My Convict

6-Recruiting

+Brandy

"Mommy, why can't daddy come with us?" Elliot asks as I help him inside the car. He was in a good mood this morning. Ever since he woke up this morning, all he's been doing is asking questions. More questions than I can handle.

I open my mouth to respond, but Elijah quickly answers. "Daddy has to work, but I'll be home when you get back," Elijah says, before placing a quick kiss on his forehead.

"Promise?" Elliot asks, wiping off where his father kissed him. He wasn't use to being kissed by a male, I guess he thinks it's... weird.

"I promise bud," Elijah responds, stepping away. For a moment, he looked hurt seeing Elliot wipe away his kiss but he quickly masked it. "You guys should get going." He suggests. "Before traffic starts.

Elliot buckles himself up. "Bye, daddy." He waves.

Elijah smiles. "By bud."

Shutting the door to the back seat, I open the one to the driver seat. "Don't be offended that he wiped away your kiss. He's still getting use to you and I haven't explained to him yet that it's okay for you as his father to kiss him." I sigh getting into the car. "I'm not even making sense. Just know that he's getting use to you and everything you do. Also, remember to stay in the house and keep a low profile. You may look slightly different, but I'm sure people can make you out. You're all over the news."

Elijah gives me a small smirk. "I'm not stupid Brandy, I know how to stay hidden. Now, you have the things I gave you right?" I nod my head. "Good, make sure you do it just like how we went over it." He points at my phone. "Keep the VPN running on your phone and make sure to call me if anything. As of last night, my number is already there. Remember don't get all nervous and start biting down on your lips, it makes you an open book. You got this, have some confidence."

My eyes roll to the back of my head. "You sound like a motivational speaker," I mumble, before closing my car door. Starting the car, I begin to pull out of my parking lot. Elijah waves goodbye, before walking back into the house. I drive to Elliot's daycare.

Elliot speaks, once we're a good distance away from the house. "Mommy is daddy going to stay with us," He pauses. "Forever?" He finishes.

Now, how the heck do I answer this?

When he says stays with us, does he mean living wise or family wise. Personally, I don't see Elijah and me dating. It'll just be complicated... and weird. We're better off just co-parenting. Co-parenting and living under one roof. Till Elijah gets his own place, whenever that is. He couldn't possibly want to live under the same roof for forever.

Could he?

"Maybe. It depends... on your dad baby." I respond, unsurely. "You should ask your dad. He'll probably have a better answer." Elliot nods, taking in my answer. For the rest of the ride, he's quite. But from the curious look on his face, I can tell there are a thousand of questions he's dying to ask. "Tell you what bud, how about you think about all the questions you want to ask and then voice them to me and your dad after dinner."

Elliot looks at me. "Okay."

We pull up to his daycare on time and Ms.Kaylee whose standing outside waves at the sight of us. She walks towards the car and I quickly, turn to look at Ej. "Elliot, I know that you're happy about daddy being home. But I need you to promise not to talk about him with anyone. Especially not the people at your school."

Elliot pouts and puts his head down. "B... but why?"

He sounds so sad. "Because people can't know that daddy is home with us." I place my hand on his knee. "Now promise me, you won't tell anyone."

Elliot fumbles with his fingers, before finally nodding. "Promise." He sounded so fragile and sad.

Ms.Kaylee knocks on the car window, letting me know that she's here. Unlocking my car window, I put on the fakest smile. "Hi, good morning Ms.Kaylee."

"Good morning Ms. Robinson," She responds back happily. Way too happy if you ask me. She was an interesting person. She kinda also rubs me the wrong way. I mentally scold myself, I've only known her for two days. I should probably get use to her first, instead of judging.

"Elliot's not in the best of mood right now," I inform her. "He's feeling kinda down, so it'll be great to let him read today."

She smiles even wider. "Okie Dokie Ms. Robinson, I'll be sure to give him several books for him to choose from."

Okie Dokie?

Who the hell even says that anymore?

I clear my throat. "Alright then." I turn back to Elliot. "See you later buddy, be good. Love you."

"Love you too mommy." He whispers, before taking off his seatbelt. He avoids my gaze as he gets out of the car.

Ms.Kaylee waves goodbye, as she and Elliot walk inside the school. I wait for a couple of moments, before driving away. The thought of Elliot being mad at me, made me feel horrible. He's never been mad at me, so this situation was new to me.

How do parents deal with a toddler being mad at them?

From what I remember as a kid, I've never been mad at my mom. She wouldn't have allowed it. She'd give me an ass whooping if I ever was mad at her, especially at Elliot's age.

Giving Elliot an ass whooping wasn't an option. He didn't yell at me or give me an attitude. He really didn't do anything that was ass whooping worthy. He was just... mad at me. I'll just talk to him, clear up everything.

●○

About thirty minutes later, I reached my hair salon. The only thing that kept going through my head, was getting everything right. Getting out the car, I take the bag of equipment with me. Walking inside my shop, the place is empty. Only my girls are inside, chattering. They stop talking once they notice me.

