Treasure: Chapter 6: Toe the line
Sudanie went to the door. "Who is it? she yelled, annoyance clear in her tone.
"Sudie, open the door!" The voice on the other end sounded like Claude. Her stomach dropped. 'Does he want to talk about the kiss? Oh God, not now!'
"Claude?"
"Yes, Sudz, open the door. It's important!"
"What is it?" Ryan came up behind her. He touched her lower back. "She has company."
"Is that Corporal Stewart?"
Ryan and Sudanie looked at each other. That was Dana's voice.
"Dana, what is it? What's the problem?" Sudanie's heart rate was going through the roof.
"Ask your boyfriend," Corporal Barracks said with a tone of derision. "Ask him why Sergeant Reynolds is threatening to report him to the IPROB if he doesn't apologize to him and pays his doctor bill."
Sudanie looked at Ryan whose jaw was now clenched. She went to the closet and took up the first thing she saw: a black camisole with a little lace sown around the neckline. She pulled it over her head and smoothed it down her torso. She moved past Ryan and opened the bedroom door. She gave him a side glance. She hadn't noticed that he had locked the door, but now she was glad he did.
Claude burst through the door, fists curled and ready to punch Ryan, but Ryan was always alert about these things. He blocked Claude's punch, tripped his feet and threw him to the ground. Claude rolled to stand up. He charge at him again. Sudanie quickly moved to stand before Ryan.
"Stop this!" she shouted.
"Move aside, Sudz. He needs to be taught a lesson," Claude said, breathing unevenly.
"I will do no such thing. Can someone explain why unnu come a beat down mi bedroom door, please!"
"Did you tell him, Sudie? Did you tell him about our kiss?" Claude said, voice dripping with malice. Why was she locked in her bedroom with this loser. Jealousy made his blood boil.
Dana stood at the doorway. "Weh yuh seh?" she asked, eyebrows knotted.
Ryan turned to look at Sudanie. She lowered her gaze to the floor.
"When did this happen?" Ryan asked, his voice calm, though inside his mind was racing.
Sudanie went to the bed and sat down. She stared at her hands. Ryan wanted to go to her, but Claude was in the way, and was looking to get physical. Ryan took a deep breath. He released it slowly and flexed his shoulders.
"Baby, you can talk to me. I'm not angry. Just talk to me," Ryan said. He moved towards her, but Claude swiftly blocked him. With his right hand curled into a fist, Claude stared menacingly at him. Ryan sized him up. 'What does this fool think he's doing?' he thought. 'One wrong move and I'll knock him out!'
Dana walked into the room. "Stop this foolishness! Look how yuh mek the girl get upset!" Dana said between clenched teeth, Both men looked over at Sudie, saw the distress on her face, and moved apart.
Dana pushed Claude out of the way. She reached back and grabbed Ryan's hand, pulling him forward. "Sit," she said to him. He sat down beside Sudie.
Dana turned to Claude. "We're going to wait outside, Corporal Barracks," she said pointedly.
She grabbed his hand. He flashed it off. "No." He looked at Ryan. "Mark is very serious about reporting you. Yuh tink yah somebody? You hit an officer in a higher rank than you. You need to be kicked out!"
Ryan made a move to stand but Dana pushed him back on the bed. She turned Claude.
"Corporal Barracks, your behavior is unbecoming. Calm down."
"Unbeco ... May I remind you that I am your immediate superior in this situation. I can report you," Claude warned.
"And what will you report me for?" Dana challenged. "I'm trying to diffuse the situation. You attempted to assault a fellow officer!"
She stepped towards Claude. She wasn't afraid of him. "I have no qualms about reporting you for misconduct," she said. She looked at her watch. "It's 8:43 at night and you were caught barging into a female officer's bedroom, and you attempted to assault an officer."
"You are here too!" Claude blurted out.
"True, but I can say I was already here, and you barged in and attacked Corporal Stewart. In case you haven't realised, I'm the best friend. Stewart is the boyfriend. We'll do anything to protect Sudie's peace."
Ryan looked up at Dana and Claude. He put an arm protectively around Sudie's waist. "That's correct."
Claude's lips thinned into a line. He looked at Sudie, but her head was down. He turned his heated gaze to Ryan. "This isn't over!" He stormed out of the room.
Ryan swore under his breath and pulled Sudie to his chest. He kissed her hair. "It's okay, baby. He's gone. Talk to me. Tell me what happened."
"I think I can help with that," Dana interjected.
Ryan glanced briefly at Dana before he rested his face on the top of Sudie's head. "Go ahead," he said.
