Two Tribes, page 7
part #1 of Young Atlanteans Series
The mission, though accomplished, felt hollow. Xavier was watching him coolly. JJ covered it by laughing on an exhale, but there was no real mirth. He satisfied himself that the equilibrium was restored with Latitia at arm’s length. There was no point in letting anyone close, because when he went down, they would most definitely be dragged down with him.
* * *
Later that evening, while Alexia was on the phone to their younger brothers, getting the news from home, JJ managed to get a minute alone with Xavier in the bedroom. ‘What have I missed?’ he asked, flopping down on his bunk.
Xavier climbed the ladder to his bunk, while the bed complained with a creak. ‘Not a lot. Alexia is getting too close to Dwayne. She sloped off to lunch with him today.’
JJ sighed, put his hands behind his head and absorbed the information. He weighed up all the angles, the pros and the cons. It probably wasn’t a good idea for her to get close to anyone, any more than it was for him. But he was also aware that Xavier was far too protective of her. If he didn’t start letting her breathe, they could have more to worry about than Dwayne. He was OK and at least someone they knew. ‘Dwayne’s not so bad,’ he said, thinking aloud.
‘Are you insane? He can’t keep her safe,’ Xavier spat, leaning over the side of the bunk to glare at him.
‘You gotta let her have a life, Xav. She’ll only fight you … surely better the devil you have half a chance to control,’ he finished wearily.
Xavier relaxed back down in his bed and was silent. It went on for so long that JJ thought he was actually considering what he’d said.
‘No one’s coming for us, JJ,’ he said, eventually.
JJ didn’t answer right away. The penny had finally dropped for Xavier. Their fathers were determined they would have to change and grow up and they were completely alone there. It suddenly made sense why Xavier was holding on to Alexia more tightly. ‘I know,’ he said. The conversation he’d just had with Valarie went through his mind again and the way he’d savagely cut off Latitia. He closed his eyes, hating himself. ‘This is our life now, Xav. We’ve got to find our way here. Gotta get used to it.’
JJ felt the bed shake as Xavier angrily turned on his side. ‘It’s OK for you. You’re the blue-eyed boy with Valarie, the one who saved the day. And it’s only a matter of time with Latitia.’
JJ let out a blast of air. ‘Noooo, not going there.’
Xavier didn’t answer. He was quitting while he was ahead, knowing something had changed, and didn’t push it. JJ was grateful; he immediately deflected the conversation. ‘There must be someone you have your eye on?’ JJ said, putting his forearm across his eyes. Xavier was the more conventional and serious out of the two of them, but he was a good-looking kid and got just as many girls interested in him as he did.
The silence that followed went on a moment too long to have nothing of interest. He dropped the arm from his eyes. ‘Well?’
‘There is this one girl.’
JJ smiled. He’d kept that quiet. ‘Who?’
‘I don’t know her name. I managed to knock her dinner all down her today,’ Xavier said, not able to keep the laughter out of his voice.
JJ grinned. ‘Nice … made sure you’re on her radar then.’
They both laughed, just like when they were kids, getting into trouble over something.
‘Yes. I guess she won’t forget me.’
JJ stopped laughing. ‘Make the most of it, Xav,’ he said, more to himself. Latitia came into his mind again. He squashed it instantly, not sure why she was bugging him.
Xavier misread the silence for him plotting one of their games. ‘Keep your bloody hands off, JJ.’
He laughed. ‘Get a move on then, brah … I’m getting bored.’ He wasn’t sure what made him say that – probably because it was their usual MO. But he had no real desire to steal Xavier’s girl.
He felt Xavier shift in the bed. ‘She’s mine.’
It gave JJ pause for thought though. Xavier must really like this one.
Let the games begin …
CHAPTER 8
Xavier got a call from his father, Dante, at around 5 p.m. He looked at Caller ID, composed himself and put his phone to his ear. ‘Dad?’
‘How’s it going, Son?’ the soft Irish voice said.
