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Lauren shook her head. “No, by the time Donna wakes up, the knife will be in her hand. I learned a lot from my father.”

“I’m taking Emerald,” I said.

“Do that, because I have some issues to resolve, but once I’m okay, I will want my son.”

“I won’t keep him from you,” I said.

“You know my father won’t allow it,” she said.

I walked toward the door and turned the knob. “I will deal with that when the time comes.”

“Tell him that I love him,” she said.

“I’ll do that. Take care of yourself.” I opened the door and walked out without looking back.

“The cops are looking for Malcolm,” Dora said as I put Emerald into the car.

“I hope they find him.” I shut the car door. I felt sorry for Dora. She looked like death had approached her door.

“He’s never done anything like this,” she said. “I hope he’s all right.”

“Good night, Dora,” I said.

“Daddy, are we going home?” Emerald asked.

“No, Son, we’re going to meet Aunty Julie.” I picked up the phone and dialed Julie’s cell number. The call went straight to voice mail. I hung up and tried her home number. The answering machine came on. I stepped on the accelerator.

“Where is Aunty Julie?” Emerald asked.

“She’s at home, Son. Go to sleep,” I said.

“Okay, Daddy,” Emerald said, the weariness evident in his voice.

Chapter 22

1ST NIGHT

There were no cars in Julie’s driveway so I pulled up in it. The lights were out in the house. I left Emerald asleep in the car and walked to the front door. On the handle of the front door, there was a white bag with my name on it. I slipped the bag off the doorknob. I looked into the bag and my gun was in it with a note. She had left the porch light on so I took the note out and read it.

Love is never easy but you make it extremely hard. Brian and I are going to try to start over so we must leave. The keys to the house are underneath the front mat. In the house, you will find five million dollars. I hope it will be enough for you and Emerald, to start over. Donald, please remember that I do love you but I will never be able to trust you. And the things you have done lately have started me wondering what kind of man are you. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. Please take care of yourself and Emerald and thanks for everything.

Love, Julie

I put the gun in my waistband, ripped the paper in small pieces and littered the lawn with it. I got back into the car. My grandmother had warned me and I hadn’t listened. Now the punishment was being dealt.

“Where is Aunty Julie?” Emerald asked as I started the car.

I didn’t know that he had awakened. “She’s dead, my son. She’s as good as dead.”

“I love you, Daddy,” Emerald said.

“I love you too, Son. I really do.” He was my lifeline.

I looked back at him and he was fast asleep. I doubt he even heard what I had said. I squeezed the steering wheel until the veins popped out all over my hands. I was hurting but I was going to be all right. I was close to being a pimp but now I was back to being a whore. Only this time, I had a lot more experience. I had blood all over my hands and I was about to get even bloodier. Julie and Brian were on their way to hell and I was going to make sure that I was the one giving directions. I pulled up in front of the Marriott at eleven-thirty. I let them valet park my car as I lifted Emerald onto my shoulders. The young woman at the desk looked me over like I had kidnapped my son. I didn’t say anything; instead I presented my American Express card.

I put Emerald down on the bed and went to the mini-bar. I took out a few small bottles of liquor. I mixed them together, and then added some Pepsi to the mixture. The night was still young and I had some thinking to do.

I was hurting, not because Julie had taken fifteen million dollars away from me but because she had taken my heart. I squeezed my eyes to stop thinking about her. She had gotten into a place where no woman had set foot before. Once more my eyes became bloodshot as Julie’s knife diced my heart up. I didn’t know if I