His Substitute Wife... My Sister Book Two

by Sylvia Hubbard

  A sense to follow her was strong, but he didn’t because he knew it would be suspicious on Cheyenne’s part and he really didn’t want her to know how deep his feelings were growing for Charisse.

  Parker could see Cheyenne was dying to speak with him and he leaned over to the court liaison because he wanted to get this over with as well.

  “Could you do me a favor,” he said to the liaison. “Can you stand outside of the bathroom? It would be rude of me to do so and I do not trust my sister-in-law to respect Charisse’s privacy.”

  The woman nodded in agreement and left the table.

  Cheyenne immediately came over to sit in her place and slammed her fist on the table. “Why are you here?! This isn’t part of the agreement.”

  “I beg to differ,” he said adamantly amused. “The deal was to meet for dinner without Chyna. I am upholding my end of the agreement.“

  “You bastard!” She hissed viciously. “You had every intention of using this night when I had plans for us to be alone.”

  “Now you see how serious I am about how I don’t want to be with you alone, Cheyenne? I don’t want to be with you.”

  “Parker, this isn’t fair!” she whined.

  “And you’ll uphold your end of the bargain and leave me alone. I don’t want any calls, any stalking, anything. If you force my hand, I’ll place a personal protection order against you.“

  She cut him off again sourly, “You don’t need to go that far, Parker, but if you were going to play dirty, you could have at least warned me.”

  “I’ve asked you nicely, I’ve ordered you and now I’m playing dirty. Threatening you will be next.”

  Narrowing her eyes, she snarled leaning over the table at him, “Are you planning on fucking Charisse? I know you’re a man with needs, Parker and you can’t hold back for long. Will she be a notch on your pole?” She winked with lewd solicitation.

  The fact that he wanted Charisse on ‘his pole’ was bothersome enough, but to have this stupid bitch point it out in the most disgusting way irked the crap out of him. “You’re a sore loser, Cheyenne, but since you know nothing about being urbane and mature, you have no idea how to just let it go. You never had me and the only reason I even allowed myself to succumb to anything you offered was because I was weak and stupid.” Just to hit home and take that appalled look on her face to greater heights, he added, “Charisse is nothing like you or Chyna. She’s cut from a different cloth, but of course she would be since you have different fathers, huh?”

  Cheyenne’s eyes widened in disgust and her hands shook in anger. Hissing, she demanded to know, “How did you know?”

  “How long did you think I wouldn’t know? You didn’t think after what you and I did, Chyna wouldn’t break down and tell me the truth? And I know the majority of it, Cheyenne. I know what your mother did to Charisse and how you and Chyna helped her. I know all of that and I know that Charisse is innocent in all of this and I will do whatever I can to help her and protect her from the likes of you and anyone else you want to try to send to hurt her.”

  She trembled in her anger and then suddenly froze as if she saw something he didn’t see, but she was glaring at him. “Charisse isn’t innocent as you think. Why don’t you ask her who she was really trying to– “

  “Am I interrupting something?” Charisse asked, coming to the table.

  Parker and Cheyenne stood up surprised to see Charisse returned. The liaison was right behind her looking as if she had run to catch up with Charisse.

  Innocently and sweetly, Cheyenne said, “Of course not.”

  Charisse looked over at Parker, who looked very upset at whatever he and Cheyenne had been talking about.

  “Cheyenne, I’ve decided I’m not going to stay here and even try to pretend I want to be in your presence.”

  “But I’m your sister!“

  “You’re nothing!” she yelled. “You’re a more vindictive evil version of the woman who unfortunately happened to be our mother. But unlike her, you won’t dig down in my head and pull out guilt to make me do what you want me to do, because I’m not that person anymore. I can’t pretend to be her either and I won’t. Leave me alone. Stay away from me. I never want to set eyes on you ever again. The blood that runs through our veins may connect us by relation, but you mean nothing to me.”

