Page 51 of A Trial of the Heart
“Pops outside?” I asked after we released each other.
My mother had already turned back to the stove, using the wooden spoon to stir whatever she had created in the huge silver pot.
“You already know he’s out there on that deck messing with his collection.”
Ever since I could remember, my pops collected toy cars. They weren’t just any regular plastic toy cars; they were the classic, old-fashioned ones that were worth a lot of money. He had so many and cared for them like a newborn baby. I remember one time when Kenneth and I were little, we got the ass whopping of a lifetime for playing with his stuff. We never touched them again.
“I’ma go holla at him,” I informed her, already heading to the back of the house. My mother didn’t acknowledge me.
“What’s up, old man?” I greeted my pops the moment I stepped out onto the screened-in deck.
My pops never stopped polishing off his 1963 antique car with the fiber cloth; that car happened to be his all-time favorite. “Can’t call it, young one.”
Stretching, I sat down on the wicker rocking chair across from my pops, a light breeze brushed across my face. I could see why he enjoyed sitting out here. The weather was mostly nice, and the scenery was calm and relaxing. In my own world, lost in the greenery, I felt eyes on me, prompting me to look my pops way.
“What’s up?”
My pops hadn’t spoken a word, but I knew him well enough that he had a lot he wanted to say.
“I won’t ask you what’s going on in your life as I know you won’t tell me, but I do want to give you some advice. Is that okay?”
I smiled to myself, either my parents had been talking, or they both were just worried. It could have been both.
“Yeah, Pops.”
“You told me a while back that Lauryn could be behind the charges filed, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Play her game, son. See if she’s behind it, and if so, try to get that confession. That will clear you.”
The last thing I wanted to do was be around Lauryn, I didn’t need her thinking a meet up or communication was any more that it was. Once we broke up, I had no desire to speak to her again.
“Okay,” I agreed, because though I had written her off, if speaking to her would clear my name, I would have to go ahead and do it.
Just as I disconnected the call, I pulled up to Shiloh’s place. Shutting off the engine, I hopped out the car and walked casually to her door, ringing the doorbell once I reached it. I heard the lock being undone before the ring stopped. Shiloh had to have been anxiously awaiting my arrival.
“Hey.” Shiloh greeted me with a smile.
Damn. Shiloh stood before me in her see-through negligee that did little to hide what rested underneath. Before I could greet her, Shiloh pulled me inside, kissing me roughly.
“Damn, you like that?” I questioned when she paused only to close the door after us.
I knew Shiloh said she needed me, and I was positive it was for sex. I just wasn’t expecting it to be instantly. She was damn near on some trench coat, no clothes under it shit.
Stepping to me, Shiloh seductively bit her bottom lip as she gripped the hem of my shirt.
“I just need you right now. I give you permission to do whatever you want to do with me. Tonight, I am all yours. Make me feel good.” Her voice was low and sultry, and whatever alcohol she had consumed lingered on her breath.
Nodding in understanding, I hoisted her from her feet as I kissed her deeply. The space we were in was weird, but Shiloh needed me, so I had to give her what she desired.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Shiloh:
The last two weeks of my life had been going well. My work life had been stress-free, and the sneaking Rashad and I had been doing hadn’t been noticed. Though Rashad and I had been sleeping together on a regular, I was still heavy into the case. The case seemed cut and dry from the surface, but the further I dug, I noticed it was a lot of inconsistencies that didn’t add up. I hadn’t told anyone except LeeAnn about my assumptions. I wanted concrete evidence before I spoke up about my findings.