I lock the door.

"Hey, boss lady," Mia says approaching me, she gives me a side hug before quickly pulling away. "I appreciate this day off that you're giving us. Truth be told, I was tired as hell."

Savannah jumps in. "Yeah, I appreciate the day off as well. But is this day off coming out of my paycheck?" She questions. "I got bills to pay." She runs a hand over her straight brown weave. It looks like she got her nails done.

Michelle speaks up. "Ture that, bills are stacking up."

"Calm down ladies. You guys will get paid your normal income... probably even more." I tell them.

Savannah's ears perk up. She takes a step closer. "More?" She questions. "I like the sound of that."

"Yeah, explain," Michelle says, taking a seat on the abandoned couch. She props her feet on my glass table and I glare at her. She quickly removes her feet. "My fault Brandy."

My eyes roll to the back of my head. "Mia, take this," I say, handing her the metal detector. "Go around the place and see if you find any spy cameras or audio pieces. Make sure that you do it right."

Mia eyes me, putting her hair in a ponytail. "Why?"

My eyes close as my fist balls up. "Girl, because I said so. Now get to it, before y'all piss me off." Mia huff, before taking the metal detector from me. Mia and Savannah silently watch me as I take a seat. Together we wait for Mia to finish. "Did Yonnie come in yesterday?" I ask, breaking the silence.

Savannah nods. "She did, but she didn't stay her full time." She informs me. "She was here for like an hour before she left."

Michelle nodes. "Yep, she only stayed for an hour before she left. She had bruises all over her face. Scratches to and a busted lip. She tried covering it up with makeup, but it wasn't any help."

"Ight," I say, hearing them out. "I'll take care of it."

Mia steps back into the cutting room. "What do you mean you'll handle it?" She asks, worriedly. "You remember what happened the last time you tried to handle it... It didn't go so well." My body shivers at the memory. "Let Yonnie deal with it, hell she's the one that wants to stay in that damn relationship."

My eyes quickly snap to her and I glare at her. "I know you're not talking about her staying in an abusive relationship. Did you forget who helped you out of yours?" She knew what I meant.

Everyone had a past, including half the girls that work here. Because of what happened with my ex-boyfriend Isaac, hiring women who suffered from domestic violence was my job. It's hard making money after experiencing trauma like that, and that's why my shop is here. And as crazy as it if sounds, guys are also in abusive relationships. That's why I've teamed up with barbershop owners to help them find jobs and multiple opportunities as well.

Mia turns away from me. "I'm sorry." She apologizes. "I know it may look bad on my part, but I'm just saying it because I don't want you to get hurt. You got Ej to raise and all. He doesn't need anything bad happening to you." She pauses for a second. "Yonnie isn't gonna leave her man."

I nod. "I appreciate that Mia, but I got this. She'll leave him one day." Turning to all my girls, they give me their full attention. "Y'all remember what I told y'all the first-day y'all were hired?"

Michelle smiles slightly. "I take care of y'all, not the other way around." She says, quoting me. Hearing her say that, made me feel kinda

"Exactly." My body relaxes against the couch. "Mia, did you find anything?"

She shakes her head. "No, nothing."

My hands clap together. "Great." I clear my throat. "I have a proposition for you guys. Before I start, I need you guys to know, that under no circumstances are you guys pressured to be apart of this. What I'm about to tell you will put you in a risky situation, but you'll be making money. A lot of it. So if your not willing to take any risk," I point at the door. "It's fine, but please leave now." The girls eye each other, none of them stand up. So I continue. "Ej's father has broken out of prison. He's the one that all the cops are looking for."

Gasps sound throughout the entire room. "That fine ass white man that everyone is looking for, is your baby daddy?!" Michelle yells, jumping up from your seat.

"Could you be any louder?" I resort.

She looks at me shamelessly. "My fault." She says. "It's just so hard to imagine you and him together. You're like a good girl and he's just... You know what I mean."

My eyes roll to the back of my head. "Anyways, he showed up to my house yesterday. With a job opportunity, he hasn't filled me in on everything. But the job is a five person's operation."

"How much will we get paid?" Mia asks.

"A Lot. More than we make in a month, probably triple as much."

"I'm in," Savannah says, finally speaking.

I eye her. "You sure?"

"Hell yes." She says firmly.

Michelle clears her throat. "If Savannah in, then I'm in. Cause you know, anything she does I can do better."

I chuckle at her lame attempt of a joke. "Alright, Michelle." I turn to look at Mia. "What about you?"

Mia pauses for a second, taking everything. She gives a firm nod, once she's done. "I'm in."

"Alright, then. Meet me back at my house, at ten." Standing up, I grab my purse. This went easier than I thought.

"Where are you going?" Savannah asks.

Smiling slightly at them, the words, "I'm gonna go pay Yonnie a visit." Comes out my mouth. I pause. "You know, to handle things." The girls all nod, knowing what I meant. Walking out the shop and getting into my car, I put the address of Yonnie's apartment into the GPS.

There was about to be one hell of a s**t storm.