Page 88 of Invisible Bars
“Now,” I continued, buttoning my blazer slowly, “youwillperform this ceremony. Youwillkeep your mouth shut. And youwillwalk away like none of this ever happened.”
“Wh-Why me?” he stammered.
I scoffed lightly. “Why you? Clearly, I chose you because you’ve done a little… scratch that…a lotof dirt before. That backdoor baptism you did for a cartel member’s kid? Yeah. I know about that too. Word travels. With all the shady shit you’ve done, I figured you wouldn’t mind adding a little ‘off-the-record’ knot-tying to your resume.”
“I—I didn’t have a choice back then!”
“You don’t now either.”
Silence again. A car passed outside. Somewhere, a clock ticked.
“Besides, all you’re doing is marrying me and my…” I paused, trying to find the right word to describe Naji. “Fiery fiancée. This is something you’ve done a hundred times before. How hardcould that be? You’re acting like I’m asking you to bury a body with me.” I chuckled, the sound low and humorless.
“Forgive me if I say this doesn’t feel all that different,” he said.
“It’s just a little secrecy, Reverend; that ain’t never hurt nobody…unlessthey couldn’t keep it. You keep it quiet, it’s a blessing. You open your mouth? Well… let’s just say we both know not all sins get washed away with holy water.”
Reverend Ellis let out a strangled breath. “Oh, God! Again, why me?! I’m just a man of God!” he whimpered, hands trembling at his sides.
“We’ve already been over this, and I don’t like repeating myself. And you’re a man ofopportunity,” I corrected. “You also know how to keep your hands dirty without ever staining your robes.”
His lips parted like he wanted to object, but nothing came out except a shaky exhale.
“So, I’ll ask one more time,” I said, eyes never leaving his. “Do we have a deal?”
Reverend Ellis nodded stiffly, his expression tight, lips pressed into a thin line.
“I’ll… I’ll do it.”
“I never doubted youwouldn’t.” I grinned. “Although I’m surprised it took this long. From what I heard, you usually fold quicker than that. Before I go, let me leave you with this lastandfinal warning.”
I circled him slowly, the soles of my shoes quiet against the floor.
“I promise you… and I can’t stress this enough; if my soon-to-be wife’s name gets out, if a photo or rumor of our marriage leaks, if a bird so much as chirps the wrong name—hell, if I hear a sermon that evenrhymeswith what’s about to happen—I will send someone to silence it… well,you.”
I stepped forward and leaned in just slightly, my voice now a quiet threat dipped in velvet.
“And if you think I’m bluffing, check the obituaries from last June. Look for a nigga by the name Tedrick Hollis and how he just…vanished.That was all me,” I confessed.
At least I was in the right place to get my confessions out.
Reverend Ellis went rigid.
“Are we getting somewhere?”
“Y-Yes! I—I understand completely! I won’t say anything… to anyone! I promise! No questions! No witnesses! No records! I’ll make it look like it never happened!”
I stepped back, satisfied.
“Good!”
I reached into my coat and pulled out a thick envelope.
Cash… enough to secure loyalty… or silence.
“But just in case your memory needs help staying gone,” I added, placing the envelope into his shaky hands, “I already have a man watching your wife, your son, and your church secretary. You know... insurance.”
He nodded, nearly collapsing under the weight of it all.
