Chapter 22 #2
Blue turned to me, hoping I’d tell her not to answer, but I had to think like her lawyer and not her man. I nodded, knowing it would hurt, but legally it was the safest option to control how the narrative was framed. That was important, especially in a high-profile case like this.
“We were engaged.”
“For how long?”
She stared unblinking and mouth tight.
“A year.”
“Why did the engagement end?”
“The reason her engagement ended has nothing to do with whether she’s tied to Lorenzo’s current activities or the Strathmores’ accusations. We’re done here.”
“I’m afraid that’s not the case,” the grin on his face told a different story.
“I need to talk to somebody making more than sixty grand a year.”
“Right this way, counselor, but they’ll tell you the same thing.”
“Sit tight and don’t say a word other than lawyer ,” I directed, leaving the room ready to tear to lay into whoever they sent my way. This was bullshit, and everybody in here knew it.
“Freshly signed warrant,” Detective Vinson sighed, before I could even ask.
“A warrant with no body, and no murder weapon?” I asked with a raised brow, “You’ve already falsely arrested my client once. You’re really going to make the same mistake twice.”
“Your campaign is hanging by a thread. You wouldn’t want to sink what’s left of it with corrupting a murder investigation on your girlfriend’s behalf.”
“You keep playing with me, and I’ll be a stay-at-home husband, because she’ll own the city and everybody in it when I’m done.”
“Take it up with the judge,” Detective Vinson shrugged.
“I need a minute with my client.”
“Take two before you say goodbye.”
This warrant and the signature were a favor to Lorenzo Sr. or even Winston Calloway.
It had to be because I’d gotten warrants tossed for less.
This was about me, and now Blue had to pay for it.
Even worse, in an hour, I’d have to explain to Rayven why Navie wasn’t at my house.
I’d sent Ward to pick her up as a surprise because Blue was stressed. Now the surprise was on me.
Pushing the door open, she lifted her head, the color draining from her face because she could read me just as well as Inez or Evelyn.
“They don’t have shit, or they wouldn’t be stalling.”
“I’m not going home.”
“They don’t have shit on you. I’ll see the judge-.”
She didn’t let me finish my sentence before reminding me of my own words, “ You said it would be fine. You said you would get me out!”
“Blue, it’s complicated, but I need you to trust me.”
“ Trust you ?” Her chest buckled, barely able to huff the words. “How am I supposed to do that when I’m stuck here for something I didn’t do?”
Her eyes smoldered with fire, telling me I was guilty without needing to ask. She had enough faith in me not to say that shit out loud, only in a language only I could speak.
“Because I’ve got you. Both of you.”
She froze, mind and body numbed, remembering that there was another innocent person in this equation.
“I’ll be back in the morning. Don’t say a word about anything to anybody. You got me?”
Blue barely nodded, staring at the scuffed metal table in shock.
“I love you, Blue.”
The hardest thing I ever had to do was walk out the door, leaving her behind. My pride wanted to turn around. Provide reassurance that it would be okay, but my heart couldn’t take it.
“Where is Lieutenant Graves?”
“Why?” Detective Vinson asked, pulling up his pants that couldn’t fit over his fat ass stomach.
Ignoring his stupid ass question, I started down the hallway. He was out of breath trying to keep up with my stride while calling for somebody to get me. The commotion drove Graves to stick his head out, groaning when he saw my face.
“It’s fine. Send him in,” he groaned, knowing he was about to feel the wrath for someone else’s fuck up.
“I want her in solitary tonight. If so much as a fuckin’ hair is out of place on her head in the morning, it’ll be hell to pay. Not the kind that’s delivered in a courtroom either.”
“My hands are tied, Treason.”
“Un-fuckin-tie them!”
“Keep your voice down!” Graves rushed out, shutting the door.
“This is a high-profile case for her safety, put her in solitary with somebody you trust because whatever happens to her happens to your wife.” His face soured, knowing me to be a man of my word. “This warrant is bullshit and everybody in here knows it, including yo’ ass.”
“Calm down! I’ll see what I can do.”
“That’s on your wife,” I snatched the door open and marched out of the precinct, feeling an emptiness I didn’t know existed.
After everything we’d been through and overcome, Candy Man might be the thing that broke us. Not because I’d done it. She didn’t give a fuck about that. She cared that I didn’t keep my word.
