Chapter 14 #2
Apparently, Nicholas was just as shocked as I was because he spit his drink out all over his desk.
“Wait, my Zenia?” Reed questioned.
“My fucking Zenia,” I snapped.
“Zenia Morgan? I thought she was missing.”
“I met her a few weeks ago. I had no idea who she was, but now I need to make sure nothing happens to her.”
“Damn, I actually figured her daddy was pulling some kind of stunt. He’s shady as hell.
She was supposed to be marrying one of the St. Thomases, which I already thought was weird as hell.
Then I heard that both her and one of her sisters were missing after the payments for the deals had been accepted.
I wouldn’t be surprised if someone kills him for the way he’s moving. ”
“He doesn’t have anything to do with Z’s disappearance. I have her.”
“You kidnapped her, nigga? What the fuck? You back in the family business?”
“No, I didn’t fucking kidnap her. She ran away to get out of the marriage. I didn’t even know who she was. She came to Cashville looking for you. She said she needed your advice. In the meantime, some other shit went down, and I’ve been looking out for her ever since.”
“What kind of advice did she want from me? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I asked her the same question. She wanted advice on how you got out of the arrangement. I knew what you had to do. I don’t know if it’s the same for the women, but if it is, I’m willing to complete her mission for her.”
“I don’t think it’s that simple. Zahad already took the payment.”
“I’ll pay it back.”
“It’s up to the St. Thomas family to accept it. I heard them niggas was into sex trafficking. That’s why I was surprised to hear that she was marrying him.”
“She didn’t exactly have a choice, and obviously, all her father cares about is money. Apparently, they knew all about his trafficking business and didn’t give a damn. She told me how he makes them keep their virginity so he can use them to leverage his deals.”
“The arrangements don’t work like that, though. We all grew up together mingling, getting to know each other so the transition to husband and wife would feel natural. Why would she let them convince her to marry a St. Thomas?”
“Didn’t you hear me? She didn’t have fucking choice!
She wasn’t eligible for the marriage pool anymore.
According to her, no one wanted her after you decided that you didn’t.
I’m pretty sure she hates your guts too.
She says you ruined her life and her self-esteem.
Remind me to fuck you up when I see you. ”
“Damn, all I was doing was trying to get out of that shit. I didn’t even think about what would happen to her. She seemed so gung-ho to go through with it. All those girls just want to be wives. They don’t care who they marry.”
“Well, she was just trying to be a good daughter. When that plan fell through, she spiraled into depression. She tried to fucking kill herself in the hotel the next morning after we met. I found her passed out in the bathroom.”
“Wait, did you have sex with her, Saw?” Reed asked.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business anymore.” I retorted.
“They are going to fucking kill you, Sawyer.”
“I’m not worried about that shit. What do I need to do to help her?”
“How many people are you prepared to kill?” Reed questioned.
“How many do I need to kill?” I asked him.
“Oh wow, this nigga’s serious,” Reed mumbled under his breath.
“I’m dead serious. What do I need to do, Reed?”
“Honestly, I think you gotta go see your dad, bro. That’s the only way.”
“You mean I have to get back in the business?”
“That’s the only way they will even consider accepting your bid.”
“So, I have to kiss his ass, and I still gotta buy her.”
“The St. Thomases are going to want their money back. I can guarantee they care more about that than a wedding.”
“I’m kicking your ass for putting her in this position.”
“I had no idea it would play out like that. I might be able to pull some strings on my end, but that would mean I would have to talk to my parents too.”
“You’re just as much at fault as the rest of them for throwing her away. The least you could do is make a few calls.”
“The last time I spoke to my mom was like five years ago. She reminded me that I had been cut off, like I gave a fuck. I cut myself off when I pulled out of the deal.”
“So, she don’t even know you have a daughter?” I asked.
“She knew Faith was pregnant when she tried to run her off. She didn’t care what became of the baby back then, so she doesn’t get to worry about how she’s doing now,” Reed mentioned.
