White Lines III (40 page)

Promise I'll be here.

Whenever you need me near.

Jada had requested the song and was so glad that she did. Mary was singing her heart out, and Jada felt as if she was singing it just for them. She arrived at the altar and faced Born. She clutched her bouquet tightly, her hands shaking from the nervousness every bride feels on their special day. But despite her trembling hands, Jada was bubbling over with pure joy. It took all of her willpower not to kiss him before it was time.

Ava stepped forward and held Jada's bouquet for her. Born took Jada's hands in his own. As the song continued to play, the couple sang along and two-stepped a little. It was as if they were alone together, as the two of them rocked together and vibed with Mary. There was barely a dry eye in the house, since everyone present knew the long road this couple had traveled together.

Ava, Sheldon, Ethan, Miss Ingrid, Sunny's mother Marisol, Mercedes, and DJ were the only guests present at the simple, quiet ceremony in the otherwise empty church. It was Friday, December 3, a week after Thanksgiving. And this year, the couple had so much to be thankful for. After all of the ups and downs, they were finally getting their chance at happily ever after.

Even Reverend Gibson was emotional. He cleared his throat as he began.

“You're gorgeous,” Born whispered.

Jada blushed, and smiled at the fact that he still had that effect on her after all of these years. Together they faced the minister.

“Dearly beloved…”

Her mind wandered down the road that she and Born had traveled together in the years since they first met.

“We're gathered here today to join Jada Noelle Ford and Marquis Lamont Graham in holy matrimony.”

She smiled as she thought of the day in 1995 that Born pulled up alongside her in his black convertible E320 Benz, cocky and brazen as he spoke to her. She thought back to their first date and how she had balked at the way that he talked with his mouth full. She recalled the first time they made love, the first time he professed his love for her, the first time they'd seen each other again after cocaine tore them apart.

“If anyone believes that this couple should not be united in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Born, too, was reflecting on their history together. As the preacher instructed them to bow their heads in prayer, Born peeked and looked at Jada and thought back over all of their years—for better or for worse.

He reminisced on the early days—before they hooked up with Dorian and Sunny, before Born's rise in the drug game. He remembered the way that his love for Jada had crept up on him, taking him hostage against his will. Eventually, though, he had surrendered to it, and the days he spent in her arms had been pure bliss in comparison to the ones he'd lived without her. He looked at her now, standing beside him looking lovelier than ever. Born felt like the happiest man alive.

The minister finished his prayer, told Born to repeat after him, and began to recite the usual vows common in most Christian ceremonies. Born cleared his throat. “Excuse me,” he interrupted. Seeing the confused look on both Jada's and the reverend's faces, he explained. “I want to say my own thing. My own … vows … is that all right?”

Jada's eyes widened. “I … I didn't write anything…” she stammered.

Born smiled at her. “Neither did I. I just want to say what's on my mind.” He looked at the reverend. “Can I do that?”

The reverend nodded, smiling. “Yes, yes,” he said. His smile broadened. “Go ahead.”

Born cleared his throat again. He looked at Jada, beaming. “I know we didn't plan on saying our own thing. But nothing about us is ordinary. So I don't think we should just say ordinary things. I want to speak from my heart.” Born looked at the handful of guests assembled in the two front pews of the church and smiled. Every one of them was aware of the journey he and Jada had taken together. They knew how special this occasion was, how long they'd fought for it. His gaze settled on Sheldon and Ethan, both of whom personified the rough road the couple had traveled to get here. Looking again at his beautiful bride, Born took a deep breath. He searched his mind for the right words to express what was in his heart, and then began his vows.

“We've been through it all, Jada. We had some good times and some bad. We wasted a lot of time that we can never get back again. Now that I have you back, I'm never letting you go again. I'm never gonna take what we have for granted.” His gaze was direct and so was his delivery. “I promise to love you, and protect you, and respect you until the day I die. I'll take care of you and the kids until we get so old that the kids have to take care of both of us.”

Jada laughed through the joyful tears that puddled in her eyes.

