Czar 10.
“Mars, brother, I think you have other things to worry about today.” I watch the uber large man pace back and forth in front of the judge’s makeshift chamber door like a caged animal. Aggression and promises of violence ooze from his pores, so at odds with the crisp navy-blue tailored suit and shiny brown dress shoes on his gigantic feet. He’s like two inches taller than me, but the man has a commanding presence, like he takes up more space than should be physically possible.
And it’s all directed at me. I got a lucky shot in the clubroom the other day, he won’t allow himself to be taken down a second time.
“My sister. My baby.” He grunts, quick as lightning fists my shirt collar and drags me until our noses practically touch. “You keep your dick away from my baby.” I snort a laugh, then swallow hard at the feral glint in his dark eyes.
Holding up my hands, I adopt a contrite expression, “I understand. I have no designs on placing my penis anywhere near your offspring.” This is the weirdest conversation I’ve had…today. “I like Marlena.” I also like breathing without the help of a machine, so I better get to the point. “I respect her. I respect you and Etta. There are too many loose ends right now and unknowns for she and I to…we are focusing on getting to know one another better while I finish out my contract with Uncle Sam.”
“I won’t kill you. You will beg, pray, and wish for death before I’m through with you.”
“Understood.” And I did. I understand exactly where he’s coming from. Aside from the fact that Marlena is carrying his and Etta’s future in her soft tummy, she has always been Mars’ responsibility. I’ve learned a little of their childhood and it was rough to say the least. Marius Ravello does not speak flowery words; he proves his love every day through his actions. And as far as I can tell, he loves six things: Etta, Cassie, the baby, Marlena, spilling the blood of his enemies, and Kevlar.
I take my life in my own hands when I move my hands to straighten his tie. “Now, why don’t we dispense with the promises of violence, and enjoy the day?” He growls at me, so I remove my hands slowly, so as not to startle him and back away.
The elevator dings and I breathe a sigh of relief when it opens and Etta, Cassie, Jupiter, Dru, and Marlena step out. Etta and little Cassie wear matching dresses in some kind of soft green color, and the man who just moments earlier was dreaming of ways to disembowel me, now bends to one knee and hugs the stuffing out of the little girl that runs to him as if he’s all she ever needs in life. He lifts her up, wraps his free arm around his wife and the absolute serenity that washes over him is difficult to watch, like I’m intruding on a private moment.
I blink several times, then turn to Marlena. I hold out my hand for her, grinning when she blushes and takes my hand. I pull her to my side, kiss the top of her head and then wrinkle my nose.
“What the hell is in your hair?”
“Hairspray.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Ok.” I chuckle at her response, push her a bit away and run my eyes up and down the length of her body. She’s built…for pleasure. Soft and ample curves that cushion me like she was made to be mine. My impending departure looms overhead but I ignore it.
“You look fucking beautiful, sweetheart.” Black, oval neck linen dress that hangs loose but hints at what she’s got going on underneath. I think it’s called a shift dress. Or is it a sheath? I hate fashion. I rest my forehead against hers, running my finger along the neckline, pulling it away just a bit from her skin to peek inside. “Whatchya wearing underneath?” She giggles, batting my hand away.
“Ahem.” I roll my eyes at Marlena, spinning on my heel to address the elephant in the room. Oh, wait, that’s just Drusilla. “Aren’t you going to comment on how beautiful I look?” Jupiter huffs at her side.
“No.” She gasps in shock, I ignore her and look Jupiter in the eye, “You chose her.”
“Jupiter! Make him compliment me!”
“Can’t you just say something?” he grits out but he ain’t fooling anyone, he loves her brand of crazy.
“I was taught, if I don’t have anything nice to say, I shouldn’t say anything at all.”
He holds Drusilla back as she reaches out for me, his arms banded under her protruding belly. “I’ll shave your eyebrows off again!”
“It took me three years to grow them back, you zhlob! ”
Dru stops fighting, an evil smirk stretching her lips, “I’m the chapter President of the Gauche Guerillas , that’s not an insult!”
“What does zhlob mean?” Marlena asks, her eyes pinging back and forth between us.
“Someone gauche and ill-mannered,” Dru replies haughtily.
“Oh.” Marlena looks at me in disappointment. “She’s right, that’s not offensive. You suck at this game. She wins.”
“ I am the champion, I am the champion…of the world! ” Dru sings horribly off-key, Freddie Mercury is probably spinning in his grave at the travesty.
“I choked—”
“After 7 years in the Army, shouldn’t you have mastered your gag reflex by now?” Dru says, snaps her fingers in a zig-zag pattern three times, then walks – waddles --- away.
Staring at Marlena, whose face is red from fighting back her own laughter, I feel it important to tell her, “I don’t choke on dicks.”
She barks, slapping a hand over her mouth. I’m waiting for her to say something, but Mars puts his big paw on my shoulder and squeezes until I lose feeling in my arm, “So you have mastered your gag reflex?” I open my mouth to refute, but he shakes his head, continuing, “The judge is ready for us.”
“Judge Thompson, Roger, how the hell are ya?” Dru greets the judge and his secretary like they’re old friends.
“Oh, you aren’t going to leak amniotic fluid all over the floors, are you? We just had the carpets cleaned.” The older woman points at Dru’s belly but smiles wide as they hug.
Jupiter wraps his arms around Dru from behind, resting his hand over her stomach, “Not yet. A few more months. Good to see you, Judge, Mrs. Judge.” He throws in a wink and the woman, who I guess is the judge’s wife too, blushes and titters at Tops.
“Unca Jupe, stop talking. I want to be adotted.”
An explosion and a madwoman couldn’t stop the inevitability. You can’t stop fate. I nearly stagger under the weight of the realization. A yearning 8 years ago to serve my country and see the world set in motion a series of events I could have never predicted. My arm around Marlena’s waist tightens reflexively, she glances up at me with a questioning look, but I kiss her forehead and nod toward where her brother and his wife are signing the adoption paperwork to make Cassandra theirs legally.
I’ve missed so much as my brothers-in-arms built a new life in Morgantown from the ground up. I’m so fucking grateful I’m here to see Mars, a man who I have looked up to not because of his height but his unwavering moral code, find his forever. I glance down at Marlena again, pure joy glittering in the sheen of her eyes.
I cannot predict the future. I can’t know what will happen tomorrow, next week, three months from now. I can’t even say that Marlena and I will stand the test of time.
Uncle Demetri’s voice pushes to the forefront, and I smile big and bright at the memory. I feel as if I’ve been sitting on the diving board, dipping my toes in the water for years.
I’m ready to dive.