18. Chapter 18
Queen Adanna
The zipper of my bag echoed through the bedroom. I pulled the teeth closed and smoothed my hands over the canvas before lifting it off the bed.
"Where are you going?"
I froze. Taking a slow breath, I turned to face my husband, letting the silence hang for a beat before I spoke. "I gotta make a trip, but I’ll be back."
Dame went still, his eyes narrowing into slits. "You said that we weren’t going separate again. Where do you have to go?"
I softened my gaze, reaching out to lay my palm against his arm. "I shouldn’t have to explain…” I breathed and corrected herself, “I meant to say I shouldn’t be gone for too long, baby."
He nodded as he swallowed the irritation. "Fine, go do you. Because me and Nana are taking a trip anyway."
"Well... you guys just stay out of trouble."
"You do the same, baby," he muttered, stepping in close to wrap his arm around my waist. He caught my lips in a deep, lingering kiss before he finally let me go.
An hour later, Jade sent the coordinates to my work phone.
The quadrant tracking from her device proved the hit squad had touched down using one of Eze’s private planes.
But while I was scanning the readouts on my tablet, a local news push alert flashed across the top of my screen: OFFICER FATALLY SHOT AT TRIBAL KING’S ESTATE.
I paused.
Deputy Tamika Simpkins.
Tamika?
“Damn,” I muttered.
I didn't go to Aiken High with her like Brooklyn did, but I knew Tamika.
She was one of the greats. A solid, uncorrupted force who actually cared about her people.
I remembered her heart, her pride, and the way she stood tall in that uniform.
Seeing her face under a bold red headline stating she was pronounced dead at the scene hit me.
My eyes darkened as the rage settled. If Brooklyn was getting this sloppy, shooting up innocent service members just to throw a temper tantrum, I was going to use every bit of her stupidity to my advantage.
I pulled up my direct line to the Captain.
"My Queen," she picked up on the second ring. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I saw the news and wanted to express my condolences to the force," I said.
He paused. “Wow… Thank you Queen. I’ll tell the others.”
"No need to thank me, I care about all of you. Tamika deserves justice. I need you to take this case on personally. Overtime is approved for your entire unit—whatever resources you need to build a file, run it up."
“Will do," She replied. "I'm heading over to Deputy Simpkins' house myself later today to swing by, check on her family, and show full support. We're going to tear this island apart until we find who pulled that trigger."
"Good. Keep me posted," I said, disconnecting the call.
I’d make an appointment to go see Tamika's family in person to express my condolences, too, once the dust settled. But first, I had business to handle.
The hum of the chopper’s blades vibrated through my chest as I flew back into the States.
Flying solo gave me way too much time to think.
I pulled up my contacts, my thumb hovering over Chief Idris's name.
An apology to my auntie was long overdue after the way I had cut her deep back at the office.
But as I stared at the screen, I shook my head and locked the phone.
No. Apologizing over a screen was a cop-out, it’d be better to say it to her face, in person.
***
I parked the stolen car off to the side. There was nobody here, they must’ve gave up. Brooklyn was lazy that way, probably gave up within an hour tops.
I texted him after I checked from front to back.
Danni: All right. You can come home. I’m here.
His reply came back fast.
‘You’re not gonna come inside and get me?' Quan's text popped up on my screen.
I actually laughed out loud, leaning back against the seat. He was so damn scary, man. Instead of typing back, I just pressed his name and hit the call button.
"No, I’m right here," I said the second he answered. "You come to me. Now hurry up so we can get back."
"Get back where?" Quan asked.
Whatever humor I had instantly vanished. "Do you want my protection or not, Quan? Damn, don't be questioning me."
He let out a heavy groan on the other end. "You sure they gone?"
"Yeah. Just meet me out front," I snapped, hanging up in his face before he could run his mouth.
As I waited, my mind drifted back to Dame.
How the hell am I gonna break this to him?
I winced to myself. Yeah... Dame was about to have a whole fit.
Maybe if I pulled out that ice trick on him... he might just let the shit slide.
It was a long shot, but right now, it was my best damn bet.