Neema expressed her regret one last time. “I can’t apologize enough, and me saying it over and over again won’t change what happened. I take full responsibility for not telling you the truth and for starting our relationship on a fallacy. I want us to move forward, but we can’t do that if you can’t forgive me. So the question now is, can you? Can you get past this?”
Davis started the car, shifting it into gear. Then he shrugged his shoulders as he gave her a quick look. “I don’t know, Neema. I honestly don’t know.”
* * *
The ride to the West Harrison Street police station was quiet at best. Neither of them had much to say. Davis asked about the intruder and Neema told him what had happened after she called 9-1-1 and his cousin Pie was taken into custody. How multiple officers had surrounded the home only to find Pie curled up in a corner, Titus standing over him snarling. They both laughed at how readily Titus had gone to her when called, reminding them both that his dog’s affection for her was very real.
Inside, a desk clerk had them take a seat to wait. They sat side-by-side, shoulders pressed tightly together. A man who was visibly intoxicated slumped on another bench, trying to convince everyone in the room there was nothing wrong with him. He was loud and cantankerous and only settled down when a uniformed officer threatened to throw him into a jail cell.
Minutes passed before an officer gestured for them to follow. He led them to Parker’s office, where Davis’s father and Mingus were waiting.
“Neema, it’s good to see you,” Jerome said politely. He stood, extending his hand in greeting.
“Hey, Neema,” his brothers said casually.
She gave them a greeting back.
“What’s going on?” Davis asked as they took a seat on the upholstered sofa in the room.
Mingus answered. “Armstrong is running the interrogation. Ellington is with Pie. He’s representing him.”
Surprise washed over Davis’s face. “How did that happen?”
“It was obvious that he needed an advocate, and I wasn’t able to reach his father,” Jerome said. “Ellington was here, so it just made sense.”
“Made sense to whom?” Davis said, his tone surly.
His father gave him a look. “We still do what’s right, son.”
“Do we know anything? Why he was at my house? Or what he was hoping to accomplish?”
They all shook their heads.
Parker stepped forward. “Neema, if I can steal you, please. I’d like to get a signed statement from you about what happened.”
Neema nodded. “Whatever you need,” she said as she got to her feet.
“I’ll bring her back shortly,” Parker said to Davis, giving his brother a nod.
As Neema stepped past Davis, he reached for her hand, stalling her steps. There was a split second of hesitation and then he kissed the backs of her fingers, his warm breath like a gentle breeze against her skin.
“I’ll be here waiting for her,” he said softly, the comment intended more for Neema than for anyone else.”
When the door closed behind the two, his father chuckled. “It’s damn hard to stay mad at a woman you love hard.”
“I know that’s right,” Mingus said agreeably. “You two good?”
Davis shrugged. “We’ll get there,” he said, believing it more as he thought about it. “We’ll get there.”
* * *
Two months later, Davis reread the article that carried Neema’s byline. For many, the brief story said absolutely nothing. For his family, it spoke volumes. He read it for the umpteenth time.
A local man appearing before the magistrate this morning on felony breaking and entering charges no longer faces prosecution, the Cook County District Attorney’s Office said today.
Paul Balducci, 21, the grandson of real estate mogul Alexander Balducci, was arrested for allegedly breaking into the home of Alderman Davis Black. Cook County Deputy Prosecutor Lynne Burgess filed a motion to dismiss on Wednesday, citing a “lack of sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Balducci’s defense attorney, Ellington Black, confirmed the charges were dismissed but declined further comment. Alderman Davis Black could not be reached for comment.
* * *
Few people would ever know the backdoor wheeling and dealing that had enabled the Balducci heir to be released into his grandfather’s custody and to walk away scot-free. Under any other circumstance, Pie would have been charged with three murders, the attempted murder of Davis and a litany of other charges too numerous to detail. Instead, he was probably sitting in his grandfather’s basement playing Minecraft or Grand Theft Auto. The reality of that still didn’t sit well with Davis.
The night Pie had been arrested, he’d eagerly admitted to his role in Gaia’s death. How he had bribed the cleaning person for the key to enter Davis’s office. How he’d been following her for weeks. How he had confronted her, and then shot and killed her. His motive had been jealousy upon discovering that Gaia was the newest object of his grandfather’s affection.
As Pie had begun to tattle on himself, owning up in detail to a host of crimes known and unknown, his grandfather and Ginger had arrived. Ginger had been like Svengali, mesmerizing Pie into silence. Only they and Ellington knew the full text of Pie’s admissions and, when it came time for him make a statement to the detectives working the case, Pie regressed to his adolescent state and had nothing at all to say.
