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Deception
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Chapter 1
Tamia
Houston, Texas
November 4, 2011
Tamia Luke’s heart pounded violently as she watched the twelve jurors file into the jury box and reclaim their seats. She was so nervous, she wanted to throw up. These men and women held her fate in their hands. Their verdict would determine whether she spent the rest of her life in prison or walked out of this courtroom a free woman.
She searched their faces, hoping for something—anything —that would give her insight into the decision they had reached. But their expressions were unreadable, and none of them would make eye contact with her. Not even Juror Number Eight, an attractive, middle-aged black man who’d hardly been able to keep his eyes off her throughout the trial.
But today he seemed to go out of his way not to look at her.
Like the other jurors.
With mounting anxiety, Tamia leaned over and whispered to her attorney, “They won’t look at me. Why won’t they look at me?”
“Relax,” Brandon murmured soothingly. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
Tamia hoped to God he was right. She’d spent the past five months behind bars, serving time for a crime she hadn’t committed. She didn’t know what she would do if the jury found her guilty of Isabel Archer’s murder. It was unthinkable.
When the judge emerged from his chambers, Tamia and Brandon rose from the defense table. Her insides were shivering, and her legs were so wobbly, she thought she’d collapse to the floor. Without thinking she grabbed Brandon’s hand and held tight, comforted when he squeezed her back.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” said the judge, “have you reached a verdict?”
The jury forewoman stood. “We have, Your Honor.”
As the judge read the folded note that contained the jury’s verdict, the silence that had permeated the packed courtroom was now deafening. You could literally hear a pin drop.
The judge looked at the forewoman. “What is your verdict?”
Tamia closed her eyes, her heart slamming against her rib cage as she braced herself for the woman’s next words.
“We, the jury, find the defendant—”
Tamia held her breath.
“—not guilty.”
Pandemonium erupted in the courtroom, loud cheers from Tamia’s supporters dueling with shouts of protest from Isabel Archer’s outraged relatives. The judge banged his gavel, calling for order. But it was the sight of Brandon’s beaming face that gave Tamia permission to believe the verdict she’d just heard.
“WE WON!” she screamed, throwing her arms around Brandon’s neck as he laughingly lifted her off the floor. As he spun her around, she caught a glimpse of Dominic Archer, seated behind the plaintiff’s table across the aisle. He looked so stunned that Tamia might have felt sorry for him—if she didn’t despise his motherfucking ass.
“Thank you, Brandon,” she said earnestly as he set her back down on her feet. “Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for saving my life!”
“You’re welcome,” he told her. “I never doubted your innocence.”
“I know. And that meant everything to me.”
His expression softened. “You know I—”
“Congratulations,” a new voice interrupted.
Tamia and Brandon turned to encounter a pretty, brown-skinned woman dressed in a navy Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit that hugged her slender figure. Her dark, lustrous hair flowed past her shoulders in a way that made Tamia more desperate than ever to get into her stylist’s chair. Sporting months of nappy new growth and wearing a pantsuit that did nothing for her shape, she felt raggedy next to Cynthia Yarbrough—the scheming hussy who’d stolen Brandon from her.
She forced a smile. “Hey, Cynthia. You’re looking well.”
“Thank you, Tamia.” Cynthia didn’t insult her intelligence by returning the compliment. “Congratulations on your acquittal.”
“Thanks.” Tamia smiled gratefully at Brandon. “I couldn’t have done it without this man’s amazing legal prowess. I don’t know if I can ever repay him, but I’m determined to try.”
Brandon chuckled. “You might feel differently after you receive my final bill.”
Tamia laughed, then leaned up and kissed his smooth, clean-shaven cheek. She didn’t miss the way Cynthia’s eyes narrowed with displeasure.
Don’t get it twisted, heffa, Tamia mused. He was my man first!
Soon she was surrounded by a group of supporters who’d been there for her throughout the trial. Lou Saldaña scooped her up and swung her around, while her best friend, Shanell Jasper, took one look at her attire and promised to take her shopping ASAP. Distant cousins Tamia hadn’t seen in ages had shown up, along with a few of her neighbors.
Everyone who mattered was there.
Except Fiona.
And she doesn’t matter anymore, Tamia thought darkly.
“YOU BITCH!”
The enraged outburst came from the other side of the courtroom, where a sobbing woman was being restrained by several members of Isabel Archer’s family. As Tamia watched, the woman pointed at her and screamed, “You’re gonna burn in hell for what you did to Isabel!”
Before Tamia could open her mouth to defend herself, Brandon silenced her with a warning look. “Don’t say anything. The jury has spoken for you, and that’s all that matters.”
Nodding grimly, she watched as the hysterical woman was led out of the courtroom. Although Tamia knew she was innocent, it bothered her that there were people who would always believe the worst of her, that she’d killed her lover’s wife in a jealous rage. The worst part was that she knew who the real killer was—and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. She’d sworn not to tell anyone, and no matter how horribly she’d been used and betrayed, a promise was a promise.
After accepting more congratulatory hugs and kisses, Tamia followed her small entourage out of the courthouse and into the bright November afternoon. She and Brandon were met by a buzzing swarm of reporters who shouted questions at them.
“Miss Luke, do you feel vindicated by today’s verdict ?”
“Mr. Chambers, do you stand by your strategy to portray Dominic Archer as the real killer?”
“Do either of you believe he really murdered his wife?”
“Miss Luke, do you regret having an affair with a married man?”
Taken aback by the barrage of questions, Tamia looked askance at Brandon. He gave her a reassuring smile, then stepped to the cluster of microphones. Calmly he surveyed the crowd, waiting for the noise to die down before he spoke.
“Miss Luke and I are pleased that justice was served today. I commend the men and women of the jury for weighing all the evidence and coming back with the only verdict they could have: not guilty.”
The reporters fired more questions at him.
“With all due respect, Brandon,” one voice rang out above the rest, “how difficult was it for you to defend the woman who cheated on you? Throughout the trial, you were forced to hear the lurid details of Miss Luke’s affair with Dominic Archer. How in the world did you remain objective?”
Tamia’s face heated with shame, while Brandon didn’t so much as flinch. “My prior relationship with Miss Luke wasn’t on trial,” he answered evenly. “If I didn’t think I could handle hearing the ‘lurid details’ of her affair, as you put it, I wouldn’t have taken her case. But I did, because I believed in her innocence. Clearly the jury did, too.”
Tamia beamed at him.
“Is there any chance that you and Miss Luke might reconcile?”
Brandon paused, giving Tamia a sidelong glance.
She met his gaze, holding her breath as she waited for his response.
After several moments he turned back to the reporters, chuckling and shaking his head. “You guys are always looking for a romantic Hollywood ending. All I want to do is celebrate this victory, which reaffirms my belief that the justice system can and does work.”
“Given your winning track record,” someone retorted, “I’d say the system works just fine for you.”
Brandon grinned as laughter swept over the crowd.
Tamia was also grinning, but not for the same reason as everyone else. For the first time in several months, she had reason to hope that all was not lost between her and Brandon. Because whether he realized it or not, by dodging the reporter’s question, he’d left the door open for the possibility of him and Tamia getting back together.
Today’s verdict had given her back her life. Now that she was a free woman again, nothing would stop her from trying to reclaim the only man she’d ever loved.
Nothing.
And no one.
Turning her head, she saw Cynthia standing off to the side by herself.
Their gazes met.
Tamia smiled.
Cynthia’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
That’s right, bitch, Tamia thought. I’m taking back what you stole from me. And this time, I’m never letting him go!
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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Copyright © 2012 by Niobia Bryant
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-7859-3
Mistress, Inc. Page 24