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The door swings open before I can knock and a woman with dark skin and dark eyes watches me intently.
“Goodnight, ma’am. I’m here for—”
She suddenly twists her neck and yells into the living room, “Tall! Blue eyes! Uh…”
“Caucasian?” Someone yells back.
“They’re all Caucasian,” she hollers. “Except mine.”
Confused, I stare at her. “Ma’am?”
“Sunny, you come and see,” the woman steps back from the door. “Who does this one belong to? I can’t keep the faces straight!”
“He’s Island’s,” a voice answers.
“Island’s busy.” Another woman shuffles into sight and waves me away. “Go wait outside like the other husbands.”
“What?”
“He brought a kid.” The woman at the door yells over her shoulder. Then she gives Abe a tipsy wave. Hands gesturing, she speaks stiltedly, “Hi… cutie. You look…. same age… Micheal and Rowan.” She widens her hands. “Your… name… what?”
Abe stares at her hands and then glances up at me in utter confusion. “Should I tell her I’m not deaf?”
Before I can answer, the door opens wider.
Darrel appears, an amused smile tilting his lips. “Deej, I’ve got it from here.”
“Sure thing, Big D.” She slaps his back.
Darrel pales. “Let’s find another nickname, okay? Sazuki will kill me if he hears you saying that.”
“Double D then?” Deej whispers.
I pull my lips in to stop the chuckle.
Darrel clears his throat. “Why don’t you go sober up with my wife and the others?” As his friend wobbles away, Darrel motions to me. “Come in.”
“Darrel, what’s going on? Where’s my daughter?” My shoulders are tense.
Funny as it seemed at first, these women are intoxicated. Island said she was here to teach a braiding class, but it looks more like they threw a rager.
“She’s with Island, Niko, and the others at the campfire out back. Dejonae, Yaya and my wife Sunny,” he motions to the tall woman laughing in the kitchen, “were here to get more wine. Alistair and I risked our lives to stop them.”
“Just take me to my daughter,” I grumble, giving the ladies a suspicious look.
“This way.” Darrel points to the sliding glass door past the kitchen.
I follow him to a back deck that’s fitted with a rug, comfortable chairs, and a shiny barbecue grill. Several men are occupying the seats.
Surprise hits me when I recognize their faces in the twilight.
Alistair is someone who’s worked with our company before. He owns an impressive contactless real estate business and has coding skills that would make Andre bow at his feet.
I nod at him.
He returns the greeting.
Stinton, I haven’t met. But I’ve heard of his cut-throat business practices from Cody, who has both an odd respect and a deep loathing for the guy.