Page 236 of When a Soul Cries

“I'm never late.”

He looked at me.

“Aight, fuck you too.”

As he headed toward his SUV, I rolled down my window. “Tell Sol I said hey!”

He didn't even turn around.

My phone buzzed.

Zari.

You still out doing whatever dumb shit you said you had to do?

I smiled.

You worried about me?

The bubbles appeared, disappeared, then returned.

No.

“Lying ass.”

Took you a long time to type two letters.

Her response came immediately.

Goodnight Khalil.

I laughed.

She only used my whole first name when I got on her nerves.

I was starting to like the sound of it coming from her.

---

The next morning, Rome and I stepped off the elevator at Hollis headquarters.

Nobody knew we were coming.

Not Hollis.

Definitely not Desmond.

Rome adjusted his cuff as we walked down the hallway while I carried the folder Darius had finished verifying after midnight.

“You ready?” I asked.

“Are you?”

“I was born ready to ruin somebody's morning.”

“That is exactly what concerns me.”

The receptionist looked confused when Rome gave our names.