Page 20 of Dr. Bell

“Wait. Your family is in the streets?”

I stopped again to peer at him. Gently, he tugged me along.

“When my great-grandfather moved here, you can imagine some of the resistance he faced. While this area wasn’t heavily populated, there was enough opposition to drive the few Blacks that lived here to band together. They were farmers, teachers, communal physicians, and businessmen. They sourced their own liquor and healing medicines. The community started growing to the point where order was necessary.”

“Sounds fascinating,” I said. I’d never heard anything like it. At least not from someone outside of history documentaries. Listening to Adir talk about the intricacies of his family’s beginnings was something I could see myself being hooked on.

“It’s fascinating now. Back then…” He shook his head. “Allistair and his three friends took it upon themselves to protect the community. Over time, those four families became the pillars of this region.”

“Who are the other three families?”

“Smith, Fountain, and Winters families. My mama is a Fountain by the way.”

“You don’t say. Do they all live in this area?”

He shook his head. “As you can imagine, newer generations come, and people spread their wings.”

“Did the other families remain close?”

This time he stopped, then turned us around. Only then did I realize how far we’d walked. We started back toward his mansion as he continued.

“That’s just it. The bond the families have is deeper than friendship. They created a code—a bond that leaves no room for disloyalty. Everyone knows it. Everyone is to abide by it.”

Thinking back to last night and how those men were subjected to Adir, I knew… I just knew.

“You’re untouchable.”

“I’m not. However, the consequences of even thinking about touching me or anything connected to me carries the stiffest penalty.”

Gulping, I croaked, “Death.”

He simply looked at me. As untouchable as Adir seemed, I understood what he meant. Being at the top had a for certain target on his back. Out of everyone in his family, he had the most dangerous position.

“What about the boys?” I needed to change the subject.

A smile graced his face as it lit up. “My boys aren’t really boys anymore. However, I refer to them as such. Humble is the oldest at nineteen. He’s the one who will most likely take after me.”

“Even though he isn’t your biological son?”

He nodded. “He’s never known his parents. Tilda, his foster mother and one of my closest professors, had him since he was born. I already had a relationship with Humble. I watched him grow up since he was five or so. So, I knew that I would take himin. One morning, I woke up a single man with no kids. By the end of the night, I had four sons.” We both chuckled. “Peace is turning nineteen soon. Kalm and Bragg are fifteen.”

“They’re giants,” I mentioned playfully to which he agreed.

“My boys… I love them to death.”

The softness in his deep voice conveyed as much. “How did Tilda die?”

“Cancer. It came out of nowhere and took her far too quickly before anyone could do anything about it.”

“I’m sorry.”

A bittersweet smile crept on his face. “Tilda was ready. Despite what she faced, she knew I was there to get the boys. They were her greatest concern.”

“That’s admirable of you.”

“More like, I was too close to the boys to let them be fucked over by the system. I’d kill behind them.”

His statement squeezed my heart. “What about Peace, Kalm, and Bragg. What are their stories?”

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