In Need of You

Chapter Thirty-Six

The vibrating buzz of Edward's cellphone jolted Elisha from his slumber. He glared at the empty seat in front of him, then panned the room. He noticed Edward lying on the couch in the living room and ran a hand over his face. The phone buzzed for the second time, shooing away the remnant of relaxation he had left. Sleep decided to befriend both of them, he thought. Where the hell was it when it needed it earlier?  

Reaching for the phone, he grabbed it and flipped it open, seeing a text that read, "I'm outside". Elisha stood from the table and made his way to the front door. He hovered his hand over his holstered gun while looking through the peephole. A tall black man with long dreds stood on the opposite end of the door. He surveyed his surroundings as he waited for the door to open.

Elisha took a deep breath as he opened the door. He didn't want to be the genetic reminder of the man who harassed his family, but neither of them couldn't let Jonah continue his tirade on the people they loved. It was either going to be cooperation or retaliation. Either way, there wasn't any time for unnecessary battles with two men searching desperately to gut his family.

"Please, come in," Elisha said, gesturing for Zander to enter the front door. They locked eyes as he walked inside. A frown sat upon his eyebrows, causing a downward turn in his eyes and the corners of this lips. "I'm glad you were able to make it."

"I'm glad I could be of some help," Zander said. 

Edward shot up from the couch as he heard the door close. "Sorry about falling asleep, man," he said, standing to his feet. He gestured for Zander to follow him as he led them all to the dining room table. "I haven't slept since my last shift at the precinct."

"No need for apologies," Zander spoke. "I've been there and done that. Quite frankly, I ain't trying to go back."

Elisha nodded. They locked eyes once more. The frown on Zander's face lightened as he settled in his chair.  "You probably know who I am already."

"I do," Zander responded. "I know just how much your father hates you too."

Elisha took a deep breath for a moment, then released as he glared around the room. "He must have given a speech in his drunken stupor about how much I'm a fuck up, right."

"He wasn't drunk when he spoke of you, but he was digging in his pockets for money he didn't have when he was trying to make a business deal with Baker and Associates a couple of years ago."

"You two have worked together?" Edward scooted closer to the table and slid the stack of photos in Zander's direction. 

"We did. I was his personal accountant on good days and his business consultant on the worst days. Mr. Brysen didn't listen to me much, but whenever I presented large amounts of money flowing in his accounts, he listened."

Elisha scoffed. Dad never failed to blame him for his lack of money. No matter how he tried to convey the subject to his father, the fact that Grandpa and Grandma gave him and Amber ten million dollars between the two of them never sat well with him. So the best way for him to get back at him was to break him mentally... for seventeen years. "That sounds just like him."

"I can't take back any of the things that he has done to you, but I can apologize for what he's done to you," Elisha said. 

Zander shook his head. "You shouldn't be labeled with the mess he's created," he spoke. "But nothing takes away the fact that every time I look at you I see the man who damn near took my family from me because he didn't get what he wanted. Still, I can't blame you for that."

Elisha glared into Zander's eyes. Every crease and frown line reappeared around his eyes and forehead. He understood that look all too well. Every morning when Elisha looked into the mirror, it was the same pattern of lines and creases around his eyes and on his forehead that greeted him. They never ceased to disappear when Dad pried into his every orifice to stress him out. He just thought that he was the only one Dad did this to.