We hung up and I pushed my body off the sofa a second later. If I would have spent any longer on it, I wouldn’t have gotten up. I would’ve dozed off for about an hour. I never slept for too long, given I felt like it was too close to death.
By the time I made it to my sister’s house, I was more exhausted than I started. I should’ve asked her ass for a raincheck because I didn’t feel like being social nor did I feel like faking it. Dinner always meant her and her husband’s friends around as well. She’d had about five of these dinners since I’d gotten home. Two of which I’d missed and got a lecture about. The others I barely made. I either cut out early or chilled in the room with my niece because most, if not all, of the adults in the room got on my fucking nerves. It was one in particular, my brother-in-law’s friend. He was a sergeant at the local precinct and so fucking pompous and all-knowing. I hated men like that, the type who had to always get the last word because too many women kissed their feet instead of humbling them.
“I definitely thought I was going to have to give you the silent treatment,” Lauryn said the moment I walked into the kitchen where she stood with her best friend Lola.
I laughed. “Girl, bye. Silent treatment or a long ass voicemail? What’s up, Lo?” I greeted, hugging my sister then Lola.
“Nothing, but um… where have you been? You’re home but you’re not home,” Lola said before I could say anything else.
I laughed. She was like a little sister to me too. She had been best friends with Lauryn since we were kids.
“Been around. Are you good?”
“I am now. Especially now that you’re here and I know ol’ boy is going to find his way into your face.” She winked. “I enjoy watching him fawn while you avoid.”
I already knew who she was talking about. I shook my head. “Y’all ain’t right.”
“Maybe not, but under all that bravado, he seems to have a thing for you. Too bad you don’t give him the time of day,” Lauryn said before sipping from her wine glass.
“Yeah, too bad. He’s the type of man you’d find yourself hitting in the mouth very often.” Lola held her hand up like she was about to backhand somebody.
The three of us laughed. I was grateful that most of the party was in the living room and on the patio. The kitchen was pretty much clear besides the three of us. Well, until I heard a certain throat clearing.
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling before finally turning around. Of course it was the sergeant. He was fine, but when he opened his mouth, all of that dissipated. He became a know-it-all. Shit… a fool in my eyes. I wonder if that was the way he picked up women, by talking about himself and all of his accomplishments.
I was about to speak, but my phone vibrated in my hand. I lifted it and looked at the screen. The number was unsaved, but I knew who it was.
17774657765:You busy?
“It’s good to see you, Liora. I was wondering when you’d be here.” He grinned and my stomach turned. I was beginning to think Lauryn invited me here specifically for this man to be in my face, even though I’d told her and her husband several times it was a no-go. I was too liable to hit this man in his throat before I ever gave him the time of day.
THREE
Iso
Liora:No, what’s up?
Me:Come thru.
I gave the message I had sent Liora a onceover then dropped my phone and focused on the road. I was slightly frustrated and needed a little bit of a distraction from my lack of motion with my situation. The other night Liora proved to be just that in the best way.
I’d spent the last few days watching Bo, then out of nowhere, he disappeared. He didn’t know I was watching him, because I was careful as fuck, but that didn’t mean somebody else wasn’t watching him.
My phone vibrated again in my lap. I lifted it and Liora responded with a question.
Liora:you got food?
I laughed at her response and didn’t bother responding. I wouldn’t invite her fine ass over if I didn’t have food.Well shit, I didn’t have food, but she didn’t need to know that yet.
When I pulled into my driveway, I just sat there thinking for a minute. Moving in the shadows had become a norm for me and I didn’t know if I should be so comfortable about that. Thenagain, what else could I have done?For starters, I can get this shit finished so I can go home to my son.
In the morning, I needed to move on Bo. Apparently, he wasn’t going to lead me to who he directly answered to . The fucked-up thing was I knew it was Rich Junior. I just couldn’t fully prove it.Why the fuck did I need to prove it though? Street law didn’t need proof. You either handled that shit or got handled yourself.
I got out of the car and moved toward the door. With my keys in hand, I unlocked the door and entered the house. I’d spent long enough in the car thinking before I decided tomorrow morning I’d be seeing Bo.
My phone vibrated again before I reached the living room. It was only one person. Besides Lee, only one person had this line.Liora.
I put the phone to my ear and answered. “Yeah.”
