CHAPTER 40
NIYAH
Niyah entered the restaurant and stopped at the hostess’s station. She looked past the young woman at a podium to see if she could spot Leo. “I’m meeting someone.”
“Tall, dark, and very handsome?” the hostess inquired.
Niyah chuckled. “Oh, yeah. How did you know?”
The hostess smiled. “He gave me a little description of you. Are you Dr. Reed?”
“I am,” Niyah confirmed.
The hostess stepped from behind the podium. “Right this way.”
Niyah followed her through the restaurant to a table near a window with a perfect view of downtown Chicago.
Leo stood and ceased several conversations around them.
If nothing else, the man attracted attention.
He was six feet and four inches of beauty and bulk.
What else was there to talk about but the impeccably dressed copper-colored man with the perfect white teeth?
Leo smiled and opened his arms for a hug.
Niyah thanked the hostess and walked into his arms. “Hey, Leo,” she whispered.
“It’s good to see you, Yah Yah.” He stepped back and pulled a chair out for her to sit. Niyah chuckled at the use of the adolescent nickname. “You too," she responded as she sat.
Leo took the seat across the table and gestured toward the glass of red wine in front of her. “I took the liberty.”
Niyah smiled. “Good memory...”
Grateful for the drink, she grabbed the glass and sighed. The past year had been hell. Niyah’s world had been turned upside down. She wasn’t at all used to dodging bullets, hiding out, or destroying evidence.
Leo leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Niyah?” Concern saturated his voice when he spoke. “What’s going on?”
Niyah looked up and pushed a wayward loc from her face. “I’m in trouble,” she sighed.
Leo frowned. “Legal trouble?”
Just the thought of speaking her deeds to words was terrifying.
But if she had to tell anyone, it was Leo.
He was her oldest and dearest friend. Since high school, they’d been as thick as thieves, so much so that they’d decided to attend Howard University together.
And they had even returned to Chicago after graduation to study law and medicine at The University of Chicago.
There was no one Niyah trusted more. “Yes, I fucked up,” she admitted. “It all started when my--”
“No, Niyah, please don’t say anything else.”
Niyah frowned. “But I need your help.”
Leo nodded and covered her hand with his. “And I got you… always. But, first, I’m gonna need you to give me a dollar.”
“A dollar?”
“Yes. It retains me as counsel and offers the advantage of attorney-client privilege.” Niyah laughed and glared at him through narrowed lids. “Fool, where the fuck am I supposed to get a dollar? You know a lot of women who carry cash?”
“No,” he admitted with a chuckle. “Certainly not Alicia.”
Niyah smiled at the mention of his fiancée. “How is Alicia? How are the wedding plans?”
Leo shook his head. “Um-mm. First, things first. Zelle me.”
Niyah fished her phone out of her purse and logged into her banking app. “Do you want me to use your cellphone or email?”
“Use my cellular number.”
After sending the money, Niyah placed her phone on the table. She inhaled a deep breath and worked up the nerve to tell her friend that she had destroyed evidence in order to cover for a serial killer that just happened to be her sister.
She looked up, prepared to purge, but the sight of Xander approaching the table stunned her into silence.
Accompanying him were two men in suits. One was short with glasses, giving accountant vibes, and the other guy was tall and overly tanned.
Niyah would bet the dollar she’d Zelled to Leo that he was a lawyer.
“What’s up, Doc?”
Niyah scoffed at the hint of accusation in his greeting. She knowingly looked around, certain that Xander’s imposing height and chiseled features had garnered more attention to their table. “Hey, Xander. How’s it going?” She greeted with a smile.
Xander turned his attention to Leo, no doubt sizing him up. He offered his hand, forcing him to stand. “Alexander Creed,” he introduced.
Adhering to the rules of etiquette, Leo stood and shook Xander’s hand. “Leo Kane. Good to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Xander muttered as he turned to Niyah. “Early night, huh?”
With a warning glare, Niyah smiled and responded. “Yes, it is. Fancy meeting you here.”
Xander raised a brow. “Yeah? Well, you can’t be that surprised. My office is right around the corner.”
Niyah chuckled. “I guess you’re right.”
Leo gave Niyah a curious glance before gesturing toward the empty seats. “Would you like to join us?”
“No, thanks... dinner meeting,” Xander declined, gesturing to the men behind him. “It was nice to meet you, Leo.”
“You as well, Alexander.”
Xander turned his attention to Niyah and placed his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll see you at home,” he declared before walking away.
Niyah smacked her lips at his unnecessary attempt to cock block. Like the rest of the women in the restaurant, she watched him through a haze of lust as he walked to his table.
“Sooo, at home, huh?” Leo questioned. “I know I’ve been busy with the wedding, but it ain’t been that long since we last talked.”
Niyah giggled and grabbed the glass of wine in front of her.
“Umm, hello? You done moved in with the white dude?”
“Well, actually, he moved in with me?”
Leo leaned back in his chair and laughed. “Niyah, since when do you like white men, Sister Soulja? As a matter of fact, I thought you didn’t like white people in general.”
“What?” Niyah questioned. “My mother is white.”
“You don’t like your mother!” Leo blurted through laughter.
In lieu of arguing, Niyah opted to drink, mainly because Leo was partially right. She loved her mother, but she didn’t enjoy her company.
“So, is it serious?”
“It’s complicated. He’s staying at my place temporarily.”
Leo waved his hand. “I’ve switched subjects, baby girl. We can talk about dude later. Now, I’m talking about your legal issues. Is it serious?”
Niyah sighed. “It’s very serious.” She knocked back the rest of the wine and summoned the courage to confess her sins.
.