TOTAL ECLIPSE: The Evolution (Sin City Heat Series Book 7) (33 page)

CHAPTER 38

“Walt, I don’t want excuses, and that’s all we’ve been hearin’, man. I want results. You’re the expert. Identify whatever the issue seems to be and get it resolved it. That’s the bottom line.”

Darrell was in his office along with Carl wrapping up a conference call with the lead engineer and project manager on a job that was slightly behind schedule and coming dangerously close to overrunning the set budget. Both situations were completely unacceptable, and Darrell wanted it rectified ASAP.

Carl leaned forward in his chair to reiterate their point. “Make sure everything is done right the first time so that it doesn’t have to be reworked, because if that happens, there’s going to be hell to pay. And I’m not just talking to Walt, Charlie. You both need to get together, reassess the decisions being made, and get your teams on the same page. Do we all understand each other?”

When both men answered affirmatively, they made plans to speak again in a couple of days then ended the call.

Carl leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Damn. I know you were planning on taking a trip out there next month, but if things don’t turn around, you might have to make plans to go before that.”

“Yeah, I was thinkin’ the same thing. I’m tellin’ you now, if they don’t get it together, heads are gonna roll. We ain’t got time for this bullshit this far into the project.”

“I agree. Let’s just see what happens and take things from there.”

They continued talking business for the next hour until Carl switched the conversation to one of a more personal nature.

“So, how are things going between you and Jerra? From the way you’ve been acting, I’d take a guess and say pretty damn good,” Carl smiled.

Darrell couldn’t stop the grin that blossomed over his face. The last couple of weeks had been like old times. Better even. He felt like he was getting to know his wife all over again.

Jerra was still busy as hell with the Abrams case, but they had fallen into a routine that seemed to work for them. Best of all, their family was healing. Jerra was less stressed, D.J. was happy, and Darrell was more at peace with the issues of his past than he’d ever been. He’d worked out a lot of shit thanks to Dr. Williams, realizing that although his past experiences had been pivotal in helping to shape his present, that didn’t mean he had to allow them to define his future and how he lived his life. Not any longer. Darrell realized that’s what he’d been doing when it came to Tina, Isaac, and…Roni.

“Hey, D.” Carl waved his hand to get Darrell’s attention.  “You still with me?”

Darrell blinked and refocused on his friend. “Sorry, man. Guess I kinda zoned out for a moment. But, yeah, to answer your question, things have been pretty damn good lately. Matter of fact, better than good. We’re goin’ out to dinner tonight to discuss some things, and just have a little alone time.”

“That’s great. I can’t think of a more perfect couple than you and Jerra.”

“Thanks, Carl. I appreciate that. I also appreciate you takin’ up the slack around here these last couple of months. I know I’ve been a little preoccupied, but…”

Carl shook his head. “You don’t have to thank me, bro. When I was going through my divorce, you practically ran this business single handedly. I was more than happy to return the favor.”

Darrell nodded his head in acknowledgment. When his cell phone vibrated, he looked at the I.D. and saw Jerra’s picture flash on the screen. “There’s my better half now,” he smiled.

Carl immediately stood up to leave. “Alright, tell her I said hello.”

“I will.” Connecting the call, he leaned back in his chair and propped his boots on his desk. “Hey, beautiful.”

“Hi, baby.”

Darrell smiled at the endearment. For a time there, he seriously didn’t think he’d ever be on the receiving end of any type of affection from her again.

“How’s your day been? We still on for tonight, right?”

“Hm? Oh, uh, yes, but…”

Darrell frowned. He didn’t like the sound of that. “But…what? You sound distracted. Everything alright?”

“I’m late for a meeting, but I had to talk to you first. I hate to have to tell you this on the run, but…”

“Tell me what?”

“Wait…I’m sorry, hold on a second.”

Darrell heard her address her secretary.

“Heather, I know. Tell them I’ll be there in five minutes…no…just…stall them, please.”

A sense of foreboding hit Darrell all at once. Something was wrong. He could hear it in Jerra’s voice. He swung his feet to the floor, his face reflecting his worry. “Jerra, what’s goin’ on?”

