𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 |𝟏𝟖+ (#𝟏)

𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴 |

23
AMBER JACKSON
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Three knocks.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

And then the churning in your stomach twists and turns like the butter overlapping the knife after a scoop. Something doesn't feel right. It almost feels like deja vu, but not quite. "I know this bitch is lying." Jade says to me, watching me finally add the butter beans to the oxtail and check on the rice that was finally done and covered with foil paper. We'd only heard the door since we stopped  playing music some while ago instead getting engrossed in conversation about any and everything.

I rolled my eyes annoyed that my night was being ruined to the extremes. Three more knocks. I don't even shout to say I'm on my way, the puppies once again are at the front door barking in interest at who could be on the other side. "Diesel, Bentley, come here boys." I say to them both tapping my thighs and they get distracted once more running towards me. I struggle to hold them  both especially with them turning to lick at my neck. I walk back to the kitchen and place them in front of a licking mat of peanut butter I had prepared.

They sniff it before their tongues start licking at it like maniacs, finally distracted. Jade walked with me to stand by the arched entrance just to catch a glimpse of Alessandro's ex-girlfriend because she was nosey as hell. "I fucking told you to....." I trail off looking at the familiar navy blue uniform standing in front of me. Gold shields with engraved numbers, I look at them closely remembering them in case anything went wrong with this unwarranted impromptu visit.

3568.

0179.

"Ohh officers, how may I help you? Thought you were someone else." I say with the most polite smile I can muster to speak with them. If it's anything, I know it took them less than three minutes to get here which means the call wasn't made long ago. I look between their shoulders to see the culprit, a sinister grin on her face like she's won. And maybe she will win, but I was always in it for the long game.

"We got a call about a disturbance and unwanted guest? Do you know anything about that." the chubbier, older one with a round gut grunts out looking from the stairs behind me to my face too many times to count. Yeah, this was not going to end well. I move closer to the open space, limiting his sight inside. "Your names?" I ask them both. The older officer doesn't seem phased but the younger one was. He was skinny, probably as young as I was with what looks like zero experience.

He clears his throat before he answers, "We're officers Todd and Garrett." pointing to himself and the man standing beside him shoulders squared and legs spread apart in a stance to force a feeling of intimidation. I wasn't buying it especially when I know that any little thing that goes wrong here, I have a witness, Jade who already pulled her phone out to record from the moment I said officers, the camera aimed at the door from the top of the stairs but also the fact that Alessandro wouldn't let this shit slide without some action on his part.

"We got a call about a disturbance and unwanted guest? Do you know anything about that." I refrain from rolling my eyes at his impotence. "No, I don't. But I have an idea who it might've been." I say looking at the woman standing a few feet behind both officers tapping her feet impatiently. The officer squints.

"Ma'am is the owner of the house here at this moment?" The older officer, Garrett asks, disdain dripping from every word. From what Sandro has told me, this house has been in the family for at least sixty years and they've never moved even through all the land development to create more houses. This officer knew exactly who the fuck lived here and he didnt like him, why? Especially when he is so fucking charming.