𝘗𝘖𝘝 𝘔𝘌𝘋𝘡𖧷

I remove the phone from my ears and place it on the passenger seat. I let out a long breath to steady my nerve but I was still gripped by the news of Soljie being responsible for Simone's death.

How could Soljie be so fucking stupid?!

I ran my hand over my face and stare out at nothing as my mind drifted off to the last conversation he and I had.

"Marlon and Kenton a farwud down a Ochi suh yuh can farwud man." I had told him as I left to go and pick up Nikki to take her to pick up Patrice and take them to Simone's Round Robin.

"Mi look like mi lub man, mi stuck up a Gregory Park fi two weeks because a zoso and yuh expec wen mi get mi break mi come a Ochi come tan wid unuh," he had replied and I smiled slightly.

"Yow chill man yuh nuh affi spend the wul time n besides wi a split pan e weekend," I informed. "Am sure you'll fuljoy your break from the uniform and yuh work."

"Mi a guh fuljoy it yes, right inna Simone's front," he replied laughing causing me to chuckle.

"Awrite mi boss duh yuh ting, but if yuh change yuh mind Friday wi a guh hang out a Manley's new VIP rooftop bar."

"Mi a guh link Simz an mek she know but not before mi sure how mi break a guh because knowing dem rass yah wi might nuh get no shift break," he said after a while as if he was momentarily distracted. "Nuh waah disappoint mi babes."

It was good to see my brothers and my childhood friend happy or at least contented in a relationship.

Like me because of infidelity his marriage had been ripped go pieces and it had taken him a while to let go of the hurt and betrayal but there had always been a dark side to Dalton and it was clear now that dark side had broken free.

I stared into the rearview mirror and as a dreadful feeling of resentment filled me I put my index finger in my mouth and bite hard to let my anger subside.

Why did women have to be so fickle and cruel about men's feelings and then expect it to just slide because they were sleeping with you?

Yes, we love sex, it was just the set-up of our nature but that did not mean that was the only feeling that we possess. Men have hearts too and our desire to be respected and treated with care was no different from a woman's. Whenever we found that which we are looking for in a woman that is where our attention and our hearts lay.

I wish Simone had not been so selfish to not realize this in Dalton. For the past year since she has been with Dalton, I knew they had a few arguments about her carrying on with other men. It was clear to see that she made herself foolishly pay with her life as the price for something she could have avoided if she had just been true to herself.

Simone was not ready to be a one man's woman and she was foolish to play like she was. Now Dalton was behind bars, DD was battling for his life and she was dead, and what made it worst was her selfishness was going to hurt more people than she even imagines.

My mind drifts to Patrice and as it did so it brought with it the man that was with DD Sunday night at her home. I had learned from Kronazz that he was DD's cousin's and Patrice's daughter's father.

Every time it seems I got one step closer to Patrice the storm escalated and drove us apart.

I open the car door and reach for my phone and as I did so it started to ring. I look to see that it was Patrice. I had left earlier to do some last-minute set-up for Kronazz who would be providing the entertainment for Manley's new establishment.

Manley Meeks was a prominent businessman who has nightclubs, resorts, hotels, and restaurants in every one of the bustling tourist hubs in Jamaica.

An entrepreneur that invests entirely in his country the fifty-six-year-old Harvard University business graduate was my ex-wife's father. We had no grudges between us and as business associates, we ensure that personal grievances did not come in the way of any business venture we had in place.

Manley was a street-wise man and world-weary. He was not averse to the ways of people and he did not take sides. For him wrong was wrong and rights were never to waver.

"Where are you?" A rich baritone voice asked.

"Hey Manley," I said shocked to hear how hollow and lifeless my voice sounded. "I've been sitting in the parking lot of the hotel for the past half an hour."

"I think you should let your man handle matters here. You know he's quite capable and just chill with that pretty little lady before you head on over tonight."

There was a matter-of-fact way in which he related what he said that had me knowing he was telling me what he wanted me to do. It was not a suggestion. I take it he knew what had happened.

"Ok, I'll see you tonight."

"Until then son," he said hanging up.

After sending a text message of inquiry and getting a reliable response I called Patrice's cell.

"Hello," she answered on the second ring.

"A suh yuh ansa yuh man?" I teased realizing just how the sound of her voice had me feeling better.

I heard her give a little chuckle before saying, "Hello mi man."

I laugh and heard her laugh too. "Wi affi guh work pan it."

"Ok then."

I could hear the smile in her voice and I picture her smiling as she spoke to me. I hope to forever be the man to keep her smiling but if I was to do that I had to tear down a few more boundaries.

"Get dress and meet me in the parking lot," I told her.

"We're going to the beach?"

"Yes baby," I told her.

"See you in a bit."

Last night after I had taken her up to the room we would be sharing and we were cuddled in each other's arms my hand had automatically laid itself on her flat belly. I thought of her having my child and felt a sense of pride and joy in the matter.

"Is this what you want Patrice?" I had asked her.

She looked down at my hand on her belly and then said. "A few days back I would have told you no because back then I was fueled by other desires driven by a long-standing need."

"But?"

"But now I am here with you wanting all that you have to offer."

I raise my hand to tilt her face up so that she was looking into my eyes. "Him a guh be a threat to wah mi want fi av wid yuh Pat?"

She swallowed then took a deep breath her fingers reaching up to hold mine. She closed her eyes as she let out the breath she had audibly taken in but when she opened them kept eye contact.

"I have never allowed myself to get this close to any man or have them come close to me." She said softly. "In the few affairs, I have entered never had I cause them to broach even the walls I build up to ensure no one comes close."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted when time saw it fit to give Odean back to me no one would be in our way."

Silence filled the room until she spoke again.

"But there will always be something standing between Odean and me. Something so bad that his grandmother was willing to take it to her grave and my mother was willing to abandon me for.

But now it seems also I have you in the way as well and try as I might I don't want you to go I want you to stay."

"What of Odean?"

"I need OD for Deenie and no longer for myself."

The sound of the passenger window being knocked pulls me from my thoughts of last night and I look to see Patrice standing there. I unlock the door and she entered looking like heaven but having me feeling like hell.

I found myself hoping that the secret that kept her and Odean apart stayed unrevealed because if the secret should be revealed I wonder if I would still have her.

I was scared to lose her. I was too deep in love with her not to suffer if I should have to let her go.

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Nuff love 🇯🇲