He heard her take a deep breath. “It’s your mother. Darrell, she…she just left the condo. She stopped by to see D.J.”

Darrell stared across the room and squinted.  He couldn’t have heard her right. “She what?”

“I know you said she’s tried to call you several times–”

“Yeah, I ignored the calls at first. Finally, I blocked her number because she wouldn’t stop callin’. But go back. What do you mean ‘she just left the condo’?”

Jerra sounded flustered, something that was definitely out of character for her. “God, I wish I had time to discuss this properly. Okay, Tina stopped by the condo. Mrs. Henderson tried to call you to find out if it was okay, but she couldn’t get through. When she couldn’t get you, she called me.”

“I must have missed her call. My phone was lying on my desk, but I had it on vibrate because I was on a conference call.”

“Well, she was fairly certain it was fine for Tina to be there because D.J. was so excited to see his grandmother. Plus, he still talks about her from time to time, but she still wanted to check with us. Of course as soon as she told me, I asked her to put Tina on the phone.”

Darrell stood up and started pacing back and forth. “I hope you told her to get the hell out!”

“Darrell, will you let me finish please? I didn’t quite use those words, but yes, I told her she had to leave, that she couldn’t just drop by and see D.J. like that without our permission. She told me she’s been trying to call you because there’s something important she needs to discuss with you.”

“There ain’t a damn thing she needs to do but stay the hell out of our lives. I
told
her this. I made it clear that she was not to contact my family. Her going to see my son behind my back only proves what I’ve known all along. The only person she cares about is herself. Screw everything else.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“I’m not gonna argue with you about it because frankly she’s not worth it. You and I are in a good place right now and I’d like to keep it that way. The last thing we need is Tina’s bullshit.” Sensing there was something Jerra wanted to add, he sighed and rubbed his temple. “What else?”

Having gotten the green light, Jerra quickly forged ahead with the rest. “Tina insisted that there’s something you need to know about your father and your uncle. She says they didn’t tell you everything.”

“See, that’s what I’m talking about. That right there. I’m through with all that. At least Isaac is respecting my wishes and keeping his distance. Why can’t she do the same?”

“Darrell, she wants me to ask you to talk to her before she leaves to go back home, but–”

“Where’s she staying?” Darrell growled through clenched teeth.

“I think you should calm down before you see her.”

“Jerra…” The warning came through his voice loud and clear.

“At least wait until I can go with you. You don’t need to go over there when you’re this angry and–”

“Jerra!” Darrell slammed his fist down on his desk. “What I
don’t
need are instructions on how to deal with my mother!” he shouted. “Will you please just tell me where she’s staying?”

Silence greeted him on the other end before Jerra gave him the information in a clipped tone.

Darrell ran a hand over his face and took several deep breaths. He hadn’t meant to take his anger out on her. “I’m sorry. I…I didn’t mean to…I shouldn’t have…”

Jerra sighed softly. “It’s okay.”

“It’s just that I have no interest in anything she wants to tell me about Isaac or Joseph. I just want to concentrate on our family. You and D.J. That’s it. Not Tina. Not Isaac. And not Joseph.”

“I understand. Look, I have to go. After this meeting, I’m leaving for the day. I’ll see you at home?”

Darrell’s heart sped up when he heard those words. Three months ago whenever he thought about ‘home’, he automatically would’ve meant the house they’d shared for the last six years. However, he knew Jerra was talking about the condo where they’d been spending so much time together lately, and she was right. ‘Home’ wasn’t a particular place or address. It was wherever the three of them were. Together.

“I’ll be there. I…I’ll try not to go off when I see her, but she needs to understand that this can’t happen again.”

“Whatever you think is best.”

“Alright, go to your meeting before they send a search party out for you. I love you, Jerra.”

“I love you too.”

After they hung up, Darrell bowed his head. Leaning forward, he placed his hands palms down on his desk. Why couldn’t she just stay away? He meant what he’d said, there was nothing else they needed to say to one another. Maybe Tina was a product of the life she’d led. Maybe she still carried around wounds from what she’d experienced, but…that wasn’t his problem. Darrell couldn’t ‘fix’ her. He refused to be manipulated again and he damn sure wasn’t going to let her shit touch his family…especially D.J.