“I'll do my best to remember to put the toilet seat down after I'm done.”

The reverend and all of the guests were smiling and chuckling as they listened to Born's impromptu vows. It was spontaneous, romantic, and the sweetest thing any of them had ever witnessed.

“I'll buy you flowers just because you deserve it. I'll never keep any secrets from you. Unless it's to surprise you, 'cause I know how much you love surprises.” He squeezed her hands tightly.

“I'll never cheat on you.” Born's expression was serious as he said it. He knew that his recent dalliance with Anisa had hurt Jada terribly. “I'll never cause you pain again. And I'll never leave you. I'll be the husband you deserve—the husband you always deserved.” He started to get emotional, but manned up quickly. “I'll take care of you. I'll take care of our kids. We're a family, and I promise to always put my family first—before anything or anybody else. I swear I'll make you happy. Always. So help me God.” Born brought Jada's hands to his lips and kissed each one. The pastor handed him Jada's platinum-and-diamond wedding band, and Born placed it on her finger.

Ava, Miss Ingrid, and Marisol dabbed at the tears in their eyes, but Jada didn't bother to control hers. Joyful tears spilled forth, until Born reached forward and gently wiped them away with his handkerchief. Jada's heart nearly burst with all of the love she had inside.

The reverend turned to her. “Would you like to say your own vows, too?” he asked.

Jada nodded. “I don't think I can talk without crying, but I'll try.” She looked at Born, and her smile widened. “I love you,” she said. “God blessed me when he sent you into my life … into me and Sheldon's life.” She took a deep breath. “You've been so patient with me. From the very beginning, you've been my best friend. You treat me better than I treat myself at times.” Her gaze lowered, Jada choked back a sob. “I don't know
why
you love me, but I'm so glad that you do. You know everything there is to know about me, and still…” She looked at him again. “You love me.” She shook her head at the magnitude of that. “And, my God, Born, I love you, too. I love you so much.”

She took another deep breath. “I promise to keep you happy
forever
. I will respect you, honor you, and take care of you all the days of my life. I'll never hurt you again. When things get hard, I won't run. I swear.” She smiled at him. “I won't complain when you spend Sundays watching football all day.”

“Yeah, right,” Sheldon said, louder than he meant to. Still, everybody laughed.

Jada's smile was wide as she continued. “I won't complain when you talk with your mouth full. I love you for who you are, for who you've helped me become. And I will never let anyone or anything ever come between us again. I love you.” She took Born's matching wedding band and placed it on his finger.

The minister spoke again, blessing their union. He pronounced them man and wife at last, and Jada rushed into Born's open arms. They kissed and held each other close. Born forgot about everyone else present as he looked into Jada's eyes and kissed her over and over. Jada was weak with joy.

They turned and faced their loved ones at last, and were surrounded by hugs and kisses all around. In that moment, though neither of them knew it at the time, they were both having similar thoughts. It was as if Sunny and Dorian were there in spirit, surrounding them with love, and blessing their friends as they began their lives together as husband and wife.

 

EPILOGUE

Gillian sat in the small office with her mother and her attorney—an associate of Maury's—as the agents grilled her relentlessly.

“I'm telling you what I know,” Gillian said, sincerely. “Frankie came by the restaurant on Thanksgiving. I was surprised to see him, since we hadn't spoken to each other in months. He was upset.”

“Very upset,” Mayra interjected. “He insisted that he needed to speak with Gillian right away. So she sat with him at one of the tables in the corner.”

Agent Payne watched the women closely, glancing at his notes periodically to see if they would switch up any of the details of the last sighting of his star witness.

“You said that he asked you to leave town with him. Did he say where he was going?” Payne asked.

Gillian shook her head. “No. Honestly, it didn't seem like he really knew where he was going. He just kept saying that we could disappear; that the case against him was serious and he couldn't stay here and stand trial. I reminded him that his daughter is here, and she needs him. He just said that he would find a way to see her, but he had to get away. I told him that I couldn't just up and leave. I've got the restaurant, my home, my family here. I told him that he was crazy. So he left. And I haven't heard from him since.”

