Greeley's Spyce by Aliyah Burke

her
    doorbell rang. Wiping her eyes, she got out of bed and went to the door.
    Looking through the peephole, she opened the door with a squeal and
    jumped into the arms of the person on the other side.

    

    ―When are you going to get over this hold Kirby has on you?‖ The
    question was direct, just like the person asking it.
    Kacy swirled her drink. She had changed and was sitting in her liv-
    ing room confronted by a feast and her very good friend Ilanderae Rogue
    Nycks who‘d stopped by for a brief visit. ―It‘s like I told you on the phone,
    Landi. Every time I think I have gotten past or over him, I see him.‖
    ―But, hon, he is still running your life, especially if you let a man like
    this,‖ she held up one of the pictures they had taken in Hawaii, ―walk out of
    that door.‖ Ilanderae tucked a strand of curly hair behind her ear.
    ―I know, but my mind is so into self-preservation; it is an instinctive
    reaction. And Lord knows I wanted him to stay.‖
    Arching a tweezed brow, Ilanderae smirked. ―I don‘t blame you
    there. How was he, anyway?‖
    ―Landi!‖ Kacy gasped.
    ―Girl, please,‖ she scoffed, ―tell me all.‖
    So Kacy did. They ate rich food and talked. About men, sex, food,
    and more sex.
    ―What are you going to do about Kirby?‖ Ilanderae asked, suddenly
    serious.
    ―I don‘t see him often,‖ Kacy said.
    She leveled one manicured finger at her. ―Koali Cynemon, don‘t you
    give me that shit. Any second you see him is too much. You need to tell this
    man of yours about that bastard.‖
    ―He‘s not my man,‖ Kacy protested.
    ―Any man who rocks your world like that is a keeper. He‘s your
    man,‖ Ilanderae insisted.
    ―I‘m doing okay, Landi. Really, I am. I go to the meetings and get
    support, and I stay busy with work. Really busy,‖ Kacy said, reaching across
    the coffee table to grab her friend‘s hand.

    Greeley's Spyce
    57
    ―Still live in fear, don‘t you? When a man raises his voice, you still
    tense up and cringe. And you will until that bastard is gone from your life
    forever,‖ Ilanderae swore.
    ―But I am not giving in and moving my business. I‘m established
    here and I don‘t want to let him win,‖ Kacy spoke softly as she moved to sit
    next to her friend.
    ―You know that man is dangerous. I don‘t want to get a call saying
    come down and identify the body. You know you are family to me.‖
    Kacy nodded. ―I know. I take precautions, but I haven‘t seen him
    around here in a while. It has always been in a public place where I have seen
    him.‖ Leaning in, she kissed Ilanderae on the cheek. ―I love you, too, Landi.‖
    ―I know,‖ she said with a smile. ―What‘s not to love?‖
    They spent the day shopping and catching up. Dropping Ilanderae
    off at the airport, Kacy sped home to change and get ready for her date. As
    she was walking through the house toward the garage, her cell phone went
    off.
    ―KT Electric,‖ she said as her body automatically turned and headed
    back to her office. ―Evening, Sister,‖ Kacy said as she sat down at her desk.
    ―The whole thing?‖ Kacy opened her computer files to the St. Lucia
    Orphanage. ―Don‘t worry about it; I am looking at the blueprints right now. I
    will be there within the hour. See you then.‖
    Hanging up, she set her phone down and jogged to her room to
    change into jeans and a work shirt. Grabbing her briefcase along with her cell
    phone, she headed out into the garage only to climb into her van instead of
    her car. As she drove to the orphanage, she called Fountains and left a mes-
    sage for Ernst. That done, she focused on driving in the rain.

    Ernst swore as he got the message. An emergency, huh? Pissed off and
    frustrated beyond belief, he went back to his apartment in Suffolk. A knock at
    the door surprised him and he opened it to see a few of his teammates there.
    ―What are you three up to?‖ Ernst asked as he stepped back to let
    them enter.
    Ross answered,