Chapter 16 #2
“Ohhhh, so that’s what this is about.” I grinned and knew she was likely frowning. “Boo, you hate your job, like straight up want to call in a bomb threat for the entire company, but I get it. Insurance is boring as shit. I don’t know how you do it…”
“Is this supposed to be helping?”
“Yes, hoe, let me finish. It’s cool to want your own. Trust me, of all people I understand, but what did Amir say about it? I know for damn sure he’s not pressing you.”
“No, he’s not. He told me to do whatever I wanted and that includes quitting my job. But I’m not trying to be totally dependent on a man so he can turn around and throw it in my face.”
Asim walked out the bathroom just as she finished. “You’re worried about the wrong shit, Lear. That would never be a problem with Amir.”
“You have me on speaker?”
Chuckling, Asim kissed my cheek, bypassing me but answering Learah at the same time. “She does but I’m leaving the room so you can finish creating problems in your head that don’t exist in private.”
My eyes rolled as I watched him stride out the room, leaving a delectable trail of cologne behind that had me wanting to follow him.
“He’s right, boo. Amir is not the type. As far as the art studio, it can make money; it will just take time and you’ll have to do the work.
Your paintings are good. Shit, better than some of the ugly shit I know is selling.
Maybe start with something small before you totally quit your job to see how it goes. ”
She pushed out a sigh. “Yeah, I might do that. But on another note, we’re still doing dinner tonight, right?”
I was delayed in answering because my eyes scanned the room to look at my purse. Once I found it on the chair in the corner, I headed out of the room so I could leave.
“Ky, did you hear me?”
“Yeah, hang on, let me make sure though.” By the time I reached the last step, the doorbell was sounding, which had a frown on my face.
It was too damn early for anyone to be popping up and Learah had already told me Amir was at his townhouse with her, in the shower.
Me being me, I was thinking the worst, so I hurried to the door, snatching it open to find an unfamiliar face staring back at me.
“Morning, ma’am. I’m Detective Driscoll and I’m looking for Asim Nour. Is he home?”
The scowl on my face intensified as I spoke into my phone.
“Lear, let me call you back.” I ended the call before she had a chance to respond but Asim was walking up behind me before I had a chance to address whoever the hell this Driscoll was.
Within seconds Asim’s solid frame blocked my view while his hand rested protectively on my arm, attempting to hold me in place.
“Who the fuck are you?” he based, voice deep and laced with annoyance.
“Mr. Nour. I would say pleasure to meet you but it’s not. I do, however, need to ask you to come with me. We have a few questions to ask about the murder of TaNika Williams.”
Asim snorted and cocked his head to the side. “I don’t know who the fuck that is, so there’s no need for you to ask me shit.”
I attempted to step around Asim but his grip on my arm tightened, preventing me from moving too far, but I was able to see around him.
Driscoll looked right at me and smirked. “I’m positive you know who Ms. Williams is considering she had a relationship with your brother. We also have an eyewitness who clearly identified you as the person who shot Ms. Williams a few months back. So I’m going to need you to come with me.”
When I looked up at Asim, I noticed the serene expression on his face.
My heart was at risk of escaping my chest as it beat so erratically while he appeared to be unbothered.
“My brother fucks a lot of women. Most of which I have never met. As for a relationship, he’s only had one and her name damn sure isn’t TaNika Williams. Get the fuck off my porch. ”
“Mr. Nour, it would be wise of you to kill the attitude and come with me to answer our questions. At the time Ms. Williams was shot, your brother was in the hospital. I’m positive he played a role in this, however, unlike you, he has an alibi.”
“Who says he doesn’t?” I spoke up quickly, stepping around Asim after he let go of my arm from his grip.
I looked Driscoll right in his eyes with confidence but felt Asim’s heated stare on me.
“Ky, relax.”
“I assume you’re saying that’s what you are. His alibi?”
“Yep, so you can go now.”
“It doesn’t work that way. We can’t just take your word for it. This is a murder investigation and we have an eyewitness willing to testify. If I had to bet, you don’t know anything about Ms. Williams, like when and where she was killed.”
I smirked and took a step forward, folding my arms, feeling Asim move at the same time. “Doesn’t matter, he was with me. He’s always with me. Would you like an official statement?” I lifted one brow, peering at him, which had Driscoll’s face flushing red and his jaw tight.
“Yes, actually I do. So you can?—”
“Shit…” I cut him off, bending at the waist when a sharp pain pierced my core. All of a sudden, I felt nauseous and lightheaded. I was sure I would have hit the ground had Asim not grabbed hold of me.
“Ky, what’s wrong?”
“I can’t… I don’t know… I feel like I’m gonna…
.” Before I could finish my sentence, I threw up all over the porch and my mind blacked out.
I wasn’t sure what happened next because it was all a blur but I heard loud voices while I was being lifted into the air.
I couldn’t concentrate because I hurt so badly that my mind was numb.
All I could do was close my eyes and cry because the pain was so intense.
At this point, all I could do was pray because it truly felt like I was dying.