Deadly Target: Force of Nature

Chapter 9 A Warm Welcome

I woke up sore from my and Jay's night together. I looked over at him, and he was sleeping like a baby. I smelled something in the kitchen. I was thinking, damn, I did not know Samantha can make it smell like home here. Jay sat up in bed.

"Hey, love." He smiled and kissed me passionately. "MMMMM damn, gorgeous. What time is it?"

"I think it's 8:30 A.M." Trying to look over at the clock.

"Damn, something smells.., oh shit." He jumped out of bed. "My parents, f**k, they're here, and Samantha." He was stuttering his words.

Then it had just dawned on me Samantha is in there, with his parents. We were scuffling and falling all over each other, trying to throw something on and get to the kitchen fast as hell. We burst out of the bedroom door and ran into the kitchen. Out of breath, we took in the sight of Samantha mixing eggs and Jay's mother flipping pancakes. They looked at us like we lost our minds.

"Good morning, son," Sarah said to Jay. "How did you sleep?."

Sarah is a beautiful Caucasian woman. Long dirty blonde hair, beautiful blue ocean eyes, her skin was a peach color. She was not as tall as Jay, maybe about nine inches shorter than him.

"Good morning Momma," he said as he walked toward her and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "You ok?"

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm fine." She leaned into him to accept the kiss.

Samantha was stirring her eggs. "Did you know that they got here at 6 A.M.? They startled me."

"We startled you. I thought you were going to shoot us," Sarah said.

"Momma, what made you think that?" Jay was holding a strained smile on his face rubbing his mother's shoulders.

"She had a gun out!" She was smiling a little.

"If I would have known you were coming, I would have been better prepared." Samantha started to defend herself.

"Well, we did not know that you were a guest either. We saw another car and assumed it was Aza, but then I explained, and she let us in." Sarah kept a smile on her face as she talked.

"Yes, I did, and I apologized." Samantha gave Sarah the same genuine smile. I just kept moving my head back and forth while they took turns explaining the early morning events.

"Momma, where is Anna?" Jay asked.

"She is in her room. She was still asleep when we arrived." Then she spotted me. I looked at her and gave her a weak smile. "Aza dear, don't stand there looking lost. Come give me a hug." The smile she gave me was encouraging. I walked over, and she wrapped her arms around me and whispered in my ear. "She knows you are together. I had to tell her." I kissed her cheek to let her know it was fine.

"You know, Aza," Samantha interrupted, "I kind of figured something was up with this situation, you know you and Jay."

"Samantha, let's talk in the living room," I told her.

"Ok, then let's go." She said, gesturing towards the living room.

"Will you all excuse us, please?" I gave Sarah a nod, and she returned one. As we entered the living room, and before I could say anything, Samantha blurted out.

"I knew it." I started motioning for Samantha to keep her voice down.

"You knew what?" We started moving further away from the kitchen and further into the living room.

"You and that giant in there. I knew I was not that drunk." She started laughing at me.

"What are you talking about?" I folded my arms across my chest, waiting on her to answer.

Now full-on laughing at me, she started to explain. "Oh, the moaning, I thought I was dreaming, but obviously it was you. Wow, he put it on ya. His d**k must be like magic to make you sound like that."

"SAMANTHA! Have a little respect. You have no filter, do you?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"I don't need a filter. I'm old. My filter left when I started working for our company. And besides, it's just a question you can answer if you want to, but judging by your sounds last night, he is pretty big." She was smiling the whole time she was talking. "Now tell me how big he is?"

"Wait, what do you mean you heard me? Ok, I am not having this conversation with you. He towers over me, so use your imagination." I was so embarrassed but was curious about how much she heard.

"Well, I can only say that you were pretty loud, and he was pretty much in control of you."

"Oh My God, stop it. Now, this conversation is officially over." I threw my hands in the air and began to walk away.

Samantha started laughing hysterically. "Daaaaamn relax, breath, you need the oxygen after last night."

"Ok. I'm done. I'm done." I started walking away from her.

"Alright, alright, all jokes aside, I was drunk last night and did not have a chance to tell your mountain man thanks for helping me out. Aza, have I seen him around someplace before?"

I rolled my eyes at her and gave her a smile. "I don't think so, Samantha, and I will tell him you said thank you." Jay came through the living room looking at me like he had interrupted something.

"Aza, come here."

I started walking toward him. "Yes, Jay." I was hoping he did not hear our conversation.

"Are you coming upstairs to see Anna?"

I let out the breath I was holding. "Yea, let's go." I was so happy he did not hear Samantha and me. "I will be back, Samantha." She gave me a quick nod and went back into the kitchen.

We were about to climb the stairs when Bean was coming down. "Morning Bean," I said to her.

Bean had started laughing. "Don't you mean GOOD Morning?"

I gave her a confused look. "What do you mean, Bean?"

She looked at me with her eyebrows raised and just giggled a little more. "I kept hearing things. I thought I was imagining it. But then I heard a loud moan, my God, Wooo must have been good." She was bent over laughing now. I turned red instantly and had a surprised look on my face.

