by Amarie Avant
“Me?” Elise pointed at her chest. “I envy you?” She stepped toward the exit and locked the door. “Enlighten me.”
Raven nodded. This conversation should have revolved around the seriousness of Elise’s deception. And yet, Raven found herself sneering and sad for this woman. “You’re so disgusting. I have done virtually nothing for you to hate me.”
“Now that’s where you’re wrong, ReRe.” Elise used her nickname for emphasis. “You broke my heart the day you entered my son’s life! You got your little claws in his shoulders, little black bitch while batting your little blue eyes!”
“Fuck you, and your son! Yeah, I said it. Liam is human, I love him, but right now this isn’t about him. I could have murdered Royael because of the letter I got from Liam.” Raven’s voice never rose. They were amidst gilded marble, even the liquid soap was worth its weight. The affluent. She hated it all.
“Yes, as you just said, you were so stupid! Too stupid to get rid of that little girl, that daughter of yours is blood related, but no family of mine. I knew you’d be back one day. You don’t just want child support, do you now? And yes, this is about Liam. The day you set your sight on him, is the day I lost him.”
The hairs on Raven’s forearms prickled. The old Creole woman who'd crashed into her in New Orleans with Liam. Those words she hadn't heard in years flooded her mind in a flash. In that very instant, Raven could murder Elise with her bare hands.
A small gasp wracked through Raven’s body.
“Elise, do you remember when I’d get into fights as a child? I’m sure you do. That’s one of the reasons you wanted Liam to stay away from me, right? Except you don’t know besides fighting my battles—the name callers and gossipers about my mom—I fought Liam’s battles, too. The people who called him fat.” Raven paused as Elise placed her hands on narrowed hips. “What you also don’t know is that I’d feel a sense of exhilaration. It felt oh, so good. I’d blackout. Beat the shit out ’em until Liam or someone else could pull me off. Now, I haven’t fought in a while. As a mother, I let shit ride. I hold it in—my anger. Remember that the next time you cross me. You’ll see just how much I’ve been holding in.”
“Hmmm, is that so?” Elise beamed brighter than the sun. “I’m thoroughly insulted. I’ve known you since you were a wee baby. It hurts my heart that you would resort to threats.”
Raven gave her a sideways glance. “No. Not threats. Promises. I promise the next time you fuck with me—God save your soul if you touch one hair on my daughter’s head, I’m going to beat you until my heart overflows with joy, in the name of Jesus!”
“Sounds barbarically delightful.” Elise’s green eyes twinkled as she made her exit.
“Yes, it may very well be.” Raven sat, closed her eyes and rubbed her face. Murder seemed to be ringing in her ears, almost deafening. When she stood from the chaise, Elise had unlocked the bathroom door and vanished. Raven exited and ended up running into Pierre.
“My dear, accompany me to the terrace.” Before she could reply, his chilly hand guided the small of her back.
A warm oceanic breeze forced air into Raven’s lungs, reminding her to breathe. An attendant offered them champagne from a silver tray. She hadn’t had a drink all day, but took the one that Pierre handed to her. She watched the less wealthy—but rich nonetheless—celebrating the grand opening of the hotel on the oceanfront. Live jazz floated on the salty wind in their direction.
“You’re wearing one of my rings.”
Raven looked down at her hands on the marble slab. “I didn’t know …”
“I gave a case of those spoon rings to Elise. Between you and I, she doesn’t know the value of antiques. I’d love to see her wearing something from a different era, of course. Only the next season in fashion seems to capture her interest.”
He smiled down at her, causing the madness to waft away. She noticed that he had Liam’s gold eyes; they softened his appearance. Well over six feet, with a full head of wavy, dark-blond hair, Pierre also had definition of muscle beneath his tailored tux, proving that he was in the prime of his life.
“If Elise only knew how much it was worth.” Pierre shrugged and took a sip.
She found herself saying, “It’s magnificent, no matter the worth.”
“You’re absolutely correct.”
They stood in a silence of contentment for a while. Maybe he wasn’t half as intimidating as he appeared? He seemed genuinely interested in her, asking about her being a photographer.
