EMDS - #1 - A Congressman's Temptation (MxM)

c.18

  Here I was. 

  Here I was, back in Florida. My home. Where I grew up. A place I once knew. Now it all seemed foreign. I felt out of place and that I truly didn’t belong here. I knew I shouldn’t have been there, and maybe that was the explanation. 

  I got into the Uber, driving to my parents' house. Something seemed different. Something seemed off and I was determined to find out what it was. I walked up the stairs and up to the front door. I rang the doorbell. 

  “ Who the hell could this be so early in the morning? “ my mother complained. She opened up the door and just looked at me. Not shocked or so excited that she couldn’t react, she looked at me like I was the last person she expected. The last person she wanted to see. “ Elijah, you shouldn’t be here. “ 

  “ Elijah? “ I heard my father. I tried to step inside, but my mother pushed me back. It hurt her. “ ‘Lijah, you are not supposed to be here, okay? “ 

  “ Is it true? Did Andrew kill her? “ I began to cry. “ Tell me! “ 

  “ It’s best if you know nothing. “ my mother spoke lowly. “ Something deeper is going on, and the last thing we need is for you to get hurt. Go back to Paris, I am begging you, baby! “ 

  “ I’m not leaving until I get answers. “ 

  “ Elijah, I promise that it won’t be worth it. “ my father walked over to me. He wiped the tears away from my face. “ Please go back to Paris. “ 

  I just shook my head. My father sighed deeply, gesturing for me to walk inside the house. I sat down on the couch in the front room. My father sat next to me and my mother across from me. 

  “ Listen, “ my father started. “ after you left, Andrew came straight to us. He told us that we could never contact you until the right time. Your mother and I asked him what was happening, but he wouldn’t say anything. For a month, the rumor was he let Kelly back into his life and she was running the man down. He was low, I saw him. He looked like a zombie, ‘Lijah. And then one day, he just stopped showing up. We tried calling him, but he wouldn’t pick up. “ 

  “ And then what happened? “ 

  “ We were at an event, and Peter was there. His exact words were ‘ I heard your son's boyfriend went and killed his wife. Good thing he’s gone because he would be in jail with his broken lover. ‘ That’s when we understood why Andrew didn’t want us to contact you. “ 

  “ But that doesn’t make sense. Even if he did kill her, how can police convict me if I wasn’t in the state? “ 

  “ I don’t know what Peter is doing, but he’s grown stronger. He’s already done something, ‘Lijah, he’s just waiting on you to take the bait. “ 

  “ Is he in custody? “ they both nodded. “ I can’t go back, I have to see him. “ 

  “ Are you out of your mind? “ my mother looked at me in a way she never had. “ We’re telling you that your safety is in jeopardy, and you want to pull up on this man? What part of taking your ass back to Paris don’t you understand? “ 

  “ Kels, just relax. “ my father spoke calmly. 

  “ No! “ she yelled. “ We will allow you to stay for the day, but first thing tomorrow morning, you are taking your black ass back to that airport and getting on that plane, do I make myself clear? “  

  “ But.... “ 

  “ Do I make myself clear? “ 

  I forced myself up, running upstairs, and into my old room. I flopped down on the bed, crying. I knew I was risking everything I worked for. I knew I was stupid for coming back. On top of that, the way my mother yelled at me made me feel weak. Vulnerable. I felt like I didn’t have a say so. I didn’t like that feeling. And if I didn’t want to live that way for God knows how long, I better get back on that plane to Paris in the morning. 

  I looked at my phone through the tears, ignoring the missed calls and unread texts from Fredrick and Erica.  

  I was hurt. 

  So hurt that I lied in bed from that morning to that night.  

  I cried.  

  I cried so much it hurt to touch my face. My skin was raw from wiping my dry hands across it. On top of that, I had a pounding headache that was irritating me.  

  I suddenly heard the door slowly open. 

  “ ‘Lijah? “ my father whispered. 

  “ Yes? “ 

  “ You got five minutes to get down these stairs. Use the backdoor and meet us on the street. “ 

  I jumped up, slipping on a pair of sweat pants and a white t-shirt. I slipped on my house shoes, tiptoeing from my room to the back door. I pushed it open, closing it behind me and sprinting towards the bushes at the end of the long yard. I pushed through them, and sure enough, the car sat there. I got into the backseat and ‘Mere sped off. 

  “ Now we don’t have much time. You’re in and you’re out. “ my father told me. 

  “ Why are you doing this? “ 

  “ I know how you are. I don’t think you would have needed closure, but I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life asking yourself why. I want you to return to Paris free of these Florida shackles. “ he explained. 

