by Jade Royal
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Denzel breathed. “I think I’ll go talk to a bail bonds person. I can put up my loft and my car in exchange for the money to get her out.”
“We all can put up our cars,” Brianna said.
“Yes! Between the three of us, our cars should be enough to make the money up!” Jason agreed. “Besides, she’s not guilty. And once they’ve dropped the charges, or she’s proven innocent in the trial, we’ll get our shit back.”
“I just need my girl back,” Denzel sighed.
“I thought you said she’s not your girl?” Brianna asked, teasing him. Denzel grinded his teeth.
“She’s not,” he replied. “At least, officially, she isn’t.”
“We’ll deal with y’all complicated ass relationship later,” Jason said, backing up to go to the information desk. “Let’s go bail-” his momentum was stopped, when he bumped into a firm chest. He whipped around to find James behind him.
“Sorry about that,” James said. Jason backed up and stood next to Denzel.
“Nice job in there,” Jason said. “Even if her bail is still a lot.”
“She’s been charged with attempted murder, Jason. Which is just as serious as a murder charge. Her bail should have been a half a million. The judge gave her leeway by cutting it to 250,000. That’s a win in my book.” James’s eyes flickered over to Brianna. She was quiet, but she was looking right at him. That unwavering stare told him she wasn’t shy. Good. He didn’t like shy women.
“This is fucked up, shit,” Denzel said. James looked at the man who he could see was completely in love with Charm. He began pacing.
“Denzel,” Brianna said. “No incredible hulk. At least not in here. Then you’ll be right in a jail cell too.”
“Yeah, well at least I’d be with Charm,” he said. James felt bad for the man and he didn’t even know Denzel. But he could just see something real. Sometimes, it was like that.
“It’s gonna be alright,” James said.
“Yeah, it will be,” Denzel said. “Come on, y’all we need to find a bail bonds-”
“Wait,” James stopped them. “I already posted Charm’s bail.” All three of them gave him a look.
“You mean to tell me that you paid 25 thousand dollars, up front like that?” Brianna asked him.
“I didn’t. But Terrell did. I thought you would know he would have paid it?” Denzel felt the vein under his eye tick. First, Terrell afforded Charm a lawyer, and now, he was paying her bail. Denzel wanted to be the one helping Charm. He didn’t need her ex butting into the business, so yes, Denzel’s pride was bruised.
“After the way he’s treated her; I don’t know nothing about that man, other than he’s a piece of shit,” Denzel snapped.
“And you’re his friend,” Brianna said, crossing her arms. James saw where this was going.
“Now, wait,” He said. “Me and Terrell are friends, but he didn’t tell me all this shit was going on. And just because we are friends, don’t mean I condone anything he’s done. And I fully intend on telling him that. In the end, I’m here because Charm is my friend too, and I wouldn’t leave her hanging like that. I didn’t even have a clue anything was wrong with their marriage until I read the files.”
“When is she gonna get out?” Denzel asked.
“Probably not for at least 4 hours. Processing and such.”
“I’m waiting here for her,” Denzel stated. He went to a bench and sat down.
“You need to get something to eat, Denz. We been here all day. We can come back.” Denzel shook his head. He refused to leave until he had Charm in his arms.
“I’m gonna wait here. You should go and get something to eat then get some rest.” Brianna didn’t want to leave him, but she knew it was unhealthy that he stay here.
“Don’t be stubborn,” Brianna said. But she knew he was going to be stubborn. He was fretting too much not to stay out here and wait for her.
“How about you go back to my loft and get a big dinner going? I’m sure she’s gonna be hungry,” Denzel suggested. “That way, you can get some rest too, instead of being cooped up here all day with me.” Brianna was unsure about the suggestion, but knew it made sense.
“Fine then. Jason, come on,” both Brianna and Jason took off, but James wanted to speak to Brianna before she left. So he hurried after them, not bothering to stop her until they got outside.
