Two Tribes, page 15
part #1 of Young Atlanteans Series
When the door finally shut behind them, JJ launched right in. ‘I need a space for my brother and I to live and run our operations from. It needs to be large, doesn’t have to be domestic; we can remodel, but it has to be near enough to the school.’
Mr Cooney’s eyes widened and changed expression with every item on their list. By the time JJ finished with, ‘That should do it for starters,’ it was obvious the guy thought it was some sort of joke.
Then his eyelids lowered and his smile dropped. ‘Right! Now you’ve had your fun, it’s my turn to make demands. You can clear off, before I lose my patience and one of you gets ’urt. You’re lucky it’s a Sunday and I want to get off early today.’
Xavier immediately straightened and he felt JJ do the same. The feeling up his spine was becoming unbearable. The answer so obvious, it could no longer be ignored.
‘I assure you, we are deadly serious. We can make each other a lot of money,’ JJ persisted.
Mr Cooney looked at the pair of them as if he doubted that very much. ‘I don’t run drugs, Son. And, besides, you look like you should be asking your dad for help, not me.’
Xavier could feel JJ’s growing frustration, however he held it together. Instead, he sliced the air with his hand in front of him and said, ‘You’re right, but we’re done with our father. Let’s just say we’ve reached a difference of opinion. Look, we came to you out of respect. You know the area and seem to get things done.’
Mr Cooney sniffed and straightened in his seat. JJ’s massage to his ego was working.
‘We’re businessmen, just wanting our start. Think about it. We’re at school. We have a whole new demographic to offer. A hitherto untapped source of business for you to reach.’
Mr Cooney looked at his friend, leaning with his back against the wall with a look on his face that was hard to decipher between amazed and disbelief at their sheer cheek. ‘Can you believe these kids?’
His friend shook his head and let out a breath of laughter.
Mr Cooney studied them for a long moment as if he was making up his mind. ‘Your brother don’t say much, does he?’
‘We’re of the same mind,’ JJ said.
‘Is that right?’
‘It is,’ Xavier said, now looking around him for the source of the bad feeling.
‘And what would Xavier here say if I was to get Charlie here to give you both a good slap and throw you out on your arses?’ Mr Cooney said, raising an eyebrow.
‘I’d say you could, but then you’d lose out on a great business opportunity of working with the Dubonnetti brothers. And that doesn’t come up every day.’
Mr Cooney and Charlie really laughed at that.
‘Is that so,’ Mr Cooney said when he finally stopped laughing. ‘I’ll tell you what. Leave it with me. I’ll have a think about what you can do for me.’
‘And the property we need?’ JJ prompted.
Mr Cooney narrowed his eyes as if they were really pushing it. ‘I’ll see what’s around. But only because you’ve got guts. Not many grown men would have waltzed in here and do what you just did.’
Xavier’s heart pounded as they turned and headed back for the door. It took every ounce of willpower not to run. His skin was literally screaming and it wasn’t elation at what they’d just accomplished, it was dread. They had actually pulled it off and everything was really happening. For the first time in their lives, they were in control of their own futures and yet he wanted to grab JJ and run.
Frustratingly, JJ held him back. ‘How long till we hear?’ he said, before they went out.
‘Give me till the end of the week and I’ll have your answer for you by then.’
The door opened before they’d even touched it, proving they’d been watched the whole time.
However, with Mr Cooney’s parting words of, ‘You’ll owe me,’ Xavier had an even more uncomfortable feeling that all was not what it seemed. Maybe Mr Cooney just had excellent security, or maybe he wasn’t the head honcho that everyone in the area thought he was.
They walked quickly along the hallway, through the counter – immediately raised by Mike and back out of the shop. It seemed both couldn’t wait to get out of there. Keep walking, JJ projected, as soon as they were clear.
Xavier kept pace with him. Did you feel it?
JJ nodded. There was definitely a very powerful Atlantean. Somewhere nearby. Did you see the mirror?
