Page 18 of Point of Infinity
“What did you find out?”
“Well, she was born in 2004. She and her mom lived in a run-down townhouse in Hoboken. Her mom was one of Pres’s side pieces for years, but then they disappeared.”
“But you keep track of them.”
“Well, yeah, it wasn’t hard.” Mike was always careful about what he said. “Until 2018.”
“What happened in 2018?” I asked.
“Brandy was killed in her home.”
“And the kid?” I asked.
“Well, that’s the thing.” He hesitated. “She disappeared.”
CHAPTER 6
BECKY (KENZIE)
Ihad not been back to Jersey since my mother moved us to Pennsylvania when I was six. My mother loved it, the greenery, the proximity to New York. She would tell me stories about her adventures growing up just across the Hudson. She was only nineteen when I was born. I remembered how much she had experienced in twenty years of life. I got the feeling that when she moved to Pittsburgh, her life was much easier.
But she still gave off the feeling it could all end in a second, and she was right.
Morristown’s streets rolled past as I got a feel for the place, then I turned back toward Newark Airport. The van stayed behind in long-term parking, and a shuttle dropped me at a hotel close by. Better to keep my distance from the Infinity Kings’ turf. With my luck, I’d run into Reid at a gas station and have to deal with him. I needed to stay far away from him. Maybe I should target Patrick. It would be better for me to get closer to Sonny.
“Yes, can I help you?” The woman at the front desk didn’t hide her disgust. I had one credit card in my name and was going to use it to have a home base for three days until I could put myplan in action. I wanted to be near the airport because as soon as this mess was over, I was going to take my trusty passport courtesy of the US government and my fake name and hop on the first plane out of the country. On to a new life. One thing my mom taught me was how to take care of myself.
“Can I get a room?” I gave her my passport and the credit card.
“Do you have a reservation?” She blinked her eyes like there was something stuck in them. It was probably the pound of mascara she had on her fake lashes flaking into her eyes.
“No.” I blinked myself and conjured up a few tears. “My stupid boyfriend was supposed to meet me in New York, but he called and said he couldn’t make it, but then I saw his ass tagged in an Insta story in Miami, feeling up on some chick.” I bit my lip and let a tear fall. “I can’t change my flight and go home early, so I thought I’d camp out near the airport for three days.” A lower lip wobble sold it.
Her face instantly softened at the mention of my shitty-ass boyfriend.
“Girl, I get it. Men suck.” She typed away at her computer. “Don’t even worry about it.” She ran my credit card and gave it and my passport back. Then she gave me two keys. “I gave you a nice room on the sixth floor with a distant view of New York.” She grinned.
“Thank you, girl.” I appreciate it.” I grabbed my bags and headed for the elevator.
The room was clean and warm, with its king-sized bed, desk, and a chair over by the window. I placed my stuff on the bed and opened the drapes.
“Oh, there it is?” New York in the distance. I kind of wished I had another day to explore, but I had business to attend to. I unpacked, took a hot shower, and then crawled under the covers and slept for sixteen hours.
When I woke,the sun was high in the sky. Dressed and moving through the lobby, I snagged a cup of free coffee from the cart. Outside, the pool glittered, and I sank into a lounge chair. A father and his two kids—a boy and a girl—sent water flying with their laughter.
The kids looked so innocent, and their father so attentive. Fuck, did those types of families really exist? I couldn’t imagine Sonny taking Patrick and me to the pool and tossing us in while we squealed and giggled. I wiped a tear from my cheek.
I sat up and fished my phone out of my pocket. No time for fake memory lane. I needed a costume for the Halloween party.
I searched on my phone and found a shop ten minutes away. I hopped into an Uber and arrived at the storefront. Several costumes lined the front window. I pulled the door open and stepped inside. The young salesclerk looked bored, scrolling through her phone. “I was wondering if you could help me.” I tried my ‘men suck’ angle again.
“So, I need a costume to wear to a party.” I leaned against the counter. “My stupid-ass boyfriend just dumped me for some girl he met in Miami a few weeks ago, and he’s flying her up. I need to look amazing.”
“Oh, my goodness, girl.” She looked me up and down. “I have just the thing to make him regret not picking you. Come on.” She waved me to the back and understood the assignment and gave me several options.
“See, this one is more like Zoey Kravitz cat woman.” She held up the worn leather catsuit. She pointed to another one. “That’s more Anne Hathaway but might be a little too wholesome for themission. Or you can go with Halle Berry.” She licked her lips. “It shows a lot of skin; you could totally pull it off.”
I settled for the first one she suggested. I tried it on and stared at myself in the mirror. Something about being all clad in black leather made me stand taller. I looked like a badass, and it was exactly the attitude I needed to pull off this impossible mission.
