“Sit here,” the driver said.
“Glad you could make it.”
“Who said that?” It came from that chair facing the wall.
“You don’t need to know who I am. What’s important is I know who you are,” he said.
I should punch him hard on the side of his neck and burst his jugular vein.
The man in the chair said, “You’re going to do an important job for me.”
“I don’t even know you, and you got your back to me, and you want me to do you a favor?” I asked. A light shined in my face. He was in the dark.
“Two million dollars,” he said.
Two what? For me? Is he serious? I began listening closely. He didn’t say anything.
I questioned, “You gon’ give me two million dollars?” I had to be sure I wasn’t jumping the gun.
“Yes. One now. I need you to kill someone. After the job is done, you’ll get the other.”
“Whoa, buddy. I’m no killer. Are you trying to set me up? Are you working for Chicago? Y’all trying to send me back to the pen? I didn’t do it, dude.”
G-double-A said I wasn’t that smart. If I got locked up again, he’d be right.
“You didn’t kill him? Or you didn’t shoot him? Don’t answer that. Both of us know what happened. If you don’t want to do the job—”
“You keep saying ‘job,’ like it’s a nine-to-five. You—”
“Will not interrupt me again. Do the job or go back to prison. And your brother will join you. State, this time. Your mother will die before either one of you gets out. I’ve got the gun.”
What gun? Was he bluffing? Now I wished I’d questioned my brother.
Confidently I replied, “I was acquitted.”
I was too black to be blackmailed. No one pushed me around. I decided to take the Fifth and not say anything else.
“Your package is in the car.”
Okay, I had to ask, “What package?”
“Everything is there. The cash.”
Cash? I’d never get away with depositing that much money. Uncle Sam would audit me immediately. I couldn’t keep it in my house. Who was this guy?
“The weapon you’ll use to complete the job.”
There was that word again. “Dude.”
“Shut up!”
I wasn’t his damn child but I was in his house. What if he killed me, then lied and said, “He broke into my house.” I got quiet.
After a few moments of silence, he continued, “The phone you’ll use is preprogrammed with your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Don’t change the profile pictures. And definitely don’t add new accounts.”
I’d never used social media. The closest I came was installing GPS on Madison’s phone to track her. Beaux had Facebook and Twitter. Women were always putting pictures of themselves and what they had to eat on his page. That was boring.
“Using your phone, you will track the person you must kill. You are already friends with the person too. Don’t change any of the settings, especially places and locations. Everywhere this person goes, you’ll know.”
Whoa, that means if Madison has one of those accounts, I could follow her? A smile grew on my face. I couldn’t change his phone, but I could do what I wanted with mine. My smile disappeared. Would she know it was me if I used my phone?
“Okay, all this talk about what? Tell me who.”
“Roosevelt ‘Chicago’ DuBois. Do this after he gets a divorce and before he marries my daughter.”
My heart felt like it stopped beating. When I wasn’t in my right mind, I almost killed Chicago. Now that he was alive and I was free, I didn’t want to pull the trigger again.
“There’s a billionaire who has handsomely paid for my daughter’s hand in marriage. She’s in love with Chicago and insists on becoming his wife.”
What good would $2 million do if I ended up in jail? His daughter marrying Chicago was doing me a favor. “Sounds like your head is on a chopping block. No can do, bro. Hire a professional hit man for ‘the job.’ ”
“I’m not asking. If my virgin daughter marries Chicago . . . You understand why you will do this.”
“So Sindy Singleton is your daughter?”
Sindy was advising G-double-A. She was at the trial not to support me but because she’s dating Chicago. Now her dad wants me to do his dirty work. Why?
“You’re free to go. I’ll be in touch.”
I’d never had a virgin. Considering the size of my dick, that was a good thing. We’d both get hurt. I wasn’t in prison long enough to become institutionalized. This guy had gotten himself into a pickle and he wanted me to get him out.