"Sudie came to work yesterday looking sad. She wasn't her usual cheerful self. I noticed something was wrong and so did Claude. So he and I were trying to find out what was the matter, but Sudie wasn't saying much."
Sudanie turned her face into Ryan's chest. Ryan gently rubbed his hand up and down her right arm.
Dana sat in the chair and sighed. "Okay, so we were talking to Sudz, and Corporal Barrack--Claude, asked Sudz on a date. She was resistant at first insisting that she and Claude were friends and so on, but after a while she changed her mind.
"I didn't know you guys were a couple. She never told me."
Ryan brushed his lips on Sudie's forehead. "You don't have to keep me a secret," he whispered.
"That's the thing, Sudz here has some guilt about Lissa. You were dating her friend for a short while."
Ryan looked at Dana. "Can you give us some space."
"The thing with Mark is real," Dana warned.
Ryan nodded. "Noted. I know how to deal with Mark," he answered. "How soon does he want an apology from me?"
"He wants to see you at the HotSpot Bar by 11 o'clock," Dana replied.
Ryan nodded. "I'll be there," he said.
Dana stood up. She went over to them and brushed her hand on Sudie's hair. "You okay?" he asked, her tone kind.
Sudie nodded. "I'll be fine," she answered.
"Okay," Dana said. She looked at Ryan and nodded her head slightly, then she opened the door and stepped outside.
Ryan planted soft, feathery light kisses on Sudie's brow, her cheeks and finally her lips. His mouth brushed briefly on her skin. He put his arms around her waist and held her with her face resting on his neck.
"I'm sorry about everything," he said. "Let me guess, Claude invited you out, but at the last minute you changed your mind because Dana convinced you to go see me, so you could tell me how you feel about me?"
Sudie nodded.
Ryan gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "You called Mark to get my address, but when you called you heard me talking to him about Lissa."
"Yeah," Sudie replied. "I was excited to see you, but after what I heard I was so confused and hurt."
"How did Claude get to kiss you?" Ryan asked.
"After I called and told him I wasn't going to go out with him again he called me back. I told him I wasn't feeling well so he was checking on me. When I confessed that I wasn't ill but stood him up, he decided to come over here to see me. He said he would still take me to this place he had in mind. When he got here I was a mess. I was crying."
Ryan pulled her down to lay on the bed. "It's okay. So he kissed you?"
"Yeah, he said he's liked me since we were in high school." She reached out to tentatively put her hand on his chest. She hesitated and pulled her hand back. Ryan clasped her hand in his and placed them over his heart.
She shook her head. "No," she said.
"Are you sure?" Ryan tenderly brushed his fingers on her temples.
Sudie took a quick breath. "In the past, I may have had a crush on him, but I chose to be with you." She sighed. "I kissed him because I was hurting and angry."
"Would you have told me you kissed him?"
She shook her head. "No." She felt his body went rigid, and she leaned into him. "I'm sorry. Rhy, please understand. After I heard what you said to Mark I wasn't even sure if we would still be together."
He grimaced and stared at the ceiling.
"Now that we're back together I wouldn't want to tell you. I would be afraid to lose you." She touched his face and turned his head towards her. "Ryan, I'm crazy about you. Before I heard about the convo with you and Mark, I was making plans. I wanted you to meet my mom and siblings."
"And now?" He searched her eyes. His heart was doing a thousand cartwheels.
"Now I was ready to give my body to you. I want us to be serious."
He turned his body to her. "You can tell me anything. You don't have to be afraid to tell me how you feel, or if you're afraid of something." He touched her face. He pressed her hand against his chest. "I told you and I mean it. You're mine, and I'm yours."
"You're not mad?"
"I am jealous and angry. I'm angry that I was such an idiot and hurt you. I'm angry that your friend took advantage of the situation. And I am jealous because I love you. I won't allow your friend to replace me in your life. He can still be your friend, but nothing more." He brushed his thumb on her lips.
"He will only be my friend," she said. She hadn't thought of what happened between her and Claude as him taking advantage of her, but now that Ryan said it. She was thinking about it.
"I'm the only one that should kiss your sweet lips," he said, his countenance darkening.
"I promise, from now on, that's how it will be. But promise me your heart belongs to me alone."
He kissed her lips. Easing back, he smiled at her. "It does." He brought the hand resting on his chest to his lips and kissed each finger. "Only you."
He brushed his thumb across her right ear. Her body shivered from the contact. "Sue, I love you. We're not doing anything wrong by being together. Forgive me, but I'm gonna say her name." He paused.
"Lissa is married. She's a newlywed. She already chose who she wants. And I'm choosing you. Not as a last resort, but because I want to be with you. You don't have to hide that I'm with you. Mark knows. My siblings want to meet you. By the way, I should have mentioned it. I want you to meet my family."
