Chapter 25
Oliver accepted the cup of coffee that Charity placed on the kitchen counter. He laughed at the sight of their two mugs. One proclaimed I’m Not Bossy… I Just Know What You Should Be Doing. The other had a picture of a chicken and read, I May Look Calm, but In My Head, I’ve Pecked You Three Times.
She was dressed in slacks and a light pink sweater for work, and he spied a little makeup covering up the circles under her eyes. When they’d climbed into bed, he’d worked her body over, giving her as many orgasms as she could handle in as many different ways as he could. She’d been an eager participant, ensuring he’d also found his release several times. And what he knew for sure, is their acts weren’t fucking… it was making love. He knew it and felt it from his perspective, and he was sure she felt the same way. A sliver of doubt crept in. At least I hope she felt the same.
“Poor George!” she said, shaking her head. “He would get up and check on the boys to be sure they were okay. And, of course, they settled right in and slept through the night. He knew I was worried and sent two more texts during the night. But you wore me out, and I slept right through his texts!”
Wrapping his arms around her, he touched his lips to hers. “Glad I could be of service, ma’am.”
She hummed and lifted what appeared to be a starry-eyed gaze to him. “Did you sleep after wearing me out? I hope I gave as good as I got!”
“Oh, sweetheart, you can be my insomnia cure anytime you want.” The quip slipped out effortlessly with the ease he felt in her presence, but in truth, he wanted to express more. “But you should know that what I feel for you is way more than just what I feel when we’re making love.”
Her top teeth landed on her bottom lip, and she sucked in a hissing breath. “Really?” Swallowing, she continued before he had a chance to reply. “Because I know it’s early days, but I really like you, Oliver. I know we haven’t even talked about exclusivity or what we are, but?—”
“Oh, hell yeah, we’re exclusive. My dick, my girl.”
She blinked before barking out a laugh. “That sounded so cavemanish!”
“Sorry.” He scrunched his nose, hoping she hadn’t been offended. “I just mean that what we are is exclusive. I’m not looking for anything or anyone else.”
“Me either.”
A sigh of relief escaped, giving evidence he needed to hear her say the words. “Good. And for the record, I want to see where this feeling between us can go. It may seem sudden, but you make me feel things I’ve never felt before. You make me want to understand the world around me in a way I haven’t before. You make me want to be a better man. And you sure as hell make me want to do what I can to make your world better. Too soon? Well, I’m old enough to know when something is right for me.”
She lifted on her toes and kissed him lightly. “I agree, Oliver. I want to take us as far as we can go.”
Her phone buzzed with another text from George. “Oh, the boys are up and in the shower.” She let out a long breath, then turned and sat at her small table and inclined her head for him to take a seat with her. “I hate to end what we were discussing, but I need to talk to you this morning before we get downstairs and everything goes crazy.” She leaned across the table and took his hand. “I’m so grateful for you, Oliver, for stepping up for them. It means so much to me, but more importantly, it really means a lot to them.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Charity. I’m only doing what anybody should do. Hell, I was the one who wasn’t willing to give them a chance in the beginning.”
“Well, they had just robbed a restaurant, so don’t be too hard on yourself that you didn’t give them a chance! It’s only because of my work that I was able to recognize desperation when I saw it.”
“They’ve been handed a shit hand, and I’d like to try to help them. But let’s be honest, Charity, you’re the real hero in their story.”
“I’m just glad they came in, and we can offer them a fresh start so that they can hopefully face an adulthood different from their childhood so far.”
They finished their coffee, and she stood and walked to his chair, reaching for his empty cup. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. With his hand cupping her jaw and his finger sliding through her hair, he breathed her in. Angling his head, he took the kiss deeper. “Christ, I’ve missed you,” he muttered against her lips.
As they ended the kiss, she nuzzled her nose against the side of his head and whispered, “This can give you a little taste of what you can have tonight when we finish with work.”
“Oh hell, don’t tell me that, or I’ll rush through the day, and you’ll never get rid of me.”
She held his face for a moment, her lips curving upward into a soft smile. Tilting her head to the side, she asked, “Would that be so bad?”
“Absolutely not. Being with you is honestly all I think about now.” He shook his head and barked out a chuckle. “I would say that I feel like a teenager who can’t get the special girl off his mind, but then, when I was a teenager, I sure as hell never felt like this.”
“Felt like what?”
Just then, his phone buzzed, and he dropped his chin to his chest. “Sorry, I have to take this.”
She laughed and patted his chest. “Saved by the bell.”
She turned to take their coffee cups to the sink when he grabbed her waist and gently turned her around to face him again, ignoring his phone. “I wasn’t saved but just interrupted. Believe me, talking about what we are and where I’d like our relationship to go is not something I’m trying to get out of.”