  “ Thanks. “ 

  Within no time, we pulled up to the prison. Nervous wasn’t even the word. I wanted to stay in the car, but then I would be pissed at myself for driving here and not facing what I needed to. There was an officer who met us at the gate, talking to my father. He pulled the door open for me and guided me inside. They didn’t bother running me through screening or do any kind of paperwork. They just led me down the hall, to the left and we were standing in front of the room where Andrew was. 

  “ Five minutes. “ he told me and I nodded. 

  I pushed the door open and there he sat. He looked just like my father described him. He lost all his muscle; his hair was much shorter along with his beard. This was not the Andrew that I knew. 

  “ I’m disappointed, kid. “ he started. “ I told you not to come back and you did. “ 

  “ Andrew, I want to know why. “ 

  “ The less you know, the better. I’m not your mom or dad; you can’t convince me to give up any information. “ he was wrong about that. He was able to deny me right now because he wasn’t looking at me. I knew he didn’t want me to see him like this. But I was selfish. “ Andrew look at me. “ 

  “ I can’t. “ he shook his head. “ ‘Lijah, I can’t. “ 

  “ Andrew, why? “ he finally looked up at me with those dark eyes and they scared me. His eyes were never that dark. 

  “ She wasn’t you, kid. “ his lips quivered. “ But it wasn’t just that, I knew she wouldn’t stop. Even though you were gone, she wouldn’t stop. She-she's like a snake, okay? She will wait on her prey for weeks and weeks and weeks, chasing them, harassing them until they finally get tired. That way you feel every bit of pain she delivers. There’s no adrenaline. No fighting back to ease the pain. She goes in for the kill and she devours. “ 

  “ Peter told my parents that he could have me arrested for this. “ 

  “ Peter has eyes for your fathers' position, you know that. Right now, he’s at a huge advantage. He’s got the only important chess piece in a trap, and if he falls for it, everything crumbles. Your father will do something crazy and will step down, and I’ll be replaced with you, watching the rot consume you. “ 

  “ But I wasn’t here. “ I began to cry again. “ How am I the one? “ 

  “ We don’t know, but that’s not important. Peter has it figured out and he knows exactly how he’ll accomplish it. “ he stood up from the table. His walk had even changed. He limped towards me, looking down at me. “ You’re in danger, ‘Lijah. “ he wiped the tears falling down my face. “ I know it hurts, we’re all hurting, but we have to do what’s best for each other. “ 

  I embraced him tightly. He hugged me back with the little strength he had left, and somehow his grip got stronger and stronger. I could hear his heart beating faster and faster. His complicated breathing cleared instantly the minute I hugged him. 

  “ You see that? You’re giving me life. “ he hugged me tighter. 

  “ Times up. “ 

  I just let go and left. I couldn’t look at him, I couldn’t say goodbye. If I did any of those things, I wouldn't want to leave. 

  We immediately drove back to the house, sneaking back inside. Once I got to my room, I booked the flight and just sat in bed, waiting for the sun to come up. I continued dabbing the tears away from my face until I saw my mother standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. 

  “ Let’s go. “ 

  I got up, grabbing my bag, and heading downstairs. She gestured for me to walk through the front door first and she followed. We got into the car and headed towards the airport. 

  “ It’s hurting me to treat you like this, but I’m worried about you. “ my mother spoke. “ It cannot happen this way, it just can’t. “ 

  “ I understand. “ I was numb. I looked at my phone, finally replying to Fredrick and Erica telling them I would be home shortly. 

  We got out of the car, picking up my ticket, and heading towards the gate. I checked my bag once I was there, boarding the plane. What struck me as odd was that I was alone. The only passenger. The flight was for eight-thirty, and it was eight twenty-three. I knew something wasn’t right, but by the time I tried to turn around and exit the plane, I realized that this was his plan all along. He knew that I was back in town and was waiting for this moment. 

  “ Trying to sneak off? “ he laughed, lowly, emerging from the front of the plane. I tried running back through the gate but was pushed back by the stocky white man. “ I wouldn’t risk it if I were you. “ 

  “ What do you want from me? “ 

  “ You just so happen to be that one move. That deadly move. The one that allows you to take down your opponent in a bloody, vicious attack. One of those silent but deadly plays. “ 

  “ It’s not gonna’ be worth it, I promise. “ 

  “ Are you sure about that? Not only will your ex-lover suffer, but that father of yours will squirm like a worm. He will pay for how he humiliated me over the years. He embarrassed my family with his antics, and now that I’m the one with the power, he’s going to fill the full force of the Philips family. “ he smirked. “ Here’s how this is gonna’ happen; you will be indicted without a court session. If I allow that, they’ll see you were wrongly convicted, obviously. I have plans in place to make sure that nothing will slip through the cracks. “ 

  “ You know, I’m not gonna’ fight it. Just know that you will pay for your actions one day. “ I told him. He laughed forcibly before turning his face cold and staring at me. “ Elijah Muhammed Dexter, you are under arrest for the murder of whatever the hell the bitches name was. “ 

  My hands were forced behind my back and cuffed together. The police officer walked me off the plane and back to the gate entrance where my mother stood. She couldn’t react to what was happening, she was just as shocked. 