Her eyes brightened. She grinned at him. She had waited patiently for this moment. "I would love to meet them!" She threw he arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. He chuckled and hugged her.
"I love you," she said.
She snuggled up to him, and rested her head on his chest. He rubbed her back. The warmth of her body was soothing. He also enjoyed the smell of her skin. He was content.
"I love you too," he replied.
"In a way, I should probably thank Mark," Ryan said, his lips curling into a smile.
"Why would you say that?" Sudanie lifted her head to look at his eyes.
He continued to caress her back. "We hit a rough patch because of it, but now we're stronger, and I'm wide awake from the daze I've been in."
She reached up and put a kiss on the tip of his nose. Ryan's gaze softened. He bent his head and kissed her slowly: in a leisurely way. When they pulled apart the glow of sensual heat had rekindled between them.
"What are you going to do about Mark?" Sudie asked, her heart beating fast.
"I'm leaving now. I need to settle this. He has a bruised ego."
"What did you do?"
"I punched him."
Sudie's eyes widened. "Ryan!"
Ryan brushed his lips on her brow. "Everything will be okay. I promise," he said.
"How? How did it happen?"
"He answered his phone and had the call active while asking questions about Lissa. To me, that's entrapment." He took another deep breath.
"Anyhoo, I didn't notice he answered the call. I guess the phone was on vibrate because I didn't hear it ring. I heard when you hung up. I asked what the sound was. He told me he answered a call. I asked him who had called. I felt weird about it because I'm saying to myself: 'If you answered a call why aren't you talking to the person?
"I asked him who it was. At first, he told me it must have been a wrong number. So I asked him: 'If it was a wrong number and he didn't want to answer why didn't he decline the call?' That's when he confessed that it was you who called.
"I realised that you must have heard the conversation. I was very angry. I felt betrayed. I told him those things in confidence. Not to say I would go back to Lissa, but as a confession from one friend to another. I told him as a man seeking some peace, some kind of help for my struggles.
"Why did you go in the first place?"
He chuckled. 'Good question,' he mused. 'Should have stayed home or gone to see Sidney.'
"I went to clear my head. I couldn't stay home. I was fighting myself to come over here, and ask you to forgive me for cancelling the date. I wanted to hold you, and God help me I was thinking about seducing you."
His hand went lower to cup her buttocks. "Sue, you have no idea what you do to me." He squeezed her bottom while biting his bottom lip.
She moved to lay on top of him. He circled his arms around her ribs and pulled her to him. He kissed her tenderly. His lips teased her with soft, deliberate pecks. "I love you," he said.
"I love you," Sudie replied.
He brushed his fingers on her brow. "I'm gonna go," he said. Reluctantly, Sudie pushed up on her arms and turned her body to get into a sitting position. Ryan sat up slowly.
"You gonna see Mark now?" she asked.
"Yeah," he answered. "I need to get this out of the way." His eyes softened as he watched her adjusting her breasts in the bra.
"For both our sakes. I don't want this to become a negative record on your performance or mine." He reached out and brushed his thumb on one very plump breast. "You are beautiful, you know that?"
She looked at him. "So you say," she quipped, but her lips twitched.
"Come here," he said. She scooted over. He pulled her into a passionate kiss that lasted nearly thirty seconds, then he kissed her forehead and rubbed on her arm. "Gotta go," he said, his tone--warm and velvety.
She nodded. "Please call me if ... if anything."
He smiled at her. "I will." He rose to his feet. She stood with him. She opened the door and walked with him into the living room. Dana was on the couch watching TV, but Claude was gone.
Dana looked up. "Corporal Stewart, unfortunately my ride seems to have abandoned me. If you can just drop me off at the Station, I'll collect my car and go home."
Ryan nodded. "Okay."
Dana stood up and went to Sudanie. "You good?" she asked, staring at her friend.
Sudanie hugged her friend. "Yeah, I'm good." She looked up at Ryan who smiled at her. Dana looked between them. She relaxed. "Good," she said nodding. A cheeky smile formed on her lips. "Sorry to have disturbed your private time though."
Sudanie slapped her playfully on the arm. "Gwaan home."
Dana laughed. She looked at Ryan. "Ready?"
He smiled. "Yeah." He bent forward and kissed Sudie's head. Dana observed how Ryan's eyes closed when his lips touched her friend's hair. She liked what she was seeing.
Ryan moved to the front door. He buttoned up his shirt, tucked it in his pants, and strapped on his belt that held his gun. He opened the front door and Dana trailed behind him. As they walked to the car, Ryan glanced back at her. He disarmed the car and slid inside. He opened the passenger side for her.