Her smile widened, and he leaned down to kiss her softly again. His phone continued to vibrate, and she laughed. “Let’s get to work, and we’ll save the relationship talk for later.”
With that, she danced over to the sink, leaving him with no excuse not to answer his phone. A few minutes later, he shoved his phone into his pocket and said, “Looks like our day is getting started. I have two FBI agents who are going to meet us here.”
Her inhalation was more of a gasp, but she remained quiet as she walked close to him and placed her hands on his waist, peering upward. “I’m scared for the boys.”
“I’m gonna be there the whole time. I’ll make sure they’re protected.”
“And I’ll be there, too!”
“Then they get the best from both of us,” he declared.
They quickly locked up and headed down the stairs, entering the center. He hoped that the day would go well, and the anticipation of his night with Charity was firmly on his mind. Hours later, all good thoughts had fled as he felt the weariness of being in a battle and unsure who won.
Landon Sommers exceeded his expectations in every regard. Calm. Assuring. Effortlessly connecting with the boys and assuming the role of advocate. He could see why Landon worked well with the Keepers—so much so that they considered him their indispensable FBI liaison.
However, when Randy Meckle, the FBI agent investigating the bank frauds, arrived, he epitomized every clichéd B-movie stereotype of an agent. Brash and overflowing with confidence. His demeanor was less of an investigator and more of a bulldozer, intent on plowing through obstacles with little regard for the leftover wreckage. It was evident Randy wanted to push the bank fraud case through, seeing it as a way to get his ticket punched to the next promotion. It was also evident he didn’t give a fuck who he used to obtain his goal.
“Absolutely not!” Oliver vehemently argued as they sat in the room after the boys’ interview. Charity vibrated with anger next to him, and he placed his hand over hers under the table, giving it a squeeze. He knew Randy’s type… he wouldn’t give a fuck about Charity’s opinions. “You do not need to coerce Kofi into working for you to get your evidence. He’s given you the information on which ATMs they’ve hit. You can trace that shit back to the Halstons.”
“Without the evidence that I can get from these kids, the Halstons could weasel out. I need irrefutable proof.”
“What more proof do you need?” Charity blurted, her words laced with anger and a dose of incredulity.
“Direct proof would be the best for a conviction,” Randy sneered, his gaze barely looking at her. “Not just the word of another criminal who could be the one behind it all.”
She gasped, but Oliver jumped in. “You’ve got to be shitting me! You’ve got a young man who’s trying to do the right thing by handing you evidence, and you’re going to piss that off and try to make him go back in and get more?”
“Don’t make these boys into something they’re not!” Randy bit out. “Remember, they’re criminals, too. They may not be the masterminds, but they’re no better than the people who sent them out to do their dirty work!”
“Agent Meckle!” Landon finally growled. “You have a case to investigate, and you’re being handed prime evidence. Kofi and Ramzi Jackson are witnesses who have come forth of their own volition. Plus, don’t forget the fact that they’re minors.”
“Minors!” Randy sneered. “The oldest is almost eighteen years old. Even now, I could have him arrested and tried as an adult.”
“What the fuck is your problem, man?” Oliver barked. He looked over at Landon, now hating that they’d agreed to bring in the FBI.
Kofi and Ramzi had warmed easily to Landon, telling their story much like they had the previous night with the Keepers. While all understood Landon”s need to bring in the agent who was actively working on the case, Randy’s attitude and lack of caring about the boys” situation rankled.
“Look,” Randy continued. “All I’m asking is for the oldest one to go back, make up some story about why they didn’t come back last night, and where his brother is. Then he gets another ATM skimmer from the Halstons. We monitor him as he plants it, and then we follow the trail of money withdrawals to the Halstons. I have agents ready to monitor all his accounts.”
“You’ve already got a trail now that Kofi has given you the Halston’s name. He’s practically handed the whole case to you,” Oliver argued.
Landon leaned forward with his forearms on the table and speared Randy with a hard stare. “You don’t need to send him back in. You have the list of ATMs that already have skimmers in them.”
“It would make the case rock solid, and you know it, Landon. You’ve become as much of a bleeding heart as those friends you hang out with.”
Landon shook his head slowly. “I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.”
Oliver leaned back in his seat, hating the way the meeting was going. He’d mistakenly had Kofi and Ramzi inside the conference room when Randy arrived. They had already met Landon and felt comfortable with him. Ramzi was wide-eyed while talking with an FBI agent, but Kofi was appropriately cautious. Kofi wanted to ensure Ramzi would be taken care of, but Oliver didn’t like how Kofi wasn’t also advocating for himself. He was grateful when Landon spoke to both boys, advising them of their safety.