Yeah, definitely two-way. You realize he’ll own us, Xavier reminded him.
JJ nodded, slowing down to a normal walk.
Whoever that Atlantean was, if they’re an enemy of father’s, it puts us in a really dangerous position. He’s not going to want to let us go.
JJ stopped at the corner of the High Street and nodded. We don’t have a choice. We’ll use him to get our start, then we’ll break away.
CHAPTER 17
Keenan watched through the greyed glass, with three of his compadres, as the two boys came out of the seedy betting shop as if their ass was on fire. He clicked the camera on his phone several times as proof and sent them on to their father, Jay. Dante was on the other side of the world and would only be disturbed if their lives were at stake. Jay wanted detail. ‘What are you little rascals up to?’ he said, squinting his eye into his spy glass as they went further down the road looking like they’d seen a ghost.
‘Are they gambling now?’ one of his cousins asked from the back seat.
‘I don’t think so. It’s owned by the shark who sent the goons round to the Johnson place.’ Keenan slowly lowered his spyglass while he gave it some thought. ‘No, they’re up to something.’
As if on cue, JJ touched his brother’s shoulder, pointed straight at them and waved.
‘We’ve been made,’ his cousin said, grinning.
Keenan was surprised it had taken them this long to sense them. He tapped Jay’s number and put the phone to his ear. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Keep on it,’ Jay’s voice said immediately, ‘But hang back. I’m intrigued to see what they’re doing.’
‘And the king?’ Keenan asked.
‘I’ll keep him up to speed. He’s dealing with a crisis at the moment.’
* * *
‘They’ve seen us,’ Xavier said. The Uber stopped at the kerb, he scooted into the back seat and JJ got in quickly behind him. ‘What shall we do?’
The taxi pulled gently away into the late morning traffic. ‘Nothing. They were always going to keep an eye on us. They can only do one of two things: either take us home or leave us to it. Either way, we win.’
Xavier thought about it and guessed JJ was right. ‘Who knew you spoke fluent gangsta?’ he said smiling at his brother. ‘You were great in there.’
‘You played your part too,’ JJ said, his face hardening. They’ll completely underestimate us, then we’ll be an unstoppable force.’
JJ was right, but he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d had back at the shop. ‘Do you think it could have been the guards we sensed back there?’ But as he said the words, he didn’t really believe it. Whoever it was had an aura darker and more powerful than any they’d ever felt.
‘No, this was someone else. There was only one other guy I ever felt like that and he’s long dead. I watched him die when I was small. This guy feels like that.’
It made Xavier shiver. He knew who JJ was talking about. Malleven. He’d taken the crown from their father for a few short weeks when they were children. A Florianna prince with dark powers learned from the ancient order of Magi. He hoped to God it wasn’t someone with power like him.
‘Don’t worry. We’re powerful too. And when we get going, Mr Cooney, the school, Keenan or even dad won’t be able to do a single thing to stop us.’
* * *
JJ slipped back into the flat with Xavier. Alexia caught them and eyed them suspiciously, but because she’d made it clear she didn’t want to go, she couldn’t exactly push to find out what happened.
Latitia was a different story. ‘Hey!’ she said, as JJ went to go into his room.
Xavier seized his chance to escape and darted into the bathroom.
‘Where have you two been?’
‘Nowhere. Just woke up,’ he said, pausing with his hand on the doorknob.
‘No you haven’t. Richie said you’d both gone when he got up.’
JJ closed his eyes, let out a breath and slowly turned around. He was going to have to face the inevitable conversation with Latitia head on. He looked at her blankly as if he had no idea what she could want.
‘What, so we’re going to ignore everything that happened last night?’