I started pulling Jay up the stairs. "Ok, goodbye, Bean."

Jay was laughing hysterically. "I told you to keep it down."

"I tried. You wouldn't let me." Yes, I was blaming him. It's all his fault.

We came to our daughter's room, and Jay went in first. His father was reading a book to Anna.

"Hey, Beautiful," Jay said, smiling at Anna. "Did you have fun with Nana and Poppa?"

"Daddy, Daddy." Anna ran excitedly toward him. She gave him the biggest hug in which he returned, of course.

"I had the bestess time, Daddy. Nana and I baked cookies, and Poppa took me on his boat. It was so much fun."

"I bet it was," Jay said as he kissed her cheeks.

I walked up to Jay's back while he was down on his knees talking to our daughter. She looked up and saw me. She looked so surprised and happy at the same time.

"Momma, Momma, you back, you back." She bolted towards me.

"Hey, big girl, look at you." I swooped her up and hugged her tight.

"She was an angel these past three days, Jay," Paul said.

"Thanks, Pop. I appreciate you and everything you do for Aza and me." He gave his father a tight hug.

"It's nothing you know that Anna's my angel," he said happily.

Paul is as tall as his son. He is African American 6' 6" tall, muscular man. He is clean-shaven and smooth skin. His haircut is faded, and the color is black and gray. He has green eyes. He is a handsome man.

I stood in the background and waited while they talked to each other. "Hey, Paul. How are you doing?" I put a warm smile on my face as I greeted him.

"Aza, sweetheart, come here. I love seeing you. Give me a hug." He opened his arms and welcomed me with a hug. I was so happy to see him. He was like a father to me even though we are in-laws. He showed me more love than my own father did. I embraced him and allowed his warmth to engulf me.

"Momma, Momma, I have a book. It's soooo good, read with me." Anna was waving her book at me.

"Oh, my big girl, I would love to, but right now, it's time for Nana's famous pancakes."

"Yay pancakes," Anna screamed and started running out of the room.

"Anna, don't run, or you will fall," Paul said, following right behind her.

I looked at Jay. "Soooo." I was just staring at him.

He turned towards me and put his hands around my waist. "Soooooo right back at you. How about I get a snack before breakfast?" He gave me a devilish smile, looking at me like he could eat me up.

"Oh, no, big boy, we are going to eat and get down to business. Besides, you punished me enough last night, or did you forget."

"How can I forget? You moan my name all night. Plus, you taste like honey, love," he started kissing on my neck.

"Let's go, Jay." I was pushing him away, but he tried to hold me tight.

He made a pouty face. "Damn, babe, you no fun."

"Not what you said last night," I said as I started walking out the door.

Jay started laughing as he walked behind me, smacking my ass. "No, I said you feel so f*****g good. That's what I said."

We went into the kitchen and sat down to eat with the family.

"So, how long have you two been together?" Bean asked.

"Damn, Samantha, you have a big mouth," I said.

"I didn't say a damn thing. Everyone in this house heard you. It's not a secret." Samantha replied.

"I guessed, I heard y’all last night," Bean said. "I also knew when he opened the door yesterday, it's the way he looks at you. He sees only you."

I turned red. I really did not think we were that loud. I didn't know we looked at each other like that still. I was lost in thought.

"Oh, sorry, since High School," I said. We continued to eat our breakfast, laughing at each other and enjoying our conversations.

"Wow, Sarah, I can't ever get enough of your cooking," I told her.

"Well, thank you, Aza," she said to me, smiling.

"Hold on, Aza, I helped," said Samantha.

"Sorry Samantha, I did not know you could cook like that. I only thought you were only good with guns," I said, laughing. Everyone started laughing at the comment.

Samantha just looked at me and started laughing too. "I will give you that one."

"Daddy," Anna called out to her father.

"Yes, baby." Jay dropped his fork on the plate to give her his full attention.

She leaned over and whispered to him, "Who are these people?"

"I'm sorry, sweetie, these are friends of your mommy." Jay picked his fork back up and was about to start back eating.

"Does mommy have to go again?" She gave him a pouty face, and tears had begun to form in her eyes. Jay looked up at me with hurt and a flash of anger in his eyes. He put his fork back down and pushed his plate away.

Then he looked back down at our daughter and smiled. "Sweetie, why don't you go and put your dishes in the sink and go upstairs and play? We will be up there soon, ok, honey."

"Ok, daddy." She bounced out of her chair and ran from her seat to the sink.

"Don't run," Paul said to her.

"Sorry, Poppa," Anna replied in a sad tone. "Poppa, will you come with me?"

"Of course, sweetheart. I am not trying to be here for this conversation." He made the last statement under his breath.

With excitement, she walked out of the room with Paul holding her hand, heading up the stairs. As soon as she was out of earshot, Jay turned his gaze on me. I could see anger, frustration, and hurt in his eyes. He was a mix of emotions clouding his better judgment. He slammed his fists on the table.

"See, this is bullshit, right here." He was looking into my eyes. The sound of his fist hitting the table made all of us in the kitchen jump.

