This Time for Real by Yahrah St. John Page A

again.
    â€œMalik, what’s going on?” Andrew kept a firm grasp around Malik’s arms. He hadn’t seen Malik act this way since his youth, when he’d been an angry and distant young man. Back then, he’d been prone to getting into fights with the center’s youth for no apparent reason. The only person that had been able to talk any sense into him back then had been Andrew. What had changed?
    â€œThis is the bastard that beat up me and my mother!” Malik shouted. “And I want him out of here now, or I swear, Andrew, I’m going to hurt him. And hurt him bad.”
    Andrew turned to the man who was still holding histhroat. “I ought to sue you for assault,” Joe growled in Malik’s face.
    â€œTry it!” Malik took a menacing step towards Joe.
    â€œYou need to take hold of that young man.” Joe clutched his throat. “He’s out of control. I came here today to help. I offered to renovate this center free of charge and he attacked me without cause.”
    â€œOh, I’m sure he had cause, Mr. Johnson.” Andrew was well aware of who he was.
    â€œHow do you know my name?”
    â€œYour reputation precedes you,” Andrew stated. “I think it’s best if you go. Leave your name and number with the receptionist and we’ll review your offer.”
    â€œThank you.” Joe bowed his head, then sauntered over to Loretta, scribbled his info and quickly left the building.
    Once he was no longer within range, Andrew released Malik.
    â€œWhat did you say that for?” Malik asked, turning around and confronting Andrew. He had no right to speak for the center.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œYou said we’d review his offer,” Malik replied. “When hell freezes over!”
    â€œMalik, you’ve been looking for sponsors for months now, and the CAN board has already turned you down. Perhaps Joe is here to right the wrongs he’s done.”
    Malik ran his fingers through his dreads. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Andrew of all people should understand Malik’s anger because he’d been on the receiving end of it during his adolescence. “That’s bull and you know it, Andrew. Joe only cares about himself and what’s in it for him. I will not let that man anywhere near this center, so he can terrorize innocent women and children. I swear if he comes in here again, I’ll…”
    Andrew grabbed Malik by the arm and pushed him towards the door. “Let’s talk outside.”
    â€œI don’t have anything else to say.” Malik snatched his arm away and stormed off. “The subject is closed,” he shouted over his shoulder. Seconds later the swinging double doors closed behind him.
    Â 
    â€œYou did what?” Malik asked later that night when he and Peyton were snuggled on her couch watching movies and eating popcorn. He pushed away and looked at her like she had suddenly arrived from Mars. “What were you thinking, going to that area by yourself?”
    He’d already had a hard enough day seeing Joe Johnson after twenty years, he didn’t need to hear that the woman he was seeing was putting herself in harm’s way unnecessarily.
    â€œI was trying to help my student,” Peyton said, defending her actions. She didn’t care for Malik’s tone. “Or at least I thought I was. But then her boyfriend came bursting in all big and bad. That’s when I knew I’d made a gross miscalculation, so I retreated.”
    â€œPeyton, you should never have put yourself in that situation to begin with. It was dangerous. If you think her boyfriend is capable of hitting Kendra, imagine what he could have done to you? You’ve put yourself smack dab in the middle of a volatile situation…” Malik hugged Peyton close. The thought that something could have happened to her made him feel powerless and he hated that feeling. He felt as