After eating dinner with his family, Andre decided to go on patrol as Spant for a few hours. With his confession to Zayden, he felt like being closer to the city of Carrow. Spant stood on the edge of the skyscraper overlooking the city. Horns blared below. Tires screeched. The city moved beneath him. Zayden’s words echoed in his mind “You won’t tell me about those scars on your back and chest you try to hide from me.”
Spant placed a foot on the ledge. Over a decade… and he never saw them. I never wanted him to see them. I never wanted for him to be a part of this.
Spant jumped from the building’s edge. His jacket flapped through the wind. During the free fall, he thought of when Zayden could have seen his scars. “When I passed out,” he murmured.
After Zayden had rescued him, Andre passed out from his battle with the swarnlings and saving Nyx. That was the only time he couldn’t account for when he believed Zayden saw his scars.
“Probably was just checking for injuries and saw my scars.”
Spant landed on the wall of the building. He paused. Looking around the building and eyed a ledge. He climbed to it and perched himself on it. His phone buzzed. He checked it.
The blackmailer had surfaced. A city camera had caught the man stepping into a dark car. He zoomed in on the license plate.
Spant looked at the time stamp. It was taken ten minutes ago. Two miles away from his current location. His finger tapped the screen. A moment passed. Then another hit came through. It was headed north and a few blocks away from him. Spant pocketed the phone. He ran up the building. “I should have brought my bike,” he said.
He checked his phone again. The car was stopped at a traffic light.
He kicked off the ledge and dropped, body opening mid-air. He dropped, arms spreading as he controlled the fall—he owned the empty space between the skyscrapers.
His comms beeped. It was Grave. “Grave,” he said.
Grave had let herself into his secret hq. “You’ve been busy. I like the new digs, Spant.”
Spant dropped onto the roof of the taxi cab with a heavy thud. He sank into a deep crouch. The cab came to a screeching halt. Spant rolled forward, landing on the hood. He peered into the windshield. The driver’s eyes refused to blink and his grip around the steering wheel tightened. Car horns from cars around them blew loudly.
Spant leaned in closer. “Drive,” he hissed to the driver.
“What do you want, Grave? I’m busy,” he said into his comms.
The man pressed the gas pedal to the floor. Spant held stayed crouched on the hood. Around him, the neon ghosts of the city flickered. Flashes from cameras belonging to passengers in passing cars cast a glow across his chest.
“I was just checking to see if you were still alive. You left out of here so fast,” she said.
“I’m fine,” he said. “I needed to run down a lead.”
“What did you two talk about?”
He checked his phone again. The car was stopped. Spant turned his head toward the driver, “Thanks,” he said, just before he launched himself from the hood of the cab. He landed on the rooftop of a box truck. “Why do you ask, Grave?” he said.
“He’s been sitting at his computer since you left,” she paused. “Studying schematics of something. Don’t ask me what, I don’t know.”
The cab driver watched with awe as Spant ran along the truck, leapt onto a street lamp and from there catapulted himself onto the rooftop of a nearby building.
He crouched near a vent. “He saw my scars, Grave. I told him the truth.”
“All of it?”
“Enough of it. He didn’t know how I came to be. It’s a lot to take in. I will talk to him tomorrow,” he said as he disconnected the call.
Spant ran across rooftops, leaping over obstacles in his way until he settled on a rooftop a three buildings away from the dark car he was chasing. He glanced at the car parked in the building’s parking lot. One lone driver sat in it. “You are not the one I’m after.”
Back at his apartment, Meva removed the headset. She stood and walked out of the room. Grave walked to Zayden’s door and poked her head in. He was asleep in his bed; his laptop was still open. She walked into his room, closed the laptop and stared at him.
He clutched a mask in his hand.
“Like father, like son,” she whispered, removing the mask from his hand.