The engine started and they were on their way. Dana glanced through the window. "She really likes you," she said, but kept looking out the window.
"Matter-of-fact, she's dying for you to crack her open."
Ryan glanced at her. "Crack her open?" His left eyebrow lifted above the other.
"She's dying to have sex with you," Dana said, turning to face him.
Ryan managed an unsteady laugh. He looked on the road then quickly glanced at her. "She told you this?" He refocused his gaze before him.
Dana nodded. "Yup. She's dying to see your ... um, little friend too, and wants to scream your name during sex."
Ryan laughed. He shook his head. "Why are you telling me this? Aren't you betraying her trust by telling me this?" He couldn't deny he felt good hearing these things, but maybe Sudie wouldn't want him to know.
"I'm telling you this because Sudie is my best friend. Yeah, I have a civilian best friend, but Sudie's my girl. I want her to be happy. And it's about time she loses her virginity." She smirked when she saw his eyes grow larger with surprise.
He cleared his throat. "I need to know something." He looked at her.
"Shoot," she said smiling at him.
"Why did you give her Mark's phone number?"
He maneuvered a right turn and took a quick look at her, before turning his head to observe the traffic before him.
"She was pining for you. She kept saying the date with Claude wasn't a date. It was just two friends hanging out." She observed that Ryan's body relaxed. "I didn't know she was dating you. She never told me." She observed a frown forming on Ryan's face. "Why do you think that is?" she asked.
Ryan glanced at her.
"I don't know," he answered.
"Sudie is a loyal friend. She's kind of feeling guilty about dating you considering your past with Lissa." A pause. "I gather the fight between you and Mark is also related to Mrs Marx." Dana emphasized the Mrs.
Ryan cleared his throat. "Sudie called him to ask for my address. Instead of answering and talking to her, he saw it as an opportunity to be a Judas. He asked me certain questions and I answered truthfully... "
"And it hurt Sudz," Dana said matter-of-factly.
"When she told me you gave her Mark's number I thought ..." His voice trailed off.
Dana's eyes narrowed. "What did you think?"
Ryan swallowed. "We had our little misunderstanding last year. I thought you were trying to get back at me."
Dana chuckled. He was lucky she was in a good mood. "It wasn't a misunderstanding. You were trying to get under my skin or maybe in my panties."
He cleared his throat. "I never apologized for that. I'm sorry. I'm not sure what came over me."
"You were jealous of Shane."
Ryan gave her a quick look then grunted. "Maybe a little."
Dana smiled with satisfaction. "My friend wants you. She was upset you cancelled your date. I told her if she wanted you she should go to your house and tell you how she really feels. She said she didn't know your address. I told her Mark knew where you lived, she should call him. She said she didn't know Mark's number so I gave it to her."
Ryan sighed. He believed her. Dana could be brash, but she wasn't a liar.
"She should have just called me. I would have given it to her," Ryan said, his lips twisting into a frown.
"She wasn't sure if you wanted to see her. I told her to surprise you and tell you what she had on her chest. Then let whatever would happen between you two happen."
"Okay." Now he understood.
"Look, if what you and Lissa have is over and done, I will support what you and my friend have going. I want her to be happy," Dana said.
Ryan nodded. "It's done. She's married," he replied. He slowed the vehicle down after he turned up Knutsford Boulevard.
"Is it done in your heart?"
He stopped in front of the New Kingston Police Station. "It's done for me too, yes."
Dana nodded as she looked at him. "I hope so."
Ryan flexed his shoulders. "It is," he said flatly.
She pulled the door handle. He unlocked the door for her. She engaged the mechanism again and the door opened. She slipped out of the car and closed it.
"Take care, Rhy," she said, and winked at him. She walked into the police station's driveway.
Ryan chuckled while shaking his head. There was something undeniably intriguing about her. He wasn't surprised Sergeant Crosby found her interesting.
He sobered up and thought of his baby: Her softness, her sweet smile, her warm, fun personality. She was enough for him. He drove off. 'Time to settle this foolishness between me and Mark,' he thought.
***
Sudanie lay back and touched her neck. Her body was tense from the stress of the day, and the confrontation with Claude. But she still tingled all over from Ryan's touch. She wished they could have fulfilled their desires.
She closed her eyes and imagined Ryan's body pressed on top of hers: warm, strong and sensual. She loved his cologne also. She couldn't believe he was in her bed. A uneven breath escaped her lips as she remembered his lips on her breasts.