Anger suddenly surged through him as he thought of his father sitting back at his desk at Ballygowan castle, lounging on his secret private island of Filfla or lazing in one of his Italian villas, while he lived out of a suitcase and had to queue for the shower. ‘How do you think it’s going?’ he huffed, swearing under his breath, as there was literally not a single room to go to for privacy.
‘You’re up next,’ Valarie said, nodding towards the bathroom door as he slipped outside the flat to talk.
‘OK, you’ve made your point,’ Xavier hissed through his teeth. ‘When are you going to pick us up?’
There was no smile in his father’s voice when he said on a weary exhale, ‘There will be no pickup, Xavier. You need to learn, as the crown prince, that this is what it’s like for most people your age. You need to understand and walk in their shoes if you’re going to be any sort of leader.’
The reasonableness of it made Xavier want to smash his phone before he got another of his father’s ridiculous life lessons. ‘You’ll wish you listened when one of us winds up dead in a crack den, or Alexia gets pregnant, or JJ’s up for murder.’
There followed a satisfactory beat of silence while he waited for Dante to take in what he said, then he realized that his father was trying not to laugh, when he could no longer hold it in. He quickly coughed and composed himself. ‘Then you’ll have an awful lot of explaining to do, won’t you, Son. If you’re to rule a nation, you are going to have to find a way to keep your own family out of trouble. I wasn’t much older than you when I won the crown.’
Xavier wanted to scream at him that their family was hardly conventional, but he thought better of it. There was a tightness in his father’s voice that told him there was no bending him and he wouldn’t help his case. The more he pulled against him, the tighter the restraints would get. So instead, he changed tack, trying to keep the emotion out of his voice. ‘So, do we get to come home for a visit?’
‘The end of term. You can come home for the holidays.’
‘Where’s Mum. I want to speak to her.’ As he said the words, moodily, he already knew the answer. She wouldn’t be allowed to plead their case. She was too soft where her children were concerned and his father’s weakness, so he would only allow it once they’d settled into their new life. So he wasn’t at all surprised when his father said she was busy. ‘So, I’ll say goodbye. Jay wants a word,’ he said as his parting words.
Xavier slumped against the wall and nodded, even though no one could see. It wasn’t unusual for him to speak to JJ’s father. Both had had an input in their upbringing. And weirdly, despite Jay’s hardball reputation, he often found it easier to talk to him. Maybe it was a ploy and they had a good-cop bad-cop thing going on, but, most likely, it was always so near a nerve with his own father. Jay seemed to instinctively give him the distance to open up. As soon as he heard Jay’s clear British accent, it all came pouring out.
‘My father is impossible. He’s lost his mind,’ Xavier said, immediately.
‘Is it really that bad, Xav? You’re away from home with all the freedoms someone your age could want. Do you really want to go back to boarding school?’
Said like that, Jay, annoyingly, had a point. Although he was trying to tie him in knots and deliberately skating over the issue, Jay was, indeed, a skilled negotiator. Tears of frustration welled in Xavier’s eyes and he turned to the wall to hide them. However, Jay seemed to cut through it all with the soft reasonableness of his voice. ‘I need you to be the big brother you have always been to JJ, Xav. I know how hard he can be.’
Xavier sniffed, mildly placated. The fact Jay understood, seemed to help. ‘He makes it too hard, sometimes,’ he said, gaining a little confidence. ‘He’s hellbent on going his own way and he drags Alexia with him. They constantly back each other up.’
He heard the smile in Jay’s voice, as if he could completely imagine what it must be like. ‘But you handle it better than anyone I know, Xav.’
Xavier sunk against the wall, defeated. He was right. He did. ‘I wish my father thought that.’
‘Trust me. He does. More than you think.’
Xavier let out a deep breath and nodded. As usual, Jay had restored his equilibrium. Part of him knew it was clever manipulation on Jay’s part, but another knew Jay would kill for him, literally, too.
His next words gave him more comfort than anything. ‘Seriously though, Xav. If you need anything; if you get into any trouble at all, you can call me, OK? I’ve arranged my schedule so I’m in London for the rest of the school term.’
