Page 145 of After Midnight
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 bitchfinallyrealizes 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 upis 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."
