Page 49 of Promised To A Menace

“I need you to handle something for me.”

The sleepiness disappeared from his voice. “What’s up?”

“I need you to look into a nigga named David. Find out what he got going on, who he got around him, and where his ass been moving lately.”

“Aight. Got you. David.”

“Yeah.” I sat down on the edge of the bed. “And don’t let that nigga know you looking into him. I need information, not no unnecessary bullshit. You understand me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. You think you can handle that?”

“I got it.”

That was what I wanted to hear.

“Aight, bet. Soon as you find something worth telling me, call me. I don’t give a fuck what time it is.”

“Got you, Boss Man.”

I ended the call and set my phone back on the nightstand. Now that I had somebody looking into David, I could deal with the other problem currently sleeping under my roof.

Shakaylen’s hardheaded ass.

I lay back against my pillows and closed my eyes, hoping to get a little more sleep before she woke up and found another way to test my fucking patience.

༺ ♛ ༻

Later That Morning…

After I finished my shower and got dressed, I headed downstairs to the kitchen. I hadn’t gotten much sleep after everything that happened earlier. Every time I closed my eyes, my mind went right back to that black SUV creeping beside Shakaylen while her hardheaded ass walked down the street, not knowing what the fuck she could've been walking into.

Until I found out who that nigga was and what he wanted, I wasn’t taking any chances with her.

I pushed the thought out of my head and started pulling shit out for breakfast. I decided on French toast, scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, and some fruit. Cooking gave me something else to focus on, and by the time I finished, I had enough food for both of us.

After fixing our plates, I left them on the island and grabbed the key before heading downstairs.

I hadn’t planned on locking her in that room, but after she took off the way she did, I was pissed. The room wasn't meant for holding anybody hostage either. It was one of my favorite rooms I'd had done when I bought the house, meant for a completely different type of shit than what I was using it for now. If shorty ever found out what normally went down in there, she'd probably have even more shit to say.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside. She was stretched across the bed, knocked the fuck out. Her face was relaxed, her breathing even. I stood there for a second, taking in how peaceful she looked without that attitude aimed at me.

I almost left her alone, but I had cooked, and I wanted her to get something in her stomach.

“Aye, ma.” I walked over and gently shook her shoulder. “Shakaylen.”

She didn’t move, so I called her name again. It took another minute before she finally turned over and opened her eyes, looking at me like I'd personally offended her by waking her ass up.

“What?” Her voice was still thick with sleep, but that attitude was already there.

I shook my head, amused. Shorty hadn't even been awake a full minute, and she was already back on her bullshit.

“You gone come eat, or you plan on laying down here all day calling yourself being mad at me?”

“Screw you.”

My brow lifted. “You would like that, wouldn't you?”