“This is so my favorite time of day to make house calls," Mendoza announced from the backseat of Wyatt's SUV as they cruised the Soyopango gangland territory. "Nothing says sneak attack like waltzing in under the cover of the noon-fucking-sun.”

“From morn to noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, a summer's day; and with the setting sun dropped from the zenith like a falling star.”

“So do boys and men announce their intentions. They cover you like a sarcophagus lid. And call it love.”

“What happened?" Wyatt asked Crystal, and stood back so the two of them could come inside out of the oppressive heat."Why are you asking her?" Reed thumped past him. "I'm the one on crutches.""She'll tell me the truth," Wyatt said. "You'll just give me some bullshit story that will end with 'You should see the other guy'.""You wound me, bro" [Reed]"He tore his ACL the day before yesterday trying to do a stunt on a skateboard." [Crystal]"Mendoza dared him." [Luke Colter]"No one held a gun to the fool's head" [Mendoza]”

“Open your eyes and say my name.”I squeeze them shut more tightly.“It would make my cock hard to hear you say my name.”My eyes pop open. “Jericho Barrons,” I say sweetly.He makes a pained sound. “Bloody hell, woman, I think a part of me wants to keep you this way.”I touch his face. “I like how I am. I like how you are, too. When you are…What is that word you used? Cooperating.”“Tell me to fuck you.”I smile and comply. We’re back in territory I understand.“You didn’t say my name. Say my name when you tell me to fuck you.”“Fuck me, Jerricho Barrons.”“From now on, you will call me Jericho Barrons every time you speak to me.”

“Jerome was sliding and climbing on top of me and it felt like it had the night before, like a crushing weight. So do boys and men announce their intentions. They cover you like a sarcophagus lid. And call it love.”