Sitting in the parking lot, I was stuck. Home wasn’t home without Blue. How the fuck was I supposed to leave with her still inside? Ward was hours away, but news traveled fast.
“Yeah, Mama,” I answered.
“How is she?”
“Someone got a judge to sign a bullshit warrant. Blue has to stay tonight, at least ,” I replied, ignoring her question.
“No need to ask how you are. I hear it in your voice and that potty mouth.”
Grown or not, I didn’t curse in front of my mother or grandma. They were cool, but not that damn cool.
“She’s pregnant,” I blurted out, the only thing consuming my brain, “seven weeks.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised. You can’t keep your hands off her.” Mom paused, giving me the floor to share anything else, but I had nothing. “How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t know. Neither of us wanted kids. Now she’s pregnant.”
I could hear her smile, reminding me, “You wanted to have fun , this is what comes with fun.”
“Nothing about parenting sounds fun .”
“I see the way you love her, Tre. You’re different. More patient. Attentive. Thoughtful. What makes a baby you created with her any different?”
“They’re a lot different. They take over everything. They cry and don’t sleep at night. They wear diapers that I’d have to change.”
“Ahh, that’s what it is. You’d no longer be the sun the universe rotates around anymore. For a second, I thought this was about your father.”
“I’m not trippin’ off him.”
“I never asked because, well, it’s not my life or my business. Why don’t you want kids, Tre?”
I was blessed to have a mother who supported my dreams, even when they didn't align with the ones she had for me. Mine didn’t include kids, and she supported it.
“I just don’t.”
“You always have a reason, or rationale. It drove me crazy when you were younger, but I’ve grown to admire that about you.
I think you know why, Tre. You just don’t want to say it out loud.
That’s fine, but you need to be honest with yourself and Navie before she makes a decision neither of you can take back. ”
“I don’t want to talk about that right now.”
“Making yourself uncomfortable won’t make her more comfortable. Come home for the night,” she urged.
I almost accepted her offer, because I couldn’t walk back into the house.
Not without Blue, but Ward’s text let me know they were pulling up.
I couldn’t leave Rayven with Sloane because I was in my feelings, so I had to step up and go home.
Blue didn’t play about her baby. She was protecting ours, so I had to look out for Rayven.
“I can’t, but I’ll hit you tomorrow. Thanks for the talk, Mama.”
“Always, baby. I’m a call away if you need me.”
“I know. Love you.”
“I love you too Tre.”
Hanging up, I shifted the car into park and drove home to face Rayven. What I didn’t expect was Sloane seated in the lobby, shooting up on her heels before my foot crossed the threshold.
“Where the hell is my daughter?” Sloane yelled.
“I’m not in the mood for your shit tonight.”
“That makes two of us knowing you’re here and my baby is in jail! Why are they holding her?”
“Politics,” I muttered, jamming my finger into the button.
“Oh, so you’ve got her wrapped up in your shit?”
“She’s wrapped up in your shit! Isn’t that why she was with him in the first place?” I snapped, stepping onto the elevator.
She almost missed it, staring at me with disdain for knowing the truth, but her hand stopped them, joining me.
“I’d watch my mouth making accusations you don’t know shit about.”
“I’m not you. I don’t do what’s best for me at the expense of the people I love.”
Most of Sloane’s allure was wrapped in her mystery. You only saw what she wanted you to. She didn’t account for the fact that we shared the same quality, making it easy to read.
“I’m sure she’s regretting it now, sitting in a fuckin’ cell.”
The elevator opened on the top floor, and Rayven jumped to her feet, likely expecting Navie. Instead, her smile faded as she stared at their family matriarch.
“Sloane! What are you doing here? Where’s Vie?” she panicked, looking past me.
“You wanna tell her since you know every goddamn thing?” Sloane asked, facing me with a hand on her hip.
“She’s in jail for the night.”
“ Jail ! Why the hell is she in jail? Is this about-.” She cut her eyes to Sloane because, despite all the shit she’d pulled, Rayven was loyal.
“For something she didn’t do. I’m going down there in the morning. You can come with me to see her,” I offered.
“I’m going too,” Sloane insisted.
“You’re not going anywhere with me. Blue is going through enough. I’m not doing that to her.”
My resistance cracked Sloane’s fragile ego. The audacity of a man not fawning at her feet following her lead.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
“Sloane, stop!” Rayven yelled, but I quickly learned there was no reasoning with her, especially when she couldn’t get her way.