To Love & To Protect

by Deborah R. Brandon

  Renee nodded her agreement, as Antonio hugged and comforted her.

  “Trent and Ethan, once your team has completed your Intel, can Renee and I be allowed to go over there and gather some personal affects. At that time, Ms. Jeffcoat, I would like for the remaining items to be donated to goodwill, a cleaning crew contacted and permitted to clean the home. After which the house should be placed on the market, Jasmine said as she made decisions by the seat of her pants.

  Sasha nodded her head.

  “Antonio I need to ask a favor of you and there may be several in fact?” Jasmine said tentatively.

  “Anything Bella?” Antonio responded.

  “Will you please take my sister and two children, to Italy with you please? I wish to place them under your protection until I can join you all there, after the fundraiser please,” Jasmine asked.

  “As you wish,” Antonio responded.

  “Michael and Donna, how is my health really?” Jasmine asked.

  “You’re basically healed. You need to continue your physical therapy as schedule,” Michael responded.

  “Could I do that on my own?” Jasmine asked.

  “Are you unhappy with the treatment that you have received from Donna and myself?” Michael asked.

  “I am sure that Donna has a life to get back to even if you don’t,” Jasmine responded to Michael trying to lighten the mood. With the girls going to Italy I have taken away Dennis’ teacher, which further complicates Donna’s life. Unless she wants him and her mother of course, to go to Italy as well, and Antonio agreed of course?” Jasmine said.

  Donna spoke up for the first time, “I think my mother would love a trip to Italy as would my son, of course, if Antonio does not mind,” Donna finished as she directed her gaze at Antonio said.

  “It would be my pleasure?” Antonio said.

  “Michelle, I may need to attend my very own fundraiser virtually?” Jasmine said. “Can you help me?”

  “Yes, I would love too,” Michelle responded.

  Eleanor and Jake, “Thank you again, for allowing me to stay on the estate. As soon as I find a new place, I will be out of your hair, I promise,” Jasmine said.

  “Take your time, you know you are always welcomed,” Jake responded.

  “Jasmine you all are our family as well, don’t rush,” Eleanor said smiling.

  “If you guys will excuse me, I need a meeting with my security team,” Jasmine said, her irritation showing clearly in her features.

  Trent started to explain, and Jasmine rudely cut him off and said, “Save it.” I don’t care what the reasons were for your poor decision making, but it stops now. I need to be kept updated with all details big and small. Who would like to catch up?” Jasmine asked looking back and forth from Trent and Ethan.

  Ethan cleared his throat and stepped up to respond to Jasmine.

  “We thought that it was in your best interest to keep this detail from you. You are still healing and you have been through a lot. It may have been the wrong call, but it was ultimately mine. I take full responsibility for the actions of my team. Now to update you, we don’t know what is missing if anything and nothing has been planted. The person, who entered your home, injured himself/ herself while there and there was blood left. Michelle has a machine that is running the sample to see if the person’s DNA is in any military databases, or police databases. It is a long shot but it’s what we have to work with. We have about fourteen more hours before we can expect any results. We have four total suspects that we are looking into for the shooting. This is the sketch from the guy at your church service and these are the employee ID photos for independent contractors that we are looking into,” Ethan finished.

  Jasmine stepped closer to the pictures then closed her eyes tightly as she recognized Jason and Samuel, two brothers from the Boys and Girls Club that she sponsored.

  Seeing the look that crossed over her face, Trent and Ethan jumped to attention.

  “Jasmine, what’s wrong?” Trent asked.

  “I know these two,” Jasmine said, keeping her composure. “They are Jason and Samuel Clark. I know them from working through the Boys and Girls Club. Jason has so much potential, but he is equally determined not to reach his full potential. Samuel the younger of the two, enlisted into the army. He was hell bent at one point, of making it out the slums. Everyone was so proud of him. He had some complications, in the military, but she hadn’t heard much of him since he had come back. If he is with his brother, I can guarantee that it is nothing good,” Jasmine concluded.

