The inside of a correctional facility was the last place I wanted to be. But given how full that place was, I seemed to be in the minority. I observed families sitting around engaged in various forms of interactions. Some were starry-eyed women all dolled up. Flirting and smiling ear to ear at a man who pumps her with false hope—with each letter, each phone call—and who has no plans of remembering any of it when he’s free. Then there were the others who brought their kids, and sat idly by while the kids interacted with their fathers. There was even one situation where a woman sat at a table near the entrance, while the child was on the other side of the visiting room with her dad.
What a fucked-up way for kids to grow up. With a parent who gave more of a fuck about breaking the law, than being present to help nurture healthy kids. I knew something about that, having my grandmother imprisoned. I loved my grandmother more than life. But her and her shenanigans landed me in foster care for a few years. Although, the woman that fostered me was good people, she unfortunately, had a demon spawn—a demon that made the mistake of thinking that he was going to take advantage of a young girl. How wrong he was. If my grandmother hadn’t taught me anything else, she taught me how to deal with certain types of situations. And so, that predator was dealt with, the way all pedophiles should be—with a death sentence.
Drew Levine should feel extremely lucky that he wasn’t met with the same fate.
The clock high on the off-yellow wall to the left of me, said that I’d been there waiting for twenty minutes. Drew had five before I left this place and never saw his face again.
I sighed in frustration; once again perusing the room. That’s when I heard my name come from Drew’s dirty-ass mouth. I turned his way, and our eyes met immediately. My stomach further tightened, as the hate boiled to the surface.
Wearing a jail jumper, and some white tennis shoes, Drew looked like an older version of a preppy boy murderer. He thought that blond hair and blue eyes would secure him a place in the real world. A world where his kind didn’t have too many trials or tribulations. He should have been warned about just how wrong that could be.
Now, though. He knew.
Metal bars, curfews… trapped.
“My beautiful, Nova.” He slipped his leg over the bench, until he was eye to eye with me. Four feet wasn’t nearly enough space between us. “Shocked that you came,” he said after moments of silence had passed.
Drew, Drew, Drew… How the fuck does it feel?
“What did you want?”
“You look beautiful, Nova.”
“I know. Too bad I can’t say the same for you.”
“Pfft. Aren’t you full of yourself?”
“As long as I’m not full of you, Drew.”
He leaned forward; his hands intertwined. “What’s that song you used to listen to by that R. Kelly guy? The one that says something about when a woman’s fed up?”
Without batting an eye, I replied sarcastically, and slowly for the dumbbell… “When a Woman’s Fed Up…”
“Oh. That’s the name of it?”
“Drew, what do you want? This isn’t a friendly visit—at least not for me.”
“You won, Nova. How does it feel?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. But if that’s—”
“You know goddamn well what I’m talking about…” he spat through clenched teeth. Oh, you’re big mad, huh? He looked around to see if anybody was watching. I almost released a dramatic scream. Just for the pleasure of seeing the guards rush him and drag his ass to the floor. But I decided to let him babble on until I was tired of listening. “You think I don’t know what the fuck you did? Huh?” When his voice rose involuntarily, he scanned the area again. “It took me a minute. But I got you all figured out.”
I sighed. “Really, scholar?” My shoulders rose then fell. “School me, please. I mean, so that I can participate in the conversation.”
“It was all you,” he said, nodding his head slowly. “I don’t know how you did it, but it was all you.”
“Okay, Drew. Now, I’m a smart woman, but some things just need to be spelled out.”
I was fucking with him and enjoying every fucking split second of it.
“Yeah, you’re smart alright. I’ll give you that. Way underestimated.”
“Only by you,” I added. “Only by you.”
He removed his hands from the table and placed them in his lap while doing a slow rock back and forth. He stared at me, trying to get a read. Seconds seemed to turn to minutes. But whatever. I met him where he was with the eye warring, making sure he knew that he wasn’t pumping any fear whatsoever.
“So, you knew about Royce all along. Didn’t you?”
“Nope,” I said, feigning ignorance. “I found out when they picked your tramp-ass up from the house that day, and I rushed to the police station like the obedient wife.”
He leaned in close. “You’re lying!” he said in charged whisper. “I know you’re lying.”
“Why are you so hostile, Drew? You’re the one in jail. You’re the one who cheated. You’re the one…” I batted my eyes at him, then released a puff of air. “…who murdered somebody. It’s just… just…” I sniffled, poking my bottom lip out slightly. When I was able to make it quiver, I said, “I don’t know. So… terrifying to know that—”
“You’re some kind of fucking psychopath,” he hissed. “I knew you were fucking crazy. I knew it. You’re fucking damaged, and I knew it. Your own fucking cousin wants nothing to do with you. Your psycho-ass grandmother. Whole fucking clan of motherfucking crazy. And you wonder why I fucked around on you every goddamn chance I got. Anything was better—”
“Remember me telling you about my dog, Zeus?” I asked in the middle of him raging.
“What?! You’re asking me about a fuckin’ bitch-mutt right now?”
“Do you remember how he…” I paused, thinking back to the day that my poor dog, a beautiful Doberman/German shepherd mix, was run over and killed. “I loved, Zeus so much.”
