Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“I think so. But I can’t be gone more than a day or so with the fish.”
“It shouldn’t take longer than that. But if it does, someone will feed them, I promise.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “Oh, wait. I should grab my sketch book in case Teddy wants to talk about the art,” she said, pulling away to go grab her book.
“That’ll be Teddy,” I said as I looked out the window and saw a sleek limo pull up out front. As soon as it parked, someone climbed out of the passenger side.
Security, I’d bet.
“He rides in a limo?” she asked, following my gaze.
“He usually uses a town car, but he likes to pamper the women. Ready?” I asked as she clutched her sketch book to her chest.
“Yeah,” she agreed, nodding, but her body language was tense.
I put an arm around her then grabbed her bag before leading her out of the apartment.
A part of me wanted to stop and spend the time to comfort her. The other part just wanted to end this shit once and for all for her, knowing we’d have as much time together as we wanted afterward.
We walked out of the building flanked by Cato and Seeley, getting the eyes of all the people hanging about outside of the building.
As soon as we got to the limo, the guard opened the back door to reveal Rynn sitting there.
“We have slushees!” she declared, holding out a pink and blue swirled one. “I got you blueberry and strawberry. It’s the best combination,” she said.
Some of the tension left Jade’s shoulders then as she took the slushee and climbed in.
“I will be in contact soon, okay?”
“Okay,” she agreed. “Be safe.”
“I will. Let Teddy spoil you. He likes it,” I told her, slipping her bag in at her feet, then closing the door.
I waited until they pulled away from the curb to look at Cato. “Is Rynn armed?”
“Always,” he said, nodding.
“Okay. Let’s get to work then,” I said, looking over at Seeley. “Who do you think is gonna talk?”
“The group of kids,” Seeley said, nodding back toward the building.
“I think that tall one is Terrance. He’s the one who saved Jade,” I said, reaching for my wallet, though I didn’t know how much cash I had on me.
“I stored up,” Seeley said, reaching for a wad of fifties.
With that, we made our way toward the kids. Two of them scattered immediately. But Terrance eyed me closely as we approached.
Seeley pulled a couple of fifties off of the wad. “Point us in the direction of a guy named T,” he demanded.
Seeley was good with this shit. Taking charge. Getting information. It was why he’d been the one to get involved with the Henchmen first, got on their good side, made himself invaluable, then asked to bring us in with him.
As much as this was my situation, I had to admit that Seeley was better to take the lead.
Until we found the fuck who put his hands on my girl. Then it was my time to shine.
“Not fucking with T and his crew,” another of the kids said, rushing off to catch up with his friends who—wisely—cut out already.
“She okay?” Terrance asked.
“Someone almost strangled her to death tonight,” I told him, watching him quickly tamp down the shock and concern that moved across his face. As much as I hated that this neighborhood did that to kids so young, it was good he’d developed a poker face early.
“Our only lead says we need to talk to someone named T. You gonna tell us where to find him?” I asked as Terrance’s glance moved to our cuts, the one-percenter badges on them.
“Building South,” he said under his breath, lips not even moving. “Can’t fucking help you, man. Leave me the fuck alone,” he said, louder, backing away from us.
“Fine,” Seeley said, playing along, slipping his cash into his pocket once again. But as we walked away, he made sure the kid was watching as he dropped a couple of fifties behind the trash can.
Building South was at the end of the long, cracked sidewalk.
The building we all grew up in was only one of three in the immediate vicinity. North, South, and East. There’d been plans for a West, but I guess the funding never came in.
“You have no idea about this T guy?” I asked Seeley as we walked.
He’d always been someone who kept a finger on the pulse of all the local crews, somehow knowing more than anyone else even long after he moved out of the area.
He shook his head, though. “Fell off the past year or so. With Ama and… everything,” he said.
“It’s fine, man,” Cato said, shrugging. “We’ll figure it out.”
It wasn’t exactly complicated to find someone in this area. Especially if that someone was some sort of boss in a small-time crime syndicate.