by Bailey West
“Yes, he called right before we left for New York, from a different number than the one I had blocked. He saw the article about me and the academy in the newspaper.”
“Royo saw that article also, I’m sure. Or Lafayette wants you back. I know if you ever left me, I wouldn’t stop until I got you back.” He smiled and kissed my hand.
“Pax this is bad. I mean what if they really try to hurt me?”
“I will burn Georgia down before I let them hurt you. I would take out every person that is even loosely associated with both Royo and Lafayette before I let them get near you. Men, women, and children, the people at the cleaners where they take their clothes, the mailman, the gardener, the trash guy, everybody. No one would be safe. I would eliminate generations if they tried to hurt you. Do you understand? You are safe with me.”
There was a look in his eyes that told me he was not just talking. He meant every word. I believed him. I hope that it wouldn’t come to that, but if it did, I wouldn’t feel sorry for anyone that got in his way.
I touched his face with the palm of my hand.
“No one has ever taken care of me the way you do, thank you.”
“You mean everything to me, Olivia. No one is going to hurt you.”
I smiled and wiped the tears that had escaped from my eyes. I loved hearing him say I was his.
“What can we do?”
“First we are going to eat. Then we will look over these financial documents I acquired from Lafayette’s company. I want to see when the money actually went missing.”
“How did you get his financial documents?”
“I still have some connections with my old military friends.”
“Well, if you are looking for information on his special accounts, you won’t find that in the normal accounting information. He kept that somewhere else but, I have a copy of the books up to a couple of days before I left.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” he chuckled. “He really had no idea who he was dealing with, did he?”
“No. he didn’t. I’m a lot of things, but dumb is not one of them. I knew that if he was keeping things separate it wasn’t because they were special clients, so I kept track of everything I did. I couldn’t prove it because he never let me around the business, but if you show me what you have, and then we compare it to what I have, you will clearly see the difference.”
I decided to keep a copy of his accounting books after Mason hit me for asking about them. I wasn’t positive that something was going on, but if it was, he was not going to take me down with him.
“The authorities would probably be very interested in those books.”
“I think so.”
After we ate lunch, we drove to my storage to retrieve the copies of the books that I’d kept. Paxton and I sat for hours going through the paperwork he had and matching it to the books I had.
“Do you see what I see,” I asked Paxton.
“Yeah, he’s been stealing from Royo for a long time. I found the account the money has been deposited into.”
He showed me the account where Mason was stashing the money.
“This is one of the accounts that I asked him about when he got upset. Do you think this is enough to prove that it wasn’t me?”
“I’m not stressed. If Royo doesn’t accept what we give him, then it’s his funeral.”
Paxton
I began mentally preparing myself for the possibility of war. It had been awhile since I had to get into this mind space. The last time was when Countee found out that the guy Zora was dating had stolen from the wrong people and was going to put Zora and her brand-new baby in danger. I knew of Zora before we were formally introduced by Zanetta. I collected Bahir after he ran off to France and delivered him to the French authorities. I mailed his letter to Zora after I returned to New York from France. Bahir was eventually killed, but he knew he had to go. He had stolen from the wrong person. Countee is vague on the details of Bahir’s last days, so I don’t know how he died, but it’s not my concern or my business.
I emerged from my office and found Olivia sitting out by the pool. It was a little chilly outside, so I grabbed a blanket and went out to join her. I put the blanket around her and sat down next to her. I pulled her close to me, and she rested her head on my chest.
“Pax, I’m scared.”
“I know, Baby, but I got you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“I know. I know you will protect me but, who will protect you? What if I lose you? What if because of my past, I don’t get to have a future?”
“You are not going to lose me. I have people who will protect me the same way I protect you.”
“Who?”
“Remember I told you that I did some special missions in the military?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Well, those special missions were because I was on an elite team in the Army.”
We were called to missions that were not easily accomplished using traditional means.”
“What do they have to do with this?”
“They are who I am referring to when I talk about connections with the military. We are going to meet in Georgia.”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“No. If they are the people who I have to trust to protect you, then I want to meet them. Tell them to come here before you meet in Georgia.”
“You’ve already met one…”
“Countee,” we said at the same time.
“How did you know?”
“I see you, Pax. I know you. I study you just like you study me. I know from the way you interact that you are more than just brothers-in-law or even guys who served in the military together. Yep, I’m learning my skills of observation from the best.”
She is sharper that I give her credit for.
“So, you want the whole team over?”
“Yes, how many are there, so I know how to prepare.”
“Five, including Countee.”
“Okay.”
“Do you have any questions about the team?”
“No, is there anything else you want to share?”
“Not particularly. I just wanted you to know that we will be fine.”
“No, I don’t have any questions. Thank you for trusting me enough to share with me.”
Bradley, the concierge, called up to inform me that I had guests. I gave him the okay to send them up. When my elevator dinged, and the doors opened, it was like being transported back in time. The whole A-Team was on the elevator; Countee, Gaige, Angus, Hawk, and Harlem
Olivia and I waited to greet our guests.