A part of her was relieved nothing happened, but a smaller part wished no one had interrupted them. She wanted to know what it felt like having that 'ache' satisfied--the delicious pressure that came with being completely filled by him. She wanted to be filled all the way up: Having every part of him invade her sterile world, and make her scream his name until she was hoarse. She bit her bottom lip and chuckled softly. She'd have to wait a little bit longer it seems.
She stripped naked and stepped into the bathroom. After a ten minute shower, she wrapped herself in a large, fluffy, pink towel and sat on the bed. She applied a body cream first, then some essential oils fusion she made herself after watching a video on YouTube.
She smiled to herself as she remembered that Lissa had given her some of that lavender oil concoction for her hair, and she had put some avocado seed oil in it. It worked so well that she bought a bottle of lavender oil for herself and mixed it with the avocado seed oil for her hair and scalp.
'Lissa!' Moy Moy case'. She was supposed to call Lissa, but got caught up in the recent drama in her life. It slipped her mind to call. She picked up her phone from off the bed and dialed Lissa's number.
She heard four rings then a deep, velvety-smooth male voice answered the phone. "Hello, this is Dr Dixon-Marx's phone. How may I help you?"
"Hi. Is this Jordan?" Sudie asked.
"Yes, this is he?" the deep voice said.
"Bwoy, yuh voice deep man!"
A pause. Then she heard a soft chuckle. "Let me guess: Is this Sudanie?"
She liked the way the syllables sounded as he pronounced her name.
"Okay, she was in the shower. Let me check to see if she's out."
"Okay," she said.
She heard a faint clunk sound as he set the phone down on some kind of hard surface.
She heard muffled voices. Then a laugh and enthusiastic voices. She heard the phone being picked up.
"Hey girl, what's up? You missed me?" Lissa asked, her tone sounding bright and lively.
"Hey, you know I do! How are you and the hubby?" She lay back on the bed and thought of Ryan's arms around her.
"We're doing great. Actually, we should be back in Jamaica by the weekend. Well, I should be. Jordan will be back in a month from now. He has school to wrap up."
"Oh, okay. That sounds good. Please convey that I wish him well in his studies," Sudie said smiling.
She liked Jordan. He seemed to be a good guy. She wasn't too thrilled about his tattoos, but if Lissa loved them, she could look past them.
She heard Lissa say, "Sudie says all the best in your studies."
"Okay, please tell her thank you for me," Jordan's deep voice came through clearly on the line.
"You heard that?" Lissa asked.
"Indeed, I did," Sudie replied.
"Girl, I didn't know his voice was that deep! Gosh!" Sudie exclaimed.
Lissa laughed. "Yeah, quite deep, and I love it!"
"I don't doubt it," Sudie replied, a smile on her face. She was happy for her friend. Ryan's voice wasn't that deep. His normal speaking voice was pitched higher. Though masculine, there was a smoothness to it she found soothing. Since dating him she got to hear him when he was aroused.
When aroused, Ryan's soft, smooth tone had a roughness that pulled at the edges of his voice. It made her legs weak when she heard it. She wasn't sure how to describe it, but it sounded really sexy.
Lissa was chattering away, but Sudie had gone off thinking about Ryan. "Sudie? Sudz?"
Sudanie cleared her throat. "Um ... I'm sorry, got distracted. I'm calling you because it's important."
"I was asking if we could go out to dinner after I get back as in an actual outing me and you? Girl's night out."
Sudie smiled. "Yeah, sure. That sounds good."
"Okay, why were you calling?"
"Two things actually." She had originally said she would wait until Lissa got back to tell her about Ryan, but she didn't want to deny her feelings anymore. Besides, Lissa was married.
"Okay, sure. What's up?"
"Moy Moy's case. The police are preparing a case to take to trial against the uncle, but it seems someone may have gotten in contact with Moy Moy, maybe threatened her. She was cooperating with the investigators and officers in charge of the case, but about a week ago she stopped talking."
Sudanie took a deep breath. "Lissa, she's asking for you. She's saying she won't say anything unless you talk to her."
She heard a rustling of fabric on the line. Then Jordan's deep voice, quietly saying something she could not decipher.
"Lissa?"
"Yeah, I'm here," Lissa answered. A beat. "She's been asking for me?"
"I see," Lissa said. She looked at Jordan who was listening keenly. The phone was on loud speaker. "For how long would they want me?"
"But I'll be hired as a consultant?"
"Hmm, yes, that's what I heard."
Lissa looked at Jordan. He nodded. "You can do it," he whispered. She smiled at him. "Thank you, baby," she said softly. Jordan bent forward and kissed her cheek. "You're my sweet baby. Once you're good I'm good," he said.
"Okay, sure. Go ahead."