  “ Keep dad from going insane. “ I told her, tears welling up in my eyes. 

  “ What? “ 

  “ Keep dad from killing this b***h! “ I yelled out before she was no longer in my sights. I got stares from the passing people and they made me feel small. Even though I wasn’t guilty, how else would I feel walking through a building full of people with handcuffs on? Full of people who knew me. 

  They forced me into the police car and took me down to the prison. I was stripped, searched, and given the ugly orange suit. I looked down at my white socks and the dingy slides. I wanted so bad to react violently, but I couldn’t. 

  “ Don’t give them your power, Elijah. Don’t give them your power. “ I repeated to myself as they walked me down the hall and into the solitary cell. I put my hands through the small opening allowing them to unlock the handcuffs. 

  I sat down on the hard bed. The thin mattress was obsolete, as it still felt like you were sleeping on a metal bed frame. My body began to hurt just thinking about it. There were no clocks, and the only sense of time I had was looking out the small window overlooking the street. I closed my eyes, breathing in and out, calming myself as best I could. Suddenly, someone was standing in front of the door. The same man that let me in when I came to see Andrew. He opened the rectangle slot, placing the phone down on it. I grabbed it, putting it to my ear. 

  “ Elijah? “ my father called out. 

  “ Yeah. Dad, dad, they got me. “ I panicked. I put my hand over my mouth to keep myself quiet. 

  “ Listen, it’s okay, it’s okay, I’m going to fix this. “ he assured me. 

  “ Dad, you can’t handle this any kind of way, Peter knows...... “ 

  “ He doesn’t know s**t! He’s gone too far with this petty ass rivalry! “ I could hear him throw something and the shatter echoed through the phone. 

  “ That’s what I’m talking about, dad, he knows you will retaliate. You have to be smart about this. “ I told him. He slowed down his breathing before he talked again. “ I won’t have a court date, so that eliminates the possibility of getting out of here unless you can maintain your position. You have to do it for me dad. “ 

  “ Okay ‘Lijah, stop crying. “ he cooed. “ Listen, they’re gonna’ transfer you...... “ 

  “ Transfer? “ I yelled as the officer to me to quiet down. 

  “ Peter thinks he’s so smart, but he’s not. They’ll be sending you to Texas to get you away from us and the power we have here. I have some connections out there, and I will do the best that I can. Until then, you have to be careful. “ 

  “ I know. “ 

  “ I love you, son, and you will be home soon, remember those words. “ he told me. 

  “ I love you too! “ 

  I handed the phone back to the officer and he quickly walked off from the door. Moments later, they were unlocking my cell and putting me back in handcuffs. They took me back to the counter. 

  “ Elijah Muhammed Dexter will be transferred over to the Mid-Valley House Prison located in Edinburg, Texas. In this folder is his information to hand over to the Edinburg Police Department when requested. Good luck, Mr. Dexter. “ the female officer stamped the envelope, then closed it and placed it in the hands of the officer. They guided me outside and onto the small white bus. I was the only one boarding. 

  “ Take a seat wherever you want, baby. “ the driver told me. I walked all the way to the back as the officers boarded the bus. Once they were seated, the woman closed the door and pulled away from the prison. “ Here we go. “ 

  Before she got on the interstate, one of the officers walked towards the back and gestured for my hands. I held them out as he placed the small gadget into the latch, unlocking them. I rubbed my sore wrists. 

  “ We’re not here to make this harder on you. “ he spoke. “ We know everything that happened. “ 

  “ And you can’t do anything about it? “ he shook his head. “ Then you telling me that does nothing for me. “ 

  “ That’s very fair. “ he tipped his hat and walked back to the front of the bus, returning to his seat. 

  Through the reflection of that window, I could see everything. Everything that happened since the day Erica and Keenan came home. Everything that happened from the time Andrew first caught my eye, to the day we finally parted ways at the going away party. I wanted to cry, but I was all cried out. I was now in a situation that required the highest level of adaptability. I didn’t know this prison system, wasn’t used to the life, and didn’t plan on getting to know it; so much for that. It was time for me to toughen up as my life literally depended on it. 

  “ Hey, Officer? “ I called to the front. He looked back to me, his brows arched, and his posture alert. “ Thank you. “ 

  “ My pleasure. “