“I just finished my second year in the program.” She remembered when she and Liam were young and they’d burn insects under magnifying classes. This was her moment to be scrutinized.
“So you don’t have any experience?”
“I’m learning. I would be happy to show you my portfolio.”
“I’ve already seen it, my dear.” He stepped close and whispered in her ear, “You assume a man of my stature doesn’t know all about a girl like you?”
This is the worst day ever. His iron arm pinned her to the spot. Faster than the snap of a finger, he’d gone from sexy-seventy to devious-dog.
“I know you more than you know yourself. You didn’t want Liam in middle school.”
“How did you arrive at that conclusion?” she scoffed.
“Liam was depressed and in love when he moved to Paris at the age of fourteen. A series of unfortunate events occurred when you noticed him as a senior. He wasn’t so short and fat then. You used him, got yourself pregnant for a paycheck. I’m aware of what he sees in you. You’re an exotic beauty.” His warm breath singed the side of her cheek. “You filthy little vixen. Give it a couple of months, and you’ll be back in the gutter where you belong. And my legacy will be over you.”
“Pierre, this is a grand opening, I must say,” a voice spoke from behind them.
They both turned to see Tyriq sauntering onto the terrace.
“All the credit goes to my legacy.” Pierre patted Tyriq’s back, took a sip of champagne, and walked back into the hotel.
An old, welcoming, numbed feeling took over as Raven turned back to watch the festivities. Fireworks played off her glossy eyes, but she wouldn’t dare let a tear fall. She downed the gold-trimmed flute of champagne.
“So did I save you?” Tyriq folded his hands on the banister.
“You don’t know the half of it. I was getting ready to—” Raven flexed her fingers, making a “wring the neck” symbol. “On second thought, I shouldn’t be telling you, the law.”
He mirrored her smile. “No, you probably shouldn’t inform me of your plans to commit premeditated murder.”
“Well, thank you for the advice.” Raven felt as self-conscious as she did when first putting on the revealing gown as his eyes roamed her body. When his gaze stopped at her breasts, her breath caught. Did he have x-ray vision? She folded her arms across her chest.
“I think I’ve got you pegged.” She gave a friendly smile. “You’re the bad cop. You get your kicks off taunting criminals?”
“That’s me. If you want an example, I’ll pull all the stops, tie you up, pat you down.” He licked his lips. “That, my beautiful, is only the beginning.”
Laughter came from deep down in her belly, trying to take the nervousness out of his obvious flirting. Head tilting slightly, she became serious. “How do you do it? I noticed that your mother, a Tate, is on the Delacroix board. So how do you get away with wearing jeans and riding a motorcycle and … roughing it? Taking bad guys down with guns and stuff. These people are stuffy; they don’t appear as if they’d like—” She paused when his eyebrows rose. “I’m sorry, Tyriq. Am I insulting you? You clean up very well. I’m just saying, that most of these people have advanced degrees and …”
“I’m a handsome, uneducated, hothead?” he asked, face blank.
Shit, Pierre has fucked with my head. “No, no.” She bumped shoulders with him. “I’m sorry.”
He erupted in laughter. All of the air expelled from her lungs. Frowning,
she folded her arms.
“Go ahead, Detective TT, get your kicks at my expense. I’ll have you know, I’ve had a hard day.”
“Hey, you called me the bad cop.” He gave one last chuckle. “I know what you mean. Liam is the guy that speaks five different languages. Pierre uses that creepy voice to refer to him as a legacy. Liam’s attended a university in France and wears suits every day. I’m born and bred in it, but I’m supposed to be part of this crew?”
“Yeah, and they look at me like I don’t belong. Even in Versace. These are killing me, by the way.” She took off the heels and wriggled her toes, then slipped them back on.
He lifted her chin. “Do not belong, Raven. That’s why Liam loves you, because you don’t belong.”
Raven bit her lip. His callused hand traced her shoulder and grazed her arm as it went down to his side. Tension mounted between them. He liked to joke, maybe even with every woman he met. But that was one toe across the line, in her opinion.
“We better get back to the party. That gorgeous date of yours might be getting lonely.”