"We've been friends for nearly seven years. You know I love you, right?" Sudanie began.
Lissa looked up at her husband. Jordan was listening. "Yeah, you're my very good friend. I love you too. Is something wrong?"
"It's just that ..." Sudanie took a breath, exhaled and paused.
"Hun?" Lissa queried gently.
"I ..." Sudanie cleared her throat. I just need to get it out there. "Ryan ... Corporal Stewart and I have gotten closer."
Lissa's hand squeezed the phone tighter. She looked up at Jordan who was watching her. "What do you mean?" She stared at the floor.
She heard Sudanie release a rushed breath. "Lissa, Ryan and I are dating. I-I'm in love with him and he loves me."
Lissa's eyes lifted. She didn't expect to hear this, but she was relieved. A smile broke through her concerned expression. "Really? You and Ryan?'
"Yeah," Sudanie said.
"When?"
"Sometime last year. We just hung out as friends then it got serious. Lissa, I really like him."
Lissa laughed. Sudanie was confused. 'Why was what she said funny?' "Lissa?"
"Babe, that's great news! I'm happy for you and Ryan."
Sudanie moved the phone from her ear and stared at it for a second, then put it back to her ear. "You sure?" she asked, her brow furrowed.
"Yeah, I am," Lissa said smiling. "Ryan is a good guy, and you're my very good friend. If you guys find happiness together then I'm all for it."
"You guys were dating--"
"Very briefly." Lissa looked up at Jordan and blew him a kiss. Jordan returned the kiss. "Babe, I'm very happy for you and Ryan. I have nothing to say about it. I've found my love. If Ryan is that for you then I'm happy for both of you."
Sudanie's shoulders dropped a degree. She stretched her legs out. "Thank you," she said quietly.
Lissa noted the tone of her voice. "Hunny, really, I'm happy for you. No objections here." She looked up at Jordan who was smiling now. He was glad his friend was moving on.
"Okay, babe," Lissa said, "if there's nothing else, I gotta go." She winked at her husband, who looked at her with raised eyebrows. He put his hand on her thigh and whispered something naughty in her ear. Lissa giggled like a school girl.
Sudanie heard it and knew something was up. "Okay, girl," she said, "Enjoy the rest of your day."
"Okay, hun." Lissa said, then ended the call.
Sudanie smiled to herself. With that out of the way she was feeling much better. She stretched out her limbs and yawned. She sat up and took out a light, sheer night gown. After depositing the towel in the bathroom she drew on her night wear. She lay back and sent Ryan a text: "Please come for me tomorrow. I want you to be the first person I see. Be early, 6:30. Love you." She put the phone beside her right hip.
After five minutes she glanced at it. No reply yet. She wondered how things were going with her baby and Mark.
***
"Munchie, gimme one more round deh!" Make knocked his glass on the counter. Morrant and Sangster walked in, dragging Inspector Simpson with them. Sangster took one look at Mark and started laughing. Morrant was scrolling on his phone. He looked up at his friend, then his eyes moved to where his friend's attention was focused. He saw Mark's swollen lip and jaw, and grinned.
He walked over to the bar and slapped Mark on the shoulder. "Suh, Sarge, a dentist yuh guh mek yuh face swell up suh or ah yuh woman deal wid rough?"
"Fuck off!" Mark growled.
Sangster came forward. He circled Mark from one side to the other. "Sarge, is only one side ah yuh face swell up. Is yuh wisdom teeth yuh teck out or wah?" Sangster bent forward after noticing Mark's fat lip.
He moved to his best friend's side and poked his rib. Morrant looked at him. Sangster grinned mischievously.
"After dentist nuh give yuh fat up lip. Is him woman beat him, man!"
"Weh unnu nuh gwaan and leff mi alone!" Mark said with a scowl.
Simpson stood between the two young Constables and put his hands on their shoulders. "Munchie, weh Hanif deh?" he asked.
Munchie looked up from under the bar counter. She was putting more beer in the small cooler under the counter. "Him only three days a week here now."
"Oh Simpson said with a curt nod. "Suh him a work elsewhere?"
"Yeh man him a duh one watchman work at this Priory school."
"Okay, mi just wah know him nah get himself in no trouble."
Munchie smiled and shook his head. She straightened up. "No, man, Inspector him ah behave himself fi real, man."
Inspector nodded briefly. "Good to hear."
Just then, Corporal Stewart walked in holding a bottle of Hennessy and a Blue Moet.
Sangster saw him walking in and grinned from ear to ear. "What's the occasion, Corpie?" he asked.
These are not for you to tasyte unless Mark wants to share," Ryan said.
