Power

by Kenya Wright

  “Are you ready for our date?” He asked.

  Like he’d requested, I wore the first dress with the deep plunge neck line, but I had selected much more comfortable shoes. I had no idea where Noah would be taking me, but I thought it was important for me to be able to walk more than ten feet. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  “Are you hungry?” He held the door open for me.

  “Yes.”

  Before I could ask where we were going to eat, a young girl jumped in front of me and snapped several pictures. I held my hand up in front of me. “Hey! What the hell?”

  Noah tried to stop her. “Eh! Get the fuck away from her!”

  Crusher pulled out his gun.

  Wait. Everyone calm down.

  The girl sped off. Fuji charged, but lost his speed after ten steps. If I didn’t have the heels on, I could’ve caught her and ran several more circles, but I didn’t see the point in grabbing her.

  Yet, the guys thought it was necessary. Out of nowhere, some young teenaged boy with a mohawk dashed out of the shadows, sped past us, and raced after her.

  I widened my eyes. “Who the hell is that?”

  “Trouble.” Noah guided me into the limo, but didn’t climb in. “Stay here. We need the camera and that girl.”

  “Why?”

  Without answering, he shut the door.

  “Oh, fuck that.” I opened it up and got back outside.

  “You don’t listen, do you?” Sneering, he stayed in front of me and kept the limo at my back.

  “Listening is for obedient dogs. I’m a woman, Noah.”

  “Boss!” Crusher pointed far off. “The boy is coming back.”

  Noah didn’t seem any happier about that. The boy with the mohawk arrived in front of us within minutes. The camera was in his hands. Panting, he said, “I got the phone, but didn’t bring her back.”

  “Why the fuck not?!” Fuji stepped toward him, grabbed the camera, and handed it to Noah. To my shock, the kid didn’t shrink away from that monster of a man. “Next time, you snatch her up.”

  “No.” The boy shrugged. “She’s a female. I don’t grab females.”

  “Good for you.” I smiled.

  Everyone ignored me. Fuji leaned toward the boy, tilting his whole upper body toward the kid. “Fuck that. When I say you—”

  “Fuji?” I shook my head. “He’s just a kid.”

  The big man stepped back and got on my side. “Trust me, MJ. This one isn’t a kid. You can see it in the eyes.”

  Noah didn’t even glance at Mohawk. He was too busy studying Fuji and me. “Are you two done?”

  “Yes,” we both said.

  Noah frowned. “Fuji is right. This isn’t a boy.”

  Mohawk smiled throughout the exchange.

  I glanced his way. Fuji and Noah had a good point. There was a coldness in the boy’s gaze like Crusher’s and Noah’s, but the spark was still low. There would be more death in those eyes, soon, though. Chances were, he’d probably be worse than Noah. He had a gorgeous face. Probably could’ve been a model, if someone hadn’t introduced him to the streets. Even though he was young, he was already close to my height. His mohawk grew curly and ragged. He had tanned skin, but I couldn’t determine his ethnicity.

  While I was studying the boy, Noah glared at Fuji. Something passed between them. I didn’t know what happened, but I guessed I had something to do with it.

  “I’m not hitting no female,” the boy continued.

  Noah turned his way. “Did you ask the girl any questions?”

  “No. She kneed me in the balls.”

  “Sounds like a match made in heaven.” Noah flipped through the camera, but his words held a sharpened edge. “Give Mary Jane some space, Fuji.”

  Shocked, Fuji hurried toward Crusher, giving up more than enough footage between us.

  O-kay. Men can’t stand next to me and little girls can’t take pictures? Got it.

  I peeked over Noah’s shoulder while he studied all of the pictures. Every picture that came across the screen was of me. The girl had somehow found a space between the blinds to get a few images of me modeling for Noah. Not one image had him in it. I’d been her main target.

  Noah slung the camera at Fuji. “Find out who wanted pictures of my lady.”

  My lady?

  Noah glanced at the boy. “What’s your name?”

