Page 10 of Justice
“What kind of trouble is your dad in?” Liberty asked out right now.
I slowly shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I get to town by noon tomorrow, so I can get the money from my bank and then hand it over to get my sister back.”
“Baby, I am so sorry that you have had to go through this alone. I wish you had told me before.” He raised my hand and kissed my knuckles. “You should have told me right away.”
“Oh, really?” I argued. “We have only known each other for a month, Justice. Then I spring this news on you?” I shook my head. “Talk about running a guy off. Like...Nice to meet you...Maybe we can get together, but oh by the way, my sister is being held ransom because my dad is a deadbeat drug addict!” I yanked my hand from his and stood from the chair. “I already feel like trash just by association with him and his good for nothing family. So now you know. I am trash. An ex-stripper about to be nothing, living on the streets probably,” I sobbed the words out. “Nah Justice, you should run away as fast as your two legs can carry you!” I rushed over to the door and went inside. Tears rolled down my face as I nearly raced across the living room.
Suddenly, I crashed into someone as I was blinded by tears and didn’t see them. Whoever it was staggered back a bit then grabbed my arms.
I looked up to see it was Ma Walker.Oh, hell.
Looking at my face, she asked, “What’s wrong, Little Scarlet?”
I’d talked to Ma many times since I’d been with the Walkers and she was the warmest person I think that I’d ever met. Shaking my head, I stepped out of her grasp. “I-I…” How could I tell her the truth? I couldn’t. Nope.
Before I could open my mouth, Ma was leading me away. “We’ll get you some tea and we’ll fix whatever it is.”
I couldn’t even respond really as she took me to the small cozy kitchen she’d chosen for herself here at the Connor House. But I did know that she could not fix this. Only I could and I realized this the hard way. What was I thinking, fessing up like that to Justice and his brother?
Setting me down in a chair, Ma went over, took her tea kettle up and poured me a cup of her hot tea. Her sweet tea had to be the best in the whole South and her hot tea was great as well. It was even as good as my grandma’s and that was saying a lot. In fact, that was who she reminded me of, my Granny. She had passed five years ago, but she was old Southern too. Same sayings with anin your facebrashness.
My tears had dried up. I never cried much, not in a long time. I got tougher after the first time I stepped up onto a stage and wrapped my skimpily clad body around that pole. The men gawking and licking their chops like we were steaks on a grill had made me want to quit the very first day. I had to brush their hands away and often, I wasn’t successful. I would shiver with nausea when they touched me. I danced because of the money of course. I believed it would be the fastest way to save for DanceCollege and I had been right. I never felt like most of the other girls. Loving the attention and allowing them to touch me a time or two to get more money into my thong.
Jewel had been the same way, I noticed this about her the very first time she danced. After that, I didn’t feel like the odd woman out. The same happened with Cinnamon. I was in foster care for 4 years and she had been in the system too. So the three of us became close friends, having the same code so to speak. No, I wasn’t abstinent like Jewel but I rarely dated. My parents were far from religious or pious. My mother was a great person and she worked all her life as a waitress. Paid her bills, sent us to school in clean clothes and she honestly tried to take good care of us. It hadn’t been her fault that the social services took me and Belle away. It had been because of dad and since she worked, we did not have proper supervision, so the social worker had said at the time.
My mom had been upset when I finally fessed up about being a stripper later on, saying it was one thing to get tips for serving food, but for dishing up my flesh? No, she wasn’t receptive to the idea at all. However, after the second year, she seemed to take it in stride, especially after I told her that I never actually sold my body or went out with any of the patrons. When I informed her that I had saved over forty thousand dollars for school, she almost fainted. Besides utilities, food and rent, I’d put it all away. I’d made a lot of money stripping. I had planned to do it for another year, then I got kidnapped by Deacon.
The man had been a handsome devil, I had to admit. Just like the other strippers said. A wicked smile and lots of supposed charm. I say,supposedas his eyes gave him away. Cold as ice. No feeling in them. So when Jewel never showed up to work, I went to check on her and now, here I was, sitting at Ma Walker’s table. I was a mess, I know, but the stress just got to me after a weekof this worrying and wondering what had happened to Belle, I suppose I just couldn’t take it anymore.
Then to have blown up like I did in front of those two men. I felt weak and I couldn’t afford to be that. To save Belle, I’d better get myself together, damnit. Then now, Justice knew my secret. My father was the lowest of the low. If only he knew just how low.
“There, baby girl,” Ma set the tea cup in front of me. “Just try to relax and tell me what has you all weepy.”
I picked the cup up and took a sip while stalling for time. Like I’d said, I wasn’t good at lying. I didn't really know what to tell her. I would try though. “My sister is in trouble and …” I shook my head. “I can’t tell you the details really.”
She reached over and patted my hand. “It’s hard when family is hurting. I know.”
I looked up at her. Yes, she did know. I heard that whole story from Justice a couple of weeks back. Her sister Ophelia had been the one who had hurt, then almost killed her sons and their women. She’d murdered Ma’s husband and his brother. Then went on to frame one of the Walker brothers, sending him to prison. Everyone in Ramton knew about Dagger. No one knew the exact details but he had served seven years for a crime he did not commit. O then went on to devise a plan to destroy every last Walker. Even Rip’s girl had been taken by O.
The way O’s life ended had been true justice in my opinion. Yet, Ma carried scars on the inside and more than likely, she always would. Maybe she would understand my problem. After all, my dad’s crap had been hurting my family for a long time. I took another sip of my tea.
“I hope...” Ma hesitated a bit then she suggested, “Justice could maybe help you?”
I nodded. “He tried.”
“Yes, a good man he is. Smart and quick. He’s soooo um, what is the word?”
“Magnificent? Classy?” I suggested.
“Yes, sweetie, he is all that. I gather you kinda like this fella?”
“I do, but we have no future together.”
Her eyes rounded and she opened her mouth to say something.
“The hell we don’t,” a voice cut in.
Ma and I looked over at the doorway as Justice came in.
