Page 72 of Dr. Bell

Pleased, her smile grew. “Thank you. That is very kind of you. Is there anything you would like to say to me before I go?”

I shook my head.

“Alright. Tell Mr. and Mrs. Grace that I said hello.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I uttered.

She stood, smoothed down her dress, then headed back to the door. The arrogance of her ass to not even look back. I could’ve been deranged for all she knew. She gave me ample opportunity to shoot her in the back if I wanted to.

You’re not stupid.

No, I wasn’t stupid. I was even angrier. Narrowing my eyes at the door, I slammed the eyeliner and mirror on the desk top.

I was going to ruin that family one way or the other. The fucking nerve of them to discard me this way! It was my right to get even! Adir would pay for breaking my heart. He would pay for embarrassing me!

I dialed a number I knew by heart, bit back a fresh batch of tears, and waited for him to answer.

“Yeah?”

“Are you busy?”

“I’m always busy, baby. ‘Sup wit’ ya?”

“You have some time for me tonight?”

He chuckled lowly. “Last time I tried to lay up wit’ ya, you said you wasn’t feeling good ‘cause of the baby.”

Smiling because I already knew I had him in my clutches, I said, “I know, I know. I wanna see you, though. I miss you.”

“Mm. You miss me, huh?”

“I do. So, is that a yes I’ll see you later?”

“You know it is, baby. I’ll be there ‘round eight. That’s cool?”

“It is.”

“Bet.”

I hung up, smiling from ear to ear.

Rushing through clinic would probably bite me in the ass later. However, I had shit to do. I rushed out of there and headed to the electronics store. If I was going to go after a family like the Bells, I had to protect myself. Only crazy people fucked with Adir.

Inside the store, I found what I needed, then went straight home to get everything together. I started myself a bath, lit some candles, turned on some music, and hummed to the beat as I placed the tiny tape inside the recorder.

I cleared my throat, then spoke into the tiny device. Adir was going to hate the day he fucked around on me. And that bitch of his was going to wish she never crossed me.

ADIR

“IpromisedyouthatI would keep him safe. I’m sorry.”

Only the wind heard me mumble those words in front of Tilda’s headstone. I placed new, fresh flowers inside the holder, then said a small prayer before stepping away. Coming here had been hard. Although Tilda wasn’t in that grave, coming here meant I had to own that I fucked up—and I never fucked up.

Hakeem was one of Tilda’s foster kids before he transitioned out. Back then, his father was in prison and his mother was on the streets. He and Marco were separated for most of their childhood. It wasn’t until Hakeem became older that he reconnected with his brother.

Hakeem started making small plays, which eventually turned into making even bigger plays. Then, Hakeem and Marco’s father got out of prison. He had already spent most of his life in the streets and wanted a part of what his sons had built. Within a couple of years, the three became one of the city’s largestpushers. Hakeem and I had an understanding, and because Tilda asked me to look out for him, I did.

Now that Hakeem and his whole crew was gone, several crews were trying to move into his old territory. Because of it, Dr. Bell & Associates was knee-deep in emergency calls. There hadn’t been a dull day in weeks, and it didn’t look like it was going to slow down any time soon.

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