War, page 3
“Then let it be War,” Bianca tugged at the wide sleeves of her cherry-red sweater and leaned closer to the table. “He’s no stranger to this kind of fight,” she added.
Seela knew her cousin spoke the facts. The woman had made an early mission of uncovering as much as she could about the members of all the families who had played a role in the brandings. She was especially interested in Warwick, Frayzer, and Zyon given their romantic involvement with her cousins.
There wasn’t much to uncover at first. Following the brandings, Binta Hammond made it her mission to have all the boys removed from the island for the remainder of their schooling. Like many of the young men of the island, Fray, Zy, and War had gone on to do great things. They eventually took over the running of the northern arm of the island’s company New Corp. Of the three, War had taken on outside interests involving a role with some kind of paramilitary group. Given the nature of their activities, and the fact that War’s last name was Noble, Bianca had immediately assumed he was up to no good. She made plans to take him down.
Seela’s intervention was all that stayed her cousin’s hand. Bianca held back but maintained a close eye on War’s extracurricular interests. In the years that followed, she saw that he and his team were far from the hellraisers she’d first labeled them to be. It turned out that they were up to something good. Good, although the shadow of vigilantism maintained an undeniable presence.
“Some would say I’m no different than War, now.”
“Seel-”
“I know, I know,” Seela waved to acknowledge the warning element in Bianca’s tone. Her cousin had never asked for details regarding her activities nor had she seemed to want them.
“You know,” Bianca began on a deep inhale, “you could be involved with War without getting involved in all the rest,” she rolled her eyes at Seela’s answering look.
“There are many reasons I don’t give you grief over what you do, Seel. The fact that you operate in a way that keeps you shielded is one of those reasons. But this, taking down Warwick’s brothers- you want to be on the front lines. You can’t be on the front lines of this, Seel.”
“But B,” Seela leaned closer to the table until the edge nudged her ribs. “What if that’s the only way to take them down?”
“Greg and Stan can really put it away. Especially when the cookin’ is as good as Mama’s. She’s not too upset about having them stay, is she?”
“You kiddin’? Not one bit,” deep amusement livened Lincoln Noble’s handsome, lightly bearded face as he thought of his wife of 43 years. “The woman’s cookin’ up a storm and looks like she’s havin’ a ball doin’ it. She needs a change of pace, anyway. There’s only so much messin’ around we can do with all the privacy we got now.”
“Pop,” War closed his eyes while working his fingers across the bridge of his nose. “Why do you insist on putting that kind of stuff in my head?”
Lincoln Noble’s vibrant laughter rang out again and he clapped his son’s shoulder. “Val’s tickled to have your guys there. She’d be happier if you joined them, but we understand why you prefer staying closer to this side of the island.”
The words made War frown. “Is she upset that I’m not at home?”
“Nowhere near it,” Lincoln shrugged out of the black trench coat he sported. “We’d love it if Seela was on your arm. Love it, even more, to have her for a daughter-in-law.”
War didn’t share his father’s glee. “Highly improbably that’ll ever happen, Pop.”
“It’s about to happen for your cousins.”
“Yeah...but they’ve got a little thing called history. Seela and I never got a chance with that. What history we had was a nightmare.”
“Maybe this is the place to start changing that,” Lincoln said.
“And I’d love for you to tell me how, Pop? Things...they just get...crazy if we’re in a room together for longer than a little while.” His mind went back to that morning in his strategy room at The Taylor.
“Just ‘cause it’s crazy now, don’t mean it’s gotta stay that way, son. Can’t rightly say not being in a room with Seela Desmond is what you want anyway.”
Before Warwick could make a pitiful attempt to refute that truth, he caught the sly look in his father’s eyes. Suspicious, he followed the man’s gaze to where Seela sat across the nearly empty bistro dining room.
“Apologies for the wait, Mr. Linc.”
“Well hey there, Fran. How’s your daddy and ma?” Lincoln exchanged pleasantries with the Bistro owners’ daughter Fran Clayton.