“Wait just a minute, can I talk to you real quick?” She stopped walking and turned to look at him. Jason gave her a smirk and continued walking, leaving them alone.
“What’s up?” Brianna asked.
“You and Denzel close?” Jason questioned.
“I know you can see how bad he has it for Charm. So if you’re tryna hit on me, I suggest you take another route.” Feisty. James had guessed it. She was holding her cell phone in her hand so he grabbed it from her. He punched in his cell phone number and called himself so he’d get her number.
“I’m gonna call you later. Don’t ignore it.” Brianna looked his sexy ass up and down.
“And you’re confident I’m even interested?” She asked.
“For the type of woman you are, I doubt you would have even stopped for me if you weren’t interested.”
“If you think you’re gonna get in my draws that easy, you got another thing coming,” Brianna said, even though she knew well she’d probably give it up to his sexy behind without a second thought.
“I ain’t worried about that just yet. I just wanna put a smile on your beautiful face.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. Something quivered in Brianna’s stomach. It was so foreign to her, she was afraid to even think of the possibilities. But when he pulled back, he smiled, making a dimple protrude from his right cheek.
“See you soon,” he whispered, before he backed up and went back inside the courthouse.
Chapter Five
James walked back inside the courthouse, and true to his word, Denzel was sitting on the same bench with his head in his hands. James sat next to him and sighed heavily.
“She’s a strong woman, you know? She won’t let this get the better of her,” James said. Denzel lifted his head and sat back slowly.
“The cops are just so interested in her, they haven’t looked anywhere else. I just don’t understand why they won’t do their jobs right.”
“When cops get a suspect, that’s where all their focus goes. But it’s true, they are blind to everything else. And you haven’t been able to figure anything out about it?”
“Nope. I just know me, her, and Terrell, were in front of her gallery, next thing I know, shots are being fired. I ran to cover her, because I didn’t want her to get hit, but it was Terrell who was injured. They are saying she hired someone to shoot him. But if she hired someone, why the fuck would she have the gun that was the murder weapon? The shooter would have their gun, right? So how the gun ended up in her car, it makes no sense.”
“That just means the real shooter is trying to frame her to take the fall for it,” James said.
“Which could be anybody,” Denzel sighed. James looked at the man.
“Where did you meet Charm?” James questioned.
“Her art gallery. She had this opening and me and Brianna went to look at the stuff. Long story short, she ended up hiring me and Brianna to help her with some of her events, and we split everything three ways, well four, if you include Jason.”
“I see the way you look at her.”
“Yeah, well, I see the way you look at Brianna,” Denzel looked at him. “You claim you don’t condone what Terrell did to Charm, but you’re still his people. So if you try any of that fuck shit with my sister, I’ll snap your neck.” James nodded. He knew Denzel was completely serious.
“No, Brianna looks like she’s one of a kind. Plus, she’s feisty. I like women like that. So don’t worry about it.” Both men went quiet for a little bit.
“Charm is into you,” James said.
“I would hope so,” Denzel respo
nded.
“At what point did you fall in love with her?” James asked. Denzel cut his eyes at James. A man he’d just met, and who was friends with Charm, saw clearly how much Charm meant to him.
“You don’t have to answer,” James said, once he realized Denzel wasn’t going to speak. “And you’re a painter. No offense, but how were you going to pay her bail?”
“I was going to put my car up, and so was Brianna and Jason. Anything I had to put up to get her out, I would have done it. There’s no question about that.” James patted his shoulder.
“If you would do that for her, then she needs you in her life. I’m gonna go give an update to Terrell. Tell Charm to call me as soon as she can.” Denzel nodded and reached his hand out so they could shake hands. True, if it wasn’t for James, Charm’s bail would have been much higher.
But with James, Brianna, and Jason, gone, Denzel was left alone to wait for Charm to be free to come back home with him.
