Black Lies

I don’t at first understand the scene. A man I’ve never seen, standing at the edge of a bed, the thrashing figure before him a tangle of sheets and movement. I come to a stop, the stranger and I staring at each other for a brief moment, then my eyes are on Brant and he smiles and it feels as if my heart will explode. “Lana,” he gasps. “Get me out of here.” Then he jerks his hands and I see restraints and my entire world goes red.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” I whirl, Jillian’s entrance into the room skirted by two employees, three flushed faces who stare at me as if preparing for battle.

“Layana,” Jillian starts, her hands patting the air in a calming fashion.

“WHO THE FUCK HAS THE KEYS TO GET HIM OUT OF THOSE?” I point to the shackles *ohmygod* that hold Brant down. Hold him down, as if he is f**king dangerous. Or insane. Or anything other than Brant, my gorgeous brilliant man, currently tied down like an animal.

“We had to restrain him. He was violent.”

“No I wasn’t,” Brant speaks from behind me.

“You don’t know what you were!” Jillian snaps.

“You,” I snarl. “You don’t have the right to f**king talk to him anymore. I’m taking him with me right now.”

“Language,” Jillian clicks her tongue disapprovingly. “It’s nice to see the trash that lies beneath that blue blood smile, Layana.”

I look at her in disbelief. “My language? That’s what you want to discuss right now? While you have Brant tied down?” I look from the strangers face to her employees, all who look unsure. “WHO THE FUCK HAS THE KEYS?” I scream, my own hold on rationality questionable.

“I do.” The man in the room steps forward. Pulls a key chain from his pocket and looks to Jillian. I move in between them, blocking his view, and point to the bed.

“Untie him.”

“Don’t move, George,” Jillian’s voice rings out.

I step forward, snatching the key ring from the man and move to the bed. Meet Brant’s eyes while freeing his right hand. “I love you,” I breathe.

“I’m sorry,” he responded.

“Shut up baby.” I turn to his leg strap and come chest to chest with Jillian, her fingers wrapping around my wrist with an iron grip.

“Please call Duane and Jim,” she says crisply to the women behind her. “I need them to get over here immediately.”

I jerk my hand back, twisting it until her fingers lose their grip. I place both hands on her chest and shove, the woman letting out a cry as she stumbles back, her legs giving out and falling to the floor. “Stop!” I cry at the uniformed women, their exit paused as two pinched faces turn to me. “Right now,” I gasp. “You have a decision to make. You are, I assume, both BSX employees. If you have any interest in future job security, I’d get over here and help me free the owner of your company.”

My car burns rubber on its Nobb Hill exit, Brant’s groan from the passenger side causing my foot to ease slightly, my eyes leaving the road for a moment to assess his condition. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just get us away from her.”

I press a button on my steering wheel, speaking when the tone sounds. “Call Home.”

I reach over and grip Brant’s hand, my fingers looping through his. An interlocking squeeze that I don’t want to ever lose.

The ringing through the speakers ends, replaced by the efficient voice of one of our security personnel. “Sharp residence, this is Len Rincon. Good morning, Ms. Fairmont.”

“Len, I’m with Brant. We’ll be arriving home in about ten minutes. I want the house on lockdown. No one coming in or out unless you talk to me. Especially not Jillian Sharp.”

“Is Mr. Sharp also available, Ms. Fairmont?”

“I’m here, Len. And I agree with everything Lana just said.” Brant leans forward to make sure the speaker catches his voice.

“I’ll need you both to provide your security passcodes.” Any comradery I’ve shared with this man over the last six months is gone. Suddenly, I see the ex-Special Forces asset we had hired.

“4497,” Brant mutters, sinking his head back against the headrest.

“1552,” I say.

“Thank you. We will be ready when you arrive. Would you like me to alert the police?”

I glance at Brant, speaking when he shakes his head. “No, thank you. Just make sure Windere is secure.”

“Will do, Ms. F.”

“And please connect me to Anna.”

“Certainly.”

The house manager answers promptly and with more perkiness than any individual should contain before 7 AM. I speak quickly, wanting to get off of the phone and talk to Brant. “Can you have Christine prepare breakfast? A full spread of everything Brant likes. Also, please prepare the bedroom. Draw a hot bath. And light the fireplace. I also need you to bring a physician in. He needs a full tox screen done, so have them bring whatever they need for that.” I had a sudden thought. “Actually, call Dr. Susan Renhart. She’s at Homeless Youths of America. Tell her it is urgent, and that discretion is important.”

She repeats the instructions back to me, then I end the call and glance over at Brant, his eyes closed. “Stay with me, babe,” I say softly, the sun rising spectacularly as my car whips around a curve.

“I’ll never leave you,” he says. “Not willingly.” He sits up, pulls on my hand slightly. “I’m so sorry, Lana. For everything I must have put you through.”

“We have the rest of our lives to talk about it.” I squeeze his hand. “Right now I’m more concerned with Jillian. Brant… she’s…”

“Crazy,” he finishes with a growl. “Crazier than me,” he adds with a wry laugh.

“Should you call your parents? I’m trying to think through her next course of action. It might be best for you to speak to them before she does.” I reluctantly pull my hand from his, put both on the steering wheel before he feels the shake in my palms. I was literally shaking with anger, at myself, at Brant, at the manipulation this woman has had in our lives. “I mean… Brant, she tied you down. What kind of sick person does that?”

“What if I’m dangerous, Lana?” His voice is quiet but walks the steps of giants.

I slow the car, jerking my gaze to him. “You’re not dangerous, Brant.”

“Brant isn’t dangerous. But you said yourself I have other personalities, what if one of them…” He suddenly leans forward, gripping the sides of his head. “Oh my God.”