It was a huge relief to know. ‘Thanks, Jay,’ Xavier said and ended the call.
He walked back into the flat thinking deeply about what both his fathers had said, and the difference between the calls. He went back into the bedroom and flashed angry eyes at JJ lounging on his bed. He grabbed his towel and wash things, needing the bathroom as the only place in the whole flat to escape to.
* * *
JJ’s phone rang and by the look in Xavier’s eyes and his hasty retreat, he’d already spoken to their fathers. He reached over for it on the chest of drawers and Jay flashed on the display. He stared at his phone, momentarily debating whether to ignore it. However, he knew if he didn’t answer, his father would turn up for a visit and not in a good way. He knew he loved him, but he took nobody’s shit, least of all from his son. ‘Dad?’ he said.
‘JJ, Valarie said you had a migraine,’ his father’s clear, direct voice said immediately.
It was no surprise that Valarie would give his father regular updates. He wondered if she’d been as upfront about the debt collectors. He quickly hedged that she had and opted for honesty. ‘Yeah, I lost it, but I’m OK now.’
‘And you dealt with the situation?’
‘I think so. He wasn’t dead.’ JJ frowned. It was a completely bizarre conversation to be having in any walk of life, let alone with a father. He could almost hear the cogs of his father’s mind working, thinking of possible witnesses and getting rid of bodies, rather than a teenager’s emotional stability.
Jay answered with a simple, ‘Well done.’ Then surprised him by suddenly asking, ‘Are you happy?’
JJ was so taken aback, all he could say was, ‘I guess,’ before he could think too deeply about whether or not it was true. And for a moment it shocked him, because, for the first time in a very long while, he guessed he was relaxed. ‘The people are OK.’ He stood up and began to undress for his shower, still a little troubled by the revelation. ‘Dad?’
‘Yes, Son?’
JJ put his head into the hallway to check Xavier was still in there. He’d be coming out soon and he didn’t want to miss his slot. ‘How’s Mum?’ It felt like a lifetime since he had spoken to her.
‘She’s fine.’
There was a distinct thawing in Jay’s voice at the mention of his mother. It had been a long time since they’d been a couple and his father was married to someone else, but there would always be a bond between them no one else shared. It had been a source of comfort for him growing up in such a strange household.
‘Does she know where we are?’
‘Yes, she does.’ The amusement was evident in his voice; he could never hide it where his mother was concerned. ‘She’s under armed guard at Dante’s orders.’
JJ laughed and Jay laughed along with him. Both knew she would be furious. Otherwise she would have been straight there, causing mayhem and ruining Dante’s idea of discipline. He could so imagine the conversation between the two of them. Talking about his mother left them on a good note. ‘Listen, Dad, I have to get in the shower. It’s a military operation to get a turn here.’
Jay laughed easily. ‘I’m proud of you, Son. Don’t make it too hard for Xavier, OK?’
JJ grinned. He was left looking at the Call Ended message on the phone. He put it down with sigh, finished undressing and tied a towel around his waist.
‘JJ!’ Valarie shouted. ‘Next up!’
JJ snatched open the door before someone jumped in his place, straight into the path of Latitia coming out of her room. Her eyes widened and dropped to his bare chest in shock.
* * *
Latitia slammed into the warm honey skin-covered muscle with an ‘Oomph’.
‘Sorry,’ JJ said, catching her by the elbows and searching her eyes, concerned.
She wanted to swear at him to look where he was going when she was caught off guard by the depth of aquamarine in his eyes. Who the hell has eyes like that?
Then, remembering who it was and the harshness of their last conversation, she took a hasty step back. She felt strangely cold after the warm comfort of his body. Her eyes dropped to the bare skin of his chest. He was half naked, except for a towel hanging low on his hips.
However, it wasn’t just the trim athlete’s physique that held her attention, it was the array of black and grey tattoos that covered his chest and abdomen. She counted five in all, looking remarkably like intricate coats of arms, in wrought-iron curls and flourishes. Then, as he secured his towel, it drew her eye to those golden bangles around his wrists. They were intriguing in that they seemed impossible to get off.
