Page 35 of Johny B

“JB, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“I need to see her, Rex.” I try reasoning with him. “I only want to talk to her. Nothing crazy, I assure you.”

“Scarlett doesn’t live here anymore. She no longer runs the place. Harmony is in front of house these days.” I take a step back, hand going to the back of my neck.

“Since when?”

“Been about four months now. She got herself a job working for one of the big law companies in the city. Has her own apartment and everything.” Why didn’t I know this already? Ohyeah, because I was an asshole, and didn’t keep in touch with her.

“What’s the address of the apartment?” I ask Rex.

“Aw come on, JB,” he groans. “You know I can’t tell you. Smoke would have my head if he found out I told you.”

“I won’t tell him, if you don’t,” I joke. “Come on brother, you know how I feel about her and the truth behind why I had to leave. I respect Smoke, haven’t I proved that by going into the DVI’s snake pit?” I reason with him.

“Fuuuckkk,” he hisses as he glares at me, and I can see in his face that he’s torn. “Damn-it. Canyon Lakes Apartments over Stonegate parkway, number 26.” Rex points his finger at me. “Promise me, if you get there and she don’t want to see you, you fucking walk. Don’t make me regret this, JB.”

“Deal.” Launching towards him I wrap my arms around him and give him a good old man hug. “I owe you big time, and I won’t let you down.”

“Now fuck off, and let me go close the place up so I can get some shuteye.”

I walk backward, throwing the big guy a salute before turning, and jogging back into the shadows and to where I left my car.

My stomach aches, the butterflies in there going crazy at the thought of seeing my woman soon. Don’t be fooled in any way, because there’s no doubt in my mind or my heart that Scarlett is mine, and I’ll move hell and earth to make sure that she knows it, too.

Chapter

Twenty-One

Johny B

Itake the drive towards the city; the navigation showing that Scarlett’s place is on the perimeter, an area known to be where many of the higher paid city workers live. I drive past the building and park up nearby, leaving me a short walk to the entrance. The five-story complex looks both new and expensive, with its state-of-the-art security intercom cameras, and the shine on the exterior shimmers, reflecting the distorted globes from the fancy exterior lighting. Ornate, oblong boxes line the path to the entrance, containing lush displays of sweet-smelling blooms.

Announcing my arrival via the intercom isn’t an option I’m willing to take, because chances are, Scarlett won’t let me set foot in the building. So, I hang around outside, standing back in the shadow, out of camera range and wait it out.

After an hour, I resign myself to the fact that I’m going to have to take a chance and press the goddamn intercom buzzer. I start to move towards it but then falter when a cab comes to a stop at the roadside and a chick gets out. She’s a young blonde,petite little thing, and very unsteady on her feet. She’s obviously had her fair share of liquor, moving slowly as she makes her way to the entrance.

I grab a handful of flowers from the nearest box, and then move quickly to the doorway.

“Hey!” I say loudly when I step out in front of her. She jumps so much that if it wasn’t for my quick response, catching her arm to steady her, she’d have fallen on her ass. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I quickly remove my hand as soon as she’s found her balance and hold up my hands in surrender. “Do you live here?”

“Yes, why?” she slurs, looking up at me, her eyes blink rapidly, as if fighting off sleep or unconsciousness.

“I’m wondering if you could do me a huge favor?”

She doesn’t respond, just weaves from side to side and squints.

“I’m here to see my sister. I’ve been overseas for quite some time.” I bring the flowers from where I was hiding them behind my back, around to the front of me, to further justify my lie. “I want to surprise her, you see. You might know her, actually, although she only moved in here a couple of months ago. Scarlett’s her name. Red hair, slim build, about five feet five?”

“Oh yes,” her eyes go wide, no longer any signs of suspicion. “I know Scarlett. You want me to let you in?”

“That would be amazing.” I hit her with one of my ‘panty dropping’ smiles, not that I want her to drop them, but needs must.

“Are you sure?” she questions me. “It’s a little late to be visiting, isn’t it?” she checks her wristwatch, but I’m not convinced she can actually focus on it. “Maybe you should come back tomorrow.”

“Yeah, it’s late, but my flight just got in and… well, to be honest, it’s been so long since I’ve seen my baby sister, I can’twait any longer. Plus, she’d kill me if she found out I was in town and didn’t go to her straight away, whatever time of day.”

“That is so sweet.” With one hand on her heart, she sweeps an escaped tear from her cheek with the other. “Okay, I’ll let you in. Anything for a military man.”

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