Chapter sixteen
REUNIONS AND REALIZATIONS
SABAN
“Easy says come to Angel’s hidden mansion right now,” Lourdes gleefully says as we leave The Shack and hop into her truck. Her exhilaration is palpable.
Excitement at getting to see my friend is enough to allay the disappointment at having the kiss from Snake interrupted.
A kiss I shouldn’t want. I should’ve bitten his lip until it bled to make him let me go.
No matter what he says about me belonging to him, he still did monstrous things or let me believe that he did to play a sick, malicious game to punish me.
“Did you see me geeking out over Dr. Feelgood? I swear I’m such a simp.” Lourdes laughs at herself in that deprecating way of hers. Proving why she’s my bestie by not mentioning how Snake had me hemmed-up in the corner of the juke joint.
The drive to Angel’s compound is filled with laughter, like our time together before she got busy with medical school, though she always made sure we got together on her breaks. Our paths may have diverged, but we’ll always choose each other.
Lourdes has been a constant in my life since I came over with Snake and Angel introduced us. I guess he thought we could lean on each other since neither of us had parents any longer. That was fine because we had each other. I know we will always have each other, no matter what.
“Sorry I never called. I just didn’t want to get you caught up in anything — especially since Angel was involved.” Looking over at her, I try to gauge her expression, though she has her glasses on that she needs for driving.
“I know why that was impossible. I didn’t talk to my brother for a while because I —”
“Believed me.” I finish.
She nods, swallowing. Her eyes fill with tears so fast she hastily lifts her glasses and swipes her eyes.
“He was a maniac. Tore this beautiful town up. Folks couldn’t even go tot he library.
Shut out everyone but Snake. It was like watching two wounded lions fighting the world.
They didn’t want to have the splinter pulled out.
They only wanted to nurse it and make everyone pay for the pain. ”
“Lourdes.” I stop swallowing against the boulder in my throat at the analogy she paints in my mind.
Still, I have to press my point. “I know what I saw. Those young women and girls said they were being trafficked. We saw Angel, Snake, and Ulysses there. I know what I saw. I know what they told me. I believe them.” My voice is strident in defense of my actions by the time I finish.
“I know.” She nods. “Kandie told us. The girls were talking about Rudy’s crew. They were en route at the same time Snake, Angel and them put them down.”
“Ulysses intercepted the coyotes close to the time all that went down with you and Easy. Rudy’s contact did not know he was dead, so when Ulysses came upon the tractor trailer, they assumed he was on Rudy’s payroll.
He took them to a remote warehouse, where they put them down.
Well, Snake did as soon as he found out what happened to those young women.
Angel finished the job after Snake came in and put a bullet in the coyote leader’s head.
It’s not like they would have allowed them out of there anyway after they smuggled folks into el Diablo territory. ”
Silence descends as we enter the vast property of her brother’s mansion. I feel as though icy cold water has drenched me. Stunned is not the word. I feel silly.
An entire community was thrown into turmoil because of my actions.
It doesn’t matter how good my intentions were — the result is people suffered because of what I did.
Part of me immediately wants to reject everything she’s saying.
The past year flashes before me in technicolor.
For the last couple of months, Snake could have told me the truth but decided to let me believe I was letting a trafficker fuck me.
That smug motherfucker was laughing every time I folded.
I bet he got a good laugh every time I went back on my convictions because my feeling for him were stronger.
We pull up at the mansion before I can fully process what Lourdes told me. All thoughts flee when I see Ezkeil-Jane standing out in front of the palatial mansion holding the biggest baby bundle I’ve ever seen.
Tears well in my eyes, and I feel like my heart is about to overflow. I experienced every part of her pregnancy until she forced me to leave her at the mercy of the man she was sure was going to kill her.
The truck barely comes to a full stop before I’m out the door, wrapping my friend in my arms. The squirming baby giggles instead of squalling like so many when they are being squeezed.
“Come inside, Mama-Pete cooked dinner.” Easy urges her eyes wet with happiness.
“It’s such a blessing that y’all are able to get back together.” Mama-Pete says, passing the mac and cheese down the table. “Can’t be missing your people over this nonsense. It’s time to move on.” She adds with the finality of a woman used to running things.
We all nod, knowing better than to say anything that goes against the family’s matriarch. Mama-Pete won’t hesitate to put us in our place in the most creative language and then tell us how much she loves us right after.
