pressed for a real answer.
“Ibrahima, I wish I knew. Maybe I’ve been working too hard.”
He laughed openly, his melodic laughter filling the old warehouse. “Beau, you always work too hard.”
He had me there.
I did like to burn the midnight oil. I needed it. Otherwise, I would go crazy.
“So what is it?” he asked in that rich voice of his.
His piercing gaze was unflinching as I debated what to say. “All right, it’s a girl...a woman, now.”
He cocked his head backward in disbelief. “A woman? You’ve never talked about a woman before.”
“I know. Believe me, after her, I decided I would never sacrifice my heart again.”
“She hurt you bad, huh?”
He didn’t know the half of it. “Man, she was my first. I loved her so hard, and then she broke my heart for no good reason. To this day, I still don’t know why she broke up with me. Everything was going good, man; and then poof she turns to me one day and says it’s over. She just about did me in.”
“So what does that have to do with today?”
“Everything. I just saw her at a party and I can’t get her out of my head.”
He nodded. “Ah, I see. Old wounds surfacing. Have you talked to her since you saw her at the party?”
“No. I just don’t think I can control myself around her. I want to either kill her or kiss her. All I know is I want her to suffer.”
“Whoa, she’s definitely messed you up, man.”
“You could say that.”
“So, what happens when you punish her? What’s next?”
I wiped my head with a towel. “I don’t know...I just want to make her hurt.”
“Ah, Beau. Nothing good comes from wanting to hurt another.”
“Maybe, but I can’t see past what she did to me.”
“I understand. But maybe you don’t have the whole picture. Do you even know her side of the story?”
“What side? She didn’t want to be with me. She made sure I walked away. But man, when I saw her again, she looked as good as she did twenty years ago when I still loved her.”
“When you still loved her? Are you telling me you’re over her?”
I shook my head fiercely in denial. “No, I don’t think I’ll ever be over her. I just can’t get over how much she still affects me after all these years.”
“So, shouldn’t you talk to her and see if you can put a peaceful lid on the past?”
“Nah, not interested.”
He nodded, his fierce gaze shadowed with doubt. “There is still time for you to come to your senses. But for now, let us continue our workout.”
“All right. What’s next?” I asked, hopping up.
“Hit the speed bag and I want you to practice the combination jab, cross hook. Mix it up, though. Let it come naturally, like you’re in the ring.”
“Got it.”
“Are you ready for your match?” he asked as I stepped in front of the speed bag.
“Yeah, I am. I love preparing for a fight.” Every once in a while I climbed into the octagon and conquered my demons.
I went at it for another couple of hours, clearing my mind and planning my next steps with Marla. I heard what Ibrahima said, but I didn’t care. I wanted her to feel my influence over her life.
I got out my cell phone and dialed my head of security as I left training. “How’s it going, Mitch? Got anything yet?” I asked as soon as he answered.
“Still working on it, boss. But I can tell you, she owns a salon called Casa Oshun.”
I immediately had an idea. “Perfect. Listen, I need you to put a bug in the ear of Jim McGovern down at the state health department. I need a favor.”
“You got it, boss. What do you want me to tell him?”
“Tell him there are some major problems at Marla’s salon. Tell him to put it on notice that it is in danger of being shut down.”
“Any particular reason?” Mitch asked.
“Just make it unpleasant… how about something unsanitary?”
That would get under Marla’s skin.
“Okay, will do,” he told me.
“Let me know when it’s done.”
“On it.”
I could never do anything
“Ibrahima, I wish I knew. Maybe I’ve been working too hard.”
He laughed openly, his melodic laughter filling the old warehouse. “Beau, you always work too hard.”
He had me there.
I did like to burn the midnight oil. I needed it. Otherwise, I would go crazy.
“So what is it?” he asked in that rich voice of his.
His piercing gaze was unflinching as I debated what to say. “All right, it’s a girl...a woman, now.”
He cocked his head backward in disbelief. “A woman? You’ve never talked about a woman before.”
“I know. Believe me, after her, I decided I would never sacrifice my heart again.”
“She hurt you bad, huh?”
He didn’t know the half of it. “Man, she was my first. I loved her so hard, and then she broke my heart for no good reason. To this day, I still don’t know why she broke up with me. Everything was going good, man; and then poof she turns to me one day and says it’s over. She just about did me in.”
“So what does that have to do with today?”
“Everything. I just saw her at a party and I can’t get her out of my head.”
He nodded. “Ah, I see. Old wounds surfacing. Have you talked to her since you saw her at the party?”
“No. I just don’t think I can control myself around her. I want to either kill her or kiss her. All I know is I want her to suffer.”
“Whoa, she’s definitely messed you up, man.”
“You could say that.”
“So, what happens when you punish her? What’s next?”
I wiped my head with a towel. “I don’t know...I just want to make her hurt.”
“Ah, Beau. Nothing good comes from wanting to hurt another.”
“Maybe, but I can’t see past what she did to me.”
“I understand. But maybe you don’t have the whole picture. Do you even know her side of the story?”
“What side? She didn’t want to be with me. She made sure I walked away. But man, when I saw her again, she looked as good as she did twenty years ago when I still loved her.”
“When you still loved her? Are you telling me you’re over her?”
I shook my head fiercely in denial. “No, I don’t think I’ll ever be over her. I just can’t get over how much she still affects me after all these years.”
“So, shouldn’t you talk to her and see if you can put a peaceful lid on the past?”
“Nah, not interested.”
He nodded, his fierce gaze shadowed with doubt. “There is still time for you to come to your senses. But for now, let us continue our workout.”
“All right. What’s next?” I asked, hopping up.
“Hit the speed bag and I want you to practice the combination jab, cross hook. Mix it up, though. Let it come naturally, like you’re in the ring.”
“Got it.”
“Are you ready for your match?” he asked as I stepped in front of the speed bag.
“Yeah, I am. I love preparing for a fight.” Every once in a while I climbed into the octagon and conquered my demons.
I went at it for another couple of hours, clearing my mind and planning my next steps with Marla. I heard what Ibrahima said, but I didn’t care. I wanted her to feel my influence over her life.
I got out my cell phone and dialed my head of security as I left training. “How’s it going, Mitch? Got anything yet?” I asked as soon as he answered.
“Still working on it, boss. But I can tell you, she owns a salon called Casa Oshun.”
I immediately had an idea. “Perfect. Listen, I need you to put a bug in the ear of Jim McGovern down at the state health department. I need a favor.”
“You got it, boss. What do you want me to tell him?”
“Tell him there are some major problems at Marla’s salon. Tell him to put it on notice that it is in danger of being shut down.”
“Any particular reason?” Mitch asked.
“Just make it unpleasant… how about something unsanitary?”
That would get under Marla’s skin.
“Okay, will do,” he told me.
“Let me know when it’s done.”
“On it.”
I could never do anything
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