24: A Lesser Man

NORTH CAMPBELL

My heart shouldn't have been pounding when the doorbell rang. I had a feeling that Tesfaye had sent someone over to put a bullet through my head, but when I looked through the security camera, I was taken aback.

Zamani was standing outside, her hands shoved in her pocket and I wondered what business she had with me this morning. After promising not to snitch on me, she went ahead to do what was in her mind.

I pressed the intercom. “What d’you want, girlie?”

Zamani raised her eyes to the camera and though the view was distorted, I noticed her brown beautiful eyes and I could not stay mad at her forever. “I just want to talk, North.”

I pressed a button to unlock the door and the gates buzzed. Zamani climbed up the staircase and within a minute, she was knocking at the door. I swung the door open for her, but she just stood at the entrance.

Evidence of a long and hectic night was drawn on her face, with the edges of her eyes slightly reddened and the shadows beneath them.