Chapter 36 #2
"And I love being here." I ran my hand down his chest. "But I haven’t been home in days. I wanna check on Ronnie. Make sure she's okay. Check my mail. Regular shit."
He smirked. "Alright…" he sighed in resignation. "If you must."
"I must, baby." I kissed him. "But I'll be back. I always come back."
Melo ran back out. "Ready!"
Remy let me go from his embrace. "Alright, buddy. Grab your lunch from the fridge." He turned back to me. "You want me to drop you off? You can leave your car here."
I shook my head smiling. "You just need a reason for me to come back sooner."
"Duh." He shrugged with a smirk.
"I'll take my own car, thank you." Quickly I slid on some shorts and a T-shirt and slid my feet into my slides. Remy took my bag and we all headed outside.
I gave Melo another big hug before Remy placed him in his booster seat. "Text me as soon as you get home safe, babe, alright?"
"I will, handsome."
We hugged, kissed, and parted ways. I was on cloud nine as I drove while rapping along to some old-school Lil Kim.
About ten minutes from my apartment, I noticed a black truck behind me. I didn't think anything of it…until the truck was still on me after I exited off the highway.
Still…maybe it was nothing.
I turned right.
So did the truck.
I made another right.
So did the truck.
"What the fuck?" I muttered, my eyes bouncing between the rearview mirror and the streets ahead. The truck stayed three cars back. Not speeding up or falling behind—just there.
The windows were tinted so dark I couldn't see inside. A knot formed in my stomach.
Maybe it was nothing and I was being paranoid. But after everything that happened with Boss, I couldn't afford to ignore my instincts. My fingers tightened around the steering wheel as I made a sudden right turn. The truck turned too. My pulse kicked up.
I drove another block before pulling into a gas station a few streets away. I parked near one of the pumps and pretended to check my phone while keeping an eye on the entrance. The truck rolled right past.
I let out a shaky breath. "See?" I muttered to myself. "You're tripping." But even as I said it, I didn't fully believe it. I waited another ten minutes before finally pulling back onto the road. My eyes scanned every side street and parking lot along the way. Nothing.
Since that confrontation with Boss, I'd be lying if I said my senses hadn't become heightened.
I still couldn't figure out how he knew I was there.
Unless he'd followed me? The thought sent a chill down my spine.
Because if he'd followed me...that meant he knew where I lived.
That nigga couldn't be that stupid though.
He had a wife. Kids. He wouldn't risk blowing up his whole life like that.
Right?
By the time I pulled into my apartment complex, my nerves were stretched thin. I sat in the car for a moment scanning the lot.
A woman walking her dog.
An older man carrying groceries.
A teenager riding a bike.
Normal. Everything looked normal. With a slow exhale, I grabbed my purse and stepped out.
"Gianna!"
My heart damn near stopped. I jumped so hard my keys and phone slipped from my hands and clattered onto the pavement.
Spinning around, I found my flirtatious-ass neighbor Travis jogging toward me shirtless, a grin stretched across his face. "You aight?" he asked, bending down to grab my things. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"Thanks." I accepted them, pressing a hand against my chest. "It's too early for all that. You can't be sneaking up on me yelling my name."
"My bad," he laughed. "Just haven't seen you in a while. Wanted to see if you'd like to have a drink with me later."
My attention was already elsewhere. Still scanning and looking. A black truck turned the corner at the far end of the block. My heart leaped into my throat.
"Gianna?"
"What?" I snapped harder than I intended, watching the truck move closer. My pulse pounded. Then I saw it clearly. Different truck. Smaller. Not the same one. The tension slowly left my shoulders.
Travis frowned. "Damn girl. Is it that time of the month?"
My eyes cut to his. "Bye, Travis." I rolled my eyes and headed toward the building.
Behind me, I heard him mutter, "That's a yes."
Normally I would've laughed. Today I just walked faster. I quickly walked to my apartment, stepped in, and locked the door.
Ronnie was already up and getting ready for her day, music playing, face mask on and sipping an espresso at the dining room table. "So this bitch finally realizes she has a home," she teased with a smile.
I dropped my bag at the door and placed my keys on the rack exhaling slowly. "My bad, sis," I smiled. "I been laid up." I slid off my shoes and made my way to the table.
Ronnie crossed her legs with a coy smile. "Laid up is an understatement."
Flopping down in the chair across from her, I gave her a small smile. "Sorry, bestie."
"Mmhm." She rolled her eyes playfully and stood. Without me asking, she poured me an espresso with a shot of Irish Cream creamer and placed it in front of me. "You look like you need this. You look all flustered and shit. You good?"
Taking the small cup, I took a tiny sip before shaking my head. "I don't know," I admitted. "I think someone was following me."
"What?" She leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
"A black truck was on my ass when I was on the highway. Followed me to the gas station then kept going."
"Oh hell naw." Ronnie shook her head. "Did you get his plates?"
Shaking my head I took another sip. "No. I wasn't even thinking to look." Pausing I bit my bottom lip in thought. "Has…has Boss been back to the house?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I saw him with Monroe last week. I was about to get in his ass, but my client walked in."
"How did he seem?" I asked.
Her eyes narrowed in question. "Normal I guess. Back to his same nonchalant shit." Ronnie searched my face. "Why? You don't think it was him, do you?"
"I don’t know," I huffed shaking my head. "But he did pop up. Who's to say it wasn’t him?" Leaning back, I folded my arms across my chest. "Just keep an eye out for me, aight? Let me know if you hear anything."
Ronnie agreed with no hesitation. "You know I got you, boo."