Demi looked at Day. “A lot of niggas not gonna make it ‘til morning. You got the alibi lined up?” he asked. They would need an alibi. A good one. When murder was on the menu, they had to prepare the table the right way to avoid being caught.
“Hotel rooms in Detroit already checked into under both our credit cards. Camera system is down, the desk clerk been paid to say we been there all night. We’re covered,” Day informed.
A workable Alibi. Demi never committed murder without one.
His next call was Charlie. His stomach tightened as it rang longer than usual. She was at the club, with the enemy.
If anything happens to her...
Before he could manifest the thought, she answered. “Hey, babe.”
“Bird, I need you to go home. Go home right now and text me when you get there. Don’t open the door for nobody,” he said.
“Why? I’m singing tonight and I still have to...”
“Bird, do what I said, baby. No questions. Go home. That bitch-ass nigga, Frankie, there?” Demi asked.
“Yeah, he’s here, but he’s in his office with the door locked. I haven’t gotten your money yet,” Charlie said.
“No, don’t worry about the bread. Get your friend, Justin, to take you to the condo and wait for me,” Demi said.
There was silence on the other end of the phone, like Charlie was trying to decide what to say next. If Demi was telling her to ask Justin for something, she knew something wasn’t right.
“What’s going on, Demi?” she asked.
“I’ll explain later, just get out of the club,” he responded. “Listen to your man, a’ight?”
More silence. He could practically hear the thoughts in her mind. She wasn’t trained like Lauren. Demi hadn’t been with her long enough. She was taking too long to follow instructions and Demi could feel himself losing patience.
“Demi?” Her voice was small.
“Yeah, baby?” he responded, turning away from Day.
“You know I just got you, so I’m not really trying to lose you, right?” Charlie asked.
“I know, Bird,” he replied.
“Whatever is about to happen… Be careful,” she said. “Because I need you to be okay. I’m in love with you.”
“I’m in love with you, Bird. You don’t even know how much I’m in love with you, girl,” Demi answered. He ended the call after that because Charlie was a distraction. What he felt for Charlie would get him killed. Tonight, was not the night to have her on his mind.
Demi hung up the phone, turned it off and looked over at Day. “Got to get the cells to the hotel so they ping off the nearest tower. Then, it’s time to put in work.”
Chapter 17
Lauren’s hands shook as she packed an overnight bag. “DJ! Make sure you pack up your game and the charger!”
“Why do we have to go to Granny’s, Ma?” her son asked, popping his head into her bedroom.
“It’s just for a few days, baby. Keep her some company. Hurry,” Lauren said.
It took her thirty minutes to pack. She hated that she was so hardheaded. Demi had told her to park in the garage repeatedly, but she never listened. She parked in the driveway and she felt exposed as she ushered her son to the car. Whatever was going on, she knew it was serious if Demi had asked her to leave their home.
She ushered DJ to the car. Her nerves were tattered.
“Put your seatbelt on, baby,” she said. She was halfway down the driveway when she remembered she had forgotten her cell phone inside. “I’ll be right back.”
She hopped out and went back into the house, locating her phone quickly before running back out. Her worst fears were realized when she saw the man in a black hoodie and full ski mask pulling DJ from the back seat.