  Mohawk studied me.

  Noah snapped his fingers and brought the boy’s attention back to him. “What’s your name?”

  “I don’t like my name,” the boy mumbled.

  “So what do people call you?”

  “Mo.”

  “For mohawk?” Noah asked.

  “No, for mo money.”

  “And what were you doing here?” Noah ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Following you.”

  “Why?”

  “Streets are talking. Now that Domingo and Rasheed are dead. They’re thinking it might be a good idea to kill you.”

  Wait a minute. Did he just say Domingo was dead? What the hell? When did he die? What’s going on?

  A cold chill radiated up my spine. First of all, the very mention of people dying around me didn’t make me calm. But now, this boy had said that Domingo was dead. That couldn’t have been true. If Domingo was dead, then why would Noah keep me with him?

  Mo continued, “Everybody said you’re finally going to lose. They’re betting money on your death.”

  Noah’s voice held a bored tone. “And what do you think?”

  “I don’t like to lose my money. I’m betting on you, but just in case, I figured I’d be around to help.”

  “That doesn’t explain why you’re following me around.”

  “I helped you with Domingo. It’s in my best interests to make sure you stay on top. Another guy might not like me.”

  “Okay, Mo.” Noah nodded. “Go off with Fuji. He’s in the truck.”

  “I brought my van,” Mo said. “I can drive that.”

  Noah cocked his head. “But that’s not what the fuck I just ordered.”

  “Oh.” Mo bobbed his head and went off with Fuji.

  Noah gestured at Crusher. “Check the kid’s van and ask around about him.”

  “Okay, boss.” Crusher got in the limo. All the while, Noah kept his back to me as we stood outside of the limo.

  When I was sure everyone had given us privacy, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Domingo is dead?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you going to face me?”

  “No.” He placed his hands in his pockets.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t like lying to you. I’m thinking it’s easier to do it if I don’t look you in the eye.”

  I walked around and faced him. When I saw his face, some of the anger and confusion left me. Worry creased his eyes.

  People are trying to kill him now. Had he known that the entire time he sat in the store watching me model for him, or is this just a regular day? Are people always trying to kill him?

  “Why would you lie now?” I asked. “You’ve already lied enough.”

  “I told you that you can leave, after Domingo. That’s not true anymore.”

  “Well, when can I leave?”

  “I’m working that out in my head. So far, I don’t have a date.”

  “What does that even mean? Either everything is over and I can go, or things are happening and I have to stay.”

  “That’s where I would have to lie to you. I’m not sure if I’m ready for you to leave yet.”

  I took a deep breath. “So. . .you’re saying. . .like you’re a host and you’re really enjoying your house guest so you’re like, ‘Hey, stay an extra week. This is fun.’ That type of you’re not ready for me to leave yet? Or is it. . .creepy kidnapper, chain me in the basement sort of host?”

  “I’m figuring that out.”

  My voice rose louder than I’d wanted it to. “What the hell does that mean? I can’t just stay with you until you want me t
o leave. I have a life. I go to college. I’m. . .I don’t know—not freaking used to being around guns or people who use guns. Sure, this made sense because I was scared for my life and—”

  He opened the limo door and gestured for me to get in. “You stay with me.”

  I glanced over my shoulder. Again, I could not run in these heels and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run. We’d been having a freaking date, before all the craziness.

  Noah’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Running from me isn’t a good idea. Din City isn’t that big and I’d always catch you.”

  “Those have to be the most romantic words I’ve heard in my life.” I stepped up to him and poked his chest. “You don’t ever talk to me that way.”

  He stared at the fingertip stabbing at the center of his chest. “Could you not do that?”

  “Or what?”

  “I haven’t figured that out yet, either. I’m not sure I could hurt you.” He captured my hand, moved it away from his chest, and drew me to him smoothing my body against his. “I haven’t figured out how to punish you in a way that never hurts you, because that’s the biggest problem with me. I have a short list of people that I won’t kill. Very short.”

