by S. K. Hardy
Angel held a hand up before Darrell could ask the obvious. “I tried to get him to remain here for at least a couple more days, but the two of them were anxious to get back to their house, get the kids, including Manny, acclimated to some sense of normalcy.”
A slight frown marred Lorenzo’s face. “Manny. That’s Melania’s nephew, right? The son Dominick recently found out about?”
Angel nodded. “Yes.”
Darrell stared into his glass, his thoughts on Dom. He looked up at Angel. “How is he? Really?”
Angel hesitated. “He’s…okay. I’m not going to understate his experience. He went through a lot, but he survived it. Nick’s strong. He and Keisha will be fine.”
Darrell nodded because he had no doubt Dom would be okay. As for himself…
“How long have you known who my father was?” Darrell finally asked the question that had been repeating itself in his head the entire ride over.
Leaning back, Angel placed a bent elbow on the arm of his chair. His thumb settled under his chin and his forefinger rested on his temple as he regarded Darrell in silence for a few tense moments before answering.
“I’ve known you were Isaac Pattel’s son almost from the first moment I met you.”
Darrell stared at Angel. Obviously, he hadn’t heard him correctly. “You what?”
“Sit down, Darrell.” Angel nodded to the empty chair beside Lorenzo.
Darrell’s eyes flashed in anger. “I don’t want to sit down, I want you to explain what the hell you meant!”
Angel had been slowly rocking back and forth in the chair, but the movement stopped when he heard Darrell’s tone. His green eyes cooled, narrowing in warning. He understood Darrell was upset. He’d been expecting that and was trying to be patient. Even so, there was only so much he would tolerate. Disrespect was certainly not one of them.
Darrell’s agitation was apparent as he paced back and forth. “Between Tina and this crazy mothafucka who you say is my father, it’s no wonder my life was so fucked up.”
Some of Angel’s anger subsided. He sympathized with what Darrell was feeling because he’d gone through some of the same emotions Darrell was no doubt spiraling through now, but Isaac Pattel was nothing like Bradley Davidson, the man who Angel later discovered was his real father. He played by an entirely different set of rules.
“I know this is a lot to take in.” He glanced at Lorenzo to include him as well. “For both of you. But, Darrell, I’m going to need you to calm down first and listen to what I have to say. Now please have a seat.”
Turbulent grey eyes clashed with cool green ones for several tension filled moments before Darrell sighed heavily and dropped down in the chair by Lorenzo’s. Elbows on his knees, his hand scrubbed his face impatiently. He did his best to contain the anger he felt at Angel, at Lorenzo…at himself, but had little success. He forced himself to push it aside and concentrate on what Angel was saying.
“I assume Tina filled you both in on the history she and Isaac shared.” Angel brought his cigar to his lips and took several puffs as he waited on their answer.
Nodding, Lorenzo spoke for the first time. “Yes, or rather her version of it. It’s crazy how I never suspected that the woman who raised me wasn’t my biological mother. There was no reason for me not to think she was.” Lorenzo glanced at Darrell. “Tina said you only found out a lot of this recently as well, right?”
“Yeah. Couple of weeks ago. Before she got her heart transplant a few months back, I basically had no contact with her since she dropped me off at the orphanage.” He lifted his eyes full of accusation to Angel. “All this time, you’ve known Isaac Pattel was my…”
His teeth clenched together. He refused to say the word “father” and “Isaac Pattel” in the same sentence. Isaac Pattel would never be that to him no matter what his DNA said.
Darrell’s anger made a steady rise to the surface again and threatened to pull him under. “You didn’t think this was something I should’ve known, Angel?”
“Darrell–”
“It’s not like you haven’t been through something similar. You, of all people, should understand how I feel.”
“I do.”
“Apparently you don’t or you would’ve told me,” he snapped.
Unable to continue to sit still, Darrell jumped up and resumed his restless pacing. Maybe he’d been too naïve to have trusted Angel, and if that was the case, he was slippin’. Darrell didn’t trust easily; he could name the people he did trust in one breath. It was difficult for him not to constantly look for a hidden agenda in people, wonder what their angle was. Did Angel have one?
