16. Dutch
We cruised toward the freeway. Makari's arms were around my waist, and her chin was propped up on my shoulder. Her breath on my neck was distracting as hell.
"I want to make a pit stop," Makari stated.
"It's not safe to be in the open like this. We need to get to the safe house."
"Live a little, big man. I want to see your mom."
I blew out air. "Fine," I agreed. Makari was going to get us killed one day, but I told her she could visit my mama.
She'd asked in enough time for me to make the turn to my mama's house. After a short drive, we pulled up to the ranch-style home in a quiet neighborhood.
As we approached the porch, the screen door swung open, and my mama, in her five-foot glory, came out with her arms wide open.
"Dutch, what a surprise!"
I took her in a big bear hug, but she quickly kicked me to the side when she noticed Makari.
"Hey, you," Mama greeted, her eyes lit up as she and Makari hugged and rocked back and forth.
"It's so good to see you, Mama Knight," Makari stated.
Mama ushered us inside.
"We're just passing through and can't stay long, Mama," I noted.
"Nonsense, you two sit down. I have a homemade sweet potato pie, and Lord knows my hips don't need a whole pie." Mama laughed.
"Oh no, you're beautiful, Mama Knight, but I know what you mean," Makari joked.
"I'm telling you." Mama laughed.
As we walked through the living room, Makari eyed the photos on the mantle like she hadn't seen them so many times before.
Makari picked up a photo, and my stomach dropped. "Are those police blues?" she asked, pointing to the photo. "I always assumed you were in ROTC when I saw this photo. I hadn't noticed the badge before."
I swallowed hard, but before I could speak, Mama confirmed Makari's suspicions. "No, Dieterick was on the police force in that photo. I was so proud of him following in his father's footsteps," she said.
"Mama, why do you have to call me by my government name?" I scoffed.
"Fool, that's the name I gave you. Didn't no government name you Dieterick Knight," Mama hissed.
"How about that pie?" I reminded her, searching for a way to deflect. "I don't know how I'm supposed to survive in a room with two sassy-ass women in it." I chuckled.
I moved to the dining room table and sat down with Makari lagging around the photos on the mantle. Mama headed into the kitchen and returned with a pie and a picture of sweet tea.
I got up and grabbed some glasses out of the China cabinet.
"Come on, Makari, I'll fix you a plate," Mama offered.
While we were eating, Makari eyed me and the photo on the mantle.
"Dutch, when we dated, you told me you were a code enforcement officer, not an officer of the law," Makari pointed out.
I knew she wasn't going to let it go, and the truth was I'd kept that story buried for so long that Makari might just push me away for good.
I cleared my throat. "Mama, I hate to eat and run, but I have business at the club to handle."
Makari's eyebrows shot up, and I avoided her glare.
"Oh, Dieterick, you never stay for long." Mama sighed.
"I'll come back soon," I promised in an attempt to push down my guilt.
As we said our goodbyes, I practically had to drag Makari out the door as she stared at my old police photo.
Back on my bike, Makari didn't hold me tight the way she had before. I felt the weight of her questions on my back. Luckily, the ride to the safe house went by fast, and as soon as we were inside. I headed for the bathroom, knowing I would take a shower faster than Makari could gather her things.
"I won't be long," I muttered, not meeting Makari's eyes.
Under the hot water, I tried to wash away the memories and the guilt, but they clung to me like a second skin. I leaned my head against the cool tile as the hot water pounded my back. How long would I keep running before everything caught up to me?
I turned off the water, remembering to save hot water for Makari. I stepped into the room with a towel around my body, and Makari was so deep in the weeds that she hadn't noticed me standing there.
"What's that?" I questioned as she shut a book she was reading.
"I was just?—"
"Just what?" I asked now, really curious. I strode her way and grabbed the book, realizing it was a ledger. "When did you have time to get this?" I inquired.
She shrugged. "I went to the storage this morning after you dropped me off at the shop."
"You lied. Is that what we're doing now? Do you understand how dangerous this is?" I asked, dropping the ledger on the bed.
"Lied, you mean the way you lied about being a cop?" She crossed her arms. "I wouldn't have to do this if you'd tell me what was going on."