“I get that.”
“I’m not letting them mess my baby up like they did me.”
“Imagine what Zenia is going through, bro.”
The line was silent for a minute before Reed groaned. “OK, give me a few days. Don’t do anything until you hear from me. I say you get in touch with your dad too.”
“I already told him that,” Nicholas added.
“I’ll wait on your cue. Do not tell anybody you know how to find that girl, Reed. She was adamant about me not telling you that she was with me.”
“I would never do anything to purposely hurt her, bro. Let her know that. I was so worried about freeing myself from the arrangement that I didn’t think about what would happen to her. In hindsight, I admit that was selfish as hell.”
“And I’m beating your ass when I see you.”
“Bro, come on with that shit. I’m starting to think you’re serious.”
“You should.”
“You’re the one sleeping with my ex. I should be threatening you, not the other way around.”
“Take it how you want to.”
“Fellas, cut this shit out,” Nicholas ordered.
“I’m happy for you, Saw. I promise I don’t have any hard feelings about you and Zenia. She’s a good girl. She don’t deserve none of this shit. Let me see what I can do. Give me two days before you go in with guns blazing. I want you to live to meet my son.”
“Faith’s pregnant?” Nicholas asked before I could respond.
“I’m working on it,” Reed told him.
“Aww, nigga, shut up. You just trying to buy some time because you worried that Sawyer’s gon’ get on your ass,” Nicholas teased.
“I’m never worried. I will shoot his big ass in the knee.”
“Nigga, shut up. I’m not gon’ fuck with you. You know we’re better than that. Like you said, I’m the one with your ex. Even though she tells a different story, I’ll let you call her your ex as long as you know ain’t no doubling back.”
“It’s kinda cool that we’re all in love. I would have never thought I would see the day where your mean ass was whipped,” Reed joked.
I laughed. “I know you ain’t talking.”
“I’m not ashamed. I been whipped like butter for years. Everybody knows that. We’re talking about you.”
Nick and I both had to laugh at that.
“I know you’re not laughing, Nick. Your wife tried to lock you up for the rest of your life. You found out she was an undercover cop, and you were still chasing her like a linebacker.”
“That is not how that went, bitch.”
“However it went. It’s nice that we’re settling down in our old age.”
“Don’t start that old shit,” I warned.
“Right. I’m not ready to start talking like that for another ten or fifteen years.” Nicholas commented.
“Saw, give me some time, but if I was you, I would go ahead and get in touch with your dad,” Reed reiterated.
“I’ll wait on your call.”
“You really love her, huh?” he asked.
“Apparently so,” I admitted.
“Congratulations, bro. Tell her that I’m sorry. I’ll tell her myself if I get the chance.”
“You’ll tell her when you get the chance.”
“Right. Let me get back to my girls. Do y’all know they convinced me to go snorkeling off the Amalfi Coast? What in the world does a seven-year-old little girl know about snorkeling? I have to get her off that internet, man.”
“Enjoy yourself, bro,” I told him before ending the call.
“Again, what do you need from me?” Nicholas asked.
“You know how this shit can go. If I can’t get back to her, I need you to get her out of here.”
“You really love her, huh?”
For a long time, I felt like love was something for people who needed other people to make them feel like life was worth living. Zenia didn’t complete me; she added to me.
It was in my nature to take care of people.
In just a short period of time, Zenia had gone from someone I felt I needed to protect to someone I couldn’t imagine living without.
Even if I could bring myself to think about going back to life without her, I didn’t want to lose her.
I would do whatever it took to make sure she came out of this intact.
“Take care of my baby, Nick,” I said, standing from my seat.
He nodded. “I got you.”
“Let me get back to her. I told her I would be back soon. Since y’all keep insisting, I’m going to see my dad tonight. I don’t see any way around it. I can’t just wait around on Reed.”