Vonte POV
I kept calling Nichelle but got no answer. She just ran off, I haven't even heard about this dude being dead. I picked up my phone and called Erin.
"Hello?"
"Where you at?"
"Atlanta, why?"
"I haven't seen you in some days. You heard about Charles?"
"What about him?"
"He got killed."
"What? When?"
"Last night, I didn't find out until today though. I haven't talked to Nichelle, I don't know what's up but I'm on the way to your house."
"I'm not there, I'm running errands."
"When you gonna be back?"
"I don't know."
"Okay, just call me when you do."
I hung up the phone. I know Erin thought all that mess was my fault some kinda way but she ain't gotta act like that. I just feel like something is wrong.
Erin POV
"Dre I gotta bad feeling about going back."
"Why?"
"I don't know, I think we should hold off on it."
"We can't stay here in Houston, it's gonna get hot."
"Whatever Dre."
"Don't do that Erin."
I went to Dre's bedroom and called my daddy.
"Hello?"
"Y'all don't need to fly out here."
"Y'all coming back?"
"Dre has his mind set on going back but I don't have a good feeling."
"Just watch your back baby girl and tell Dre to. I'll make sure y'all are protected at all times though."
"Okay, thank you daddy." I hung up the phone.
"Baby!"
"What?"
"Come here."
I walked in the room and saw Dre laying down. I got on top of him.
"I love you ma, remember that."
"I love you too Dre. I just don't want you getting hurt, this life you have ain't cutting shit for me."
"What you want me to do?"
"Something else, I don't know. My professor keeps calling reminding me I have to help him with a seminar so I can help you think about that after I finish."
I got my laptop out and finished all my work then worked on a PowerPoint for the seminar. I ended up falling asleep with my work in front of me.
Nichelle POV
"They left and then what?" I asked Kandi.
"About 10 minutes later I heard someone screaming then police came."
"So where did Erin and Dre go?"
"Dre's mother got sick and they had to rush home to check on her."
"Oh, well I have some things to finish up so I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, bye." I hung up and drove to Vonte's house.
"I been calling and texting your ass like crazy!"
"I need to ask you some things." I pushed past him.
"Like what?"
"Where are Dre and Erin?"
"Here in Atlanta." Wrong.
"Has there ever been any beef or something between Charles and Dre?"
"What? Nah. They fought back in high school cuz he pushed Erin to the ground, that's it. Why?"
"What happened the other day when Charles and Erin met up?"
"They talked."
"Did Dre show up?"
"Hold the fuck up, you trying to accuse Dre of killing your brother?"
"I'm asking the questions."
"Nichelle I don't know what's wrong with you but you just need to relax."
He came and picked me up then took me upstairs to his bedroom. I didn't even say no, I need some stress taken off of me.
Dre POV
We pulled up to the house and I put all the bags back in the house. I felt like I was being watched but I brushed it off and walked in. I heard the water running upstairs. When I got up there I saw Erin in a bubble bath.
"Come on." She said. I took my clothes off then got in with her.
"Let's make another Marr." I said. She got off of my lap and slid to the other end of the tub. "That's cold."
"My body cold, i'ma keep it that way."
"Selfish, you talked to Vonte?"
"Earlier, I told him we were in Atlanta."
"Why?"
"You acting like you forgot he's with Nichelle, if she finds out who killed her brother she's gonna think Vonte was in on it."
"You care too much about other people's shit."
"You care too less but I really don't wanna talk about this. When is your mama's flight gonna get here?"
"I think 12 tomorrow."
"I'll pick her up."
"Nah, I will."
"Marr doesn't even need to be around you, your mama doesn't either. . Plus we're starting to plan wedding stuff tomorrow."
"Erin be honest with me, okay?"
"What?"
"Do you really wanna marry me? You can give up this lifestyle and I won't be mad. Just you being with me will risk your life and I don't want you in harm's way."
"The other night you said I was your Bonnie, I'm down with you til the world blows babe." She kissed me. She turned some music on and gave me a lapdance in the bathtub. "Bet you never had this before, huh?" She said then giggled. She turned around and gave me what I was wanting.
Nichelle POV
"I'm gonna ask you once." I put the gun to her head. "Did he kill my brother?"
"Nichelle are you crazy? I don't know!" Kandi was in tears.
"You were the last person with him!"
"No Erin was the last person with him!" I untied her.
