Page 131 of Tarek

I shrug. “I’m not your father. Sorry if I looked interested. I’m not. Please leave.”

Melo-le—whatever her name is grabs her bag and leaves the room.

I am not always like this. It’s just some days, are worse than others. Penny must have felt that she failed me. But I failed her, I should have been there when she went to the doctor. I would have dragged him across the desk for hurting her. That time is gone, but like Pastor Joseph, Doctor Samson’s life is pending.

My phone vibrates on the side table and Archer’s name appears.

I smile and I answer, “Roxy has decided that she wants to become a member of Nowhere and leave your tanned ass.”

If you want to get under Archer Holt’s skin all you have to do is tease him about his wife to be.

“I will excuse you because my sister took your dick and never returned it. Anyway, about tomorrow night?”

See when I get under his skin, he gets me back and gets under mine.

“I’ll be there at the ball, those ceremonies are just a bunch of old men clawing for power” I comment. My arms begin to feel limp. Shit, the BX3 is taking effect. I gotta wrap it up.

Archer sniggers. “Bring a date with you. Try someone that doesn’t look like my sister.”

“Go to Hell.” that’s all I can muster. Fucking drugs really does dull your senses.

“Come with me,” Archer counters. “I will see you tomorrow. Try to look your best.”

“The fuck. I always do. Get off my phone,” I hang up before he could respond and the phone melts away before my eyes.

* * *

PENNY

“Mom is stuck in Thailand. She wouldn’t make it back in time. I need you to do a small stage appearance,” Archer’s voice booms into my ear as I run around the Queen’s Park Savannah. It’s a lush park with beautiful flowering trees. It’s my first lap, my goal is to run a lap and a half.

Trinidad has been my home for a year and some months. It’s been an adjustment, but island life is worth it. Did I lose weight? No, the food here is amazing. But my skin has never looked better, even my hair has grown longer. I haven’t set foot in Lakeshore in ages.

My brother is the new governor, and he wants me to be there for his inauguration. It will help with his image.

“You and Roxy are doing great. You don’t need me,” I add, running past the coconut vendor.

“We are doing great, but I need someone with me other than my pregnant fiancé,” Archer says.

My eye twitches at the word pregnant. I have given up on the hope of having a family of my own.

“When my nephew comes, I will spoil your kid rotten,”

“Penny please. I wouldn’t have won without the support of women. They believed in me. I need to show them they matter, just like the women in my family do,” Archer begs.

I want to ask him if Tarek will be there but that will only open a can of worms. Through Roxy I heard that Tarek and Archer hang out regularly at the Glasshouse. I stop on the pavement, shuffling to the cemented bench to sit.

My brother doesn’t ask for much, and if I could, I would give him everything that I have. He has so much love for me, even the first time I met him. He was nothing but loving.

“Can you send me your governor jet?” I ask.

“No, that’s taxpayers’ money. But I will pay for your first-class ticket, and you will have an escort to and from the airport.” I can hear the hope in his voice.

“In and out, Archer. I want to be out in two days max.”

“I will have your ticket booked for tomorrow morning, and you can leave the next day if you like?”

“I like. Plus, I have to check in on the Asylum,” I reply.

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