***
Meanwhile, he had located the room the mystery man was in on the second floor. Spant crawled down the backside of the three story building. A crawler hovered outside an open window. He pulled out his phone. His finger hovered above the live feed icon. “Why would they know each other?” he thought. “Why is he here?”
Spant’s thumb pressed the icon and he watched the feed. The crawler recorded as the mystery man stood in the center of a nice one bedded room. Not knowing he was being recorded, the man turned to the window, straightening his tie.
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“Smile for the camera,” Spant whispered.
The man looked over his shoulder.
The door opened.
He leaned in closer.
Someone stepped in.
Spant’s eyes narrowed.
Spant instantly knew the face.
Same man from the photo.
Spant’s grip tightened on the phone.
“You’re working together…” he whispered.
The mystery man reached into his pocket and pulled out a folder. He smiled. The older man stepped closer and was handed the folder.
The older man flipped through the contents of the folder. He motioned to the chairs in the room. The mystery man took a seat as the older man walked to a mini bar in the room.
Spant crawled closer to the window. His body camouflaging with the brick wall. He pressed his glove to the window.
The two men laughed as they raised their glasses to one another.
Spant’s glove dug into the window glass. The glass shrieked under his grip. He pushed off the window and the crawler followed him.
The two men startled. They turn their attention to glass. Spant was gone. Five perfectly round holes remained.
***
Spant landed on the rooftop of his building. “Why would he be with him…he thought.
He glanced over the edge and saw the balcony door to Andre’s apartment open. He dropped to the balcony. “How did it go?” Grave’s voice said from inside.
“Meva,” Spant said as he stood and removed his mask. “Why is my door open?”
Grave leaned against the island counter in the kitchen. She looked up and stirred her cup of coffee. “I was hot.”
Andre walked to the door. “I have A C.”
She walked up to him, sipping on her coffee. “If anyone is stupid enough to walk through that door knowing they don’t belong here,” she looked at the door and back to him. “It’d be the last mistake they make. You know that,” she said brushing past him to close the door.
Grave watched him over the rim of her cup. Took another sip and stalked to the sofa. “Move,” she growled, bumping him with her shoulder.
Andre studied her as she ignored him.
After a moment, she cut her eyes to him. “The sofa is mine tonight. You earned yourself the floor.”
“I guess I did.”
“What’s eating you?” she asked him. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
Andre pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. A picture of the second man came up. He stared at it. “I did.”
They’re connected, he thought.
Grave watched him grab a change of clothes and walk into the bathroom. A short time later, he emerged.
Grave stood outside the door, arms folded. “Where are you going at this time of night?”
He kissed her on the cheek. “I need to see someone. I will be back before curfew.”
“Use protection.”
Andre whipped his head towards her. “Meva.”
She laid on the sofa and covered her eyes with a sleep mask. “Turn the light off when you leave. Don’t be late. Or I’m telling Zayden you went out to make him a big brother.”
***
Andre walked into Neb’s (the Night’s End Bar) where LJ works. It was crowded, full of smoke and loud with chatter and music. He scanned the bar. LJ wasn’t on the floor. But Michelle was. She was leaned over a table, wiping it down.
“Michelle,” he said walking up to her.
She turned, and sat on the edge of the table. “Andre, what brings you,” she stopped herself. “Lila Jean. She’s in the back. You really like her don’t you?”
Andre looked at her. “I do.”
Michelle straightened. She looked him up and down. “Shame I didn’t see you first, Andre. You are a catch.”
“And your boyfriend is my best friend,” he said.
“I know. I know,” she said. “Doesn’t mean I can’t look. I like Lila Jean. I won’t do anything to hurt her,” she walked past him. “I will go get her for you.”
Andre turned, “I’ll be seated in the back corner table.”
As Michelle disappeared through a door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY, Andre stalked to the back of the room, passing a booth occupied by a man who looked like trouble. “Little red’s gonna be mine tonight,” the man whispered to himself.
