Chapter 10
10
W alking into the center early, Mackenna and Jobe found Terrance and Little John in the kitchen. Terrance’s gaze met Jobe’s and with a nod he indicated that all was well. Mackenna introduced Jobe to her night watchman and she noticed the two men sizing each other up. After a few seconds, Little John gave a huge smile, indicating he approved of him.
Rolling her eyes, she mumbled under her breath as she headed upstairs. The women were in the process of getting ready for the morning and greeted her enthusiastically, having heard about the drive-by at her house.
“Don’t mind telling you, I was scared that night when those great, big men showed up and camped outside,” Jenita said.
“I’m sorry,” Mackenna replied. “It seemed necessary until the police could determine what was going on.”
“Do they know anything?” Carla asked as several of the others came into the hall.
“Well, according to the graffiti on my sidewalk, it was the Sixers.”
A gasp met that response, and the group turned toward Gabrielle. “Oh my God, then it’s my fault.”
Mackenna walked over, placing her hands on the younger girl’s shoulders and said, “Honey, you aren’t the only Sixer member that’s come here.”
“No, I’m sure that they’re after me.”
“But why?” Jenita asked. “I mean, no offense, but you weren’t even a full-fledged member.”
Mackenna’s gaze took in Gabrielle’s evasive expression and the way she twisted her maternity shirt in her fingers.
The silence in the hall was deafening as the other girl’s circled around. Mackenna could feel the tension building and she was determined to diffuse it quickly. It would not be the first time that an argument broke out between the women staying, coming from different gang backgrounds. Most of the time, they all got along, bonded by a common goal. But the gang mentality was strong and occasionally came out when emotions ran high.
“Everyone finish getting ready,” Mackenna ordered. “Check the list to see what chores you have today and what duties you have.” Turning to Carla, she continued, “I know you’re going back to the restaurant to work later. I’d like you to take Yesinia. They’ve agreed to take her on too. Teresa, you’ve got a job interview with Shopmart this afternoon. Make sure you’re ready.” Looking at the rest of them, she said, “Those of you still in training with Rose, she’ll be here a little early today, so get ready. If you’re on the housekeeping rotation, you know what to do.”
Smiling at them all, she looked at Gabrielle. “Let’s talk in my office please,” she said in a tone that brooked no disobedience.
As she and the young woman made their way downstairs, she saw Jobe staring up at her smiling. As she rounded the corner, she was surprised to see Gabe and Vinny behind him, their eyes twinkling as well. Giving them a curious glance, she headed to her office and shut the door as soon as Gabrielle was inside.
Jobe’s eyes never left her, admiration in his expression. Hearing her take charge and the realization of what all she handled had him smiling in pride .
Gabe laughed, saying, “She’s like a drill sergeant, bro.”
“Jesus, fuck,” Vinny growled behind him. “If you don’t do everything you can to make that woman yours…again…then you’re a complete dumbass. ‘Cause that girl’s got it all, man.”
Jerking around to see his friends staring at her office door, knowing they were just as impressed, made him a little jealous. “I’m trying, man. I’m fuckin’ trying.”
Gabe clapped both of them on the back, announcing that they needed to get to work. They relieved Terrance of his duty and saw Little John off as well, before completing the job of wiring the security system.
Inside her tiny office, Mackenna stared at the young woman sitting across from her, pondering her words carefully. Gabrielle appeared nervous, trying to look anywhere but at her rescuer.
“You’re safe here, you know?” Mackenna started. Gabrielle nodded, finally making eye contact. “But I must remind you of the contract you signed the other day when you agreed to come live here.”
At that, Gabrielle’s expression changed into one of confusion, knowing she had accepted a great many things in order to escape Tito’s grip. Licking her lips nervously, she admitted, “I…I’m…not sure what you’re talking about.”
Nodding, Mackenna said, “I know there was a lot we had to go over. What I am specifically talking about now is your agreement to not be in contact with anyone from the gang—”
“I haven’t, I swear!”
Holding her hand up, she continued, “And that you would be honest in everything that you told us about your former life.”
At this, Gabrielle paled slightly, but remained silent.
