Asylum, p.9
Asylum, page 9
Today, I took her shopping before we came back home to cook and chill. I couldn’t think of the last time I spent the weekend in the house chilling if True wasn’t here. Even if I wasn’t working, I’d be with family or friends to avoid Sierra. I loved being in Doe’s presence and doing the simplest things with her, though.
The fireplace blazed as she cuddled against me on the reclining sofa. She had me watching some rom com on Hulu that I was sure she’d seen a million times. I didn’t mind because she used to be a hopeless romantic. It seemed with time, or maybe the wrong partner, she got a little out of that… But I was trying to give her a space that was safe for her to return to her true self.
Wanting to get in her head about it, I asked, “How much do you think you’ve changed over the years?”
“In what ways?”
“All ways. With your priorities and morals, relationally, your goals for the future—everything.”
“Hmm…” She shifted slightly but kept her head on my shoulder. As she played with my fingers, I kissed the top of her head. “My priorities are still the same. Family over everything. Then my career and friends. Now that you’re back, you and True are up there with family. I still heavily prioritize having a good time and getting rest. If my mama didn’t teach me anything, she taught me the best way to make the most of our short time on this earth. So I take great pride in my work-rest balance. My morals are still the same too.”
She paused. “Relationally, I value friendships a hell of a lot more. I think that started because of my marriage. Things were best with us when I wasn’t connected to my people, and I didn’t like how that felt. At the end of the day, my friends were the ones that were there for me, and I appreciate them so much for that. Romantically, I still want the same things in a partner—loyalty, faithfulness, romance, fun, leadership, safety—but I think I might have changed a little. I’m a bit more guarded and less naïve. Well, maybe naïve isn’t the right word. I used to be a hopeless romantic and believed love in all ways could heal and conquer all but that’s changed now. Loving the wrong man made me value it a little less, but being with you is allowing me to return to my old beliefs.”
I shared the same with her, and our conversation continued. We talked about our plans for the future. Professionally, she wanted to offer more headhunting like services for larger companies. With how she operated now, the bulk of the positions she staffed were temporary or short term, but she wanted to start having contracted agreements with companies for permanent positions.
Personally, she wanted to continue to get to know me and True and allow me to indulge in this new version of her. We talked about children again and agreed to have one or two. We wanted to travel more, experience more, and work less. My asylums were my pride and joy, and I took great honor in the service I provided, but I did want to trust my team more so I wouldn’t have to pull up daily.
We ended up talking for hours like we used to do back in the day. By the time we climbed into bed, I felt even closer to her, which I didn’t think was possible. What made my heart yield to her even more was her asking if she could buy some things for True before she got back home. True loved Hello Kitty but she didn’t want her room decorated with it because some of her cousins teased her about it being for babies. Instead, SiSi and I designed her room in pink, red, and white.
During one of their conversations, True showed Doe a purple Hello Kitty sign that she liked but didn’t want to get because it wouldn’t match her room. I wasn’t sure why she didn’t tell me because she knew I would have gotten it for her without her even asking, but I appreciate the fact that that interaction invited Doe to offer and do something for her that she didn’t have to.
Instead of turning the last spare room in the house into a space just for her, Dauterive decided to turn it into a spa-like escape for the both of them. It would be purple and cream, and she’d have Hello Kitty items incorporated, including the sign that would be in True’s corner. She was so excited as she told me about the ideas she had, and that shit made me love her even more. Even though I chose to love a child that wasn’t mine, I knew that wasn’t something everyone did. The relationship they were building filled me with pride and further deepened my desire to never let Doe go.
The Next Night
Dauterive and I met up with Haley and Antonne for a night of pool and drinks. About two hours in, the entire crew had pulled up to join us, and I loved every minute of it. We took over the pool hall. As blunts and bottles rotated, conversations flowed. We danced, sang, and rapped, and I took great pride in having Dauterive by my side. She wasn’t just my lover; she was my friend. I forgot how fun a relationship could be. How fun love could be. But I was glad to have Doe for the reminder.
She was seated against the wall. Nicole’s arm was wrapped around her shoulders as she whispered something in her ear. Dauterive wasn’t a heavy drinker, so by now, she was sipping her shots instead of knocking them back with the rest of the women that were drinking. As if she felt my eyes on her, she searched the room for me.
As she smiled and grabbed her phone, I wasn’t expecting her to text me until I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
Sweetheart: You look so sexy. I can’t wait to get you home.
Home. I love the sound of that. We can leave now if you want to.
Her smile widened as she stood and began to give everyone a hug goodbye. I chuckled, but I couldn’t deny how good it felt to want a woman just as much as she wanted me. I said my goodbyes as well before we headed out to my truck hand in hand. Once we were inside, she said, “That was so much fun, but I’m glad I get to finally have you to myself.”
“Agreed. The guys are cool. I’ll have to chill with more than just Antonne, Elite, and Supreme more often.” As I headed out of the parking lot, I asked her, “Do you need anything before we get to the house?”
