Ebony Angel (23 page)

Lightheaded, Richard knew he’d faint any second. This was real. He couldn’t die and leave Ebony unprotected. His lungs burned as if he had been stabbed with a flaming knife. Inhaling was harder than inflating a balloon with a hole in it. He silently prayed for divine intervention.

“This is how we’re gonna work this. You won’t tell anyone about our little altercation here. I’ve already arranged for the police to find evidence that your attacker is one of my rivals. All you remember about your assailant is he’s black and wears braids. Not nice ones like mine.” He smoothed his hands over his hair. “Frizzy, short shit, straight back, no imagination.”

The lights had come back on, but Richard’s world remained dark, and one of his ears rung. He strained to see. He hadn’t realized eyelids could hurt so much and were so heavy.

“That’s a good boy. Look at me. First you’ll tell Ebony the engagement is off. She keeps the ring. You stay out of her and Crystal’s lives.”

Richard couldn’t focus or open his eyes fully. He saw a blurry Trae and gray blotches. Staggered breath after staggered breath, he fought for life. “I…” his head barely moved side to side, but it felt like someone used it as a tennis ball at Wimbledon, “wond…oo,” he drew in a breath, “et.”

“The hell you won’t.”

Fear of death disappeared; he had to save his family. “N-no…” He used all of his strength to grab Trae’s arm, scratching him in the process.

“Y-yes,” mocked Trae as he brushed Richard’s hand away. “You see, I’d kill you, but Ebony would eventually think I had something to do with it. This way you break up with her, and she has to move on to me.”

The police could check his nails for trace evidence. He’d seen it done a million times on “Forensic Files.” He relaxed and awaited death.

“I’m about to call the ambulance for you, but I need to make sure you understand this before they arrive. I know you wish you were dead, but you’re not. You stay away from Ebony and don’t tell anyone any of this, or I’ll kill your precious grandfather.”

“N-no,” he forced out as he hacked up blood and wrapped his arms tighter around his body.

“Oh, yes, yes.” Trae chuckled. “Tell Ebony that you needed her to believe in you. To prove I mean business, I think I’ll kill those bitches you call your sisters. They both live in Chicago now.”

“Pees…Tae…don…”

Trae stood. “Damn, you’re lucky you’re my boy. I won’t kill them for now, but slip up with Ebony, and they’re dead. Don’t even think about contacting anyone about this. For one thing, I have everything tapped, and trust me, if you contact someone, it will get back to me, and your family will die.” He reared his foot back for one last kick.

Richard could barely see Trae’s foot coming toward his face. He winced and drew his arms up, but the foot never connected.

Skeet stood in the doorway. “What the hell is going on?” he snapped as he closed the door and went to Richard’s aid. “Step off.” He pushed Trae away. “What the hell have you done? He’s our boy.” He knelt beside Richard. “Don’t worry, dawg.” He snatched his cell phone off his belt clip.

His initial shock on seeing Skeet worn off, Trae said, “You didn’t see her crying. I couldn’t let him disrespect her like this.” He crouched beside them. “Shit, man. I didn’t mean to beat him so badly. I came to talk sense into him. He said he didn’t want anything to do with Ebony. I—I snapped.”

“Take your ass in the kitchen and get ice, water, towels.” Richard relaxed in Skeet’s arms. “Hold on, man.” Skeet dialed 911 and gave them the pertinent information.

Trae walked into the kitchen, saying, “I’m going to jail for this shit. You have to take care of Ebony for me.”

“Shut the hell up, and hurry with the ice.” He felt Richard’s lumpy face. “Damn, what the hell you hit him with? If he swells any further, I think his face will burst.”

Richard could hear Skeet, but didn’t have the strength to acknowledge him. He forced himself to focus. The anguish in Skeet’s expression touched him. They had truly become friends.

“You’ll be fine, Smoke.” He rocked him. “The ambulance will be here soon.”

