Page 140 of Treason's Temptation
“Because my sister likes him. I need to get to know him.”
“Barely. He’s working anyway.”
“So! He can take a break.”
Hauling myself to my feet, I shuffled down the hallway because Rayven refused to give up. I don’t know why she was so pressed to speak to him anyway.
“Rayven wants to say hi,” I announced, handing him the phone with a warning.
“Wassup Rayven?”
“Hey!” The excitement in her voice made Tre smirk. Her light was different. Any room got brighter with her in it.
“When are you coming to visit?” he asked, running the city while appeasing my kid sister.
“I wanted Vie to come here, but whenever she lets me.”
“Vie, doesn’t run shit ‘round here. When do you want to come?”
“Asap. I miss her, and we need to talk.”
“Oh yeah, what do we need to talk about?”
“You’ll find out when you see me.”
“You have classes,” I leaned in, reminding her.
“I can come home for a weekend, Vie. Relax.”
“Yeah,Vie. Relax, being pre-med is hard as fuck. Let the girl live.”
“Thank you!” Rayven exclaimed.
“I follow her social media. She’s living plenty.”
Just last weekend, she was at a frat party with her suite mates Deja and Ashley. I was happy to see her singing into the camera while drunk with her friends. It made all the shit I went through worth it. Rayven would never have the empty feeling of regret that filled my chest daily.
“You sound like somebody’s nagging ass mom already.” Tre’s loaded jab got him punched in the chest. “Has she always been this violent?”
“Only when she likes you.”
I held my fist up again because they were having too much fun at my expense.
“It’s college. She’s supposed to have fun. Ain’t much fun in adulting after that. Let her enjoy it.”
“Whatever, y’all have fun chatting. I’m going to bed.”
Rayven could barely get the words out, laughing at my attitude, “Wait, Vie. Come back!”
“She’ll be aight. You eating good, or surviving on noodles and takeout?” was the last thing I heard.
I curled up against the pillow, half-lost in the glow ofShadows and Motives. It was always on television growing up. If we wanted to spend time with Sloane, that meant watching too. Rayven even thought about majoring in law her freshman yearbecause of it. The bedroom was dim except for the TV, while the detectives argued about the husband’s body, which they’d just dragged out of the river.
The door creaked open, letting me know Treason was likely leaning against the door frame. Arms folded, eyes lowered, and focused on his target —me. He looked so good doing it, I etched the visual in my head so I could replay it on demand.
“Stop staring. It’s weird.”
“You know what they say about people who turn on crime docs to sleep?” Treason asked.