“Food. All we have is healthy stuff. I want something greasy and cheesy.”
Now that made me laugh. The refrigerator was pretty healthy. We’d started meal prepping breakfast and lunch to save on time. Even though Doe was at the house all day, I didn’t want her to feel obligated to cook every meal and clean. She was still running her business just like I was running mine. I wanted to make her life as easy and soft as I could, because doing that for her made me feel more like a man.
I took her to this wing joint in the hood that stayed open until three in the morning. It was the only place that stayed open that late, so it was packed from wall to wall. Because I’d done a few favors for the owner over the years, as soon as he saw me, he directed us to the private room in the back. The space was usually reserved for card games, but they thankfully didn’t have any scheduled that night.
By the time we were comfortably seated at the round, brown four-person table, a hippy waitress by the name of Debra was making her way over to us. She was around my mother’s age but looked as young as thirty-five. Her long, wavy hair was pulled up into a high plait that swung as she walked. I could admit I considered sampling her pussy over the years, but even with things being off with Sierra and I, I never cheated.
“Wassup, Asylum?” she greeted, but her eyes were on Doe. “Who is this pretty little thing?”
“This is Dauterive, but everyone calls her Doe. Doe, this is Debra.”
“Hi,” Doe spoke sweetly, eyes resting low from the weed she’d ingested.
“Hey, pretty. What can I get you to drink?”
“Kool-Aid.”
Debra smiled widely. “What color?”
“Red or pink.”
“You want any liquor in it?”
“Hmm… What kind you got?”
“Any kind you want.”
“Jack?”
“Several. You want it straight or flavored?”
“You can put a little honey or apple in it. Whichever you got.”
“I got you. And for you?” Debra turned in my direction. “Your usual?”
“Nah, let me get a glass of Hen.”
“Ooh, you’re going to have some fun tonight,” she said to Doe, swatting her shoulder softly and making her laugh before she walked away.
“She’s cute,” Doe said. “I take it you come here often?”
“Yeah. Any time work calls for late hours I end up here.”
“I know I’ve said it before, but I really admire what you’re doing with the asylums. This fits you. Maybe it’s because you’ve been doing it for a while, but you look more solid and settled in this role than you did when you were an officer.”
“Yeah, that was never really the job for me. I knew I wanted to make a change and help people and that seemed like the best way to do it. This is truly my passion and purpose though.”
She gave me a syrupy smile. “Living in your purpose makes you sexier too. There’s something about an established man that’s top tier. And when he’s emotionally available too? Whew.”
I laughed at her silly ass as I sat further in my seat. “I missed you, man. I’ve been good without you, but the difference you make in my quality of life is unmatched.”
“I feel the exact same way about you. I’ve never been the kind of woman to need a man, but I’ve enjoyed their companionship and love. With you…” Her head shook as she shrugged. “You’ve always been at the top of my want list.”
Our eyes remained locked, unwavering until Debra set our drinks in front of us. I was even more anxious to get her home now. It took about fifteen minutes for our food to be delivered. She got a cheeseburger, and I got wings. We quickly made our way home to shower and show each other with our bodies the meaning behind our words.
Chapter
Fourteen
Dauterive
“Are you sure this is necessary?” Mama asked. “I want her to be safe, but this seems a bit… extreme.”
“Nothing is extreme when it comes to her safety,” Daddy said.
Though Mama nodded her agreement, she still looked to Asylum for an answer. After church yesterday, I received a text from an unknown number. It was a faraway picture of me and Asylum entering the church. Attached was a text that said I wasn’t as safe as I thought I was. It was clear it was from Trey. Apparently he’d been waiting at places I typically went to. It seemed like the only place I could truly get away from him was Asylum’s home.
It was Asylum’s decision to get me a bodyguard. Not only would that allow me to move around more freely, but it would allow me to go places without him. Though we loved the time we were spending together, he didn’t want me to only be able to do things with him—which I appreciated.
“Yes, the bodyguard is necessary. It will allow Doe more freedom outside the house and protection when she’s not with me.”
“Any leads on where Trey has been staying?”
“We’ve been tracking his location through his phone and IP address, however, whatever software he’s using is keeping my source with the FBI from finding him. And as it stands, he’s watching the places he knows she will be to taunt her.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“Trey might be smart and have money to hide but he’s not about that life. If he was, he would have approached us yesterday. At this point, I believe he won’t try to harm her while she’s with me or the bodyguard. He simply wants to scare her. I’ll let a little time pass to see if he’ll work up the nerve to approach her. She will go on with her life regularly with the guard. If he doesn’t make a move within a month’s time, I’m going to draw him out by using her as bait.”
“Bait!” Mama yelled dramatically, and as serious as the situation was, we couldn’t stop ourselves from laughing.
“Yes, Mama, bait,” he answered, trying to reel in his laugh. “But she will be protected. He will just think she isn’t. She’ll show up, seemingly alone, but me and Merc will be there. I’ll handle it.”
