It was Jordan who stepped in my path again. “You can’t come into my house like this. You’re not arresting my dad.” His eyes flicked to Dexen’s, who was already lifting his phone to his ear, no doubt calling his lawyer while I noticed Sheldon had one pressed to his ear.
“Jordan,” I said, and put my hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” he growled. “I just got you back to where I don’t want to fucking choke you daily. I’m not letting them take you in.”
“You don’t have a choice, Son.”
“Mr. Altair, you have to come with us.”
I nodded and started forward where I was quickly searched while guns stayed trained on the men in the home with me. None of mine had pulled theirs out. They knew better than to go toe-to-toe with the police.
Vail and Hartley both called my name, but I couldn’t turn back to see the looks on their faces. It would break me and make me want to do something foolish that would keep me in prison for a long time.
Then reality dawned on me. Vail would think I went after his ex. He’d think I had something to do with this when I didn’t. I tried to turn to tell him I was innocent, but he was already out of view.
How many times had I done something illegal? And now I was arrested for something I didn’t even do?
We’d get this straightened out. Lana would show at the station. Dexen would get his lawyers involved as well. They had nothing on me. No proof to hold me. I hadn’t been anywhere near that piece of shit, no matter how badly I wanted to be the cause of his death. And he better be dead because if he wasn’t, I was going to find him when I was free and rectify that.
As I was handcuffed and placed in the back of the waiting car, I remembered the letter Malik left for his attorney to give me when he died. Why that came to mind had everything to do with the two men who watched the cruiser back out of the driveway with me inside it.
Jordan,
If you’re reading this, I’m gone. However it happened, I know one thing. I didn’t get to tell you how I felt. If I had, I would have replaced this letter with another. That time hasn’t come because I didn’t have the courage to tell you just how much I loved you.
Maybe you already knew on some level. If not, I love you, Jordan. I’m sorry we didn’t get to have the moment I’d long thought about. But this brings me to another matter.
In front of you is my son. Our connection was well hidden. No one knew who he was to me. I wasn’t the father he needed so I wasn’t in his life. It was another secret I didn’t get the courage to confess to you. There were a lot of things you knew about me, but this one I hid from everyone.
I saw what you went through trying to protect your son and didn’t want the same for mine. Was it a coward’s way out, not being in his life? Yes, but I don’t regret it. I had nothing good to share with him outside of my money.
But you can. Be there for him if he needs it. Protect him. You don’t think you have compassion or love, but you do. Romeo could use that from a father figure. It was more than I could give him.
One last thing… When you find love, Jordan, hold on to it with everything you have. Don’t let the one you give your heart to slip away. Fight, cherish, and do what you have to so the person you love sees the real you.
I wish it could have been me.
All I want is for you and Romeo to be happy. Please do that for me. One last request from a dead man who left this earth with you in his heart.
All of my love,
Mal
Tears stung my eyes as the cruiser slipped into the night, heading toward the bright lights of the city. I wouldn’t let them fall. Not now. Not when I had people out there I had to fight for and protect. Jordan and Romeo held special places in my heart, but Vail and Hartley owned me whole.
I’d get out of this mess and prove to Vail and Hartley I was a man they could trust and lean on, because I did love them, even if I didn’t have the courage to say the words yet.
