Page 30 of Maceo

“You don’t have to thank me,” I said, reaching into my wallet. I pulled out a couple of bills and handed them to her. “Consider that an advance on your first check. I have an open tab here, so you can eat in the restaurant or order room service if you want.”

She smiled softly. “I really appreciate this. No one has ever done anything like this for me.” Slowly, she walked over to where I stood and peered up at me. “If there’s anything I can do to return the favor, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

The way she said that caused my brows to furrow.

“You know I have an ol’ lady, right? Shar?”

“I know. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just saying, if I can be of service, let me know. I mean, look at this hotel. I know the nightly rate can’t be cheap. Being a cleanup woman won’t even begin to cover the cost of this room.”

I shook my head. “You don’t need to worry about that. I got it.”

“I bet you do.”

I took a step back and headed for the door. “Good night, Charity.”

“Good night.”

I opened the door, only for her to call my name.

“Maceo?”

“Yeah?”

“Shar is a lucky girl. I hope she knows that.”

I didn’t bother to respond to that. Instead, I left the room and headed back to my car to go home. I wasn’t sure what to make of the shit that just happened. I also wasn’t sure what the hell she had to do to survive where she came from. If she was homeless, maybe she’d done something strange for a piece ofchange. Maybe she was used to giving favors for favors. I didn’t fucking know.

We weren’t out here doing background checks on victims, because they were victims. In this case, I might have to bring Jaeda in on this shit. I hated to do that because she would start asking questions, and if she didn’t get the answers she wanted, she was gonna start snitching.

I couldn’t have that.

I’d sit on it for a few days before I decided what to do. I needed to make up my mind fast because as long as she was in this city, it was going to bug the fuck outta me. Right now, my only concern was getting home to my woman.

Shar had moved in with me about three months ago. At first, it was weird having her in my space, but now, it just felt right. I woke up with head and breakfast in bed and went to sleep after a deep dive in some wet ass pussy. I couldn’t wait to shower and slide in bed behind her.

When I made it to the house, only the dim light from our bedroom could be seen. I made my way inside and upstairs. Pushing the door open, I saw Shar curled up under the covers. I didn’t miss the setup she had going on. There were rose petals covering the floor, candles that were now blown out, champagne sitting in a bucket of now melting ice, and chocolate-covered strawberries.

I felt bad that I’d missed her surprise.

I headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. By the time I came out, Shar was sitting up in bed with her arms folded and a frown on her face.

“I’m sorry, baby?—”

“Where have you been?”

“I told you I had to handle some business.”

“You know I have your location, right?”

“And? I have yours too.”

She threw back the covers and stood on the bed, still dressed in her lingerie.

“Don’t be a smart ass. What bitch did you take shopping and then to a hotel?”

“I can explain?—”

“Well, get to explaining before I feel the need to bop you and that bitch in your shit!”

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