  “Who’s on there?”

  “My parents.”

  “That’s a very short list.”

  “You’re on there, too.”

  I blinked.

  “Sometimes, Crusher too. His safety varies from day to day. It matters on how often he sings.”

  “Noah—”

  “This makes things hard.” He captured my hips and consumed my lips. “I want you near me, all the time, but I don’t know how to make you stay. I’m sorry I lied, but I’m figuring this all out now.”

  “You could’ve asked.”

  “There’s no need to ask when there are no other options.” He devoured my mouth and whispered against my mouth, “I’m falling for you, Mary Jane. I’m so sorry.”

  Shocked, I didn’t know what to say.

  “I’m falling for you, baby, and we’ve just met, but I can’t get enough of you, so yes, you’ll stay, until I figure it out.”

  “No.” I climbed out of his arms and let out a nervous breath. “I will stay for a few days and we will figure something out, that’s less creepy and restricting of my rights as a woman and human being.”

  “Women have rights?”

  “Fuck you, Noah.” I punched his gut. “That’s not funny.”

  Unphased by the punch, he frowned. “I thought it was a great joke.”

  “It sucked.” I climbed in. “This is a great joke: what did God say after creating Adam?”

  “I should make a creature named Eve that will keep Adam addicted to what’s between its thighs?” He got in the limo and pulled the door behind him.

  “No. After God created Adam, he looked at the man and said, ‘Hmmm. I bet I can do even better. This time I’ll make the creature perfect!’”

  “I missed that part in the Bible. Either way, you should definitely add my joke to your act. The whole concept of women having rights is funny in itself.”

  I glared at him.

  “What? Was the punchline not working?”

  A smile didn’t appear on my face. “Don’t lie to me, anymore.”

  He looked away. “Okay.”

  “And I can’t stay with you forever.”

  He sneered. “Let’s talk about this after dinner.”

  “No. We will figure out something that works and soon because I have to go. I can’t live with you. I don’t even know you. We can date. Sure, but—”

  “Date?” Noah asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t do that.”

  “But you’ve dated, before.”

  “No.”

  “Well, guess what? Now, you’ll be able to check this off of your bucket list items.”

  “Does dating involve you dating other men?” There was something about the way he said those words that gave me chills.

  “I’m thinking that’s probably not a good idea,” I said.

  “You’ve always been a fast learner.”

  “But we take our time and—”

  “I’ll see.”

  “It’s we’ll see or I don’t date you. First of all, I don’t even know if I could. Your life is. . .not. . .like my life. I don’t know how much of it I can deal with. And I need you to assure me that I’m safe around you. Also, if I want to leave you, you won’t make me sleep with the fishes.”

  He sighed. “Sleep with the fishes?”

  “Kill me.”

  “I know. You watch too many mafia movies.”

  “Anyway, that’s not an answer about me being safe,” I said. “I will need a safe out or I can’t date you. This is a regular dating situation, not gangster craziness.”

  He furrowed his brow as if I’d been asking for something complex and foreign. “Let’s talk more about this, later.”

  “Are you a cave man? You don’t honestly think that I can’t just walk away. That you’ll always get your way with me?”

  Confused, he asked, “Is that a trick question or a joke?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not talking to you. You’re insane.”

  “Good. I don’t want to talk, right now, anyway.”

  A moment later, he had me back in his arms, decorating my face and bare shoulders with kisses, trying desperately to take off my dress, taking my breath away, and whispering how sorry he was that he’d fallen in love with me.

  I couldn’t even deal with the damned issue anymore, because things were moving too fast and I felt more confused than ever. Because in the end, I was falling for him, too. And although I should’ve been pissed about him lying to force me into staying, I wasn’t.

  What was happening to me?

  Chapter 14

  Mary Jane

  A glutton betrothed his daughter to another glutton.

  Asked what he was giving her as a dowry,

  he replied: "A house with windows facing the bakery."