“What’s going on out here?” She jumped when she heard Liam’s exaggerated tone. Instinctively, she moved away from Tyriq and noticed Pierre just inside of the doorway. Mr. Delacroix had a sneaky twinkle in his eyes. Did he just send Liam out here?
Liam walked over with a smile.
“I was saving Raven from the ‘legacy talk’.” Tyriq backed away.
Liam’s arms wrapped around her, his lips brushing her neck with a soft kiss. An image of Tyriq winking at her before disappearing into the hotel embedded in her mind as her eyes closed. She allowed Liam’s kisses and Italian sexy words to tease and soothe her heart.
After a moment, she opened her eyes. “Legacy?”
“Don’t mind Grandfather. He always calls me that.”
Raven turned to look at the roaring dark sea. With so much love as he spoke about Pierre, her heart sank. She didn’t want anything to do with a stupid legacy. The old man had talked as if he were worshipping Liam. That sick bastard needs Jesus!
“Mom says the two of you already chatted?”
“Er … yeah. Very good talk.”
“Hmmm.” He didn’t sound convinced. “Well, I prefer that Elise apologize to you like I mentioned on the jet ride over.”
Raven smiled. “Liam, baby, we are grown ass women no need for a mediator.”
“My mother isn’t familiar with humbling herself,” Liam began to speak, but Raven’s lips softly pressed against his. She had no intentions of crossing paths with Elise anytime soon.
The next morning while Royael ate breakfast and everyone got ready to go to Disneyland, Raven slipped upstairs to call Charlene. Her mother had texted earlier, saying Stork had important information for them.
Liam’s phone was on the dresser beside hers. Instinct had her fingers glued to it. He loves me. Trust made her put it back down. Grumbling, she picked the sleek phone up again and scrolled down the numbers. There were missed calls from Camille, from the night before and the previous morning—before and after the opening. Channeling her inner PI, she clicked on Camille’s contact number to see the call history. They’d talked on a few occasions, even after the night at the coffee shop. Okay. There has to be a good explanation for this.
She decided to ask Liam about Camille after they’d taken Royael to the theme park. But the next day, he surprised her with a day on Stellar, Estella’s super yacht. After lunch, yet another surprise. He’d had all the equipment necessary for deep sea photography. While they were deep sea diving, they headed toward a colorful coral grotto where Raven took photos. She found a jewelry case against the peach coral reef, inside was a blue diamond necklace.
Liam held up a sign which sarcastically read, “I know you’re not much for jewelry, but you have to keep it …”
31
Raven was blindfolded as Liam led her. They were downstairs, but that could mean anywhere in the huge house. “C’mon, Liam, I don’t like surprises.”
“You love the end product, you love surprises,” Liam corrected. “Turn left.”
About to agree, her nose crinkled. “Uh, what’s that burnt odor?”
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” Raven clapped her hands together. He tugged at the string of the blindfold, and it floated to the floor. All she could say was “Oh …” as she looked at the kitchen table to see a chilled bottle of wine—the really good, expensive stuff that he’d harped about before—lit tapered candles, and burnt … Well, it looked like some type of noodle and black chunks of disgustingness.
“This is what you’re not going to eat. Remember you mentioned chicken Alfredo for dinner tonight.”
“Oh-kay, so why didn’t you just take me to Olive Garden?” She didn’t know whether to laugh or frown. Diamonds in her eyes, she was in love. Romantic times like this turned her brain into a warm, healthy serving of oatmeal. And, like the flake she was, she’d all but forgotten her plan to break his heart.
“I had to show you all the energy that I put into cooking.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m still hungry,” she replied in a melodramatic tone.
“Let me finish.” He put his finger over her plump lips. “I’m taking you to Sicily.”
“Aw, Liam! I’ve already been there,” she said as her bottom lip protruded, “that place off Canter Street has nothing on Olive Garden and the bread sticks, delish.”
“Sicily, Italy!” He laughed, shaking his head.
