“I’m saying you ain’t sleeping here tonight.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “I can stay at the hotel again.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because whoever did this found you after you moved once already. I’m not putting you somewhere else so they can figure out where you are again.”
She didn’t say anything.
I didn’t like the look on her face, but I wasn’t about to soften what needed to be said. Milan had spent the last few days convincing herself this place was different. Better security.More cameras. People checking IDs. None of that had stopped somebody from getting onto her floor… again.
“I know you like this apartment,” I told her. “I know you just moved in, and I know you don’t want me telling you what to do?—”
“It’s fine, Vice… Let’s go so I can pack my things.” With that, she turned around and walked off. She sounded and looked so defeated, and honestly, I didn’t blame her.
The officers cleared the apartment again before allowing us upstairs. I stayed beside Milan the entire way, while Mace remained downstairs handling the footage and talking to building security.
When the elevator opened on her floor, Milan stepped out slowly and headed to her door, unlocked it, and I followed her inside.
“I’ll be quick,” she said.
“Take your time.”
While she was packing her bags, Mace came up. I told him, “I want you to check out that one bitch that was standing at the front desk. I remember her from the other building Milan stayed in. She was security there and now she’s here and the same shit is happening.”
“Oh, believe me, I already peeped that out and got someone getting her information as we speak.” I just nodded because Mace didn’t miss a beat.
By now, Milan was walking back out with her bags. Her eyes dropped for a second before coming back to mine. “I’m ready… I can’t believe I’m going to your place. I barely even know you.”
“You know enough to call me every time something happens.” Her mouth closed. I stepped closer and lowered my voice. “I ain’t asking you to trust me with your whole life. I’m telling you my place is the safest option right now.”
“What makes your place any safer than this?”
“Nobody gets to my floor without my approval. I control the access. There’s no shared hallway. No front door anybody can stand outside of or none of that.”
She searched my face for a few seconds, probably trying to decide whether fighting me would change anything.
It wouldn’t.
“You can stay in the guest room,” I added. “I’ll give you space, but you’re leaving with me.”
“Okay…”
We left the apartment, and Milan locked the door behind us. She stood there for a second with her hand still resting on the knob. “You okay?” I asked.
“I just moved in.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I actually liked it here.”
“I know that too.”
Her shoulders dropped slightly. “I’m tired of people making me feel like I don’t have control over my own life.”
I set the suitcase down and turned toward her. “They don’t.”
