I absorbed the serenity of the moment, knowing words would only complicate things. I then realized that Krew and I had always… flowed, like the quiet water of a stream. The same went for Regina, Krew, and I, when we used to be together. As strange as that seemed, even back then, as kids, we worked. Until we didn’t.
In this moment was like the quiet before the storm. That was what I knew to be true. And I’d take every second in silence with Krew then the solitary life I’d been living.
In the peaceful interlude, so mesmerized by Krew, I savored the taste of us on my tongue. Then reality crashed down around me and the levity of what we just did sideswiped my brain.
“We can’t do that again, K,” I uttered, cutting off the near morsel of sadness that crept into my heart.
The blissfulness on his face disappeared in a blink. Krew’s eyes pinched, before he straightened in his seat and tucked his beautiful dick back into his jeans.
What I said was for his own good. I wasn’t worthy for anyone, and the sooner Krew got that through his thick head, the better. Furthermore, we had bigger issues to worry about, like the contracts on his and Regina’s heads.
Krew cleared his throat. “What that Jay guy said, how bad is our situation?”
I was surprised he didn’t respond to my comment about messing around again, and more than a little disappointed that Krew didn’t argue with me about it.
Move on. That is what you want.
I shook off that thought and any lingering desires, and answered him. “Pretty fucking bad. But I’m going to fix this, K. I promise you. And Regi…”
Krew rubbed the back of his neck. “How in the hell is Regi messed up in this?”
“Or you, for that matter. We need to find her and figure out why someone wants you two dead. Regi has to have the answers I need to fix this shit,” I say, tucking my limp dick back into my jeans. “Do you know where she might be? Where she lives?”
“No. Tonight was the first time I’d seen her—since the day I was arrested. Hell, Deck. What is going on?” Panic rose in his voice. Fear shadowed Krew’s eyes, for the girl we both were once in love with. “There has to be a mistake.”
“I don’t get it either, but I sure as hell am going to find out.” I grabbed my phone from the holder. Jay was right about one thing. Calling my handler was the only way to track down where Regina lived.
“Who are you calling?” Krew’s voice went an octave higher.
“Calm down. I know a person who can get the answers we need.” I said nothing else, as I tapped Sabrina’s number.
“Can you trust them?”
“Yeah. She’s my handler.”
“Your handler?” Krew’s brows rose high on his forehead. “Like she’s your babysitter or something?”
“No—and you can fuck off,” I growled. “Sabrina’s kind of a hitman PA.” I didn’t go into her back ground or detailed out what she did for me.
Out of all the black hackers out there, she was the best in the business. Sabrina could track down Regina for me in a hot second. And then I’d make sure Krew and Regina were safe before I went after the fuckers who put hits out on my friends.
Chapter Nine
Regi
I turned onto my side and forced my eyelids open a slit to glare at the old clock radio on the night stand. The illuminated red numbers showed it was nearly six a.m. I wasn’t going back to sleep, and even if I wanted to, my walnut-sized bladder insisted it was time to go to the bathroom.
The problem was, I didn’t want to get up. I was too exhausted from that nightmarish dream—it clung to me like sticky sweat on my skin.
After another twinge of my bladder, I got up and padded down the hall to the shared bathroom. Surprisingly, Maya wasn’t awake. She was the early riser between the two of us and usually monopolized the bathroom at this time of the morning. Luckily, she was still sleeping.
I sat there, peeing, but my eyes studied the bandage on my thigh. That was a reckless thing to do. I needed to keep myself in check, because I wasn’t going down that dark rabbit hole again.
Since Maya still wasn’t up, I took the advantage and brushed my teeth and washed my face. I’d shower later—after I worked out. I made a mental checklist of things I needed to do today. Since I had the day off, I’d do my errands this morning and then do the laundry this afternoon.
As I stepped out of the bathroom, I decided to check in on Maya since she had to be at work at ten. Her shift was only for a few hours, so maybe—when she was done, we could do laundry and mani-pedis.
I tapped on her door, and it opened a crack. To my surprise, the room was empty and her bed was made, like she’d never slept in it.
