Authors: Michelle McGriff
Blood Relations (16 page)
Chapter 42
Reggie looked around the Emeryville station. He'd had a hefty walk from where he'd been dropped off. One of his friend's dads didn't work far from there, but far enough to make the walk less than convenient but, oh well; he was determined to make that train tonight. He'd had about thirty minutes before it would get there. That was long enough to pick up the ticket that Junior told him was waiting. He was sweaty and hot from the quick hustle but in his mind, he was thinking with all his wits. Darting into the restroom to freshen up, to wipe his face with a wet paper towel, he took a moment to exhale before heading out to the waiting area. Surveying the room to see if perhaps his folks weren't as clueless as he imagined they wereâor if maybe Junior was right about the spiesâhe saw nothing suspicious so he jumped in the line where he would then pick up his ticket. Reaching the glass, he smiled at the black women behind the window who grinned back. She reminded him of Junior's mother, kinda sweet looking with a dimple in her cheek. Yeah, she reminded him of Juanitaâshort of the bright red dreads Juanita wore. “I have a round trip ticket to Eugene, Oregon waiting,” he requested.
“I need your ID, son,” she said.
“Okay,” he said reaching for his wallet. “Damn!” His wallet was in his backpack and his backpack was home.
“Here,” a familiar voice behind him said, while sliding his wallet onto the counter. Reggie turned only to face Junior. Junior wasn't smiling. He looked actually rather pissed off.
“Hey,” Reggie greeted with a cheese grin, after showing the ID to the woman.
“Anyway ...” Junior snapped as Reggie signed the ticket. “Ya tried to ditch me ... ya motha.” Junior said pushing Reggie hard. Reggie stumbled slightly, messing up his signature.
“I did not.”
“You did. You have no plans on trying to take me or wait for me. You didn't once even look around for me. You just got here and came for your ticket. I shoulda let your ass go to the Ferry Building and get apprehended,” Junior growled under his breath, moving up to the window after Reggie moved aside. “I need a ticket to Eugene too.”
“Train is crowded young man. That's going to be one hundred seventeen dollars.”
“Ouch,” Reggie groaned, looking in his nearly empty wallet.
“I got it.” Junior slid the crisp five twenties onto the counter. The woman handed him his ticket to sign, which he did before briskly moving from the window.
Reggie noticed his backpack and shrugged it onto his shoulder. “Junior, wait. Look,” he began, hoping no one would notice them arguing. Junior was embarrassing him and he needed to get this settled quickly. “This is my trip, man. I'm going to college. This was important to me.”
“Well, you said I could go. And now you need me to go. You don't even have any money.”
Reggie smacked his full lips, unable to deny the facts. Clearly Junior had scoped his wallet out.
“I don't have my phone, either.”
“I have your phone. It's in my bag. I found it in your mom's panty drawer.”
“My mom's what? You lyin' ...”
Junior laughed, holding up his hand to prevent getting a smack. “Just playin'. It was in the kitchen where she left it. I found it when I went back to get your stuff. I had to move fast 'cause folks were looking for you but I got it.”
“Wow, you did that for me?”
“We're brothers man. I had to.”
“We're not brothers,” Reggie remarked coldly.
“Okay, so we're stepbrothers, whatever,” Junior turned to continue out the door to wait for the train. Reggie pulled at this sleeve and held out his hand to shake. Junior looked at it.
“But we are friends ... okay. I mean, you saved my ass tonight, I mean ... I'm not even going to beat your ass for touching my mama's panties and shit.”
Junior shook his hand before they knocked fists. “Actually, my mother saved your ass and she's gonna kick mine when she finds out how much money I've been embezzling over the last couple of days. I snagged about six hundred bucks.”
“Ohhh shit!” Reggie laughed while covering his mouth.
“And I took all the food you guys had out of your kitchen, too,” Junior confessed proudly, holding up his huge full overstuff backpack. About that time they heard the train being called. They headed on outside towards the boarding area.
“By the way, how did you get here?”
“I got friends,” Junior said. “Even if you don't like me.”
“Don't start,” Reggie warned playfully.
The boys were not looking one way or another as tonight they were the only two young men on the planet. They were going on a road trip together. They had stolen money, plenty of food and were high on excitement. It was the closet they'd felt in a long time ... maybe ever.
So excited they were they didn't notice the other passengers. They didn't notice friend or foe this night.
Chapter 43
“Okay so one of my agents spotted them at the Emeryville station and got on the train with them,” Ovan said to Chance over the phone.
