Chapter 232

Louis woke up to knocks on the door. He groaned and opened his eyes. The others woke up too.

“Élise?” he asked.

“Yes, Louis,” Élise said from outside. “Good morning. I have important news. The Ellingtons have been successfully extracted from Atlanta. They are downstairs.”

Savannah sat up. “They’re here? My family is here?”

“Yes, Ms. Ellington,” Élise said. “They just arrived. They are exhausted. But they are safe.”

Savannah scrambled out of the bed and grabbed her clothes. She put them on quickly. “I’m coming!” She rushed out of the room, not bothering to wait for the others.

Louis got up and stretched. “That’s a good start to the day.”

“At least she’s smiling now,” Angelique said, pulling on her robe.

“Let’s get dressed and meet them,” Louis said. He rushed to the bathroom and quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face. Then he went to the walk-in closet and put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. He came back to the bedroom to find the women were also getting dressed.

“I can’t believe it. They are here,” Cherish said, her face radiant.

“It is good news, indeed,” Willa said. “But let’s be prepared. They have been through a lot. And they might be traumatized.”

“We will take care of them,” Donya said.

“We will,” Louis said, leading them out of the room.

They went downstairs to the main hall. Louis recognized Marcus, Lorraine, and Micah. The three of them were huddled together on a large sofa, looking dazed and exhausted. Savannah was kneeling in front of them, her hands on their shoulders. She was talking to them in a low voice.

Louis walked over to them. “Marcus, how are you holding up?”

Marcus looked up, his eyes bloodshot. “We’re alive. That’s all that matters. Thanks to your men.”

Lorraine wiped her tears. “We lost everything. Lotta folks we know ain’t make it.”

Micah seemed less affected than his parents. He was looking around the room with curiosity.

“Did you have breakfast? You must be hungry,” Louis said.

“We had some on the way. But we can eat,” Marcus said.

Élise came over. “The breakfast room is ready for you. Please, come this way.”

They followed Élise to the breakfast room with a long table. A buffet was set up with all kinds of food. The maids were standing by, ready to serve them.

“Please, help yourselves. Or we can serve you, if you prefer,” Élise said.

Lorraine looked at the spread of food. “This is a lot.”

“It’s a feast, Mama!” Micah said, running to the buffet and piling his plate with pancakes, sausages, and bacon.

“Micah! Have some manners!” Lorraine said.

“It’s okay, Lorraine. Let him eat. He needs it,” Marcus said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Louis and the women also got their food. They sat down at the table with the Ellingtons.

“So, tell us about the extraction,” Louis said, after taking a bite of his omelet.

Marcus sighed. “It was chaotic. The Dixie soldiers were everywhere. They used nerve gases to clear the Old Downtown. We had to escape through the sewer last night. It stank like hell.”

“I can imagine,” Willa said, her expression grim. “I’m glad you made it out.”

“Wouldn’t have made it without your men.” Marcus looked at Louis. “We climbed out of the sewer into a parking lot. It was an execution ground. All black folks they caught from the neighborhood, dead. Then the Collective bombers came. But they were not bombing Dixies this time. They were dropping leaflets with naked women on them and something about a pride parade.”

Louis bit his lip to keep from laughing. “That was my idea.”

Marcus stared at him. “Hell, I gotta admit it worked. The Dixie soldiers were so busy collecting the leaflets, we made it to the extraction point. A van was waiting for us there.”

“Who were they?” Savannah asked.

“The Collective Special Forces,” Marcus said. “They took us to a small airfield outside the city. And a Dominion transport plane flew us here. They gave us water, food, and a blanket.”

“I guess they didn’t talk to you much,” Louis said.

“No, they just said they were following orders from their First Consul. And that we were safe now,” Marcus said.

“They are professionals. They don’t talk much,” Gladice said.

“How many of your people got out, Dad?” Savannah asked.

Marcus’s face darkened. “Just the three of us. Van ain’t got room for everybody. And the Collective said they only had orders to extract the Ellingtons.”

Savannah’s face fell. “What about everybody else?”

“I don’t know. I hope they made it. But I doubt it. The Dixies were killing every black person they could find in the city. They called it a ‘cleansing’.”

Lorraine started to cry. “They killed Miss Bernice. She worked in our home thirty years. She was family.”

Savannah took her mother’s hand. “I’m so sorry, Mama.”

“She ain’t do nothing wrong. She was a good Christian woman,” Lorraine sobbed. “She died covering for us in the streets.”

“We safe now, Mama,” Savannah said, her own eyes welling up with tears.

“I know, baby. I know. But I can’t stop thinking about her. And all the others. We left them behind.” Lorraine covered her face with her hands.

Cherish went to Lorraine and knelt down beside her. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I will pray for her.”

Lorraine looked at her. “Thank you, dear. You are Cherish, right?”

