After Hours by Marie Rochelle

robber? How did he avoid getting arrested for all of these years?”
    Fuck, he couldn’t let Zane find out that Jametria knew about this. He wouldn’t have a problem sending her off to prison with her uncle.
    “Don’t tell me you believe him,” she laughed. “God, one time he told me he was a pirate and then a magician,” Jametria said, rolling her eyes. “He’s a very good story teller; without a doubt, I got my writing talent from him.”
      “Honey, you know that we have a problem,” Forbes brought up.
    “What kind of problem do we have, Mr. Huntington? Are you scared to meet my crazy relative? I promise you that his bark is worse than his bite.”
    “Jametria, I’m not scared. I can’t wait to meet your family member; however, remember that you only had enough food to fix breakfast. So, are we going to the store after we eat?”
     Crossing his fingers behind his back, Forbes prayed that Jametria fell for the bait.
    “Shit, you’re right,” she retorted, standing up. “We have to get some food in the house, but I don’t want to miss my uncle. I mean I know I fixed breakfast and everything, but I’m too excited to sit down and eat. I haven’t seen Uncle Wayne in years.”
    “Jametria, don’t get in a panic. How about I stay here and wait for your uncle?” he suggested. “We can get to know each other while you’re gone?”
     “Are you sure about this? I mean…shouldn’t I be here to introduce the two of you? He’ll be surprised to have a strange man answering my front door.”
    “Did you tell him about me?” Forbes asked, wondering how he was going to get Jametria to leave the house if this idea didn’t work.
    Big bright brown eyes sparkled with love the second before Jametria stood on tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Baby, I love you so much! That’s a perfect idea. I can get the stuff for my famous three cheese broccoli and chicken casserole then for dessert I can fix my strawberry shortcake.”
    He knew Jametria would never get the chance to fix that meal, but he would never forget hearing the words ‘I love you’ coming from her mouth. Yet, he couldn’t let that sway him from doing his job.
    “Sweetheart, I promise I’ll be nice to your uncle when he gets here.” He couldn’t say the same for Zane and the rest of the men in the Bureau. “Why don’t you leave right now, so you can beat the afternoon traffic?”
    “You’re right. I want to at least have the casserole started before my uncle shows up.” Jametria got up from the couch and grabbed her purse off the table. “I’ll try to get back as soon as I can,” she said, kissing him and then hurrying out the door, closing it softly behind her.
    Jumping up from the couch, Forbes raced over to the window. He looked out and waited until Jametria was completely out of sight before he grabbed his cell phone out of his jean pocket. “What do you have for me?” Zane asked, picking up after the second ring.
    “Wayne Collins is on his way to Jametria’s house. I found a way to get her to leave for an hour, so I advise you to get everyone over here ASAP.”
    Ending the call, Forbes pushed his relationship with Jametria to the back of his mind and got into business mode. He couldn’t let his emotions for her cloud his judgment. He was just doing his job and hopefully, she wouldn’t hold it against him for too long.

 
     
    Chapter Fifteen
     
     
    “Oh, my God,” Jametria gasped as her car rounded the corner that led to her block.
    Instantly, she noticed all of the dozen or so cars parked in front of her house, it was like a scene out of Criminal Minds . She stopped her car in the middle of the street and got out, racing towards her residence.
    What had happened while she was gone to the store?
    Fear lodged in Jametria’s throat and gripped her pounding heart as she got closer to her house. Did something happen to Forbes or her uncle while she wasn’t here? She wouldn’t be able to take it if either one