by S. K. Hardy
“Dominick’s kidnapping,” Darrell finished the sentence for her. “You’re right. Always seems to be somethin’.”
“Yes. I finally realized there would never be a good time to get back into law if I just sat around waiting for the perfect opportunity. D.J.’s getting older and I need to start thinking about doing things that fulfill me and make me happy.”
Darrell froze. “You tryin’ to say you haven’t been happy?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just need…something more. That’s all.”
He started to pursue the subject then thought better of it. “When do you start?”
“That’s the thing, they want me to start next week?”
“Next week? As in ‘five days from now’ next week?”
“Yes.”
“Damn. That’s a lil’ quick. I know how important this is, but do you think you could push it back a couple of weeks. It’s a lot going on, what with Tina and all.”
“As I said, if I keep waiting, it’ll never be the right time. After Tina, it would be something else. I can almost guarantee that.”
Darrell remained silent because she was right. There always seemed to be another shoe waiting to drop in the background.
“When you get back, we’re going to have to sit down and talk about some type of schedule for D.J. At least school is out for the summer so that’ll make things a little easier for now. I’ll be able to drop him off at camp before I go to the office, but if you could pick him up on days I might have to work late, I would appreciate it. I know you’re pretty flexible with your hours, so hopefully that won’t pose a problem.”
The thought of how very real their situation was left a bitter taste in Darrell’s mouth. “So nothing’s changed. You still want to separate. Is this what it’s come to, Jerra? Me having visitation with our son, keeping him with me part of the time, and you having him the rest of the time?”
Jerra swallowed around tears that sounded stuck in her throat. “I guess so. For now. Other people make it work.”
“We’re not other people, dammit!”
“Darrell, please.”
“Whatever happened to us putting our son’s needs before anything else, including our own?”
Jerra’s outrage was swift. “Wait a minute, are you saying I’m not doing that? I gave up my career so that I could spend these first years with him. I’ve been a good mom and a good wife, so don’t try to make me feel guilty about the decision I made.”
“Of course you’re a good mother and wife. You’re an excellent mother and wife. Don’t put words in my mouth. You know I’m for whatever makes you happy. I’m just sayin’, out of all the times to go back to work, maybe this isn’t the best time. You yourself said that D.J.’s going to be upset about Tina. He’s gonna need you, Jerra.”
“And I’m going to be there for him.”
“How? He’s out of school for the summer. You’ll be gone eight, ten hours a day.”
“That’s not fair, Darrell. You act like I’m abandoning him. He goes to summer camp every day. Hell, he pitched a fit the one day he couldn’t go because he enjoys the activities and seeing his friends. It’s not as if this will cause a huge disruption for him day to day.”
“Jerra, let’s not kid ourselves here. You know as well as I do how much time you’ll have to devote to your job, especially at first. It’s going to demand a lot of your attention. If you’re insisting on goin’ through with this separation, maybe we need to think about D.J. being primarily with me until things even out.”
The silence fell heavy and thick between them.
“Are you threatening to take him away from me?” she whispered in disbelief.
“Of course not.”
“Then what do you call what you just said!”
“I call it disrupting D.J.’s life as little as possible. As you said, my schedule is flexible. He’ll have more stability.”
“I give him stability!”
“Jerra–”
“You’re not taking my son. End of discussion.”
Darrell’s voice grew chilly. “Our son. And why shouldn’t he be with me? If you take a minute to think about it, you’ll see it makes sense.”
“No!”
“This is crazy. Can’t you see that? You kick me out of the house over something that you know is some bullshit, decide to resume your law career without even discussing it with me–”
“Ha!” Jerra broke in. “I know you don’t want to talk about not discussing things and holding information back!”
Darrell continued speaking without addressing her accusatory statement. “And then you expect me to be some glorified babysitter to our son?” He shook his head. “Baby, that ain’t happenin’. Either I remain at home while we work this thang out between us or he comes with me. Either situation will give him the stability I want him to have.”
“You self-serving son of a bitch. You’re using him!”
“What? That’s bull and you know it.”
“No, that’s exactly what you’re doing. You’re using D.J. as a bargaining chip to worm your way back into the house. But baby, that’s what ain’t happenin’,” she snapped, mimicking his tone.
Darrell’s entire body grew hot with anger. “I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that.”
“Why, I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I wouldn’t do that to him or to you, but if that’s what you think about me after all these years, maybe you’re right about this separation. As far as you and I are concerned, we should let things stand.” Darrell struggled to keep an even tone. “But as for my son? When I get back, yeah, we’ll sit down and get a schedule together as you suggested. But it’ll be to determine when you should come and pick him up from my place. D.J. will reside primarily with me.”
“No, he will not!”
“I don’t want to fight about this with you, Jerra.”
“You don’t want to…” Jerra took a deep, steadying breath and waited until she felt she could talk without yelling. “I think we need to end this conversation now, but before we do, let me say this: If you pursue this idiotic idea of yours there most definitely will be a fight. You do not want this to escalate because I promise you you’ll lose. You’re trying to back me into a corner and I won’t let you do that. I will fight like nothing you’ve ever seen when it comes to my son.”