Trae knelt beside them with a bowl of ice, a glass of water and a face towel. “I can’t believe I did this, not to my boy.” He dabbed the towel in water and cleaned Richard’s wounds. “Shit, Skeet.” He lowered his head. “I swear I didn’t intend on…” He shrugged. “In a way I wanted to live through him and Ebony. He was my way of getting out, then he…We’re the monsters Ebony said we’d become. This is the second time I’ve done something I’ll never forgive myself for.”

Skeet exhaled an exasperated breath. “I understand. We have to stop this madness. Don’t say anything to the police. You might get lucky, and Smoke will let this go. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one, though.”

A few seconds later, Richard lost consciousness, thinking Trae, master manipulator, had won again.

* * *

Richard slowly opened his eyes and saw Skeet sitting beside his hospital bed. Fortunately, the drugs pumped into his system dulled the pain drastically. Unfortunately, they also dulled his thinking.

“Damn, Smoke. You look like shit.” Skeet’s face usually lit up when he smiled, not this time.

Richard chuckled, coughed, moaned.

“I know you won’t believe me, but Trae’s really sorry. He didn’t mean to…” he trailed off. “Well, he meant to beat your ass, just not so severely. I know you don’t understand our world. I’m asking you as a friend not to tell the cops. They think it was those south side punks.”

Trae’s threats to kill his family ran through his mind. He had to figure out a way to save Ebony without endangering the rest of his family.

“I don’t blame you for being angry.” Skeet scooted his chair forward, then rested his elbows on his knees. “How can I explain?” He lowered his head. “A few years ago Trae did something really jacked up to Ebony. I lost it.” He ran his large hands over his braids. “I beat him so bad he was in the hospital for a week. He didn’t tell the police I had done it.”

“Woo swaved me,” he slurred through fat, busted lips. “I wontell.”

“Thanks, man.” He straightened his shoulders.

Richard’s vision was still blurred, but it looked as if Skeet would tear up.

“About Ebony…” Skeet cleared his throat, composed himself. “If you take her back,” he walked to the window, “I promise to stay out of you all’s life, and keep Trae out also.” He stared out the window into the night. “I know you love her. It’s her baggage you don’t want.” He wiped his eyes. “Damn allergies are bad this time of year.”

Richard watched his big friend fighting an “allergy attack.” His own eyes were watery from tears, so the allergens must have been high. He’d have to play along with Trae until he healed and calculated how to save Ebony.

Skeet returned to the chair. “When Crystal asks for us, we can meet wherever you decide. That way she won’t feel like we abandoned her. Ebony never got over Dan leaving.”

“No, Keet. Ahm da wan who should wheave. She es to cose to woo an Tae. I can…can…t…tahmatize her,” he said slowly.

“But you love them. I see it in everything you do and say.”

“Ebney will neva beweave in me like she,” he drew in a few staggered breaths, “does woo an Tae.” He turned his head to the side. “I don—t won her.” All he could think about was the message she had left on his answering machine saying she loved him and apologizing for overreacting. How he wished he had retrieved the message sooner. Now it was too late. Trae had to be dealt with.

“You’re scared and lying to yourself. You love Ebony.”

“Pees, Keet. Ahm tired.” He gazed into Skeet’s big brown eyes, pleading for him to drop the subject.

“Get some rest. I called your family. Don’t worry, I used my business voice. Your father’s secretary said your parents were on some cruise, but they’re on their way.” He chuckled. “You should have heard me convincing Nonno to stay his old ass in Texas. He has a lot of fight in him. I know you don’t want him seeing you like this.” Richard’s face was still swollen, black and blue, a lumpy mess.

“You have three broken ribs, all kinds of bruises and contusions, and that cast there isn’t for decoration.”

Richard focused on the cast around his left forearm and hand. His injuries would take weeks to heal. That would give him time to create a game plan. Skeet would protect Ebony, just as he had years ago. “Wha tom es et?”

Skeet glanced at his watch. “Almost nine.”

“How wong ave I been out?”

“Since last night. Ebony still doesn’t know. I’ll bet she’s left about a thousand messages on your service.”