I ran a hand over my head. "If that ledger falls into the wrong hands, it could be a death sentence. This isn't a game." Frustration rolled over me in waves.
"Whose hands are the right hands?" Makari asked. "Because from my point of view, I can't tell who's on the up and up."
I balled my fist, and for a minute, I actually felt like hitting something. "If you can't tell that I've been the one protecting you, then I don't know what to say. This shit is deeper than you know, and I can't—" I stalled, cutting myself off and choosing my words carefully. "I can't allow you to get caught in the crossfire."
"Dutch, you're mixed up in whatever's in that ledger, aren't you? And it's tearing you apart," she demanded.
I blew out air. I was tired, and then Makari reached into her pocket, pulled out a photo, and handed it to me.
"Do you want to explain this?" she said, thrusting the photo into my hands. "You and Darian look real cozy in your dress blues."
I froze, remembering Jahlil mentioning Darian. In the police world, we went by last names, and I knew him as Hunter. "Where'd you get this? Shit. I never wanted you mixed up in all this."
"It's too late for that. And do you want to know what's worse? I knew you were an ex-cop before seeing that picture at your mother's house. The streets talk. I just want you to talk to me, Dutch."
I was quiet as I dropped my towel. Mad or not, Makari couldn't help eyeing my dick as I grabbed a pair of drawls from the drawer and a clean tee. I sat on the bed, and she sat next to me.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Yeah, I was a cop. I thought I was going to do good and clean the drug dealers off the streets. It turned out my partner Hunter, Darian, as you know him, had other plans. He started out small, but Darian was on the take."
"What do you mean?"
"Accepting bribes or illegal income. By the time I caught wind of it, he was in deep with some nasty people. I tried to talk him out of doing it, but?—"
"What?" Makari asked, prompting me to keep going.
"I asked for another partner. He was a good kid named Vassar. Darian was pissed at me for doing that and set me up by tipping a dealer we were supposed to take down, and Vassar…" My voice cracked. "Vassar didn't make it out alive."
Makari looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn't.
"I was done after that. I turned in my badge and left it all behind, except some ghosts don't stay buried."
"I'm so sorry about your partner," Makari commented.
"I can't let this nigga hurt anyone else close to me," I admitted. "Go ahead and get your shower. We should get back."
Makari nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
I pulled into the club's lot and killed the engine. After Makari slid off the back, I dismounted my bike, swinging my leg over.
I found the small of Makar's back as we walked. "Stay close," I instructed as we approached the entrance.
Inside, people drank and laughed as balls clinked on the pool table. It was business as usual.
"Yo, Prez," Choppa, our resident bartender, gestured me in his direction.
"What's the vibe?" I asked after we made our way to the bar.
Makari climbed onto a barstool, and Choppa leaned in. "Word is Darian has a mole sniffing around, nine o'clock," he disclosed, sliding two whiskey neat drinks in my direction. I passed one to Makari. I threw mine back and looked to my left, as indicated by Choppa.
"Thanks, keep an ear to the ground?—"
I stopped mid-sentence when I noticed Diesel huddled up in the corner with several guys.
I moved toward them. Makari called my name, but I was on a mission, so she followed. As we neared the group, my hand drifted toward my back, where I kept my gun.
"Care to share with the class, gentleman?"
Diesel's eyes nervously darted as he pulled a knife and lunged forward.
"Makari, down!" I barked, shoving her down.
Diesel and I were in a struggle. "You're the mole. Darian got to you, huh?”
"You let that bitch compromise what we've built! You're weak!"
"The only thing that has been compromised is your loyalty."
I moved so fast to disarm Diesel he barely saw it coming. The knife went flying across the floor before I pinned him against the wall with my forearm across his throat.
I realized Rico and Saint had grabbed the other two guys Diesel had been talking to.
I looked at the bastard in front of me. "You're going to tell me everything you know, and then you're going to wish I'd killed you quick!"
Trigger grabbed Diesel while Saint and Rico escorted them all to the basement.
As I looked around the club at the faces of men I thought I could trust, I realized how deep this betrayal had gone.