by T. Styles
Corrine stood up and walked toward her husband.
“Justin, please. Don’t do this to him. Don’t do this to me.” She paused. “You’ve been wondering what has happened to me over the past year. Why I’ve been sick and suddenly developed cancer. I believe it is because I missed my boy.” She paused. “Actually, I know it is because I missed him but I was too afraid to feel in front of you, because of how you treat my feelings on the matter. You can act as if he doesn’t exist. But I can’t. I miss our child. Don’t you?”
Upon hearing that his mother had cancer, Leaf stood up and moved toward her slowly, as if he were a zombie. “Mama, you have…you have…” The words were too heavy to utter and yet he needed to know.
“Yes, son. I’m dying. And I prayed for you to come home so that I could see you again. And my prayers have been answered.”
With the news confirmed, Leaf stumbled backward and his father caught him before he fell.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
- William Shakespeare
Naked, Nine twisted the knob leading into her dark private room in search of solitude. It had been days since she’d seen or heard from Leaf and she didn’t know quite how she felt. How she was supposed to feel because she had learned to hide her emotions for so long.
The moment her toes pressed against the cool hardwood floor, she knew she was not alone. Was she going crazy again? Defenseless, she asked, “Who is in here?”
“Isabel.”
Upon hearing her voice, Nine’s tensed body relaxed as she closed the door behind her, darkening the room even more. Although she couldn’t see her cousin, she moved toward her energy.
Easing next to her, she leaned her back against the wall and exhaled. “Could not sleep either?” Nine asked.
“Actually it’s the opposite. I’m exhausted.”
“So why will you not allow yourself to rest?”
“For the first time in my life, I feel at peace and that scares me. More than the colors or even the voices. This place, around you, feels like home.”
Nine smiled within the darkness. “Oh, cousin. You and I are more alike than we are different. You can sleep here. It is okay for you to feel at home because you are. Nobody is going to throw you out. Here is where you belong now.”
“Why do you think I’m so peaceful?”
“Everything about this home that grandfather built from the ground up has a piece of his thought process inside of it. By being here, maybe unconsciously you feel connected to why he did the things he did, instead of outside of it like a pawn. Grandfather and grandmother lived here and they died here too. Their spirits haunt the walls, I am certain.” Nine sighed. “It is the only place on earth where heaven and hell meet in peace.”
Isabel nodded in agreement.
“He kept you here, didn’t he?” Isabel asked as she looked out ahead into the inky darkness. “Inside this room.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “And although it was the saddest period of my life, I learned so much by being here. I learned so much by being in solitude. Sometimes when I am out there, in the world, I feel as if I am a stranger. As if I do not belong. The voices, the faces, the motives…all noise.”
“The great Nine Prophet feels alone?” Isabel giggled.
“I know…it makes no sense. I command an army of men and yet sometimes, I do not feel qualified. I feel like the girl in this room who no one paid attention to. Who no one knew existed.” She paused. “I do not know why I tell you this because I have not ever revealed this much to anyone else, not even my husband.”
“You did well by landing him.”
“Who?”
“Leaf,” Isabel giggled. “Is there anyone else? I can tell he really cares about you.”
“And yet he cheats anyway.”
“Not sure if a man should be charged for that type of behavior or not. After all things, he is a Prophet and all Prophet men feel the need to have more.” She paused. “Still, there’s something about him that tells me that he loves only you. Like I said, you lucked up with him. My sisters fight over Noel as if he is the last man standing and I don’t think he’ll do either of them any good. Besides, he’s into men.”
Nine exhaled harshly upon hearing the shocking news. “What?” Nine yelled. “How do you know?”
“I’ve always known. Every male friendship he had ended abruptly. Men don’t end relationships abruptly unless they are in love.”
“Does Bethany know?”
“Nobody knows but me. I told him I would keep his secret.”
“But you did not.”
“Telling you does protect his secret, Nine. You are the protector of everybody’s secrets. Even mine. Don’t you know?”
Nine shook her head in confusion. She never imagined Noel was gay. “Well, at least they will have one child. With Bethany being pregnant now and all.”
“That’s true,” Isabel agreed. “A Prophet is still a Prophet, no matter the parents or their sexuality.” She paused. “Nine, I hate to return to Leaf but I still must ask, where is your husband?”
“I put him out.”
Silence.
“So you discover he has another woman and then you give him to her?”
“I did not give him to her,” Nine said as she stood up and paced the dark room. She didn’t allow furniture in the place because of that reason alone. She wanted to move within the shadows without fear of bumping into anything but her thoughts. “Of course I want him to come back to me where he belongs. On his own accord. But I am not about to fight over a woman who in my opinion is not better than I!”
“But you’re letting him get away.”
“Isabel, your youth has been exposed!” Nine yelled angrily.
“But I’m older than you.”
