I spent the morning lounging around the house, taking it easy. Most of my mornings and afternoons were chill and relaxed sincethe real action always kicked off when the streets came alive at night. The quiet was a welcome change from the chaos that came with my line of work.
As I was sinking into the comfort of my couch, my phone rang with a call from Timmy.
I hurriedly picked up. “Tell me you got something for me, Timmy.”
“I do, but it’s not what you want to hear. I got an update on Mia. She’s gone completely off the grid. It’s like she vanished without a trace.”
“What do you mean vanished?”
“Her phone hasn’t pinged anywhere since Saturday. There hasn’t been any sign of her at any airports, no activity in her bank accounts. It’s like she just disappeared.”
I frowned, leaning forward. “No money withdrawals? Nothing?”
“Nothing,”Timmy confirmed. “It’s as if she dropped off the face of the earth. Her accounts are untouched.”
Mia disappearing like this seemed dramatic, but she was facing time that most couldn’t handle. If she had a large amount of cash stashed somewhere, she could have run to avoid the charges. She had no ties to Chicago. No kids. No husband. So, considering the heat she was under, it made sense.
I understood. Hustlas and murderers did it all the time, and Mia was on the verge of being both. But because of her obsession with Avi, I didn’t trust that she was done trying to get revenge, so it was a must that I find her.
“Keep digging, Timmy. I want to know if there’s any sign of where she might be.”
“Got it. I’ll keep you posted.”
As I ended the call with Timmy, I heard the front door open and looked up to see Lelani walking in. The sight of her was apunch to the gut. She looked even more pale and distraught than usual. I stood from the couch, quickly ending the call, and moved toward her.
“You good?” My voice was filled with concern as I followed her closely. She didn’t say a word. Her face was distorted with discomfort as she rushed into the master bedroom, then straight into the master bathroom.
“Lelani?” I called out as I trailed behind her.
As I pushed open the bathroom door, she didn’t answer. Instead, she collapsed to her knees in front of the toilet. I watched helplessly as she leaned over and began to vomit violently into the bowl. Her body shook with the force of it, and I could see the strain and pain etched on her face.
As she continued to heave, I sat next to her on the edge of the tub and gently placed a hand on her back, trying to offer some comfort.
The sound was painful, like she was trying to expel more than just the contents of her stomach. Each heave seemed to come with a new wave of discomfort. I could feel her body trembling under my hand, each lurch making me cringe with helplessness.
Her gagging grew more violent. Her body continued to convulse, but nothing else seemed to come up. The bathroom was filled with the sound of her struggle, and I could see how much it was taking out of her.
Finally, her body stilled, and she collapsed against the toilet with tears streaming down her face. “I can’t do this.”
CHAPTER 11
AVIANA SCOTT
THE RICH, FRUITYscent of mango filled the bathroom as I scooped a generous amount of body butter into my hands with my phone cradled between my shoulder and ear. I had just gotten out of the shower, so steam still swirled around me.
“Have you heard anything from Mia?”
Mia’s mother, Carol, sighed heavily. “No. I haven’t heard a thing. It’s so unlike her to just drop off the radar. I don’t understand why she wouldn’t at least reach out.”
“I know. It doesn’t make sense,” I replied, smoothing the butter over my legs. “I just hope she’s okay.”
It wasn’t hard for me to be genuinely concerned. Mia and I had been besties for years, so I was close to her mom. Despite Mia’s attempts to ruin my life, I was truly worried for her mother.
“It’s like she’s vanished.” Carol’s voice trembled slightly. “I know she’s scared. She has to be running from the Feds.”
“Yeah. I really think that’s what’s happening, that she’s running scared.”
“I can’t think of any other reason,” Carol replied as frustration seeped into her words. “She knows prison is on the line. She’s probably panicking and going off the grid.”