‘I didn’t think you wanted reminding that you turned up at the dance drunk.’ The barb flew and hit her so squarely it made him inwardly flinch. He fought the urge to immediately comfort her and apologize. She was just too damn easy to read, which was why he needed to get away from her. He saw the exact moment she understood and the injury spread through the neurons of her brain, every nerve receptor, then out through her aura, pulsing in shades of purple and red as her anger replaced it.
Then she did something completely unexpected. She stepped in closer to him. It was a provocative move that would have meant a fight between two males. Nose to nose, if they’d been equal in height.
Her hot breath switched up his temperature.
‘So that’s how you wanna play it, is it?’ she said, so only he could hear.
She’d so exceeded his expectation, he waited; intrigued, excited at what she would do next. ‘I assure you, I don’t play around at anything. I go hard or go home,’ he said, continuing to glare into her eyes, but really beginning to enjoy himself.
Her eyes dilated, then narrowed as she tried to disguise how his threat made her feel. He found himself imagining everything he wanted to do to her. Her open challenge had ignited something primal deep within him.
After a beat, she countered with, ‘Well go home, little boy, because we both know what’s going on here is fear. You let your guard down and now you’re terrified.’
He almost laughed in shock. It was a gross oversimplification, but she was right to an extent and no one had ever spoken to him like that before. He fought the urge to kiss her and attempted to keep his distance.
Latitia lifted her hand to touch the side of his cheek, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her quickly into his room behind him. After looking around quickly to check it was empty, he did something he hated doing. He entered the edges of her mind, overtly, so she knew exactly what he was doing. The usual aim was to be undetected, but this time he wanted her to know. It was a deliberate show of his capabilities, done to make her feel helpless and in no doubt who was the more dominant between them.
He didn’t want to inflict pain, but venture enough to speak directly to her mind. Stop this goading, Latitia. You think you know who I am, but you don’t. You will get hurt and that’s the last thing I want. Xavier, Alexia and I will be leaving here soon and you can get on with your life.
Her eyes widened with every sentence as the realization of what was happening hit her frontal lobe in blows. He hated himself for the fear that replaced her initial shock and then the resignation that what he was communicating was happening and was the truth. He wasn’t some mafioso’s son that she’d somehow romanticized in her mind, he was something far more sinister and scary.
When the fight had completely left her body, he slowly released her wrist and left her mind.
She absently rubbed where he’d held her but still looked up at him warily, now seeming so fragile and small. He felt instantly sorry he’d been so rough with her.
‘What are you?’ she whispered, her eyes darting like a terrified rabbit, desperately searching for a way out with a cosy, plausible explanation.
‘Your worst nightmare,’ JJ said, fixing her with a direct stare to show how deadly serious he was.
‘And Xavier and Alexia are the same?’ she said, frowning.
He rolled his eyes and bent down to pull his case out from under the bed. He finally answered, ‘I told you, we share a mother.’
‘And your fathers. They’re like you?’
‘More so … well, one of them.’ He stood up and sat heavily on his bed in exasperation. ‘Enough now, Latitia. The more I tell you, the more of your memory I will have to take.’ He looked wearily at her confused expression and tried to soften his tone. ‘And I’d rather not have to do that.’
She took a step back and sat down on her brother’s bed opposite. She just sat there, staring at him. Running her eyes all over him as if some weird difference would make itself known to her. He had to admit she was stronger with the information than he’d expected. In fact, all he could think about was how adorable she looked, facing her fears bravely. ‘So what you’re saying is, you don’t trust me.’
JJ smiled a little. She had guts, he’d give her that. ‘I do trust you, but it’s not safe for you to have that kind of information. The less you know, the better.’
‘I can handle it. Tell me. Please, JJ. You owe me that, at least, don’t you?’
She was adorable and infuriating, all at the same time. Ignoring that he fully meant to wipe her memories, he got to his feet and walked up and down on the mat between the beds, pushing his hand through his hair in frustration. ‘I can’t.’
‘You can! So we kissed. Big deal. We’re both still here. Aren’t we?’ she said, standing as well.