“What the fuck is—”
“How could you, Drew?!” I had summoned the tears needed to give a show. “How could you?!” I watched as his eyes widened in horror, with the realization of what was happening. “How dare you tell me that you had to do it! You didn’t have to do anything but love me!”
“What!” Drew hollered, frantically looking around.
“Royce didn’t deserve that!”
“What the fuck?!” he yelled, jumping from his seat and pounding his fists on the tabletop. “You crazy bi—!”
In a matter of seconds, several armed guards had descended upon our section of the table. Several families sitting nearby began to scatter, wrapping their kids in safety. I sobbed amid the chaos, tears falling everywhere. It was probably one of my better performances. And it took place all while Drew was being tackled for behaving like a crazed animal. His eyes held hate, desperation and defeat inside of them, as he struggled to spew words nobody wanted to hear.
“You killed your own child!” I continued, enraged. “How did I not know what you were capable of?”
“How did you do it, Nova?!” he yelled. “How? You bitch!”
I watched as Drew was restrained and cuffed. Spittle hung from his mouth, his hair tussled all over his head, and his fair tone covered in salmon pink.
Fucking idiot.
I laughed on the inside. He was getting everything that he deserved and more. I’m sure women everywhere prayed for the day that men understood that their actions had consequences. Especially, as it related to tap dancing on their hearts. They did the shit so frequently, and so remorselessly, destroying so many in their paths.
Drew Levine had finally figured out that he was in jail for a crime that he did not commit. I was creaming, thinking about that animal losing it the way he did in front of all those people. The looks on those poor kids’ faces when they saw the crazy white man going bezerk.
Oh well. If I had it to do all over again, I would have tau
nted him just a little bit more. A little bit longer. I was pissed at first for having to go visit, and now I was the happiest I had been in a very long time.
You and Royce played with the wrong one, Drew.
The excitement I felt inside was better than sex. And after having had the pleasure of the stallion named Leo Kastellanos, that was saying a lot.
But then I thought of something. If Drew had figured it out, he no doubt had told his theory to Raquel. That’s why she was sticking her nose so far up my business that night I was out with Leo. Not that Drew could prove a damn thing, but the fact that she was going so hard let me know that I needed to keep my eye on her…
34 | Leo
“Leo, your sister is here to see you.”
I walked over from the window of my office and spoke through the intercom to my assistant. “Taking a call on my cell. Send her back in five.”
“Will do,” Denise chimed.
I wasn’t on a call. I just knew that I needed to mentally prepare for Jenn’s visit. I loved my sister, but I liked my Jenn doses in moderation. God bless the man that ended up wearing matching platinum rings with her ass.
“Hey, my insanely stunning brother!” sang Jenn, mere moments after I told Denise to have her wait five. “You didn’t think I was really gonna wait out there, did you? In the reception area? Umm… no. It’s nice and all, but I’d rather be in here. Looks like you’re off the phone anyway.” She held up two bags in either hand and progressed toward me smiling. “I brought lunch!”
“Jenn, sometimes you need to adhere to the rules set forth.”
“Arrgh,” she sighed. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love you too, grumpy?” She walked over to the conference room and began to lay out the Panera items. “Please tell me that one day you’ll try something other than this damn Thai chicken salad,” she laughed.
I headed her way, joining her at the large oval table. I was actually happy when I saw my favorite salad. She had done good. I had bread, not chips. And she’d even stopped off to grab a black tea from Starbucks.
“Coffee and food. Two visits in less than a month. Maaan, what’s up now?”
“Just say, ‘Thank you’, and sit down with me,” she requested.
I took a chair not too far from her, facing the window. “Thank you. Now, what’s up?”
Jenn rolled her eyes, and tossed that red mane of hers, over her shoulder. “I just came to see how you were doing.”
“And?” I asked, crunching down on a forkful of romaine lettuce, chickpeas, and spicy chicken.
“There’s no and.” She chuckled then showed a sly grin. “Well, kinda…”
“Like I didn’t already know that.”
“Well, okay. But you gotta say yeah.” I objected by shaking my head, while folding a thick piece of sourdough bread. “Why not?” she whined. “It’ll be good.”
“What is it, Jenn? Hurry up and say what it is so I can say formally say no.”
“I was trying to tell you the day our brunch was interrupted, but…” She rolled her eyes, and smacked her lips. “Anyway, I want you to meet somebody. She’s gorge, Leo. Tall, brunette, great job, nice bod—”
“I’ll pass.”
“Leo… that’s not cool. Why not?”
“I’m not interested in dating any of your friends, Jennifer. Forget about it.”
“So, now I’m offended that you won’t date her because she’s my friend. That’s insulting.”
“Spin it how you want. Not pacifying the situation because you want to make it into something else. I mean what I said.”
Refusing to let her attitude disrupt my food, I continued to kill what was left. Jennifer, however, wrapped up her leftovers and angrily stuffed them back into the Panera bag. After wiping her hands down, she folded her arms across her chest, defiantly.
“If I had said that she’s black, would that have made a difference?”
