"It's not… but… you know…" she said with a tinge of guilt in her voice.

"I know… and it's a start. At least the Duke isn't a total jerk. At least he's capable of feeling something for a woman" her father admitted. Suddenly Mia turned to him with a broad smile.

"Does that mean you approve?" She couldn't ask.

"No and don't go hiking up your skirts just yet with that Duke… He's still on my watch and most wanted lists. He's got a lot of growing up to do. That's one mad black brother and I don't need him taking out his anger on you. Let him deal with his own issues; then we can revisit him in the future."

* * * * * * *

Jayden parked his car in the lot. He sat there watching. He found it incredible that he would return to a place like this. But a promise was a promise. Last night when he got back home he found that unopened envelope from the doctor's office still setting on the counter where he had left it.

"Oh God, if my HIV test is negative I promise I'll visit Mr. Ellis first thing in the morning" He prayed to God. As much as he didn't want to admit it, the test results weighed heavily on his mind. Until he had gone in and visited with the doctor, he had never thought about how much he had been playing with fire and putting his life and others in jeopardy with his careless sexual behavior. After that scare he had decided to rethink his position on sleeping with any and every willing woman. He reluctantly admitted that he needed some standards and criteria as to whom he would and would not sleep with. He felt very lucky that he had gotten off with only a case of crabs.

It was a little after eight in the morning and he figured that he could stop by for a few minutes. Even though this visit to Mr. Ellis nursing home was prompted by a promise, he couldn't help his feelings of pity and empathy for the man. It certainly was a sad situation.

"Morning…" He spoke to the nursing staff at the front desk. "I'm here for Mr. Jacob Ellis."

"Are you his son Markus? He's always talking about you and your sister. He's going to be so happy that you came" the nurse exclaimed.

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"No, no I'm not his son. I'm the one who returned him a couple of weeks ago when he had gone missing."




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