“I’ll be there in a few.”
Once we hung up, I put the car in park and rested my piece in my lap. I couldn’t be out here naked. Because even behind illegal tints, I had to be on my guard.
I sat there for all of fifteen minutes before Liora pulled up. She parked right next to me, then got out of her car and hopped into the passenger side of my truck.
“Thank God I showered before I left your place, huh?” she asked, looking from the pink and white building to me.
“Yeah, my bad.”
“Not bad. What’s wrong?” She grew serious looking from me to the building.
“Pete is an old tim?—”
“He’s into skin trade. Has been for years. I know his rap sheet and I know his deal. What do you need from him?”
“His deal?” I asked, confused.
“You think that old country pimp is still in business by his own resonance? No, baby, the agency uses him just like he uses the women he brings into this country. He’s just not a big enough fish and that’s the only reason he hasn’t been fried.”
What she said was news to me, but also believable. I just thought the old nigga got lucky, not that he was a rat. “How do you know all of this?”
“Because part of my job is to know things and being from the Midwest puts him in my purview like many others.”
I nodded, now seeing the structure in front of me in a whole new light. Old Pete only knew what he knew because he was a rat. It wasn’t years of being smarter, it was years of giving someone else up so he’d never be on a list. It wasn’t what she said, but what she didn’t say and everything between the lines.
“Now what do you need from him?”
“A number on the burner phone for Rich Jordan Sr.”
“And you’re sure he has it?” She pulled her gun from her back and checked it before putting it back.
“He is the only person who would.”
She nodded. “Okay. Do me a favor.”
“What?”
“When I get out of your car, pull off. I’ll get it and meet you.” She looked out of the window.
“And why would I do that?” I looked at her like she was crazy.
“Because you’re dead, remember? And they’ve been watching us since I pulled up.” She threw her head in the direction of the door. “Just pull off, I’ll be good.”
“Nah, we can go. I’ll find another wa?—”
“This is the only way. I mean, unless you’re about to go in there blasting. I got it, now let me have it. I’ll meet you back at your place.”
I didn’t like this one bit and one hundred percent hated that I’d called and brought her into it. I knew she could handle herself, but I didn’t like the idea of her walking in there alone. The fucked-up thing was I knew she would do it, regardless of me trying to back out.When the fuck had I become so tender about her?
“Aight… but I don’t like this.” I was fucking pissed, but she was right.
She reached for the door, but I stopped her, pulling her into me like a whole ass bitch and kissing her.
“Be fucking safe,” I said when I finally let her go.
She could be fearless all she fucking wanted. I was to an extent… that extent had just become her.
I watched her get out of the car, then did as she asked, pulling out of the parking lot.