She had a point, he guessed. He looked up at the ceiling for strength, turned and faced her. He took in the warm caramel of her skin, the perfect heart-shaped face and the imploring eyes. The cute braids scooped into a ponytail making her look so young. The dimples he knew appeared easily every time she smiled. He could remember clearly how she’d smelled in the crook of her neck. The now-familiar bonding pain stirred in his chest as a stark reminder. It hit him then that he might be able to move where he lived, but he would never be able to set her free. Not completely. It was too late for that. He smiled haplessly. ‘I don’t think you’d believe me anyway.’
‘Try me.’
He wanted to scream at her that it was the last thing he should do. But selfishly, he wanted her to remember him when they passed each other in the corridors at school. In the end, all he said was, ‘Maybe one day.’
‘One day soon.’
He laughed then. She was a dog with a bone and had completely overlooked that he’d only just invaded her brain, something never done in Atlantean polite society.
Instead, she got up and stood right in his personal space again. She looked up into his eyes and at his lips. It reminded him of a timid deer he’d once met on his father’s estate, determined to make friends in order to be fed titbits.
Then it hit him that it wasn’t her who was vulnerable. She would always be his weakness. He did the worst possible thing and caved. He bowed his head and brushed his lips with hers.
‘But one day,’ she whispered against them.
Her hot breath undid any distance he’d held between them and he was kissing her passionately. Lifting her until she clasped her legs around him. Tasting, swirling his tongue until he knew moving house, staying apart or being cruel would never be enough to keep her away from him. The heavy pain began to rise in his chest.
Then, like a bucket of cold water, he heard a cough behind him. He turned his head sharply and slowly released her down his body to her feet. Xavier was standing just inside the room.
There was no amusement on his face, only a lack of patience as he rolled his eyes. ‘I see you remained as emotionally detached as planned,’ he said, striding over, stooping and pulling his bag out from under the bed next to JJ.
JJ was forced to step out of the way, still in shock at how much he’d lost control. Another minute, and heaven knew what Xavier would have walked in on.
Xavier put his hand into the side zipper and pulled out one of the vials Keenan had given them. He held it out to him as he straightened up. ‘Before you kill her.’ He flicked his eyes at Latitia, but there was no warmth in them.
JJ caught her lost, bewildered expression at what was happening between him and Xavier. JJ himself wasn’t all that sure. He took the vial from Xavier’s hand as if it was a grenade that would explode any minute. Not because of what it did, but what it represented. It was the symbol of who he was and what he must become. He knew it, and he was sure as hell Xavier knew it. He made sure he gripped the vial for a moment too long before he let it go. And so it begins, Brother, Xavier said, confirming it in his mind.
It was the biggest cold shower to his senses. ‘There’s no need,’ he said, but his voice came out gruff and barely audible.
‘Give it to her anyway. Remember what Keenan said: twelve hours apart and make sure she has all three.’
JJ looked his brother in the eye and they stood in some weird stand-off for a full minute, both assessing the other to question if they both registered the importance of that exact moment. It was where they both let go of being kids and became men and took up the mantel of their destiny. Neither could fight it. It was always going to come and there would be casualties. Many.
‘Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?’ Latitia said, finally making him swallow and break his stare.
For a moment, JJ thought Xavier would open his mouth to speak, but then he read the unspoken no in his eyes. He merely nodded and left them to it.
JJ waited until he’d completely left the room and felt weirdly bereft. As if the brother he’d grown up and known his whole life had just walked out of his life, never to return. It was the strangest, gut-wrenching feeling. He wished he could have had at least one of his fathers there to talk to about it.
Latitia touched his arm and he looked down into her searching eyes. She was oblivious to what just went on between them, but knew something had happened. He snapped himself out of it and handed her the vial. ‘Take it,’ he said.
She looked at it and pulled a face as if it was contaminated or something. ‘I’m not drinking that. What is it, anyway?’
