Sighing, he unlocked his Ford Mustang and slid behind the wheel. MJ had been the star of his dreams since they’d met at his buddy’s cookout last year. Despite her masculine name, Michael was all woman, with dangerous curves he wanted to ride like the wind. And those expressive brown eyes. Sometimes, he’d just stare at her to watch the golden flecks in them. MJ’s dimples were another reason why he’d always tried to make the caramel beauty smile.
But she had wanted to keep things light. Normally, he’d be all for that, but something about MJ made him look for more. Was his gran right about it being time to settle down?
When he arrived at his security firm in the heart of downtown Atlanta, he focused on the breakdown in coverage at a concert his firm was providing security for where a deadly shooting had happened. He needed answers and someone was going to lose their job today. Jamal prided himself and his company on keeping people safe. His reputation wasn’t going to be sullied by people not doing their jobs. And then there was always the possibility of a lawsuit.
Better call Brent after this meeting, he thought. Jamal walked into the conference room and looked around at his staff. Three of the men had been with him for a decade, and two of the guys had come highly recommended from his marine buddy, Walter Ramirez.
“What in the hell happened last night?” Jamal demanded.
“J,” Harry Mancini began, “I was in charge last night and I take full responsibility for what happened. Around twelve thirty, the crowd started clearing out and I let two of the guys go home. Then the rest of us had to do security detail for the talent. We had no idea that there had been an argument.”
“How did a weapon get on the premises? We were supposed to be checking cars as well! Did you guys not pat folks down?” Jamal asked, disappointed that he was going to have to let Harry go. But he’d dropped the ball big-time.
“We were, but...”
“No buts, Harry. What happened last night was unacceptable and you were in charge. A life was lost. I have no choice but to let you go.”
Gasps filled the room, but Jamal wasn’t finished. “The rest of you are off duty until further notice. I can’t have people on my team who don’t follow the rules. We’re the First Line of Defense and last night we were worse than rent-a-cops.”
Harry rose to his feet and headed for the door. “Jamal, I’m sorry about what happened, but these guys don’t deserve this punishment.”
“And that’s not your choice to make.”
Jamal waited for the men to file out of the room before he dropped his head on the table. What he did had to be done but it still wasn’t easy to do. Pulling out his cell phone, he called Brent.
“What’s up, Jamal?” Brent asked when he answered.
“I’m in trouble,” Jamal began. “Or potentially in trouble.”
“What’s her name?”
“Bruh, this is serious. First Line of Defense was the security company at that concert over the weekend.”
“Oh, shit. And people are talking about suing you already?”
“No, but it’s only a matter of time. This is America and after the tragedy comes the lawsuit.”
“Yeah, but they will probably go after the promoter and the artist first. That’s where the money is.”
“Still, my guys failed to do their job and I feel responsible.”
“Don’t say that to anyone else. I know you take your job seriously and you have an impeccable reputation, but you can’t save everybody and no one is going to hold you responsible.”
“That’s what you say until someone files a lawsuit.”
“If they do, then you know I got your back. Stop borrowing trouble.”
“You’re right, but I had one of my top guys running the point on this concert and I had to fire him today.”
“Damn, that was harsh.”
“So was not following my rules. But whatever. I’m going to go do some paperwork.”
“Dude, this is not like you at all. What’s the real problem?”
MJ.
“Who said I had a problem?”
“Your actions and your attitude. The last time I saw you act like this was during the... What’s her name?”
Jamal groaned. “It’s MJ.”
“I knew it. I thought you guys were just kicking it and having a good time?”
“And I thought I could handle that,” Jamal said. “Any other woman, I would’ve been good with that, but there is something different about Michael.”
“Yeah, she doesn’t want you. Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.”
“Says the man who married his former client. I guess you would know.”
“I’m going to chalk that up to you not getting any and being jealous. You know nothing happened between Mimi and me before I settled her case. Not that it matters now, because she’s my wife and whatever I did worked.”
“I know. As a matter of fact, I should send your wife a few dozen roses to get her to help me win MJ over.”
Brent broke out into laughter. “You know if you ask Mimi for help, you might end up fodder for her blog.”
“Umm, I forgot about that. You know my gran reads her blog. Still, I don’t know how and why Michael has gotten under my skin the way she has,” Jamal said. “I feel like I’m one step away from being Loony Lu-Lu.”
“Is that woman still after you?”
“Sadly. Like they say, it’s the ones you don’t want who are always chasing after you.”
“That’s what happens when you have too many ones,” Brent said. “I got to go, but I can tell you this—I might be having lunch with my wife and her best friend at the new Sunshine Café in the West End around one thirty.”
“You might be getting a six-pack of craft beer to relax with this weekend. I’ll see y’all at one thirty,” Jamal said.
After hanging up the phone with Brent, Jamal felt a little better about everything.
He glanced at the clock on the wall and realized that he had too much time on his hands to sit there and think about Michael. So, he logged on to his computer and pulled up his rules-of-engagement document for his employees and printed it out. He didn’t want any more excuses about not knowing what to do.
Michael and Mimi were still sitting in her office when Brent called his wife. As
