Alexa alerting me that Sigel was on the way scared the lights out of me. I quickly gathered everything up into the box and put it back where I found it. I paced the basement quickly and then ran upstairs to my phone.
Me: Hey can you stop and grab me some pads and Tylenol… all out.
Pig: no doubt.
Me: Oh, and fried fish from that spot in Harlem you took me to.
Pig: ??
Before I could even reply to his question marks, his name came across my name as he was calling.
“Fuck.” I jumped up and down, and then steadied my breathing.
Removing my emotions from my voice, I answered, sounding nonchalant, when a bitch was very much chalant right now.
“What’s up?”
“You want me to head all the way to Harlem when I’m about ten minutes from your crib, Zoya?”
“Oh, damn. It’s fine… I can go after you grab your stuff. See you in a bit,” I held my breath, hoping that my reverse psychology would work on his ass.
He heaved a sigh. “Fuck, I’ll go and get the shit.”
I wanted to squeal on the phone but held it together. “You sure?”
“Yeah… I got you.”
“Thanks, Marcus.”
“No problem.”
Soon as I ended the call, I ran to the front of the house and made sure my locks were secured and peeked out my curtains. Since finding out about Sigel’s real occupation, I couldn’t trust anything he had going on.
He could have been outside watching the house for all I knew. I quickly skimmed through my phone and pressed a contact, putting the phone to my ear.
“What’s going on, baby cakes?”
With my eyes peeled outside my window, I held the phone tightly against my ear. “Gerald, I need you.”
“I’m on my way to you,” he said, without a question or a second thought.
I could have been calling him because I dropped my spoon and was too lazy to pick it up, and he was on his way without any questions asked.
“Don’t you wanna know why I need you?”
“Nah. All I know is that you need me and I’m on my way… you home?”
“Yes.”
“On my way to you, Baby.”
I smiled, though panicked. Hearing Gerald’s voice was soothing. His voice and presence, even over the phone, brought me reassurance.
Me: Rain check on today?
I texted Kora, knowing she would still go and wouldn’t ask any questions. We both had careers in a field where anything could come up.
Kora: Sure.
