Page 16 of Reckless Forever (Jennings Mafia Family #3)

Immediately, my worries were eased. I loved that he didn’t even make me ask where he had been. He went straight to an apology and an explanation. For a man who claims he has to answer to no one, it didn’t go unnoticed.

“It’s fine,” I said honestly.

“How was shopping today? Did you have enough to get everything you wanted?” He questioned like he like hadn’t sent me ten thousand dollars.

“Judah, I still didn’t spend the other ten that you sent me. I hadn’t gone anywhere until today.”

He chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair, the camera angle shifting to show the way his tattooed forearm rested across his chest. “Baby, money is meant to be spent. You're not doing me any favors stacking it up. I sent it because I like knowing you got more than you need. I tried to send more, but it wasn’t going to come until tomorrow.”

I chuckled; I love his energy. It was always so take charge and in control. I don’t know how his personalities could be so different. On one hand, he seemed not to take anything seriously. Then there was another side of him that always had the answers, and I don’t know which I liked best.

“I was actually waiting for you to call me. But not to tell you about the clothes I brought shopping,” I said quickly, my stomach tightening. He could see the smile on my face, and it made him smile too before he even knew what the news was. “I got the most random email today.”

That caught his attention. His eyebrows furrowed. “An email from who?” He questioned.

“The SkyWatch conference committee, Judah, they’re hosting a conference, and they invited me to attend.” I smiled.

“Shorty, I’m going to assume this is good news. I don’t know who those niggas are,” he said.

I laughed as I explained to him who they were and what they did. I also told him how the panel was full of people that I had grown up watching.

“That’s big, baby. I’m proud of your smart ass.” He said as the confusion was replaced with sincerity.

“Thank you, handsome. But the best part about it is that it’s being hosted in New York City this year. I’ll be in Jennings territory.”

“In New York,” he repeated, low.

“Yes.” I grinned.

His lips twitched, like he was fighting a smile that made me blush. “And you’d be in my city?” He asked for clarity.

The way he said it made heat crawl up my neck.

“Yeah, for seven days,” I nodded.

“Not only am I excited for the conference, but I want to see you again. We’d be in the same place, that’s not this compound.

I mean, I’d probably be busy with conference stuff, but we can plan some things outside of that.

” I offered, not really wanting to be too pushy by assuming that he wanted to spend all his time with me.

This time, he smiled, slowly and dangerously, the kind of smile that made my heart flutter. It was confident and cocky and made me squeeze my thighs together. “So, you're telling me that I won’t have to fall asleep on the phone. That I can have you on my chest instead?”

I blushed, covering my face with one hand. “Judah, I’m talking about my career.”

“And I’m talking about us,” he shot back. Same cocky smile plastered on his face. “Shit, you don’t know how close I came to calling Santos and telling him that I’m moving in. I’ve been practicing that shit in Spanish. Me voy a mudar a tu casa (I’m moving into your house.)”

I screamed if I never had before, as he delivered that line like he had been living in Bolivia all his life. The accent was spot on. He never stopped playing.

“When I get the details, I’ll send them to you. Hopefully our schedules align and we’re able to see each other.”

“Schedules? What damn schedules? Kingsway could get robbed, and Mateo could be held for ransom, for all I give a fuck. If you’re in New York, I’m wherever you are, Shorty.” He said, making me blush.

“Well, I don’t know the specifics, the only thing that I know is the name of the hotel where it’s going to be held. That’s where I’ll be staying.”

“Nah, you're staying with me.”

I whipped my head at the way he said it with finality. “Oh, I just assumed I’d stay at the hotel where the conference is.”

“No,” he said sharply. “If you gone be in my city, you in my house. I’m not letting you sleep under somebody else’s roof when mine is waiting. The hotel can hold their lil business shit, but when it’s over, you coming home.”

Home . I think the term caught us both by surprise because he cut his next sentence short and just stared at me, biting his lip.

I let the silence linger before I finally broke it. “Judah, do you realize what you just said?” I asked.

His eyes darkened, and he didn’t take it back. “I don’t say what I don’t mean. You’ll have your space if you need it. I have eight rooms. But I’ve been over this FaceTime shit, Ma. I want you here.”

Judah was the only man who made me feel like I was a damn schoolgirl with her first crush. It was the cutest thing, and I couldn’t deny the effect he had on me. “You’re going to make it impossible for me to focus on my work tomorrow.”

He scoffed. “Good. I like knowing you distracted by me.”

The conversation shifted from me simply telling him to planning.

He told me about all the things he wanted to do when I arrived.

He also told me that I wouldn’t be flying commercial, and he’d be there to pick me up.

Then he went straight to security, researched the conference hosts, and asked me to forward him every email so he could review it.

“I’m going to send you some money tomorrow so you can get everything you need.”

“Judahhhhh, I don’t need anything. Nothing!” I whined. I know he knew that my godfather was wealthy, in addition to having my own career, but I could appreciate the fact that he forced me into my soft girl era.

“You need whatever lets them know that you're dope as fuck. And that you’re in the room because you deserve to be,” he said as he yawned.

I melted at his words; our conversation was different from all the other times. Sure, he was sweet and told me I was beautiful, but this felt intentional. Calling his estate home, saying he wanted to be the person to make sure I was good. It felt so… serious.

But that was the Judah I had grown to know. Half man and half menace, who made me feel things I couldn’t quite put into words.

By the time it was nearing two in the morning, I walked outside on the balcony.

Judah was showered and in bed. He was tired, and I could tell that he had a long day.

His voice had dropped low when he was saying that I wasn’t going to get any sleep once I came to visit him.

I held the phone as I looked up at the stars and thought about all the things that had gone unsaid between us.

Then my cousin’s advice came into my mind.

Let that man love you. It seemed like everything was drawing us closer to each other, no matter how hard we both tried to fight it.

He had let it slip the other day that he had never been in a relationship. And while I had a life prior to two years ago, it just never felt like this .

Dragging me from my thoughts, I heard light snoring. I looked down and he had fallen asleep, mouth slightly open and looking like none of the hell he caused on a daily basis. I chuckled at the thought and set the phone down while I continued to stargaze.

When I finally got sleepy enough, I went back inside and lay in bed staring at the ceiling.

My body was still full of adrenaline. Not just from the conference.

Not because I’d be rubbing elbows with the greats.

But from the fact that in a couple of months, I’d be in New York. In his city and in his arms.

I don’t know how I was going to shake Emilio, but it was going to be done.

The thought consumed me until sleep finally pulled me under, and we fell asleep on the phone together as we had done for countless nights.