Wild West of the Heart

"Are you ready to do this?"

Mira zipped up her bulletproof jacket, looking to Dare. Her eyes were frail. "You can choose to back away now. It's-"

"Yes" She held his cold shaky palms, and his eyes went to the diamond across one finger. He took her hands in his, sliding it out. "For your safety" He whispered and she pushed a lump down her throat. "Yeah" She turned away. He slowly stood. "Come on, people. We're set. Headed to our location in three, two-" He said into the radio as she felt the wheels go into motion. There weren't any windows for her to look out of, so Mira just closed her eyes. She imagined a place other than here, maybe with Obi. She was doing for him, alongside every other queer person in Nigeria. She was doing for them, because at some point, it had to stop. All the terrible things had to stop. She didn't care if she died while doing it, okay maybe she did-

-

but it was mostly because she had someone waiting for her. He sat into the chair beside Dee, burying his head into his textbook. "I'll wait for her" Obi whispered.

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Titi whispered as Ola closed the door behind him. Mary threw her head over her shoulders at her sister. "I really hope so" She said. "Ola has already been through enough"

"God will make a way" Titi whispered, holding Mary's arms from behind. "He always makes a way for His people" A smile crept to the corner of her lips as she looked to the documents lying across the center table. "Akin might come around as well—" Titi pulled away from him.

"I have the divorce papers, and after a second meeting with Phil, i feel maybe it's time. Like there's really nothing left to hold unto" She turned around. "There is no closure, just moving on. I promised him some time and i'm still going to do th -""You don't have to explain anything" Titi interrupted. "Whatever you think is best is" She added.

The smile never left her cheeks, as her fingers brushed anxiously against themselves. "I can't believe i'm doing this" She whispered, and Titi scoffed. "I can." She replied.

-

"How long are they going to take?" Obi turned to Dee, who was almost falling asleep in the waiting room. In his defense, the clock was just about hit seven pm, and she'd not slept in days, like everyone that was there. "Maybe till morning, Obi" She replied, looking at her phone for any text but nothing. "And Silva?" He asked. Dee shook her head. "Nothing from Silva yet" She replied.

"Mira said you have an exam to prepare for. You should get the bus home before it goes completely dark. She would be back by morning-"

"But the house would be empty" Obi whimpered as he grudgingly stood. "Only for one night. We'll bring Silva home soon" She assured, as if she was completely sure of that. But she wasn't. It was mere faith- -the believing in things yet unseen, events yet to happen. It's hoping for a greater good in tumultuous times, praying for the better days in the worst and sunny mornings after the darkest nights. Like these. Obi stretched his pinky to Dee and she scoffed, taking it.

"I promise" She had a halt-hearted smile as she looked to Tara. "Now, you go" She pulled away from Obi. "And don't talk to strangers or whatever Mira tells you" She chuckled.

They both did.

And he made his way towards the elevator, pressing the button that led to the ground floor. It parted after a ding sound and Obi stepped into it.

"I have people that would love to meet you"

He immediately shook his head off the thoughts of the encounter with his mother. He cleared his throat, watching the doors close in on his sight. Tara looked back at Dee. "Don't."

"Don't make promises you can't keep" She whispered. "It'll hurt him more" "But Silva will come back, right?" Dee felt the need for the doubtful tone. Tara scoffed. "We're in Nigeria. No one survives the disease here" She said flatly. Dee pushed a hard lump down her throat, as it were the truth. And Mira did as well, looking into the phone in her hands. Vlad: change of the plans.

"Stop the car" She immediately yelled as Dare crept behind her. She handed him the phone. "He doesn't want to meet at the Capris. He wants downtown instead" Dare read his exact words as another notification chirped in. Vlad: Look pretty. x

"Son of a bitch" He cussed as he showed Mira the phone. "What does he mean by that?" She whispered, looking around the van and at the person typing into the laptop. "I got it" Came a victorious response. They all turned to face the woman in a dark green jacket and they locked eyes. "There's a carnival downtown"

Dare pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fuck" He gritted through his teeth, threatening to kick the chairs but Mira held him back. "It's okay. It's really not that big of a difference" He looked to her. "There would be people there. Distractions, Mira. He's playing into our game" He replied and she nodded. "Let him. And i'm telling you that i can handle a crowd" She took his hands.

"You'd be there to protect me, remember?"

"It's kind of easier because it's a carnival at dusk. You could literally disguise anything" She whispered. "Uhm" The lady behind them interrupted. "Speaking of disguise, it's a mask themed party near the shores of Lagos" She added. "You're" She looked down at Mira. "You're going to need a dress. And a mask to go with. Tell him we'd be there in an hour" She stood, taking Mira from Dare hands. He just stood there before she waved her hands in front of him. "Now, go. Give the ladies some room" She yelled as the boot opened. "Now i don't know where you're going to see a dress but i could work on her makeup" Now, for someone in a camouflage uniform, she was pretty excited to play dress-up. "I think i have an idea" Someone piped up from behind and she rolled her eyes.

"I told him eight. You have minutes, Sara" Dare yelled from the door as Mira communicated with her eyes and he backed away. "That would mean we would get rid of the bullet-proof" Sara said as she swallowed a lump. "Anything-Anything to catch Vlad. We can't let him get away now"

"And we wont" Sara pushed her into a chair, leaning in close to her face. "Now, we're going to glam you up for your night. And Dare, you're going to need a suit for your disguise" She was used to yelling.

"There's really no need for that" He replied. "When a woman tells you what to do, Dare, you do it. Especially if she's your general commander" She winked at Mira who almost burst out laughing. "You're not a boss" He nagged. "Yet" She grabbed her purse, pulling out an eyeliner. "Now, Mira. I used to be a wild gal" The worst of stories usually started that way as she drew across her eyes. "And even Dare won't know what hit him" She whispered and Mira rolled her eyes. "Please" She scoffed. "Come on-"

"I won't tell"

They shared a laugh. And for the first time, asides the fact that they were in the back of a police van, everything felt good again. But she wasn't sure for how long. "He's" She stuttered. "He's a really good guy" She continued.

"Aw now. Good guys deserve some love" She whispered, drawing across her other eye. "But he has a ring?" Mira sheepishly gathered information as she looked ahead at him, collecting a bagged dress in his hands. "Dare, no. He's a saint" Sara immediately waved off. "Never known a woman. I think it would really surprise me if he has" She teased and Mira tried to hold in her chuckle.

"What's so hilarious?" He walked in, dropping the dress.

"How did you get something so fast?" Sara looked to the teal green gown across the table. This felt like a dream to Mira who had no idea that night would ever come to this.

She looked back and forth the corners of the truck-and if she wasn't going to die tonight, she looked to the dress, she'd do it pretty. "I would never reveal my ways" Brandon boasted. "Retailers renting gowns for tonight" Dare pierced his ego as he looked away. "Have you?" She halted.

"Have you got yourself a suit?"

Dare pushed a lump down his throat. "Now, i won't reveal" He had a smiled across his face, most proud of what he thought was a joke. Sara looked below her and noticed how they both shared a glare. She scoffed, being the last person that would judge them both. Even if they'd lied-

to her, and themselves.

"Come on people, we don't have time" Brandon's voice ruined the moment as another officer walked in. "Called for backup. They're strategized at their various locations. Waiting for command sir" He raised his hand to his head. Just like that, Mira was reminded of why they were here.

And there was really only one right way the night could go. But then again, that would be faith. Hope, forgetting in itself that hope can be a tool of self-deception as well.

To be continued...