“Upstairs, you seemed sure that the Sixers were after you. Now, if you were not a full-fledged member, I highly doubt that they would risk arrest for attempted murder.” Seeing Gabrielle’s wide-eyed expression, she was glad that she had her attention. “Now, you told me that your boyfriend was in a gang, so I am assuming that you told the truth?”
Gabrielle nodded silently.
“Who was your boyfriend? You indicated that he was a member of a gang, but also said that he wouldn’t care if you left. Was he of some importance to the gang and not just a member?”
“Ms. Dunn, I’m being honest. He’s a member of a gang…the Sixers. But I can’t tell you his name. It would be too dangerous.”
Mackenna’s incredulous stare pinned the young woman to her chair. “Too dangerous? We’re already having danger now. My house was shot at and my mom’s life was at risk.” She saw tears well in Gabrielle’s eyes. “Honey, I don’t blame you as long as you’re being honest. I have to think about the safety of the whole center as well as my own life and I need as much information as you can give me.”
“I should just leave,” Gabrielle said dejectedly. “It would be for the best.”
“No!” came the vehement response. “Then you let him win. I don’t want you to leave. I just want to know what I’m up against here.”
“If I tell you, you have to stay quiet. We can’t involve the police.”
“Honey, the police are already involved.”
“Will you at least promise to not go to them unless they ask?”
“I will promise to hold on to the information that you give me until I decide that it needs to be shared,” Mackenna said.
Biting the inside of her lip in indecision, Gabrielle finally relinquished. “Tito. Tito Montalvo is the father of my baby.”
Pretending the name meant nothing to her, Mackenna continued to wait for more information.
“He’s the leader of the local chapter.”
Mackenna sat back with a whoosh as the air left her lungs quickly. So it’s true…the father is the leader? Of the Sixers? Right now the most notorious local gang? Her mind raced with the implications, thinking of what she had learned from the detectives.
“You can’t tell the police,” Gabrielle’s shaky voice pleaded. “If you do, I’ll die.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If the police find out what I’ve told you, then they’ll question me. I swear to you that I don’t know anything about his dealings with his gang or activities at all. I was never around it and he never talked about it. But if they think I’ve talked…my life…and the life of my baby won’t be worth anything.”
Mackenna ran her hand through her hair in exasperation. “Gabby, they already know. I don’t know how, but they do. You’re going to have to stay here in the center where we have security. I can’t take a chance on you even going to the corner store.”
“I’ll do anything, I promise,” the young woman cried.
What a fucked up situation, Mackenna thought. This is taking my work into a whole new direction. One I’m not very happy with!
Allowing Gabrielle to leave the office, Mackenna stayed where she was, pondering her options. If Gabrielle really doesn’t know anything about this Tito’s activities, then she can’t help the police. And as long as she stays here and the Sixers see that the police aren’t involved, then maybe they’ll leave us alone.
She sat in her office for the next hour, making calls about the upcoming GED examination and getting two of the women signed up for it. She fielded a call from Tony’s wife, Sherrie, a paralegal who was assisting her with fundraising.
Carla stopped in to let her know that she was reasonably sure that one of the other women was pregnant also. Mackenna looked at her incredulously. “You’ve got to be kidding?”
“She’s been throwing up every morning. I’m sorry, but I thought you’d want to know.”
Sighing deeply, she agreed. “Yeah, I’ll talk to her and then make an appointment with the Health Department.”
Carla smiled and turned to walk out of the office. At the door, she glanced over her shoulder and said, “You’re doing a good job, Ms. Dunn. I know it sometimes doesn’t seem that way…but you are.”
Mackenna watched the dark haired beauty walk out and close the door behind her. Carla would soon be leaving them, having completed the integration back into society and training program. With a smile curving her lips, she went back to work.
* * *
On the outside of the building, the Alvarez men had been joined by BJ, who was ready to check the connections to the security wiring.
The center had been set up with cameras on the back and front of the building, as well as ones pointing toward the street and back alley. Tony had hired men to put in bars on the first-floor windows and the front door had been replaced, complete with a new latching system.
As the men were finishing their work, the conversation turned to the inhabitants of the center and what Mackenna was accomplishing.
“In theory, it sounds a lot like what Jennifer is doing with her elder care, but I gotta tell you, man, my wife’s is a helluva lot safer,” Gabe expounded.