“All the single dining rooms are free if you need the privacy,” Fran said once the small talk had subsided.
Lincoln looked to War who was fixed on Seela across the main dining room. “I believe my son likes it better out here, Fran.”
“Of course,” Fran dutifully collected menus from behind the tall, dark pine host’s stand. “Right this way,” she instructed.
“Uh-Fran?” Lincoln called, his slightly slanted dark eyes filled with devilry. “If you’d be kind enough to take the menus to our table, we’ll be over there shortly.”
“Pop?” War’s stilted tone was heavy with unease.
“Just gonna go speak,” Lincoln was saying to Fran.
“Pop!” War’s fierce whisper was ignored. He held back all of five seconds before following his father across the generously-sized dining room of The Clayton Bistro.
The eatery was a sought-after destination, especially among mainlanders working along the river bank. The Clayton employed a team of fishermen who kept the spot flush with fresh-caught seafood.
War saw Seela smile when her eyes met his. He returned the gesture albeit tightly. He was still unable to make sense of the disappearing act he’d pulled that morning. All he’d been able to think of was having her close to him, close enough to touch. Then, she was there and doing nothing to stop him from taking what he thought way too much about.
He hadn’t earned the right to that. He wanted it- wanted her without end, but he hadn’t earned the right to it. There was a chance he never would. But, he would damn well try and his low down brothers were the perfect place to start. Until they were out of the way, he couldn’t-shouldn’t dwell on one fantasy he had about Seela Desmond. He couldn’t if given the chance, lose control with her again.
Sounds nice, War. Good luck with that.
Lincoln Noble was already greeting the two, young women at the table. Seela stood and Lincoln pulled her into a side hug.
“Hey Sugar,” Lincoln put a kiss to Seela’s temple while they held the pose, arms looped around each other’s waists. “How’s Sere and that fool, Hayes?”
Seela laughed. “They’re fine- plan to be here by Christmas. How’s Miss Val?”
“Doin’ good. Doin’ good.” Lincoln gave a sage nod. “She’s hoping to see you before you leave,” he added. “And how about you, Miss B? How’s our judge?”
“Good, Mr. Linc. Thanks,” Bianca replied with a dazzling smile.
While the two launched a conversation about Bianca’s family, Seela’s maple gaze connected with War’s onyx-flecked grays. “Hey War,” she said once the chatter had quieted between Lincoln and Bianca.
“Down to the last holidays of the year,” Lincoln noted, once War nodded to Seela’s greeting and had spoken to Bianca. “There’s talk of snow. Y’all believe that? All the way down here on our little island. Been a long time since we’ve seen anything like that.”
“I can believe it, actually,” Bianca said. “Before I moved to Dallas, I never thought they got any and I see more of it there than I ever thought I would.”
“Well, at least there’s no traffic here,” Lincoln said when things quieted down again. “No excuses ‘bout being kept away because of the weather. Miss Seel? Can I tell my Valerie we’ll see you at our place soon? War will see that you get there safe.”
“Uh, Pop-”
“Thanks Mr. Linc, it sounds good,” Seela interjected.
While War looked taken aback, Lincoln Noble beamed his approval and Bianca bowed her head to hide her smile. The men made their exits shortly after.
“Do you know what you’re doin’, Seel?”
“‘Course I don’t,” Seela admitted, and held her head in her hands for a moment. “But if the time I’ve spent here lately has taught me anything, it’s that I’m hiding. Angry, but too afraid to do anything about it.”
“I see,” Bianca settled against the curved, blue cushioned back of her chair. “So, aside from embarking on some vengeance quest, what is it you’re wanting to do?’
Before Seela could respond, Bianca’s smile returned and carried a fair amount of understanding. She looked over to where War and his father sat on the other side of the dining room going through their menus.
“You know, you never really answered when I asked what’s happening with you and War.”
“I told you,” there was a defensive air to Seela’s shrug. “There are plans to take down Jock and Scofield.”
“You know that’s not what I mean. Has something sexual happened between you guys?”
