He was a good man, and I was a foolish woman for ever having listened to my family.
As I looked down at the rock on my finger and the painting next to me, tears slipped from my eyes as I rode home, filled with sadness and regret.
Me: Baby Mama. Come to my house when you get off, please.
BM: I can feel something is wrong in this text. I’ll be off in one hour, then I’m coming straight there.
Me: Lol. I love you.
BM: Always love you, babe.
I droppedmy phone in my purse just as Juno pulled into my driveway.
“Thank you, Juno.”
“It was my pleasure, Ms. Yumi. Let me get the door for you.” He stepped out of the truck, coming around to my side and opening the door. I grabbed my bag and the pretty canvas of me, gave Juno a curt nod, then headed up to my house. I searched through my purse for my house keys, then stopped mid-stride when I saw my car sitting pretty low. When I moved closer, I noticed that my tires had been sliced.
“What the hell?” I looked around as if the person who’d done this was still lurking. I hurried up to my door but stopped again, noticing it was ajar. I pushed it open slowly, but I didn’t go inside. I immediately pulled out my cell and dialed Emery’s number. Why was he the first person I thought to contact? I didn’t know, but I knew it was because I knew he would come to my rescue.
“It’s only been ten minutes, Yummy. You miss me?—”
“Emery! Someone flattened my tires and broke into my house. I don’t know if they’re still inside!” I exclaimed frantically.
“Say less. I’m on my way. I’m going to have Juno circle back and check shit out. Don’t go in the house. Do you have a neighbor’s house you can go to until I get there?”
“No. I don’t talk to them.”
“Okay, just hang tight. Walk down the block and wait for Juno. I’m twenty minutes away.”
“Okay.” I hung up and began walking to the corner since my house was two houses away. My forgetful behind forgot to charge my camera ring before I left yesterday, and now I wouldn’t be able to tell who was in my house. Who the hell would do something like this to me? I didn’t have any enemies, and I didn’t talk to anyone outside of my family and Carmen. The area I lived in wasn’t a crime area. We didn’t have break-ins or carjackings over here, so I was genuinely baffled about who would do this to me.
Two minutes went by before Juno turned the corner and stopped in front of me. I didn’t wait for him to get out and open the door before I hurriedly got inside the back of the truck. Juno pulled into my driveway and parked.
“Stay inside, Ms. Yumi. I’m going to check the house out. If you see or hear anything suspicious, get in the driver’s seat and pull off. Understand?”
I nodded. “Be careful, please?”
“No worries.” Juno took his gun out of the center console, checked the clip, then got out and went inside. I climbed into the driver’s seat with my heart pounding in my chest. My leg shook as the thought of calling my dad crossed my mind, but I nixed the idea. He’d probably say it was because of Emery, and I didn’t need or want to hear that right now.
Hearing a car pulling into my driveway, I waited to see who it was before I rammed this truck into them. When I saw Emery emerge and several other vehicles pull in behind him, I got out of the car and hurried over to him. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. His security went inside to assist Juno as I held on to him tightly.
“You good?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea who would do this.”
“We’re going to get to the bottom of it. Wait in the car for me.” He opened the Range Rover’s back door and helped me inside. I watched as he strolled up my walkway to the door and went inside. A few moments later, everyone came out with Emery holding a paper and talking to the men. From the look on his face, he looked pissed and a little worried. I couldn’t take the suspense anymore and got out of the truck, making my way over to them.
“Is everything okay? Is my house vandalized?”
Emery turned to me, shaking his head. “Nah, but I need you to pack some shit. You’re coming to stay with me.”
“Why? I can’t move in with you right now, Emery. I bought this home?—”
“It’s not up for debate, Yummy.”
“Emery, . . . what is that?” I gestured to the paper in his hand. Before he could ball it up, I snatched it from his hand. There were two colored photos of me coming out of the salon and my job. At the bottom, it read:Drop the Aldana case,or you’re as good as dead.
I gasped and placed my hand over my mouth.