“Thank God. So they're safe from Roman. For now we can assume he's waiting at the end of the trip, right? They're safe for now, right?” Nita asked excitedly, overhearing the news. Ovan had been trying to keep her out of way but it wasn't working, she was all over everythingâincluding him. He was hoping Maravel hadn't noticed her overt clinginessâor maybe it was he who was acting differentlyâwho knew. But things had changed between him and Juanita Davis/Duncan and he wasn't happy about it. He was distracted now and antsy. He was fighting to keep his thoughts above the belt.
“So what is our next move,” Juanita asked, after he hung up the phone.
He rolled his eyes, perhaps mostly to avoid the sparkle he'd caught in hers. She was an outstandingly beautiful woman and he was having a hard time keeping his hands off of her. Inappropriate as it was, he wanted nothing more than to touch her again. He could understand Roman, taking an opportunity to have her. He understood Chance claiming a boy that was no more his son than the man in the moon's to stay connected to her. This woman was clearly more than a simple shag. She had in just those few moments in a cold, public WC done more than shared a few stolen sexual moments from him. She'd touched his heart. She'd gone deep. She'd gotten into his blood. He'd gone flesh to flesh with her. He'd not done that in years ... since his first love.
Perhaps he understood now what it meant to be “sprung,” for he would do anything for Juanita if she were just to ask ... and maybe she had. She wanted her son back, and he was now more determined than ever to get both boys back home safely.
“My plan, Ms. Duncanâ”
“Davis,” she corrected. Her eyes were still doe-like and filled with unearned innocence. He liked that about her. She was far from innocent. Yet, so adorable.
“My plan,” he continued, ignoring the correction. “is that Chance and I fly up to Portlandâthe only place a bloody plane can land close enough to Eugene this time of year. Rent a car and drive back to EugeneâNab Roman, who will probably be waiting when they get off the train.”
“I'm going with you,” Juanita said, glancing at Maravel who caught her statement but looked away as if not eavesdropping. “Is that your girlfriend?” Juanita then asked concerning her.
“Juanita, now is not the time,” Ovan stated flatly, walking toward the car without looking at her.
“I'm just asking. I like to know who I'm working with,” she continued, following closely.
“Really? You coulda fooled me earlier today,” he smarted off.
“Ouch! That was rude,” she snapped back, rushing to keep up with his quick steps.
He turned and stopped abruptly causing her to bump into him. “Woman! My job is dangerous. You can't go. I'm out to capture Allen Roman. He is my only interest here. The boys are my secondary concernâand your safety isn't even on my list,” he lied, “because we shouldn't worry ourselves about it, because, you shouldn't be in way.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “And right now, you're completely in the way.”
“You're lying, and I'm going,” she told him. Ovan threw up his hands and stomped off. Juanita went after him again. “I'm going!”
“Nita, come on, it's not safe.”
“I don't care,” Juanita pleaded.
“Look, love, you could get hurt and I ... I can't have that,” he said, wondering where those words were coming from.
“I don't care. I can't just stand by while you and Chance find my and Rashawn's sons. I know if she were here she'd be fighting us both to get on that plane and trust me, she not as friendly as I am.”
Finally Ovan took her by the shoulders and bravely stared into her hypnotic pools of grey. “Nita. Roman is going to butcher Reggie. He's planning to kill him.”
Juanita swooned slightly, her eyes fluttering instantly before she seemingly forced herself to regroup. “Why?” she asked. Her voice was weaker now.
“He's got no kidneys. He's going to butcher Reggie and take both of his. We need to stop him before he realizes that Junior is his son as well. He's insane, greedy and feels he's above the law.”
“But if he takes both of Reggie's kidneys ... he'll die?”
“Yes. He will. But guess what? He may not have to now ... because guess what?”
“Oh my God, Junior is with Reggie.”
“Exactly, and if I can figure out Roman is Junior's father just by looking at him closely and verifying my suspicions from a bloody toothbrush, you can only imagine that it won't take long for Hap Washburnâwho is a doctorâto find out the same information.”
“No!” Juanita gasped. “No!” she repeated louder. “He can't have my son's kidney. He can't do this! Junior is all I have!”
Ovan glanced around as people began to notice her growing hysteria. “Calm down, Nita. We won't let it happen,” he whispered.
