The Matters of Her Heart

Old friends and dark secrets

"So now we're not even safe to leave the damn house?!" Beth shouted.

"For now-"

"No! Answer her damn question Maxwell!" 'Sandra snapped. "We need to know if our children are at risk from this man."

"Nobody's leaving the house or property," their father spoke up. Everybody knew his word was law and going against it was never a wise thing to do.

"So that means, anything needed will be brought in after being thoroughly searched and investigated," Shelly added in.

"Food? Clothes?" Beth asked.

"No one should really need clothes but everything will be made safe before entering this house," Anthony spoke up as he shifted his son on his shoulder and pulled 'Sandra back against him again.

"How?" Tanya spoke for the first time since leaving the mall with a security team surrounding her. "If he's out of jail, what's going to stop him?"

Maxwell sighed deeply before pulling her into his arms, rubbing soothing circles on her skin anywhere he could reach. "I've got him watched."

"And how'd you make that possible?" Brit asked.

"When Tanya told me he was there, I called up the reinforcements. I've had everyone followed in this family who I felt could possibly be at risk. Pop and I decided it was necessary at the time and I was right."

"So you've had me followed?" Shelly glared at her husband at the same time Maxwell received that same face from his sisters.

"I keep my family safe at all times," was his reply.

It was clear they were about to argue so he excused them quickly before she caused a scene in front of their children and he had to put her in her place.

"This is all my fault," Tanya spoke softly, though it seemed to echo throughout the otherwise silent room.

"What?" Followed three outraged voices.

"It's the truth whether you'll all admit it to my face or not. I've put everyone in this family in harm's way! Whatever I did to antagonize that man has put all of you and our children- oh God the children!" She began sobbing harder.

"School is ending soon, no reason to freak out about it. The school year is over with practically," Brit spoke up first.

"And they'll be here with us, never leaving our sight," 'Sandra added.

"It'll never be your fault T, he was bound to snap at some point! He's been off since his wife left," Beth said reassuringly.

"What does she have to do with anything?" Tanya whispered confused.

"His wife is a black woman, that's why his son looks not so white," Maxwell said with a slight chuckle. Everyone joined in briefly before he sighed. "We're going to have to pull out all the stops on this one fellas."

The other men nodded but Anthony answered. "You better call her brothers."

"No! Don't," Tanya interrupted quickly. "You know how they are about me and Mel Max, don't. Not yet anyway, just wait a few more days."

"And have them chop my dick off for not calling? I apologize baby girl, but Ant is right on that one. I need to bring them in and as soon as yesterday."

She bit her lip, wanting to fight him more but the look he gave her, stopped it before it even began.

She was pissed. Her brothers were on the next flight back from the base and would be arriving with their wives, kids, and sadly her parents in the next couple days. Nobody cared about how it made her feel, as long as she was safe.