"Leave, nobody knows we've even seen each other okay?" She ran out of the abandoned building. I walked down the street to get me something to drink. I walked in the gas station and saw Erin.
"Hello Erin."
"Hey."
"Are you coming to my brother's funeral?"
"His what?"
"Like you don't know." She teared up and a tear rolled down her cheek. Damn, she actually didn't know.
"I. . I'll talk to you later okay?" She put the stuff down instead of buying it then walked quickly to her car, I could tell she was about to break down.
If she doesn't even know, Dre couldn't have done it. Back to square one.
Vonte POV
"How you feeling about it?" I asked Erin.
"I don't know." She just stared at the table, looking lost.
"Erin can I tell you something?"
"I guess."
"Nichelle thinks Dre killed Charles. She on some revenge shit and I can't even keep up with her."
"She thinks that? So when we were in the store, that's why she was acting like that. I was lost when she said he was dead and she said like I don't know, I wasn't putting on. I started tearing up so I just left the store."
"Just overlook it Erin, she's hurt."
"Like I'm not hurt too." She got up from the table and started pacing the floor. I heard lil man crying so I got him from his crib and brought him back downstairs.
"Erin don't you have some event today?"
"Oh shit! Can you watch Marr for me?"
"Yeah."
She ran upstairs and about 30 minutes later she came back in a black blazer on top of a white shirt and a blue skirt that hugged her with black, leather, spiked wedges. Her hair was straight with a flip in the front and she had on big diamond earrings.
"You look beautiful but please don't bust your ass in them tall shoes, damn." I said chuckling.
"Yeah whatever, I gotta go." She kissed Marr, grabbed her laptop case, briefcase, then ran out the door.
"It's just me and you lil man." He started bouncing while I was holding him up. "Let's play."
Erin POV
I could be a damn actor! I play my role well too. I feel like I'm betraying Vonte but girls come and go, he needs to learn that.
I walk into my professor's classroom and set everything up. I can't believe I'm working my way this far up.
After my presentation, the seminar was over. I got my things and walked out. I saw Tanji, Brandy and Nichelle sitting on a picnic table talking but they didn't notice me one bit. I got closer and sat down with my back facing them.
"I think she truly didn't know y'all." Nichelle said.
"Like hell she didn't, she can't be trusted. I wouldn't be surprised if she put the trigger to his head herself." Tanji said. Her mad ass.
"That's a bit far, I don't believe that."
"Nichelle are you blind to who the hell we're talking about? Get your mind right! You have your thoughts set on Dre when they should be on that bitch!"
"I'll just wait it out, sooner or later the streets will tell it all then I'll act on it."
I got my stuff and walked towards my car. When she acts on it, I'll be there ready. Revenge she wants? War is at hand.
"Recent news, 5 missing people from the Atlanta area." My mind trailed off and the news reporters voice went out. I thought of those 5 people I shipped to foreign countries. They're being taken care of well by friends of mine but they don't know who took them or how they even got there, it'll stay like that. Those 5 can find out any gossip like who killed who, who's fucking, undercovers, everything and I knew Nichelle would look for answers with them, I couldn't let that happen.
I put on an all black dress and black heels. I curled my hair then left driving to Charles's funeral. I walked in and sat on a pew. The family came in crying and hollering then the service started.
"Thanks for coming Erin." Nichelle said then hugged me.
"You're welcome, I had to for Charles."
"I just have a feeling that his killer was in there with us, I really do." Close enough, I thought to myself.
"Honey time will tell, somebody will be found out." I hugged her. "I have to go pick up my baby but keep your head up Nichelle." I walked off to my car then headed to my parent's house. My mother walked out and got in then we headed to the airport.
"I could just whoop their ass for delaying my flight, twice!" Dre's mama said, I giggled at her. I pulled up to this place known for the best event planning. The deeper the conversation with the employee, I got nervous. About what though?
"Okay hun, first of all what date have you set?"
"None, we haven't planned anything at all."
"What? OMG! We have so much work to do!" He got another pen and pad then went to work.
Dre POV
"We planned the date and some other stuff. I'm going to taste test cakes tomorrow and looking for a dress."
"Why you getting it over with so soon? And when is the date?"
"Cuz it's stressful and July 19th."
"Okay."
"Vonte called you?"
"Yeah on some rah rah shit 'bout Nisha."
"It's Nichelle."
"It don't matter. He said you were crying or something."
"I couldn't blow my cover." I kissed her. She's like my keeper when I don't even know.