“It is of no consequence! This is real life and you do not fight for men. They fight for you. If he wants me, he has to earn me on hands and knees!” She punched her fist into the palm of her hand. “It is the only way!” Her voice rumbled throughout the room.
“It’s trouble,” Isabel whispered.
Silence.
Nine walked back over to her cousin and sat against the wall. “Another reason I come here is to be close to my mother, whose blood I did not share.” She swallowed, needing to skip the subject about Leaf.
“The one you are naming the wine after?” Isabel questioned. “The maid my mother spoke of?”
“Yes. Grandfather acted as if he did not love her and yet he would not give her body or her heart a pardon to be with another. She fought all of her young life to have him until finally, as an old woman, she realized she would never have him in the way she wanted. When youth was no longer on her side. So she stayed here, imprisoned by her adoration for grandfather, while pouring all of her love into me.
“I will never forget what she told me after she read me a verse from Romeo and Juliet one night,” Nine continued. “She said, ‘Your only concern should be figuring out what a person wants from you and then using that power against them. Love is not worth your life, Nine. Or your time. Always remember that. Take it from me, I know.’” Nine looked out into the darkness. “And you know what, Isabel, she was right. Because at this moment, my heart burns that there is the slightest possibility that Autumn ‘Leaf’ Lincoln could not love me as much as I do him. That he could share his body with another woman when he knows the type of violence I am capable of. I do not want my youth to pass me when I could have gotten away from him.” She shook her head briskly from left to right. “No, Isabel, I will not fight for any man, even one I love more than I do myself.”
Isabel sighed and leaned back into the cool wall. She looked toward the ceiling after taking in everything her cousin said. “Had any crazy episodes lately?”
Nine blinked a few times. “I have.”
“Think about what’s changed in your life. Think clearly and you’ll be able to determine what’s off.” Isabel stood up and moved
toward the door. “You may want to start with your assistant. She’s untrustworthy and yet I think you already know that.”
Nine laughed. “I do know now.” She paused. “People think I am naive and I must admit, at first I was. But it never takes me long to see things in the correct light. Everything clarifies itself for me in time.”
Isabel was confused but appreciated Nine’s strength.
In a low whisper, Isabel said, “I don’t think you’re like me. Yet you spend time with me and treat me like we’re equals. And that makes you my hero.” She moved toward the door and walked out.
****
Nine sat inside of the bank with Mox and Riley, waiting on the banker to return with the key for the safety deposit box. It was payout time for her soldiers, and she was preparing to remove the cash and take it to the academy. The only men she trusted to go with her were the ones who were employed by her grandfather.
After about fifteen minutes, a slender white woman with a pointed nose that bubbled on the tip with pimples walked inside. Her hands remained clasped in front of her and her disposition was rigid. It appeared as if she was trying to be professional but she was coming off as rude. “I’m sorry but we won’t be able to give you access.”
Nine smiled at first, believing that she was joking. Not only was the money hers, half left to her by her grandfather and the other half earned from making a few smart business investments, everything she owned was in that bank and within the safety deposit boxes.
With her coolness intact, Nine stood up and said, “If this is a joke, I need you to tell me the punch line now.” She paused. “Or things are going to get very painful for you.”
The woman looked into Nine’s eyes and the attitude she possessed suddenly evaporated. She could feel how saying the wrong thing could make a business matter personal and she could end up hurt.
“Ma’am, I’m not telling you a joke. The courts have seized your safety deposit boxes and bank accounts. You should’ve received notification via mail and by phone.” She paused. “Have you?”
****
Nine sat in the back of her Maybach looking at the men assembling for payday at the academy. Security was heightened and the men wore smiles on their faces as they fell into the building. “What am I going to do?” she asked with her gaze fixed upon her soldiers outside of the car. “I have let them down and they will leave me. While I am at war with the Russians.”
Mox sighed. “You haven’t let them down, Nine. We can still win the fight; it’s just that things will have to be done legally.”
Slowly her head rotated to where he and Riley sat. Her eyes fell upon theirs. “If I cannot pay them, I have let them down.”
Riley looked at her. “Do you know what is happening? With the funds?”
“I have my suspicions,” she said filling her lungs with air, before releasing it slowly as she focused on her men again. “The worst part is that I have no idea when this will be settled. I contacted my attorney and he’s asking for a retainer to even begin the investigation.”
“As much money as you’ve given him,” Mox said. “Shameless.”
“Exactly.”
“So you keep everything in the bank?” Riley asked. “You don’t have any funds outside of it?”
Nine sighed, realizing his question to be an intelligent one. “I never wanted to enter the drug game. I only wanted to run an empire, whatever that might mean. For the Crumbles family, it’s real estate, for the Martins, it’s casinos and for the Prophets, it’s cocaine.” She paused. “I understood my position when I took over the responsibility. Fully. Still, my objective was to make sure that no family member with a Prophet name would go without. Ever. So that even if I died, money would still remain in this family for generations to come. And that required legalizing the business. So I placed everything in the legal ventures, so that the government would never be able to take anything away from us. But, I underestimated the power of my family’s capacity for greed.”
