Arianna rested her hands on the front desk of the station clearly aggravated with the officer sitting in front of her. "I'm sorry I can't give you that information. I don't know when he will be back in" the female officer eyes looked at the main door and she cleared her throat. "Actually here he is now"

Ari turned to in the direction that she was motioning towards and sighed heavily. She was going back and forth with the officer for about fifteen minutes just requesting to see Charles.

"What's going on Ari. Are you okay? Is Cara okay?" He gave her a side hug.

Ari nodded "Yeah everything is fine and we are okay but I am concerned a little bit about somebody we know so.."

Charles raised a eyebrow and then led her to his office. Charles looked at Arianna like another daughter so it wasn't a surprise that she came to him.

Arianna walked in the large office first and took a seat in the chair in front of his desk. Charles spoke to one of the officers about something and then came in the office, closing the door behind him. "Who is this person?" he walked around his desk and took a seat in his chair.

Ari sat up straight "You know the guy that lives across from Cara right? Dee?"

Charles once concerned look dropped down to a disgusted expression. "Deion Banks" he stated Dee's name to Ari. "Yeah what about him?"

"Well I'll get straight to the point. When we all first met him everything was cool and calm but now the more I'm around him I just feel like something is off. The more I get a sense of this feeling the less I start seeing Cara. Like I feel like he's probably not the right person to help her especially with.." She trailed off not trying to say the obvious.

Charles nodded "I know what you mean"

"I don't know do you think I'm doing too much or am I right for wanting to really see who he is?" Arianna argued with herself the entire morning going back and forth on the decision of coming to Charles. He was the only person she knew that had access to people's criminal background and had connections with people around.

Charles didn't really say too much because he wanted to hear what all Arianna knew about Dee first.

Arianna dug in her purse and pulled out her phone. "I was doing a little research on the internet and ended up finding this" she unlocked her phone and went to the browser to pull up the article she had seen.

Charles extended his hand over the desk to grab her phone and skim over the article. He had seen details about this young lady Keisha Hollins before "This is his Ex right?" he looked up at her and then back down once she nodded.

"I just don't understand how she randomly died from a heart attack and then it later came out that she was drugged. Now if you look up Keisha she was a healthy athlete, with a track scholarship in college. You really think she would risk her future and career over drugs?"

Charles gave her the phone back and sunk his body further in his cushioned chair. "You definitely have a point but we can't assume just because they found drugs in her system that he did it." His right hand went up to his mouth as he used his index finger and thumb to brush over his mustache. "I also in the same way believe you. I don't like Deion he got a arrest record as long as the dictionary and I just don't wanna see him with my daughter"

Ari was glad to hear that she had someone on her side and that she wasn't just tripping. "I agree. But you know how she is, she's not going to hear anybody out. Once she has her mind set on something it's just too late"

"Exactly" Charles knew his daughter fell in love easy only because she had a wounded heart and wasn't gullible to new information. "Where is she now?"

Ari shrugged and went to their text message thread. Cara hadn't respond to the text message that Ari sent her yesterday. "I don't know she hasn't really been answering her phone since she's been spending more time with him. Atleast for me"

"For me too. I just thought maybe yall were busy with the realty" Charles had to think about the last time he got a phone call from his daughter. "Let's just do this. I'll do my own personal research on this and make some calls but until then don't piss her off. I don't want her repeating the same thing from last year"

Ari dropped her phone back in her purse and stood up. "I hear you. Thanks Charles"

February 17, 2023

11:35 AM

"Okay Mr.Banks. I am really appreciating you sharing so much with me today. I have to say this may have been our best session so far" Dee's Therapist acknowledged his improving communication.

"So far huh?" Dee sat on across from her.

"Yes because I'm going to manifest that we will have better ones." She finished writing down some notes and looked up at him.

"May I ask are there any new things we may have missed. Maybe friendships? Relationships? Hobbies" His therapist noticed that not only was he more talkative today but he was also less fidgety.

Dee rested his elbows on his knees and slowly shook his head no. He then stopped and nodded "Yeah I promised somebody I would help her if she you know.. Helped me"

The sound of the pen dragging across the paper could only be heard before she looked up with a small smile on her face. "She? May I ask who this person is and how has she affected your mental state lately?"

Dee was quiet for a few seconds. His mind flowed to the night he followed Chris and killed him. In a split second it went to the scenery of Brittany's body laid out at the end of the stairs while Cara sat as if nothing was wrong. The bickering they did wasn't healthy either but the sex that they had always made up for it. "Uhh she definitely plays a big part on my mental state. But in my opinion I NEED her. She hasn't judged me at any point of time and I really appreciate that"

"Ion know I just can't really explain it right now. The only thing I can say is I'm trying to be a better person not only for myself but I guess for Her. If that makes sense" He looked down at the floor.