Jobe ran his hand through his hair in exasperation. “Yeah, I know, but it’s what’s she’s been working for. I can’t demand she give it up.” He looked away for a moment, then added, “Hell, I can’t make any demands on her. I gave up that right. All I can do is try to protect her in whatever way I can.”
Vinny stared at his friend for a long time. “Bro, you gotta get over yourself. The past is done with. You gotta get in there, talk to her, and try to move on.”
Jobe turned to the Vinny and asked, “You ever tell Annalissa about your experiences? About the music that died for you?” Seeing Vinny’s evasive expression, he then looked at Gabe. “And you. You ever tell Jennifer about that boy? The one that haunted you for-fuckin-ever?”
Both twins drew in sharp breaths, knowing how touchy the subject was.
Vinny answered first. “Yeah. Eventually, but…not at first. In fact, not until much later.”
Gabe chimed in, “Same here. I told Jennifer about the kid over there, but not until after we were married. I thought about it, but the time just wasn’t right.”
Jobe gave a nod as though his point had been made, when Gabe continued, “But our situations were different. We were just meeting women who hadn’t been in that past with us. Mackenna was. Hate to dig it in, but it’s not the same, bro.”
BJ entered the conversation, saying, “I got no idea what went down with you two other than what you’ve told me. But it sounds a lot like Suzy and me.”
Jobe turned to BJ, remembering what it was like for his friend when he was working to get his girlfriend back. “So how’d you two do it?”
“Our situations were reversed. Suzy left me and I had no fuckin’ clue why. After a while I gave up but, I gotta tell you, it marked me. Losing the one you love and thought you’d marry? Not ashamed to admit it gutted me. When our paths crossed again, I wasn’t sure I wanted to wade back into those waters again. Hell, once bit by a shark, who wants to take a chance again?”
By this time, the others were listening as well, their minds moving back to two years before. They had all advised BJ to go after Suzanne and find out what had happened. And it worked…for him.
“But I knew she was worth fighting for, so I waded back in. She told me why she left and we talked. Hell, we talked, argued, cried…but when it was all over with, we knew that we were supposed to be together. It wasn’t easy, but I knew she needed to get it off her chest and I needed to forgive. That was the only way we could move forward.”
Vinny eyed Jobe, asking, “You talked to her yet? Told her what happened?”
Shaking his head, Jobe admitted, “Not yet. I was going to and then all of this latest shitstorm happened. Now, I don’t know. She’s got so much on her plate. Do I really want to dump on her?”
The others could not give him a good answer, each thinking that Jobe was always the one they turned to when they needed help. Finally, BJ spoke up, “Yeah, Jobe. You do.” He saw the looks the others gave him and he quickly amended, “I don’t mean dump on her, but you gotta look at it from her point of view, which had been mine. I had no fuckin’ idea what had happened. She doesn’t either. One minute you’re engaged, the next…you break it off. And it sounds like you broke it off clean.”
Jobe winced, knowing it was the truth.
“She deserves to know it all. Now I’m not saying she’s gonna forgive and forget and everything’s gonna be fine. She may hate your guts.”
This time Vinny winced as much as Jobe. “Fuck man, you know how to give someone hope, don’t you?”
BJ ran his hand through his hair and glanced away for a minute. He then turned to Gabe and said, “Do you remember what ya’ll told me back then? You said that if you find a woman that you can’t live without, you do not let that walk away.” He paused, pinning Jobe with his stare. “You gotta let her know what tore you apart and then work like hell to make it right.” With that BJ moved back to the van to continue checking the security system feeds.
The other three watched him walk away, then Gabe and Vinny turned back to their friend. Jobe nodded, “I get it. Loud and clear.”
Their conversation was interrupted when an SUV pulled to the front of the building. Matt, Shane, and a female police officer got out and started walking toward the group on the stoop. The looks on their faces indicated that the news wasn’t good.
“Jesus,” Jobe swore, knowing whatever was coming was going to upset Mackenna, as he and the others met the detectives on the front walk. “This just keeps getting more fucked up by the minute.”