“And you think I’ll do any less?” Darrell growled ferociously.
Jerra let out a pitying laugh. “Just when I thought you couldn’t do more harm to our marriage, you surprise me and top your last fuck up with this. You’ve drawn blood this time. I hope you’re happy.”
Darrell swallowed hard. Despite her cynical tone, he knew he’d hurt her deeply; that hadn’t been his intention. “Jerra–”
“Just so you know, I won’t be the only one bleeding by the time we’re finished. When all is said and done, remember, you started this. Goodbye, Darrell.”
The next moment she was gone, but not before he heard a catch in her voice that touched him to the very depths of his soul.
Darrell lowered his phone. Chest heaving forcibly, it was hard for him to catch his breath. A million thoughts flashed through his mind all at once, but the most prevalent one he kept coming back to was: What the fuck just happened?
CHAPTER 21
“You wanna talk about it?”
Darrell’s eyes swung to the door and found Lorenzo casually leaning against the doorjamb. Finally finding an outlet in which to release his anger, Darrell rounded on him at once.
“What the hell you doin’ eavesdropping on a private conversation?”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping…much. I came upstairs to tell you the fellas just called and wanted to make sure we were still meeting for dinner at eight o’clock.”
“And what, you decided to stand there and get an earful while you waited for me to get off the phone?”
“No. I was getting ready to turn around and give you some privacy but your phone call ended,” Lore
nzo said in a patient voice. “Just asking if you want to talk about it. Might be less painful than putting your hand through the wall again,” he said in a humorously sarcastic tone.
Darrell glanced down at his hand. The doctor Lorenzo called before they left Isaac’s home had examined it and determined that one of the bones in his hand was fractured. He’d have to wear a splint for at least three weeks, but the damned thing was already irritating the hell out of him. It covered part of his fingers and both sides of his hand and wrist. He gave himself a week before he took it off.
Tossing his phone on the bed, Darrell gave Lorenzo a challenging stare that immediately caused Lorenzo to eye him with wary caution. “Tell ya’ what, you give me the 411 on what all the references to your business in the Caribbean mean, and I’ll tell you all about my problems.”
Lorenzo’s lashes lowered the same time his face turned into a blank canvas. “Just business, little brother.”
“And you can cut the ‘little brother’ crap. You’re barely a year older than me.”
A smile broke out across Lorenzo’s face, easing the lines of tension bracketing his mouth. “So? You’re only five years older than Hawk but you called him a ‘youngin’ earlier.”
Darrell answered him with a reluctant smile of his own. “I only called him that because I knew it would fuck wit’ the little prick’s ego.”
“Congratulations, you were right. Hawk hardly ever loses his cool, not like that. Of course we know how to push his buttons, but for you to do it so effectively, had to be instinctual.”
“I guess so. Let’s just say he kind of reminds me of myself. But back to you…” Squinting, Darrell folded his arms. “Stop tryin’ to get me off the subject. You still haven’t answered my question about why you get that look on your face every time somebody mentions your trip.”
Sighing heavily, Lorenzo shook his head and averted his face. “What look?”
Darrell pointed at him. “That look. What gives?”
It was obvious Lorenzo was ill at ease. Darrell watched with interest when he smoothed a hand down the back of his head because he recognized the gesture as something he did whenever he was uncomfortable or being evasive. Jerra had pointed it out to him more than once. He had to admit, it was funny recognizing little eccentricities like that in someone he was related to.
Lorenzo shrugged, the muscles in his wide shoulders bunching up and contracting. “I was there to meet a business contact who might come in handy with a problem we’ve been having.”
“Did she help?”
Lorenzo lifted his head quickly to meet Darrell’s eyes. “What makes you think it was a she?”
“Because only a woman you got a thing for could leave you lookin’ that confused and tied up in knots,” Darrell smirked. He disappeared into the walk-in closet and returned moments later with the pants and shirt he’d bought to wear tonight. “Am I wrong?”
Lorenzo shook his head slowly as he thought about CeeCee. “Right on target.”
“How is she supposed to help you out?”
“More or less an insurance policy in case we need it.”
Darrell’s mouth twisted to the side as he turned to go back to the closet to get his shoes. “Ya’ lips movin’ but you ain’t sayin’ nothin’, yet you want me to spill my guts to you about my marriage. Don’t work that way, bruh. It’s gotta be a two way street. I share, you share, ya’ feel me?”
“Alright. How ‘bout I ‘share’ this bit of info with you then: The woman who’s my contact is the assistant of somebody you know. Veronica Winston.”
Darrell slowly came back and stood in the doorway of the closet. He stared at Lorenzo with suspicion heavy in his eyes. “Is she now?”
“Yep. Now. Your turn to share.” Lorenzo folded his arms and tilted his head. “Start with why you get that look on your face every time somebody mentions Veronica Winston’s name, because only a woman you got a thing for could leave you lookin’ that confused and tied up in knots.” Lorenzo smoothly threw Darrell’s words back in his face.
