Obsession 3 by Treasure Hernandez Page A

myself.”
    Ray got excited for Secret. “Then it’s a no-brainer. Tell them the dope was really his and testify against him in court.”
    â€œWell, it’s not that simple. They actually want me to help set him up. Kind of go undercover like I want to get with him again, play on his team, you know. In short, they want me to get information that could put him away and feed it to the police.”
    â€œHow?” Ray looked confused.
    â€œThey want me to act like everything is all good with us again, get him to trust me and then turn on him. They’ll drop all charges against me and I won’t ever have to worry about jail again.” Secret looked down at Dina and kissed her on the head. “Then I can spend all the time I want with this little one right here.”
    â€œI don’t know.” Ray shook her head in doubt. “That sounds kind of dangerous. I mean, do you really want your daughter around that situation? You know this guy better than me, but is he violent or anything? What if he suspects you of setting him up? I’ve heard guys in drug rings are ruthless.”
    Secret chuckled. “It’s not like that with him. He never laid a hand on me, at least not in a way I never wanted him to.” Secret gazed off for a moment as if thinking about the good times with Lucky. “And the cops are trying to say he’s the big man on campus in the dope game, but I swear I never saw any proof of that. I mean, I knew he probably did a little something something illegal, but nothing on the grand scale that the cops are trying to say.”
    Ray swallowed before she spoke. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but from the way it sounds to me, you’re still protecting him somewhat. Girl, you should be pissed! Who gives a damn whether he is what the police think he is? Turn his ass over to them on a silver platter and keep it moving with you and your baby girl. Shoot, wouldn’t have to ask me twice. I’d be like where is the paperwork so I can sign on the dotted line.”
    â€œI would, I mean I want to,” Secret stressed.
    â€œThen what’s stopping you?”
    Secret paused for a moment. Was this the door she’d been trying to push open? The door of opportunity? This entire conversation with Ray had been Secret knocking, was Ray now opening it? And should Secret walk through it?
    â€œWell,” Secret started, “Detective Davis said I could be out of jail as early as tomorrow.”
    Ray gave her an “I told you so” look. She clapped her hands together. “See, so what are you waiting for? Let’s get that detective in here and handle this so that you and your little girl can go home.” Ray headed toward the door.
    â€œWait, hold up.” Secret stopped her. “That’s the problem. I can’t go home.” Secret’s voice became very solemn. “I don’t have one.” Secret was almost certain the apartment she’d been living in prior to going to jail was no more. At the time she landed the apartment, she’d been living out of a hotel that Lucky had put her up in. Considered homeless and pregnant, she ended up receiving low- or no-income emergency housing. The police had probably ransacked her place and reported her to the landlord who in turn had probably reported her to the housing authority.
    Ray’s excitement vanished just like that. Her hand stopped mid-reach for the door. “But where were you staying before you went to jail?”
    â€œIt was a place the government subsidized. I’m sure the police have confiscated everything I had in there since I’m this big drug lord.” Secret used her fingers as quotation marks and rolled her eyes. “I don’t even know if the landlord has evicted me. I’m just not sure whether it’s safe to take the baby there, or if there is still even a ‘there’ to go to.”
    â€œDamn,” Ray said