“Olivia, this is Laila, but we call her Angus.”
Angus looked good. She was curvier and had let her hair grow, but she was still very pretty. Angus gave Olivia a hug.
“Nice to meet you, Laila,” Olivia smiled.
“Same here, Olivia,” Laila returned.
“This is Dontae, also known as Gaige.”
“Nice to meet you, Gaige,” Olivia said as they embraced.
“This is Adam, aka Hawk.”
“Hi, Adam. Welcome, it’s nice to meet you,” Olivia smiled.
He hugged her and said, “Thank you, you are beautiful.”
“Whoa, boy. Cool your heels before you get put down,” I lightly pushed him away.
“I’m just giving a compliment where it’s due,” he laughed as he stepped back.
“Yeah, go compliment somewhere else,” I laughed.
“Rylan, this is Olivia. We call him Harlem.”
Harlem hugged Olivia.
“Nice to meet you. Thanks for inviting us to your home,” he smiled.
“You already know Countee.”
Countee and Olivia embraced.
“Countee, what’s your nickname?” Olivia asked.
“It’s Ace, and this is DT,” he pointed to me.
“DT?” Olivia asked.
“Damn toddler,” Hawk called out.
“Defensiv
e tackle,” I corrected and rolled my eyes at Hawk.
“Welcome, everyone. I have a couple more things to do in the kitchen then dinner will be served. Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable,” Olivia said as she disappeared into the kitchen.
“Look at you DT! Got a nice crib. A beautiful lady. You are doing okay,” Gaige commented.
“Yes, your home is beautiful,” Angus added.
“Thank you, both.”
“How is the surveillance system working?” Gaige asked.
I hired Gaige’s company to install the surveillance system for my residential building as well as our businesses.
“Perfect. I will be calling again soon. We are going to need it for the houses we are building.”
“I got you,” Gaige replied.
“Does Zora know you are in town?” I asked Countee.
“No, I will come back after this is all over and visit with her and Dad.”
“Aye, DT, Ace filled us in your problem. I walked in thinking I was going to find something other than that sweet lady that’s in the kitchen,” Hawk said.
“Don’t let her fool you. She will put you down,” I whispered.
“Whatever,” Hawk dismissed me.
“Jump at her and see what happens. She got a lick off on me because I thought the same thing.”
“Shut up!” Angus said shocked.
“I’m serious. I mean I knew that she had to know something to be able to get away from the guys that tried to take her, but she surprised me.”
“Why did the plans change? I thought we were meeting in Georgia,” Harlem asked.
“My Lady wanted to meet you. She said she wanted to meet the people who had my back.”
“I like her,” Angus smiled.
We talked a while longer until Olivia came in and announced dinner was ready. We all followed her into the dining room.
Everyone bowed their heads while I said a quick prayer over the food then we all dug in.
“I prepared a few things because I wasn’t sure if anyone had any dietary restrictions,” Olivia announced.
“Sweetheart, we will eat anything,” Angus laughed. “So, thank you for preparing something tasty.”
“Hawk, remember that time the locals tricked you into eating monkey brains?” Gaige laughed.
“Real monkey brains or some local dish?” Olivia asked.
“Real monkey brains,” I laughed.
“Yeah, they told him it would help with his virility,” Angus added.
“It didn’t help that night because he spent the whole evening throwing up,” Harlem added.
“It was warm, Olivia, but it wasn’t warm because they’d taken it straight from the oven. It was warm because they’d taken it straight from the monkey’s skull,” Hawk explained.
“Oh, my goodness.” Olivia was sincerely sad for him.
“Don’t be sad for that clown,” Countee laughed. “That’s what he gets. He is always up to something stupid.”
“They are all just haters, Olivia,” Hawk winked.
We laughed.
“This food is delicious. Thank you for inviting us over. We never get together like this since we are all out of the military now,” Angus explained.
“Yes, this is nice,” Harlem added.
Olivia made a ton of food and her signature sweet tea. We all ate until we were stuffed. After dinner, we went into my office to discuss our game plan. Olivia joined us.
Everyone took a seat, and we began.
“What I would like to do is go and talk to Lafayette first. I want to give him the chance to confess his crimes and get Olivia’s name out of it. Since he is responsible for putting her name in it.”
“Who are you, Mother Theresa? Harlem asked. “That fuckboy is not going to confess to anything. He’s trying to save his own ass by hiding behind a woman, punk pussy ass motherfucka.”
“Right,” Gaige said. “We need to grab him, make him talk and if he doesn’t end his ass.”
“That sounds like a good idea, but that won’t help Olivia. We need for him to talk. Royo needs to understand that Lafayette is the only one behind this mess,” Countee said.
“Right, I want her name off the table and out of Royo’s mouth.”
“So, you are just going to waltz in Lafayette’s office and talk to him?” Angus asked.