“Let it go, Jennifer. Because you’re about to piss me off.”
“Piss you off, why? Why does that question make you so mad?” she asked, trying to now sound like a victim.
I shoved my napkin, and what was left of my bread into the container with the salad pieces. After everything was gathered, I walked all the contents to the garbage near the door.
“Because you’re overstepping. And not just overstepping, you’re bringing ignorance into the equation. If it was because you’re a sister looking out for her brother, that would be different. But that’s not where the fuck your mind is, and I don’t like it.”
“But I am looking out for you, Leo.”
“That’s bullshit, Jennifer. You’re coming from a place of hate toward a certain group of people who happen to not be white. And I despise that shit.”
“I mean—”
“I don’t give a damn what you mean. Stop with the shots about the women I date. Who I choose to date will never be your issue. And I need you to stop making it your business or we’re gonna have a problem. You got me?”
Thoughts of Nova sat at the forefront of my mind. I liked her, cared about her. That day at lunch when we ran into her and the Canton’s, Jenn openly brought tension to the table. I reemed her when we were alone. I just didn’t do it in depth. But one thing was for sure, if things progressed with Nova, Jennifer would have to cut the shit. Immediately.
“I got it,” she replied, with a slow nod.
“You claimed you ‘got it’ when Mom told you off about—”
“And Mom and I got past that. I love Jason, and I’m happy that he’s a part of our family.”
“I couldn’t agree more. And my suggestion to you is that you really ‘get it’ where I’m concerned. Because think about this. Would you want a relationship with any kids I might have?”
“That’s a dumb question. They’d be my nieces and nephews. Of course.”
“But do you realize that with your views, and that level of hate that you have coursing through your veins, that I wouldn’t allow that?”
“I don’t hate…” Her eyes glossed over almost instantly. “I would never treat my family—”
“And by the time you tried to convince me of that, it would be too late, Jenn. Way too late. Because if I had somebody pregnant today, the decision to not have you around my kids would already be made.”
“I’m sorry, Leo,” she finally said after the silence. “I really am. I would never mistreat any child of yours.”
“I don’t believe that. And I would never put my child at risk of being mistreated, or being made to feel less than. That shit would never happen.”
“And I wouldn’t—”
“I have a meeting to get to, Jenn.” I cut her off in the middle of her comment. I needed her to leave before I ended up hurting her feelings worse than I already had. I walked to my desk, where I grabbed my cellphone to check the text notification that had just come in. “Thanks for lunch.” I doubled back to give Jenn a quick hug, and made my way to the door.
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later?” she called out, as more of a question than a statement.
“For sure. Have a good one.”
“You too, Leo. Love you!”
I never responded. I didn’t turn back around either.
I didn’t want to talk to Jennifer the way that I had, but she needed to be stopped. Because of comments she made when we were younger, I always knew how she felt. I had always called Jennifer on her bullshit, so it wasn’t anything new. But she seemed to be extra vigilant lately and I didn’t like that shit. So, I needed to address her in whatever language she understood—harsh.
Nova, was who I was interested in. If things went the way I wanted them to, she would be the one in my life. When that officially happened, Jenn’s actions would determine whether or not she would be a part of that.
35 | Leo
I stood against one of the imported trees on the roof of my building. Out there, I could see for miles and miles out. I loved coming up to the patio; it’s where the flow of air, was nicest. We only had a few months of
that in Vegas, and because the month of June hadn’t yet descended upon us, three-digit temperatures hadn’t popped into the equation. Today, was perfect weather, and felt more like Southern California, than the desert. Probably because it was still early in the day.
One thing about Vegas, while the temperatures could get beyond insane, there was a ton of business here. In that way, it made it difficult to leave—which at least once a year, I’d considered doing. However, that would involve more travel than I wanted to commit to. So, staying just made sense.
Since the parking lot was to the left of my view, I was able to see when Jennifer finally left the building. The fact that she was just now exiting told me she stuck around a little longer after I left; more than likely, talking to the girls. She took unhurried steps on the way to her newest sports car; a shiny white Vanquish with custom rims. If there was one thing Jennifer was good at, it was getting any one of her men to spend top dollar on her toys. That car was the third, in as many as three years.
“Hello…” I heard, bursting through the background of my thoughts.
I pulled the phone to my ear. “Nova!”
“Yes, it’s me.” The smile in her voice came through loudly. “I responded like four times. What’s going on?”
I quickly hit the speaker button. “What’s going on, is you got my head in the clouds. I thought I had you on speaker, and should’ve known when I didn’t hear the phone ringing out loud that I had done something wrong.”
She started laughing. “You good now?”
“I’m great.” The flashbacks always get me—”
“Leo…” she whined softly. The sultry tone of her voice, taking me back to any one of the times we had spent enjoying each other. “Stop it. You’re seriously gonna have me blushing.”
“And why is that so bad?”
“Pssh. It’s not. But I don’t want people figuring it out… yet.”
I chuckled. “I’m just messin’ around with you. The reason for the call, is I got your text. Wanted to make a live call to say, ‘You’re welcome’.”
Lethal Love: Deceit can be Deadly Page 16