"Well first, it's important that you have a strong support system so I'm glad to hear that. I think you can do it and I have faith in you." She cleared her throat "Any updated on your communication with your mom?" She almost immediately regretted bringing his mom up because the change in his tone was quick.

"Nah I ain't heard from her and I don't really give a fuck" he looked away from her. His anger was rising all over again.

His therapist wasn't new to this at all. She'd seen so many personalities and outbursts in this same room for the last fifteen years. Her silence spoke volume in the room, it made the other person know that the conversation is off track and it gave them a minute to cool down.

Dee looked at her again "My bad. I shouldn't have done that" he wondered why she was just smiling.

"A little progress. I don't think I've ever heard you apologize during a session" Her eyes moved to look at the alarm she had set. " Let's keep this energy up Mr. Banks"

1 hour later

After his session he sat in the car and thought about his mother. The last time he spoke to her was about a year ago and it was very brief like always. He didn't even really get the chance to ask her how she was doing and if she was healthy. Despite the two not talking he continued to pay her mortgage and send her some money. He knew that she was using the money because she would cash the checks.

Dee never understood why she didn't fight harder for him. Why she chose to wait until he was literally at his worst to become so distant. He thought maybe she was scared of him, tired of putting up with his criminal ways or just regretted even having him.

Before he could get too emotional he sat up in his seat and called Cara. She answered on the third ring and he felt bad since it sound like she was tired. "Hey. Is everything okay?" she asked.

Deion looked around watching his surroundings. "Yeah I'm good. Can I come see you?"

The sound of paper shuffling on the other end was hear for a few seconds before she answered. "Umm. Yeah you can just let me know when you are down stairs"

He licked over his lips and smiled as if she could see him. "Bet. I'll be there in like twenty minutes"

Cara got more comfortable on the couch in her office. Dee had stopped by with not only some flowers of course but with some lunch. Whenever she was busy catching up on work she would often skip lunch sometimes. Dee noticed it before and took note of it.

"How many houses did you have to show today?" He moved her legs so that they were now sitting in his lap. He loved that Cara didn't mind him touching her at all times. He was starting to becoming stuck to her like glue and he knew this could either be bad or good.

Car continued to talk while Dee just looked over the features in her face. It hit him that he was slowly able to notice the difference between her and Keisha.

"Please tell me the difference Dee? Is it because she's batshit crazy too?"

That displeasing voice filled the room but to his surprise he didn't see her. He didn't know if she was starting to play new games but he wasn't here for it. He looked around once more and then down at Cara's hand that rested on his.

She had sensed that maybe he was tripping. "It's just us two right now Dee" She had a great ability to observe him and see when something started to go wrong and may have triggered him.  "What's wrong? Are you think about..?" She didn't want to say her name and he knew exactly who she was talking about.

He nodded. "Yeah I can't shake this shit off and get rid of her"

Cara moved her legs so she could sit on his lap. "Look I don't mind helping you through this journey or whatever we want to call it but you have to tell me about this girl. I can't help you unless I know more details"

Dee's fingertips tapped on his chin a few times. Should I tell her? I don't want to keep lying to her. Fuck it, Just do it Dee. "You said you wouldn't leave me no matter what right?"

Cara's hummed. "Mhm. I mean unless it's just something that's a dealbreaker for me but other than that, I'm all yours" her smile was heart warming.

He ran his hand down his face and cleared his throat. It seemed like the room was now 1000 degrees as he built up the courage to tell what really happened to his ex. "Cara. I kil—"

"Knock knock!" Ari barged in just as Dee was about to finish his sentence. Her mouth formed a 'O' shape when she seen the two. "Oops my bad. I just thought you would be ready to head out"

Cara stood up. "Yeah I can meet you downstairs in the car?" She gave her friend a look that basically told her to 'get the fuck out'

Ari got the memo. "Of course I'll be waiting" she turned to walk out but the stopped in her tracks. "I forgot to tell you that someone was here waiting for you but I'll take care of him" she blinked three times and smiled.

Ari recognized game and although she didn't like Dee too much she wasn't about to let her friend get caught up with both men in one place.

Cara leaned down to kissed Dee. "I just want to have as much free time as I can with you. Just no interruptions, no phones nothing but just us"

"And don't forget about us Cara"

She felt a cold wind hit her skin as the voice alarmed her.

Dee didn't know if it was a setup on behalf of her even on his behalf depending on how he would react but it alone time was always good to him. "Fuck it let's do it. I'll have my manager book us one of them cabins in Tennessee"

Cara used her thumb to wipe some of her smeared clear lip gloss from the corner of her mouth. "Sounds good. I can't wait"

Two crazy ass people + one cabin. Yall pray for them 🫢😭