Page 10 of Prophet
I set my glass down and said, “I can say that this does make me crazy, Ma. He took my dad and wants my girl in exchange. So how the hell am I supposed to feel? I want to…” I caught myself as my grip tightened on the glass.
“...kill him?” she finished for me as she sat forward. “Jerk a knot in his tail then choke the life outta him with that same tail? Or you could boil him in oil? But then there’d be this whole mess and all. Not even a truck sized S.O.S pad could clean that up.”
I stared at her. “Are you patronizing me?”
Ma narrowed her eyes at me. “Maybe I am. So what ya gonna do about it?”
I paused. This woman was something else.
“Son, rage ain’t gonna help you.” She shook her head. “He is counting on that. Going at him like a gosh danged bull at a red cape. You can’t let him make you stupid! How’s that gonna help your pa?”
I opened my mouth to reply.
Raising her hand up, she cut me off, “You have to go at him smart. Not like a big, dumb, angry troll.”
Jewel spluttered her drink of tea and tried not to laugh.
Ma handed her a napkin and just kept on talking while not missing a beat, “Get your panties out of a wad then pull your head out of your ass and act like ya got some sense.”
I simply stared at her. “Then what?” I asked with skepticism.
“Get in on the plan, boy. The one I just know Talon and Liv are cooking up. They always were good strategists. This time Cowboy, you can’t just rope that steer and brand it. You have to use its own game against it, then you corner it and put it in its place.”
I sat very still and had nothing to say, because she spoke to me in terms I could understand. Well fuck, Jewel and Cinnamon had been right. “And that place would be hell.” I growled.
Nodding, Ma snickered. “Oh, I am sure he will eventually end up there, alright. But see, I got it figured like this. Deacon wants to be a big dog. That’s been true for him most of his life, I suspect.” She motioned to Jewel. “Like the way he went after her. Thinking, she should just fall at his feet. But if he was really a big dog, he wouldn’t have to force others to be his or bow to him. So think of it this way, if he can’t run with the big dogs, he needs to stay under the damn porch.”
I stared at her then tilted my head back and laughed.
Jewel giggled.
“So keep your head on straight, Prophet man. If you allow him to knock you sideways, then you’ve already lost.”
Before I could even process that one, she offered us some cake.
We nodded at her and she went to get us a slice.
Jewel turned and smiled at me. “So the list is: unwad your panties.” She had her hand, palm up as she tapped each finger down. “Pull head out of butt. Act like you got some sense. Don’t act like a bull, or a dumb troll—”
I reached over and grabbed her hand as I chuckled. “I think I got it, Jewel.”
“Good.” She smiled at me. “Cause you sure don’t wanna be under the damn porch!”
We both laughed as I tugged her close and kissed her.
Chapter Four:The Line
Jewel
Ma’s cake had been heavenly and her advice had been just what Prophet needed. I knew though that he was worried and hurting. This was his father at risk, after all. Talon had texted his phone and he had gone down to the basement. I suppose they believed it was the safest place to have a meeting without any cameras. I felt so nervous about it. It didn’t look like Prophet would agree with what they planned. Then what would happen to his father? I’d meant it when I told Prophet I couldn’t live with that guilt.
So here I sat outside on the steps. I just felt too cooped up inside. I had taken Prophet to Ma to straighten him out, but it didn’t help me. I wasn’t angry, I was scared and worried, because if this plan didn’t turn out like they all wanted...I shook my head.
It was spooky to think Deacon had spied on them through their own cameras and he must also know all about their whole security system. I shivered at this thought.Creepy.That was a word for Deacon too. Yes, he was handsome in like a business suit tycoon sort of way but his eyes...They had been as cold as ice.
Despite what Prophet had said, I did feel responsible for part of this. I told Deacon flat out that I wanted nothing to do with him and I wasn’t nice about it either. Not that he had paid any attention to what I said as he told me I would change my mind. I didn’t care about his expensive cars, his Rolex, fancy Italian suits, or his money. Some of the other strippers asked me why I didn’t want to date him as they would say yes in a hot minute. I told them ‘go ahead, knock yourself out.’ No, I refused to be fooled by anything he said. I knew the man was dangerous and I did not believe his treatment of me would have been gentle.
Unlike Prophet, who was kind, warm, and protective. Wow, I’d fallen for him and in just a week too. I never believed in fairy tale romances. All I ever saw when I worked the clubs was men using women up. Or some of the strippers using men up, just for kicks. I just wanted to make my pay and put it in the savings. I had promised my parents I would lead a decent life. No, stripping wasn’t decent really, but it was a way for me to get through school. I would then live that life my parents wanted for me. I lost them several years ago in a car accident and I had been devastated. So I intended to follow through with my dream of being a teacher.
