Page 22 of Maceo

She shrugged. “I’m here. I might need a little more time in the house.”

I motioned for her to sit down as I took a seat beside her. “What’s up?”

“The place where I park my car, the owner is somewhat of a friend. She lets me do little odd jobs here and there and pays me under the table. Apparently, someone stole my car. I’ve spoken with the police, and they put a BOLO out on it. I don’t know what I’m gonna do. My whole life is in that car. What little money I had is gone… I literally have nothing.”

She burst into tears, and that shit didn’t sit right with me. I hated to see a woman cry. Call it a weakness, but it was what it was.

“Everything will be cool,” I assured her. “If not, we’ll work something out. I’m not gonna let you go back to nothing. That’s asurefire way to end up like this again. I don’t wanna see you back here.”

She sniffled. “The people that took me… what if they come back? I had my ID on me when they took me. They know my name and what I look like.”

“You let me worry about that. The people who took you are dead. Whoever is calling the shots is gonna meet the same fate.”

She eyed me curiously as she wiped her eyes. “What are you? A bounty hunter or something?”

I chuckled. “Some would say The Grim Reaper. I like to think of myself as the judge, jury, and executioner. I rid the world of scum to put it in simple terms.”

“So… you… kill people?”

“Scum,” I repeated. “It’s a lot of fucked up people out there, Charity. Some do it for shits and giggles. Some do it because they get off on it, and some do it for money. Whatever the case, they deserve the fate they get.”

“You don’t think you’ll get what they think you deserve for interfering? I mean, to do something like this, it has to be a lot of people involved. Aren’t you scared? I’d be terrified, good deed or not.”

“I can’t fear a muthafucka that bleeds red like me, and I’m not afraid of dying. Shit, we all have to go sometime.”

“I guess…” She dropped her head and sighed. “I should probably enjoy a warm bed while I can.”

I stood. “You’ll be fine, Charity. That’s my word. Chin up, mamas.”

I gently touched her shoulder before heading back toward the house.

“Maceo!” she called. I turned to face her. “It was nice to see you. Thanks for the talk.”

I didn’t say anything, just nodded and kept toward my destination.

I smiledat the notification of a deposit with a text immediately following. Opening my messages, I read the one from my man.

Bae: Good morning, beautiful. I had to step out for a minute. I’ll probably be gone most of the day. I love you and I can’t wait to see your fine ass when I get home. P.S., buy yourself something nice and think about Daddy when you swipe that card.

I giggled as I pressed the call button. The line rang three times before he answered.

“What’s good, mama?”

“Hey, daddy. I miss you this morning.”

“I miss you too, love. I should be home by six, then I’m all yours.”

“What do you want for dinner?”

He chuckled. “You know what I want.”

I blushed. It was a good thing we had matching sex drives because this man never got tired of sliding between my legs.

“I meant food, fool.”

“Baby, that’s a full-course meal you packing. But anyway, you feel like making oxtails?”

“I got you. I’m not gonna hold you up. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

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