Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
Liora
Days later
I spent most of this morning packing the things I wore and needed from my apartment while also obsessing over just how much of my life had changed in such a small amount of time.
I loved what I did and the life it afforded me, as well as where I was mentally, but I kind of always felt like I was missing something.
Like even though I enjoyed the thrills, all of me wasn’t present.
For so long I was able to push it down and move through things because I was always on the go.
Being forced to sit made me take a mental trip and reevaluate everything.
No, Iso wasn’t the cause of all these changes.
Well, not by himself, but he was a good chunk of the reason I could no longer ignore things.
Iso appeared when I was at a mental crossroad, a moment where I didn’t know what was next besides feeling guilty about continuously leaving my family and only feeling whole when I was on the move.
Even with his situation, he never made me feel like I was doing life wrong.
“Yo, you got a lot of stuff in here for somebody who don’t be here. Decorated nice as fuck too.” Iso’s voice broke into my thoughts.
I laughed. “Done by Sissy and will all be left here.”
Confusion swept his features as those heavy eyes stayed on me. “Why, when you’re moving in with us?”
The natural mug on his face mirrored Junior’s as they both looked at me.
“Because legally, this is where I live, even though I’ll physically be living with you. Call it a career caution.”
He looked at me for a moment confused before he got it and nodded. It was my way of telling him I never wanted anybody to come looking for me at his home, even though it would be mine as well. Caution.
We spent a while longer in my ghosted apartment before I felt like I had enough and he couldn’t carry anything else given he had handed me a sleeping Junior during our first trip down.
“What about the other stuff?” He motioned with his hand like it was a gun after he stuffed the boxes into his trunk.
“Marshall Row.”
“What?” he looked confused.
“Townhouse.” I shrugged, thinking back on where I actually recuperated after my shooting.
He was confused again and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You couldn’t possibly think I only had one place where I laid my head.” I placed Junior in his seat and began strapping him in.
He laughed. “Yeah, your niece was on to something. Super spy ass. I’ma need a list of every residence, ’cause if you ever think you’re gonna get low on me, I’m blowing all those motherfuckers down simultaneously.”
I giggled and ensured Junior was good before I closed the door.
“You’re laughing and I’m serious, Killa. You about to meet us at the house, right?” He stepped in front of me.
“Yeah, I’m gonna stop by the pawn shop and pick up something my father said was dropped off for me, then I’ll be right there.”
“Aight. I’ma get him settled.” He stepped closer to me, tilted my chin up, and lowered his head to kiss me. “Don’t have me waiting too long either.”
A brief peck later I was moving toward my car while he stood there and watched me. Yep, I loved this man and every demanding part of him.
When I pulled out of the parking lot, I went in the opposite direction from Iso. While he went toward the expressway to get out of the city, I went deeper in. The pawn shop was in Lower Briar, a ten-minute ride away.
I was about to turn a corner when I realized a blue Dodge Charger was keeping up with me. To be sure, I made several right turns until I led him into a T-shaped alley with a short end then popped up behind him, blocking him from backing out.
I was out of the car with my badge and gun in hand immediately. “Don’t move your fuckin’ hands,” I said quickly, with a pistol to the officer’s head.
“Briar South PD. Do you know who the fuck I am?” His hands were up immediately as he spoke.
“I made you three blocks back. Do you know who you’re following?” I extended my badge, pulling the gun back and backing up. “Now get the fuck out of the car.”
He got out immediately.
“Who put you on me?” I glared at him, pulling my agency phone from my pocket and dialing one number before putting it to my face.
He was taken aback.
“Talk,” I demanded.
“Sergeant Nick Morrow.”
I laughed to myself, then closed my agency phone and stepped up on the officer.
“He told you to follow me?”
“Because you’re a person of interest in a case he’s working.” The man spoke timidly. He was definitely new.
“How long have you been tailing me?”
“Not long.”
I nodded. “Your detail is up. I’ll be speaking with your superiors soon, and next time, don’t let yourself be sent off this way. Last question what’s the precinct?”
“br1047. Hollis and Woodshire.”
“Good. I’ll meet you there.” I walked off, not giving him any time to speak again. I briskly moved toward my car, adding one more stop to the list of things I needed to do before I retired home to my man.
