Page 25 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)

Mommy needed someone to see her and appreciate her sacrifices. She didn’t need to be condemned for protecting her heart and her family the best way she could under duress. It wasn’t her fault that a system she trusted didn’t value her or what she had to offer it.

Since Mommy was an early riser, I called her on my way home.

“You good, baby?” My mother’s soft voice met mine, reminding me how overprotective she’d always been with Tiffany and me.

“I am. How are you?”

“Doing pretty good for an old lady.”

“You’re not old. If you feel that way, it’s because life has made you old.”

“I suppose.” Her voice shook a little.

“I know.” I kept my answer short, wanting to remain sensitive as I shared my truth. “I’m going to avenge you. For what he did.” I spoke the words softly but gripped my steering wheel tightly.

When Mommy didn’t speak, I asked, “Did you hear me?”

“What does that mean, Son?”

I inhaled and exhaled, following the sway of my Black Ice Little Trees air freshener, hanging from my rearview mirror, with my eyes. I finally coughed and cleared my throat as I returned my full attention to the nearly empty road.

“I’m working with this professor who has been attacked by EFU. She’s making me see that I can use my power to heal people who’ve gone through stuff like y’all.”

“Stay safe.”

I knew Mommy referred to my mental wellness, something Tiffany focused on even before she became a licensed therapist.

“I will.”

“Warrick?”

“Yes?”

“I may not say it a lot, but I’m proud of you . . . for taking care of yourself.”

A lump formed in my throat.

“You taught me how to be strong.”

“I’ll always worry about you.”

“I know.”

I pulled over to the nearest gas station parking lot and said goodbye to Mommy.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, allowing myself to feel the flood of emotions overtaking me.

For the first time in years, I cried for my mother, Scarlett, and for the messes that were made because of me.

If God were real, I hoped He would forgive me for my ignorance and cowardice.

Because I knew better, I would do better.

Later that day, Scarlett sent the follow-up email to her supervisor. Throughout the day, I received emails from him, Judy, and Gayle about her “rude and racist” activities. Instead of opening them at work, I invited Scarlett to my place for dinner.

As always, we joked and shared intimate stories about our lives.

We ended the night making love and snuggling under my covers until Scarlett fell asleep.

Since I was a light sleeper, I returned to my home office and finally opened some of the files sent to me about Scarlett.

At almost midnight, I received a text from President Fields.

Skip:

A news story is breaking about Scarlett Kane. We got her.

I jumped from my seat. What the hell was going on? I texted back immediately, my thumbs barely able to type the words in my head.

Me:

What are you talking about?

President:

Check your email.

I leaned over my laptop and opened my work email.

Within the past few minutes, Elbert forwarded several messages saying that Judy chatted with the media to expose Scarlett.

Since Scarlett was a tenured professor, and EFU couldn’t fire her, Judy and Gayle bypassed protocol to embarrass Scarlett and take her down.

They had to be the insiders who were part of the president’s intricate plan.

I walked down my hall and stopped outside my bedroom door, deciding what my next move should be. I had to respond to the president, but I also vowed to protect Scarlett. Either way, I would be the bad guy. I texted Skip back.

Me:

What do you want me to do?

President:

Take care of her.

What the hell?

I couldn’t believe this idiot trusted me enough to text me this mess.

I could use it to take him down in the future, but that wasn’t the focus now.

I needed to make sure Scarlett didn’t end up like my mother.

I rushed to the bed and turned on the lamp beside my bed.

My hands covered my heart as I took in Scarlett’s peaceful body. I shook her shoulders gently.

“Scarlett. Wake up. I have to tell you something.”

She slowly opened her eyes and rubbed them. Her smile quickly disappeared when she saw the frown on my face. She covered my hand with hers and sat up.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Scarlett’s care pinged my soul.

I squeezed her hand and tried to muster a smile.

“A story is about to hit the news about you. It’s not going to be pretty.”

“Story about what?” Tears filled her eyes as they darted from my face to the wall behind me.

“Judy has the president’s ear. They said you were racist and leaked it to the press.”

“But why me?

“Skip wants brownie points from the governor for his anti-DEI legislation. They think that if they make an example of you, it’ll put Skip in the governor’s good graces and get him reappointed as EFU president. Hell, he might even run for president of the United States.”