Cherish nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You are a good girl. I can see that. You have a kind face.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Cherish said. “I hope you will like it here. It’s a very safe place.”

“Yes,” Louis said. “You are all under our protection now. You can stay here as long as you want. In the meantime, my staff will find some suitable houses for you. You can pick one you like.”

Marcus looked at him. “That’s very generous of you, Louis. We don’t know how to thank you.”

“You helped us back in Atlanta. It’s the least I can do,” Louis said. “And you’re Savvy’s family. That makes you our family too.”

Marcus cleared his throat. “Do you have a cigar, Louis? I really need one.”

“Yes, of course,” Louis said. “We don’t smoke in the house, but my dad keeps some for guests. I’ll ask Élise to get them for you.”

“Thank you,” Marcus said. “And a glass of whiskey, if you have it.”

“Of course,” Louis said. He looked at Élise, who nodded slightly and left the room. He turned back to Marcus. “You can smoke in the garden. It’s very nice there.”

Marcus nodded. “Alright.”

Élise came back with a pack of Cuban cigars and a lighter. She also poured a glass of whiskey for Marcus. “Here you are, sir.”

“Thank you, Miss Tremblay,” Marcus said, taking a cigar and the glass. He went outside to the garden.

Lorraine looked at the women. “It’s a relief to see y’all again. Y’all look good. Much better than when you left.”

“We are,” Angelique said. “And we are happy to see you too.”

“You have a very beautiful home, Louis,” Lorraine said.

“Thank you. You will have a beautiful home too,” Louis said. “I’ll make sure of that.”

Savannah sat down beside her mother and put her arm around her. “We’re going to be okay, Mama.”

Lorraine leaned her head on Savannah’s shoulder. “I know, baby. I know.”

Micah finished his plate. “This the best food I ever had!”

“I’m glad you like it, Micah,” Louis said. “You can have as much as you want.”

“Cool!” Micah said, standing up. “I’m going to get more.”

A crumpled leaflet suddenly fell from his pocket. Louis saw several naked women and a rainbow float on it.

Lorraine glared at her son. “Micah! Where did you get that?”

“I found it on the ground, Mama. When we were running. I thought it was funny,” Micah said, looking scared.

Gladice smirked. “He has good taste.”

Willa rolled her eyes. “He’s a teenage boy. Of course he likes naked women.”

Lorraine snatched the leaflet from Micah’s hand and ripped it up. “That’s filth. You are not looking at it again.”

“Sorry, Mama,” Micah said, looking down at his shoes.

Angelique leaned forward. “Mrs. Ellington, I know it’s a difficult adjustment. But here in the Dominion, we have a different view of the human body and sexuality.”

Lorraine looked at her. “I can see that. And I don’t like it. My boy ain’t gonna be looking at naked women like this.”

“He will be, Mama,” Savannah said. “This our home now. We gotta adapt, or we’re gonna be miserable.”

Lorraine sighed. “I know, baby. But I need some time. This all too much for me.”

“I understand,” Angelique said. “Take as much time as you need.”

Louis cleared his throat. “In the meantime, we have a trip to Las Vegas today. We need to follow a lead about our abduction.”

Lorraine’s eyes widened. “You’re leaving? Already?”

“Yes,” Louis said. “But Élise and the rest of the staff will take good care of you. Make yourself at home. And we’ll get all of you phones so you can contact us anytime.”

Savannah looked at her mother. “It’s okay, Mama. I’ll be back soon. I promise.”

Lorraine nodded, but her face was tense. “Alright.”

Marcus came back in from the garden. He finished his whiskey and put the glass on the table. “Louis, can I talk to you for a minute in private?”

“Of course,” Louis said, standing up. “Let’s go back to the garden.”

They walked outside, to a quiet corner with a view of the city and the Pacific.

“What’s on your mind, Marcus?” Louis asked.

Marcus lit another cigar. “I appreciate what you doing for us. I really do. But I’m a man likes to work. Likes to be useful. I can’t just sit around this mansion eating your food and living off your charity.”

Louis nodded. “I understand. You have many talents, Marcus. And we can use them.”

“What kind of talents? I’m a black-market leader from Atlanta. I ain’t got a college degree or some fancy résumé.”

“The Dominion Guard needs people like you. People who know how the underworld works. People who can think on their feet and get things done. You could be a consultant. A well-paid one. You could help us fight criminal networks.”

Marcus stared at him. “You want me to work for you?”

“I’m offering you a job, Marcus. A good one. But it’s up to you,” Louis said. “You can also just enjoy your retirement with your family in a beautiful house by the beach.”

Marcus thought for a moment. “I’ll think about it. But I need to see what my options are. First, I want to see what kind of house you can get for us.”

“Fair enough,” Louis said. “You can have a tour of the whole Dominion with your family after getting some rest. And you can choose any city or town you like.”

