“That’s how people are nowadays. Maybe they just wanted to have some fun. Maybe we were the wrong color. Maybe they thought we were somebody we wasn’t. I don’t know.”
“But you wish Hawk was here. Don’t you?”
Janita looked at her brother. She never wanted him to see her so vulnerable, but she knew she couldn’t hide it from Von. “When he was with us, I felt complete. And . . .”
“And safe?”
She nodded.“Yes.”
He knew what she meant because he felt it too.
Janita kept talking. “But when he left like that it just . . . And then that crash happened. It’s a lot.”
Von agreed. But he could also tell something else was bothering her. “What is it, sis?”
“I checked the blogs and other social media, but there was no mention of Kemberly attempting suicide like Hawk said.”
“Maybe he paid off people to keep it out of the press. That’s what they do in show business.”
“Yeah maybe.”
“But?”
Janita shook her head again. “Something feels wrong,” she said and looked over at her brother. “I’ve been trying to shake it, but I can’t.”
“You think those guys that shot at us are coming back for more?”
“I’m not talking about that. I feel like something’s wrong with Hawk.”
Von didn’t expect to hear that. “Why would you think something’s wrong with him?”
“I don’t know, but that’s what I feel. I even tried to call his mother and see if she heard from him.”
“And?”
“She wouldn’t answer my calls. Then I called Matty, but his secretary wouldn’t put me through to him at all. And I don’t have his cell phone. I even tried to talk to his father’s assistant or secretary or somebody in his office, but you know how that went. I didn’t get past the receptionist.”
“Yeah, I figured that. But what about Dray? He seems cool. He might answer your call.”
“I don’t have his number. But I did call his brother Minka’s hair salon.”
“Let me guess: His bougie ass didn’t give you the time of day?”
“Actually, he did. He took my call.”
“Wow, really? What did he say? He’s heard from Hawk?”
“Not a word since he left Brackenridge,” said Janita. “But he said that’s how Hawk is. They rarely ever hear from him. He’s just off doing his own thing, was how Minka described it. He wasn’t worried at all.”
Von stared at her. “But you still are.”
“I still am, yep. And it’s heavy on me too. I cannot shake it, Von.”
“What about Eagle Records? Did you call Eagle Records?”
“I called over there first thing this morning. I got as far as an assistant to one of his assistants. She took my name and number, but I had a feeling that girl thought I was some groupie or something and didn’t even write it down.” Then she exhaled again.
Von could see it was eating her alive. Which was so out of character for Janita. “What are gonna do about it?” He asked because he knew she was going to dosomething. She wasn’t the type to just let it go. Especially for a man Von was convinced she really cared about.
