Page 11 of Widow Mayker

“I don’t swallow anything; not even my pride,” she effortlessly shot back.

Her quick comeback produced a laugh from deep inside me. “Maja… If you tryna run me off, you gon’ have to stop makin’ me fall deeper and harder for you, baby.”

She tried to fight a smile that I knew was hard to wring from her. I considered it a small feat whenever I got her lips to bend for me.

“Where’s ya security?” I had to ask because Maja and Heir had walked their asses up in there solo. Anytime I’d ever seen Heir, she had security with her.

“I don’t have any,” she replied with a gentle shrug.

“Why not?” That shit rubbed me the wrong way. None of the Bells moved without security. The fact that she did made me feel some type of way.

“You’re in my business, Vonshae,” she replied.

“Our business. Remember, I’m No One. You said ya’self that you belong to No One.”

Tickled, she giggled. “No one as in no maaannn.”

“Nah, you can’t change it now. I made things exceptionally clear. If I caught you, you’re mine.”

“We haven’t even been on a date yet. For all you know you could be claiming a batshit crazy woman.”

“Well, then you’re my batshit crazy woman,” I countered.

She smacked her teeth and grinned.

“Beneath all that radiant, deep hickory skin, I just saw a blush, Maja.”

Her smile slowly dropped, then she cleared her throat. “What are your intentions for this date?”

“I intend to brighten up those eyes, my baby.”

“Dinner. That’s all,” she offered.

“Aht, aht. I get to make the calls, remember?”

She grimaced, but I forged along.

“This date requires you to pack a bag.”

“No—”

“Yes. It’ll be fun, I promise. Pack for comfortability. Three days, three nights,” I stated.

“What if I’m busy? You want me to run off with you when I could have other pressing issues,” she countered.

“If you were runnin’ off with me, ya issues would already be solved, love.”

“You have an answer for everything?” she contested.

“Shit, I wish.” We both laughed. I took the opportunity to close the rest of the space between us. The laughter died on her lips. I leaned closer until our eyes mirrored each other’s. “What I do know is that I’m not letting you go anywhere, Maja. Might as well call me No One Shadow Gunner.”

“No One Shadow Gunner,” she whispered. “I’d like to see you try and keep me.”

My heart surely sped up like crazy from the way her tone dipped just a little. “Ohh… You’re dangerous, Maja,” I stated.

Although her lips didn’t, her eyes smiled. “You think so?”

I nodded.