The Kiss that Sparked it All novel Chapter 1760

The day was still a mere promise on the horizon.

In a run-of-the-mill housing complex in Greenhaven.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sound of the doorbell, interwoven with the hurried and heavy knocking, stirred Bertha and her daughter from their slumber.

Lea, groggy and disoriented, sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Who on earth could that be knocking at this ungodly hour?!"

Bertha was already out of bed and reached for her robe. "Lea, go back to sleep, sweetheart. Let Mommy see who it is."

Lea might have just woken up, so her mind was still foggy, but her alertness was not to be underestimated. She quickly got out of bed and reached for her mother, who was about to open the door.

"Mommy, this ain't our place, and your friend hasn't lived here in a while. Who would come knocking at this hour? We’ve gotta be careful; it could be a bad egg."

Bertha glanced at the clock on the wall. It was only 4 a.m., so a visit at this time was indeed peculiar.

Lea was also now fully dressed. "Wait for me, Mommy. I'll come with you. You know, even though Daddy left, he must have arranged for someone to look out for us.

By rights, Daddy's people wouldn't let just anyone come knocking.

So I reckon, if it ain't one of Daddy's men, it's gotta be a bad egg who's taken care of Daddy's men."

After listening to her daughter's theory, Bertha couldn't help but feel a wave of fear wash over her.

Who could this bad egg be? She hadn't wronged a soul.