“As soon as the baby is born, I will make sure that he knows what’s going on up here.”
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Nassau Bahamas
Since the death of Harry Walker, things had been quiet on the island. Deidra had met with everybody that worked for Harry and told them that he was dead. She then got them to understand that any attempt at avenging Harry’s death would result in them joining him. Everybody accepted it, everybody except for Harry's cousin, Wooden. He quietly thought that Deidra sold Harry out to Black and swore to get revenge. Unaware of his feelings, Deidra went to work. She got her girls back on the street working and had already found a spot and got her crap game re-opened for business and was on the lookout for more. It wouldn’t take her long to have the operation back up and running.
The repairs to Paraíso had been completed and had no effect on business. A steel fence was built around the beach area and a mobile patrol was added to close that costly breech in their security. While Jada and her staff mourned their loss, she did her best to keep their spirits up. As far as she and Black were concerned, each conducted themselves as if their afternoon of love making never happened.
Jada had cut herself off from her feelings years ago when she got into the business. Sasha told her that feelings get in the way of making money and for years, Jada agreed with her. She tried to put a name on what she was feeling, and refused to call it love, but she was sure that it was more than pure lust. When Black talked, Jada would study his face and his body movements looking for any sign that that he was feeling for her the way she was feeling for him and found none. Each time Black came to Paraíso, he always came with Bobby and Jada felt that he went back to treating her like a porcelain doll.
Black wrestled with the conflict within him, but he doggedly stuck to his conviction that CeCe was his future. But Bobby’s words stayed on his mind. That may be true and I know that you really believe that or you wouldn’t have said it. CeCe may be the future, but that, my old friend is your woman. And besides, Jada had made it clear that, This can in no way affect our business relationship. I don’t care how good you are in bed, you are far more valuable to me as a business partner. From where he sat Jada gave no indication that her opinion on the subject had changed. But he wondered what he would do if it did? He didn’t know and he didn’t want to know.
Everything had gone back to the way it was and after a while everybody was relaxed and at ease. Everyone except for Bobby. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he knew that something wasn’t quite right. That afternoon, he and Black sat at Paraíso and Bobby told him how he was feeling. “You know I hate it when you start havin’ them kind of feelings, because you’re always right.”
“I think I’m gonna to go to New York for a couple of days. Wanna come with me?”
“No. I need to stay close to Cee.”
“I think you need to come with me.”
“Why?”
“You need to get away from Ms. West for a while,” Bobby said and pointed at her. “’Cause the two of you are makin’ me sick. She’s all Mr. Black this, and Mr. Black that and you’re all Ms. West this and Ms. West that, but what she really sayin’ is you need to come fuck me Mr. Black and everything you say to her screams bend over and grab your ankles Ms. West.”
Black laughed. “If you go to New York you won’t have to hear it,” he said as Jada approached them.
“Excuse me, Mr. Black, but you need to leave if you’re going to be on time to have dinner with your family,” Jada said and smiled.
Black looked at his watch. “Thank you, Ms West.” Black stood up. “You’re absolutely right.”
“I usually am, Mr. Black.”
Bobby stood up. “Sickening,” he said as he walked toward the door. “I’ll be in the car.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.” Black followed Bobby to the door and Jada looped her arm in his and walked with him. He glanced at Jada and thought again of how beautiful she was, and how Bobby was right about him wanting to bend her over, but knew that he was doing the right thing.
“Have a good evening with your family, Mr. Black.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Ms West,” Black said and walked out. Jada watched him get in the car with Bobby and drive away and hoped that he would change his mind and come back that night and without their chaperone.
Later that night over dinner, Bobby mentioned the trip to New York to CeCe. “I was thinkin’ about goin’ to the city for a couple of days and I’m tryin’ to get Mike to come with me,” he said.
“And I told him that I needed to stay here with you,” Black said.
“Take him.” CeCe said flatly.
“What?” Black and Bobby both said.
“You heard me, Bobby, I said take him. Get him outta my sight. Maybe if you’re gone I might get to feel better for a few days.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Can I go Daddy?” Michelle asked.