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We soon end our conversation, and I wander downstairs. With the recent development falling into my lap, I have matters I’ll need to address before Zakiya returns.
I’m on my way downtown when my phone rings and Aurelio’s number displays on the screen. My heart freezes.
Has the danger Zakiya’s been running from finally caught up with her? Was Aurelio not able to handle whoever came after her?
“Where is she?” I ask, holding all emotion from my voice.
“She gave me the goddam slip!” Aurelio explains how he lost Zakiya.
The only thought running through my mind is getting to her so she’s not alone. She’s been alone for too long and needs to know she doesn’t have to be anymore.
“Man, I’m sorry, but I have an idea where she might be.”
Aurelio gives me an address, and I tell my driver our new destination. When we pull into the development, I barely register the quaint lots. By the time I pull up to the address Aurelio gave me, he’s having a heated conversation with an older man gesticulating with a cane.
I exit the car and pause beside Aurelio. “Is she inside?”
Before Aurelio can respond, the old man turns an accusing glare on him. “And you claim to be a cop! An obvious lie given this man has gangster written all over him.”
“And you must be pretty brave to bar me from getting to my woman,” I say.
He narrows his eyes to glare at me. “All the years she’s lived here, she ain’t never bring nobody around. Fool someone else with that story.”
I glance at Aurelio. “I don’t have time to fuck around with him.”
“Make time! Cause you ain’t getting past me. So, suit man, you feeling froggy?” The stranger uses his cane to do an odd two-step like he’s about to throw hands.
Aurelio begins rolling up his sleeve. “If we have any hope of getting Zakiya before it’s time to pick up Jinx, we’re going to have to handle him.”
“Jinx? What do you know about that sweet angel?” A dark frown covers the man’s face.
I hold my hand up to stall Aurelio. “You know my daughter?”
“Daughter? Well, damn.” The stranger steps back, no longer seething with aggression. “Now I got another bone of contention with you. You’re the reason she hasn’t come to visit. Where’s your conscience?”
“I don’t have time for this.” I move past him to the front door and ring the bell, leaving the old man to Aurelio.
When the door opens, my ability to speak deserts me. Zakiya stands before me. Never more beautiful. Never more vulnerable. And with an air of inevitability surrounding her.
CHAPTER 20
Zakiya
Sansone’s stare sees too much, stripping me of the armor I barely put back together.
“Zakiya?” He reaches out to cup my face but stops short.
Over his shoulder, I glimpse Aurelio and Mr. Murphy. “How’d he find me?” I nod toward Aurelio, my usual fight nowhere to be found. For so long, I’ve tried to hide, but now that I can’t, I have no fight in me left. Not for Sansone.
“You’ll have to ask him.” Sansone drags his gaze away to search inside my house. “Invite me in.”
I move aside to let him enter.
Sansone leisurely walks from room to room, touching on the decor, taking the time to discover me through my living space. I’ve only let a few people enter my home, and Sansone is the first who makes me nervous. I don’t know what to do with my hands and end up fidgeting while he inspects my home.
He gets to the playroom I put together for Jinx. “You shared your home with my daughter after her ordeal?”
“Until I could find you, she needed to be somewhere she felt safe. And I could protect her here.” I hug my torso in anticipation of something, although I don’t know what.
