Niyah found the exit and took a seat as close to it as possible. “Should I call the police?”
“No. They’ll just show up all ignorant to what’s going on, asking a bunch of dumb questions, only to create a useless police report.”
“What do I do?”
“Stay there. I’m gonna find out who’s handling the case now that I’m down. I’ll send somebody for you.”
“Okay.” Niyah sighed.
***
Twenty minutes and four cups of coffee later, Xander Creed entered the diner. Niyah sighed with relief as the fear instantly melted away. There was a seriousness in his expression as he stalked through the restaurant clad in a dark, custom-fit suit that did nothing to hide his strong torso and thick, muscular thighs.
Niyah looked around and as expected, every feminine eye was trained on Xander. By the time he made it to her, his icy blue eyes were clouded with anger.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Niyah nodded. “I’m okay.”
Xander pulled his wallet from inside his jacket. He assembled some cash and tossed it on the table. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Niyah reluctantly stood and looked out of the window. Xander grabbed her doctor’s coat and pulled it off. He folded it over his and placed his hand to the small of her back. “You’re okay, sweetheart. Let’s go.”
Niyah allowed him to escort her out of the diner. He loaded her into a waiting SUV and climbed in beside her. Xander looked down at her hands and frowned. Both were fisted so tight that her knuckles had turned white. His warm hands covered hers. He massaged her fingers, prying them from the palm of her hands. “Let’s get you home.”
Niyah nodded and leaned back against the leather seat. “Thank you for coming to get me.”
Xander lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “I’ll always come for you, sweet lady.”
Niyah smiled and relaxed in the safety of his presence. Soon, they pulled up in front of her building. Xander got out and walked around the vehicle to open her door. He held his hand out to assist her out of the SUV. “I’ll take you up.”
Niyah placed her hand in his and climbed out. With her small hand securely encased in his large fingers, they made their way to the door.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Reed,” greeted the daytime doorman as he opened the door.
“Good afternoon, Leon. Thank you.”
Niyah and Xander crossed the lobby and took the elevator up to her floor. As soon as the elevator doors separated, the delicious aroma of creole seasonings invaded her senses. Suddenly, remembering India’s promise to make a seafood feast, she turned to Xander. “My friend is here. She’s cooking dinner for me. You’re welcome to stay.”
Xander smiled. “Is her cooking as good as mine?”
“Of course, not,” she responded facetiously.
Niyah typed in the code to unlock the door and called for India once they were inside. When she didn’t get an answer, she walked into the kitchen. There were live lobsters in the sink and food cooking on the stove. Maybe India was in her favorite but forbidden spot in the condo. So, Niyah headed to her bedroom to drag her out of her closet. But when she stepped inside, there was no sign of India. She must have gone back to her condo for something.
Niyah placed her bag on the floor by the dresser and went to pee. When she went into the bathroom, the sensor activated the light. After a quick glance in the mirror to see what Xander had been looking at for the last twenty minutes, she concluded that she didn’t look half bad.
Niyah pee-pee danced over to the toilet and pulled her scrubs down. But before her ass could meet the seat, her eyes landed on India’s bloody body curled up in her bathtub. An instinctive scream escaped her throat and bounced off the bathroom walls.
Niyah fell back, landing between the toilet and the wall. She pulled her knees to her chest and tucked her face inside.
“Niyah!” Xander yelled. “Niyah, I’m coming in!” After the door opened, he shouted, “Oh, shit!”
“That’s my friend!” Niyah sobbed with tears saturating her face.
“Okay, sweetie.” Xander walked over and sat on the edge of the bathtub. He placed two fingers on India’s neck and dropped his head. Judging from the solemn look on his face, India was dead.
“Oh, my God,” Niyah sobbed.
