“Mama, please calm down. He hasn’t done anything to me, and I’m not going to let it get to that level. My friends at work know now, too.”
“You told them folks at work?” Once again, she could hear the worry in Mama’s tone. English had explained for years that she wouldn’t discuss the issue with anyone, unless absolutely necessary.
“Yes, I did. I didn’t have a choice as far as I was concerned. I had to break down and tell them, Mama. Just in case.”
“…In case he pops up around there,” Daddy said. “That way, they’ll be in the know and can report it if they see something suspicious.”
“Yes. That’s right. All of my business is out there now.” She sighed. “And though it wasn’t something I wished to talk about at work, of all places, I was relieved to find that not only was my boss understanding, but he also genuinely cared about my safety and thanked me for being honest.”
They spoke for a while longer, and though the conversation had shifted, and she promised to contact the police again to request yet another restraining order, she knew deep down they’d be worried sick from here on out. As long as Master was walking the Earth free as a bird, or more accurately, the vulture that he was, there was really no peace that could be obtained and sustained.
That’s what he wants… to rock my family. The people who love me. To keep me up at night. To cause me to not enjoy myself while out and about, for fear he’ll show up. He didn’t expect me to call back and not sound afraid. He didn’t expect me to do a lot of things I’m more than willing to do now.
“I love you, Mama and Daddy. Talk to you soon.” The call ended with laughs and declarations of love, just as she’d hoped for. After all, she’d put on the performance of her life.
As she got to her feet to fix another cup of coffee, her phone buzzed. A text message from Axel: I love you.
Just three simple words. No fanfare. Nothing crazy and over the top, poetic and flowery, and that made it all the more special. He said it with his actions. He said it with his care of her… but now, he’d confirmed what she already knew to be true.
She smiled down at her phone, then typed back:
I love you more…
…Two weeks later
“That’s his license plate number. No address yet. She’ll get it though. Channey said he hasn’t approached her or anything like that, but the description matched him. I showed her the photo you found online and she’s 99.9 % sure it’s Master.”
“Okay.” Axel stepped out on his mother’s porch, phone in hand. He was unapologetically having English followed from a safe distance. He refused to just let her be some sitting duck, especially while he tried to get his hands around this thing. In his ideal scenario, he’d be watching out for her himself. He needed to be in two places at one time, but since that was against the laws of physics, he came up with a plan B. Legend in turn called up one of his people to do the gig. His homegirl, a Puerto Rican lesbian named Channey.
Legend had made it clear she wasn’t the type of person you wanted to fuck over. She’d done some amateur boxing, and she had bigger balls than some of the dudes he knew. Besides, she’d do what he asked. Axel spoke to her on the phone before she began her special assignment, and felt good about it. She seemed to know her shit. Legend vouched for her. ’Nuff said.
“I just got a job request before you called me. You want to come in with us tonight, Legend? I could use another pair of hands.”
“I’m up for it.” He could hear the man blowing smoke.
“Is that weed? Do you really have the audacity to do that while on the phone with me?”
“You Matt Riddle lookin’ mothafucka, what I do on my off time is none of your business.” Legend cackled.
“What I’d like to do, right about now, is shove a closed can of dog food down your throat, and make you shit it out. I told you I can’t have you showing up high, Legend. I worked too hard to build my company from the ground up. You’re not even finished with your training, and you—”
“Nobody ever knows when I’m high…”
“That’s not the point. You know what? Quiet as kept, I’ve been wantin’ to kick your ass since I reconnected with you, Legend. All the times you hung up on me when you were in prison. That slick ass mouth of yours… Let’s go on ahead and brawl and get this shit out of the way because you—”