The Lion Read Free Page A

Rion grimaced. “I told Kyros I would before I knew what you were making. I know to ask first next time.”
    Khalil laughed. “Hey man, I'm a single father. As long as he gets a meal, I think I'm on point.”
      “How is Kyros doing since you moved back?” Rion asked.
      Khalil shrugged. “Misses his momma sometimes, but I gotta do what I gotta do. He's mine and I'm never going to be without him.” 
      “She didn't want to come to Detroit?” Rion asked.
      Khalil frowned. “Hell nah...would you?” He took the seat next to Rion. “But it wasn't just coming back to Detroit. She and I were really done before Kyros was even born. She didn't want kids but we were careless and made a beautiful son. She wanted to end the pregnancy but I couldn't do that, so I told her that I wouldn't interrupt her life with a child. I told her if she had the baby I'd take him and he'd be mine so she could keep stepping...and she did.”
      “That's one hundred man. A lot of warriors wouldn't do something like that.” Rion told him. “It's good you came home to the fam so you can have a support system.”
      Khalil shook his head. “Man, I don't know what I would've done without my parents, Khayla and the Negus. I don't know what the hell I was thinking.”
    Rion smiled. “Well Kyros looks happy and well adjusted. You're doing a good job.”
      “Thanks brother. He's turning six soon and I need to think about his future. Like what do I need to teach him as a father?”
      “Your daddy is the prototype for a black father,” Rion said looking at his brother and friend.
      Khalil shook his head. “You don't know how hard it was facing my father when I had to tell him about Kyros. I felt like I had let him down. He'd sent me to Howard to get an education and I went and made a baby.”
      “But you still finished and now you have a Master's in Education. Your parents are proud of you brother. I'm proud of you. You manned up and handled your business.”
      Khalil nodded his head slowly. “Thanks Rion. I've missed the young god. I'm glad you're home.” The two guys gave each other a pound.
      “So tell me about this new team,” Khalil inquired.
    Rion reached into his pocket and handed the paper to him. “Well, there's this...”
    Khalil scanned the sheet then looked at Rion. “Oh, so somebody is ready to get bodied, huh?”

Chapter 2
      Two weeks later Mac's detectives had gathered evidence as to the originators of the letter and the findings were turned over to Brandon's office. The prosecuting attorney that Brandon had assigned to the case did not feel that the evidence was sufficient enough to bring charges, so Rion was on his way to find out just what the problem was.
      He found his way to Prosecutor Patterson's office and knocked softly before the woman behind the desk filled with books and files looked up at him. Hazel eyes glanced up at him from behind dark rimmed glasses before she slowly removed the frames and looked him over from head to toe.
      “May I help you?” she asked in a low raspy voice.
    Rion stood in the doorway. “I'm looking for Prosecutor Patterson.”
      “Yes, I'm Tauri Patterson.”
      “I'm Rion Shaw. I wondered if I could speak with you for a moment?”
      Tauri lifted a perfectly shaped brow. “I would have to live under a rock not to know who you are Mr. Shaw.” She got to her feet and walked around her desk to face him. “You are the face of Detroit.”
    Rion smiled at the beauty before him. “I wouldn't say that.”
       Tauri surveyed the six-foot four inch god still standing in her doorway in a tailored black suit and tie with expensive shoes on his feet. She observed the striking features that made him resemble an ancient Nubian king. He had deep, dark eyes set under heavy, silky brows. A broad nose rested above a neatly groomed mustache that connected around his full lips to form a perfect goatee. His beautifully chiseled cheekbones gave him a regal look that made