“That was gooood.” Raven patted her belly as her wedges clopped over the stone pathway, leaving a quaint family-style restaurant—a gem in a maze of meandering streets with tiny foreign cars and mopeds. Upon arrival, Liam had surprised her with breakfast on a private beach, followed by sightseeing. She’d photographed ancient structures with weathered stonework that would grace her graduate portfolio. A sea breeze with a hint of fragrant soaps from a specialty shop about two doors ahead chilled her bare shoulders and ruffled her maxi dress.
They strolled under a spray of stars and stopped next to a gathering on a street corner; spellbound by a crooner whose belly protruded between suspenders. She didn’t know what the brawny man sang, but his melodic-bass voice laced the perfect serenade.
Liam tossed a few Euros in a hat near the singer’s feet. He wrapped his arms around Raven from behind, brushing her hair over her shoulder and nuzzling her neck.
“How do you say, ‘I love you’ in Italian?” she whispered.
“Tu sei la miaragione di vitae perchésorridoogni giorno. Tu seitutto ciò che èperfettoper il futuro,” Liam said, in-between kissing and sucking.
“I don’t believe you.” She smirked at the mischievous grin on his face. “Oh, well, it’ll take me years to learn that so, I won’t be able to say I love you until I figure it out.”
He bit her neck, saying more words that frazzled her heart and made her body go weak. “You better stop, or we might not make it back.”
“Right here, right now is fine with me.”
Noticing hunger in his eyes, she hid a smile and ran toward the Delacroix Hotel; well, in what she thought to be the right direction. It was hard thinking with him keeping up behind her. She weaved through locals out for a night stroll. Before she could make a choice at an upcoming T in the road, Liam took her hand and guided her past old structures and a historical church she’d photographed earlier. Veering toward the U-shaped driveway at the Delacroix Hotel, they dodged a Bentley pulling in and glided in front of a valet boy attempting to drive off in a blue Alfa Romeo. Slowing in the lobby, they were blinded by tourists taking their pictures.
She waved as the gold elevator doors closed, and Liam whipped her around. He lifted her up against the wall with ease and jammed the red STOP button.
Before his greedy lips found hers, a protest escaped her lips. “Liam, wait …” When his mouth trailed down her neck, she started another round of “not yet” and “not here”. Trepidation of being seen through secret elevator cameras wane
d as his hand massaged her breast. Brain fuzzy, she heard the sound of cloth tearing, but didn’t know what had happened until she looked at her halter fabric in his hands.
“Do you want me to stop?” He demanded.
“No.” Please, don’t. She moaned, needing this greedy love.
Liam grabbed onto the hair at the nape of her neck, pulling downward. Raven’s chin jutted up in response, giving him all the access he need. He seized her pink, pillowed lips. Kissing the top one, then the bottom. His tongue dove into her mouth for a taste. Then grabbing her wrist, Liam turned Raven around. He sandwiched her against the wall and his searing cock. Raven’s back arched, legs planted wide, as he entered her from behind.
He gripped her hips to catch a good leverage and Raven slammed her ass back against him repeatedly. For every barbaric grunt he gave, Raven matched his with a moan. His hand reached around to her front, pawing at her breast as he continued to slam deep inside of her pussy.
“Fuck, Raven, I’m gonna cum.” He bit her neck. Raven didn’t stop meeting his thrusts, continuing to throw her ass back. Then fireworks burst forth in both their eyes as his cum squirted inside of her body.
His heartbeat vibrated through Raven’s back as Liam leaned against her. He bestowed the nape of her neck with soft kisses, the frenzy finally fading.
Raven shrugged into Liam’s blazer as he pushed the elevator back into drive. She picked up her dress from the floor; the stitching was beyond repair. “Will you ever quit ruining my clothes?”
“I have no intention to.”
The balcony’s sheer curtains danced to a gentle wind around light-blue textured walls. The sound of seagulls woke Raven. She turned over to see Liam’s side of the bed empty. Pushing back the feathery comforter, she sat up and grabbed her cell off the nightstand. Smiling, she listened to a vibrant voicemail from Estella and Royael. Excited about the fun that the two were having, she grabbed a cotton robe with the Delacroix insignia and put it on. Going into the living room of the suite, she said, “Royael won Grand Supreme at the pageant Estella took—”