by Emery, Lynn
I hope Mac is up here with her. Eric climbed the steps wincing at the creaks that sounded loud enough to be heard miles away. A door cracked open to reveal the head of a middle-aged man. The man blinked at Eric with bloodshot eyes then shut the door real quick. Eric tried not to think about how many ways he could be ambushed as he continued up to the third floor. Mac’s partner, distracted by another case, had told him where they expected to find My’iesha. When he got to the third-floor landing, he squinted in the darkness. He went to the fourth door with a rusty “3D” hanging at a lopsided angle. Muffled sobbing sent a chill through him.
“Shani?” He knocked hard. “Shani, are you there?” A bump and unrecognizable sounds from within pushed him into to panic. “Open up!” He slammed his shoulder against the peeling painted wood panel.
Shani jerked the door open. “Bring out every gangster within a five-mile radius, why don’t you.”
Eric stumbled into the room from the momentum of another attempt to batter his way in. “You all right? I heard crying like someone was hurt.” He steadied himself and whirled around in a circle looking for danger.
“I’m fine,” Shani said. She felt a rush of warmth at the sight of him on guard and ready to defend her. “It’s just My’iesha and me.”
“Oh.” Eric looked a little embarrassed. But soon his eyes blazed with annoyance. “You shouldn’t have come in here without Mac. LeVar could have been in here wired up and packing a gun. He wouldn’t hesitate to shoot.”
“You’re right,” Shani murmured.
“Taking crazy chances with your life like this is …” Eric huffed in growing anger.
“Stupid, I know.” Shani shut the door behind him. “I didn’t stop to think. I was just so afraid that My’iesha would slip away from us. I didn’t want to lose a chance to keep her from LeVar.”
“Well, uh, yeah. No harm done since you’re both safe.” Eric lost steam, thrown off balance by her ready agreement with him. He gazed at My’iesha who sat staring at him with big dark eyes.
“Right,” Shani said. She was amused by the confusion her meek response caused. “My’iesha, this is Senator Aucoin.”
“Hi,” My’iesha said in a soft whisper. She hugged herself and rocked.
Shani sat next to her again. She put her arm around My’iesha’s thin shoulders. “He wants to help you, too.”
“Then why did he tell lies to that reporter? He tryin’ to get rid of the work program. And he got LeVar thinkin’ I ratted him out to the cops.” My’iesha shot an accusatory glance at Eric.
Eric sat down in one of two chairs part of an old dinette set “My’iesha, I’m sorry for the way that newspaper article was written. I didn’t know about it, believe me.” His jaw tightened at the reference to Trumaine.
“But you tryin’ to close Mid-City down. I heard you say so on television.” My’iesha’s expression of distrust remained.
“No, not really. I just want to make sure the money gets to those it’s intended to help.” Eric gazed at Shani. “Mid-City is doing a fantastic job in Easy Town. The records confirm that.”
“Then they won’t close down the jobs program or the drug counseling?” My’iesha leaned forward, wanting to believe but still wary. Her face showed the ravages of a lifetime of hopes dashed. She twisted a pulled thread of the oversized sweater that hung on her slight frame. “When I worked in that office, it was the first time I really started to think I could be somebody.”
“No money has been cut off. And even though some may try to, I’ll work damn hard to save it. It’s one of the programs that’s effective and saves money. Every person who makes it, pays taxes. That’s what I’m going to say to the legislators.” Eric looked at her. His strong jaw set with determination and genuine concern shown in his eyes. “We’re all going to work hard to make sure the center keeps helping people. Okay?”
My’iesha looked to Shani for confirmation. At her nod she turned back to Eric. “Okay,” My’iesha said in a more confident voice.
“Good, now let’s get out of this place.” Eric stood up.
Shani rose with her arm still around My’iesha. “I second that motion.”
A knock shook the old door on its hinges. “Hey, girl. Open up. It’s me, LeVar.”
All three froze for several seconds. My’iesha gasped and shrunk back away from the door. Eric put a forefinger to his lips.
“I sent word by one of his boys for him to come here,” My’iesha whispered low. Her voice seemed ring out.
“You in there, Leo told me.” LeVar pulled at the door knob. “One way or the other, I’m comin’ in,” he barked. After several seconds, he changed his tone. “Come on, baby. I got somethin’ special just for my special lady. Don’t I always treat you good? LeVar gives good love, don’t he, baby?”
Eric walked to the window on tip toes. There was no escape that way. Maybe LeVar would be convinced the room was empty and leave. Eric glanced at Shani.
“Now what?” she lip synched to him.
Eric started toward them to respond when the door bounced inward with a boom. My’iesha shrieked and went limp with fright.
“I’m tired of messin’ ‘round. You hear me? Ain’t nobody gonna screw up my business.” LeVar kicked the door to punctuate each sentence.
Eric pushed the two women into a far corner. He crouched to the right of the door, fists raised. The flimsy lock popped loose as wood splintered around it. LeVar rushed into the room with one arm extended. Eric punched the side of his head causing it to snap back. LeVar staggered forward. Before he could recover, Eric swung both fist down on the back of his neck. The gun in LeVar’s hand fell and slid across the floor. Shani crawled toward it. LeVar let out a groan of rage. He shook Eric from his back and started for her. Eric delivered a series of rapid punches that made LeVar’s head bounce as though on springs. Eric rammed him into a wall with such force that the window panes rattled. LeVar slumped to the floor with a moan, his hand flailing the air in a vain attempt at defense. Suddenly Mac’s tall frame was a silhouette in the doorway. He took in the scene with a quick professional gaze before his stance relaxed. He crossed to Eric.
“I’ll take over from here, brother,” Mac said.