Scarlett shook her head.

“I’m not that important.”

“You’re a target because you are important. No one else is pushing against the system like you are. If they take you down, they can shut other marginalized people up. It’s a classic move.”

“Yeah. Like how they took Malcolm X and Martin Luther King down. How far do you think they’ll go?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart.”

I didn’t tell Scarlett that Skip was a coward who would do almost anything not to have a negative reputation with the public.

Scarlett stared at me in understandable shock. I pushed her soft shoulders back onto the pillow and massaged them.

“Did I press too hard? Is it because I agreed to your plan? Did you know about this media attack and not tell me?” Scarlett’s words flew out of her mouth faster than I could process her thoughts.

“I told you to be careful.” I tried to keep my defense meter low.

“Did you know they were going to attack me like this?”

I gulped, wanting to be truthful but also prevent Scarlett from blaming me for what was happening.

“Of course not.”

Fire filled her eyes.

“How did it get this way then?”

I pumped my hands and rubbed my chin.

“Whoa. Slow down.”

She reached for my hands.

“You’re going to say something, right? Straighten everything out? Clear my name?”

My mind raced as I weighed the timing and the pros and cons of what Scarlett asked me to do. If I spoke up too soon, they’d have my tail out on the street. I was a staff member, so unlike Scarlett, I would be gone by the end of the day.

“I need more time to gather information and think about how to move forward.”

“More time for what? I don’t have time.” Scarlett’s eyes pierced mine as she beat her chest with her hand.

“To figure out what to do.”

“Protect me! You know me, War.” Scarlett screamed my name.

“I need time to sort through everything.”

“No, you don’t!” She punctuated every word.

Her breathing became labored.

“They’re going to slaughter me, my reputation, and everything I’ve worked for. Help me. Please.”

Scarlett’s voice descended into a whimper as I took several deep breaths.

“Rest and let me figure this out.”

Scarlett’s strong voice filled the room.

“If you don’t do right by me, I will tell everyone who you really are. I can’t go through this again.” Scarlett’s wild eyes frightened me as she jumped out of bed and reached for her clothes.

As she slipped on her red sleeveless midi dress, her eyes shot fire at me. I forced myself to remain calm, despite my desire to shout back in frustration.

“Let me call my sister to talk to you. I’ll call Val too. One or both of them can stay with you for the rest of the morning.”

Since Scarlett and I exchanged the number of key contacts with each other, I searched for Val’s number and called it.

“Is my girl okay?” Val’s shrill voice rang through my phone’s speaker.

Since Scarlett now stood before me still as a statue, I held the phone between us and spoke into the microphone.

“Val. Can you come to my house and take Scarlett home? Something has come up, and she doesn’t need to be alone right now.”

“Like what? What’s wrong? I want to hear Scarlett’s voice right now. Girl, if you’re safe, talk to me.”

I held the phone to Scarlett’s lips, which quivered.

“I’m here. I’m okay.”

“What’s going on then?”

Val asked several questions about Scarlett’s well-being. She answered each of them meekly and appropriately.

“She’s fine for now. I’ll explain everything when you get here.”

When we ended our call, I texted Val my address.

By now, Scarlett was dressed with her overnight bag in hand.

“I’m texting my sister to be on standby. You’ll get through this. I promise.” I reached for her shoulder, but she jerked it back.

“I’m tired of your promises. I’ll be on the porch, waiting for Val.”

“Okay. I’ll wait with you.”

“I want to be alone.”

Scarlett’s body shook.

I stood with my mouth open, confused about when I became Scarlett’s enemy.

“I’m not leaving you. We’re on the same team, remember?”

Scarlett’s eye’s shot fire at me.

“Are you sure about that when you allowed this to happen? What good is it to be on the inside in a damn alliance when I’m hurt like this? What’s your purpose? To put a dagger in my heart? You’re no better than they are!” she shouted.

I put on the rest of my clothes, realizing that Scarlett wasn’t going to be rational. Hell, I wouldn’t be if I were her either. Although I didn’t want to, I left her alone so she and I could process the firestorm that was about to come her way.