  They glared at each other for a long moment, before Charisse broke eye contact and looked over at Parker. “I’m ready to go.” She started to turn away, but then felt a sharp pain in her arm and she screamed as she looked down at her wrist to see Cheyenne digging her nails in her skin and drawing blood.

  Cheyenne’s dull brown eyes were blazing desert dark blood red in fury as she gritted through her teeth, “You stupid weak– “

  Charisse drew back her fist and punched her sister dead in her nose with her free hand, making Cheyenne release her wrist instantly. Once that hand released, she brought her palm up hard against Cheyenne’s face dead center to hit her nose again. Blood shot out between Cheyenne’s fingers, but Parker pulled Charisse out of the way before it landed on her and moved his arms protectively around her waist.

  Cheyenne fell down at their feet howling in pain as waiters rushed over. Even the liaison looked surprised and didn’t move.

  Parker had forgotten about any phobia Charisse had and the need to get her out of Cheyenne’s arm reach over came him, which was why he pulled her away and wrapped her in his arms ready to take any hit Cheyenne tried to deliver, but then as he realized that he was holding Charisse’s body against his AND SHE WAS LETTING HIM!

  He froze not knowing what to do, but unable to open his arms to release her. Cheyenne and the world around them were forgotten as Charisse stiffened a little, but she didn’t push away.

  Instead, she turned around in his arms and leaned her head against his shoulder. Barely she whispered, “Let’s go home, Parker.”

  He’d have carried her if she had allowed him, but he didn’t try. Yet she did allow him to keep his arm around her and she didn’t take her head off his shoulder as she walked out with him. Did she feel him shaking?

  No, because she was too busy trembling. Once they were outside she stopped walking and then her body relaxed again on him and if his arm had not been around her waist, she probably would have collapsed to the ground.

  Suddenly, she started to cry and Parker moved his other arm around her to hold her closer, relishing her heat and the feel of her against him.

  “I’m here, Charisse. I promise.”

  She cried harder and the more he comforted her, the harder she cried. It was as if his words of comfort and support were making her feel worse. Wanting to get out of there, he ignored good sense and carried her to the car. He wanted to hurry and get her home.

  ‘Would she let him touch her more once they arrived home?’ He wondered as he gently set her on the passenger seat and then hurried up to get on the driver’s side.

  Chapter 31

  The woman’s unique tannish brown eyes, thick long Indian black hair against beautiful light brown hazelnut skin, should have given Charisse a clue as to whom this woman was, but for the life of her she really couldn’t click with her memory right away. She was about a couple of inches taller than Charisse and even dressed in the employee standard starch white shirt and dark brown pants with a white apron around her waist, she was slim built, almost malnutritioned.

  Either because Charisse was just too sexually upset or that the distinctive African American beauty really caught her off guard, no clue as to when she’d met this woman came to mind.

  “Are you really for real, Char?” the woman asked amazed. “As many times as you put me in lock down? You can’t remember me? Bet’cha if I tell you something dirty– “

  “Nevada?” she suddenly remembered.

  The woman smiled a mischievous grin. “So you do remember. I’m not mad at you for putting me away, Char. That gave me a lot of alone time and a girl like me didn’t have hardly any with all the boys chasing after me.�
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  “Not that I want to remember you and I didn’t see you fighting them off that much. You’re the dirty girl as the inmates put it. The one who took sick pleasure in trying to sexually corrupt me with all of your knowledge. When did you get out?”

  Nevada blushed and Charisse really couldn’t remember Nevada looking this nice, but the facility wasn’t much on making anyone look his or her best.

  “Or did you finally get your chance to fuck for your freedom?”

  She wasn’t the least bit offended by Charisse’s crudeness and even laughed. “So you heard some of what I said to you.”

  “I heard it alright, but I don’t remember you being so pretty.”

  “This face of mine is what got me in there in the first place. It was hard work being ugly,” she said with another chuckle.

  Remembering why she’d come in there and even addressed her, Charisse looked back at the cell phone Nevada had been talking on. “Can I use your phone, Nevada? It’s really urgent.”