  –Philogelos (The Laughter Lover)

  We arrived at Spectrum Restaurant. A grin spread across my face. I could barely hold in my excitement. This was another one of those places that I’d never stepped inside of. Not until Noah. He was showing me new places. Areas I never had access to, until he stood by my side.

  Spectrum was an undersea restaurant. When tourism increased for Vaso Beach, more businesses decided to build around the shore. Not much available remaining land, one millionaire owner got creative and built his restaurant within the ocean. The first year it opened, everyone talked about it. News crews filmed the inside. I’d seen so many shows on it that I’d felt like I’d been there.

  When we climbed out of the limo, a breeze rushed by and chilled my flesh. Crusher moved to us and remained by our side.

  Noah rubbed my shoulder and held me. “Do you want my jacket?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  Sure. I’m fine, but maybe, confused. Or a bit frazzled and going through a mind blow.

  Instead of walking forward, Crusher, Noah, and I stayed by the limo. Both men gazed at the place with annoyance.

  “What’s going on?” I leaned away from him.

  “Fuji looks worried.” Noah drew me back to him. “That’s never a good sign. Let’s wait for a minute and let Fuji do his thing.”

  “Okay.” I took in my environment.

  The sky had darkened as the moon came out. No stars sparkled. No birds flew. Storm clouds hovered and the surroundings seemed less romantic than I’d seen on television. Even the water mirrored that darkness. The ocean was grim. Slow murky waves spilled out looking more like oil than the sea. None of the restaurant was visible from the parking lot. There wasn’t even a sign that said Spectrum, and no other business was in sight.

  A huge railing flanked an enormous elevator where a man in a suit stood next to a podium. It must’ve been the place’s host. Fuji was next to him. I had no idea how he’d beaten us to the place, but there he was
, wearing a worried expression on his face.

  What’s wrong?

  In seconds, the elevator doors opened and Mo stepped out. Fuji went to him and they had a heated conversation. One that probably didn’t end well, because Fuji hurried our way with Mo and with every step, he cursed.

  Fuji’s face grew scarier than I’d ever seen it. Gone was the fun lovable, big guy that seemed more like a teddy bear to me than a gangster. Now I saw what others had witnessed, that expression—furrowed brow and murderous eyes—it scared me more than Crusher’s monstrous glare.

  “I sent Mo inside to check the place out,” Fuji said. “He says that three tables are full and he recognizes everyone.”

  “Who?” Noah asked.

  “Domingo’s brother, Hugo, is in there with his guy. Then, Choppa with those crazy fucking twins.”

  “The Bordello brothers?” Noah asked.

  “Yeah.”

  Noah’s jaw twitched. “Who else?”

  Fuji muttered, “Butterfly is in there, too. She’s sitting at the table that you reserved for MJ.”

  She? I thought Fuji said that they didn’t have women working with them.

  “Who is she with?” Noah hissed.

  Fuji sneered. “The guy you gave her.”

  Noah gave her a guy? Who’s Butterfly?

  Noah let go of me and sighed. “The streets are definitely keeping me busy today.”

  Fuji stirred. “I say we leave or at least not take MJ inside. Maybe you can go in by yourself.”

  Noah glared at the restaurant. “I’m definitely going inside.”

  I raised my hand. “Mary Jane is right here and Noah isn’t going in there without me.”

  “It’s not that simple, baby.” Noah raked his fingers through his hair.

  “Who’s Butterfly?” I turned his way.

  “Not important.” A smile cracked on his face. “An old business associate. Nothing more.”

  “You’ve never slept with her?”

  His confident smile faltered. “Well. . .that’s not a fair question. But, I can tell you that she hasn’t been in my bed since I was a teenager.”

  My stomach knotted. “So you’ve known her forever?”

  “Mary Jane, trust me. Butterfly is not the problem. It’s bigger than that.”

  I left it alone for that moment. This man dealt with killers. There was no need to act like the jealous chick now, not when things were already on the edge.