He placed the two bottles on the bar counter. Munchie came forward to look at them. "Yuh know seh mi never taste a Moet blue yet," she said with her hands on her hips.
"That's for Mark to decide," Ryan answered.
He looked at his friend and mentor. Mark looked at him. "Weh yuh have fi seh fi yuhself?" he asked.
"You were right," Ryan said. "I'm still angry you did what you did, but Sudie and I talked it over and we're stronger than ever. She's the one I want."
Mark sat up straight on the stool. "So she forgave you?"
"Yeah, she did."
'Some woman fool bwoy,' Mark thought. 'Her judgement. Mi nuh business anymore.' He took a sip of the contents in his glass. "I should report you," he said evenly.
Ryan nodded. "You should. I was wrong. You're also culpable in my actions. You were wrong to have me talking and Sudie hearing out private conversation. Just because a man has a certain thought in his mind, doesn't mean he will act on it."
Mark gave a quick nod. "True. But at the time I thought it best for her to know."
Morrant, Sangster and Simpson looked and listened to the exchange between the two men and were thoroughly confused.
"It was more so best for me. She didn't need to hear what we were talking about," Ryan said.
Mark nodded. "Maybe. You're probably right about that. That won't happen again." 'If she suh fool fi teck yuh back, better mi never did do what mi do and get a swell up jaw!' he mused. "You cracked one of my crowns," he said flatly.
Ryan gave a remorseful smile. "How much?" he asked.
"$25,000."
"I'll wire the money to you by tomorrow morning," Ryan said.
Mark grunted his agreement. "Hmm ..."
"Suh wait?! Corpie, a yuh thump Sarge inna him mouth?! Sangster asked incredulously.
Neither Mark or Ryan answered.
"We good?" Ryan asked.
Mark looked at him for a minute then nodded slowly. "Yeah, but if you try that shit again I may shoot you."
Ryan's mouth twitched upwards. "Noted," he said. Mark saw Ryan's facial expression and a faint smile edged up the corner of his lips. His shoulders relaxed. He patted the stool beside him.
Ryan walked over and sat beside him. "Which one of dem mi fi pull first?" Mark asked, eyeing both bottles of alcohol.
"Pull di Moet first. Mi wah taste it," Munchie interjected.
Mark chuckled. He picked up the bottle and looked at the label. "This is expensive." He looked at Ryan.
Ryan smiled at him. "Yes, it is."
Mark stared at him, then nodded slowly. He put his hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Next time yuh have woman problem, please don't tell me, and I won't ask."
Ryan chuckled. "Deal," he said. Mark slapped him on the shoulder then admired the bottle of Moet in his hands.
Sangster and Morrant sat on stools closest to Ryan, while Mark gave the bottle of Moet to Munchie for her to open and serve among them.
Simpson touched Ryan's shoulder. Ryan looked up, a smile on his face. But when he saw Simpson's stern expression, he sobered up.
"A minute of your time, Corporal," Inspector Simpson said. Ryan nodded and stood up. Simpson headed towards the outside. Ryan followed him.
Inspector was liked a few meters away from the bar's entrance and turns to face his colleague.
"What happened between you and Sergeant Reynolds? Every detail," Inspector Simpson said, his legs slightly apart and arms crossed over this chest
Ryan sighed. "Okay." He licked his dry lips. "I'm seeing Constable Walker." Ryan walked passed him to lean on a Mango tree in the courtyard. "Been dating for 8 months now. We hit a little misunderstanding and instead of facing it head on I cancelled the dinner arrangements I made with her."
Inspector Simpson moved closer. He stood beside Corporal Stewart and pressed his shoulders into the trunk of the tree.
"And?" he asked.
Ryan chuckled softly. "I was having second thoughts about canceling our date, but because of my principles I didn't go see her, because I knew if I did, I would do something I wasn't supposed to."
"You mean sex?"
Ryan looked at him eyebrows raised. Simpson's mouth curved into a smile. "I know you're a Christian, remember?"
Ryan looked at the paved driveway. "Yeah," he said simply.
"Continue," Simpson said.
Ryan pushed his hands in his pockets. "I came here a few nights ago to cool off. Mark was here. We got to talking. I explained the situation. I didn't know that Sudie ... uh, I mean Constable Walker was planning to come see me at my apartment. She called Mark to get my address. He answered the call but didn't talk to her. He allowed the call to continue while asking me questions about Lissa."
"I take it some of the things you said made her upset?"
Ryan nodded. "Yeah." he said. "When I realized what he did I flew into a rage and punched him." He ran his hand over his face. "Hence the swollen lip and jaw you saw in there."