  “If you’re in some kind of trouble, I could help.”

  “I’ll be fine after I have a fit on the phone.”

  Nevada handed her the phone. “I’ll do you one better and hang outside to give you some privacy.”

  Remembering Kimberly’s number after the fourth try, a young girl answered the phone. “Hello, Gates residence.”

  By this time Charisse had raised up her panic again. “Can I please speak to Kimberly Gates?” she asked urgently.

  “Hold on,” the girl said in her most polite voice, but when she set the phone down, she hollered in the background, “Momma, there’s a woman on the phone sounding like she’s about to have a nervous breakdown.”

  A few seconds later, Kimberly picked up the phone, “Charisse?”

  “I’m not having a nervous breakdown!” Charisse cried hysterically.

  “Calm down,” Kimberly said. “Of course you’re not. Did you go to dinner with your sister? Is that why you’re upset?”

  “I’m here now. I’m sick to my stomach of my sister who’s nothing but a manipulative bitch,” she sneered. “Can you believe she had the audacity to wear almost the same dress as I? Am I that transparent? Am I that easy to read? Do I look that stupid?”

  “I told you to change.”

  “I did.”

  “Good. That must have thrown her off a little bit along with your cattiness, which I’m sure you brought to the table. So everything is all good.”

  She knew Kimberly was trying to make her feel better, yet since they were speaking of the problem at hand, nothing Kimberly was saying was doing the mission. “No it’s not good, Kim, because now Parker’s ogling me across the table and he’s remembering.“

  Kimberly gasped, “He knows!”

  “Not yet! Oh my gawd! I can’t go back there. The way he made me feel when he was looking at me. I can’t hide it.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m in the bathroom having a panic attack.”

  “Charisse, listen to me. First, calm down. Breathe.”

  Charisse started panting hard.

  “Not like you’re having labor pains, Charisse,” Kimberly said firmly. “Take deep breaths. That’s it. Slowly in and now slowly out. Feel better?”

  Forcing herself to listen to Kimberly’s voice did help her immensely and she gathered her wits together.

  “Secondly,” Kimberly continued. “You’re going to tell yourself you control your life. Not anyone else can or will do it from this point on. If you don’t want to be there with your sister or listen to anything she has to say, take Jaelen’s advice and make an exit.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Third,” Kimberly said, ignoring Charisse just said something. “You’re going to stop saying what you can’t do and just do what you can to make yourself feel better. The guilt alone is going to drive you insane. Now get back out there and when this is all done, go home and get a lot of rest. I’ll come visit tomorrow night.”

  “Kim,” Charisse said in a small relieved voice.

  “Yes, Charisse?”

  “Thanks for saying what I was thinking deep down inside.”

  “That’s what real sisters are for. We’re there to build you up, not tear you down. If you want to get over this guilt panic Charisse, all you have to do is tell him the truth.”

  “I’ll try,” Charisse promised before hanging up and then calling Nevada back in the bathroom.

  “You got things straightened up?”

  “Not really, but I’ll have to face my fears sooner or later, right? Thanks so much.” She handed her the phone. “I put my phone number and address in there if you want to keep in touch.”

  Nevada smiled honored. “Thanks. I’m moving around so I don’t have a permanent residence right now.”

  “That’s alright,” Charisse said and nervously fidgeted.

  “You look like you’re really in a bind,” Nevada noticed.

  “I am. I really screwed up and made some horrible decision that ended up deceiving someone I really care about.”

  “Is it a guy?”

  Charisse nodded.

  “Since I’m such an expert on guys, I’ve found that if you’re honest with them before they find out the truth, forgiveness happens faster. One of my guardians used to say never put off tomorrow what you can do today.”

  “I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

  Nevada snorted, “Oh please. I’ve seen you take down two giant orderlies and escape out five restraining jackets. You’re crazy and you’ve taken yourself out three times.” She sounded highly impressed. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?”

  Charisse could only smile at Nevada’s weird advice and noted that the woman didn’t seem as demented as she had been at the facility.

