“The next time I see her, I’m gonna tell her to research how to mind her own goddamn business.”
“You do that,” Malcolm agrees when he stands up. “And your ass better stay off the goddamn roof! That’s an order! Now, where the hell are the rest of your guns?”
“My guns? What about them?”
“I’m taking them with me, even if I have to search every nook and cranny in this filthy hellhole.”
“Help yourself, asshole,” I say. I’m not going to help him find a damn thing.
Chapter Four
Lucy
For the past few hours, I’ve turned my car and apartment upside down looking for my cell phone, knowing it has to be here somewhere. I had it with me for turn-by-turn directions to the pool hall earlier today, and then it just disappeared. Using my laptop to track it hasn’t been much help either since it must have died. The last location it pinged was here in the apartment building around thirty minutes ago. I even dumped my purse on the floor to sort through each and every item, thinking I somehow overlooked the thick brick, but it wasn’t in there either.
The sudden banging on my door sounds ominous, and not just because I was watching Sinister on Netflix.
I haven’t made any friends in town yet and didn’t place any orders in for food tonight, so I have no idea who could be outside my apartment.
Tiptoeing over quietly while barefoot in my strawberry print cami and pajama shorts, I put my eye up to the peephole and then blow out a breath when I recognize the bearded man with long brown hair. But what the heck is Malcolm doing here? He must have made good on his promise to check on Nash, but how did he know which apartment was mine?
Since he didn’t give off any psycho vibes earlier today when he was holding a baby girl, I unlock the chain and deadbolt to pull the door open and find out.
“How’s your grumpy friend doing? Still breathing?” I ask, concerned for the poor, depressed soul.
“For now,” he grumbles while running his fingers through his wavy locks, still wearing his leather vest and jeans.
“Has anyone ever told you that you look like Jesus?” I blurt out while leaning my shoulder on the door frame. That’s always been a problem of mine, saying whatever I happen to be thinking without a filter. Malcolm’s lips frown underneath his facial hair.
“Looks can be deceiving, can’t they?” he replies with an eyebrow arched.
“Sure they can,” I agree offhandedly.
“Take you, for instance,” he says. “You look like a goody-two shoes that’s young enough to sell girl scout cookies. When, in fact, you’re a troublemaker.”
“I don’t think I know what you mean,” I respond innocently around an audible gulp.
“Maybe this will refresh your memory,” Malcolm replies. Reaching behind his back, he pulls out a cellphone in a bright pink case. I’m about to make a comment about the odd color choice for such a tough-looking man when I realize it’s not his phone but my phone in his hand.
“You found my phone!” I exclaim in relief.
“Found. Borrowed. Browsed. Possibly all of the above,” he says with a smirk.
“What? Without my face or code, you couldn’t have unlocked it,” I reply defensively.
Like a magician, he reaches behind him again, this time pulling out my cloth, floral wallet that matches my purse from his pocket.
“Jesus! What the hell!” I exclaim since I didn’t even realize it was missing. “You stole my wallet too?” I jerk both items out of his hands and use my elbow to try and slam the door in the thief’s face before he blocks it with the toe of his boot.
“Not so fast,” he warns, pushing the door open a few more inches. “A girl as smart and technically savvy as you really should come up with a better passcode. I mean, using your birthday month and date is just child’s play.”
Great. So, he figured out my passcode, getting my birthdate from my driver’s license and went through my phone.
“The things you’ve done.” Malcolm lets loose a low whistle. “I bet all those men would love to find out where you live. If they could find you before law enforcement got their hands on you…” he trails off, making it an obvious threat.
“I tracked you down because I was worried about your friend, and this is how you repay my good deed, by intimidating me?” I snap at him.
“Don’t even pretend you’re the innocent little girl here. I ain’t buying it. I saw the screenshots. You’re savage as shit, ruining men’s lives.”
Rather than continue to argue that they deserved it, I sigh and cave. “What do you want?”
“You mean in exchange for me not making your life hell?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m glad you asked, girly. I’ve got just the job for you.”
“Who do you want me to hack? I’m not stealing anyone’s money,” I tell him. That’s one line I won’t cross. What I do may be considered cyber-bullying, but it isn’t the type of crime I would ever go to jail for.
“Nothing like that. In fact, you won’t have to do anything illegal.”
“I won’t?” I ask in surprise.
“Nope.”
“Then what is it? You need a baby-sitter? If so, that’s a hard pass for me too,” I reply. It would be impossible to see an adorable baby every day knowing I can never have my own.
“Something along those lines actually. Except he’s a grown-ass man, not a baby.”
“Huh?” I ask with my brow bunched in confusion.
“My boy Nash is going through some shit, as you witnessed for yourself last night. By the way, I appreciate you shutting down the roof access.”
“Okay?” I reply.
“But it’s going to take a helluva lot more than a combination lock to keep him in line. If I didn’t have businesses to run or a wife and kid at home, I would crash with him myself until he comes out the other side of this. The same goes