“Oh God,” Juanita said grabbing at her hair. Her mouth hung open and Ovan knew next she would start to scream. He recognized the start of a conniption fit when he saw one. Pulling her into him, he kissed her shoving his tongue in deep. He pulled her by her rump, grinding her body into his while nearly smothering her with his mouth on hers. He could feel her hot tears on his face as he kissed her, while, with all his might he tried to comfort and soothe her. She grabbed at his hair, pulling on the short ends until finally she pushed back from his powerful clutch. “You're a very sick man, Ovan Dominguez,” she mumbled with her head still buried in his chest.
“Takes one to know one, Doctor,” he replied.
About then Maravel was coming from the station toward them. “Ovan, there's been an anomaly we think you should know about,” she said, speaking as if she didn't notice Juanita pull away from him, smoothing down her blouse and fluffing her hair. “I finally got the ticketmaster to give me information regarding Hap's ticket purchase. Nearly took an act of Congress ... but that nice Detective Beem helped me ... anyway, Hap bought a ticket true but not to Eugene. He got a ticket from Emeryville to Klamath.”
“Okay so again ... who is Hap Washburn and what does he matter?” Nita asked.
“He's a surgeon working with Allen Roman ... possibly the one who is going to actually perform the operation,” Maravel said flatly, not noticing Ovan slicing his hand under his chin. Juanita again, went into fits.
Chapter 44
The train was crowded but Reggie didn't notice. He was just excited to be there, squeezing his way up the narrow staircase to the upper section. He didn't care that he had to sit next to Juniorâfor about fourteen hours! The thought, however, did run briefly thru his mind when Junior stumbled on the steps on his way up.
“Come on, Foo', you can't be doing that,” he growled giving him a shove from behind.
“It's not like he meant to,” he heard a female voice say in Junior's defense. Glancing over his shoulder as much as he could amidst the hustle bustle of passengers packing their carry-ons below and some attempting to come up the stairway with every other possession they ownedâand then there was those at the top of the stairs waiting for Junior to get up and out of the way so they could come back down ... and for what!
Go, sit down already!
Reggie mentally fused, still not able to see the face of who owned the soft voice behind him.
Go, sit down already!
Reggie mentally fused, still not able to see the face of who owned the soft voice behind him.
“Well I guess, but if his feet weren't so friggin' big,” Reggie joked.
“Yeah, that's for covering the court twice as fast as you, Bro,” Junior retorted, grinning broadly. “Oh yeah you play football ... whatever,” Junior teased playfully. Reggie could see how excited he was. It showed on his face. His grin was nearly ear to ear. Reggie couldn't help but smile ... as much as he fought it back.
“You play football?” the girl asked.
He had to see her, she was sounding too fine for him to resist. Finally, wrestling up the stairs, Junior took their boarding ticket in order to find their seats.
Fine!
Reggie growled internally. Suddenly, feeling the small soft hands against his back, the girl moved past him and headed in the opposite direction of the coach. Her long thick mane hung down her back stopping at her slender waist, which peeked from below her short top. Her skin was milky, a complexion that begged a touch, but Reggie resisted. His hormones had been in overdrive latelyâeven he had to admit thatâbut football firstâit was a priority, right?
Phhsst Coach is crazy if he thinks football is the only thing on this mind!
Reggie purred unconsciously not realizing the sound escaped his full lips. That's right when Junior smacked his cheek from behind. He was being playful but Reggie didn't take it that way and turned smacked him back a little harder than necessary.
Fine!
Reggie growled internally. Suddenly, feeling the small soft hands against his back, the girl moved past him and headed in the opposite direction of the coach. Her long thick mane hung down her back stopping at her slender waist, which peeked from below her short top. Her skin was milky, a complexion that begged a touch, but Reggie resisted. His hormones had been in overdrive latelyâeven he had to admit thatâbut football firstâit was a priority, right?
Phhsst Coach is crazy if he thinks football is the only thing on this mind!
Reggie purred unconsciously not realizing the sound escaped his full lips. That's right when Junior smacked his cheek from behind. He was being playful but Reggie didn't take it that way and turned smacked him back a little harder than necessary.
“Shit bro! I'm just fuckin' with you ... Come on, I found our seats.”
Noticing the older woman frowning up at the volume and language Junior had chosen to use he decided to take the lead in acting more mature. “Watch ya mouth,” he snapped following him to the seats.
“Yeah whatever,” Junior reluctantly acquiesced.
Bumping butts with other passengers, Reggie struggled to put his and Junior's backpacks overhead. Junior's weighed a ton, no doubt full of video games as well as food. “Damn did you bring the kitchen sink, too?” Reggie asked, forcing Junior to pull the ear buds from his bobbing head.
“What?”
