The Lion

by D. Camille

  Rion headed into the kitchen and decided to order dinner from Tauri's favorite restaurant. Whenever she stayed over she always loved to order the Almond Chicken dish. After placing the order, he put a kettle on the stove to make her some tea. This was something that he'd learned from his mother. He didn't have the raspberry leaf tea that she used for cramps and cycle issues and made a note to pick up some to have on hand for Tauri.

  Almost an hour later Rion wondered where Tauri's food was. He'd held off taking her the tea until her food arrived, and once again the kettle was heating and he could hear the water boiling. He picked up the phone to call about the meal as the door alarm sounded. Placing the phone back on the counter he went to check the screen and saw the delivery man. Rion allowed him to enter the elevator and waited for his arrival. As soon as the doors opened and Rion looked into man's cold eyes he knew something was not right. His first instinct was to protect Tauri, who was sleeping the bedroom. He lunged at the man before he could exit the car and they both hit the wall as the doors closed.

  *********

  Tauri stirred as the whistling sound continued to penetrate her ears. Groggily she wondered why Orion hadn't stopped the sound long ago.

  “Orion!” she called then a minute later, she called again.

  Confused and annoyed she climbed from the bed and walked to the empty kitchen spotting the source of the whistling on the stove. Quickly she went over and cut the fire, looking around for Orion. Her heart began to beat as she walked into the living room and saw no sign of him. Tauri walked back and checked the counter seeing both his keys and phone. She called his name again, this time louder.

  Tauri sprang into action running to the bedroom and grabbing her weapon from her bag. Barely breathing she ran back to the elevator doors and pushed the button. Frantically she kept pressing until the doors opened and she screamed.

  ********

  Tauri tried to figure out why Rion was beating the hell out of what looked like a delivery person from her favorite restaurant by his uniform.

  “Orion!” she screamed. “Stop!”

  Rion slammed the guy against the wall with both hands holding his shirt. “Do they really think I'm going to keep taking this shit! Who in the hell do y'all think I am?”

  Tauri froze. What the hell was going on? All she knew was that Orion was about to be up on murder charges or at least assault, so she raised the weapon.

  “Let him go Orion! I've got it.”

  Rion didn't budge, in fact he slammed the man again, hitting his head against the wall.

  “Orion!”

  He turned and glanced at her before dragging the man out of the elevator. He threw him to the floor then turned to Tauri taking her weapon from her hands. Rion then turned the gun on the man on the floor.

  “Get the police up here Tauri!” he instructed.

  Without a single question, Tauri released the elevator and placed the call. In seconds, the apartment was filled with officers and the perpetrator was taken into custody. Rion had placed Tauri's weapon in the back of his waistband and she stood at his side as the police questioned him.

  “What happened Mr. Shaw?” they asked.

  Rion frowned. “Did you check him before he got in the elevator?” he demanded angrily.

  “Yes, he was patted down,” one officer answered.

  “Did you think to check the bags?” Rion asked.

  The officer shrugged. “You said that you had ordered food so we had no reason to believe that it wasn't food in the bags.”

  “Don't you know that someone is trying to kill him? Do you understand that's the sole reason you are here?” Tauri questioned very loudly. “This is your damn job!”

  The officer lowered his head and Rion placed his arm around her to calm her.

  “Bingo!” another officer chimed as he checked the bags. With gloved hands, he lifted a large knife into the air and Tauri gasped before throwing her arms around Orion. He enfolded her while stroking her back gently.

  “It's okay baby,” he soothed.

  “We're sorry Mr. Shaw,” one of the officers announced.

  Rion looked around the room at the officers who were now all looking at one another. His gut told him one of these men did not have his safety as a priority and he planned to be in Mac's office first thing in the morning.

  The police cleared out and Tauri sat at the counter waiting for Rion. He walked over and hugged her quietly.

  “Are you okay?” she asked looking up at him.

  Rion stared down at her. “Are you okay?”

  “This is so wrong Orion. This shouldn't be happening, not after all this time,” she laid her head on his chest. “Aren't you tired of this?”

  He held her close. “I'm tired as hell Tauri, but I can't give up. I won't.”

  “I can't believe this! They want to kill you over a damn baseball team!” she cried.

  “It's been for much less than that, cigarettes, hoodies, even nothing at all.” He lifted her face to his. “Because of them, the ones before them and the ones that will follow, I can never just give up or walk away. Because of Kyros and Jeff, and every other young black boy, I have to stand strong. A young god will never bow down to an oppressor of any kind.”

  “Keep your weapon on you at all times please,” she pleaded.

  Rion smiled ruefully. “Yeah, you don't have to tell me that now.” He removed her weapon from his back and placed it on the countertop.

  “You whipped his ass though.” She smiled at him. “I see you still got some of that Detroit in you.”

  “I told you, I'm all Detroit baby.” He kissed her waiting lips. “Now tell me how you ended up at the door with your gun.”

  Tauri laughed. “You left the kettle on. I woke up and couldn't find you then I knew something was wrong.”

  Rion glanced at the stove then back to her. “I was making you some tea for your cramps and I had ordered you some food, but the police took it as evidence. Not that we would eat it anyway after this.”

