EGO & VENGEANCE

Chapter 22

Mateo

James? James-fucking-Birrd? I feel the organ in my chest halt as soon as dad says his name. James follows behind dad and smiles at me, that disgusting smile.

"Hello Mateo, long time no see" he grins, and the painful gulp stops me from being able to say anything.

I feel Kelani turning her attention to me, observing my expression, and I'm thinking about is how I never- EVER- want her to find out what happened, so I brush off my this expression and remain non-chalant. But then James' attention turns beside me and his smile drops. Hes looking at Kelani, who is staring back at him with a neutral expression, but i see her throat move as she gulps forcefully.

Shes afraid. I may be a fucking moron at making sense of something, like she tells me, but I know how to read people's emotions and expressions to a tee. And she's either nervous or afraid.

Is that the type of power James Birrd has developed now? Being able to instil fear into people with just a cold emotionless stare?

Kelani looks away from James' stare.

"James is in town for business, he needed my input on a few things-" Dad begins.

"When's he leaving?" I interrupt firmly. James scoffs in a smirk, locking his eyes on me.

"Mateo..." dad frowns at my disrespect. I give him a blank stare, "and why's he here" I add, waiting for an answer.

Dad sighs "he's here because he needs my help and he will leave town when he finds who killed his son and godson".

"Oh yeah I heard about that on the news. Apparently it was self defence right?" Cherrie inserts. James just darts his head to Cherries way and gives her an offended like look. I feel the tension and anxiousness she feels right now.

I stand infront of her to block his stare from making her anxious.

"They were wrongfully killed. The news said that they were attacked and they were murdered brutally, and I intend to avenge them..." he turns between Kelani and I "... no matter what".

Breathing gets louder and heavier beside me.

"Yes, and I would do the same if it was my son as a father" Dad pats James's shoulder, James nods and smiles to dad.

Just as Dad and James are about to walk away, and the tension is almost Immediately lifted, James turns around once more.

"Oh and by the way. Miss, I don't believe I have seen you before" He grins to Kelani, who's jaw is seemingly tight. "I mean I've seen Ace and Cherrie a couple times when they were kids with Mateo. But not you. Girlfriend?"

"No. Just a friend, we met a few months ago"

"Ah... I see. Your name, I don't believe I caught it?"

Kelani is silent, she doesn't answer the question, for whatever reason, she just gulps and her eyes pierced, as if she hadn't blinked in a while.
Everyone is silent too, everyone turns to her with a confused look.

"Come on sweetheart, I'm just asking for your name not your bank details" James chuckles, with a bitter tone.

"Kelani" she forces.

"Kelani. Nice to meet you. And nice seeing you kids again" James buttons his blue blazer that almost barely fits his round belly.

And he walks away, they both go to the backyard. Finally. I let out a heavy sigh, apparently I had held my breath.

"That dude always gives me off vibes" Ace frowns.

"Right? Even as kids he was so mean and eerie" Cherrie adds.