Jerra was right. He needed to calm down, he knew that, but… his blood did a slow boil every time he thought about Tina being bold enough to go and see his son after he expressly asked her not to.

Pushing himself away from his desk, he strode out of his office. Passing Susan’s desk, his voice was terse and controlled when he informed her that he would be gone for the rest of the day.

“Don’t call me for any reason unless it’s an emergency.”

From her wide-eyed expression, it was obvious she’d heard him yelling from his office, but she only nodded and said she understood.

As he stepped onto the elevator, everything else was forgotten except for the upcoming confrontation he was getting ready to have with Tina. He was determined to get his point across this time. One way or the other. 

CHAPTER 39

Darrell knocked on the door of Tina’s hotel room. While waiting for her to answer, he leaned a shoulder against the wall and thought about the phone conversation he’d had with Lorenzo on the way over.

Apparently, Tina had called him after she’d left Darrell’s condo, but he’d been unavailable to take the call. He said the message she left had sounded cryptic. Something about her needing to talk to him and tell him the truth about Isaac and Joseph, the same thing she’d told Jerra. Lorenzo had tried calling her back, but hadn’t gotten an answer.

“Any idea what she’s talking about, D.? It just sounded…strange.”

“Nah, bruh, I ain’t got no idea, and like I told Jerra, I could really care less,” Darrell had told him. “I just need to make her understand that the stunt she pulled today can’t happen again. I won’t have her involving my son in these little games she keeps playing.”

“When was the last time you spoke to her?”

“I told you, not since I left New York.

“Yeah. Same here.”

“Seriously, Lo, I got too much on my plate right now to be dealing with Tina’s bullshit.”

“I agree she shouldn’t have gone to see D.J. You know her better than I do, but just try not to lose control. Don’t let her have that much power over you, D.”

Darrell tried to remember that now, but when Tina opened the door, he couldn’t contain the surge of anger that swept over him at the sight of her. “What do you think you’re doing?” Brushing past her, he walked into the room and waited for her to close the door. “I thought I told you not to contact my family.”

Tina’s normally perfectly styled hair was messy and a bit disheveled, as if she’d been constantly running her fingers through it the same way she was doing now. “You wouldn’t talk to me, so you left me no other choice but to come here.”

“No other choice?” Darrell threw the words back at her. “I specifically told you to stay away. Exactly what did you not understand about the last conversation we had?”

“There are things I need to tell–”

Darrell shook his head and cut her off. “Stop right there. Whatever it is, I don’t want to know. It has nothin’ to do with me.”

“But it does. It changes everything! You need to realize the kind of people the Pattels are. They’re more dangerous than I think you realize. I can imagine the side they chose to show you when you went to New York, but believe me, Isaac and Joseph are far uglier than they seem.” She hesitated then added, “Especially Joseph.”

Darrell’s eyes narrowed. “What does Joseph have to do with this?”

“You wouldn’t know it just by talking to him, but he’s every bit as cruel and evil as his brother.”

Darrell had been watching her closely as she talked. “You sound like you know him pretty well.”

Tina’s eyes narrowed when she got what Darrell was inferring. “Not the way you’re hinting around at. Do you really think I would be involved with your father then turn around and sleep with his brother?”

“You don’t want me to answer that,” Darrell scoffed. “It’s not much of a stretch to believe you were not only Isaac’s whore, but his brother’s as well.”

Tina’s palm swung up and connected with Darrell’s cheek in a hard slap. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” she hissed. “No matter what you think about me, I’m still your mother.”

Darrell rubbed his cheek and laughed bitterly. “My mother?” he repeated. “I think you and I both know that’s a load of crap. You’ve never been a mother to me a day in my life.”

“ Just…shut up!” Tina’s face twisted in an ugly sneer. “You and your holier than thou attitude towards me. I’m so sick of you, do you know that?”

“Good. The feeling’s mutual!”

“You’re just like your father. Every time I see you it’s like looking into
hi
s face thirty years ago, hearing
his
voice.”