There were times when I wanted to say something, but I had been quiet.
This was the first time I was speechless.
CHAPTER 46
Chicago
Today’s game was different.
My suite was full. Mom. Dad. Grandpa. Chaz. Numbiya. A great time was being had by all, except for me. We were ahead by fourteen. My heart was empty. Four games into the regular season and we were off to an undefeated start. Preseason was a sweep. I’d hoped that Sindy would’ve called since she’d walked out on me at Brennan’s. She hadn’t, and my ego wasn’t begging for another chance. She had a suite ticket to the game, but she hadn’t shown her face.
Chaz patted me on the back. “Cheer up, man. Another mermaid will wash ashore soon. Trust me.”
“You know, it’s close to Madison having the baby. I’ve been thinking about having her come stay with me until the delivery.”
“No,” my brother said. “She’s got Loretta and Tisha next door. That’s what friends are for.”
Mom wedged herself between us. “You are not moving that girl into your place. Let her in before she has that baby, and whether it’s yours or not, you’ll have a hard time moving her out.”
What difference did that make if I loved Madison? Sindy could’ve convinced me not to move Madison in. My mother could not.
“She’s my wife, Mom. I know how you feel. Let it go.”
My mother asked, “Have you told Johnny yet?”
The main reason I hadn’t fired Johnny Tyler was Madison. I didn’t want to upset her. For $250,000 a year, he was doing a lousy job of operating the company. Tyler Construction had the potential to go global, but not with Johnny in the CEO position. We’d already begun interviewing for his replacement.
“Mom, we agreed. After the delivery.”
“Why does everything center around that baby? I didn’t agree to that,” she said. “He’s fortunate to own forty-nine percent of the company. He doesn’t deserve a salary too. I raised you better. Fire him, Chicago.” My mother walked to my dad.
That’s what I wanted—a marriage that would last despite the ups and downs.
I turned to Chaz. “I’m tired of her telling me whom to love. What to do. When to do it. I did not get this job because of her, or you, or Dad. I am an honorable, respectable man who is in love . . .”
“You need to lower your voice,” he said.
“You need to chill out.” I’d spoken my last words, and turned my back to him.
Chaz tapped me on the shoulder.
“What!” I yelled, facing him . . . then turned away.
There she was. Sindy. High heels. Sleeveless maxidress. Diamond and pearls.
I couldn’t breathe.
She opened her arms. I stepped into her embrace. Those fingernails scraped my spine as her palm slid up and down my back. I was glad the three words I was going to speak a few minutes ago—“with my wife”—never escaped my lips.
Why was romance so complicated?
“Thought you could use some cheering up,” Chaz said, leaving to join Numbiya at the wet bar.
Sindy reminded me so much of Madison, it was eerie. I exhaled my feelings for my wife. I could not risk having Sindy read me the way she’d done the last time we were together.
“Good to see you,” I said, embracing her.
Mom nodded at me. I knew
she preferred Sindy over Madison. All of my family did.
“Likewise. I see you’re winning,” she whispered, then kissed me on my ear.
I whispered back, “Am I really?”
“Yes. I miss you, Roosevelt.”
“I’m ready to listen to you. Ask whatever you’d like, but promise you won’t walk out on me again. Will you come to my condo after the game?”
“Yes.”
CHAPTER 47
Madison
“This way. Put the crib in here.”
“Are you sure we can keep the queen bedroom set?” the worker asked.
“Positive. Don’t put the crib against the wall. Move it to the center of the floor. I need to have access to my baby from all sides.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, repositioning the baby’s bed.
I felt like the guy on the Geico insurance commercial who was directing traffic, but I wasn’t standing in the middle of the street in my underwear. The workers I’d hired completely set up the all-white crib for my baby. Linens, sheets, pillows, lining, and the canopy were all white. The carousel had many of the Disney characters.
