Page 12 of Heart of a Savage
“Hold ya head up, baby girl. I’m doing this for my sanity, and for y’all’s too. Life is still out there moving for you, Paige, and ya moms. In here… time is standing still. I love you all so much that I have to let y’all go to continue to move forward in life. Write me, send me pics, but don’t come back up here. You hear me?”
I swallowed back the tears that threatened to spill onto my face and looked into his eyes. “Yeah... I hear you.”
“Now, we only got thirty more minutes before this visitation ends. Tell me something good.”
As much as I wanted to let those tears fall, I knew I had to hold them until I got to my car. Hearing the man that I looked up to, admired, and wished to be tough like, tell me to stop coming to see him and forget about him, hurt like hell. As tough as I was, my tough exterior was no match for the love I had for this man. I wanted my father out of here. I felt like I lost a piece of myself when he got sentenced. He didn’t flinch, cry, or beg when that judge gave him fifteen years. He held his head up high while my mom, Paige, and I broke down in that courtroom.
I hated what he was doing to us, but I could do nothing but respect it. He didn’t want us waiting on him, and from the look he gave that guard, I knew that man’s days were numbered, which could only cause more trouble for my dad.
When our time was up, he hugged me long and tight. “I love you, baby. Tell ya moms she’s still my greatest love. If time happens to reverse, I’ll be waiting at the altar, ready to make her mine again.”
I gave him a half smile and nodded. “I love you too.”
He winked, kissed my forehead, then strolled to get in line and head back behind those walls.
I went in the opposite direction where the visitors were being let out. Once I got inside my car, I allowed those bitch-ass tears I’d been holding in to free-fall.
A scoff exitedGary’s mouth as he shook his head while staring at Norman. One thousand pills of oxycodone were missing, and these two were the only ones in the lab late last night. Gary and Norman had been the best employees for over eight years. These two were the leads on the lines and had always made sure things ran smoothly in my absence. How one thousand pills went unaccounted for was beyond me.
I waited for him to tell his side of the story because I was a millisecond from slamming his face into this table. I tried to give these men grace being that they had proven themselves in those eight years. I was also working on my temper so that I wouldn’t hurt anyone. We were about to see if the effort was pointless.
“Mr. Crawford, I can assure you that it has to be a mistake. I wouldn’t dare risk my job when I’m making more than what a regular nine-to-five worker is making. I wouldn’t do that. This company pays me too well to ever overstep in that manner,” Norman assured.
“And I left before Norman because I had an emergency and had to get home.”
I closed my eyes and thought of an island—a place where there was peace and tranquility. Once I knew my nerves were calm and that I could speak without crashing out, I opened my eyes and nodded at them. “Go on home for the day. Until this matter is resolved, you both are on temporary suspension—without pay.”
“Mr. Craw?—”
“We’re done here. Please exit my office.”
They both stared at me, then stood from the table, leaving out the door.
I leaned back in my chair and looked out at the rising sun. It was eight in the morning, and already I was feeling like the day was too long. I really didn’t want to fire Norman and Gary, but if those pills weren’t accounted for by the end of the week, both of their asses were getting the fuck out of here. I didn’t do liars or thieves. If they could steal, they could lie, and they both went hand in hand to me.
The tap on my door pulled me from my thoughts as I spun around to see my assistant, Chase, standing in the doorway. She sauntered inside, placing my coffee mug on my desk along with the files I asked for.
“Grand rising, Mr. Crawford.”
“’Sup, Chase?”
“Another glorious morning. Mr. Saunders called. He wanted me to let you know that he’s interested in the property on Chatham Street?—”
“I’m not over the real estate anymore. Call him and let him know that Moses will be his point person from now on.”
“I did, but he’s requesting that you be the one to show him the property.”
I shook my head and sighed. “Fine. What else?”
“Your son’s mother is on line two, and your father and brothers are waiting for you in the conference room.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you, Chase.”
“No problem.” She left my office as I picked up the office phone, answering the line.