After studying the plate number, I pulled out of the alley and cut a left on a side street before merging onto Hollis. I arrived at the station in seconds, not even parking my car. Instead, I hazarded right out front, hopped out, and popped the locks. I wouldn’t be here long.
I was aware of the hierarchy of a police building, so my first stop was the desk sergeant who I didn’t greet. Instead I flashed my badge and demanded the captain of the precinct immediately.
The desk sergeant got on her phone while three other officers in the vicinity watched in awe.
“Captain Charles will see you now.” She pointed toward the back where a door was open and a short stocky man stood looking in my direction.
Calmly, I walked to his office, eyes piercing before I entered and he closed the door behind me.
He took a seat, looking me over. “Is there something I can help you with Agen—”
“Pierce.” I paused, then gave his office a quick glance. He had pictures of people everywhere, a family man I assumed.
“Whatever curiosity Sergeant Nick Morrow has regarding me needs to end immediately. The next time I find a patrol unit trailing me without proper cause or paperwork, this conversation leaves this building. Take this as a courtesy because I won’t be so forthcoming next time and neither will my superiors. ”
He looked confused. “I’m sorry, Agent Pierce. I was unaware.”
“As was the rookie patrolman following me. License plate number br2147X.”
He immediately began typing. “Again, Agent Pierce, I apologize for the inconvenience. Rest assured it will be handled immediately.”
I nodded then turned to open the door and leave.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Captain.” I was gone that fast and moving to get into my car.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to hit Sergeant’s ass with a mean left but I had to handle him a different way than I would have anybody else crossing boundaries.
I was trying to build a life here and the last thing I needed was for my cultured recklessness to create an unnecessary situation.
By the time I reached the pawn shop, the sun was exiting the sky and the day had died down. I found a park right out front and just sat in my car for a moment. Sometimes, with the way my mind flowed, I needed a moment to breathe.
After that moment, I exited my car, moving to the entrance of my father’s shop. As normal, he was behind the counter inspecting something while old school blues played in the background.
“If it ain’t my daughter. Heard that engine roaring earlier and just knew it was you.”
I laughed. “I don’t rev it that much.”
He laughed. “Shidd. That’s why I wouldn’t let you behind the wheel of my Caddy when you were younger. You liked to test speed even back then.” He set whatever he was inspecting down and moved to the shelf. He returned a second later and handed me a gold envelope.
“Somebody must be suing you,” he said out of nowhere.
“Not that I know of.” I inspected the envelope with my name on it before I opened it.
I reached inside and pulled out a set of keys and a stack of papers.
I was confused, but when I inspected the paperwork, I knew exactly what it was.
Adela had transferred her business assets and building into my name.
In front of the state-signed paperwork was an envelope with my name in her handwriting.
“Well, what is it? Don’t keep an old man in suspense.” My father’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Adela left me her business.” I set the stack of legal papers down and began opening the envelope.
“Let me see that.” He reached for those papers just as my eyes locked on the handwritten letter. I felt my heartbeat in my throat. Something told me this was one of those Dear John letters. The one I probably should have waited until I got home to read, but didn’t. Curiosity killed the cat.
The letter read:
Liora Pierce, the sister my mother and father never blessed me with. I thank you for your friendship and most of all your presence. Before you came back I was alone in that damn range, going out of my mind and stuck in my ways. Then you came, more stuck in your ways than I could ever be.
I decided not to come back to Briar South because I’m dying, Liora.
I refuse to die there. I refuse to die all alone because I was so stuck in my ways that I didn’t see what was on the other side of the wall.
Don’t be like me. Don’t give all you got until you find yourself alone with nowhere to turn.
Don’t forget to live. And damn sure don’t forget to love.
All the paperwork for the range and my house have been signed over.
Nope, I didn’t need your signature, especially ’cause I didn’t have any kids or anybody who would fight you for rights.
Anyways, all you gotta do is get yourself qualified, pass the background check, and update the license… all things I know you know.
Thank you, old friend.
Love, Adela
“Well, I’ll be damned. She left you her house too. Guess I wasn’t the only person shooting to keep you here instead of all over the damn world.” He laughed to himself and I immediately looked at him.
Only he could make me laugh in a moment when tears wanted to flood from my eyes. “I told you I wasn’t going anywhere, Daddy. I’m here to stay.”
“Good, I like that idea.”