Caught Up (Indigo Vibe) (5 page)

Rosa rested her weary body against Ernesto. The woman’s best friends were MasterCard and Visa.

How many times has Mom told me that men are here to serve women?

Rosa knew how she used men over the years. She’d slept with several married men and told Rosa this proved men were no good. Harriet loved to show off the gifts married men had bought her, saying, “They should be home with their wives instead of buying me things.”

Ernesto lifted her chin up with his finger. “I’m sorry about all of this. You should have never found out. I’ll never live down the disappointment in your eyes.”

Torn, she didn’t know how she would manage, but she knew she would. “I love you.”

“I love you more.” He tapped her nose with his knuckle. “Knowing these dark secrets has only hurt you. There was no need. You’re my daughter. You’re my heart.”

The need to see how this David fit into her family’s life puzzle was too great to ignore. She wasn’t ready to deal with the reality of her parentage, but she knew he would die in a few days. “I want to visit Martí
n before he’s executed.”

He stiffened. “Stay away from David. If the drug world finds out you’re his child, you’ll be in danger. I’m your father. I know what’s best.”

She detected more jealousy in his voice than fear. This had to be hard for him, especially after Harriet had just emasculated him. “You’ll always be my only father, but I need to meet him before it’s too late.”

“No. I forbid it.”

“Forbid?” First he’d hid her parentage from her, then his illegal activity, now he was forbidding her, a grown woman, from seeing her biological father days before he was slated to die. She’d never disobeyed Ernesto before, but this was an order he had no right to make.

“I’m not a child anymore. I love you, but this is something I need to do.”

He tilted his head to the side. She saw a flash of panic before he snapped his business face into place. He stalked over to the desk and made a call to his chauffer. “Rosa needs a ride to the airport. Be downstairs in five minutes.”

He hung up. “I love you too much to take any chances. You’re going to Italy, and that’s final. I have to stay and take care of this distribution company we’re acquiring. I’ll meet you in a few days.” He made a call to his pilot.

She massaged her temples. How had everything gotten so out of control so fast? And going to Italy? That was insane!

“I don’t want to run away. There’s no need.”

“Let’s go, Rosa.” He held his hand out for her.

“I don’t want to.”

“Now!”

Bottom lip poking out, she stuffed her fists under her armpits and stomped toward him.

He raised a brow. “Pout all you want. I’m doing this for your own good.”

Hand-in-hand, she did her best Frankenstein walk as he dragged her to the limo. She hadn’t been ordered to her room in years, and this was worse. He’d actually ordered her out of the country. His protectiveness had gone too far this time. Full-grown and with a multi-million dollar business to run, she had no intentions of leaving.

She plopped onto the back seat and watched him through the window as he spoke to the driver.

He opened the back door and knelt, using the seat to steady himself. The harsh lines of his face had softened. He reached out, gently pinching her chin. “I love you.”

“Then don’t make me leave.”

“I don’t have a choice.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll call you tonight.” He stepped fully onto the curb and closed the door.

She watched him out of the tiny back window as the stretch limo drove away. He didn’t move until the limo rounded the corner. She turned in her seat and closed her eyes. The soft sounds of Anita Baker’s soulful voice filled the car, calming her. She respected Ernesto’s authority and knew he wanted what was best for her, but he’d crossed the line this time.

She pressed the button for the intercom. “Marcus, I’m not going to the airport. Drop me at my hotel.”

“Your father gave me specific orders.”

“If you drop me at the airport, I’ll just take a taxi to the hotel. Why not skip a step? I’ll take full responsibility.”

Thoughts of her pouting tickled her. She hated how she’d regressed, but it had to be a funny sight. Only Ernesto had this power over her. She shook her head.

No more pouting.

It was way past time to be an adult in more than the business world.

* * *

Ernesto stood at his office window and watched over the city. Rosa was becoming feistier with him every day, but he could still control her. Six years ago when she went against his wishes and opened her own company in Chicago, he knew the next few years would be rough. If he could maintain control until after David’s execution, she’d never find out the whole truth.

