I relax back into the leather seat, watching as the world flies past in a blur.
The silence stretches out around us.“What were you planning to do this afternoon?”
“Nothing,” Lucas mumbles, staring out the window.
“Sounds eventful.Any news with the Hood?”
“Nope.”Lucas brings the bottle to his lips, and I look away.
“Fuck, you’re chatty today, aren’t you?”I ask as we drive through the city.“Are you okay?”
Lucas snorts.“Wish people would stop asking me that.”
“If you need anyone to talk to, you know I’m here for you, don’t you?”
Lucas glances my way for the briefest second.There’s warmth in his gaze, and the corner of his mouth lifts slightly.“I’m not signing up for your therapy sessions, Amirah, no way in hell.This is me, dealing, and I’m doing fine,” he says, and I sigh.I can’t push him; if he wants to talk, he will.
“Offer will always be there for you.”
Lucas nods.“I know, lil sis.Now tell me about your friend.”
I spend the rest of the fifteen-minute drive to the docks telling him about Jewel, the good times we spent together, and all I know about her disappearance, which is basically nothing.We pull up in the parking lot, the ocean spread out in front of us.I shield my eyes from the bright afternoon sun as I spot large boats sitting docked on the water, with shipping containers nestled on them and more on the docks.
“Let’s head to the office first, and I’ll ask around,” Lucas says.“I have no fucking idea why she’d be here, but I intend to find out.If I discover Bill’s Freight is doing anything behind our backs, and especially if they’ve hurt some friend of yours, then they’ll have to answer to me.”He hops out of the car and slams the door shut.Thankfully, he sobered up a bit during our trip.
This is the only clue I have from Lily about Jewel, and I don’t know if this is going to be a waste of time or if something will come out of it.Still, I’m not going to sit around, doing nothing.Lily needs my help, and I won’t let her down.She’s been there for me when I needed her, so now I’m returning the favor, and I have to admit ...I kind of like doing things to make a difference.I’ve always sat around and watched others take control.But what if I can do this too?What if I can help people in need?
I follow him through the parking lot to the large office building that’s surrounded by sheds.Rows and rows of shipping containers line the shore.Workers in reflective vests walk around, talking among themselves.A couple recognize Lucas and pretend to look busy.He ignores them.
Lucas opens the door to the office building and holds it open for me.There’s a young guy behind the desk, leaning menacingly over a woman around my age.Her hands are trembling in her lap.What the fuck?
Danger flashes in his eyes, his voice rising.“Do your fucking—”
“Hey!”I yell, and they both look up.
He steps back, and the color drains from his face, but I ignore him, focusing on her.Her cheeks are flushed and her chest rises and falls at a rapid rate.
I cock my head to the side.“Are you okay?”
She quickly nods, but I can see past the façade she’s trying to put up.
“Lucas, what brings you here?”the other guy asks, moving around the girl, and she subtly shifts her body away from him.
Lucas pins him with a heavy glare.“Speak to her like that again, and you are gone.Got it, Nick?”
Nick swallows and nods.
“Heard you got a new shipment of supplies that’ll heal my broken heart?”Lucas asks.
“Yeah, it’s loaded up in the shed, ready for inspection,” Nick says, looking up at Lucas like the sun shines out of his ass.Fucking pathetic.
“Oh, what a perfect time for me to show up, then.I’ll do some quality control.”Lucas grins, his hand on the door.Fantastic.I’ve come here to get answers about Jewel, and my apparent connection is off to sample some coke.
I cringe.“Lucas, what about—”
“Talk with Chelsea.I’ll be back soon.”Lucas walks back outside with Nick following closely behind him.What a waste of time.He was supposed to help me, not get sidetracked.Damn him.
Once the door slams shut, the girl behind the desk lets out a sigh.
