Ebony Angel

by Deatri King Bey

  Overwhelmed by the new information, Nonno could barely manage, “He wouldn’t hurt Ebony or Crystal, would he? From everything you’ve told me, he’d die first.” But there had been so much Richard hadn’t told him, it scared him.

  “Trae has lost his mind. She’s mad, but Ebony’s in love with me. What happens when she tells him? He’s a psycho. He may kill them all so they can be together forever.”

  “Tell Ebony and Skeet.” Richard had always said Ebony and Skeet were close. Hopefully, Skeet would protect Ebony instead of siding with Trae.

  “They haven’t seen his crazy side. Hell, I didn’t see it until Friday.” He stepped out of bed. “They’ll think I’m making things up as a distraction to turn the heat off me to him.” He hit at the dresser as he passed between the bed and the window.

  “What about the police?”

  “And tell them what?” Richard’s face took on a look of déjà vu.

  Nonno held out the two licenses. “Last I checked, murder was illegal.”

  “I don’t have any proof. If anything, the cops will think I killed them. I had a motive, not Trae. I’m the one without an alibi, not Trae. I’m the one with their licenses, not Trae. He’s a master of manipulation.”

  Nonno rocked slowly in the chair. “Same fate, same gun. How do you know it’ll be the same gun?”

  “That asshole pointed it at me.”

  Nonno lifted his head. “What?”

  Richard explained how he had been conducting his own investigation. Nonno wanted to strangle him for being so arrogant, and thinking he could ride in to save the day. This was no game. These were dangerous people. Richard also explained how Trae manipulated him into taking him to his condo.

  “I feel like such an idiot. He played me.”

  “Where does he keep the gun?”

  “I’ve never seen him carrying, so I’m thinking his car.”

  “We have to involve the police.”

  Richard shook his head. “I know he has cops on the take. Going to the police would be suicide.”

  “Listen, he has you scared, and rightly so, but not all police are crooked. I know some people. I’ll arrange things.” He tapped the licenses. “These will be found by ‘honest police’ in Trae’s car. If he’s moved the gun, they’ll still find evidence he can’t explain away.”

  “You plan to have someone plant evidence?” Richard laughed. “You are too much. I can’t let you do this. I’ll think of another way.”

  “We don’t have time to find another way. The authorities need to be brought in now.” Nonno was so disappointed in Richard he didn’t know what to do. Hanging out with these thugs had corrupted his grandson and had him thinking the police were the enemy. “Maybe I should visit my granddaughters. Both of your sisters live in Chicago now.”

  “No!” He covered his mouth, apologizing for raising his voice. “I can’t risk you getting hurt. Make the arrangements, but that’s it. I’m heading back to get Ebony. As soon as Trae is taken in for questioning and, hopefully, arrested, I’m getting her and Crystal out of there. Promise me you’ll stay down here.”

  “I’m not promising a damn thing.”

  “Nonno!”

  His face tightened and voice hardened. “What? You honestly expect me to stand by while this hoodlum tries to kill you?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Not in this lifetime.”

  “You’re giving me an ulcer.” He knelt at his grandfather’s feet. “You’ve always protected me, but I need to fight this battle on my own. This is my family.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Trae ran through the rain to the lookout standing across the street from Ebony’s flat. “Did she leave yet?” He drew his hood tighter.

  “No movement.” The wind caught in Meechie’s umbrella, turning it inside out. He threw the umbrella to the side. “I’m worried about her. If that white mutha comes around here, I’ll kick his ass ma damn self.”

  “You’ll get your skinny ass kicked, you mean. Everyone is to leave Smoke alone unless I say otherwise.” He checked his watch. “It’s almost seven. What time is her first class?”

  “Nine, I think.”

  He handed Meechie a hundred bucks. “Run along and get yourself a new umbrella.” He pulled out his key as he skipped up the steps to Ebony’s flat.

  Dan had taken Crystal and Marissa to his place to give Ebony space. Trae did a quick scan of the dark flat. All the curtains were drawn and lights were off. He went into her bedroom. The nightlight provided the only light.