I was due any day now, and I couldn’t take another day of not having everything in place. Breast-feeding wasn’t an option, so I had formula stacked in the cabinets. The baby’s bed was in its room. A bassinet was next to my bed.
Motioning for one of the guys to follow me, I instructed, “I want the playpen over here, the stroller right there, walker in the corner, and crawling mat set up near the playpen.”
I glanced around to see if there were any additional items I could give the guys. My cell rang.
“Hi, Papa, I’m busy preparing for the baby.”
“Sweetheart, I need you to come over. Helen called, and said, ‘Don’t get comfortable, Johnny Tyler. Your replacement will be on board in three months.’ You’re the only one hundred percent owner. We have to discuss how to stop this from happening.”
“We don’t have to discuss it now, Papa. She said ‘three months.’ ”
He’d gotten himself into this situation. After walking in on him having that young girl suck his dick, I agreed with Helen.
“You know how ruthless that woman is, sweetheart. Three months could be seventy-two hours. It’s okay. She leaves me no choice. I’ve got my own plan. You’ll thank me later, sweetheart.”
“Bye, Papa. I love you.” I ended the call and refocused my attention on what was important to me.
Whoever had sent all of these things—and they were all new—I was not letting them go to waste. I believed it was Roosevelt.
The wallpaper border, with angels and white horses, was plastered along the middle of the wall. I’d added a beautiful white crown molding at the top of the wall and changed the baseboards to white too. Glow-in-the-dark galaxies were painted on the ceiling. The baby monitor was on the baby’s white dresser.
“Scatter the balloons throughout the house. Place the diaper bag here. Baby blankets tied with ribbon go on the sofa. Stuffed animals, spread them everywhere.”
When I came home from the hospital, I wanted the house to feel like I was bringing my baby to a wonderland. I didn’t want fashionable domes with cameras inside in the rooms. I had the cameras concealed in the crown molding throughout the house. I’d downloaded the apps so I could view everything happening from wherever I was. I’d heard about too many strange abductions of kids from their own homes. I couldn’t put anything past Granville.
Tisha called my cell. I answered, “Hey, what’s up?”
“You still want to go to Rice to grocery shop.”
“Girl, I’d forgotten all about food. I’m busy. I’ll have a personal shopper do that.”
She asked, “Your hospital bag packed?”
“I have two. One at the house. Another in my car.” After I had this child, I had everything required to look better than Sindy. I’d even scheduled my implant procedure for three months after delivery. I was going from having double D’s to triple D’s. Why not? Sindy Singleton was not taking my husband from me.
“I’m on standby. Call me when it’s time.”
Tisha and I had grown closer since the last time Loretta acted crazy. Granville deserved her. They should get back together. Thankfully, I hadn’t heard from him or Beaux.
“Will do. Bye.” Admiring the breathtaking ambiance my baby would come home to, I smiled.
Roosevelt was at the game and I was at his condo. The decorating was done; the workers were leaving; I was exhausted and going to sleep in his bed.
CHAPTER 48
Chicago
“Thanks for having dinner with me.”
When a woman gave a man a second chance to get it right, saying less wasn’t always better. I am the youngest GM/VP in the league. I’m accustomed to making tough calls. I determined the salaries for all the players, coaches, and staff. Being in the presence of this gorgeous woman, I could barely think straight.
To start over, I wanted to pick up where we’d left off. I’d taken Sindy to Brennan’s again. We sat at the same table, on the second floor, in the corner.
The waiter brought the wine list and handed it to Sindy.
“Xavier Monnot,” she said this time, without looking at the selections.
“That’s an excellent Pinot Noir,” I said, then added, “We’ll have the fried green tomato and blue crab, oysters Rockefeller, and braised oxtail and dumplings. Bring them out in that order, one at a time.”
