“Boxed mac ‘n’ cheese?” he went on.

“Trust me.”

“What is taco extravaganza?” he asked dubiously.

And then it happened. A moment he knew he’d never forget. Not in his life.

She gave it to him.

Open and out there and once it was, for the first time, it didn’t fade away.

She smiled as she repeated, “Sweetheart, trust me.”

Oh yeah.

Fuck yes.

She owned him.

He’d never been owned.

Not even by Hettie.

But he was hers. All hers.

Olivia’s.

He knew it in that instant because he also knew in that instant he’d do anything, absolutely anything, beg, borrow, steal, kill, crawl, lie, cheat, die, eat taco extravaganza…

All just for her smile.

* * * * *

8:58 – That Night

Her cheek to his thigh, his hand in her hair, she was flat out on the sofa at his side while he had his feet up on the coffee table and they were watching TV when he heard Knight’s car.

“He’s here, Liv,” he muttered.

“Pause, honey,” she muttered back.

He paused the program and she pushed up.

She’d brought the groceries.

She’d also brought a bag and was now casual in soft, black, loose-fitting drawstring pants and a gray ribbed tank.

“I’ll start the dishes,” she said.

“Help when I get this done,” he replied.

She reached out to touch his collarbone through his tee before she glided to the kitchen, no less graceful in bare feet.

He went to the door, turned the bolt and slid it open.

He walked out to the landing, sliding the door closed behind him, seeing his brother nearing the top.

“Not feelin’ big on this habit you’re gettin’ of summoning me,” Knight stated, still two steps down.

“Livvie’s here,” Nick replied.

“And?” Knight prompted when he hit the landing and stopped.

“And until shit is sorted, I got the opportunity to be close and bein’ that, know she’s safe when every day I gotta suck it up when she goes to work for those lunatics, I’m takin’ it.”

Some of Knight’s irritation faded.

“Wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important,” Nick went on. “And would tell you over the phone if I could risk it.”

“I gotta get to the club so you wanna lay it on me?”

“Vincent Shade murdered Drake Nair today.”

Knight’s head jerked back before he ordered, “Repeat that.”

“After I got her through freakin’ out that her bein’ in my life means this kind of shit bein’ in my life, she briefed me. Nair was with Shade to try to get him to partner up, percentage off the backs of your girls when he takes them over after he takes you out. To make that sting, he had plans of putting a hit on me. Shade didn’t feel like taking up that offer. Nair got ugly. Shade shot him in the face with a .45.”

“Jesus,” Knight whispered.