  “Ebony.” He touched her side. “Time to get ready for school.”

  “Go away.” She rolled onto her belly and hugged her pillow.

  He turned on the light in the closet. “What do you want to wear today?”

  “Go away!”

  “Something simple, she says.” He selected her favorite Tigger T-shirt and a pair of jeans. “Now for the good part.” He searched through her drawers for a clean pair of underclothes. “I’d kill to see you in these.” He held up a pair of red thongs.

  She looked up briefly. “You can have them if you leave.”

  “Nice try. Now are we doing this the hard or easy way?”

  “Go away!” She threw her pillow at him.

  “The hard way. Okay.” He left, then returned a few seconds later. “Shower time.” He pulled her out of bed. She fought him, grabbing onto the spread, the doorway, dragging the kitchen table, grasping at anything within her reach. He pushed her into the bathroom and slammed the door closed. “Why must you make everything so damn difficult?”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “I hate you.”

  Wide-eyed, he made spooky fingers. “Oooooo, da big bad Ebony said she hates me. I’m wounded. Now get your ass in the shower.” He blocked the door.

  She looked over her shoulder at the running water. “You can’t make me shower if I don’t want to. Go away and let me die in peace.”

  His eyes roamed from her wild hair to her angry yet enchanting face; down her cotton nightshirt to her bare legs and her perfectly pedicured toes. He could use a cold shower himself. Allowing his hormones to rule was the reason they weren’t a couple now. This time, he planned to be patient. “Wanna bet?” He took his jacket off and tossed to the side.

  “What are you doing?”

  He pulled off his jersey but left on his T-shirt. “Undressing.” He unsnapped his pants.

  “Not in here.”

  “This is the bathroom. Where else should I undress?”

  “Your bathroom. Get out, or I’m telling Mom.”

  Now in his underclothes, he moved so quickly Ebony didn’t stand a chance. He pushed her into the shower, turning his body so he’d receive the majority of the impact. His back hurt like hell. No more of this movie shit.

  “Trae! You make me sick! This water’s freezing.”

  He stared at the outline of her hard nipples poking through the shirt. “So I see.” He held onto her wrist and helped her stand. He needed to escape before she saw what part of him had hardened.

  “You have lost your mind. Let me go.”

  “Since you’re all wet, put a little soap on your body.” He handed her the soap, stepped out of the tub and grabbed a towel. “You have thirty minutes before we leave.” He walked out with his clothes and a towel.

  * * *

  “What the hell have you been doing that you need more drawers?!” Skeet tossed new packages of briefs and T-shirts at Trae. “Stay away from Ebony.”

  Trae picked the packages up off the floor, then closed the blanket wrapping him. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

  Skeet followed him into Ebony’s room. “So what’s up?”

  “She smelled like crap, so I threw her ass in the shower. Let’s just say she wouldn’t go peaceably.”

  Skeet laughed. “So that’s why the house’s a mess. You better clean before Marissa comes home.”

  He changed his briefs and T-shirt, then put on his jeans and Cubs jersey. “Do you know what her class sche
dule is? I can tell she’s not gonna cooperate.”

  “Ebony has never missed class a day in her life. You know she exercises in the morning. She probably doesn’t have any morning classes.”

  “You didn’t see her. She’s miserable.” He wrung his hands. “I could break Smoke’s neck for hurting her.”

  “Chill out, Trae. They had a lover’s quarrel. You need to step back, and let them do their do.”

  “I’m staying out of it,” he paused, “for now.”

  “Don’t start trouble.”

  “I didn’t start shit. He did, when he disrespected Ebony. You can’t expect me to let this shit slide.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I want to kick his ass for hurting Ebony, but we can’t jump in every time they have a fight.”

  “This is more than a fight. He disrespected her. No one disrespects my girls.”

  “I’m with you. I just think it’s best to let her handle things her way. Give her time to cool off.”