“Jeez, B,” Seela cringed, looking to see if Isaiah was on his way back. She glimpsed her cousin beyond the wide windows lining the corridor that led to the private dining rooms. The man’s phone call was showing no signs of wrapping up.
“When I went to see him about joining the mission...we kissed, alright?”
“Just kissed?” Bianca shamelessly probed.
Seela repeated her defensive shrug. “Pretty much...”
“And? Where do things stand?”
“Wish I knew,” Seela sighed, studying the unused pieces of silverware still lining the table. “He um... he stopped, pulled back... walked away. I didn’t give him any reason to and I-for a minute I thought he was going to apologize for it- for the kiss.”
“And if he had?”
“I don’t want anymore apologies, B. I want...”
Taking pity on her cousin, Bianca nodded. ‘Want’ took on a whole other meaning in the adult vernacular. “Can’t say I blame you.” Again, Bianca looked to the table across the room. “What woman wouldn't want...that. Just remember, Seel. Warwick Noble doesn’t project himself as a man to be played with. Maybe he stopped for your own good.”
The words stung and Seela bristled. “You think I can’t handle him?”
“He’s not the kid you knew, Seel. You keep pressing him, he’s going to want everything- physically. From the way he was just looking at you- everything emotionally too. Guess you need to ask if you’re ready for that- to bare yourself that way.” Bianca leaned in, toyed with the rim of her coffee cup.
“I speak from experience when I say a man who truly loves you will accept nothing less.”
“I hear you,” Seela sent her cousin a grateful smile and then looked across the room to War. “I hear you.”
~3~
The land claimed for New Island was chosen for its location and topography. The treacherous cliffs and strangely stormy climate gave Brock Guthrie and his slave-owning associates hope that it would not be a spot that would attract Union or Confederate soldiers. The hope was that they wouldn’t want to risk time and possible damage to their vessels trying to reach the island in hopes of scavenging for supplies.
New seemed to lead a charmed existence and was somehow spared the ugliness of the war that ripped a nation in half. The island came into its own and the area flourished.
The southern arm of New Corporation was run by Russ and Keene Hammond and Jock and Scofield Noble. The branch was in charge of all matters pertaining to manufacturing, shipping, and personnel.
Russ and Jock liked to...tease that they were the part of the family who actually got their hands dirty during a day’s work. Anyone who heard them share the opinion could sense it wasn’t meant as a tease. There had been the usual sibling rivalries among the younger generations, but only those intimately acquainted with the founding families knew the unrest went far beyond relational angst.
Among the seven who held the highest positions within New Corp, only three were seen as the company’s best hope for maintaining the respect it had cultivated. For some, ruthless betrayal was a way of life in business and family. When Frayzer Guthrie, Zyon Hammond, and Warwick Noble opted not to play the game that way, they drew a distinct line in the sand between themselves and their counterparts for whom it was a religion.
War had taken running the family business with Fray and Zy very seriously. Yet, he’d never lost touch with the acquaintances he’d made in college before going to work with his cousins. What began as an offer to make some quick cash as security detail at the wedding of a college dean’s daughter, became an initiative that was still a key component of his life.
The group, which had claimed twenty in its inaugural unit, had grown to 475 by the time War took it over. His predecessor, Julius Henry was a former Green Beret, turned lawyer who moonlighted as a criminal justice professor. The man thought it a scandal that War wasn’t using his God-given height somewhere on a basketball court.
When the dean, an old friend of Henry’s, asked the man if he had any retired Army contacts looking to make a fast buck off a short-term security job, Henry had a better idea. War wasn’t the only giant milling around campus without a plan. Henry knew several who fit that bill. Besides, the Dean really only wanted some guys to stand around and look intimidating. Henry thought it’d be a safe enough job for the crew he was envisioning. Now, the unit of 475 was over 5000 strong.
“That Seela...still a little beauty,” Lincoln Noble scanned his menu while sharing his opinion.
“We here to discuss my love life, Pop?” War asked, his eyes still on his menu.
“Nope, but such discussions are always worth having between father and son,” the words made the elder Noble bristle. “Your mother and I are O for two. We’re hoping for a better outcome with son number three.”
