Page 25 of Roxy's Independence
“Because he stated it was a temporary separation,” Joceline whispers. “A break, but not a breakup.”
“This isn’t going to end well,” I state. “I’m calling Weston.”
As I say that, Laney’s phone rings and she announces, “It’s Dragon. Hang on, let me tell him what Selah discovered before we go traipsing off. I think most of this needs to be done face-to-face.”
Laney walks out of the room when she answers the call. The rest of us sit in silence, contemplating what could be happening to Kinsley, our imaginations going wild. I’ve seen victims of domestic violence walk through the doors of the emergencyroom, most of the cases and victim stories are terrifying. I know the worst case scenario and pray with everything within me that’s not going to be the outcome for Kinsley. She may not be an official old lady, but she’s still one of us.
Not long after Laney left, she comes back. “We’re supposed to meet the guys at mine and Dragon’s house. He’s calling Flash, Rack, and Kooky in to watch the kids for us. Once we get them settled, we’ll head over to Python’s so Selah and Beast can share what they’ve unfolded about Kinsley’s last known movements and then we plan from there.”
“They’re letting us be involved?” Harper asks, her tone bewildered. “Isn’t this usually club business?”
“I don’t know why they’re including us, but let's not kick a gift horse in the mouth and simply accept it,” Laney concludes.
“They may need intel from us that they can’t get,” I reckon.
“What could we possibly know that they don’t?” Harper inquires.
“Women talk to each other, we may not realize we know something that we do and be able to give them a woman’s perspective into things that they can’t wrap their man sized minds around,” I answer.
Selah barks out a laugh before clamping her hand over it. “Sorry. I know this isn’t a laughing matter, but that statement was funny.”
The five of us share a look full of despair as we pack up dinner, store it in the fridge, and gather our belongings before locking up and heading toward Laney’s.
As soon as I cross the threshold and the air hits me in the face, a gloomy feeling swamps me. It feels bewitched, as if an omen of something bad coming our way is imminent.
“Please, keep her and the rest of our family safe,” I whisper. But the heavy weight sitting on my chest is like a foregone conclusion, a warning that shit is about to hit the fan.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Saber
Being stuckin this small living room, sharing information back and forth, the tension in the air is so damn thick that you could cut it with a knife—it makes me antsy and unable to sit still. I pace behind the couch, roaming from one end to the other while Beast and Selah tell us what they’ve uncovered. The women all have solemn looks on their faces and Roxy keeps glancing outside, as if she’s expecting a storm to be brewing, but it’s calm out there—the wind isn’t even blowing like it was earlier this afternoon.
“He’s at Roanoke Station Inn, and Kinsley’s car is showing that it’s parked in the lot,” Beast informs us.
“We should go check it out,” Cuda says as he turns to face the rest of us. “It could be nothing and we could all continue to sit here wondering or go find out for ourselves if she’s okay.”
“She’s not okay, I know she’s not. Y’all have to go,” Joceline insists. “I feel it here.” She lifts up her hand and rubs her sternum with her fist.
“I don’t want to interrupt a lover’s squabble if that’s what is going on,” Python states. “If they’re hashing things out, I don’t want to add fuel to the fire by showing up.”
I catch the way Wrecker and Dragon’s faces crumble. It’s more than that and they know something the rest of us don’t. Not wanting to wait for them to find a way to say whatever it is they need to, I ask, “What is it? What do you two know that the rest of us don’t?”
“Nothing substantial, just a gut feeling. I’ve tried to gain entrance into her psyche, but it’s a blank void,” Dragon announces.
“I’ve tried to daywalk into her subconscious mind, I can’t get in. I keep hitting a brick wall and being bounced back,” Wrecker remarks, shaking his head as if he’s trying to clear it. “That’s never happened to me before so I’m not sure what to make of it.”
“What does that mean?” Python asks, sweat beading on his forehead. “Somebody, tell me what the fuck that means!”
“I don’t want to answer that without having the facts, brother,” Dragon tells him, but by his disposition and demeanor, I can’t help but think it’s nothing good—not at all.
“Go,” Roxy whispers to me, “Please, Weston. I’m begging you, go and check on her. If you find them having a lover’s spat then at least we know the only reason she’s ignoring us is because of the timing and not because she’s hurt.”
Dragon clears his throat, stating, “I’d feel better if we did go and at least drive by.”
“Being closer to her may help us get a read on her health and the situation. Whatever it is,” Wrecker adds.
