Page 56 of A Kingpin's Weakness
CHAPTER 11
Rich
Man, I been blowin’Lia’s shit up since we left the warehouse. Texts, calls and nothing. Shorty was ghost. I hit all the usual spots from our crib, her mom’s house, her sister’s spot, even her homegirl’s place. Nada. Her lil’ ass was gone.Soon as I found her, she was gettin’ put on location sharing indefinitely. Take a page outta Seth’s paranoid ass playbook. Can’t risk this again.
Last place I left the damn library at her college. It was Tuesday, and I knew she ain’t have class. So, if she wasn’t chillin’ with her girls, she had to be buried in a textbook. That’s Lia. Books before bullshit.
Ring. Ring.
“Yo.”
“You bringing Lia here?” Seth’s voice came through, a little breathless like he was mid move with some product.
“Yeah, soon as I find her ass.”
Seth’s voice came through the line like static wrapped in judgment.
“Find her? Nigga, where she at?”
“Shit, I’m ’bout to check her school.”
He got quiet, the way he do when he ’bout to slide into Big Bro mode like I asked for advice.
“Rich, you supposed to know where your girl at, at all times.”
I shook my head, already annoyed. “Nigga, that’s not our relationship.”
“Still.”
Beep. Myline beeped. It was Lia calling. Saved by the bell.
“This Lia. I’ll hit you when we headed your way,” I said.
“Bet.”
I clicked over before she could hang up.
“Why the fuck you ain’t answerin’ your phone?” I snapped.
She snapped her teeth immediately and I smiled she always came with fire.
“I was studyin Midterms comin’. Phone on DND. What’s up with you? Thought yo ass would be knocked since you dipped out in the middle of the night.”
“Business.”
There was a pause just long enough for doubt to slip in. “Hope it’s just business. Not no bitch.”
I sighed and rubbed my temple. She always came for the jugular when she felt somethin’ off. And I couldn’t even blame her.
“Lia, don’t start. I’m comin’ to get you; need you to go to Seth’s crib.”
“For what?”
“Shit poppin’. You gotta be put up.”
I could hear her shifting, probably grabbin’ her bag, already movin’ like she knew what time it was.
“I’m downtown at school. It’s gon’ take me at least forty-five to get back.”