Randy came in, took notes as they gave their story again, and immediately went into the tough guy role. He threw out words like accomplice, equally culpable, interfering with an investigation, and even jail time. Oliver could see Ramzi’s eyes widen and hands shake, and Oliver jumped in to shut down Ramzi’s possible meltdown.
“Charity, please take Ramzi and Kofi outside for now.” He could see her argument forming on her lips but leaned closer. “It will give them a break.” Emotions warred on her face before she nodded. At first, Kofi didn’t want to leave, but Kofi reluctantly acquiesced when he saw how his brother was reacting to the meeting.
After they left, Oliver allowed the meeting to continue until it was evident that Randy would continue his belligerent rants.
Randy glanced toward the door and growled, “Those kids have probably bolted by now. I can’t afford to lose them.” He rose from his chair, his expression hard.
Landon ordered, “Keep your seat, Agent Meckle. Those boys need a chance to process what’s going on.”
When it looked as though Randy was going to argue again, Landon spoke, “You cannot tell me that with the cooperation the boys have given you, you can’t lock your case up tight.”
“And you know,” Randy countered. “With those boys on the inside, this case can be wrapped up and airtight.”
“Who’s going to protect those boys while they’re doing this for you?” Oliver asked, knowing Charity was worried.
“I’ll have agents stationed around, and if you’re so worried about him, then you two can tag along.”
“Oh, we’ll be there,” Landon stated emphatically.
The three men remained quiet for a moment, wondering who would break first. Finally, Randy said, “Here’s the deal, gentlemen. While I agree those boys have had a rough go of it, there’s no denying that their actions have caused some people to lose a lot of money. In no way is that right. But I also agree that the boys are not who I want to put behind bars. I want the Halstons.”
“And the houseful of kids that they hold? What of them?”
“Once the Halstons are arrested and we know their entire operation, I can have the kids they held at juvie?—”
“Social services needs to be called,” Oliver said. “And I don’t want Ramzi and Kofi split up.”
Randy snorted. “Can you honestly tell me that would be so bad? What kind of influence has Kofi had on Ramzi?”
“You can’t sit here and make that judgment,” Oliver argued. “Everything Kofi did was to put food on the table and a roof over his brother’s head.”
Landon interjected. “Randy, this will be a moot point if you even consider splitting them up. Kofi and Ramzi would head out of here and be in the wind before you can get them to do anything. And I will not allow you to coerce them by threatening them.”
Randy grimaced, his jaw tight. “Fine,” he conceded. “They stay together.”
“And you won’t prosecute them,” Oliver pushed. When Randy nodded, Oliver continued to press. “And the decision is theirs. I’m not gonna allow you to threaten or coerce Kofi to do anything you want him to do. I want him to learn that coming forward and telling the truth is the right thing to do. I want him to know that standing up for his brother was the right thing to do.”
Randy’s face was set in a hard scowl, but he nodded. “Agreed.”
Oliver stood and walked to the door, then turned and looked over his shoulder. “Give me a minute to talk to them, and then I’ll bring Kofi back in.” He stepped outside and easily spied the two boys standing with Charity. On the surface, she appeared calm, but he was already familiar enough with her to know that it was a facade. He was sure underneath the woman who seemed on the outside to be handling everything, she was nervous. And from the looks of it, so was Ramzi.
“What’s going on?” Kofi asked, barely waiting for them to walk over.
“We worked out a deal with the FBI. They will not prosecute you or Ramzi for anything you’ve done. But they want to ask you to do something for them. It’s important for you to understand you do not have to do this. You are under no obligation to say yes?—”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Three males looked over as Charity shook her head. “Oliver, I don’t want them to have to do anything!”
“I agree,” he shot back, “but the FBI has a right to ask, and then Kofi has a right to say no for himself.”
Her eyes narrowed, and her hands gripped tighter as she held them in front of her. Jerking her gaze from Oliver to Kofi, she said, “I don’t think you should talk to him. You’ve already given your statement as a witness as to what happened.”
Kofi and Ramzi shared a look before Kofi turned back to her. “Ms. Charity, I understand where you’re coming from. But I need you to understand me. I may have been influenced to do shit that I shouldn’t have to survive, but I still did it. Let me at least hear what it is they want me to do to get the Halstons off the streets, away from making other kids do shit.”
Her lips were still pressed together, but she nodded. It didn’t pass Oliver’s notice that she didn’t make eye contact with him. Sighing, he knew he had his work cut out for him to get past this hurdle. He had no doubt they would, although it might take a little groveling on his part. “Ramzi, you stay here with Charity and let Kofi talk to Agent Meckle again.”
Ramzi opened his mouth, but after one look from Kofi, he snapped it shut. Oliver couldn’t walk away without at least reaching over and placing his hand on Charity. Giving her arm a squeeze that he hoped was comforting, he turned and clapped his hand on Kofi’s shoulder, escorting him back into the room.