Eye of the Sh*t Storm by Jackson Ford (most romantic novels .txt) 📕

“Why you do this? Huh? You run from me, run from Reggie. Mrs Tanner not know where anybody is.” He apparently decides that English isn’t going to cut it, because his words dissolve into a chaotic mix of French and Wolof.

How the hell is he here? How did he know where to find us?

“Hey.” Nic steps into Africa’s path, patting the air with raised hands. “How about we go talk somewhere?”

Africa blinks, as if noticing Nic for the first time. “What you doing here? Teggan – why is Nic…?”

He trails off as his eyes focus on Leo. The boy stares back at him in horror.

“Who is he?” Africa jabs a finger at Leo. “Who is this boy?”

“My name is Leo Nguyen and I am four and my dad’s name is Clarence and his number is—”

“My man.” Nic puts a hand on Africa’s shoulder. “Let’s just calm down for a second.”

“Everything OK here?” It’s the National Guard soldier from before, the one with the ridiculous wraparound sunnies. He’s got a twang to his accent that I hadn’t noticed until now – Oklahoma, maybe, or Nebraska. Somewhere flat and empty. He’s got the kind of pale, freckly skin that probably turns lobster red after about five seconds of sunlight.

Africa rounds on him. “No! Nothing is OK! And is even worse now that you are sticking your nose in—”

I squeeze between Africa and the soldier. “We’re totally fine here. Sorry about that – just a little friendly argument, that’s all.”

The soldier looks dubious. “Keep it on the down-low, all right?” He gestures to the line of people, most of whom are goggling at us. “Lotta scared folks here already without you going off half-cocked.”

“Don’t you tell me half-cock, you bloody toubab.”

“Africa!” I hiss.

The soldier gives us another long, suspicious look, but moves away. Leo has shuffled behind Nic, gripping his hand tight.

“Explain to me,” Africa says. “Now. Why you run? And who is this boy?”

And as he says it, Leo’s identity falls into place. He actually takes a step back.

I close my eyes. No point denying it. “Yeah.”

“Teggan…”

“Yeah. He’s… he has abilities.”

He stares at me. “Teggan, my comms system is muted now. I mute it as soon as I see you, because Mrs Tanner is listening. My camera is still working –” he taps his chest, and my heart climbs into my throat “– but I have put it on my shirt, here, behind the jacket. For a little while, they can think it might be a mistake, yaaw? Like I do it by accident. But I know I have to give you chance to explain before I tell her and Reggie that I find you. We do not have much time, so please, tell me what is going on.”

Africa was homeless when I first met him. I can still see him hanging out in Skid Row: cutting through the crowd in front of the LA Mission, his clothes a mismatched riot of colour, a man with a thousand connections and a million tall stories. Someone who life had kicked in the teeth more than once, and whose personality was a reaction to a world that didn’t seem to want him very much.

Moira Tanner brought him into China Shop by threatening him. That’s what she does – she gets people to act against their own self-interest. I don’t know what the threat was, whether it was arrest, deportation, exposing whatever secrets he has. But I bet not even she predicted just how much he’d throw himself into the role, embrace the weird realities of working for the government. He’s fallen in love with this job. The idea of doing what I did – of sabotaging an active mission, jeopardising this incredible opportunity – must be utterly insane to him.

He’s led a very weird life. But I think China Shop was the first time he realised that all of his experiences, all his stories – the made-up ones, and the real ones – can’t compare to what the world is really like. It sobered him up. Made him more serious. And I don’t think I fully understood that until now.

“It’s…” I lick my lips, trying to get my words in some sort of coherent order. “We can’t let Tanner have him. You get that, right? He’ll land up in Waco, or somewhere worse.”

“We can help him.”

“No, dude, listen. Please. This is a bad idea. Tanner won’t help him. She’ll use him. You know that.”

Behind me, Leo turns to Nic, his voice fearful. “What does that mean?”

“All of us,” Africa says slowly. “All of China Shop Movers. You, me, Annie, Reggie and Mrs Tanner as well. Paul, when he was still here. We all work together for the same goal. And I know you sometimes do crazy things, but I always think, she is still part of the team, and she will do what is right.” He gestures at Leo. “What is right about stealing a young boy? About going behind our backs? And you—” He points at Nic. “You help her! I know you are aware of her dëma powers, you know what we do, so why—?”

“She didn’t steal me.” Leo finds a tiny grain of courage, stepping out from behind Nic’s legs. “Leave us alone or… or I’ll zap you.”

“Nobody’s zapping anybody,” I say, holding my hands out. I can feel the crowd looking at us, as well as the soldier, still watching us from near a parked Humvee.

Africa crouches down, which still makes him about two feet taller than Leo. “Why don’t you come with me, huh? I work with the government. We can keep you safe.” The kid stares back at him in horror.

“OK,” Nic says. “Everybody just take a big, deep breath, all right?”

“Give me the boy,” Africa says slowly. “Give him to me now, and I will not tell Mrs Tanner that you took him. I will let her know that we found him together.”

I don’t want this. I don’t want Africa as an enemy – not after everything