by Edwina Fort
I exhaled, letting my head drop back on my shoulders. “Ma, they’re engaged!” I yelled at the ceiling.
“Well did you talk to him and allow him to explain why he lied?”
I jerked my head back up and looked at her amazed. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you don’t know what’s going on. At least give the man a chance to explain himself.”
“I don’t need him to explain, I got the message loud and clear. I was just too blind to see the signs.”
She looked at me doubtful. “What signs? I’ve been here for a while now and the only sign I saw was of a man that was in love for the very first time.” She paused for just a minute giving me that look that heralded her saying something otherworldly.
“You know I can read people. I’m not saying Jo is innocent. He’s a politician for heavens sake, which means he’s not above doing whatever he has to do to get what he wants, even if it means using trickery. However, he’s not a fool. He will not risk losing you and Ayana for some hilly head floozy his mama probably picked.” She pointed at me.
“Now his mama…” She shook her head. “Snake, reptile…can’t be trusted with a piss filled bucket. But Jo…naw, there were no other signs except that of his love.”
I held up my hand and began to tick them off for my mother, who was obviously team Jo all the way.
“He never invited me back to his place. Did you notice that, old spiritual one? It don’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. He never invited me because his place is her place too.”
“He never takes me anywhere where cameras or the press will be.”
“He never takes me to any of those fancy restaurants where his peers mingle. You know why, Yoda? His peers know about his fiancée.”
She shook her head at me. “You said all that to say nothing—” her phone rang cutting her off. Looking down at it she smiled when she saw who it was.
“Hey, baby. Mama was just thinking about you.” The smile disappeared off her face. “Boy, calm down, what are you saying?” She stood as she listened.
“Ma, who’s that?” I asked coming to my feet as well. She held up her hand shooshing me.
“Okay baby, I’m on my way.” She hung up the phone and headed towards the stairs. I scooped Ayana out of her high chair and followed.
“That was Rob, he says Rome done gone crazy.”
“What!? Why?”
She shook her head. “That girl done left him.”
Bewildered, I sat on her bed as she began to pack. Ayana slid out of my arms and began jumping on the bed like a bunny rabbit.
“What girl?”
“His babysitter.”
“Ohhh! Why is he going crazy ‘cause she left?” My mother stopped packing to stare at me as if I was the slowest snail in the race.
“Because he loves her Journey, just like you love Jo. Go figure, both of my children are being idiots at the same time. Now I got to go and try to rein this boy in before he does something stupid and end up in jail.”
I stood. “Me and Ayana will go with you.”
She held up her hand stopping me. “No, you stay here and try to clean up your own life. This child need her father. He a good father. What you gon’ do about that? Or are you gon’ be one of those women that deny him a relationship with his daughter ‘cause your feelings hurt?”
My mouth opened, insulted. “That’s not fair. I didn’t ask for any of this!” Tears came to my eyes. “How is this my fault?”
She exhaled sitting on the bed pulling me with her. “I’m not saying this is your fault, or that you asked for this. What I am saying is this is the hand you’ve been dealt whether you asked for it or not. How you choose to play it out is what counts.” She chuckled dryly.
“Hell, I’ve seen some beat the game working with less.”
As she spoke she rubbed my arm, my head dropped to her shoulder on its own accord needing her comfort. Poor mama, her children were a wreck and she was the only one keeping them together.
“You can make it through this, baby. If you ain’t never listened to mama before, listen to me now. I know it may seem as if the ultimate betrayal has happened, but the devil is busy, and he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t blow things up and magnify them in our heads till we feel like we’re drowning.”
I grunted. That was exactly how I felt right now.
Her voice gentled. “That man love you, and if I know Jo like I think I do, he’s going to show you. Just continue to be your amazing self. He’s addicted to that.”
I looked up at her and frowned. “What?”
She smiled. “Yeah, he’s addicted to you. I know an addict when I see one. You silly girl, if you think he’s going to give up, you’re lying to yourself. Men like that…” She shook her head. “They don’t stop till they get what they want. And he wants you. Just don’t give in too easy.” She kissed me on the forehead and continued to pack.
I didn’t bother telling her she didn’t have to worry about me giving in too easy, because I wasn’t giving in at all. It was over between Jo and me. He will never get a chance to hurt me again. But to my mother I just nodded and helped her pack. I didn’t want our last words to be that of a disagreement. She was team Jo because she didn’t know him like I did. If I told her about his alter ego that can kill as easy as normal people spread butter on their toast, she may have a different opinion.
Joseph
I sat back in my home office chair and watched as Journey helped her mother into a cab. She thought the reason I haven’t brought her here to my place was because Chloe was here. That was the furthest thing from the truth. I haven’t brought her here because her place was better. Simple.
But of course, there was never anything simple when it came to women. Or maybe it was that they just couldn’t believe us men were just simple creatures. We were always at her place because it was warmer, brighter…always smelt like good food. There was laughter there and love.
I exhaled. That’s okay, my sweet J, I’ll ease all your worries and soothe your pain. I broke it, I was damn sure going to fix it.
