Even through the grainy monitor, I could tell he was fine.
I pressed the intercom. “Who is it?”
“Thad. Justice’s cousin.” His voice came through smooth and unhurried. “Got some paperwork for Justice. He asked me to drop them off.”
Family or not, I wasn’t about to just open the door because a man said so. I pulled out my phone and shot Justice a quick text:
Someone named Thad at the door. Says he’s dropping off paperwork for you. He legit?
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Yeah that’s my cousin. Good looking out tho. I forgot I asked him to swing by.
I exhaled. Slid the phone back in my pocket.
Through the monitor, Thad looked up at the camera like he knew I was making him wait on purpose. One eyebrow raised, hint of a smirk. Patient, but amused.
That confidence irritated me.
I opened the door.
Shit.
The monitor didn’t do him justice. He was taller than I realized. Built like he lived in the gym but wasn’t loud about it. Square jaw, clean-shaven, skin the color of dark honey. Black joggers that fit right, white tee stretched across his chest, fresh Jordans, gold chain catching the last of the sunset.
But it was his eyes that got me.
Dark brown, almost black. Sharp. The kind of eyes that made you feel like he was seeing more than you wanted him to.
I knew eyes like that. I saw them every morning in the mirror.
“Took you long enough,” he said. No attitude, just that same amusement. “You always make people wait on the porch?”
“Only the ones I don’t know.”
“Smart.” He nodded, eyes still on mine. “Who taught you that?”
“Life taught me that.”
His smirk softened. “Fair enough.”
He held up the manila folder but didn’t hand it over. Just held it there.
“So. Justice around, or…?”
“He’s at the office.” I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. Not moving aside. “I can take the folder.”
His eyes moved over me. Slow. Not hiding it. Taking in the tattoo on my neck. The nose stud. The way I was standing like I wasn’t about to move for him or anybody else.
I should have been offended.
Instead I felt my face get warm. Stood a little straighter without meaning to.
That pissed me off.
“You’re Mehar, right?” he asked. “Zainab’s sister. I saw you yesterday. Before everything went sideways.”
“Yeah.” My jaw tightened. “Before.”
