Chapter 18
Hey Kid
Sammy
I am walking as I jingle a set of keys in my left hand. Straight ahead is a door. When I get to the door, I push one of the keys into the lock. The lock turns and I enter the house. Everything is so bright as I walk in.
I still don’t know where I am, but I keep moving to try to figure it out. Although I don’t know this place, it has the feeling of home. Laughter fills the air, and I follow the sound.
When I get to the dining room, I find my friends surrounding the table. The faceless woman who brings me peace is sitting at the head of the table with Jordan Black at her side. However, this time my peace is glitching.
This is something new because when she glitches, the other woman from my vision of the high-rise appears in her place instead. I knit my brows in confusion. Why are there two?
As I try to make sense of things, my peace slams her hand down on the table and the glitching stops. She stands and makes her way to me. I want to see her face, but I can’t, which is frustrating me.
Inhaling deeply as I try to relax, I cup her face and lean my forehead to hers. She places her hands on my shoulders and presses down. I gasp as I settle, and the room stills.
I pop up from my sleep and race to grab my notebook. I need to write some things down as my mind fills with answers to questions from that dream and the other visions. I know where that house was and what it means to me.
“It’s another for her,” I murmur to myself. “They are all for her.”
I keep scribing as answers come faster than I can write. When I’m done and go to read it back, none of it makes sense right away. I read it over a few times and realize no one else will understand what I have written, but I’m fine with that.
“They are all important. I love them all, but one of them will cause a last supper,” I murmur. Then my thoughts clear and I know what I must do next.
A glance at the clock tells me it’s five a.m. I grab my phone and send Maldonado a text. I have someplace to be this morning.
“Get up, Sammy. You have a plane to catch,” I say to myself after my text is sent.
Wyatt
Black and Lock has been busy these days. Bounties are pouring in, and cases are piling up for the private investigation side of things as well. We needed this little trip.
In the last six years, John’s team has been worth its weight in gold. I can’t say I’m mad at him for opening the new office and taking a load off the rest of us. Dad is sixty-two.
No matter how much he says he’s retired, he’s in the office more than any of us. I can’t complain; the extra help is needed.
Especially as Noah, Braxton, Felix, Ry, and I are expecting new babies with our wives. This will be Nellie’s and my third. Noah is on his fifth, Brax is having his fourth, and Felix is having his second with Kaye, but their third, including Dae-Dae, who has always been their son in their eyes.
Ryan and Carmen are having their third and according to Carmen, their last. John still only has one for now, but I don’t think that’s going to last for long. Roni just goes through a lot for them to have a healthy pregnancy and I believe they are both scared to try for another.
Toby has kept his shit in his pants because every time he gets Kamara pregnant, she ends up having twins. With Nora being nine and Evan turning six, I’m happy to be having another one.
“You okay?” I ask Nellie as I place my palm on her little, newly rounding stomach as we pull up to the tarmac, riding in the back of one of the SUVs.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just ready to take a nap and get home.”
“Mom said something about taking Evan and Nora since Granny McGowan is here and she wants to spend time with all her great-grands.”
“That’s a lot of kids, Wy. Is she sure?”
I chuckle. “Don’t let my grandmother hear you say that out loud.”
Nellie shudders. “Not even Noah could prepare me for that fight. That little old lady is feisty as can be. I love her though. Your mom has been so happy since she arrived. Do you know how long she’s going to stay?”
“No, not yet. She’s probably going to head back here to New York after a bit.” I shrug.
“Right, because her grandson and baby boy are the real reason she’s in America in the first place,” Nellie chuckles.
“Calling Ronan her baby boy is crazy. Knowing he’s the one having new babies to get Granny here is crazier.”
“Your uncle is killing it for his age. I love Dean for him.”
I peck her lips. The smile on her face melts my heart. Nellie has become such a part of my family. I think Mom and Granny McGowan have been showing my wife extra love because, yet again, she’s having a baby without her mom here.
For some reason, that’s been hitting harder for her this time around. I’ve been wrapping her in love every time I find her breaking down when that sadness hits.
“Daddy, isn’t that Sammy’s car?” Nora calls from the third row.
I glance out the window and see the Rolls-Royce that’s just pulled into the hangar. Sure enough, it looks like Sammy’s blue-and-silver Rolls. The driver’s side door opens and Maldonado steps out, letting me know it’s the kid’s car for sure.
My phone pings with a group text from Dad. My brows shoot into my hairline as I read it. I can’t help but laugh as I pass my phone to Nellie and read the text over her shoulder for myself once again.
Dad: LaSalle sent a text. Sammy’s driver informed him that Sammy is flying out with us.
Nellie bursts into laughter. “Wait, is this one of those times when he wakes up and decides he’s going to train with someone or something and his driver has to let Tasha and LaSalle know he’s taking off?”
I snort. “I guess so.”
“That makes me nervous. Do you think everything is all right?”
“I’m sure it is. If it isn’t, he’ll let us know. You get the kids on the plane, I’ll see what this is all about,” I say before pecking her lips and climbing out to go greet our little friend.
When I get out of the SUV, I find Sammy standing there expectantly with his backpack on his back and a duffel bag in one hand and his phone in the other.
Felix, John, and Noah are already making their way to him as well. Maldonado closes the trunk and comes around the car with two more bags. I give him a look, and he shrugs.
“Hey, kid, what’s up?” I say.
“It is time I learn more computer skills. You, your wife, and Uncle Felix are among the best. Miss Sephora is heading back home to California as well.
“I will learn from the best. I will also need assistance with something else while I’m there. Uncle Wyatt, you will be able to help me achieve that goal. It’s my birthday request,” he says.
“Oh yeah, what did you decide you want?”
“I would like you to help me purchase a property. We will buy it through a trust for the deed to be transferred at a later date, but you will be my proxy for the time being, as I am only eleven.
“It will come from my own money, not yours. I just need your assistance in finding the right one and the purchase,” he says.
“Yo, he’s serious as fuck,” Ryan croons with amusement.
Ryan and Braxton have come over and they’re laughing their asses off. I look at the two and glare. They both shut the fuck up, but mirth still dances across their faces and in their eyes.
“Why wouldn’t I be? Oh, right. Your sarcasm. I will need to spend time with you and Uncle Braxton too. I would like to learn to joke more like you guys.
“Patrick will be funny and will enjoy taunting me. I want to be ready. I have a lot to learn from the Black family.”
With that, he turns and walks his little ass onto our plane. I stand there staring after him. My mind blown.
“LaSalle says if you don’t have enough seats for us, he will make arrangements for me and the kid to follow,” Maldonado says as he comes to my side.
“Wow,” I scoff and shake my head. “Nah, I’m not letting that kid out of my sight. We can fit two more.”