“Naw, I’m good, thanks.”
I head to the back room. C’s at his desk, Santana playing in the background, brows furrowed as he works. I rap once on the doorframe.
He looks up from the computer screen. A grin starts to form, then falters when he clocks my face.
I drop into the chair across from him. “Where’s Lex?”
“At the studio. It’s really coming together.”
“Yeah, Lot mentioned that.”
“Lex has really appreciated her help.”
I nod. “I’ve been meaning to stop by and see it.”
“Still in the early stages,” he says. “How was Lakehead?”
“Revealing.”
“Oh yeah?”
I cross my ankle over the opposite knee. “I told Lot some things about my past. Things I haven’t even told you.”
C leans forward. “I hope you know you can.”
“Yeah, I do. I will—just not today. Still reeling with it, to be honest.”
It’s been nearly twenty years since I testified. Since I last saw Jasinder. A jailhouse visit after she’d been sentenced. Three years in state prison for Class 2 felony theft, plus another five years for wire and mail fraud. I don’t even know why I went. To face her, I guess. I hadn’t in court. Couldn’t. I kept my head down while giving my testimony—spilling all her secrets and criminal activity.
But that day, in that cold visiting room, I didn’t look away. I’ll never forget the venom in her eyes. Pure, burning hate. She lunged at me, causing the guards to restrain her and drag her out as she screamed, her voice bouncing off the concrete walls. “You’re dead to me, you fucking piece of shit. Dead to me.”
Her words, like claws, left their indelible marks. But I shake them off now. No regrets. I did what I had to. What I wished I’d done sooner.
“Jasinder would be out,” I say, because C knows that part. “Unless she got sent up again. But my guess is she’d have learned how to better cover her tracks.”
He eyes me. “Where you going with this, Dice?”
“Not sure. Just got me thinking about a couple strange calls. A week apart but the same dude. The first time, he asked for me by my government name, then hung up. When he called again, he said his name was Damon. That’s it. Both times I tried the number he called from and it just rang. No clue who he is or what he wants. But it’s got some of Jasinder’s fingerprints. Her M.O. was to appear nervous, uncertain, so no one suspected she was running game. That’s how this dude might be playing it. Reel me in then hit me with a con.”
“And you think Jasinder could be behind it? Like some kinda payback?”
I shrug. “Might be way off. But it’ssomething.”
C hums in thought. “One of Lex’s friends is engaged to a security expert, the one who works for Micah Peters.”
“Right. Man was a beast on the courts. Forgot you had connections in high places now,” I say, ribbing him.
“Mick’s good people. Stiles too. Shoot me the number and I’ll see if he can help.”
“Appreciate that, man.”
He gives me a short nod, but the gesture’s not empty. We go back too long for him not to have a good read on me. “That’s not the only thing that’s got your head swimming. You said Lakehead was revealing.”
“It was, but I don’t want to hear no shit about that grail,” I warn. “I’m not domesticated—yet. But Lot’s got me deep in it. She’s leaving tomorrow, and I’m not ready.”
“You want to ask her to stay?”
“No. She loves her life in New York. Loves her work. I’d never expect her to give that up, especially when I don’t even know what I’m offering. A relationship? Never wanted that before. Do I really want to give up my freedom? Can I even commit?”