Eric stepped back. “He’s all yours,” he said in a breathless voice.
Mac stood over LeVar, his gun in hand. “I got more bad news for you, man. You’re under arrest.”
He motioned two uniformed police officers into the room. They handcuffed LeVar and rattled off his rights in a practiced monotone.
Eric went to Shani and My’iesha. “You both okay?” He scanned them both for evidence of injury.
“We’re not hurt.” Shani could feel My’iesha trembling. “I think we better get her to a hospital. She might be going into shock.”
Mac led a paramedic inside the already crowded cramped room. “Here we go, ma’am. Let’s get you checked out.” He spoke in a soothing tone, very unlike the hard as steel cop he’d been only a few minutes earlier.
“You comin’?” My’iesha did not let go of Shani’s arm.
“Sure, honey. You go on. I’ll be there in a minute.” Shani brushed back her hair. She turned to Eric and Mac. “Well, thank goodness for Buffalo Soldiers to the rescue.”
“Aw, shucks ma’am,” Mac said in an exaggerated Texas drawl. He grinned at her. “Don’t mention it. Are you two okay? Wanna see the paramedics?”
“No,” they said in unison.
“Well then, both of you get some rest. See you later.”
He slapped Eric on the back before going off to confer with his lieutenant.
She hesitated before joining My’iesha in the Emergency Medical Services van. Shani gazed up at Eric.
“I’m going with her. She’s scared—.”
“Of course. I’ll follow.” Eric nodded. He did not reach with his hands, but looked at her with tenderness, reaching out with his heart.
“Will you?” Shani wanted to take a step toward him but the memory of angry words, her angry wo
rds, held her in place. Had she any right to believe what she saw in his eyes?
“Anywhere, anytime.” Eric wrapped her in his arms. “Just try and stop me,” he murmured in her ear.
***
Attached to every chair placed around the tables scattered in the huge ballroom, colorful helium filled balloons danced and bounced as people passed. Elegantly dressed couples dipped and swayed to the soulful rhythm of a popular local band. Shani laughed out loud, less at the antics of a nearby couple who shimmied down to the floor in imitation of a long ago dance from their youth, than with the sheer joy of being happier than she could ever remember in her life. Feeling Eric’s arms cradling her, she thought of how different this holiday was from a year ago. New Year’s Eve 2011 was as sparkling as any champagne. And 2012 would burst forth bright with the promise of a new beginning. Looking up into his eyes, Shani felt lighter than the balloons.
“Having a good time?” Eric spoke close to her ear.
“I’m having a marvelous time, the time of my life.” She pressed closer to him.
“Did I mention how beautiful you look in this sexy number?” Eric held her at arm’s length. His gaze lingered on the low neckline of her emerald green satin bodice. The full black velvet skirt swished around her ankles.
“You’re not half bad yourself.” She gave him a wink. His broad shoulders and chest wore the tuxedo jacket with as much ease as any causal shirt.
“Thanks, my lady.” He pulled her back close to him. “It’s almost midnight. The new year is going to be wonderful.”
“To think, only a few weeks ago things looked very bleak. But My’iesha is back on the right track and in treatment”
“That’s great, babe. Having LeVar in jail and probably going to prison for thirty years doesn’t hurt,” Eric said.
“Amen. Things are looking up for my family, too. My brothers are closer than ever. J.J. has a job waiting for him thanks to Brendon.”
“And to think, my father actually tracked you down to say he was responsible for that article. So I have him to thank for this night. Yeah, family matters are looking good,” Eric said, his voice filled with contentment
“The new year can’t come fast enough for me.” Shani snuggled closer to him.
“Me too,” he murmured. “Yes, it looks like 2012 is going to be full of action for both of us.”
‘ ‘Yes, with the session coming up for you and me working on new programs with a scaled down budget”
“Oh, yeah. I guess that too,” Eric said with a shrug.
Shani look up at him. “We’re not talking about the same thing. What’s up?”
“You’ll find out,” he said with the impish grin of a man with a secret
“Hey, everybody. Here’s the count down.” One of the party hosts called to the crowd from the microphone on the bandstand. A big screen television mounted high over their heads came on as the lights were dimmed. The ball, lit with red lights to look like a gigantic apple, in New York’s Time Square started its descent.
“Seven, six, five,” Shani and Eric yelled with the others. She molded her back to his chest feeling his rising excitement His hands crossed at her waist.
“One. Happy New Year!” Hundreds of voices blended with the sound of corks being popped and horns blowing.
“Happy New Year, baby,” Eric whispered. His kiss was long and deep. “Will you marry me?”
Shani, all ready left breathless with the heat of desire, uttered a tiny cry. “Yes, yes.” She placed both hands on his face and kissed him hard. “Yes!”
“Now, you’re going to be very busy picking out your engagement ring and planning our wedding.” He chuckled.
“That’s the way to start a New Year.” She laughed with him.
The band started another tune, and they swung in a circle. The sultry contralto of a female singer came through the speakers. As she sang, Shani felt as though the singer had chosen her song just for them. Shani, her cheek resting against Eric’s solid shoulder, hummed along with the words “Caught Up in the Rapture of Love.”
~~~ About the Author ~~~
Mix knowledge of voodoo, Louisiana politics and forensic social work with the dedication to write fiction while working each day as a clinical social worker, and you get a snapshot of author Lynn Emery. Lynn has been a contributing consultant to the magazine Today’s Black Woman for three articles about contemporary relationships between black men and women. Lynn is an award winning author of fourteen novels, and counting.
Buy More Thrilling Romance and Mystery by Lynn at
Visit me on the web at:
www.lynnemery.com
Follow me on:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LEmeryWriter
***
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