********
Terrell didn’t have an appetite. He was too concerned about what was going on with Charm. The moment he posted her bail, he figured it would take an hour max for her to be released, but still there was no word from her. James told him everything was fine and that was that. Surely Charm wouldn’t be stupid enough to continue to ignore him after he dropped that kind of money to get her free. No woman would be that stupid.
“You have a visitor,” the nurse said, popping her head into the room.
“They can come,” Terrell responded. She pushed the door opened to let James come inside. Terrell smiled at his old friend.
“Destiny, help me sit up,” Terrell ordered her. She scoffed, but raised the bed so he was sitting up.
“Haven’t seen your ugly mug for a minute,” Terrell said. James came to his side and clapped hands with Terrell.
“How’s Charm?” Terrell asked.
“She’s good. Staying strong. She has someone there looking out for her.” Terrell sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. James figured Terrell knew exactly who James was referring to.
“Why didn’t you tell me you two were separated?” James asked, pulling a chair next to the bed and sitting down.
“I didn’t think it mattered. All I wanted was for her to be represented, and for her to get bail, and be out. I figure you’d find out anyways.” James crossed his arms.
“Stepping out on her? Really?” James asked. He couldn’t believe his friend had done that to Charm. Terrell sighed hard.
“Shit got complicated with us. And it happened. I made a mistake.” Destiny cleared her throat hard. James looked up at the chick with the attitude.
“It was not a mistake!” She said, defiantly. James’ brows shot up.
“Wait? Her?” Terrell only nodded. James screwed up his face, not being able to help it.
“You cheated on your beautiful ass wife…. For that?” James asked, pointing at her. Destiny stood up.
“Who the hell you think you are?!” She snapped at him. “Not only have we made love, but we’re starting a family! Terrell, you better tell him to respect me!” James looked at his friend. Clearly, the man lost his mind.
“She’s carrying my kid, James. Be respectful.” James shook his head. No wonder it was so easy for Charm to fall in love with another man. Especially since that man would do anything for her.
“Wow,” James said.
“Look. With me and Charm, shit was complicated. Me and her were tryna start a family and she just kept miscarrying.”
“Wait.” James stood. “You cheated on her after she lost her baby, and then got another woman pregnant? Are you fucking crazy? Why would you do that to her?”
“Like I said. Shit just got complicated.”
“Honestly, Terrell. That’s real fucked up. What’d you think, you’d get her out of this messed up situation with being in jail, and she’ll come running back to you or something?”
“Well, she should thank me! But I actually still care for Charm very much. I wouldn’t let her suffer for something I know she didn’t do.”
“See, you’re the only one who thinks she’s innocent,” Destiny spoke up. James eyes her curiously.
“Oh, and you don’t think she’s innocent?” James asked.
“Of course she’s not. She was trying to get back Terrell for leaving her. So she was clearly thinking that if she couldn’t have him, then no one else could, and she tried to kill him.”
“Wait, are you the Destiny Jones that gave testimony that you saw her with a gun wiping it off?”
“Yes, I am, in fact. She had gloves on and she was wiping the gun off and put it in her car.”
“Why would she be wiping a gun off if she had gloves on?” James countered. Destiny shut her mouth.
“That’s what I thought. Did you really see her with that gun?” James was glaring a hole through her. Destiny felt like cracking and telling the truth, but she was wondering how much trouble she could get in for lying to the cops. But it was too late. James was a lawyer and he knew when people were lying. And Destiny had it bad. She was a terrible liar.
“Don’t forget the gun was still found in her car,” Destiny gritted.
“Right,” James scoffed. James had no idea what was going on, but he didn’t trust Destiny as far as he could throw her.
“How far along are you?” James asked, noticing she wasn’t showing.
“I’m in my third month,” She replied. “I’m getting an ultrasound in a couple days, and Terrell can’t even come with me, because of what Charm did to him.”
“Cut the drama,” Terrell snapped at her. “Just make sure you bring the ultrasound back so I can see my damn kid.” Terrell looked at James.