Ebony didn’t know, but his sisters did, so why hadn’t they come? Fear gripped him as echoes of Trae threatening to kill them resounded loudly in his mind. “Where’s Tae?”

“With Ebony. We need to tell her soon. I just wanted to prepare you first.”

“Ah don wan to see her.”

A broad smile flashed across Skeet’s face. “Like anyone can stop her. She will find out. Shit, you think your ass was beat. Hell naw. I’m not taking the heat for keeping news like this from her. You two love each other. Everything will work out. I think you need at least one more day. These drugs have you sounding crazy. This will give more time for some of the swelling to go down.”

Trae maneuvered the truck into the hospital parking lot. “Speak to me, Ebony.” Silence. “This is stupid. Why are you mad at me? Hell, if I hadn’t come along, he’d probably be dead.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Why didn’t you tell me immediately? He needed me here!” She stuffed her fists under her armpits and stared out the window. “Just drop me at the emergency room door.”

He backed her SUV into a space. “It’s after visiting hours. Let me go in and make sure they’ll let you see him.”

“You’d better believe they’ll let me see him,” she snapped.

His lips thinned. “You have a lovely disposition, but I think you should calm yourself before you go into his room.”

“Fine.”

* * *

Richard flinched at the sight of Trae standing over him.

“Don’t worry, Smoke. I just wanted to make sure you remembered our conversation before I bring Ebony in.”

Richard remained silent.

“Blink once for yes, twice for no. Do you remember our conversation about your family?”

“Yes, I remember, you bastard,” Richard slowly replied.

“Still talkin’ shit, huh. No problem. Ebony always liked men with balls. You sound way better. Watch what you say.” Trae walked out the room.

* * *

Richard pretended to be asleep when Ebony entered the hospital room. She argued in an undertone with Trae for a while. Trae wanted her to leave, but she wouldn’t. Instead, she insisted he leave. She finally fell asleep leaning on Richard’s bed, holding his good hand.

The room was dark except for the moonlight from the window and the hallway light seeping under the door. He caressed her hand, whispering, “I’ll always love you.”

She stirred, woke. “Hey, stranger. I love you.” The sight of all the swelling and bruises had Ebony wanting to cry. She wondered what type of animal could do this. She found the one clear spot on his face and kissed him lightly. “I’m so sorry, Smoke. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

“I’m Richard, not Smoke.”

Slapping herself inwardly, she tilted her head forward in apology. “Of course, Richard. I’ll never call you Smoke again.” His speech had slowed drastically, but at least he didn’t sound drunk, as Skeet had informed her.

He sighed. “Thanks for the visit. I think you should leave.”

Hurt, afraid of rejection, she forced a smile. “I don’t mind. I want to stay with you. The man I love.” Adjusting to the limited light, she strained to see past the bruises and swelling into his eyes, searching for the truth.

He closed his eyes. “I mind. It was nice while it lasted, but I want out. We made a serious mistake.”

Her ears were deceiving her; this couldn’t be happening. “I know I overreacted. I was embarrassed.”

“I needed,” he turned his head away from her. “My mother never believed in me.”

“I believe in you. I’m here for you.”

He caressed her hand, squeezed it gently.

As usual, his touch calmed her. The medications must have had him talking out of his mind. She patted his hand. “I’ll take care of you, Richard.”

“I know this is hard for you, but I…”

“Look at me, Richard. Look at me, and tell me you don’t love me.”

“Listen to me carefully. I need someone who, no matter how things appear, loves me enough to know my heart. I…” he trailed off. “It isn’t your fault. That first day you, a stranger, showed me true kindness and acceptance. Something I’d missed in my family. I wanted it so bad. I wanted someone besides Nonno on my side.”

“I am on your side.”

“You’re on everyone’s side. Your heart is like none other, but…”

“But what?”

“We made a mistake. I wish you well in your life.” He closed his eyes. “I’m too tired to argue. There’s no need for you to stay.”

Tears streamed down her face. “After your family arrives, I’ll leave your life.”