“What the hell is in the bag again?” he asked again, pointing upward.
“Snacks,” Junior stated matter-of-factly, putting the plugs back in and bobbing his head again, this time singing out loud a bit. “ 'Cause I'm the shit,” he sang, imitation of Pharrel Williamsâhis idolâspinning around in the small isle. Reggie shook his head, realizing then that he'd not thought about eating. He'd only thought about getting there.
Eugene, Oregon. One weekend in a dorm. The possibility of moving away from home. College on a full ride scholarship in the fall. Life is all about the adventure that awaits meâfa sho.
Just then he noticed the girl of his dreams headed his way. She strolled like a model on the catwalk. Slow and sensuousâor maybe that's just what he saw. He was grinning before he could control the muscles in his face. Quickly he got a grip. Clearing his throat he stood facing her. Her eyes met his which was uncommon for most of the girls he knew. Surely she was five ten. Five foot ten inches of blended perfection. Her eyes were dark, like pools of that muddy stuff Chance called coffee.
Eugene, Oregon. One weekend in a dorm. The possibility of moving away from home. College on a full ride scholarship in the fall. Life is all about the adventure that awaits meâfa sho.
Just then he noticed the girl of his dreams headed his way. She strolled like a model on the catwalk. Slow and sensuousâor maybe that's just what he saw. He was grinning before he could control the muscles in his face. Quickly he got a grip. Clearing his throat he stood facing her. Her eyes met his which was uncommon for most of the girls he knew. Surely she was five ten. Five foot ten inches of blended perfection. Her eyes were dark, like pools of that muddy stuff Chance called coffee.
Pointing around him she grinned. “I need to get to my seat,” she said, pointing at the two empty ones in front of him. God she had an accent. Surely he'd missed it earlier.
They really do have black folks in England,
he pondered.
They really do have black folks in England,
he pondered.
Clearing his throat quickly Reggie sat allowing her to pass. “Ohhh. My bad!”
She grinned and slid into her seat only to turn around on her knees over the seat in front of him. All Reggie could see were her breasts and cleavage pressing against the seat while she spoke.
“I hope I don't get some stinky old man sitting next to me,” she said, giggling playfully.
“I'll move up there if you want,” Junior answered quickly, surprisingly able to hear her without taking out his ear buds this time.
Reggie noticed that right away. “She don't want your stank ass up next to her either,” he grumbled.
She giggled. “Maybe I do ... a stank ass is better than a stank attitude.”
“Ohhh, burrrn,” Junior said, covering his mouth and raising his knee up while cracking up. The girl laughed too. Just then her cell phone jingled. She dug deep into the pocket of her tight jeans. All Reggie could see was her breastsâbouncing.
“Hey Mommy,” she said, tossing her mane over her shoulder. She glanced up at Reggie and Junior. “No, I'm comfortable. I got good seats.” She spoke with flirt in her voice. “No Mommy, no man ... and I really hope one doesn't sit by me. I spoke with the attendant about it and so I hope they remember who I'm supposed to sit next to. Yes, Mommy, yes, I'll be good.” She hung up.
“You shouldn't have told Mommy that lie,” Reggie flirted.
“Don't know whatever you mean,” she smarted off.
Just then a slender, sharply dressed man with fresh clean looking dreads sat across from her. He smiled at her and then at Reggie and Junior. “Train is crowded today,” he said, starting conversation. “Lots of kids on here,” he added. “Not many parents.”
“Well, I'm over eighteen,” she answered, as if he had asked a question.
“Just a baby,” he said leaning his head back and closing his eyes as if he wanted to tune them out before they even got rollingâwhich was fine by Reggie.
“I'm on my way to college,” she added, settling into her seat, again answering an unasked question.
“Which college?” the man asked her.
“Pardon?” she asked.
He repeated the question.
“University of Oregon,” she answered. Reggie's stomach tightened.
“Me too,” he yelped, catching the man's attention. He then pointed at Junior. “Us too ... We're going up to look it over.”
“Sweet,” the girl joined in.
Reggie grinned now, not even trying to fight it. Junior just leaned back and closed his eyes, letting his music take him away.
“British?” the man asked, again being nosyâin Reggie's opinion.
“No, South African,” she answered. Reggie perked up. He'd never really met anyone from Africa before.
“Interesting. What brings you to America?”
“My father's work,” she answered. The man nodded and leaned his head back.
The train began moving slowly, on its way to the next stop. The attendant then started through the coach, double checking seating, making sure everyone was where they belonged.
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