Silence.
“You asked if I have any other money available…the answer is no,” she continued.
“Nine, go home. We’ll tell the men what is going on,” Mox said.
“I would never put that dishonor on you two,” she said calmly. “You do not deserve it and I fight my own battles.”
Mox got up and sat next to her. He placed his hand on hers, which rested on her thigh. “Your grandfather once told me that you would make a fair leader and at the time I didn’t understand what he meant. Because you were so young. You’re still young now. But, I finally understand.” He paused. “Go before your men with a pure heart and although it may not seem like it in the moment, they will receive you, even if it’s later.”
Nine wanted to believe him but she knew that men desired money and when she did not make it available, they could attack. And yet she had no other choice but to deal with the matter head on.
****
Nine looked upon the sea of men, all assembled and waiting for her. On payout days, she would often start with a thank you for their service, hand out the payouts and then a meal. It felt more like a corporation than a drug operation. But the moment she parted her lips to speak and closed them again, every man present knew something was wrong. She was usually poised.
Realizing that bad news or not, she had to deliver, she looked down at her hands, which flopped on the podium. “There will not be a payout today.”
The room temperature went up one degree due to the exhalation of the breath and the anger inside of the room. The reason for the tension was simple. Working for Nine Prophet and the Prophet family was only one aspect of their lives. Most of the men had families and children to care for.
What were they to do now?
Although originally everyone disputed the payout being done only twice a year, each man believed in her and was always rewarded handsomely for waiting and it reflected in the amount given. They were always given extra. They had even gotten used to the long time frame and learned to balance their money accordingly. But never, ever, had any soldier present considered not getting paid.
Business was good.
They all knew it, so what was happening?
It was her youth that had been exposed.
When he sensed her distraught behavior, Antonius rose from his seat to console her. But she motioned for him to remain where he was, fearing his men would not respect him if he rushed to the side of the woman who hurt them all. His position was next to his men where it belonged.
“A family matter that I did not see coming has put a hold on business and I am so sorry. Had I predicted this could have happened, I would have prepared for it in advance. I do not know how but I will make this right. I just need a little more time.”
“But what about our families?” yelled a man in the back. “We have bills too!”
“I know,” she said humbly. “Which is why this is the toughest thing I have ever had to do in my life.”
“We know you have some money tucked away somewhere,” yelled another. “You sell dope! So what about cracking that stash and giving us our paper?” he screamed. “I bet you still eating!”
“Foolishly, I placed all that I have, every dime, away where I thought it would be safe. If I had anything left, I would give it to you gladly.”
One by one, men she thought loved her got up and expressed their displeasure with wild arms and distorted faces. Her heart ached as she saw the disappointment in their eyes while knowing they had a right to their pain. She messed up royally and the only thing they wanted was for her to make things right.
But where would she start?
****
Nine stood at the window looking at the vineyard. It had been a week since she held her meeting with the soldiers and out of frustration, she threw herself into solitude, speaking to no one. Not her husband. Not her assistant or the Nobles.
She wanted to be alone, in the hopes that some idea would emerge in her mind to clear her financial troubles. And so far, nothin
g presented itself.
She allowed Isabel to remain in the mansion, within her space, because it was almost as if she wasn’t there. Not unlike Nine, Isabel got lost in the walls of the house and for days, they would not see or talk to one another.
She was a perfect roommate.
Although she was still at a loss for words, Nine noticed that the crazy visions disappeared. She was grateful for that. At least her thoughts would be clear, not even tainted with alcohol.
Leaf called for the first few days to reconnect but after Nine ignored him each time, he stopped. In the end, she pulled the phone out of the wall and sat her cell phone in a pot of boiling water so that she could be left alone.
As Nine continued to gaze outside, she marveled at how things seemed different. Since her soldiers were not paid, there was no one guarding her or the property. If someone were smart, it would be an opportune time to attack. But it was as if even her enemies felt as if she wasn’t worth their time.
Spending moments alone allowed her to contemplate a lot of things. The fact that her family, with Alice in the lead, had taken away her ability to care for herself and others.
She should have killed her when she had the time. She thought about murdering her now. But it was too late. If she showed up dead, the courts would suspect her immediately.
Nine was still waiting on word from the lawyer she tried to attain, to see if he would take the case and be paid if they won as opposed to up front. But as of now, he had yet to respond.
She also wondered how Julius was doing and if Leaf’s new woman was replacing her. She was falling deeper into depression until there was a soft knock at the front door. Nine strolled toward the sound, wondering who could be visiting. The request to the world to leave her alone had obviously gone ignored.