  “Marisol can you call the FBI and have these two boys picked up for questioning?” Ethan commanded.

  “Let me guess,” Jamieson said, “The four horsemen are going off to handle this interrogation as well.”

  “Damn bro, you salty too,” Trent said looking at Kimberly, but speaking to Jamieson.

  “Nah man, I just want to watch these guys get there butt’s kicked,” Jamieson said.

  “Remember, one of them has been feeding us bread crumbs this whole time,” Carina said.

  “Meaning what,” Jamieson asked.

  “That he is helping us from the inside. He is working with these people against his better judgment,” Marisol said.

  “I know you all don’t want to hear from me, but these guys are the little fish, we want the bigger fish. Make them roll over on him,” Kimberly said.

  “This not our first tango, we got this,” Trent responded. “We got this. Let’s go fellows.”

  “Be careful, be safe, and be smart,” Jasmine called out to them as they we’re leaving.

  Trent threw back, a one word answer, “Always,” before crossing the threshold behind his military brothers.

  The police had already picked up Samuel and Jason, when they arrived at FBI headquarters. They were divided into separate rooms.

  Peering through the glass windows, Jason, who had a rap sheet as long as he was tall, appeared to be the classic thug. Everything about his mannerism gave off an, I don’t care attitude. Samuel on the other hand was nervous and anxious.

  Ethan and Trent decided to keep Jason on ice and speak with Samuel first. They decided beforehand that they would both just play good cop with this guy.

  Trent walked in and grabbed a chair, turned it around backwards and straddled it while Ethan walked over and leaned against the wall facing Samuel.

  Ethan started by making introductions. Then he asked, “Do you know why you are here?”

  Samuel responded, “Yes sir, I do.”

  “Well go ahead and tell us what you know about the assassination attempt of State Representative Jasmine Anderson?” Ethan said trying to keep his calm.

  “It was supposed to be an assassination,” Samuel responded with his head hung low like he was ashamed.

  “What happened?” Ethan asked.

  “I couldn’t do it,” Samuel said.

  “You?” Trent asked speaking up for the first time.

  “Ms. Anderson pissed off the wrong people, just by trying to protect her family. I have an addiction that has gotten out of hand. I was discharged from the military when I tested positive for recreational drug use. I got in debt with a local drug dealer people call Bryon Big Stuff Gibbs. I trained in advance weaponry with the army and he said he would forgive my debt if I took care of a problem for him. I didn’t know at the time that the problem was Ms. Anderson. He said if I helped him this one time then he would forgive my debt. If I didn’t he would have my ass,” Samuel said. “I couldn’t do it, when it can time to do it,” Samuel said. “If I didn’t know her, maybe, but definitely not in front of her girls; so I planned to just give a superficial injury, but the wind shifted on me and she moved. I couldn’t take it back,” Samuel said.

  “Everything that I have done since has been to scare her into leaving not to cause her any more physical pain,” Samuel continued.

  Ethan was uninterested in his sob story, cut him off and asked, “What is next?”

  “I don’t know, but all
of their plans end with her dead. Don’t let your guard down for a minute,” Samuel said.

  “Give us names,” Trent growled.

  “The Red Vipers; you mess with one you mess with them all,” Samuel responded.

  “That’s exactly how we feel, right now,” Ethan said. Ethan walked out of the room and said book him to the officers standing outside of the door.

  Trujillo and Townsend took on Jason, when Ethan and Trent were done with Samuel.

  Trujillo walked into the room, kicked the chair legs of chair that Jason was occupying, to make them go down on all fours.

  Jason mumbled under his breath some incoherent rambling.

  “Take your do-rag off sir and sit up straight in that chair,” Townsend advised strongly.

  “Your brother just took the wrap for the assassination attempt on Representative Anderson. He also took responsibility for the break in to her home and the letter that was put in the collection plate at her church. He is going away for a good long time,” Trujillo said.