"Jay, watch your mouth," his mother said to him. She had raised her voice at him hearing him curse. She was by the sink washing the dishes. He never swore in front of his mother unless he was really pissed off.

"Jay, calm down. It's ok." Samantha was trying to keep the peace in the kitchen.

"Really, I don't believe it is. Let me ask you something, how much did you know about me before you got here?" Samantha just gave him a look and shrugged her shoulders. "Exactly."

"Jay, that's not fair, I was protecting you, and you know that." I knew he would blow up. It was a matter of time.

"Really, is that what the f**k you call it?" His sarcastic tone made me burn with fire. I was starting to feel the heat from my anger radiate up my body. His mother turned around again and shook her head.

She stopped washing dishes and strolled towards him. "Jay, you know her line of work. You can't be mad at her." Sarah was trying to lighten the mood in the room as much as possible. At this point, how mad he looked and was acting was not an option.

Jay stood up from the chair before his mother could reach him. He put one of his hands up to stop her from coming closer. "Mom, please, you don't know the half of it." She didn't even acknowledge what he said. She turned back around, walked back to the sink, and continued to wash dishes. "This is exactly what I was talking about." Now his tone was even louder. I was pretty sure Anna could hear him.

I started motioning my hands in a downward manner. "Jay, please keep your voice down," I told him.

He stepped a little closer to me, and I took a step back to keep the distance between us.

"What, you need to keep this a secret too?" He was yelling now. That calm tone and easy demeanor were gone, he had turned red, and his eyes started to bulge out of his head. He was so angry.

I was trying to remain calm and talk in a mellow tone. "Jay, Anna can…

"ANNA CAN WHAT, AZA?" He cut me off. "WHAT, CAN SHE HEAR US?" Everyone just stared at him. My eyes were glancing around the kitchen.

Bean started slowly moving toward the kitchen archway. She got close to her mother and whispered in her ear. I could not quite make out what she said, but Samantha got up, left the kitchen with Bean, and went into the living room.

Jay was still yelling. "Now, do you understand? Do you want to talk about it now?"

"You already knew what we were getting into when you agreed to this, this arrangement." I waved my hands all around in the air. I was angry now and trying to maintain a low tone. He threw his hands in the air and made his way towards me. My chair was blocking his way, so he slung it to the corner of the kitchen. He stepped closer to me as I backed away. I was up against the wall.

"f**k IT, I give up." He yelled at the top of his lungs, which pissed me off more.

"Got dammit, Jay, keep your f*****g voice down." I stormed out of the kitchen. He went to reach out for me, but I snatched away from him.

"Oh no, don't walk away from me. We are talking about this right now." He was right behind me. I went into the bedroom and tried to slam the door before he got to the room. He caught it with his hand and came in behind me.

"Now, what are you going to tell her?" He slammed the bedroom door behind him. I could feel the force vibrate the house. He was damn mad, and it was no way I was getting out of this conversation.

"Stop it, Jay. You are acting crazy." He was just staring at me. I don't even think he heard what I had said. He just kept yelling.

"You know what, you don't have to tell her s**t. I will be the one who would have to tell her. You won't be here."

"Jay, I need you to relax." I had to get him to calm down. We were circling each other like we were about to fight. He kept on yelling, and I just kept glaring at him.

"Relax, you want me to relax. Our daughter thinks her mother is leaving her every time she sees her. She thinks her mother doesn't love her."

He was not sugar coating anything. He was letting me have it. He was pissed, and he was showing it. Hell, he was saying it. I just wanted him to shut the f**k up for five minutes, but he kept on talking and yelling as we kept pacing, circling each other.

"She cries because she can't see you," he yelled. "I tuck her in, and when she says her prayers, she asks God to bring you to her. You are not here to see the hurt in her eyes. I have to tell her that you love her when it should be, you dammit."

By this time, tears were rolling down my face. I was so angry at Jay and at myself. His words were like fire, and I was being burned.

He stopped circling with me and gave me a hurtful look. "Do you even love Anna, uh?"

At his question, I stopped moving. I got was boiling. The temperature in the room had to have gone up. Beads of sweat formed on my head. I turned around so fast at the question and reacted the way I was trying to avoid. My fist came across his face.

"Dammit, Aza." He stumbled back, holding his cheek. He regained his balance and came towards me. I jumped in his face.

"Don't you dare EVER ask me that, EVER," I yelled at the top of my lungs. Tears were rolling down my face. I was still boiling. I went to push him down on the bed but, before I could react again, he had grabbed me by my arms and slung me on the bed first. He jumped on top of me, pinning me to the bed. I was struggling underneath him. He had both my hands firmly gripped in one hand. The other was on the bed beside my head. He raised his hand up and ran his fingers through his hair, trying to calm down.

"f**k, I need some air before I do--I got to go." He jumped up off of me and walked towards the door. "s**t!" He said before he slammed the door leaving out of the room.

I stayed lying there on the bed until I heard the front door slam. I sat up, and I put my head in my hands, trying to compose myself. I came out of the room and went into the living room.

"Everything alright," Bean asked.

I took a deep breath, looked at her without answering the question, and said, "Now about these files."