Page 73 of Juliet's Echo

I blinked.

“A little affair scandal can be overlooked. Hell, it can even be monetized in this city. But if this story gets stirred back up, you won’t have to worry about being run out of town.”

The playful excitement I'd been feeling immediately cooled.

A strange chill crawled up my spine.

“You think they'd come after me?”

My mother adjusted her sunglasses.

“The Everettes don’t cover up problems.”

She took a slow sip of her mimosa.

“They get rid of them.”

The confidence in her voice made my stomach tighten.

“And you know what?” she continued. “I’m so glad I’m the responsible mother figure that I am.”

I frowned.

“This whole idea of you stepping to Echo and me stepping to Axel? Forget it. You may like to play roulette, but I’ll stick to checkers and jump to a different man.”

“Huh? But this was all your—”

Before I could finish, she snatched me right out of my chair.

“Now hike them titties up,” she ordered. “Ain’t that Mr. Clarke and his youngest boy?”

I followed her gaze.

Nazir and his scamming ass father seemed to just be getting out of their golf cart.

“Look at the watches they’re wearing,” she whispered.

Then, without a shred of shame, she waved.

“You-hoo!”

I stared at her.

My mother was hopeless.

Juliet

“…and I still ain’t over the fact that he managed to get that Orbi set,” Yahya said for what felt like the millionth time. “Ye couldn’t even get that shit for little North West.”

“I would ask how you know that, but your sources be shady and I don’t want my name mentioned in the cease and desist,” I replied, unable to stop laughing.

“That part,” Mega pointed. “My guy said he was going to come through and get that set for you. That’s tough he was able to make that happen.”

Yahya smacked his shoulder.

“Oh, so you knew and didn’t tell me?”

“It wasn’t my place to tell,” he signed.