It had been Davis’s father who’d asked Neema to help control the narrative. Every local news outlet was trying to get the story. Neema had been given a heads-up before Pie’s appearance in front of the judge to be able to file her story first. It had been the last in a series of stories about persons living with mental disabilities. Her previous article had included an interview with Alexander Balducci about his experiences with his grandson and his late son Leonard. The question-and-answer session had been a real coup for her career.
That night Davis’s father had asked him to lie outright. To say that Pie had not entered his home without permission and that he had no interest in pressing charges. Two minutes trying to have a conversation with Pie and Davis understood why. But that lie had left him ravaged with guilt thinking Gaia’s killer might get away with her murder. Discovering Balducci and his father had agreed to handle the matter privately, out of the public eye, further plagued his spirit and left him bewildered. He found himself questioning his own sense of morality as he came to terms with his father’s admonishments and insistence that Balducci would ensure justice would be served and Pie would be punished for his transgressions. Imagining what Balducci might do further complicated Davis’s sense of right and wrong.
Parker and his team were still investigating the disappearance of the gun confiscated from Pie the night of his arrest. The chain of custody was being scrutinized and questions were being asked. Without that weapon, Forensics would never be able to tie the two to Gaia’s body, or any other.
But for everything Pie had admitted doing, there was just as much that he claimed to know nothing about. Swearing he’d had nothing to do with assaulting Davis or shooting up his home, his proclamation had been believable, the man-child not wanting to be blamed for something he had not done. Figuring out the disconnect had been challenging at best.
* * *
Alexander Balducci called Davis directly to request a meeting. Davis had no idea what he wanted but was willing to meet with him to find out. He opened his front door and welcomed his father’s brother inside.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” Balducci said as he removed his wool fedora, holding the hat with both hands.
“I appreciate you meeting me here at my home,” Davis said. “Can I offer you something to drink? Water? Coffee? A pop?”
“No, thank you. I’m not going to be here long. I’m headed to the airport.”
Davis
pointed the man toward a seat. “Going somewhere nice, I hope.”
Balducci smiled. “Somewhere.”
Davis sat in the wing chair facing his uncle. “So, what did you want to speak with me about?”
“You needed to know that my grandson had nothing to do with the attacks on you.”
“So he said. I don’t know that I believe him, though.”
“My Pauly rarely lies. Unless he’s being influenced by someone else. My grandson killed my daughter. We have no doubts about that, but I have had to ask myself why. Why would Pauly believe his place in the family would be threatened by her presence? Why is he accepting of Emilio, but not accepting of Emilio’s mother? How was he able to plot and execute his plan so flawlessly? Pauly is barely able to tie his shoes by himself. Then I had to question who had the most influence over him.”
Davis shifted forward in his seat, listening intently as Balducci continued.
“I often say that given enough time, people will show you who they are,” he said, his expression reflective.
“I’ve heard that before,” Davis said. “Ginger said it to me.”
Balducci sneered. “I’m sure she did. Most recently, Ginger has clearly showed me exactly who she is. And that is why I am making this trip.”
“I don’t understand.”
“There is little my Pauly has ever done that someone else didn’t control or know about. Ginger has had her claws in Pauly for some time now. He will do her bidding without a second thought. It wasn’t my Pauly who was jealous. It was Ginger. Afraid that her standing in my family would be usurped if another woman were welcomed into the fold. Pauly may have pulled the trigger, but Ginger put the gun in his hand and pointed it. Now they both must suffer the consequences of their actions.”
“But you married her!”
“I did do that. A moment of whimsy, as my late mother would say. Ginger is quite a mesmerizing beauty. She has made playing on a man’s weakness an art form. She will soon discover that I am anything but a weak man,” he spat.
Davis shook his head. “What about Emilio? Will he be safe?”
“Emilio will be fine. Ginger’s maternal instincts came out with Emilio. She was as protective of him as she was of Pauly.”
“Was? You say that like she isn’t any more.”
Balducci’s smile was disconcerting. “Ginger will be traveling abroad with me, but unfortunately she will not be returning. It has recently been brought to my attention that Ginger directed Pauly’s steps. She followed him the night he shot Gaia. It was Ginger who hit you from behind. With a metal trophy, I’m told. It was also Ginger who shot up your home, hoping to make you the focus of any police investigation. Ginger is very good at what she does, but I am better. Her thinking that she can run my kingdom better than I can has become her downfall. Her using my grandson to execute her personal agenda has been a detriment to us all. Now she’ll have to pay the price for her betrayal.”
“The price?”
Balducci eyed him with a raised brow but didn’t elaborate.
Davis shook his head. “What will happen to Pie?” he asked.
