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“Yeah, we gotta figure that out.”

“I don’t need your mama looking at me like I stole both of her sons.”

“Lorraine’s nosy ass already knows we’ve been fuckin’.”

“What!”

“She came to the warehouse today, interrogating me about this other woman.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I really didn’t tell her anything. I didn’t want to give her shit on me, and you like that until I knew what the fuck we had goin’ on. She knows though.”

“This is getting messy,” she said, covering her face.

I pulled her hand away from her face. “The shit is real. I got you when it comes to my family.”

I leaned down and kissed her lips. I wanted her to see I heard everything she said. I didn’t want this to be strictly sex anymore.

“One more thing before I leave.”

“What is it?”

“Call Nikki’s family. You avoiding them is not a good look. At least act like you care and you're innocent.”

“I do care. But I got you.”

I walked her to the door and pulled her in for a hug and kiss. Bad as I wanted her to stay, I needed to process what we talked about and call Nikki’s family. I stood there and watched her back out of the garage and disappear towards her house. My phone started ringing with an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Is this Shameek King?”

“Who askin’?”

“My name is Detective Allen. I’m calling regarding Nicole–Nikki’s disappearance. Her sister filed a missing person report this afternoon, and your name came up as the last person known to have seen her.”

“When do you need me?”

“Can we talk tomorrow morning?”

“Aight.”

“Would ten work?”

“Yeah.”

“We can meet at the station.”

“Bet,” I said, and hung up.

Nikki hadn't been gone a week, and shit was already moving faster than I wanted. I grabbed my burner phone from the counter and texted my cleanup guy.

Me: We got a problem.

Then I sent one to my tech guy.

Me: Police involved. Make sure there ain’t shit I missed.