But first…
I picked up my new phone and sent a text.
Me: Need to talk to you on a secure line
It took about five minutes for my text to be answered.
Punk Kid: Where are you?
Me: Home office
Several seconds later my computer screen went completely blank before it rebooted. When it came back online I had a view of Rome sitting in a chair made for a king, his loft apartment behind him. This son-of-a-b****, hacking bastard. So much for my goddamn hundred-thousand-dollar firewall.
“You just hacked a system I was told was un-hackable.” I told him dryly.
His lip lifted in a half smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Eyes that were blood shot red. It looked as if my statement had generally amused him, taking his mind off of his problems. According to what Abigale told Journey, Rome had fallen in love with Nak.
Poor fool, back during our Seal days, Nak’s code name was Black Widow, a name she had earned a hundred times over. Her beauty is deceptive. It is all things alluring, soft and warm. Many of unsuspected victims have fallen under its spell, only to be drawn in enough to receive her deadly bite.
Outside of Albert, Nak was the only other person I trusted with my life. She has always had my back and I’ve always had hers.
“Oh yeah?” He asked responding to my statement. “Is that what the brochure told you?”
“That’s what the man who cleaned out the little bug you left in my system told me.”
He chuckled without any humor shaking his head slightly. He looked tired.
“Yeah well, he lied to you. Once I’m in, there is no getting rid of me.”
Damn, I hated this kid. It really grated on my nerves that I needed his help.
“I knew you were going to come groveling sooner or later.” He said as if he’d heard my thoughts.
I chuckled. “Having a rough day, kid?�
�� The muscle in his chin ticked, letting me know I’d hit the mark.
He exhaled rubbing his hand back across his head. He was tired of the small talk.
“What can I do for you, chump?”
“James Bennet Law…who is he?”
“Where does Nak live?” He answered my question with a question.
I sat back in my chair surprised. How did he know her name? Nak would have never told him that.
“Who is that?”
His lip twisted in an angry snarl. “She told me her name. But even before she did, I learned an awful lot about her from your personal computer. In fact, I learned about your whole team. Now, answer my question! Where does she live?”
I put my hand underneath my chin lifting one eyebrow. “It would seem if you know so much, oh mighty hacker, you would have that information.”
He growled before he slammed his fist on his desk. “I—” He paused to regain control over his rage. “I don’t have time for this. The longer she’s gone the less likely it will be that I will find her. And I need to find her!” He spit his words out through clenched teeth.
I exhaled taking pity on him. Hell, he and I were two peas in a pod. I understood exactly what he was going through.
“Look kid, I don’t know where she lives. Nobody does.” I shook my head. “She’s what we call a phantom, she’d enlisted with a dummy address and gave the agency the same one.”
He breathed out frustratingly through his nose, letting me know he’d already been to that address.
“How could she be your right arm and you not know where she lives?”
I held up my hands. “She was uncomfortable with anybody having that information and I respected that.”
My words were true. Nak never kept it a secret that when she decided to disappear, she was gone and nobody would find her. I understood. I never had a reason to question her loyalty to me, so I never insisted she reveal her retiring destination. She had paid her dues and deserved her peace.
But what amazed me even more is that the kid nodded, not questioning whether or not I spoke the truth. He was a damn human lie detector. It was just mind boggling to see the brain that hid inside that hoodlum’s body.
“My turn, James Bennet Law? What do you know?”
He exhaled, shaking his head a bit. When he spoke, he did it in a manner that said he really didn’t feel like talking to me. His mind was on finding Nak, probably already thinking of his next move. If anybody will be able to find her, I’m sure it would be him.
“Man, I’m going to be honest with you, you’re involved in some serious sh*t, and I don’t have the full picture to begin to explain to you how serious. This kind of incriminating information is constantly on the move. But that’s alright, I have chaser program I designed on it and it won’t be long before it catches it. I need a few days though. However, you need to either send my sister and my niece back here so that I can keep them safe, or you need to protect them.” He paused for a moment as his weary eyes took me in, judging me.
“It’s wilder than I initially thought. If my suspicions are correct, this thing goes all the way up to the top. They’ve been experimenting on people. This sh*t so wild that once it comes to the light, a lot of folks are going to have to die because of what they know. You’re going to have some real big enemies. And so will I for being the one that uncovered this sh*t.”
“Protect my sista, I wouldn’t be surprised if they start trying to do damage control now. I’ll holla at you in a few days.” The screen went blank before my initial screen came back up.
F***!
He said a mouthful and nothing at all. What the hell did he mean, this thing went all the way to the top? What thing? He said he wouldn’t be surprised if whoever this proverbial they were, didn’t start trying to do damage control.
Is that what this recent blackout was about?
Damn! His cryptic message has left me back at the starting point. Because I didn’t know who I could trust outside of Nak and Albert, and now, as much as I hated to admit it, Rome, I was pretty much grounded until he got back to me.
However, his warning about protecting Journey and Ayana only solidified my plans. I picked up my phone and dialed Albert.