  Tauri hugged him so thankful for this man. “I'm not hungry, but the tea would be nice. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”

  Rion walked over to the stove and turned the kettle back on before he turned back to her. “I can make you a sandwich because I know you're hungry.”

  She smiled because he knew her so well already. “Yeah, okay.”

  He shook his head and went to the fridge. “So I've been thinking Orion,” Tauri said watching him as he bent over inside the appliance.

  “About what baby?” he asked with his head stuck inside.

  “About our babies.”

  Rion froze for a moment then stood and turned to her. “What about them?”

  Tauri smiled and glanced at the ring on her finger. “I think you should make me your wife as soon as possible so that we can start working on them 'cause Granny's still very old fashioned and she wouldn't take kindly to babies before a wedding. She'd take a switch to both of us.”

  Rion came slowly over to her. “Your Granny doesn't have to take a switch to me because I'm going to marry her daughter asap and then on our wedding night we're going to make a little god.”

  Tauri shook her head. “Please don't say that in front of my grandparents. Let me prepare them first.”

  Rion laughed. “They'll get it eventually.” He took her hand. “When are you marrying me goddess?”

  “As soon as we can arrange it. Just friends and family, no press or media?” she asked.

  “You know that's fine with me. Whatever makes you happy.” He kissed her hand.

  Tauri smiled and lifted her face to his as they kissed passionately, both reliving the evening's events knowing that the time they had together was so precious. They both thought of the ancestral couples who had been torn apart by the tragedies inflicted up them and their families for no other reason than their skin being different. The kettle whistled and Rion went over to prepare her tea.

  Tauri watched him knowing that no matter how quickly she had f
allen, she would love this man forever. “Now about these five babies Orion....we need to talk.”

  Chapter 19

  Rion sat across from Chief Mackenzie Green inside her office in downtown Detroit. The look on Mac's face told him clearly that she was more than upset. Her cafe au lait complexion was flushed from her anger and her full lips were pursed and tight.

  “Mac...” Rion began and she put up a hand to stop him.

  She stood with her full figure encased in the blue uniform. “There is no excuse for this Rion. My officers know better. I don't run that kind of department.” She glanced at Rion. “Brandon tried to warn me.”

  “You can't know everything Mac,” Rion told her.

  “Your new detail have all been personally assigned by me and I've removed all the officers who were at your apartment last night.”

  “Thank you Mac. I know I'm putting a lot of pressure on your department.”

  Mac looked at him. “Thank you Rion. I know you and the Negus could have taken things into your own hands long ago.”

  Rion shrugged. “Mac, I'm trying. I have to be honest though, my patience is running very thin at this point.” He stared at her. “I want to get on with my life.”

  Mac nodded then smiled. “I want an invitation to the wedding.”

  “Of course, you have a special place in my heart, you know that.”

  She looked away. “I don't know what would have happened to me if you weren't there that night Rion. I should never have been at that party.”

  Rion stood and went over to her. “I'm glad I was there Mac and I'm proud of the strong, powerful woman you are despite what happened.”

  Mac looked at him. “I'd never understood why they called you the Lion until that night.”

  “Well that night is a distant memory and we're all grown up and doing great things,” Rion told her.

  “I owe you a lot and I would never let anything happen to you,” Mac vowed.

  Rion smiled. “You don't owe me anything Mac.” He hugged her gently.

  Mac returned his embrace. “I'll handle this Rion, you have my word, even if I have to come guard you myself.”

  Rion pulled back. “Tauri does a good job already.”

  Mac smiled. “She's tough and I've always liked her. I think my officers are afraid of her.”

  “Yeah, they should be.” He laughed. “She's making me carry all the time now.”

  “She's smart as hell and I don't know why you weren't before,” Mac told him. “Beckham has lots of money and clout so don't let your guard down at any time Rion and until I filter out the rotten apples, not even with my guys.”

  Rion nodded. “I'd hate to be them.”

  “They will too, believe me.” Mac folded her arms.

  *********

  Tauri sat next to her grandmother in the restaurant at the St. Regis Hotel in the New Center area of Detroit.

  “Granny please be nice to Orion's mother,” Tauri implored.

  Millie Patterson looked at her granddaughter. “When am I not nice?”

  “Please Granny?”

  “Why are you so nervous?” Millie asked. “You must think I'm not going to like her.” She raised a brow.

  Tauri sighed. “She's different Granny and she's very protective of Orion.”

  Millie frowned. “And I'm very protective of you, so now what?”

  Tauri turned to look out of the window. Now that she had agreed to marry Orion as soon as possible, she'd asked her grandmother and Mrs. Shaw to lunch to discuss possible wedding plans. Orion had volunteered to come but she'd refused. She needed to get on a solid footing with his mother on her own. Mrs. Shaw may still have some reservations but there was nothing she could do about Tauri marrying Orion. Tauri hoped they could all come together and get along, but by the way her Granny was looking right now, she wasn't so sure.

  Tauri turned back to find Pam Shaw standing at the table looking as if she had floated on air to get there. She glanced to her grandmother who lifted a brow at Pam then braced herself before she got to her feet.