  “If he confessed to it all then why am I still here?” Jason asked.

  “I don’t know why we are holding you, because to look at you I can see why your brother chose the solo path,” Townsend said.

  “So your brother was the brains and the man of action in all three cases,” Trujillo half stated, half asked.

  “Now that he is on lockdown, there is no one to complete his evil plans. So I guess Representative Anderson is safe now,” Townsend directed to Trujillo.

  “She is not the target anymore?” Jason said. “Our boss doesn’t want her dead he wants her alive so that she can suffer for all the rest of her days.”

  “Who is the new target?” Trujillo asked.

  “I would rather lie down than to sell out,” Jason said flashing his gold plated teeth.

  Jason was sitting with the chair on two legs, enjoying seeing the wheels in their heads turn. He watched the display of emotions cross over their features, and smiled that cat who got the cream smile. Before he knew what was happening, Trujillo had kicked the chair with all his might sending Jason backwards, slamming his head on the hard cement floor.

  Jason was moaning and groaning about his head hurting, when he opened his eyes Trujillo was kneeling over him.

  “If anything happens to any member of this family, I will be back to finish this,” Trujillo growled at him.

  “Man, get away from me man, you crazy!” Jason yelled still holding his head.

  “Ahh, he isn’t as stupid as he looks,” Townsend responded as he walked past.

  They had enough to book Jason for accessory to commit murder.

  Chapter 22

  Ethan called Antonio, and asked him what would he need to get the kids out of the country? And was advised that the plane could be ready to leave within two hours, provided that his crew completed a mechanical swipe, fueled the jet, and a flight plan and manifest could be filed while they were in flight.

  “Make it happen. No bags just people,” Ethan said.

  “Consider it done,” Antonio said. “Ethan, I know that you don’t trust me with the task, but I would die for them,” Antonio finished.

  “That makes you the prefect man for the job, get moving brother,” Ethan advised.

  Ethan spoke with the FBI and local authorities about bringing in as many members of the Red Vipers as possible. They left the jailhouse, gassed up the cars and went back to Blake- Moore Estates. Once there he explained that he believed that Jasmine’s family was now the target and it would be safe to move them out of the country, while they finished tying up loose ends.

  Apart of Jasmine was numb and yet another part of her was feeling everything all at once. Ethan would not permit her to ride along to the air strip, so Jasmine had said her goodbyes inside the Blake-Moore Estates main house. She tried to give a credit card to her sister for any expenses and she pushed them back into her hands and refused them.

  “I got them Jasmine,” Renee stated calmly. Renee continued reassuringly, “They will be fine.”

  “Okay, okay, take care of yourself too,” Jasmine responded. Jasmine and Renee hugged each other.

  She hugged Antonio then crouched down in front of the girls.

  “I will be coming to get you as soon as possible. I need you to listen to your Aunt, and be respectful to everyone that you come in contact with,” Jasmine advised.

  “Yes ma’am, the girls said in unison. Amber said, “We will even watch out for Dennis.”

  “That’s right girls. I love you both.” The girls walked into Jasmine’s arms and hugged her long and hard.

  Trent told them that they had to get a move on.

  Jasmine acknowledged what was said with a brief nod of her head. She stood up straight, hugged her girls one more time before allowing them to follow Renee and Antonio. She stood on the porch until the last tail light was out of sight.

  Eleanor walked up to Jasmine and put her arms around her and said, “Let’s get some coffee while we wait for word that they are safely in the sky.”

  Jasmine wiped a tear from her cheek. “I have never been away from them,” Jasmine said. “I don’t like this, she whispered.”

  “I know, I know,” Eleanor said still trying to comfort Jasmine.

  “Make it wine and you have a deal,” Jasmine declared.

  “I have several bottles, red or white dear,” Eleanor asked as they turned to head into the house.

  “Red, something sweet, aromatic,” Jasmine suggested wishfully.

