Chapter 7: The Brother Nobody Knew Existed
I stared at the photograph in Samuel's hand.
Darius was standing beside Malik's hospital bed, holding a newborn baby wrapped in a blue blanket. Malik looked exhausted, but his eyes were fixed on the child.
I recognized the hospital room.
It was the same hospital where Malik had been pronounced dead.
I looked at Samuel.
"What is this?""
Samuel stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
"His name is Jordan.""
I glanced at my mother.
She was standing beside the sofa, gripping her cane so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
"Mom?""
She lowered her eyes.
Samuel placed the photograph on the coffee table.
"Your brother had another son. A child he kept hidden because he knew somebody would use him against the family.""
Renee shook her head.
"Malik never told me he had another child.""
"He couldn't," Samuel replied.
"Not without putting the boy in danger.""
I picked up the photograph.
"When was this taken?""
"Three weeks before Malik died.""
I looked at Darius.
"Why was he holding the baby?""
Samuel's expression hardened.
"Because Darius was the one who helped Malik find him.""
I immediately thought about the message on Malik's phone.
If something happens to me, don't trust Darius.
"Then why did Malik warn me about him?""
Samuel pulled out a chair.
"Because Darius had made a deal with Victor.""
Renee stepped forward.
"What kind of deal?""
"Victor promised Darius control of Black Crown in exchange for helping him locate the evidence Raymond left behind.""
I shook my head.
"You're telling me Darius betrayed Malik?""
"I'm telling you Darius made a terrible decision. But he didn't know Victor planned to kill Malik.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Convenient story.""
Samuel didn't react.
"Malik discovered the arrangement. He confronted Darius and gave him one opportunity to prove where his loyalty belonged.""
"And Darius chose Victor?""
"No. He chose Malik. But Victor had already gotten what he wanted.""
My mother finally spoke.
"Samuel, stop protecting him.""
Samuel turned toward her.
"I'm not protecting anyone.""
"You've been doing that for twenty years!""
She pointed at the photograph.
"Tell Andre why that baby was born.""
Samuel looked down.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Jordan is Darius's son.""
Nobody moved.
Renee covered her mouth.
I looked at the photograph again.
"You're saying Malik was raising Darius's child?""
"Not raising him. Protecting him.""
Samuel explained that Jordan's mother had been a woman named Tasha who had died shortly after giving birth. Before her death, she had left Malik a letter explaining that Victor was searching for the child.
Jordan's existence threatened Victor because the boy's birth mother had been keeping documents connecting Victor to an old financial scheme.
Malik had taken responsibility for protecting the baby.
Darius had helped him.
Then Victor discovered the arrangement.
"Where is Jordan now?"" I demanded.
Samuel looked at Darius's photograph.
"With someone Malik trusted.""
"Who?""
Samuel didn't answer.
My mother suddenly reached into her pocket and removed a small photograph.
It showed a woman holding a baby outside a church.
I recognized the woman.
She was standing in the front row at Malik's funeral.
Her name was Denise.
She had been Renee's closest friend for years.
"Where is she?"" I asked.
Renee pulled out her phone.
"She said she was taking Jordan to her sister's house.""
Samuel grabbed her wrist.
"Don't call her.""
Renee stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because Victor has been watching her.""
My mother moved toward the window.
A black sedan was parked across the street.
Its headlights were off.
I immediately pulled the curtains closed.
"Everybody away from the windows.""
Trey clutched the microSD card.
"Is that Victor?""
Samuel looked at the street.
"No.""
He reached into his coat and pulled out another photograph.
It showed a younger man standing beside Victor.
The man's face was partly hidden, but his eyes were unmistakable.
They were Darius's eyes.
I looked up.
"Who is that?""
Samuel answered.
"Your brother's right-hand man has been hiding something much bigger than a deal with Victor.""
Before I could ask another question, Renee's phone rang.
Denise.
Renee answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
A woman's frightened voice came through the speaker.
"Renee, listen to me. Somebody followed us.""
"Where's Jordan?""
"He's safe, but I found something in the baby's bag.""
"What?""
"A birth certificate. And another document with Malik's signature.""
Renee looked at me.
Denise continued.
"Malik didn't just protect Jordan. He legally named him as the person who would inherit something.""
"What did he inherit?""
There was a crash.
Then Denise screamed.
The call went dead.
Renee nearly dropped her phone.
I grabbed my keys.
"We're going.""
Samuel stepped in front of me.
"Wait. You're walking into exactly what Victor wants.""
I pushed him aside.
"That's my nephew.""
Trey stood up.
"Uncle Andre, I'm coming.""
"No.""
"He's my brother!""
I looked at him.
He had Malik's stubborn eyes.
I knew there was no convincing him.
Before we reached the door, my phone vibrated.
A message from Darius.
*I KNOW WHERE JORDAN IS. BUT IF YOU WANT HIM ALIVE, COME ALONE.*
I showed Samuel.
He stared at the message for several seconds.
Then he whispered:
"He's already there.""
"Who?""
Samuel looked toward the street.
"Victor.""
And just as I turned toward the door, my mother grabbed my arm.
"Andre, before you go, there's one thing you need to know about Darius.""
May you like
She swallowed.
"He's not the man you think he is. He's the reason your father was murdered.""