  “I can’t stand seeing her like this, Skeet.”

  “Come on. Let’s get out of here before she comes out.” Trae had acted unpredictably lately. When Skeet heard Richard had actually punched Trae, he was shocked Richard was still alive. Allowing Trae to spend the day with Ebony had bad idea written all over it.

  “Nah, you go ahead.”

  Skeet folded his arms over his chest. “What are you up to?”

  “Nothing. I just want to make sure she goes to school.”

  “I’m tellin’ ya, she won’t miss class. Not Ebony. You’re trying to get some rebound action.”

  Trae stalked out of the room with Skeet close behind. “I wouldn’t do that to Ebony. I told you I was steppin’ out, and I meant it.” He moved the kitchen table back to the center of the room. “I gotta clean up this mess. You can stay and help if you want. That way you can keep your eye on me.”

  Skeet shook off the uncertainty. Trae loved Ebony. He wouldn’t do anything to harm her. “I don’t need to keep no eye on you. I’m out.” Skeet beat on the bathroom door as he passed.

  “Go away, Skeet!”

  “Ah, the sound of love. See ya, dawg.” He nodded on his way out.

  * * *

  Ebony rubbed sweet pea lotion into her legs. The soft fragrance calmed her. Smoke. She pinched the bridge of her nose, massaging lightly.

  The humiliation and embarrassment that had clouded her judgment had dissipated. She set the lotion bottle on the sink, then wiped the foggy mirror with a face towel. She could think clearly again. She combed her fingers through her thick, black hair. Richard seemed to like it much better than the blonde.

  She turned away from her reflection, then dressed in the Tigger T-shirt and jeans Trae had laid out for her. She had preached to Jessica about the appropriate corporate America appearance. If the shoe were on the other foot, she wouldn’t have invited herself to a business meeting the way she had looked. And she hadn’t. She had changed before the interview, then again before the dinner.

  Richard said he wanted to take her business shopping, but she had blown him off. She quickly cleaned the bathroom, then rushed out.

  “I hope you’re running for your book bag,” Trae said from the couch. He flicked off the television.

  “Nope.” She grabbed the phone.

  He quickly crossed the room and snatched the phone before she could finish dialing.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” She stretched across his body, reaching for the phone. He moved his arm further away. “Stop fooling around, Trae.”

  He unplugged the cord from the wall. “Who you tryin’ to call? It’s time for school, not socializing. You’ve come too far to blow it now.”

  “Not that it’s any of your business—Mr. Freezing Shower—but I’m calling Smoke to apologize.” She turned to find her cell phone.

  “What, are you crazy?” He stepped in front of her. “I can’t let you do this.”

  “Get out of the way.”

  “Why are you calling him? He’s the one who was wrong.”

  “Because I overreacted. He isn’t ashamed of me. I need to let him know.”

  Trae dragged her into the living room. “Listen to me, then you can call.”

  She sat on the couch. “I can’t believe I doubted him. I have to apologize. He needed me to listen, but I shut him out.” She blinked her tears away. “I’m no better than his family.”

  He sat on the coffee table, facing her. “I’m not saying you can’t apologize to Smoke. I think you should.” She cocked her head to the side. “I know. I sound crazy, don’t I? All I’m saying is he should apologize first. He was the one who was out of pocket.”

  “You didn’t hear the horrible things I said to him, Trae. I accused him of working for you.”

  “You were angry.”

  “Well, I’m not angry anymore.”

  “What kind of precedent are you setting for your relationship? He makes an ass of himself, lies, humiliates you, punches me, disappears for days, then you call him and apologize. Wrong freakin’ answer, baby girl.”

  “But I told him it was over.” She wiped her misty eyes. “I love him.” She reached for her engagement ring, which was still on the end of the coffee table.

  He grimaced. “He knows you were angry. He’ll call and apologize, or he doesn’t deserve your love. Don’t you have faith in him, Ebony?”

