I loved Amell, Lord knows I do, but sharing one toothbrush everyday…nah.
“Stop giving these people a show.” He spoke one thing but said differently with his hands.
While we stood in line waiting to cash out, he held me secure to his chest, nibbling on my ear. Together we swayed back and forth to our own tune. He hummed and lowly sang to me, giving me all the feels. No one outside of his nieces and nephews knew that he could sing. They only knew because he used his deep baritone to serenade them to sleep when they were babies. Arianna loved it most of all.
I can recall a few times when Atlas called Amell to settle Ari down because she had a hard time going to sleep. Once he started singing to her, humming his favorite tune, she barely lasted five minutes after.
“Answer your phone, Amell. It could be important.”
His phone had rung twice, and he ignored both calls. I know he wanted to give me all of his attention, but I also knew the responsibilities he had.
“Hello.” He answered, still nibbling on my ear.
Not even a second later did his body freeze. I already knew something was wrong and he was needed. Hanging up, he waved his hand in the air and David appeared out of thin air.
“Cash out and take her straight home, David. No stops.” He glanced over at me. “I’m sorry.” He kissed me goodbye and left.
All I could do was exhale and remain calm. An attitude solved nothing. I wanted this. I wanted him. I just hoped whoever was on the end of that phone had a real emergency.
Amell
“Thank you for practicing self-control.” Mitch’s apology went ignored. “To you it may seem that I’m being careless by not taking action against Junior’s threats, but I know nothing will be done to you or my family. The Martinez family has always been more bark than bite.” Ignorant way of thinking.
“Junior is the same age as Cassian. The same age, Mitch. My brother is his own kind of special so what makes you think that Miguel’s son is any different when it comes to honoring his father’s legacy? These new generation kids have no honor to code or morals. If you’re thinking that he won’t retaliate because his father didn’t, forgive me for the disrespect but thinking like that is going to get you killed. Going to get us killed.” Get Krishna killed.
When Mitch got word that his lifelong enemy was in prison out in California, he became slack in thinking that no real threats would come. All that changed when Miguel’s son stepped foot in the Sunshine State and demanded to have a sit down with Mitch. \
Junior knew all about the deal made between his father and Mitch over thirty years ago. He knew that the first born of Mitch and Clover’s children was supposed to be married into his family. Clover’s sudden “stillborn child” threw a monkey wrench into that plan. Regardless of there not being a child to bond the families together, Miguel wanted Mitch to merge their businesses. He wanted them to be the only supplies from the south all the way up north to the border of Canada.
It never happened.
“It doesn’t bother you that Miguel is in a prison out in California and your daughter also lives there? Has that never crossed your mind because I can’t sleep knowing that his goons are there and so is, she.”
Mitch’s impassive attitude when it came to Krishna as of recent angered me beyond understanding. How could he turn a cheek to everything going on when he damn near ruined his relationship with her to keep her away from these same people?
Long ago I stopped depending on his security to keep her safe. One David wasn’t enough to go against the Martinez Cartel. Whether Krishna knew it or not I had over a dozen eyes and ears on her daily. From the people she worked with to her nail tech Brooke. I had to stay away because of this family, and I’ll be damned if something happened to her now that my position in her life had been branded.
“I have a few errands to run. In case you’re wondering, she’s on the compound.” I walked out before I said something, he’d expect me to apologize for later on.
Regardless of how I felt about Mitch and the decisions that he made, I sat in my truck and waited until his security pulled off with him in the car. Before there was even a Krishna known in my life there was always her father who selfishly took care of three boys. I owed him my loyalty and respect regardless.
Once they had driven off, I drove all the way out east to American Heritage to catch JD right as school got out. This boy had to be the hardest teenager to track down. I hadn’t exerted my efforts because my eyes kept me informed but he dodged me like he had something to hide. I watched from my truck as kids came out in crowds and not one of them was the kid I was looking for.
I even called the school to see if he came and the front desk receptionist confirmed that he made it to all his classes. At least I got my money’s worth by sending him to this expensive ass school. He rarely skipped and was in the top five of his class.
“Hi, Uncle Amell.” Arianna answered her father’s phone.
“Hey, my sweet girl. Where is your daddy?”
She squealed and then giggled. Her tiny footsteps sounded like she was running. “He’s…He’s kissing mommy.” She spoke out of breath.
“Ari, give me my phone. Where in the hell is your clothes?” Atlas voice echoed in the back.
“I want to watch a movie in bed like you and mommy.” She whined, making me laugh.
“Girl, go put on some clothes and give me my phone.” Ari and her father wrestled a little bit before she screamed and started laughing. “What’s up, bro.”
“Why does my baby think she has to get naked to watch a movie with mommy and daddy?” I needed to know so I could continue to mute my phone and laugh.
He sucked his teeth. “That’s all Keatyn and her way of mothering. Her ass got caught being a naughty girl with me one night and Ari busted in the room. Keatyn damn near fell out the bed trying to run. She made up this lie talking about we were in the bed watching a movie knowing damn well that girl loves to watch them.”
After dealing with all the mess I had going on it felt good to have that laugh.
“In the midst of you doing the nasty with your wife, can you run a quick location on JD’s phone.”
“I got you right now. Give me five minutes and I’ll send the link to your phone.” We hung up and I drove around until he sent me the location.
Out of all the places to be JD was at the graveyard site where his mother was buried. It wasn’t the anniversary of her death nor her birthday. I felt that place in my heart sheltered just for him tighten by the second as I walked with a heavy heart over to him. In his light blue uniform button up and beige creased slacks, I spotted him easily. His shoulders shook as his cries filled the eerie graveyard. I sat next to him, close enough to not invade his space but close enough that he knew I was there for him.
“I barely remember her, but I miss her so much.” JD raised his head to show a fresh busted lip and bruised face. My anger came back but I remained mute. “Why did she have to leave me out here by myself?” He cried dropping his head back down on his arms.
I felt helpless hearing his cries, hearing his words. Had I been so caught up in making sure that he had everything that I forgot to actually be there for him?