“Yeah boss…” he said into the receiver.
“I’m going to need two days to prepare everything. Stay close to them till I give you the go.”
Journey
It’s been two days since I saw or heard from Jo. Two gut wrenching, horrible days. The fact that he hasn’t called or tried to come by only solidified what I’ve come to learn about him. He didn’t care about me, all this time he was only using me. As soon as I called it off, he was out the door and hasn’t even looked back.
I expected him to at least try to come by and see Ayana. Nothing! I’ll never admit to the fact that I missed him something terrible. I missed his warm body next to me at night. I missed him always trying to talk me into doing something nasty with him. I even missed when he came up in my greenhouse and pretended to be interested in my plants.
I was suffering so bad y’all. If not for Albert, who surprisingly had been here for the last two days, I don’t think I would have made it. Poor Albert, he was missing my mother, although they talked on the phone with each other all the time. Heck, I don’t know who was more blue, him or me, which is why when he fell asleep both nights downstairs on the couch. I just covered him with a blanket instead of waking him to go home.
Truth was, I was glad he was here. He kept me distracted so that I didn’t do anything stupid, like pick up the phone and call Jo, telling him Ayana needed something just so I could see him. Plus, it allowed Albert and I to talk about some things that I couldn’t discuss in front of my mother.
The morning after the first night he slept over, he and I were sitting at the table having coffee and tea. I’d had Jo’s split personality heavy on my mind and I knew that if anybody knew what was going on with him, it would be Albert, seeing as to how Jo said the older man had practically raised him.
“Albert?” I asked as I stirred a little honey in my tea.
“Mmm?” He didn’t look up from the paper he was reading.
“Something strange happened the last time I was with Jo, and I don’t understand what I saw.”
He looked up then. “Oh yeah? What did you see?”
I took a sip of my tea. “Jo was different. Something happened to him. He changed.”
Albert chuckled. “You’re going to have to be a little more descriptive than that, little lady.”
I sat my tea cup down and looked him square in the eye. “I saw Jo fight and defeat nearly thirty men, leaving more than half of them dead. He did it in record time, moving like some kind of—of…” I searched for the right words.
“Machine! I don’t know, he was fast and strong. Deadly!” I shook my head. “I’ve never seen anything like that. Not even on TV.” Albert didn’t speak right away, so I continued.
“And you know what the crazy thing is? I haven’t seen or heard about it on any news outlets. It was like it never happened.”
I hit the table. “And Kyle! Oh, my goodness! He beat the hell out of Kyle!”
Albert chuckled. “First of all, you can forget about seeing any of Jo’s dirt on the news. His family has the best cleaners in their employ, and they’ve been cleaning up after Jo for many, many years.”
“Cleaners?”
“Yeah, fixers…they go around and tidy up crime scenes, erasing all incriminating evidence. You’ll be amazed at some of the things the very wealthy do that will never come close to the news. And as for the dweeb Kyle,” He shook his head.
“He had it coming. He better count his blessings, Jo took it easy on him.”
I held up my hand. I didn’t want to discuss Kyle. I knew that everybody around here disliked him.
“I know your opinion of Kyle. Tell me what’s going on with Jo.”
He exhaled settling back in his chair. “Jo was in the Navy for a long time.” I nodde
d.
“Yes, I am aware of that.”
“Our government has sent him into some real sh*t holes. And when you’re in situations like that, you have to do what you have to do to survive. I’ve seen cases where men or women have blacked out in temporary insanity to pull their way up out of the hole, having to do things that their minds cannot justify.”
He gazed down into his coffee cup remembering the horrors. “Something very similar happens to Jo, when he feels threatened or if his loved ones are threatened…” He snapped his finger. “It’s as if his emotions shut off like a light switch. And by some mysterious reason, it causes him to be faster, stronger…” He looked across the table at me. “Deadlier.”
“What you witnessed is the reason he was of such value to the United States Government.” He chuckled again. “They sure hated to see him go.”
“But is he dangerous to me or Ayana?”
Albert looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. “Are you kidding me? That boy would chew off his own arm before he ever hurt either of you. Trust me, I’ve known him his whole life. He will never hurt you. Now… I can’t say the same for anybody that ever does hurt you.”
“Think back to that day. Can you remember what happened to set him off?”
“Ummm…” I frowned, now that I thought about it, when he had first went in on Kyle, he still felt like my Jo. After the man had slammed me on the ground he felt different. That’s what had set him off.
I told Albert.
“You see what I told you? A threat to you or Ayana will feel like a threat to him, and that will trigger his alter.”
“Alter?” I asked.
“Yeah, it’s what his brothers-in-arms took to calling it.”
“Wow!” I sat back in my chair floored. Albert had given me a lot of information to mull over. I was relieved in the fact that he was convinced Jo was not a danger to Ayana and me. I had been battling with letting her go and visit her father without me. Before that incident happened in the restaurant, I would have done it without a second thought.
Now thanks to Albert, I can let my heart be at ease that my daughter will be okay on unchaperoned visits. Only…