Sighing, Angel stood up and came from around the desk. “Do you remember the night you, Nick, and Marcus came to my house to get help with that Rochelle situation?”
Darrell frowned. Of course he remembered. That was the first time he and Marcus met Angel. They’d both been blown away by the fact that, not only did Dom have a brother whom he never mentioned, but also according to what they’d later discover, he was on the government’s radar as one of the most powerful drug and arms dealers in the world.
Angel half-sat on his desk and folded his arms as he continued. “Even though Dominick and I hadn’t spoken in almost ten years, I never lost track of my brother. For his own safety, I, of course, made it a point to find out about the people he surrounded himself with. Very few knew he was my brother, but–”
“You didn’t want to chance them coming after you through him,” Darrell completed his sentence. “I know. You told us this later on.”
“I’ve known the Pattels for a long time. The moment I saw you, I noticed your resemblance to Isaac–but mainly to Lorenzo. I did a little digging around and eventually confirmed a past relationship between Tina and Isaac. It wasn’t too difficult to put two and two together after that.”
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t tell me.”
“Quite frankly, it wasn’t my place,” Angel answered bluntly. “In my world, there’s an unspoken code that we don’t interfere in the family business of others. Darrell, I know this doesn’t make sense to you, but you weren’t born into this life like Lorenzo, nor did you choose it like I did. Believe me, telling you about your father would’ve only caused more problems, but when you started making inquiries, I knew it wouldn’t be long before Isaac found out.”
“I’m not scared of him.”
Angel sighed. “I know you’re not. That was the least of my concerns.”
“Then–”
“I was trying to stop an inevitable confrontation between you and the Pattels because once that happened, Marcus and Nick would’ve been right there ready to kick ass with you. I would’ve had to step in anyway at that point, so I saved myself the trouble and handled the situation before it got out of control. I think this family has been through enough for now. Let’s allow one storm to blow over and settle before stirring up another, shall we?”
Angel brought his glass to his lips but kept his attention on Darrell, watching as his words sank in and took root. Once they did amusement lit up in his eyes because he knew the effort it took Darrell to finally acknowledge that Angel was right.
Darrell glowered fiercely when he saw the expression on Angel’s face. “So what, you wanna gloat now?”
Lorenzo chuckled under his breath, drawing Darrell’s eyes his way. Seconds later, however, the corner of his own mouth lifted reluctantly in response, easing some of the tension. Before they could continue, though, Renzo’s cell phone rang and interrupted the moment.
Still grinning, Lorenzo set his glass down and answered the call without checking the caller I.D. “Hello.”
“This is your father. Where are you?”
Lorenzo’s eyes went to Darrell, grimacing at the timing of his father’s phone call. “You know where I am, Pop.”
Lorenzo got up and walked a couple of feet away and stood with his back to Darrell and Angel. He was too tired to deal with his father right now. He’d been goin
g almost nonstop for the last week. Fatigue was setting in fast and threatening to knock him on his ass.
“I take it you found him?”
Renzo glanced over his shoulder. Just as he expected, Darrell was watching him and listening closely to his end of the conversation. Gone was the brief moment of amusement they’d shared a few seconds ago. In its place was the mistrust he was fast becoming accustomed to seeing on Darrell’s face.
“Yes,” he replied in answer to his father’s question. “Pop, listen, let me call you–”
As if a thought just occurred to him, Isaac cut in and asked, “Is he there with you now?”
Lorenzo sighed. It was obvious his father was not going to be put off. “Yes. He’s here. We’re both at Angel’s.”
Darrell took a step forward. “Tell him if he has something he wants to know about me, don’t use you as a go between. He can ask me himself.”
Lorenzo’s eyebrow shot up, but Darrell refused to back down. A moment later, Isaac’s booming laughter sounded through the phone line. “I take it that’s him? Put the little arrogant bastard on the phone.”
