuck, babe, hasn’t anyone been looking out for you?”
“I don’t need anyone to look out for me. I can do that myself.”
“You shouldn’t have to, that’s the point,” I say.
“It’s just Calla. And me and our usual bullshit.”
“You went to see her?” I ask.
“Yes, I needed to get some things straight in my head.”
“And?”
She shakes her head.
I grip her cheeks. “This is me. You don’t bullshit me, Blue. I want every piece of you. No show, no lies, no pretending when you talk to me. You understand?”
She stares at me.
“Understand?”
She nods.
“Good, now tell me what the crazy bitch said.”
“She told me into great detail what happened that night you two…”
“Hooked up?”
Her eyes spark with anger.
That’s right, baby. I want you to be mad that someone else touched what’s yours.
“Whatever you want to call it. She did it on purpose.”