Marcus took a long drag from his cigar. “What about Micah? He’s just a boy. But he needs a good school and a future.”

“We have the best schools in the world, Marcus. And he will go to university for free.”

Marcus sighed. “This a lot, Louis. Hell of a lot to take in.”

“I know. But you deserve it. You helped us. And you are Savvy’s family. We take care of our own.”

Marcus looked at the mansion. “It’s a gilded cage, ain’t it? With a lot of rules.”

“No, Marcus. The First Family makes the rules. We can bend or break them if we want to,” Louis said. “Your daughter is part of the First Family now. That gives you a lot of freedom.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “So you saying we can do whatever we want?”

“Within reason, of course. This is not an anarchy. It’s a dictatorship. A very sophisticated one,” Louis said.

Marcus laughed. “You are a blunt young man, Louis Collins. I like that. You don’t bullshit me.”

“I don’t have a reason to. I’m a Collins, and you are Savvy’s father. We don’t have to pretend,” Louis said.

“Alright. Then let me ask you a blunt question. Are you going to marry my daughter?” Marcus asked, looking at him.

Louis hesitated. “We don’t consider marriage a necessity for us to be a family, Marcus. I love her. I love all of them. And they love me and each other. We are going to build a life together in Honolulu.”

“So I’ve heard. The famous Pax Pacifica,” Marcus said, taking a drag from his cigar. “A private compound for the First Family and their… harem.”

Louis met his gaze. “It’s a home, Marcus. For our family.”

Marcus studied his face for a long moment. “You love her. I can see that. But I also see that she is not the only one you love. And that’s a lot of pressure on a young woman. My girl’s tough. Ain’t mean she can’t get hurt.”

“I know. And I will do everything in my power to protect her. I would die for them,” Louis said.

“I believe you. You proved that much. And for that, I will always be grateful. But I’m still her father. I’m always gonna worry about her.”

“As you should,” Louis said. “But she is with me now. And she’s happy and safe.”

“I hope you’re right, son. I really do,” Marcus said, stubbing out his cigar in a marble ashtray. “Now, let’s go back inside. I want to check on my family.”

Louis nodded. “Of course.”

They walked back to the breakfast room. Savannah was now hugging her mother, who was crying again. Micah was on a tablet, playing a game with headphones on.

“Everything alright, Dad?” Savannah asked, looking at Louis and her father.

“Everything fine, my girl. Just had a talk with Louis,” Marcus said, kissing her forehead. “We will be alright. I promise.”

Savannah looked at Louis. He smiled at her. She relaxed a little.

“Well, we have to get ready for Vegas,” Gladice said, standing up. “I can’t wait to see some blood and money.”

“Don’t be too excited, Glads. We have a job to do,” Angelique said.

“I know. But a girl can have some fun, right?” Gladice said, grinning.

“Let’s go then. I want to get there before noon,” Louis said. “Élise, please take care of the Ellingtons. Show them to their rooms. We will be back in a few days, if we are lucky.”

Élise bowed slightly. “Of course, Louis. I will make sure they are comfortable.”

“Thank you, Élise,” Louis said, then turned to the Ellingtons. “Take care. Call me if you need anything.”

“We will,” Lorraine said, her voice still a little shaky. She looked at her daughter. “You be careful, baby.”

“I will, Mama,” Savannah said, hugging her. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Lorraine said, tears in her eyes.

Marcus shook Louis’s hand. “Take care of our girl, son.”

“I will,” Louis said. “I promise.”

Savannah kissed her brother on the cheek. “You behave yourself, Micah. Listen to Mama and Dad.”

“Okay, Sis,” Micah said, not taking his eyes off the tablet.

Louis and the women left the room and went to the helipad. Their Olympus P26 was already there, its rotors spinning. They got in and took off, flying north towards the airport. The morning sun was bright, and the city looked peaceful from above.

“I’m glad they’re safe,” Donya said, looking out the window. “I was so worried for them.”

“Me too,” Cherish said. “But it’s a new beginning for them.”

“Let’s hope so,” Willa said, her expression thoughtful. “They still have a long way to go to adapt to our way of life.”

Maeve shook her head. “I don’t know if they ever will. They have a very different mindset.”

“They will, Mae-Mae. They gotta make it work,” Savannah said, looking down at the city. “Or they will be miserable. I don’t want that for them.” She paused. “I wish I could stay with them longer.”

“You have a life here now, Savvy. With us,” Angelique said, taking her hand. “And we need you.”

“I know,” Savannah said. “And I love y’all. But it’s hard.”

“I understand,” Angelique said.

Gladice yawned. “All the drama this morning is exhausting.”

“It’s good drama, for once,” Louis said. “Now let’s focus on the next mission.”

The helicopter landed at the airport. A jet was waiting for them on the tarmac. They got in and took off, flying east towards Las Vegas.