  “Mrs. Shaw, I'm so glad you could make it,” she greeted.

  Pam smiled. “Hello Tauri, thank you for inviting me.”

  Both Tauri and Millie watched as Pam gracefully took a seat as though she was wearing a crown. Millie turned to her granddaughter with a confused look on her face as Tauri regained her seat.

  “Mrs. Shaw, this is my grandmother Mrs. Henry Patterson. Granny this is Mrs. Shaw, Orion's mother.”

  Millie looked at the beautiful woman who really didn't look old enough to be the mother of a grown man. Both women greeted one another before Tauri quickly turned her attention to Pam.

  “I wanted to speak with you and my grandmother about wedding plans.”

  Pam lifted a perfectly arched brow. “I was surprised to hear that you and Orion had decided to move so quickly after your engagement.” She gave Tauri a look. “Is there a reason for the rush?”

  Millie turned to her granddaughter and Tauri smiled. “The rush is that I love Orion and we want to be together as husband and wife.”

  “I take it you had a long engagement Mrs. Shaw?” Millie inquired.

  Pam looked at Millie. “Actually no, I married my husband six months after we met.”

  “Hmmm...so I guess you really shouldn't be concerned,” Millie told her and Tauri's eyes widened.

  Pam paused for a moment. “My concern Mrs. Patterson is that my son's life is in danger and he's trying to fulfill his dream of owning a team, getting married and taking on a family is a lot to add to his plate.”

  Millie reached for her glass. “Well he's a grown man and it's his plate, so apparently he thinks there's enough room for my granddaughter.”

  Tauri quickly intervened. “Please, this is not why I invited you both. Orion and I want to include everyone but we both agree we aren't going to have any drama. So if we can't do this nicely, we won't do it.” She looked at both women. “Orion and I are adults and this will be done how we want it.”

  Pam recovered first and looked at Tauri. “My concern is for you as well Tauri. I want both of you to be happy.”

  Tauri smiled broadly. “Orion makes me very happy.”

  Millie sat her glass on the table and looked at her granddaughter before turning to Pam. “You see that smile on my baby girl's face. If a man makes you smile like that, you marry him and give him a bunch of babies.”

  Pam looked at Tauri's face and agreed. She knew without a doubt that her son was deeply in love with this woman and apparently, she felt the same way. She'd invited her to help with their wedding knowing that Pam still had reservations. Pam noticed too that Orion was not in attendance and knew this was certainly Tauri's doing. She'd wanted to come to her woman to woman and Pam was impressed.

  Pam smiled. “So ladies, let's plan a wedding.”

  Tauri became relieved and reached for her menu.

  “We should serve Tauri's favorite, fried chicken and spaghetti,” Millie commented.

  Pam looked up with a slight frown. “I was thinking more like free range, baked chicken with organic wild rice.”

  “What in the Sam Hill?” Millie asked frowning.

  Tauri sat her menu back on the table and sighed. This was going to be a long lunch.

  *********

  After his meeting with Mac, Rion and Jordan Black met with city officials regarding Rhonda Fleming's accusations. Jordan was able to answer all questions and clear up all concerns with the city. He informed Rion that if he was needed in New York with league officials he'd fly back out at that time. Rion was grateful for the people in his life, from his family, the Negus, the Black Diamonds and mostly his woman.

  Tauri was meeting with his mother today and to be honest, he had some concerns. Rion knew his mother was a strong goddess who was not afraid to voice her opinions and concerns. He also knew that Tauri had invited her grandmother and everybody knew that Mrs. Henry Patterson could chew bullets and spit them out.

  Although Rion knew
that Tauri could handle herself, he had still offered to join her at lunch. She had adamantly refused saying that she didn't want or need him to run interference for her with their family. How could you not love a woman like that? Tauri was strong as hell and he found that so sexy. Most women would have cut their ties, yet here she was making plans to be his wife. Rion was going to make sure this was a decision she never regretted.

  He parked his car and entered the building heading to the elevators. When Rion reached her office, she was sitting at her desk with her eyes closed and her head back. Her glasses sat on her desk and his eyes traveled to her lips which were in a tense pose.

  “They gave you hell didn't they?” he asked coming inside her office.

  Tauri opened her eyes and looked at what had become her entire life. “Hello Orion.” She smiled.

  “Yes, they gave me hell.”

  He walked over to her desk stepping behind her chair. His hands went to her shoulders and he began to gently massage her. “I tried to warn you.”

  “Yes, you did.” Tauri closed her eyes and leaned back into his ministrations. “I should have listened.”

  “What did my Momma do?”

  “When my Granny said we should serve fried chicken and spaghetti your mother looked like she was ready to throw up all over the table. Then your mother suggested free range chicken and organic rice and Granny lost her mind.” Rion laughed heartily.

  “Then Granny said we had to have Budweiser on tap for Granddaddy and your mother said it should be a dry wedding because your family doesn't drink.”

  “Then it was the flowers, the colors, the time of day and every damn thing else they could find to disagree on.”

  Rion leaned over and kissed her upturned lips. “So now are you ready to do this my way?” he asked.