He assured himself that he would recover from this small setback. By giving her a piece of the truth, he’d shown her that he was human. All humans make mistakes. All the years he had invested into Rosa’s emotional well-being would pay off. He tapped his knuckle on the window. There had to be a way to stall Rosa until he had time to cover his tracks.
Fear.
He sighed as he leaned his head against the window.
Fear for my life? No, her life.

* * *

“You know I wouldn’t call if it weren’t important. Please, Angela,” Harriet begged. “Please call me! Rosa found out Ernesto isn’t her father. I need your help.”

“
To delete this message, please press seven—
”

Angela pressed seven, then wiped the tears from her eyes. She loved her sister, but refused to get caught up in Harriet’s games. Memories of the last time she was pulled into one of Harriet’s messes still haunted her…

Chicago, thirty-one years ago

“You can’t stay in this hotel forever.” Angela rolled the armchair from the small table to the bed, then sat knee to knee with her sister. “Humble yourself. Beg George for his forgiveness. Do whatever you need to save your marriage and give this child a father.”

“She’s got a father—David.”

“First off, he’s a no good drug dealer. Secondly, it could be George’s.”

Harriet
tsked
her teeth. “George and I haven’t had sex in at least six months.”

“What?” Angela gasped, and her eyes flew wide open.

Harriet continued, “I’m not sure what I want anymore. How could he kick a pregnant woman out on the street in the middle of the night, knowing I had nowhere to go and no money?”

“Get real! Not only did he find out you were cheating on him and got pregnant by the guy, but David kicked his tail.”

Fanning herself, Angela drew in several calming breaths that in no way soothed her. “Okay, we can make it through this. I’m not saying George was right or this’ll be easy, but you have to try. Your marriage is a union made before God—”

“Don’t start with that God mess again. Did God keep those nasty ass perverts out of our beds when we were kids?”

Angela flinched at the memories.

“The one thing I do know is I don’t want George.”

“I know you’re not leaving George for that monster!”

Harriet stared at her sister as though she’d gone from having an Afro to straight hair in sixty seconds flat. “Have I ever allowed a man to beat me? I’m not a child anymore. Men will not use me. I told you, I’ve learned from Mama’s mistakes. I’m through with George
and
David.” She looked at the clock setting on the end table. “It’s almost noon. You need to leave before you miss your bus, and I need a nap. I’m trying to make a baby here.”

“You mean you’re
having
the baby?”

Harriet slowly nodded her head. “Men come and go. But blood,” she rested her hand on Angela’s, “is forever. This baby is a wakeup call. I need to change my life. I want to change my life.”

“I’m so proud of you.” Angela closed her eyes momentarily and silently thanked God. “I’ll help you with the baby. I’ll get a job and transfer to Chicago State.”

Withdrawing her hands, Harriet jerked back. “Oh no you won’t! You have a full scholarship at Vanderbilt. You’re almost done. I expect you to graduate from Vanderbilt.”

“But what will you do for money? I only have enough for one more night. Come to Tennessee with me for now.”

Harriet tapped her earrings—Chanel set, 14 karat gold, with full-cut, round, brilliant diamonds. “Do you realize how much jewelry I have?”

Angela looked at Harriet as if she’d become a nun. “I know you’re not pawning your jewelry.” Harriet’s light giggle warped Angela back in time, back to when they were four and five years old and all they cared about was playing in the park, picking dandelions, and making clover necklaces. Back to before their mother’s visitors stole their innocence. How she prayed her sister could regain some of that childhood innocence.

“I sound crazy, don’t I?” Harriet fanned herself, finally calming. “Seriously though, I need time alone. I don’t know. I guess to figure out what I want out of life. Now get going before you miss the bus.”

“Are you sure?” Angela wanted to have faith in Harriet, but it was hard. She’d been let down so many times before. Harriet was so much like their mother that it scared Angela.

“I have to stick around here until the divorce is final. Then, who knows? I may check Tennessee out.”

Angela hugged her sister. This time things would be different. She could feel it.

