| |
Channing awoke during the night at the sound of her bedroom window breaking.
A large rock lay on the floor surrounded by shards of glass.
She ran to the window, careful not to cut her feet.
“Woo hoo!” A red pickup sped away. “Stop making trouble, nigger!”
Channing hopped over the glass and grabbed her phone.
“Thompsonville Sherriff’s Office,” Deputy Kagen said.
“Waylon, it’s Channing Mills.” She took deep breaths, struggling to calm herself. “I need you to send someone to my place. Someone just threw a rock into my bedroom window.”
“What? Are you all right?”
“Yeah, but I’m scared.” Her heart pounded. “What if they come back?”
“Okay, stay calm. Did you see who did it?”
“I saw the truck. Looked like Zayden Voight’s red pickup.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. He is Nate’s friend and he’s vowed revenge on you.”
“How soon can you have someone here?”
“I can be there in ten minutes.”
“Please hurry.”
“Stay put and call me if something happens before I get there.”
“I will.” She hung up.
No way she’d wait for Kagen alone. After not getting Sonjay or Klein on their cells, she called their house and Anderson answered.
“Anderson.” She sat against the headboard. “It’s Channing.”
“Are you okay? You sound out of breath.”
She gulped, touching her chest. “Is my sister or Klein home?”
“No they’re still out.”
“Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Zayden Voight and his pals threw a rock through my bedroom window. He’s this racist thug, a friend of Nate Lancaster. I think Nate’s friends are trying to intimidate me.”
“Oh my god. Did you get hurt?”
“No and Deputy Kagen’s on his way.” She touched her sweaty forehead. “I didn’t wanna be alone so was hoping to catch up with Sonjay or Klein.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“No, that’s okay.”
“Who knows if those guys come back before the deputy gets there. What’s your address?”
“You’re not from here. You might get lost.”
“I’ll use the navigator. Give me the address.”
She took a deep breath and cited it for him.
****
“Uh-huh.” Kagen stood in Channing’s bedroom, speaking to Zayden’s father on the phone. “You haven’t seen your son since he left earlier?”
Channing sat on the edge of her bed, bouncing her legs.
“Okay, thanks, Avon.” Kagen ended the call. “Well, his daddy says he ain’t been home since this morning. I’ll pay him a visit tomorrow.”
“That’s it?” Anderson asked.
“I’ll ride around and look for them but no telling where they are.” Kagen scratched his head. “He lives with his father so he’ll show back up.”
“Thank you, Waylon.” Channing stood and shook his hand. “Let me know when you track Zayden down.”
“I will.” He cut his gaze to Anderson. “It was nice meeting you.”
Anderson scoffed, rolling his eyes.
“I’ll see you out.” Channing left with Kagen then returned seconds later. “You’re more upset about this than I am.”
“You’re lucky they only threw a rock. What if they’d been shooting?”
She sat beside him, tucking her hands between her thighs. “Thanks for putting the cardboard on my window. I’ll get someone to fix it in the morning before I visit Presley.” She rubbed her eye. “That’s extra money I can’t afford to waste.”
He put his arm around her and surprising to him, she allowed it. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
“I felt better once you got here.”
Butterflies circled through his stomach.
“You have a good heart, Anderson.” She patted his thigh. “I could use a beer. You want one?”
He threw his head back, a chuckle stuck in his throat. “You don’t look like the beer type.”
“This is Thompsonville.” She stood. “Everyone’s the beer type. Want one?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll be right back.” She left with her bare feet pitty-patting against the hardwood floor and returned before he could miss her. “Here we go.” She held two bottles of Bud Light.
“Thanks.” He took the bottle.
She unscrewed her bottle and sipped. “You don’t look like a beer drinker either.”
“I’m a Heineken man to be honest.”
They took soft gulps then smiled at each other.
“I appreciate how nice you’ve been,” she said. “But I’m not looking for anything other than friendship.”
“Uh, I’m confused.” He scratched behind his ear. “How did we get from drinking beers to a relationship?”
She darted her eyes from his gaze. “You’re throwing out vibes so I wanted to be straight with you.”
“Because I’m nice doesn’t mean I want anything from you other than this beer.”
She sulked.
“Okay, I am attracted to you.” He drank. “So no need to keep fishing.”
“Please. I’m not fishing.” She walked to the dresser with her hips rolling in a sensuous motion. “I feel awkward now. Let’s forget this silly conversation. You wanna see something?” She set the bottle down again and stood from the dresser in a seductive pose.
“Sure.”
“Come on.”