“I have found a wonderful facility in England that has accepted my Pauly as a patient. He will be well taken care of. He will be locked away and kept out of harm’s way. You need not concern yourself with Pauly ever committing another crime. I love him dearly, but I will see him dead before that will ever happen again.”
Davis’s eyes widened at the comment. “Why not have Ginger arrested and let the law handle her and Pie? Under the circumstances I’m sure Ellington could get Pie a plea deal that would send him to a mental facility.”
“Because when it comes to my family, I am the law! The Balduccis have never allowed others to resolve our problems. We take care of our own.”
Davis blew a heavy sigh. “Who will be caring for Emilio?” he asked.
Balducci’s expression brightened, a smile pulling across his face. “Emilio has a very bright future ahead of him. He will start boarding school in the fall. He has been accepted to the Milton Academy in Boston. And I hope that you will continue to stay in touch with him. It’s important that he know his family.”
Davis nodded. “Of course, sir.”
CHAPTER 18
Neema and Balducci crossed paths as he made his exit. She carried two canvas totes filled with fresh produce from HarvesTime Foods. He tipped his hat at her, smiled and wished her a good afternoon.
“Thank you,” she said, her expression incredulous. She tossed a look over her shoulder as he stepped into the limousine that had brought him there.
“What’s going on?” she questioned as Davis closed and locked the door after the man.
“It was Ginger,” he said. “It seems that she was behind all of it and he wanted me to know.”
Neema’s eyes widened. “Ginger? I don’t understand.”
Davis nodded, sharing with her what Balducci had just shared with him.
“So, what’s going to happen now?” Neema asked.
“I honestly don’t think either one of us really wants to know,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. He took both bags out of her hands and headed to the kitchen.
Things between them had been exceptional. Time had given them both clarity and allowed them to revive the bonds of their relationship. Healing had come after hours of conversation. They were able to rebuild an exceptional friendship and being friends allowed them to evolve into so much more.
Neema moved up against Davis’s back, slipping her arms around his waist. She pressed her cheek against the soft cotton of his shirt, inhaling the fragrant scent of his favorite cologne. Being near him always made everything feel better, Neema thought.
“I love you, Davis Black. I hope that you never forget that,” she said sweetly.
Turning, Davis pulled her into his arms and kissed her mouth. She tasted like the lemon and turmeric candy she loved so much. The hold he had around her waist was gentle and protective and everything she needed in that moment to remind her that she was loved and wanted. “I love you, too, Neema Kamau. You have my whole heart.”
He dropped his mouth back to hers and the kiss intensified, tongues dancing an erotic tango against each other. It was the sweetest pleasure and, when Davis lifted her to the counter, settling himself between her legs, all thought of the groceries had been pushed aside.
He pressed himself against her pelvis, his body like steel against hers. His hands lapped her body, fingertips trailing across her back, over her breasts, skating against her belly, teasing her inner thighs. His touch was heated and Neema felt like she might combust as she held to him, her nails digging deliciously into his arms and shoulders.
Titus suddenly barked, eyeing them both from the floor.
Davis groaned. “Go away, dog! She’s mine!”
Neema giggled softly. “I don’t think that’s the problem,” she said. “I think he’s trying to tell you that your brother is at the door.”
She pointed to the front of the home. Mingus’s face was pressed against the sidelight, looking in. Titus barked again.
“What the hell,” Davis muttered as he adjusted himself in his slacks. He took a deep breath and helped her down from the counter.
Neema giggled again as she made her way to the front entrance and pulled open the door.
“Hi,” she said.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Mingus said, his expression smug as he stepped inside.
“No, you’re not! What brings you here?”
Davis moved to Neema’s side, wrapping his arms around her. “Yeah, what brings you here?” he questioned, his eyes wide.
Mingus smirked. “I was in the neighborhood...” he started.
The couple laughed with him, eyes rolling to the ceiling.
“Seriously, though,” Mingus said, his mood shifting, “Dad has called a family me
eting. He needs everyone there as soon as you can get to the house.”
“What now?” Davis questioned.
Mingus shrugged, moving back to the front door. “I don’t know. I’ll find out when you do.”
Davis nodded. “We have something we need to do first, but we’re on our way.”
Mingus waved a dismissive hand and closed the door after himself.
“What do we need to do?” Neema asked.
Davis pressed a damp kiss against her neck, his hands clutching her shoulders. “I have something I want to show you,” he whispered.
She giggled. “And what’s that?”
Davis laced his fingers with hers, gently pulling her toward the master bedroom. “It’s personal,” he quipped.
As the door closed, Titus stood in the hallway on the other side of it. He lowered his body against the doorsill, his massive head dropping against his front paws. Hearing the laughter coming from inside, he gave a hearty bark and then drifted off to sleep.
* * * * *
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