  “Antonio gave us some bottles the last time that he was here,” Eleanor said as she pulled a bottle down from her impressive wine rack.

  Claire walked into the kitchen with Donna and said, “Please go easy on that please. You are giving your speech at the studio in front of half of University of Emerald Grove tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Plenty time to sleep it off,” Jasmine said teasingly to her friend. “Don’t worry Claire I will be ready, promise.”

  “If you put some food on your stomach it will not have as much effect,” Donna said then asked, “Can I have a glass as well.”

  “Everyone looked over at Donna, who responded with, “I am not used to being separated from Dennis and my mom either.”

  Eleanor set four glasses down in front of them, popped the cork, and said, “Let the wine breathe for a minute.”

  Then she placed four dessert plates in front of them. Eleanor assembled a fruit and cheese tray quickly from the contents of the refrigerator. Strawberries, red and white grapes, assorted cheeses, and buttery crackers, and leftover chicken salad.

  Jasmine took her glass of a rich red wine, and inhaled the rich aromatic fragrances and was instantly teleported to the cool mountains of Southern Italy. Fresh jasmine, tangerine and a hint of almonds with a hint of spicy cinnamon filled her nostrils. The wine was delicate and overwhelmingly feminine, Jasmine thought as she savored her first sip.

  Jasmine drank her wine and nibbled on the food placed in front of her in silence. The dam that she had built around her emotions was significantly weakened. At this point, she didn’t know whether the wine was helping or hurting. After they had finished the second bottle, Jasmine thanked everyone and said that she needed to get back to her villa. She wanted to shower and get settled in bed.

  Everyone accepted her excuses. Kennedy and Kimberly followed behind silently as they walked her to her villa.

  Chapter 23

  Jasmine walked into the kitchen after Kennedy and Kimberly had secured the premises. She put on a pot of coffee for them, which they were grateful for.

  Jasmine was anxious, so she did what she always did when she was anxious; cooked. She went into the kitchen and rinsed out a pot and filled it half way with warm water. She turned the pot on medium heat, and placed a teaspoon of vegetable oil in the water. Next she opened a package of jumbo shells, and placed them one by one into the water. She walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, an egg, a
nd a package of ground sausage. Then she wiped out a frying pan and sautéed the ground sausage, while adding Italian herbs and spices as well as a little sage. Jasmine grabbed a big mixing bowl and mixed all of her cheeses along with the one egg together until she had a creamy well blended product. She removed the sausage from the heat, drained it and stirred it into her cheese mixture and sat it to the side. She grabbed two thirteen by nine inch pans and wiped them out then sprayed then down with a non-stick cooking spray and placed them on the counter. Then walked over and placed the oven on 350. She removed the shells from the heat, and poured the extra water off them, then rinsed them with cold water to help stop the cooking process and rinsed off the extra starch. She grabbed a teaspoon and placed the cheese and sausage into the shell, in prefect rows until she was done. Then she opened one of her favorite spaghetti sauces that had chopped green bell peppers and sliced mushrooms, and poured it over the shells. Before placing them into the oven, she sprinkled a light dusting of granulated sugar to cut the acid, salt and pepper and another layer of shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

  She turned on her timer for forty-five minutes. Then set about cleaning up the kitchen. When her dishes were done, she turned to Kennedy and Kimberly, and asked, “Have you heard from Ethan and Trent yet?”

  “No,” Kimberly responded, “But that is normal. We are not to the point that we should be alarmed,” she finished.

  “Okay,” Jasmine responded.

  She made another fresh pot of coffee and then headed to her room. She removed her earrings, and put some cold cream on her face. She selected her royal purple soft, cross backed tank top and the matching pajama bottoms. She lit candles around her room, because candles always calmed her nerves. As soon as she stepped into the shower, the extra warm water relaxed her bunched up muscles. She went ahead and broke down, allowing the tears to fall. She acknowledged her fear and tried to name all of the other emotions that were swimming around in her head and heart.