  “Of course I do.” She studied the exquisite diamond ring, priding herself in learning from her mistakes. Her lack of faith in him was what led her wrong in the first place. She slipped the ring onto her finger. “I fully believe in Smoke.”

  “Oh really? Can you explain why you were about to apologize to him first? If he’s so in love with you, he’ll give you time to cool off, then call and apologize.” He gently nudged her hair behind her ear. “I know this is hard for you, but this fight was minor. You still have to deal with his snobbish parents. If he can’t bring himself to apologize for this stupid shit, how will he stand up to them?”

  Disheartened, with the fight knocked out of her, she leaned on the arm of the couch. “I’ll wait for him to call.”

  “Don’t worry, baby. He’ll call.”

  She caught the anxiety in Trae’s voice. He sounded as if he had as much riding on Richard calling as her. She sighed. In a way, he did. Trae seldom allowed anyone close enough to let him down. She prayed Richard called for both of their sakes.

  “Where are your school books?”

  “I’m skipping class today. He may come by.”

  “He knows you have class. He won’t come by.” His cell beeped with a text message.

  “Missing one day of class won’t hurt anything. I’m staying and you’re leaving.” She needed time alone to sort out her feelings.

  “Promise you won’t call or visit him.”

  “I promise, Big Daddy Trae.”

  He looked at the number displayed on the cell, then grumbled.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Nah. I’m just tired of all the shit.” He paused. “I’m tired.”

  His cell beeped again with another text. Without checking the message, he tossed the phone toward the table. It skidded across and dropped onto the carpeted floor.

  “I’m really proud of the way you handled yourself the other night.” She examined his face for bruises and found none. “I’m sorry I thought you hit Smoke. He picked a fight in front of the whole neighborhood, and you acted like a real man.” She patted his cheek. “You made me proud.”

  With all the signs of change he had been displaying, she prayed he would allow her to adopt Crystal, soon. When Richard said that Trae had asked him to adopt her, her immediate reaction had been fury. She had been begging Trae for years to relinquish his parental rights, but he had refused; yet he hadn’t even known Richard two good months and was asking him to adopt her.

  She buried the resentment and anger she felt. This was no time to allow it to surface.

  He chuckled lightly. “You’re proud of me for being knocked on m
y butt? What has the world come to?” He wrapped an arm around her.

  “I haven’t issued a beat down in at least five years,” he lied. “That’s why I wasn’t ready.”

  Emotionally drained, she leaned her head on his shoulder. “You’re lying.”

  “Think what you want, baby girl.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “Don’t tell anyone. Not even Skeet. I’d never live it down.”

  “I won’t tell.” He was so close to giving up the life. She could feel it. Spending so much time with a legit man close to his own age had paid off. She still couldn’t figure out why he had asked Richard to adopt Crystal instead of allowing her to. Maybe it was to show her he was in control.

  His cell phone rang. “Damn.” He leaned over the table, snatched the phone off the floor, then checked the caller ID. “What?” he answered.

  She watched him pace the room as he listened. For a second she thought she saw panic in his eyes.

  “Son of a bitch!” he spewed. He sat on the floor by the shoe rack, disconnected, put on his Nikes.

  “Trae.”

  Without a word, he drew his legs up and lowered his head to his knees. “I can’t live like this,” he finally mumbled. He looked over his shoulder at her. “I’m tired, Ebony.”

  She quickly crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “It’s time for a change,” she whispered. The urge to preach the same old lines about giving up the drug life, reiterating how unhappy it made him and how unfulfilled he’d become, were all shelved. He knew. Now she prayed for him to take action. She hummed softly.

  “Soon we’ll both have what we’ve always wanted. I promise.” He pulled away. “I planned to spend the day with you, but I have something to take care of.”

  She watched him ready himself to leave. “I’ll be fine.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Skeet needed time to cool off before talking sense into Richard. He pulled his BMW over to the curb a few blocks from Richard’s condo. The quiet residential neighborhood was only a mile and a half from Ebony’s flat, but was a totally different world. Her world was a war zone, while his was utopia.