That was new.
I slowed down for a second before continuing down the hallway. When I reached his room, I knocked once.
From inside, his voice came through the door. “Come in, Domino.”
Of course, he knew it was me.
Alejandro had cameras everywhere, including one pointed straight at his door.
I opened it, stepped inside, and stopped in my tracks. Alejandro was in bed… in pajamas. That alone was strange. In all the years I’d known him, I could count on one hand how many times I’d seen him still in bed after six o’clock, and it was hitting on noon.
“Hey,” I said slowly. “Just letting you know I made it back.”
He pushed himself up a little against the headboard. “Glad you made it home safely… although I expected you to stay gone a full week.”
“Nah. I was just staying through Thanksgiving. You good, though? I ain’t used to seeing this.”
Alejandro smirked faintly. “Domino, a man my age is allowed a rest day every now and then. Even kings get tired.”
He picked up the glass of water beside him and took a sip.
I nodded, but something in my head didn’t fully buy it.
Alejandro didn’t rest… not like this.
Still, I didn’t press.
“Did you have a good Thanksgiving?” he asked.
“Yeah. House was packed. Mama cooked enough food to feed half the neighborhood.”
Alejandro chuckled. “How is she?”
“She’s good. She was happy to see me… as always. Still telling me I need to settle down and give her some grandkids. Speaking of that,” I pulled my phone from my coat pocket, “I gotta call her and let her know I landed.”
He nodded. “Good mothers deserve that.”
“Yeah. But I’ll do it in a minute. How was business while I was gone?”
He spread his hands slightly. “Well, if I’m in bed, I’d say things wentprettywell.”
I laughed a little.
Then his face grew more serious. “I know you’ve been onvacation, but where are we with finding Iya’s replacement?”
“Marcos might’ve found someone in Charlotte.”
Alejandro’s brow rose. “Might’ve?”
“She’s not locked in yet. It’s some Uber driver he ran into. He said she didn’t panic under pressure and sounded like she got real problems at home.”
Alejandro studied me, then he coughed, and not a small throat-clear, but a deeper one.
It passed quick, but I noticed. I mentally stored it but didn’t say anything.
“Marcos gave her a card,” I continued. “We’re waiting to see if she reaches out.”
Alejandro pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Our buyers are patient… until they’re not. The people waiting on our product aren’t breathing down my neck yet, but I also don’t like too many gaps in my operation, so you’ve got one week beforepatienceruns out.”