“Watch your mouth.”
Vivica smiled. That cold, calculating smile I’d seen my whole life.
“What are you going to do, Prentice? This is a government building. Police everywhere. Security cameras on every floor.” She tilted her head. “You’re not going to touch me here. We both know that.”
She was right. This wasn’t the place nor the time. When it came to Vivica, I was going to have to move intelligently. I couldn’t just kill her and disappear her. I had to be strategic because if she ended up dead, I’d for sure be a suspect.
I straightened up. Let the anger settle into something colder.
“You never liked her.”
“I never liked any of the women you brought around. That’s not news.”
“But this one’s carrying my child. Your grandchild.”
Something shifted in her expression. Just for a second.
“I’m aware.” Her voice dropped. Quieter now. “And whatever you think of me, Prentice, I would never put my grandchild in jeopardy. Never.”
I searched her face. Looking for the lie.
Thing was—I’d seen her with Justice’s girls. After Monica died, Vivica stepped up. Actually showed up. Recitals. School plays. Birthday parties. She was a better grandmother than she ever was a mother.
So either she was telling the truth. Or she was a better liar than I gave her credit for.
“If I find out you had anything to do with this,” I said. Low. Quiet. “Anything at all. You gon’ regret it.”
She didn’t flinch.
“Is that a threat?”
I just looked at her. Let the silence answer.
She looked away first.
“Are we done?” she asked. “I have work to do.”
I turned and walked out without another word.
India was standing by her desk when I passed. Wouldn’t look at me. Eyes fixed on her computer, fingers hovering over the keyboard like she was trying to disappear.
I stopped.
She tensed up. I could see it in her shoulders.
This girl knew something. Been around Vivica too long not to. And that shame on her face—that nervousness every time I was around—that was more than just embarrassment about what I’d walked in on.
That was fear.
I filed it away and kept walking.
I hitup Creed from the parking garage.
“Talk to me.”
“Need a favor. You got anybody in LAPD?”
“LAPD?” He paused. “Nah, that’s outside my reach. What you need?”
