I Can Touch the Bottom by Ms. Michel Moore Page B

ass said they was gonna get back at me later! Man, fuck ’em!”
    â€œThat’s right, nigga,” Rank agreed, snarling his face at the business card Mickey showed him. “Fuck the damn police. We gonna handle this shit street style; for Devin. Now, let me call this girl real quick before ole girl pull up over there on some ambush shit and get to molly whopping bitches.”
    * * *
    Unfortunately, by the time Rank was able to get through to Leela, it was too late. Blaming the delay on poor reception in the hospital, he apologized, knowing how Devin’s sister had gone ham on him as well.
    â€œYeah, the tramp was over here trying to go on me, but you know that type of shit don’t fly in this jurisdiction. Flat out, her big, triple-cheeseburger-eating-ass thought she wanted it, but ended up getting it,” Leela bragged while placing a cold rag on her eye, hoping the swelling would go down. “When you see her, ask her how that head doing. You know that fool left here leaking! Shit, she probably on her way straight to the hospital, ole dumb bitch! I told her I ain’t have shit to do with Devin getting killed but—”
    â€œI already know.” Rank cut Leela off before running down his firsthand account of what transpired after she and Ava were given a hood pass to leave the restaurant.
    After hearing everything Rank said, she was heated at Devin for being so stupid to go outside like he was Scarface and Stackz for doing what he was truly supposed to do; protect himself and life at all cost. Leela couldn’t help but think that the man who took Devin’s life had just been in her house. This the same nigga that sat on my sofa, took a piss in my toilet, and I lied to the police about—Gee’s damn brother! What the fuck! Leela wanted to tell Rank and Mickey she’d found out who Devin’s killer was quicker than both of them and the police but decided to wait. Not because she gave a fuck about any of the parties involved. It was all about her and how the information could benefit her.
    Rank’s headache was intensifying. Telling Leela they would meet up and talk in a few days once things settled down, she agreed, and they ended their conversation.

CHAPTER TEN
    Ava went from her bedroom to the bathroom getting ready to go to work. She’d been up all evening studying and thinking about Stackz. Every time she walked down the hallway, she imagined him snatching her up in his arms. She thought she could feel the strength of his body weight against hers, pressing her on the wall as she tried to break away. Taking a deep breath, Ava inhaled the intoxicating scent of Stackz’s cologne that was still very much lingering near her bathroom door. Normally, she’d spray air fresheners or burn scented candles; but not last night and not this morning. Strange as it seemed, it was as if the man she knew was a murderer of at least one man, and God only knows how many countless others, had her mind spinning. They’d exchanged numbers, and as bad as she wanted to call, she knew it would be in her best interest to just kick back and play the role. If it was meant to be with Stackz, then it would be; one way or another.
    Taking a break in between daydreaming about a man she didn’t know, Ava thought about the plays she would make later when at work. That was, if the risk factor was low. Knowing she had to keep an eye on that old nosey bitch, Ms. Heath, who was always in her business, Ava stated devising clever and innovative plans to get her away from her desk and into another part of the building so she could do her dirt. Ava had figured out the first week on the job working at the doctor’s office, that Ms. Heath was the one person in the building having keys to every single door, locked shelf, file cabinet, and medical supply dispensary in the entire place.
    Finally heading out the door, she jumped in her car and backed out of the driveway. After getting a