I grip my controller with a laugh. “Run eh’ game nuh.”
ZARA
I point at the diamond headpiece and Clova smiles. “That type mi want,” I say, and the salesgirl glances at me twice. Recognizes me from Mrs. Adam’s class. Small world. “Hey teacher… how can I help you?”
“Wait… you were in Mrs. Adams class?” I smile. She laughs and we catch up. Now I’m debating on what to get. I call Gavin for backup.
“The boss deh pan the phone!” he yells, making me blush. Hear ‘boss’ periodddd.
“Mi like it,” he says once I showed him the hair piece. “It woulda look nice fi yuh wedding.”That’s all I need.
I’m smiling the whole way out the store until a silver Mark X swerves into my lane. I brake hard. My chest slams in the wheel. My phone flies to the other seat. Pain runs through me so sharp. I feel like I’m about to pass out.
I call Doctor Jacobs then head to her office for a quick checkup. I ask her not to say anything to Nickoi. She checks me, gives me some cream, says I’m fine. By the time I reach home, it’s already dark. The house is quiet. Too quiet. I walk in, and Nickoi is face-down on the bed with the babies asleep beside him.
“Zara,” he calls, before I even speak. He sits up, and walks straight toward me in the dark.
“Weh yah come from?” His tone sharp, eyes searching mine.
“I was at the store,” I lie.
“B so a lost yuh did lost inna dah store deh?”
“I b-bought you something and before that I was in a school meeting.” I hand him the bag with the shoes. He looks, nods, says nothing else. Then he wraps his arms around me and lets out a breath.
He barely looks convinced, but he gets back on the bed. I guess he’s tired of talking about that. I glance at the the time, wondering if it’s right. It’s a little after eight, why is he getting ready to sleep?This weird bad.
“Babe,” I call, his head sinking in the pillow.
“Zara,” his voice muffled.
“What’s up with you sleeping early?”
“Mi affi wake early tomorrow,” he retorts. I mean he always wakes early even when he goes to bed at midnight, so what is he trying to say?
“Yuh wake early every morning Nickoi,” I point out.
He seems to remember something and sits up. “Come yer.” I do as I’m told. He holds my waist and pull me even closer.
“Jah Jah how mi fi nuh member this?” I furrow my brows when he says that.
“Member what? Nickoi you a scare mi,” I breathe.
He stares in my eyes. “Neva that Mami… mi just wah yuh listen to wah mi a say and work with me.”
He explains to me, who British is, her connection with this detective named Mario, her role and what’s going down tomorrow. On the outside, I’m cool, but inside I’m shaking.
“Nickoi suppose dem try fi h-hurt yuh?” It comes out shaky too.
“Dem cyaa do that man, a me fi just ensure dem nuh find nutt’n,” he tells me. What if there’s a loose end and they send him to prison? Leaving me and the babies alone.
“So everything hide?” I meet his gaze. He pulls me down on him and press a deep kiss to my lips.
“Mi just nuh wah yuh an act nervous… enuh b, Mario a the best of the best, so him will know if mi a hide suh’m through you so please mami, wul it, yuh can do that fimme?”
I suck on his lip. “Anything for you.”
“Weh yuh gun? Gimme it,” his eyes on the safe. I quickly hand it to him and start thinking of possible loose ends.