Sindy smiled. “Okay. I like that. Roosevelt, I’m not a complicated woman. I—”
“Hold that thought. Excuse me for a moment,” I said, leaving the table. I didn’t want to text in front of Sindy. I sent my chef a message: Can you make me one of your especially creamy cheesecakes with the gingersnap crust with mint leaves and take it to my place? And leave some of your fresh, thick whipped cream in the fridge.
If he was able to accommodate, that would become our special dessert.
It was too early in getting to know Sindy to do the “she loves me; she loves me not.” I was just trying to settle into the phase of “she likes me.” I’d use the whipped cream to draw a heart in the middle; then I’d hand the decorating wand to her.
Returning, I saw the fried green tomato and blue crab were on the table. I apologized for walking away.
“I’d love to turn my phone off, but with my job an emergency could come up.” That, and Madison could go into labor. Just in case the baby was mine, I was definitely going to be at the delivery.
Damn, what if that fucked-up dude, Granville, shows up too? I’d have to address that with Madison tomorrow.
I held up my glass. “A toast to a beautiful and amazing woman.”
She smiled. “Thanks. You’re amazing yourself. Roosevelt, when we’re together, I need you to stay in this zone.”
Raising my brows, I nodded, and then I shook my head. Was this woman clairvoyant? I diced the tomato into small pieces and fed her first. Sindy leaned forward. She opened her mouth. I wanted to dive in and trade places with that crab.
“Umm, this is so good,” she said, moaning. Sliding the appetizer onto her fork, she said, “Open your mouth and close your eyes.”
I did. The tomato touched my tongue; then I felt her fingers in my mouth. I gently held her hand in place as I sucked, probably longer than I should have. The erection inside my pants grew fast.
Opening my eyes, I told her, “That was tasty. Thanks.” I eased my hand under the table and squeezed my dick.
Sindy nodded and sipped her wine. “You’ve got nice skills. I can tell you’re a very good kisser. Can’t wait for our first.”
Sindy was a tease. I liked that. Had to make sure I did not give her a reason to leave before having her tongue in my mouth tonight. I looked into her eyes. “Tell me about yourself,” I said. Other than she was thirty years old, had a wealthy family, and was an only child, like Madison was, I didn’t know much.
“I don’t rest on my father’s accomplishments. I own a nonprofit organizatio
n, I’m Not Locked Up.”
Ah. I smiled. For the first time I pieced together Chaz’s computer gig with her organization and their meeting. It didn’t matter how they connected, I was one happy man.
Sindy continued, “We help children whose parents are incarcerated. A lot of these kids are too young to understand what’s happening. But the preteens and teens need the most assistance. We work hard to make sure they don’t end up behind bars too.”
I wondered if Granville’s father was a criminal. Shifting my focus back to Sindy, I said, “That’s admirable. Tell me more.”
“We pay for counseling for the children and for the nonincarcerated parent. When there is a loss of income, we pay their rent and living expenses for a minimum of six months. If the nonincarcerated parents are unemployed, we find them jobs they’re good at so they’ll be successful. We make sure the kids are either enrolled in sports or volunteer for community service. If the teenagers are old enough and prefer to work, we find them a part-time weekend job so it won’t interfere with them going to school. I have a great staff and we do a lot. I love what I do. I also know how to shut it down when I’m sharing quality time with a man I like.”
Okay. I hesitated for a minute. I understood her point. I decided not to respond to it. I wasn’t turning off my cell.
Wow. I nodded. “Looking at you, I would’ve never guessed. If you’d like, I’d love to have our football team partner with your organization. I’m sure there’s something we can sponsor.”
Tipping her glass to mine, she said, “I’d like that.”
“Let’s talk business at a later date.”
“Now you’re reading my mind,” Sindy said.
“My place?”
“I’d like that, Roosevelt.”
The waiter arrived with the oysters Rockefeller.
Sindy touched his hand. “Cancel this. Package the braised oxtail and dumplings to go, and bring the check.”
“Certainly, ma’am. Anything else for you?” he asked, looking at Sindy first, then at me.
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