“And when you say handle it…”
His head shook. “The less you know about that part the better.”
Her head bobbed and she swallowed hard. “OK, son.”
“We’re trusting you with our precious gem,” Daddy said. “Please don’t let us down.”
Asylum took my hand into his. “I give you my word, I will protect her with my life.”
They seemed to be pleased with his answer, because they returned to regular conversation over pastries and coffee. This was probably my favorite part of being my own boss—having the ability to set my own schedule. I loved the mornings I was able to spend with my parents and not have to rush in to work.
After breakfast, Asylum took me to one of the asylums, where I met Merc. He told me that Merc would be with me when I needed to go out in the mornings, and a second guy, Bully, would be there when I wanted to go out in the evenings. I knew from the tour he gave me of his asylums that Merc and Bully were the men he trusted most with his business and his life, so it meant a lot to me that they were who he was using for my guards.
We said our goodbyes, then I headed to the office. I was happy to feel like I was finally returning to a state of normalcy. Merc checked the office thoroughly before making himself comfortable outside of my conference room. He advised I worked there instead of in my personal office since it had so many windows. In the conference room, there was no chance of Trey sneaking in and I would still have privacy.
As I settled in, Regina brought my to-do list for the day. Before getting started, I FaceTimed Nicole to make sure she was OK. Both she and Supreme had come to the pool hall, but I didn’t recall seeing them talk to each other which was weird.
“Hey, boo,” she answered with a wide smile.
“Hey, baby. What you doing?”
“About to go to a few department stores and look around for inspiration. Are you at the office?”
“I am. I have a bodyguard now so I can move around more freely.”
“That’s great, Doe! I’m in desperate need of a girls’ night.”
“Of course! Just say when and we can make it happen.”
We talked for a few seconds more before ending the call, and I immediately got to work.
Five hours flew by before I knew it. I had three more interviews with potential clients and had also set up a meeting with a potential Fortune 500 Company to start staffing. Trey’s family business was the first one I’d staffed, and I learned a lot about headhunting for million and billion dollar companies. As toxic as things got between us, I did appreciate the professional connections I made because of him.
There was a soft knock on the door, and I told Regina she could come in. “You have a delivery, but Merc has to inspect it first.”
“OK,” I agreed, standing.
By the time I made it to the front, Merc had the box open. “I won’t open anything from the list of family and friends Asylum gave me. This, however, had no card.”
“What is it?” I asked as I made my way over to him.
“Flowers and a note.”
Merc handed me the note. It was from Trey.
Love,
It’s good to see you returning to normal. Did your master let you out, or are you done hiding? Either way, I’ll be seeing you soon.
“Get rid of it. All of it.” I handed him the note and headed back to the conference room.
Asylum was right. Trey was definitely watching my normal spots and using his knowledge of my routines to his advantage. That was fine. I didn’t think he’d approach me while Sy or one of the guards were with me, so I felt like we’d be playing this game for a month before I became bait.
Chapter
Fifteen
Asylum
Black Friday
Without her having to say it, I could tell Dauterive was nervous. Everything that she ordered for the spa had been delivered over the past week, so she took the time to get the room setup for her and True. I offered to help but it was something she wanted to do for True on her own and I appreciated and respected that.
“Sweetheart,” I called, taking her hand into mine.
She looked up at me, nibbling her bottom lip. “Hmm?”
“Why are you nervous?”
“It’s that obvious?”
We shared a soft laugh. “Yeah, it is.”
“I just hope she really likes it.”
“She’s going to love it.”
With a nod, Dauterive released a shaky breath. True made her way upstairs. We’d told her to meet us up here after she was done with her dessert. She looked between us skeptically and I could barely contain my excitement behind my poker face. I knew my girl, and True was going to absolutely love what Doe had done.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, wrapping her arms around Doe.
Dauterive had gotten her love of affection from her parents, and she was passing that on to True. Sierra and her family weren’t affectionate at all. The only time she hugged True was if she was crying or if days had passed since she’d seen her. Sierra did show her love in other ways though, and they had a tight bond. But because of that lack of affection, True was always hesitant with being affectionate toward anyone but me and my grandparents. That barrier wasn’t there with Doe, and that was yet another thing I loved.
Doe was a safe space for True, just like she was for me. In my entire life, Doe was the only woman outside of my grandmother that I felt like I could be my true self with. And there were things I was able to share with Doe that no one else experienced. She would always say I was her safe haven and the man whose love drove her crazy, but she had always been mine too.
“Nothing’s wrong, baby girl,” I answered since Dauterive was looking at me to speak. “Doe did something for you. The both of you. You wanna see?”
“Yes,” she replied, doing a little dance.
This girl was going to be a dancer or track star I was convinced. As soon as she learned how to balance her studies and practice, I would let her try out for them again. We’d tried track last year, but it was a bit overwhelming.