Mackenna was walking toward the front door to see what Jobe and the others were talking about when she saw Matt and Shane coming toward them. Steeling herself for whatever was next, she stepped out onto the stoop and looked down at them all.
“Detectives,” she greeted, noticing the others looking at each other. “Can I help you?”
“Ms. Dunn,” they both said at the same time. “This is Officer Petit.” The young, female officer nodded her head in acknowledgment as Mackenna greeted her also.
“Do you all want to come inside?” she invited.
“Is Selena in there?” Matt asked, referring to one of the women staying at the center.
Blinking in surprise at the question, she said, “Yes. She’s getting ready for the computer class to start. Why?”
“We’d better talk out here first,” was the only response given.
She shut the door behind her and walked down the steps into the group, stopping when she reached Jobe.
He looked down at her, realizing she chose to stand next to him. Whether or not it was a conscious choice, he was glad. He slid his arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
Matt said, “Selena’s been identified as a witness to a gang crime that the River Street Kings committed.” Seeing Mackenna about to protest, he quickly continued, “She’s not involved—not a suspect. But it appears that she may have information.”
“What do you need to do?” she asked, hoping her voice was not quivering as much as she felt inside. She felt another squeeze on her shoulder and could not help but lean in slightly toward Jobe.
“Mackenna,” Shane said. “We need to take her with us—”
“But why?” she cried out. “She’s doing so well here. She knows us. She—”
Jobe leaned in and whispered, “Doll, she’s not safe here. You can’t keep her safe and if it gets out that she’s a witness, then no one’s safe here with her.”
Shane nodded, “That’s right. Officer Petit will be escorting her to a secure location.”
For a moment, the others stood around, uncomfortably shuffling their feet, knowing that the realization was cutting into her.
She blinked rapidly several times, then lifted her chin and said, “Will you allow me to speak to her first?”
Matt agreed but added that Officer Petit would have to accompany her. She gazed over at the officer and said, “If you’ll come with me, I’ll introduce you to Selena.”
The two women silently went up the steps and through the front door, closing it behind them. The men let out a collective sigh.
“Goddamnit!” Jobe exploded.
His friends looked at him sympathetically, knowing that Jobe was going to be picking up the pieces when it was all over.
Twenty tense minutes later, the door opened again and this time Mackenna and Officer Petit were with a pretty, young woman who had obviously been crying. Jobe’s eyes were not on her though…he was staring at the woman in his heart. And her tear-streaked face. He started toward her, but she caught his gaze and gave a slight shake of her head.
Mackenna needed to complete her task without falling apart any more than she had already. She had allowed the policewoman to explain the situation to Selena, but the girl’s tears and pleading to stay in the center had gutted Mackenna.
The trio walked past the men and over to the vehicle that Matt and Shane drove up in. The two detectives got into the front seat as Selena turned to hug Mackenna goodbye.
“Thank you,” she choked out, “for saving me.”
The tears ran unchecked down her face as she hugged Selena. Finally letting go, she watched as the officer and Selena settled in the back seat before they drove away. She stood on the sidewalk, her body quivering as she pressed her fingers tightly against her lips in an attempt to stem the sob that wanted to escape.
Gabe, Vinny, and BJ left, having to walk by her on their way to their vehicles. Each touched her shoulder quickly, in a show of support while understanding her need for privacy. Only Jobe remained.
She turned, seeing him on the sidewalk near the steps of the building. They both stood, not moving, staring into each other’s eyes.
Let me in, doll, his expression implored.
Take my pain, was her inner response.
Suddenly, she launched herself at him, running at full speed. He caught her easily in his embrace, holding her tightly.
Not caring who saw or what they thought, she let the sobs release as she poured her heart out in his arms. He cradled her head against his chest, next to his heartbeat, hating the reason she was there, but loving the way she turned to him in need.
“I’m not making any difference,” she cried. “It’s all going to hell.”
“That’s not true,” he shushed. “What you’re doing is amazing,” he reassured, but her head just shook against his neck. After a minute of crying he heard her speak, but her voice was muffled by his shirt. He leaned his head down while still holding her tightly, asking, “What, baby?”
“Take me home,” was the choked response. She lifted her gaze up to his, the red-rimmed eyes pleading, as she whispered again, “Take me home.”