“So when do you think she’s gonna get out?” Terrell asked, speaking of Charm.
“Not for a little bit. And honestly, I don’t think she’s gonna come and see you the moment she gets out either.”
“She should! Without me, she would have a public defender, and I highly doubt that damn painter she’s fucking can even afford to buy her a pair of shoes, much less than bail her out of jail.” James could see why Charm and Terrell’s marriage had changed.
“He would have found a way to pay it,” James said. “If I were you, I wouldn’t discount that man from doing anything for Charm. I’ll keep in touch, I’ve got other appointments I gotta make. Text me if you need me again.”
“No problem. Thanks for coming through and getting Charm off the hook.”
“Don’t sweat it. But things will only get more complicated for Charm if your girl over there keeps calling the cops and giving false information. Watch out for her.” James gave Destiny a look before leaving the room.
“You lied about seeing Charm with the gun, didn’t you?” Terrell asked Destiny, once they were alone. Destiny didn’t answer.
“So if you lied, then you know how the gun got in her car.”
“No, I didn’t lie!” Destiny said. “And would you really be looking to send the mother of your first baby to jail?!” Terrell sighed and rested back. He didn’t want Destiny in jail, no. But he also needed Charm to come home to him too.
“Don’t worry,” Destiny said, coming to the bed. She sat next to him and rubbed his chest. “Soon this will all be over and you’ll be holding your baby.” She leaned against him, and naturally, Terrell wrapped an arm around her waist so he could hold her belly. The only upside to his whole predicament was the fact that he was getting something he always wanted to begin with; and that was his baby.
********
“Charm Bradley-Robinson.” The officer came to the cell. Charm stood and went to the bars. She hadn’t heard anything since she was locked away again, and she didn’t know what was going on, no matter how she tried to ask for information.
“You’re free to go,” the officer grunted, sliding open the bars. Charm didn’t believe him at first, but he stood off to the side to let her walk out.
“Really?” She asked.
“Let’s go!” He snapped, h
is patience dwindling. Charm leapt out of the cell. He still cuffed her until he brought her to a room. He brought her a room where he finally uncuffed her. Another officer came into the room and tossed a bag at her.
“Get dressed,” he ordered. Then both officers left the room. Charm quickly ditched the orange uniform and searched the bag. To her dismay, what they had given her to wear were huge sweatpants and a t-shirt. She was spotting when she was taken into custody and they’d been giving her panty liners, but good thing her spotting didn’t last long at all. She couldn’t imagine having her actual period in this place.
There was no shoes in the bag, so she kept on the white sneakers they’d given her when she got there. Once she was dressed, she knocked on the door. The officer returned to let her out. Thankfully, he didn’t cuff her this time. He took her down the hall to the exit. They stopped at a desk that was behind a steel gate. In the small opening the officer at the desk shoved another bag at her. When she looked inside, it was the clothes she had on when she was booked inside the jail. She clutched at the bag. A loud buzzer went off and she was pushed towards the exit. The gate opened and she was escorted outside.
The night time air whooshed against her sticky skin. Charm took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was free. But the officer followed her outside all the way to the large gate where the prison buses came through. When they got to the gate, it whirred opened slowly in front of her. She wanted to just shimmy out of the little part that was open, and just run free, but the officer held onto her until the gate was completely open. When it was open completely, he finally let her go, giving her a slight push. She sucked her teeth and gave him a look.
“Go on, before I bring you back in here,” he said to her. Charm scoffed.
“You can try.” She rolled her eyes and continued out the gate, leaving him behind. For a moment, Charm just stood on the sidewalk, looking up and down. The courthouse was next to her and it seemed foreign, as if she wasn’t there this morning seeing a judge.
It was dark out, but the lights of the city was keeping the place bright. She had no phone, so she didn’t know what time it was, and James didn’t say he was waiting for her. She knew where she was, so she figured she’d just hop in a cab and pay the driver when she reached her destination. She turned and began walking away from the courthouse.