Andre stopped. Their eyes met. Andre stared until the man looked away. He knew every employee that worked at Nebs. LJ was the only red head employed there.
He sat in the booth directly behind the man, his face hidden by the shadows.
A few moments later, LJ appeared tray in hand. Michelle stopped her and pointed to the back. LJ frowned when she saw the man seated in the booth but she quickly caught herself. She straightened her apron and walked toward the back booth.
Andre watched as the man stared at LJ as if she were prey. The man’s body shifted.
LJ walked toward the back, not knowing who had asked her specifically. The man rose quickly and stepped in front of her, blocking her path. He loomed over her.
“Where yah going, red,” the man said, “I’ve been waiting all night for you. Why you avoiding me?” he said reaching for her hand.
LJ frowned. “Ah’m not y’all’s server tonight,” she said, snatching her hand back, “If Y’all want another drink, ask the other waitress assigned to you.” She stepped around the man. “If you will excuse me, Ah have work to do. That table’s waitin’ on m-”
The man grabbed her arm and pulled her into his chest.
Andre stood immediately. LJ hadn’t heard his boot scrape the floor. She hadn’t heard him step up behind her. The man hadn’t seen Andre, either.
“Let go of me!” she hissed, yanking her arm back.
“I wasn’t asking.,” he said looking at her name tag. “Lila. Come sit with me,” he said grabbing her by the waist.
LJ frowned again and slapped his hand. “Ah said no. Ah told you Ah have a boyfriend. Let go of me!” she said.
“Or else what? Who’s going to stop me?”
“Her boyfriend, that’s who,” Andre said.
LJ’s head whipped to Andre. He looked the man in the eyes. “Now, let her go. I’m only telling you once.”
Michelle cheered from a nearby table. “Get him, Andre! He’s been bothering her all night.”
Andre’s eyes flicked to Michelle and then back to the man as the man craned his neck. Andre stepped between them. LJ stepped back behind him.
Andre paused—just long enough to see if the man would let go on his own.
Everyone in the bar turned their heads in Andre’s direction.
Andre wrapped both hands around the man’s collar and lifted him. His eyes grew as his feet dangled above the floor. “I. I’m sorry mister, I didn’t know she was your woman.”
“It’s okay, sugah,” she told him. “Don’t go getting’ into a fight over me.”
Andre cut his eyes to LJ. He saw in her eyes that she wanted no trouble for him.
“When a woman says no,” Andre leaned in. “She means no.” Andre carried the man to the door where Michelle stood waiting with it open. The room went silent. Shocked, LJ watched him. No one had ever stepped in for her like that. She didn’t know how to react.
He tossed the man out of the door. His body slammed into a parked car. The car’s alarm went off as his unconscious body slid to sidewalk.
The bar erupted into a thunderous applause. Andre ignored them. He only saw LJ who still stood in shock. She watched as Andre walked to her. “Sugah, what...,” she said, reaching for his hand. “What are you doin’ here? Are Y’all alright?” She checked it. “Let me see it,” she turned it over searching for a bruise. “Ah’ll go get some ice for it.”
He gently took his hand from her and touched it to her lips. “It’s better now.”
She smiled. Andre gently placed his hand on her face. He searched her eyes and the people around them faded into the background.
LJ watched him scan the room again. “Do you always check the exits when you’re on a date?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.
“Only when my date’s worth checking for,” Andre said, pulling her into a kiss.
He pulled her closer by the waist. LJ dropped the tray, wrapping her arms around his neck. He gently lifted her.
Moments later, “You know,” LJ said, “for a man who saves the day, you’re terrible at keepin’ a poker face, sugah.”
“And you’re terrible at letting me do my job,” Andre replied, smiling.
She laughed, leaning just a little closer. “Maybe Ah like that part.”
Michelle watched them and whispered. “Damn.”
The whole room watched. Across the room, a phone was lifted.
Andre heard the click.
A flash went off.