Just what?
Mrs. Scarpetta.
Hate you.
How’s the coffee? Trey spilled you would go nuts if you knew that they had some pumpkin flavored stuff out even though it gives you the bubble guts.
That bitch.
Shh, don’t talk about my amazing sister in law like that.
Mmmhmm!
Okay,he wrote back.What would you like me to fix you for dinner? I would love to do dinner tonight, just you me and Tibs. Trey, Enzo and Mari are gonna be out at Trey’s parents later on. House to ourselves.
Before I could reply, my phone started to ring. I didn’t recognize the number, but it was a Georgia area code. Easing my finger, I hit ignore and went back to starring at my messages. Why was Thierry being so sweet to me? He wasn’t a sweet man. Opening the picture back up, I starred at Tibs and noted that Thierry had taken time to put a little blue and white toboggin on his head to keep the sun off of him. Damn if I wasn’t starting to think that man was attractive as hell.
Opening a new text, my fingers flew across the virtual keyboard.Bitch you are a traitor. You told him about how bad my stomach acts up. I’m ‘bout to call Annie and tell her you paying for them damn rhinestones.
Trey simply sent back a smiling face. Some days I really hated her ass, but I knew she was just trying to keep the peace. She was a good soul and I loved her. Before I could write back a text came into the girls group chat.
Guess who got vacation time approved, Naomi had sent through.
Bitch who?Carmen had chimed in immediately.
Couldn’t be Dr. Naomi?I texted and threw in an emoji.
I’m so ready to be in Italy. And y’all said we could bring guest right?
Trey entered the chat with the swiftness, and I just imagined her ass trying to type with those dick grabbers she was getting done.Oh shit! Are you bringing a man?????
And is!Naomi replied with a smiling face.
Name?I asked.
We’re flying in together but I’m going to give you guys all the details later. They’re paging me I gotta get going. Love everyone.
Finally, I put the phone away. By the time I looked up Morgan was pulling up to the site I hadn’t been to in a while. Getting out, I surveyed the building crews and saw that the metal was going up on top of the old site, hallowed ground. I hadn’t been here in a long as time but finally construction was getting back underway.
The Diamondwould be returning.
Thierry’s crazy ass ex had thought she’d ruined things, but the insurance money had come through and factors had fell into place. I was in a rebuilding phase of my life. My mind drifted for just a moment.
The lullaby my mother use to sing entered into my head and desperately I wanted to shake it away.
“It looks good, ma’am,” Morgan said from beside me.
There was already a roof on the structure, and there was a foreman in an orange shirt calling out commands. With my hands on my hips, I gave Morgan a nod. “Soon I’ll be back into the thick of things. Wonder what the Mayor has been up to in my absence?”
Morgan didn’t answer and only stood by stoically as we watched for a few more moments. After Italy, I promised myself to get on this guest list and start calling old clients. They needed to know thatThe Diamond of Atlantawas returning.
Chapter 12
Thierry
The Deucewas full tonight. The bar was practically spilling over with customers trying to get a drink. In my mind all I could hear was the sound of a cash register.Ca-Ching!Studying my watch one more time, I saw that it was just nearing eleven o’clock.
Things had been quiet lately.