“Yes, I have an appointment when we get there.”
“That’s not a smart move on his part, we’ve all seen you get mad. Tell me, how are going to be in the same room with the man that put his hands on your Lady and is now accusing her of stealing, without murdering him?” Hawk asked.
“I don’t know, but I have to try, right?”
“One of us needs to go with you because if you grab him up, no one will be around to save him and we need him alive,” Gaige explained.
“I will go with him,” Countee volunteered.
“Look, man, we got your back either way. Do what you feel is right, and when that shit don’t work, we will go to work,” Harlem said.
“Gaige, what do you have?” Countee asked.
Gaige turned his laptop to face everyone.
“We have eyes in his office, his house and this warehouse where he conducts some of his business. I had my guys pose as delivery guys and plant these cameras. If we need to grab him, his house is the easiest because he doesn’t have any security,” Gaige explained.
“How are you stealing from people but don’t have security? Stupid!” Angus said.
“Olivia and I also found some discrepancies in another account, so he is stealing from more than just Royo.”
We went over the rest of the details of the mission.
“We may not need to grab Lafayette. We just have to see how it all plays out. Is everyone clear on the plan?” Countee asked.
We all nodded.
“Can I say something?” Olivia asked.
Everyone in the room gave her their attention.
“I grew up with only one person in the world that I knew cared about me, my mother. I was married and still only had one person. I’m sitting here, listening to people who have just met me talking about taking up for me, makes me feel so good. I just want each of you; Laila, Dontae, Adam, Rylan, Countee and of course Paxton, to know that I appreciate you. I appreciate you for just having the conversation. Even if none of this works, you are all my heroes.”
Everyone sat silent for a moment. We’ve done a lot of good in the world, but no one ever said thank you.
Hawk spoke first, “You are our family, Olivia. When someone messes with our family, we make sure they live to regret it.”
Everyone agreed.
We left early the next morning headed to Georgia. I can’t do what I need to do if Olivia is not safe so two of Countee’s men are going to shadow her while I am away. I promised her it wasn’t going to take long and I intend to honor my promise.
We landed in Georgia in just enough time for me to make it to my appointment with Lafayette.
“Mr. Lafayette, Mr. Bluette is here to see you.”
I stood in front of his receptionist desk waiting for her to inform him that I had arrived.
“She’s sorta cute,” I heard through my earpiece.
Gaige was watching from a perch across the street from Lafayette’s office building.
“Shut up. She is not cute,” Angus countered. “She looks like a cheap plastic doll that you can get from the one-dollar store.” Angus was located on the opposite side of the building. Both had a perfect shot, if necessary.
“Send him in,” Lafayette said to his secretary over the speaker.
Countee and I walked into the office of Mason Lafayette. The man who on several occasions put his hands-on Olivia, the man who was currently hiding behind her to save himself, the man who thought he could break her, but couldn’t. Lafayette extended his hand to shake. I looked at his hand, then at him and slowly sat down in the chair in front of the desk. Countee sat down next to me.
Lafayette retracted his h
and and sat down in his desk chair.
“I am surprised to hear from you Mr. Bluette.”
“Oh yeah? Why is that?”
“Isn’t it kind of odd for the boyfriend…”
“Fiancé,” I corrected. “I haven’t been a boy in a very long time.”
“…to request a meeting with the husband…”
“Ex-husband,” I corrected again.
“What do we have to discuss?”
I needed to get to why I was here. Sharing the same space with this man was making me anxious. I don’t know how long I would be able to sit still and not put my hands around his neck the same way one of the guys he sent after Olivia put their hands around her neck. I took a deep breath.
“Well, Lafayette…”
“Mr. Lafayette…”
“La-fay-ette,” I said while looking him in the eyes. “I’m here because I want you to confess to Royo. You know, the whole thing about stealing his money but trying to blame my Lady.”
I saw the look of fear cross his face, but he quickly recovered and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about. If Olivia said something like that to you, don’t believe her. You should know that she can embellish a story.”
“You need to keep her name out of your mouth.”
“What? I had that pussy first. It has my mark on it. I broke that shit in.”
“Broke in?” I chuckled, “That’s funny because I’m fairly certain I broke her hymen the first time we made love.”
“Daaaammnnnn DT. You’re saying the man dick so small he couldn’t even pop the cherry! BUUURRRNNN.” I heard Gaige say through my earpiece.
“Fuck you!” Lafayette spat.
Countee adjusted his body towards me because he knew that I was seconds from flying across the desk. I took another deep breath trying to settle myself. I could feel the control slipping away. I wanted to choke him so bad, but I knew it would be counterproductive.
“Lafayette, I will give you a couple of hours to think about my request, and I am going to leave. If I stay any longer, it will not turn out good for you.”
“Are you threatening me Mr. Bluette? That’s mighty brave of you,” Lafayette laughed.
“Bravery is not necessary, Lafayette. Not when dealing with a coward.”
Countee and I stood.