  ‘Death won’t come by being truthful to him,’ she told herself. ‘He’ll be really angry and maybe he will hate you, but at least you’d have a clean conscience and you wouldn’t have him comparing you to Chyna and Cheyenne.’

  Living was so complicated when one started feeling.

  Holding her stomach with one hand and the locket with the other, she prayed for strength, took a deep breath and charged out of the bathroom before she lost her nerve walking in long strides until she arrived at the table.

  In her peripheral vision, she could see the liaison barely staying up with her, but that didn’t bother her. The fact at seeing Cheyenne leaning provocatively over the table at Parker sparked her fire until she heard what Parker was saying about different fathers. She remembered hearing a little of this with that Onyx lady, but then the information really clicked this time, but what shook her was her sister’s reaction.

  The last time she had seen Cheyenne so upset was…

  She had dropped the gun after it had made a mistake and gone off, but that wasn’t the bullet that had killed Daddy. The blast had awakened him from his slow death and she looked deep in her father’s eyes. A tear had come down his cheek and he reached out for her. Falling to her knees, she leaned her face against his.

  “T-Thank you, baby. D-Don’t let them take the money. Fight… live… b-be stronger than I w-was. You deserve… all of it, n-not them. I l-love…“

  His voice had slowly faded out and Charisse cried knowing this day would finally come. He had often whispered in her ear about how she had to be strong and how they were plotting and planning to destroy him, but he had made sure they wouldn’t win.

  “You stupid weak bastard!” Cheyenne screamed, coming into the room. “Can’t you do anything right?! It has to be an accident!”

  Turning around from her father, Charisse grabbed the gun and stumped over to her sister angrily. “I’m calling for the doctor. Daddy’s hurt.” She started out the room, but Cheyenne dug her nails in her shoulder, spun her around and slapped her to the ground.

  The gun had dropped out her hand, but Cheyenne came over and dragged Charisse over to the gun.

  “Pick it up!” Cheyenne ordered.

 
“No!”

  For her resistance she was punched in the chest and the air was knocked out of her as Cheyenne manipulated her small fingers to pick up the gun. Somehow, Cheyenne got her to her feet and stood behind her with one arm around her neck, while the other one made Charisse grip the gun.

  “Pull the trigger, Charisse! Or you’ll die!”

  Charisse struggled until she got out of Cheyenne’s vicious grip. Cheyenne stood in front of her father and Charisse pointed the gun at her sister.

  “You hurt him. You and Momma did this, didn’t you!” she screamed hysterically. “You hurt my daddy because he wasn’t yours!”

  Cheyenne looked down at the gun. “You won’t shoot me, Charisse.”

  Charisse held the gun steady. “Yes, I will.”

  A noise behind her and out of her peripheral vision a dark figure came up behind her as a sharp pain hit her across the back of the head. The gun went off and she saw Cheyenne jump out of the way. The bullet struck her father and…

  And her mother screaming and then the beating and Cheyenne just standing there as Charisse cried out for help. Beside Cheyenne was the dark figure that had helped her and they were laughing.

  Fury filled her all over and she wanted to rip the hair out of Cheyenne’s head. Not only Cheyenne, but also all of them!

  Parker’s anger brought her out of her recollection and as she listened to him, guilt welled up in her.

  So intense was their vehemence toward each other neither had noticed Charisse until she cleared her throat.

  Blood rage filled Charisse as the truth filled her and made her stronger. She just wanted to never hear Cheyenne’s voice ever again and Kimberly was right, she didn’t have to be there if she didn’t want to. But the last straw was when her sister had the audacity to touch her. Not just touch her, but to dig her nails down in her flesh as if a vise grip had caught hold to her wrist.

  Anger won out over feeling the pain and laying serious hands on her sister was almost too pleasurable for words. When Charisse was suddenly yanked away before she could do more damage, her first instinct was to fight, but then the smell of warm Almond Joy surrounded her, calmed her and soothed her soul.