Page 47 of Caught off Guard

“Ahead of what?”

“Send me Lena’s address. I’ll see you within the hour.”

I called Lena and headed her way as soon as I could toss my belongings in my purse and car. As I expected, Lena didn’t hesitate to host Cairo and me when I shared his message with her. Like him, she cared more about my safety than anything.

I pulled my Cadillac sedan to the curb of a large duplex she owned and shared with a single mother and her small kids. When I entered her home, she gave me a big hug and directed me to her kitchen table, where she had a cup of hot chamomile tea waiting for me.

“What do you think it is? And why wouldn’t he tell you details over the phone?” Lena lifted her cup to her lips, eyes as wide as saucers.

“I don’t know, but I’m nervous. I don’t put anything past Geoff’s evil ass. He told me I’d need all the luck I could get when he was done with me. I bet he’s coming for my job.”

“But how? You’re a great president. No one can deny that.”

“He had a picture of me at the Torch game and called me a two-faced whore. He probably showed that picture to somebody. Liberation doesn’t play about women staying in their place.”

Before Lena could respond, the doorbell rang. She set her cup down and rushed to answer it. Cairo’s deep voice greeted her before he entered the kitchen.

I wasn’t sure what I would say to him when we met again, but peace overcame me the second I saw the concern in his eyes. I stood and rushed to him, giving him a big hug. He oozed masculinity, fineness, and activism in a fitted James Baldwin T-shirt and slim black jeans. As his fresh, powerful scent enveloped me, the tense muscles in my back and arms relaxed. I’d never been more comfortable in the presence of a man.

“I missed you. And I’m so sorry I was rude. Please forgive me.” Words of regret poured from my mouth before I could stop them.

Cairo reached for me again.

“I already have.” He rocked with me for several seconds and planted a kiss on the top of my head.

We stood like that until Lena tapped my shoulder. Cairo released me and gave her his signature smile.

“I hate to bust up y’all’s little reunion, but what’s up? Why are y’all rendezvousing at my house?”

“Let’s sit and talk.” Cairo pointed to Lena’s dining room table in the distance.

Lena went to the kitchen and returned with several small bottles of purified water. Cairo pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit. He pulled his chair close to mine and kissed my inner wrist before holding my hand and placing it on the rectangular-shaped oak table. Once seated, Lena gave Cairo a bottle of water, which he opened and drank in its entirety.

“This doesn’t surprise me since Geoff gave me a veiled threat when we broke up. He hated that I wouldn’t tell him where I was this weekend, although he pulled out a picture from social media of me with Shavonna, a woman whose sister I know at Liberation.”

“Y’all broke up?” Cairo smiled, which caused me to grin despite the grimness of our situation.

I suddenly felt shy at revealing that information so casually.

“Yes.”

“No wonder he was pissed. Geoff had to be the source of information because of the timing. Marice called Zora loose and was too disrespectful for my liking. I listened to him to gather information about possible next moves. He’s a real snake.”

“I agree.”

As we recanted other details of the conversation, Cairo’s carriage toughened. That was when I shared information I knew would piss him off.

“He almost hit me, but I cursed him out and made him leave.”

Cairo rose from the table and headed for the door, knocking his chair over on the way.

“I’m going to kill him!” he shouted.

I rushed to him and held his arm.

“No, you won’t. Stay the course. We’re here to strategize, not lose our cool. We can’t show our hands. Come back and sit down.”

Cairo nodded and slowly returned to his seat. I followed him and stood behind him, massaging his thick shoulders until I felt the tension leave them.

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