Surprised at his father’s response, Lorenzo pulled the phone away from his ear and wordlessly held it towards Darrell. His eyes found Angel’s in sudden understanding. Now he knew why Angel had taken the proactive steps to act as a shield between Darrell and his father. Isaac’s temper was legendary. He didn’t tolerate insolence from anyone. From what Renzo had seen so far, Darrell Monroe had no filter. He said what he liked, whenever and to whomever he chose.
Curious, he tuned into Darrell’s end of the conversation with undisguised interest. Glancing behind him again, he saw that Angel was doing the same.
“Yeah. Somethin’ you wanted to say to me?” Darrell asked.
Amusement was still evident in Isaac’s voice. “Hello, Darrell. This is your father.”
Darrell’s laugh came out rough and forced. “Man, I ain’t got no father.”
“You most certainly do, no matter what that tramp told you. Besides, how can you trust anything coming from a woman who dumped her child off at an orphanage before continuing her life as if he never existed? You might think you know everything that happened, but you don’t.”
“I don’t know everything, but I know enough. I know you’re a coward who refused to take care of his responsibilities when it came to my mother.”
The tension on the other end just about mirrored the tension hovering around the space in Angel’s office.
When Isaac finally spoke, his voice was low and full of warning. “You need to watch your mouth before it gets you in trouble, boy. I don’t give a damn whose protection you’re under.”
“Like I told Angel, I can take care of myself. As for Tina, she may be a lot of things but at least she chose not to get rid of me.”
“And why do you think that was, Darrell? She didn’t do it out of any type of maternal instinct, that’s for damn sure. You were a bargaining chip for her to get what she wanted. Nothing more.”
Darrell knew that Isaac was fishing for a reaction. He was just as determined not to give him one. “It doesn’t really matter at this point, does it?”
“That’s where you’re mistaken. What if I told you there was more to the story than the one I’m sure she’s told you and your brother?”
“You think I’d believe anything you said?” Darrell scoffed.
“Yet, you seem more than willing to take everything Tina tells you at face value. She wasn’t some poor innocent young girl who I took advantage of, that’s for sure. She knew exactly what she was doing.”
When Darrell remained silent, Isaac’s laughter rang out full of incredulity. “But that’s what she told you, isn’t it? Well, let me assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. I came upon Tina dancing in a strip club I owned at the time. By the time I met her, she was an accomplished liar who knew what she wanted, which happened to be me. She knew I could give her the kind of lifestyle she craved. However, I’m sure she only divulged a distorted version of events as she chose to relay them to you. I’d bet my fortune, that’s the story she told you and Lorenzo. Now…tell me I’m wrong.”
CHAPTER 7
“Let me get this straight, you expect me to believe your distorted version instead of hers. Is that it?” Darrell snorted, dismissing the suggestion altogether. “I guess you never sent anyone after her when she threatened to tell your wife about the two of you either, right?”
“Did she say that?” Isaac’s booming laughter trickled off to a couple of chuckles. “Darrell, from the very beginning, my wife knew about Tina, and Tina knew about my wife. I told you she was an accomplished liar. Looks like she got better with practice.”
“As I said, it don’t matter now, does it?”
Lorenzo’s gaze sharpened as he listened in. “What’s he saying?”
“A bunch of bullshit,” Darrell sneered.
“What if I told you I had proof?” Isaac countered in a taunting voice.
Darrell was quiet for a moment, his mind racing. “What kind of proof?”
“Come to New York and I’ll show you.”
Genuine laughter burst from Darrell. “You want me to come to New York,” he repeated. “Uh, let’s see. That would be a no.”
“I think it’s only fair that you give me a chance to tell my side.”
“To be honest, I really don’t give a damn what you got to say. The only thing I want you to do is stay away from my family. There doesn’t have to be a problem unless you make one. Again for the record…” Darrell’s eyes fastened on to Angel. “I understand family looks out for family, but please believe, even if I was in it alone, I would handle mine with no problem. That’s one of life’s lessons I learned early on.”
