Page 45 of Lordes

“I agree. What do you know about the female detective?”

“As much as I know about the rest of the women I slept with, not much at all. I know her name is Lauren Maldonado, and she has a husband and a few kids. She works for CPD. She’s aggressive and the bedroom. That’s all I got.” I tossed my hands in the air.

“That’s not much. Do you want me to do a background check on her?”

“Yeah, it wouldn’t hurt while you’re ready check on the other detective.” I took a look down at his card on my desk. “Detective Dante Rodriguez and the woman is detective Lauren Maldonado.”

“I’ll get right on it.”

I knew Christian with dig up as much information as he could. But his resources were limited. I needed a real private investigator. I knew I could use Nicco guy. He will be thorough and He would find information that my assistant wouldn’t be privy to with his amateur sleuthing skills.

I thought about calling Lauren. It made more sense for me to wait for her to call me. Her appearance in my office was startling. It was all so confusing. I met Lauren at a bar while she was working vice. When did she make a transition into homicide? I made up my mind. If I didn’t hear from Lauren in two days, I was going to give her a call.

Chapter Fourteen

LABRIA

When I woke, Lord what’s gone. He didn’t even leave a note, which was fine, but it just seemed like he would’ve said something before he left me alone. I assumed he went to work. I checked my cell phone for a test, but there was nothing. Lord never seemed to mind me being alone in his loft apartment. But waking up with him gone just felt bizarre.

Since I didn’t have to work today, I wasn’t sure what I should do with my time. I showered and dressed. I went downstairs to make some coffee. I needed a pick me up after such a long night of drinking. It was also a long night of sex. Lord could go all night. I barely got any sleep. But I loved every minute of it. I was trying to brace myself. I knew I was falling madly and deeply in love with this man. I was trying to deny it or move slowly but we were moving so fast. I wondered if me mentioning warning kids what’s off-putting to lord. This relationship was new, and we never discussed a future together. It felt so good to hear him call me his girlfriend. He had claimed to me to his friend and that meant something to me. It meant more and all the gifts he had given me over the course of our relationship.

I really needed to talk to my sister. After I made my coffee, I went over to the kitchen table and I noticed it. There was a gun sitting on the kitchen table next to the bowl of fruit. What was it doing here? Who did it belong to? I couldn’t sit down. I was so terrified. I had the urge to call Lord and ask him about the weapon that mysteriously showed up on his kitchen table. I really didn’t know what I should do. I didn’t know if he was a gun owner. If this gun was his. Or could it belong to Nicco?

There was no way I was going to touch the weapon. A random crazy thought entered my mind. Was this gun used in the commission of a crime? But Lord wasn’t a criminal. He wasn’t in a drug dealer. I never been to his job, so how did I know the things he told me we’re true? He had to be what he claimed because he let me roam freely in his house and he let me answer his phone. He didn’t get weird calls all throughout the day and night. And if he was up to something illegal, I would think he would be in contact with people while we were together.

All my thoughts seemed irrational. Maybe I was trying to find something wrong with him. He was too perfect, too generous, too kind and to be true. He had never even raised his voice at me. We never had a fight. It just wasn’t normal. Shouldn’t the honeymoon stage be over by now?

I had never had a man treat me so well, so I didn’t have anything to compare it to. I had to talk to somebody about it. I planned to get dressed, call my sister and go to her house. She was the only one who wouldn’t sugarcoat anything.

I glanced back at the gun on the table. I didn’t know what kind of gun it was. I didn’t know if he had a license for the gun. I knew I would talk to my sister and try to figure out what to do about it.

My car was in the parking garage. It only took me a few minutes to shower and get dressed. I wasn’t living here, but I had enough clothes in the closet to last about a month. Lord made sure I had everything I needed. Since the day he went to Target he made sure I was comfortable while I was in his loft.

* * *

Iarrived at Khia’s house a little after 3 o’clock. Traffic was terrible headed toward the suburbs. Her husband had taken the kids out for ice cream, so we would be alone. I love my niece and nephew, but it was so hard talking in code around children. My sister greeted me with a hug. I hadn’t seen her much since I started dating Lord. We communicated through text but I spent most of my free time, good lord.

I sat down on her couch and watched as she picked up toys from the carpet.

“Woe chile. These kids are about to drive me crazy. I’m glad to stop by.”

“I’m glad you had time to see me.”

“Sis, I always have time for you. Stop talking crazy.”

“I don’t want to interrupt your family time.”

“Please do, before I hurt these kids and my husband. What’s up with your new man? Are you official, talking, or just kicking it?”

“Ah, I think we’re official. We went to dinner last night with one of his friends and he called me his girlfriend.”

“So you know for a fact that he isn’t seeing anybody else.”

“I mean. We are together all the time, so I think I’m the only one.”

“But you don’t know for certain?”

“I’m like 98.9% sure but not 100% sure.”

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