Her mouth had gone sandpaper dry when she looked into his eyes again. He was still waiting for a signal that she was OK. ‘You’re sixteen. It’s illegal for you to have all those,’ she blurted, pointing to his chest. It was lame and uncool, but seeing him without clothes seemed to render her senseless. He made her angry and confused. Feel things she had no business to feel and she realized she was shaking and had a pain in the pit of her stomach.
However, he seemed completely at ease. ‘Not where I’m from,’ he said, softly.
There was a moment, when their eyes held each other’s, that lasted a lifetime and was over too quickly. You knew it meant something, but you couldn’t exactly say what it was. But they had one. There and then in the cluttered hallway, with kids’ toys strewn all over the floor and music blaring from the living room.
Then the bathroom door opened, Xavier walked out in a cloud of steam and the moment vanished. JJ dropped his eyes and, just for a second, she thought he would say something. Instead, he nodded, went straight in and closed the door.
She simply looked at Xavier, dazed. He was grinning. His apple-green eyes were alive with amusement, as if he was very aware of what had just passed between them. His skin was wet, painting his tanned skin with a sheen. He was beautiful, and it made her heart sink in defeat. The gods had truly sent these boys as a test or punishment or something. He was a couple of inches taller than JJ, but muscular, toned and tattooed. He had just one, over his heart; exactly the same design and placing as one of JJ’s. His wrists were bare. No bangles on him.
She suddenly became aware that it was obvious she was ogling him, but before she could turn away, and make for her room, he took a dangerous step closer. He was so close she could see the droplets of water dripping onto his chest from the curls of his black hair. He stared down at her, smiling, testing what she would do. ‘What do you want?’ she said, but her voice came out a croak.
His grin widened and he searched her eyes. ‘Still deciding,’ he eventually said. Then he laughed, stepped back and as he went go into his room, she got a clear view of the crown and spread eagle wings across his back.
Then, just before he disappeared, she called, ‘The one on your chest … the one that’s the same as JJ’s. What does it mean?’
Xavier turned in the doorway, still grinning. ‘It’s my family crest: Dubonnetti.’
Latitia frowned.
The smile suddenly disappeared from his face and he began closing the door.
‘But JJ has five,’ she persisted, unsure why it felt so important.
He shook his head as the door closed, ‘Ask lover boy.’
* * *
Alexia was falling in love with Dwayne. She knew it because she took every opportunity to look for him and the cramped accommodations she’d loathed began to seem quaint and charmingly homely. She noticed the arresting colour of his deep brown eyes, the softness of the voice he reserved for her and the rich dark-brown colour of his skin. How his neck sloped kissably into his shoulders, how his defined pecs met ribbed abs and tapered into a narrow waist and strong legs. He was built far more solidly and manly than either of her brothers.
Alexia was even getting used to their routine. They left every morning at eight after he took care of the little ones, washing and dressing them, while Latitia and Richie tidied so their mother could do an early shift or sleep in if she’d been on lates. Every night he’d insist on doing homework at the dining table before getting distracted by making dinner and bathing the little ones. He did it all, encouraged her to do the same and never seemed moody like her brothers did all the time. By day four and five of walking to school, he was openly holding her hand.
It was no surprise Xavier noticed immediately and his face darkened like thunder. She was ready for it and had warned Dwayne. He let go of her hand for her to walk first through the school metal detectors, but it was JJ who met him on the other side. She held her breath while they stood nose to nose. It struck her that JJ wasn’t much taller and they could stand eye to eye. Xavier watched curiously while JJ stared him down. A crowd began to gather as if there was going to be a fight, but there was no shoving or shouting. The conversation was internal; JJ was scanning him for his motive and intentions. It was not cool. Her brothers had to stop running her life as if they were her fathers.
She watched nervously as Dwayne didn’t step down. She prayed JJ was being gentle. Beads of sweat were forming on Dwayne’s brow. A full scan could be painful, especially for a human. Then, without warning, JJ stepped back and she could finally breathe.
