“What?” Genesis jerked back like Ruxs had virtually sucker punched him.
“Yes. You fuckin’ heard me right. So now, I want you to go and put the fear of God in that piece of shit. He’s probably treating him like this because he’s gay or who the hell knows, I don’t give a damn. Just handle it, Gen… without Curtis knowing.”
“Alright,” Genesis growled back, his own anger bubbling to the surface so fast his body heated and sweat started to trickle down his temples.
“I mean it. I don’t want to hear him so upset again. Either you do it… or we’re coming to do it,” Ruxs snarled.
“No! No, no, no. I like this city. I can handle it,” Genesis said quickly. He didn’t need the Enforcers coming to DC. No damn way.
“Good,” Ruxs conceded. “Hold on, someone wants to talk to you.”
Genesis walked back and forth across the soft beige area rug in their living room while he thought about how he was going to manage this. He could only imagine how his baby was feeling. That crooked boss had gone too far now.
“Hello. Good afternoon to you.”
Genesis frowned at the slight British accent. “Hello. Um, who’s this?”
“It’s Lennox. Lennox Freeman. You can call me Free. I work with Ruxs and Green. I met you at the wedding this weekend, albeit briefly. Sorry to barge in on the conversation like this.”
The guy’s accent wasn’t as thick as some he’d heard, just enough for it to be smooth and fun to listen too if Genesis weren’t in such a foul mood. “I remember, yes.”
“Well, Green was telling me about this director at that community center and what he’s been doing to your boyfriend. Being rude and rejecting his proposals. So I took a couple minutes and did a little digging. There is plenty of money available for that center that’s just sitting there not being used. Federal and state, I’m afraid. Three point two million dollars to be exact, available to those young lads to better their center. I don’t see where this director – Charles McMillian – approved any funds for upgrades or programs in the last eighteen months, but I did find some other interesting things. Like, he has a daughter that goes to a pretty impressive private school in Massachusetts and a wife that took him to the cleaners in a divorce two years ago. I’m sure if I keep going I’ll find something he doesn’t want anyone to ever know, especially the police.”
Genesis’ eyes got wider the more the hot Brit spoke.
“And, since Mr. McMillian is so good with tossing around accusations, Genesis, I thought I’d give you one to toss back at him. How can a pay band 3 State employee afford his daughter’s nineteen thousand dollars a year tuition and also pay out two thousand dollars a month in alimony to his ex-wife, while still being able to afford a 2016 Mustang GT? He probably couldn’t, unless he was embezzling money from his place of employment.”
Genesis was stunned. Shocked that one, this guy could get this kind of information in only a couple minutes, and two, Curtis’ boss was a damn thief. Now it was all making sense. “Holy shit.”
“Holy shit, indeed,” Free said smoothly.
“You know what. Next time I’m in Atlanta, Free, I’m taking you out for drinks. Thank you so much. I gotta go. Tell Ruxs and Green I’m on it.”
“Will do.”
Genesis hung up and went back to preparing their dinner. Tomorrow, he’d surprise his heart at work with a nice lunch to eat in the park, but before they did that, he’d make sure to introduce himself to Curtis’ boss and maybe have a little discussion with him.
All during dinner, Genesis was extra sensitive to Curtis’ mood. He’d only told Genesis he’d had a bad day and wasn’t feeling well. Genesis didn’t like that Curtis wasn’t being completely honest with him, but he’d let him have his time. He couldn’t imagine how it felt to be accused of such a thing. It was deplorable for his boss to do that.
Curtis barely ate his burger, never commenting on the flavors or teasingly offering up his body in exchange for the recipe. After they finished cleaning the kitchen, Genesis offered to run him a bath and rub him down good before bed. Curtis turned and hugged him tight, tucking his smaller body into his, and Genesis could feel him shaking, could sense the overwhelming heartache and disappointment pouring off him.
“Whatever it is, you can tell me, Curtis. What happened today?” Genesis tried to pull back to look in Curtis’ eyes but his lover wouldn’t let him, holding him in a death grip.
“Not right now, okay. But I swear I’ll tell you. I just need a couple Motrin and some rest, my head feels like it’s about to explode.”