Phoenix quirked an eyebrow, curious as to what she was going on about. He turned his attention to me, “Explain.”
“I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. I thought anything less than a face to face conversation would be disrespectful. I was planning to come talk to you the night Ember got shot. After that, I didn’t get a chance to talk to you before we left for the cabin,” I explained, meaning every word I said.
“And I asked him not to say anything to you until this was over because I wanted you to be focused on what was happening down there and not worried about what was happening between me and Dash at the cabin,” Ember blurted out.
“She did do that, but that’s not why I waited. Like I said, I felt like it was a conversation to be had in person. I know I should have waited to move things along with us until I had spoken with you, but I didn’t and I’m not sorry about that. She has made me the happiest I have ever been in my entire life. I didn’t know how everything would turn out, so I wanted to have every second I could with her in case our time was limited.”
“I can understand that, more than I care to,” Phoenix said quietly. Then, he perked up, “I get it and you two have my blessing, but I still have to black your eye or something visible, so the boys don’t think I’m getting soft.”
I was about to say I understood when I was hit in the face with Phoenix’s sledgehammer of a fist. “Fuck!” I grunted and fell back into my chair.
“Daddy! Are you okay?! Should I get the nurse?” Ember’s frantic voice had me lifting my head to look at them.
Phoenix had his good arm wrapped tightly around his ribs and was pressing some kind of handheld button for dear life. He said through gritted teeth, “No. I’m fine. Just. Need. The drugs. To kick in.”
I shook my head and laughed to myself, “You fucking Blacks and your iron fists. I’m okay, by the way. In case my old lady was curious.”
Ember’s eyes shot to me. She winked, “I wasn’t worried, baby. I know you can take a punch.” I fell a little bit more in love with her in that moment.
Phoenix started swatting her hands away, “Stop fussing over me. I’m fine now. Besides, I need to have a chat with Dash, alone. Can you step out for a few minutes?”
I stood, “Not until I make sure someone is out there. Can’t be too careful.” Phoenix gave me a chin lift, his eyes full of respect.
I returned to Phoenix’s room and sent Ember out to sit with Badger. “What’s up, Prez?”
“Have we identified the men we have in the cells yet?”
“Not sure. Last I heard, Byte was working on that with Coal’s help.”
“We need them identified and then we need to figure out what in the hell we are going to do with them. It’s going to have to be quick, too, otherwise both sides of that farm are going to start wondering what happened to the ever present assclowns.”
“I’ll track down Byte as soon as I get back. What are you thinking we should do with them?”
“I think we should hand them over to the authorities. This is too big for us to handle in house without drawing attention. We’ve always gotten along with the local cops and I don’t want that to change. Also, a few guys I served with are now with the FBI or work closely with them, so we’ve got options. Only problem is, Octavius is mine. I’m not turning him in.”
“How are you going to do that?” I asked.
“Still thinking on that. For now, I want him kept separate from the others. I don’t care if they can hear him, but I don’t want them to be able to see him. Can you make sure that happens for me? Starting today?”
“Sure thing, Prez. Anything else?”
“Actually, yes. I want you to marry my daughter,” he stated bluntly.
I choked on my own spit when he said that. I coughed so hard I thought my eyeballs were going to shoot out of my head. When it subsided, I looked up to find Phoenix watching me closely. “What? You’re dating her, making her your old lady. You can’t put a ring on her finger, too?”
I blinked stupidly at him. “Uh, I, yeah, I can. I just thought it was maybe too soon for that, you know? Girls look at that stuff differently.”
He scoffed, “Marriage is the same as becoming an old lady in our world.”
“I know that and you know that, but she doesn’t.”
“So explain it to her and then marry her. I don’t want her becoming a mother before she is married,” he put his hand up and quickly added, “and I don’t want to know anything about her chances of becoming a mother or lack thereof. That’s my baby girl and I’m not used to my role as a father yet. I know she’s grown, but I still don’t want to know anything about you two being together like that.”
I chuckled, “Got it, Prez. I’ll talk to her.”
“See that you do. And one more thing,” he paused and narrowed his eyes, “If you hurt her, Carbon’s techniques will look like child’s play when I’m through with you.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Prez.” We shook hands and did the best we could for a half hug/back slap given his current state before I left to get Ember and follow through on Phoenix’s requests.