The provocative smirk Darrell wore fell away as a chill invaded his body. “Why do you keep saying that? I’m not him. I hate hearing that now just as much as I did when I was little. I figured out it wasn’t a compliment back then, and I sure as hell know it’s not now.” His chest heaved as his agitation increased. “I can still remember glancing across the room and finding you staring at me with that glassy look in your eyes, the same one that’s there now. I knew you were looking at me but thinkin’ about him. For the last time,
I’m not Isaac Pattel
!”

“I always knew you would turn out like him,” Tina continued as if she’d heard nothing he said. “There’s a side of you that’s cold and callous, Darrell. Just like him. It doesn’t take very much to bring it out.”

“You’re sick, you know that? Certifiable. When are you going to get it through your head that I’m the way I am because of
you
?”

“And you hurting your wife by lusting after another woman is because of me too?” she taunted. “I guess I’m to blame for this obsession you have with your ex-girlfriend as well!”

Darrell was already cruising on the wheels of anger, but when she threw that jab at him, he went from zero to a hundred in less than a second.

“Ya’ know what, yeah! Yeah, I do blame you for that!” When Tina let out a disbelieving laugh, Darrell leaned closer. “For as long as I can remember, I thought all women were like you, self-absorbed females who used men for what they could get, so I made sure I used them first. They were nothing but sport to me,” Darrell shrugged. “But then I met Roni. I knew from the beginning that she was different. She challenged me to take a good long look at the boy I was, and made me see the man I had the potential to be.”

Darrell’s eyes glowed with feeling as he stared at Tina. Swallowing hard, he took a step back. “Roni taught me how to love a woman and because of that, she made it possible for me to love Jerra as much as I do.”

“You have a funny way of showing that love. In fact, all the Pattel men do. That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Darrell. The things you think you know about that family don’t even begin to scratch the surface. I only found out because I overheard them talking one night. This…secret of theirs is one of the reasons Isaac chose to leave me be after I left him. I told him if anything happened to me, I’d arranged to have the truth come out about what he and Joseph did. He didn’t want that. It would have destroyed his entire family.” Tina’s eyes were wild, almost crazed as they glittered with triumph at what she considered a victory over Isaac. “But now? They both can go straight to hell. If he’s not going to give me what I want then–”

“Wait, what the hell is that supposed to mean, if he doesn’t give you what you want?” Darrell interrupted.

“It doesn’t matter. The point is–”

“It
does
matter! You…” Darrell looked around the room while laughing in disbelief. He took a huge breath, held it for a moment then slowly released it. “Never mind. I’m not doin’ this. I
refuse
to do this. I’m too busy tryin’ to get my own life together to be worried about some petty bullshit that happened over thirty years ago. You need to just leave it alone.”

Darrell headed towards the door. After opening it, he stood with his back to her, staring straight ahead as if working out what he wanted to say. Coming to a decision, he turned to give her one last warning.

“You’ve seen D.J. I’mma give you that one, but Tina, do not attempt to visit him again.”

“Or what?” she asked mockingly.

Darrell stared at her in disbelief, then nodded. “You’ve got a pretty cushy life right now, wouldn’t you say? I paid off your house, renovated it so that it’s practically brand new, paid off all your debts. I’d say you got it good.” His eyes gradually froze over to resemble emotionless pits of darkness. “But I swear to God, if you keep provoking me like this, refusing to honor my wishes, I’ll bring the walls of your world tumbling down around you so fast, you won’t even realize what happened. By the time I’m finished, the only thing left of your life will be a pile a trash scattered about in the dirt. Now try me if you want to.”

Tina’s face still had a look of defiance, but there was also a healthy dose of fear. As if a sudden draft had drifted into the room, she wrapped her arms around her body to stop herself from shivering, but Darrell wasn’t finished.

“You say I’m my father’s son and got the mindset of a Pattel.” Darrell’s face twisted at the unpleasant thought. “Maybe you’re right. But see, I got your blood running through my veins as well. Just imagine the kind of monster that combination has spawned, and the havoc I could wreak if pushed beyond my limits. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve permanently taken care of a problem that needed to be dealt with. Believe me, once it’s been handled I won’t give it–or you–a second thought.”

His eyes blazed over her one last time before he walked out and slammed the door behind him.