“Roni don’t have me tied up in knots. ” Darrell’s lips barely moved. “You need to speak what you know, bruh. It ain’t even like that.”
“Then tell me how it is. Maybe it’ll help talking to someone on the outside lookin’ in, give you a different perspective. I’m not gonna judge you, D.”
Darrell felt himself wavering because it was true, he did need somebody to talk to, especially after the fight he’d just had with Jerra. But he wasn’t one to get personal with people he didn’t really know; his clique was small for a reason. However, he couldn’t explain–or even understand–why something told him he could trust Lorenzo.
He walked over to the glass door that led to an outside wraparound terrace and slid it open. The terrace boasted a 360-degree view of Manhattan, including Central Park. Darrell stood staring out at the heart of the city while thinking about his situation.
“Beautiful, isn’t it,” Lorenzo asked as he brushed past Darrell and stepped outside.
After Darrell joined him, Lorenzo pointed out a few landmarks that could be seen from their location, but for the most part, they stood there in companionable silence for several long moments before Darrell ventured to say what was on his mind.
“I fucked up, man. Again.”
Lorenzo turned to look at him. “How?” When Darrell just shook his head, Lorenzo asked, “Did you have an affair?”
Frowning, Darrell was quick to shake his head again, this time in denial. “No. I’d never cheat on Jerra. When I told you she was my heart, I meant it. I’ve never even had a desire to be with anybody else, but...”
“But…” Lorenzo prompted when Darrell paused. “What does Roni have to do with the problems between you and Jerra?”
Darrell snorted at the accuracy of Lorenzo’s question. “Everything.”
He hesitated, then began to tell Lorenzo about his and Roni’s past, the way they met while he was a waiter for her party at a restaurant, how he pursued her with youthful, reckless arrogance, how it took years to wear her down.
“After she and I got together, I was done messin’ around. I was young in years, but the street education I received elevated me to her level mentally, you feel me?”
“Sounds like you two had quite a connection.”
“We did. I’ve only felt like that with one other woman in my entire life… and I married her.”
“What happened to you and Roni? We research everybody we do business with, so I know she was involved in some type of shooting and was presumed dead, but that’s about all I know. The next thing that surfaces in the reports we received was that she was living on an island in the Caribbean.”
“That’s where it gets crazy. She almost died because of a hit that was put out on me. The men who shot her mistakenly thought it was me driving the SUV that day and sprayed the truck with bullets.”
“What?” Lorenzo stared at Darrell intently. “Who did this?”
“A coward who wanted a relationship with Roni joined up with a punk from Philly who had a grudge against me over a woman.” Darrell glanced at him and shook his head. He already knew why Lorenzo was asking. “Don’t worry, I handled everybody that was involved.”
“Good.” Somewhat appeased, Lorenzo nodded. “Obviously, Roni didn’t die, so what happened after she was shot?”
Darrell’s short laugh laced with scorn. “Angelo LaCroix happened, that’s what.”
“Ahhh…okay.”
Lorenzo’s face cleared in an instant. The fact that Roni faked her death and had then been found years later had him curious, but Darrell’s answer provided him everything he needed to know. The way the incident was smoothed over with barely a ripple from the media or the authorities told him that her fictitious demise and subsequent resurrection had been handled by someone with money, skill, and power. A plan like that had Angel’s name written all over it.
He tuned back into Darrell’s story, listening attentively to what his brother said…and what
he didn’t say. It was obvious Darrell had loved Roni very much. The question was, did he still love her. His instincts told him no, at least not the same way he loved Jerra, but there was still some type of connection.
“So, you calling Roni to get information about our family is the reason why you and Jerra are having problems now.”
“Yeah. Now tell me you don’t think she’s overacting.” When Lorenzo frowned and pulled at his ear, Darrell cocked his head. “Come on, seriously? You gonna take her side?”
“I’m not doing that, but like I said, I’m not familiar with any of this, so I’m more objective. I can see both sides. Did I think Jerra overreacted a little? Maybe. Do I think she’s insecure? Yes.”
“Exactly.”
“But that’s your fault. If your woman is insecure about something that you exposed her to, then it’s your job to reassure her as many times as it takes that you belong to her and her only.”
“You don’t think I’ve tried to do that?”
“Not by contacting the only other woman you’ve ever met who more than likely would’ve become your wife if things had turned out differently. I won’t even mention the way you flew off to go and see Roni a couple of years ago when you found out she was alive. Jerra has reason to be insecure.”
Darrell was quiet, thinking about the engagement ring he’d bought for Roni. What Lorenzo said was true, he’d been prepared to propose to her the morning she got shot.
“D., all of this just happened before I came to your house yesterday morning, right? It’s still a fresh wound. I know it’s hard, but you’re going to have to give her time.”
Darrell’s hand balled up into a fist. “You don’t understand how much I need my family.”
“I know, and believe me, they need you too. It’s going to work itself out. Jerra’s hurt right now, emotions are running high. That’s why it’s crucial that nothing is said in the heat of anger to make it worse.” Lorenzo’s gaze sharpened in intensity. “Threatening to take D.J. away from her didn’t help. Maybe you need to back off a little.”
