Page 98 of Promised To A Menace

“Just keep your eyes open. I don't want you approaching him or saying anything that'll make him suspicious. We need to know what he's doing before we let his ass know we're onto him.”

“Bet. I got you.”

“And Banks, make sure Kaylen is good. I don't want nobody catching her slipping while she's at work.”

“Say less, boss. I'm on it.”

“Aight. Appreciate it.”

I ended the call and set my phone down, looking over the information Marlin had left on my desk.

I looked from Courtney’s photograph to the call records. This nigga worked beside her every day. He wouldn’t even have to follow her to know when she was leaving.

I needed Marlin to find out exactly what he’d been telling David. Until then, Banks wasn’t letting her out of his sight.

Because if David thought he was about to use Courtney or anybody else to get to her, he had another fucking thing coming.

Iwas still in so much fucking pain, and the day was only halfway over. Every time I moved, I felt that shit, and I was starting to regret coming to work. I almost hated getting up, but I didn’t have much of a choice. I still had patients to see, and sitting around wasn’t going to get my work done.

After finishing my lunch, I threw my trash away and headed back to my station. As I walked down the hallway, I caught Courtney looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t know what the hell was so funny, but this nigga was sitting there laughing like something had tickled the shit out of him.

“Shakaylen, girl, you alright?” Courtney asked, shaking his head as I approached.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I eased myself down onto the stool, trying not to make it obvious how uncomfortable I was.

“You sure? ‘Cause girl, I been watching yo’ ass all day, and you been walking around here like you on pins and needles.” He chuckled, looking me up and down. “You must’ve got some last night.”

“No, I didn’t get nothing.” I shook my head, reaching for the paperwork on my counter.

“Girl, please.” Courtney laughed. “You ain’t gotta lie to me. And speaking of that, I been seeing that black car bringing you back and forth to work.” He leaned against the counter, looking at me with a grin. “Girl, let me find out you got you a rich man.”

I looked over at him, already wishing he’d find somebody else to bother. This nigga stayed in somebody’s business, and today of all days, I didn’t feel like dealing with his ass.

“Courtney, don't you got some work to do?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

“Yeah, I do, but damn, I can't find out what my friend got going on?” he asked, grinning at me.

I didn’t know where the hell he got the idea that we were friends. I came up here to handle my patients and go home. That didn’t make my personal life his business.

“Courtney, we are not friends, and you know that.”

“Damn, girl. That's how you feel?” He put a hand against his chest like I'd hurt his feelings, but the grin on his face told me otherwise.

“Yes, that's how I feel. Now, don't you got some work to do?” I asked, shaking my head.

“Yeah and no. All my patients already came in.”

“Okay, so that means you need to be getting ready to go home.”

“Nah, I still got a bunch of paperwork I need to fill out.”

“Well, go fill it out and leave me the hell alone.”

He laughed, pushing himself away from the counter. “I'm gon' find out if you got a man or not. Watch.”

“I guess. Keep dreaming,” I told him, shaking my head as he walked off.

Once his nosy ass finally walked off, I turned back to my station and got everything ready for my next patient.