Gillian dabbed at the corner of her eye with a tissue. “My God, I hope he's okay. I didn't really think he would just up and leave like that.”

Mayra stroked her back, comfortingly.

“My daughter is very upset. She loved Frankie very much. They broke up years ago because he wouldn't get out of that life. She warned him that things would get out of hand if he kept living like that, but he didn't listen. And now look!”

“Mama, don't,” Gillian protested.

“No, Gigi; there's no point in pretending anymore. He's a fugitive.”

“We're still trying to determine if that's the case,” Agent Payne insisted. “Right now we're piecing together his movements on the last day anyone saw him. His ex-wife tells us that he spent the day with their family, and then left after dessert. We know that he came to see you after that.”

“You only know that because my client told your investigators that. She's been very forthcoming and candid. But this has been a very long day, and she is clearly overwhelmed. She's told you everything she knows. Can we wrap this up?” Robert Nestlebaum was no Maury, but he came damn close.

Agent Payne didn't look too pleased, but he threw up his hands in surrender. “Sure. Listen … it's just that Frankie hasn't been home, hasn't checked in anywhere in the past four days. No trace of his car or his cell phone. His mother hasn't heard from him. We're concerned that he may have met with some type of foul play.”

Gillian frowned. “Why would anybody want to hurt Frankie?” she asked.

Agent Payne looked over at his colleagues. They knew that Frankie was a government informant, but that fact hadn't been made public.

“That's what we're trying to figure out Ms. Nobles.” Payne stood, signaling the end of their questioning. Gillian, her mother, and her attorney stood as well. “If we have any more questions, we'll give you a call.”

Gillian nodded. “Please let me know as soon as you know something. I'll be worried sick about him until I know where he is.”

Agent Payne agreed. “Will do, ma'am. Thank you for your time.”

He watched the three of them as they left, something in his gut telling him that Frankie hadn't made it out of town. He believed that Frankie was dead.

“Back to fucking square one.” He slammed his fist on the table and sat back in his chair, frustrated.

Meanwhile, as Gillian exited the building with her mother and her attorney, she continued to play the part of the concerned friend. On her face was an expression of worry and concern. But in her mind, she was thankful to Biggs for a job well-fucking done.

Once in the car, Nestlebaum filled them in on what they could expect next. “Without him, they don't have much of a case. As long as he doesn't show up anytime soon, it's safe to say that their case is significantly weaker against everybody.”

Gillian smiled for the first time all day. “Now, that's good news.”

*   *   *

In the months that followed, the majority of the charges against Grant, the Douglas brothers, Tremaine, and Reuben were dropped. With no informant to implicate them, the feds' case was all but done. A few of the charges stuck, particularly those for weapons and drug possession. When the dust settled, Grant's case was dismissed for lack of evidence, but he was still released from his job in the D.A.'s office on the grounds of illegal drug possession for the pills they'd found in his home. He went into a court-mandated rehab facility and emerged thirty days later a free man. Sunny's brother Reuben, and Dorian's brothers Patrick and Christian were each sentenced to two years in prison for the drugs and guns found in their homes at the time of their arrests.

Zion was hit the hardest. The pills and gun found during the search of his home didn't bode well with the judge. He was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison. Olivia kept a stiff upper lip as she continued to take her clothing line to the top of the industry. But inside, she was crushed. She would always love Zion, and without him she felt a void that no other man could fill. She focused on taking her fashion career to the next level, determined to give Adiva a positive role model to emulate as she grew older.

Frankie's body was never recovered, and rumors abounded about what had become of him. Some imagined that he had fled to avoid prosecution. Others wondered if Frankie had met with a more unfortunate fate. Camille, for one, was convinced that Frankie was dead. Nothing else could explain his sudden disappearance from Bria's life. It was tough on Bria. It took months before she stopped asking for him. Camille and Eli did their best to compensate for Frankie's absence. And as the weeks turned into months and the reality set in that Frankie was never coming back, Eli proposed to Camille.