War couldn’t stifle his laughter. “You and Mama think hitching your wagon to me is a good idea? I can tell you you’re wasting your time if you’re counting on me to win Seela over to your side.”
“Oh, son of mine, I think Seela’s already on our side. Looks like you’re the one on the fence.”
“I can’t talk about this with you,” War tried hard to focus on the bistro selections.
Lincoln Noble was tenacious. “That because you know I’m right?”
Deliberately, War set down the menu. “What do you want from me, Pop? You want to hear me say I miss her- want her back? Well, I can’t ‘cause the truth is I never had her long enough for that to be the case. I never got the chance to show her the good guy. She met the monster first.”
Lincoln’s jaw tensed noticeably and he slammed his menu onto the thick white tablecloth, causing the material to flutter. “You’re not the monster in this, War. You were a scared kid that night- doing what you thought you had to-”
“And why did I think that, Pop?” Warwick snapped, fist drawn atop the table. “I should have done more to save her. I could have done more.”
“We were all scared kids once, Wic,” Lincoln said after a beat, using the nickname only he and his wife shared for their youngest son. “There’s no shame in that,” he went on. “You didn’t have an army at your back then. The only thing a fight would’ve accomplished that night was you and that poor girl being hurt worse than you already were.”
War retrieved his menu. “I’ve got an army at my back now,” he said cooly.
“Great power, great responsibility,” Lincoln returned just as cooly.
“You disapprove,” War said.
“I will if that power turns you into what your brothers have become.”
War grimaced. He had no appetite for all the delectable dishes before his eyes. “Seela thinks I’m that already. Why can’t you and Mama see it?”
“Because it would be a lie, son. And Seela doesn’t think that. Maybe you’d know if you asked her.”
“You weren’t there that night, Pop. You don’t know what I saw when I looked into her eyes while that branding iron...”
“I apologize, son,” Lincoln said as he watched Warwick struggle with the memory. “I don’t mean to make light of the trauma you suffered.”
War winced as if offended. “I didn’t suffer,” he said.
“I disagree,” Lincoln argued. “You were as much a victim that night as Seela was. Wic?” Lincoln pressed, leaning forward to glare at Warwick until their eyes met.
“Son, do you think your size should’ve made a difference that night? It was irrelevant, boy.”
“Pop,” War rubbed the bridge of his nose as his eyes closed in a weary fashion. “I can’t think about having Seela in my life until I fix this. Until those who hurt her, pay for it. I have the resources to make that happen now and I’ll use them. I won’t go too far, but far enough so they can never be a threat to anyone ever again.”
“And you think this is what Seela needs before she can come to you?”
“It’s what I need, Pop.”
“I see,” Lincoln’s mouth curved into a knowing smile amid the white, chin-strap beard adorning his face. “So this is about you and your guilt?”
“Alright,” War owned the accusation.
“This won’t be an easy task, Wic. Do you expect her to wait around ‘til you’re ready?”
“Pop, I’ve been expecting her to be married by now. Expecting her to wait...” he swiped at a lock that had escaped the low ponytail he sported. “I can’t even imagine that. Don’t get me wrong, Pop. I want See-See on my arm as much as you and Mama do. I don’t know if I’ll get that, but I’ll make damn sure Jock and Sco pay- whatever it takes.”
“As long as you consider the price you may have to pay for that to happen.”
“Don’t worry, Pop. As bad as I want them, I won’t sacrifice everything to do it,” War looked over to where Seela sat now talking to her cousins Isaiah and Bianca Desmond. He thought back to the offer Seela had made that morning to help. Silently, he applauded his denial.
***
Linton, Virginia~
Located between the counties of Highland and Bath, Linton was one of the 41 independent cities in the United States. Similar to Washington, D.C., another Independent City, Linton didn’t belong to a county. Unlike other Independent Cities in Virginia, however, it had never functioned as a County Seat for nearby areas. Another distinction of Linton was that it was rumored to have been settled by a black family during The Reconstruction.
