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No tells Give him no tells, I remind myself

“Monte, you should know our n, nor did the officiant” Before I left, Livi had done some research, and she found no record at the courthouse that I was ever legally e certificate was never completed In addition, my social security card still reads “Hailey Sue Poe,” as does an driver’s license

“Hard Knocks, you should knoould’ve never legally tied you to hts are relinquished”

My heartbeat thunders loudly in le to maintain my composure

Monte smirks at me in a way that can only be described as pure ood, but I am a man of my word in business Checks and balances, Hard Knocks You caught a break Balance is paid in full”—he aze from me to Morrison—“for you and Marisa You’re free”

Monte turns and walks off as Morrison’s arm comes around my shoulders When he is a few feet away, he looks over his shoulder at me, then says to Morrison, “I had her first; I’ll have her last And when she co back, I’llthe only one to have had her pussy”

Morrison steps out to advance on Monte as Marshall shakes his head at me

“Morrison, stop! He’s not worth it,” I say

He stops and looks at me

“Be the good,” I whisper “Don’t be him”

“Aces, you got what you caaain This is my city” Monte stares back at ain, I’ll be waiting, and you won’t have it as good this time around”

After a moment, he turns away and makes his exit, as chills run down my spine and my mind races

I get a shoulder squeeze froer and another from Hendrix, while Morrison only stares at me

“What does he ain? What happened in there, Morrison?”

“Nothing for you to worry about” He looks to his brothers “Let’s eat, then get you guys on a plane and back to Ris Priss”

There is a distance between us that I don’t understand I aht, I won I earned my way out This should be a happy ti I just don’t knohat