* * *

The truth is in Florida, so Florida is where I’m staying.
Repositioning herself and her journal on the hotel bed, Rosa propped a fluffy pillow under her arms.

I’m finding it hard to digest the fact that David Martí
n is my biological father.
An eerie chill filled Rosa.
The father of my heart is the head of the business world, and my biological father is the head of the drug world.

How can I be from a man like that? It’s true, so I have to deal with it. I don’t know if Daddy is more afraid of the drug world or afraid I’ll start considering David Martín as my father. Either way, in the long run, he’ll see he’s worried needlessly. He’s being his usual overprotective self.
She drew a mustached happy face.
And I love him for it.

While gathering her thoughts, she bit on the end of her ink pen.
No matter how out of whack my life was, I knew I’d make it because I had Daddy. He’s always been my anchor.
She paused.
Had been my anchor. I’ll always love him, but I don’t know who he is anymore. I don’t know who I am anymore. We’re both adrift.
She sighed.
Daddy was the one person I totally trusted and knew I could depend on. Now I feel betrayed. I don’t know what to believe. I’m scared. Scared of what else he’s hiding, scared that I can actually believe there may be more that I don’t know. Scared.

Reluctant to delve deeper, she closed the journal, then set it and her pen on the nightstand. She surrounded herself with fluffy pillows and fell into a fretful sleep. Eventually she relaxed, and a version of her favorite dream visited her. Instead of images, she heard children laughing and felt the warm, loving embrace of a man. These weren’t just any children and any man, but her children and her husband.

Banging at the door startled Rosa to full alertness. She hopped out of bed, grabbed her robe and wrapped herself with it. “I’m coming.” She slipped on her house shoes and rushed across the room. “I’m coming.” She peeked through the suite’s peephole. “Daddy?” She flipped on the light and opened the door. “What are you doing here this time of night?” She closed the door as he blew by her into the living area.

“What am I doing here?” he roared. “You’re supposed to be on a flight to Italy.”

Readying for the storm, she battened down her emotional hatches, stood tall, squared off her shoulders, held her chin high and kept her face stern. Appearing grown in rainbow print pajamas and fuzzy, blue bunny slippers wasn’t easy to pull off, but she thought she could swing it. “After I finish my business in Miami, I’m returning to Chicago.”

Ernesto trained his light stare on her. She thought she would buckle under his scrutiny, but she maintained her stance. This was a battle of wills. He would have to recognize her as an adult who made her own decisions. She didn’t expect him to agree with all of them, but she did expect him to accept that she would be making them. This was also a battle to save her family. The secrets were killing them. He and Harriet were unable to deal with the past, so she’d have to step up and do what needed to be done.

“You’re disobeying me?” he raged.

“I’m being the strong, independent woman you raised me to be. I have a thriving business that I can’t and don’t want to walk away from. I’m building a life in Chicago.” She paused to reorganize her thoughts. “My own life.” She softened. “I love you, but try to understand that I need time to live somewhere besides in your shadow. In Chicago, I’m Rosa Bolívar; anywhere else, I’m Ernesto Bolívar’s daughter.”

The fight slowly dissipated from his face. She remembered the last time that they had an argument. Then, too, she’d wanted to have a life outside of his shadow. She sighed. Six years and not much had changed—he was still her commander-in-chief.

He sat on the couch, leaning back as he ran his hands through his hair. “Then return to Chicago tonight. Do not return to Florida until I’m sure you’re safe. I can’t lose you, Rosa.”

She knelt before him, knowing he wanted her to leave Florida before she met David. He was afraid of losing her love. Her gaze tenderly caressed his worried face. He appeared to be aging, right before her eyes. “Love is thicker than blood, Daddy.” Telling him her plans to see David would only upset him more. Though she hated to admit it, he was acting so irrationally she thought he’d try to physically stop her from seeing David. “I have more business here. I’m not leaving for Chicago until I’m done.”

“Business, my foot. You’re here to see David. You’re not even doing estimates. I spoke to your new client earlier today. He said you finished the estimate before you came to my office.”