“Where your man?” she skewers Ezekiel-Jane with a mercurial look.
“He’s on his way. Just wanted to give us time to chat.” Giving her gran a meaningful look, she takes some ribs from the platter. “Angel knows what time dinner is, and he’s — look,” she nods to the sound of the door closing. “He’s here now.”
“Grandson already knows what’s up.” Pa-Pete chuckles, thanking Mama-Pete for the plate she just fixed for him. “Thank ya, darling.”
“Mi amore,” Angel says minutes later, striding over to Easy, greeting his elders as he enters.
Dipping to his hunches, he kisses her cheek, and then speaks softly to her before kissing baby Judah on his head before rising to survey the table.
His eyes rest on me briefly, but I can’t tell if there is any lingering animosity there or not.
Pulling out a chair, he sits right next to Easy.
For the first time, I noticed that he’s ceded the head of the table to Pa-Pete.
Not sure if this is for their position as the former leaders of the Southern Syndicate, which they allowed him to take over when none of their own sons showed interest in the life their parents led before other opportunities opened up.
“Let’s say the blessing.” Pa-Pete says, eyeing the glazed ham with eagerness.
“Ah, we have one more.” Angel says just as shadow fall, over the doorway. My back is to the entrance, but the apprehension I see on Easy’s face tells me everything I need to know.
Still, my tummy lurches when the chair beside me slides out and the body that just had me pressed up against the wood grain wall of The Shack By The Track.
“Well, alright,” Pa-Pete says, looking at Snake and me like he can’t wait to see the fireworks that are about to explode.
Closing my eyes, I say my own silent little prayer not to throw a fit in these good people’s home.
Dinner, which turns out to be in honor of Lourdes getting her top match, goes by faster than I anticipate.
The table is filled with conversation about Lourdes’ plans to work in the community that gave her so much and her desire to open a free clinic for those underserved in the community regardless of their status.
“Healthcare is a right.” She says with passion, like it’s a point she’s had to argue.
“Calm down, killer,” Angel smiles at her with pride. “Ain’t nobody here gone disagree with you.”
“Yeah, we don’t want you catching a case and you having to explain how you went from “first do no harm” to cuttin’em up,” Mama-Pete chuckles as she slices a dulce de leche cake handing Lourdes the first piece then Pa-Pete.
“I’m going to go walk some of this food off.” Pa-Pete says with a meaningful look to Angel and Snake after we finish the rich dessert.
Soon, the men leave. Fooling no one, which is apparent when Mama-Pete rises, saying. “I already done told him he needs to knock some heads together. Y’all young ladies already know what Imma say —”
“Don’t let nobody mistreat you.” Easy pipes up.
“Yeah, and when you’re wrong, own it and move on. If the Lord don’t require nothing but for you to do once with a sincere heart, then no man needs to be asking for more than that. I’m going to take a nap.” She waits, letting us all thank and hug her.
Judah choses then to pass gas and more, making us all burst out in laughter.
“Y’all come with me so I can change him and put him down. Saban, wait till you see his room.” Leading the way through the hacienda-themed home with some southern touches here and there, we follow her up the wide staircase that leads to the second level.
“Who designed this place?” It’s not lost on me that it’s very similar to Snake’s mansion. Whoever designed this house also did Snakes.
“Lucien Carrington did the blueprints. They blindfolded him whenever he came out here to inspect the site. Why you ask?” Easy asks, curiosity filling her gaze, pulling a dozing Judah from her breast and handing him to Lourdes like this is the routine.
“You thinking of having Snake build you a house?” Easy asks.
“Too late. He already has a house. It looks a lot like this.” I supply to Ezekiel-Jane’s surprise.
“Actually, this one looks like his. Snake had his built first. When Angel saw it, he was inspired. He wanted to build something to honor our mom and create a safe place for me, like Snake did for you.” Lourdes hands Easy the journal then takes a dozing Judah over to the rocking chair.
“What?” Stunned, I look at my nodding friend as she pats her nephew’s back.
“Wait, Snake built a house for Saban?” Ezekiel-Jane asks just as Judah lets a loud burp rip then tucks his head deeper into Lourdes neck.
“Don’t hold him the whole time.” Easy admonishes. “And explain.”