The absence of any sound or movement stretched out until Darrell wondered if Isaac had hung up. But suddenly, he heard a low chuckle that turned into a guffaw of amused laughter.
“You are definitely my son. A Pattel through and through. I’ll have to offer my apologies to Angelo. I see why he thinks so highly of you now.”
“I’m a Monroe. Always will be.”
“A mere technicality. It doesn’t change the facts of your bloodline. You may not be open to the idea of meeting the other side of your family…yet…but I have no doubt your curiosity to find out the truth about Tina will eventually overcome your reservations. I’m betting it won’t take very long. When you’re ready, I’ll be waiting. Tell Lorenzo I’ll speak to him later.”
Isaac hung up before Darrell could respond. He grinded his teeth at the arrogance he’d heard in Isaac’s voice.
“What the hell was that all about?” Lorenzo asked, taking the phone from Darrell.
“Like I said, a bunch of bullshit.” Darrell reached for his glass and tossed back the rest of his whiskey. “I don’t believe a word he says. Yeah, I know Tina is suspect as hell, but quite honestly, I don’t trust either one of them.”
“Maybe you should just think about doing as he asks, Darrell,” Angel advised quietly.
Darrell’s expression told him what he thought about that suggestion. “Come on, Angel, seriously?”
“I’m very serious. When I spoke to Isaac a couple of days ago, he was adamant about not wanting any type of communication with you. The conversation I heard on this end sounded like a complete about face. For him to go so far as to ask you to come to New York shocks the hell out of me.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m going to jump because he’s had a change of heart.”
“There are three sides to the story, Tina’s, Isaac’s, and the truth. Maybe if you and Lorenzo talk to Isaac, you can get all of the facts and decipher what that truth is.”
“I’d planned on having it out with my father once I got back home anyway,” Lorenzo said, glancing at Darrell. “A few things Tina told me tonight didn’t add up. Too many unanswered questions. If you’d like to fly back with me to New York, I don’t see where it would hurt to at least listen to what he has to say. Especially
if there’s some validity to his side of the story.”
“What neither of you get is that I don’t care. He’s still as dead to me as he’s always been. Fuck ‘em.” Darrell placed his empty glass on top of the mini-bar. “I’m outta here. Lorenzo, if you still plan on stopping by to see Tina tomorrow I’ll talk to you then. Angel, holla at you later.”
He was halfway to the door when he remembered something that had stuck in his head. Turning around, he eyed Angel curiously. “By the way, how did you find out I was making inquiries about Isaac?”
“I spoke to Bryan. Roni just called me as well.” Angel didn’t have to say the obvious. He and Roni were close. If she had called him, she’d more than likely been upset and mentioned that Jerra contacted her a couple of hours ago.
Lorenzo’s eyes were bright with curiosity. “Roni? You wouldn’t happen to be talking about Veronica Winston, would you?”
“Yeah,” Darrell answered slowly. He’d already put two and two together when Lorenzo mentioned he’d been in the Caribbean. Roni had met with one of the Pattels in Aruba. It didn’t take much to figure out it had been Lorenzo. “That’s her.”
“I had no idea you and she knew each other.” A speculative gleam entered Lorenzo’s eyes as he studied Darrell. “She’s a very beautiful woman.”
Darrell let that observation pass without comment. “Your family purchased a franchise of nightclubs from Roni recently, Club Ecstasy here in Vegas, as well as the sister clubs in New York and Atlanta. I used to be part owner of them.”
Lorenzo’s brows lifted in surprise. “Damn. I’m not one to believe in coincidences but it seems there are a lot of mutual links that join us together. Jerra, Angel, and now Roni and the nightclubs.” Renzo shook his head slowly. “I rely heavily on my instincts to guide me even when shit is too crazy for me to make sense of it. Something tells me there’s more to this situation between my father and Tina than what we know so far. Then again, maybe there isn’t,” he shrugged. “But what will it hurt to just listen to what he has to say?”
