Page 32 of Aydin

“You have guests here.”

“They’ll be fine.” I went to grab my jacket, and my brothers stopped their conversation.

“What’s going on?”

“He’s going to Amelia’s place.”

“I’m tagging with you.” Josiah jumped from the loveseat, and I groaned in frustration.

“I can handle this by myself.”

“More than likely, you’ll be calling one of us to bail you out.” Wesley stood, along with Nicco.

“See, you need backup,” Nasir pushed, and I knew he was right, but Amelia wouldn’t like for everyone to show up at her place unannounced. Saturday afternoon was my time to relax. I could assume she turned her phone off and wanted to be away from anything that had to do with business.

An hour later, I pulled up to her building and parked with Nasir about to push the door open to follow me up the stairs.

“When we get up there, let me do all the talking. You two stay in the car.” I pointed at all of them. The best chance for us not to cause her to get pissed off was to not have five big guys break down her door. I walked into the lobby of her building and headed toward the elevator and called for her floor. As we stepped on, I bumped into another guy, and he kept walking and ignored me.

“Prick.”

Nasir pushed the button for her floor, and I stood to the side and focused on how I would approach her about Addison. A few seconds later, we stepped off and approached her door, raising my hand to knock.

“Wait! Look at this,” Nasir said, pointing to the door cracked open.

“Hey! What are you guys doing?” a loud, squeaky voice interrupted us. Nasir and I glanced at the older woman. She was about five-two in height, probably around her late seventies with rollers in her hair and wearing a housecoat.

“Do you know if Amelia is home?” Nasir probed, and I let him continue in conversation as I moved forward in the apartment and looked around. From the living room, nothing stood out, and Nicco went to the kitchen. I held my gun in my hand.

“She said Amelia left earlier this morning.” I heard Nasir behind me from the bathroom.

“I don’t see Amelia leaving her door open like this.”

“I agree with you. Did you check her bedroom?” Nasir’s voice trailed off. He strolled to the other end of the apartment. I gazed at the pictures on the walls of her as a little child with her parents, then shifted toward the closet on the right, and checked around. Nothing showed anything was stolen, so more than likely, she forgot to lock up behind her. I gathered in the living room with Nicco, as Nasir met up front a few seconds later.

“Anything?”

“Spotless,” Nasir replied, and we had no doubt Amelia wouldn’t call the police if she were in trouble.

“Um… Hello, did I miss the invite?” All three of us turned around at the smooth voice and saw the woman who was with Amelia at the bar with her date. Right behind her, the door opened further, and Amelia came in with her eyes popped wide open with bags in her hands.

“Amelia.”

“Why are you guys in my apartment?” Amelia set her bags on the couch and approached us.

Her floral perfume rested under my nose, and I took a step back to give us space before I crossed that line.

“Aydin wanted to talk to you about Addison. We came and saw your door was open.”

Nasir explained and left out any mention of contacting me by phone first.

“It couldn’t wait until I was at work?” Amelia’s spicy personality surfaced, and she wasn’t this quiet, go with the flow type of girl.

“Not when it has to do with my business.”

“Are you going to introduce me to your friend, Amelia?” Her friend reached her hand out to Nicco and Nasir, and I finally removed my eyes from Amelia and shook her hand.

“This is Nicco, Nasir, and my boss Mr. Reeve. My best friend Dani Phillips,” Amelia answered and once again, she dismissed me, avoiding eye contact.

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