And the man who took Khalon Stephens from this world wasgoing to pay for it.
Then Dutch got out of bed.
“They’re right,Shizlayayais theshizla.”
Dutch looked from Georgiana—who, along with Carlyle’s littlesister, Christian, was trying on about seventeen pairs of Tyra’s shoes—toCarlyle.
“Yup.”
Carlyle turned into him, and the way he did, his back was tothe room and Dutch was hidden.
“Man—” he started.
“You don’t have to say it,” Dutch told him quick and low.
Carlyle looked to his shoes.
Then back to Dutch.“You didn’t mess around.”
Dutch looked around him to Georgie, muttering, “I had help.A lot of it.”
“Did they find yours?The guy that—”
Dutch again caught his gaze.“Yes.”
Carlyle aimed his eyes over Dutch’s head.
Dutch made a decision.
“Listen, Carlyle,” the kid looked back to him, “I wish Icould say this is closure and one step closer in a process tobein’ able to lock up the feelings that grip you so fuckin’tight, you think they’regonnachoke the life rightouttayou.But there is no process.This is just anotherday in a life without him.”
Carlyle looked back to his shoes.
“You steer clear of your mother and sister because he sawyou?”Dutch asked.
“Yeah,” Carlyle grunted.
“Okay then, that seals it.”
Carlyle lifted his head.“Seals what?”
“He’s not lost because you’re here.You’regonnalook after your mother and sister.You’regonnabecome the man he made you.Him.In his image.Hecarries on because he made a good kid who’sgonnabecome a good man like he was.”
“That’s not enough.”His face froze.He cleared his throat.And then he said, “I want him back.”
Dutch clapped him on the shoulder and held on, tight.
“You don’t get that, brother.But what you earned in thismess is me.I know how this feels.And when those feelings creep out of thatbox you put them in and grip you tight, you call me, and we’ll figure out someway to get you past them.”
Dutch dropped his hand.
And Carlyle asked, “Why youdoin’this?”
“Because I’m the man my father made me.”
It hit him then and Dutch didn’t look away when the wetshone bright in his eyes.He kept hold on Carlyle’s gaze when the first onesilently fell.And the next.And the ones after.
They stood that way, Carlyle’s back to the room, Dutchgiving him his attention, until Carlyle sniffed.He lifted his hands and rubbedhis face with the heels of his palms.