Simpson laughed softly. He shook his head. He adjusted his body on the tree moving closer to Ryan. "He deserves it," he said, his voice tinged with humour.
Ryan gave a short forced laugh and shook his head. "I shouldn't have though," he replied.
"Very true," Simpson answered. "I'll talk to him." A beat. "I've known you for few years now." He smiled at him. "I consider you pretty calm and levelheaded. Sudie's gotten under your skin, which isn't a bad thing, but you have to channel that energy better. You have to think about your career." He turned to him with a sober look on his face.
"I'm going to tell you something and I want you to keep this between us."
Ryan stared at him for a second, then nodded his head. "Okay," he said.
"Your performance reviews have impressed some folks higher up. You've been recommended for promotion. Also, I know about your upcoming mission. Do well with that and your elevation is secured."
Ryan looked at him, eyebrows raised. That definitely surprised him. He removed his right hand from his pocket and rubbed his neatly trimmed beard, though it was more of a goatee. He had decided to grow it out a little after Sudie saw a picture of him as a security officer, and commented that she liked the beard on him. As per the deportment regulations of the Force, the beard he was wearing was acceptable. It made Sudie happy to see him with it. He wore it.
He thought of her: Her body surrendered to him earlier. The way her eyes darkened with desire when she looked at him. He wanted to turn his car around and go back to her. He had already made up his mind that if he took her virginity he would marry her a few months after. He wouldn't wait too long. He could imagine being inside her: how warm and tight she would feel. The thought of being her first made his heart stir with affection and longing. At that moment, the crotch of his pants felt a little tight. He cleared his throat and balled the hand still tucked in his pocket into a fist. He shifted on his feet.
Simpson observed him. "Don't take too long to marry her if you're serious about her. Sudanie is a really good girl. Wife material. Don't let what happened with you and Lissa make you mistreat her."
Ryan shook his head. He looked at his colleague. He took a deep breath, willing his mind to calm down so the little snake could go back to sleep. "I think I almost did. Which is why I bought those apology gifts for Mark. He was wrong for what he did, but he may have saved my relationship with her."
Simpson nodded. "So I take it he won't report you?"
"I don't think he will," Ryan answered.
Simpson nodded. "I'll make sure he doesn't." He put his hand on Ryan's shoulder. "But, bro, you have to be careful to toe the line, y'ere. There's a bright future ahead of you. Don't self sabotage."
Ryan saw his friends concern for him and gave a sheepish smile. He remembered the note that ACP Grant gave him that morning. He crossed his legs at the ankles. 'Back to normal again. Thank God!' he thought. He didn't want Simpson to have something like that over his head. His right hand slipped into his pockets and touched the piece of paper. He nodded feeling resolute. "I won't," he said.
Simpson glanced at the young woman walking past them in a red mini skirt then trained his eyes on Ryan.. He noted the change in his colleague's countenance and nodded. "Good. Go home. I'll tell Mark you had to leave. I'll talk to him."
Ryan nodded. "Thank you, Leon."
Simpson nodded. "You know I hate when you guys use my first name." He chuckled softly.
Ryan laughed a little. "Noted," he said smiling. He walked towards his car. Simpson watched him for a few seconds then headed towards the bar.
As he was walking towards the car, Ryan remembered that Sudanie said he should call her if anything. He took out his phone from his shirt pocket, pressed the power button and lightly brushed his thumb on the screen. It lit up--displaying the text message from Sudanie. He opened it and read. A smile formed on his lips. She wanted him to come early. He had a feeling after tomorrow, things would be very different between them. He decided to stop off at a drug store and buy some condoms. He didn't have any at home.
He sent a text message: "I'll be there. Make sure you're ready for me."
The reply was instant: "I will."
His heart leaped. "So we're really doing this," he muttered to himself. He didn't know how much sleep he would get, considering what they were about to do. All he knew was that he had to see her tomorrow.
He disarmed the car, stepped inside, locked the door and started the engine.
Ping! Another text message chimed. He picked up the phone and steered the vehicle with one hand.
"This is dad. I need to see you. Tomorrow morning. It's important," the message read.
Ryan dropped the phone on the seat beside him. The lines across his forehead deepened. He wondered if everything was alright with his dad. He picked up the phone and sent a voice message:
"I can't in the morning. I have a rendezvous that is urgent. I can see you after my shift in the evening. Is everything okay?" He pressed send.
After a few seconds his phone chimed again. He glanced at it. It was a voice note. He clicked play: "This isn't the way I wanted to tell you this," he heard his father say, "but your sister, Alex, is pregnant." Ryan stared at the phone. He dialed his dad's number with one hand holding the steering.
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