Black Obsession

by C. J. Thomas

  Leaning back in my chair, I let my gaze drift to the pastries .

  “Kelly, has he taken her to Mint ?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.” I blinked and rolled my head back to her .

  “He will,” she said confidently. “He always does.” Her forehead wrinkled. “That is, if he’s even still a member .”

  “I talked to Wes at the gala .”

  Sylvia sprang forward. “Did he confirm it ?”

  Subtly shaking my head, I said, “Nor did he deny it, though .”

  “Kelly, you’re the only one who will be able to get to the bottom of this. No one will believe my story—believe me when I tell them what Nash does to his women. It’s up to you to stop it before that new girl of his is found dead .”

  Holding up my hand, I said, “Relax. What do you think I’m doing ?”

  She sighed and looked away .

  “Wes invited me to come check out his nightclub .”

  “Shit, Nash is back. He’s taking that girl with him. Why else would Wes invite you there?” Jealousy flashed across her face .

  Shrugging, I said, “We don’t know that yet .”

  She slapped her hands flat on the table. “Kelly, you need to warn that woman before it’s too late .”

  “Relax.” My brows pinched. “I don’t know if he’s even back to spending his nights at Mint. I need to confirm when he first stopped visiting—” My phone buzzed with a text. Pulling it out of my pocket, I quickly opened the message to find an image of Oscar’s car parked outside of Madam’s building. I lifted my gaze to Sylvia, “—or if he ever did stop .”

  “I told you already.” Sylvia jabbed the packet that held Maria’s photos with her finger. “He stopped and it was after her death .”

  Lifting my eyes off of my phone’s screen, I barked, “Then you shouldn’t mind me confirming it .”

  “Do what you have to do, but you’re wasting your time .”

  Then my phone rang .

  Waiting for the caller ID to catch up, Sylvia reminded me, “And if his new girlfriend dies, don’t come crying to me. I’ve warned you about what we both know is coming for her .”

  Glaring at Sylvia, I answered my phone, not wanting to think about Alex being the next victim to die at the hands of a killer; a murderer whose name we still weren’t certain we knew. “Maxwell, was that who I think it was ?”

  “You were right, sir. Oscar and Madam are definitely up to something .”

  “Do you have eyes on him ?”

  “He’s inside meeting with her now .”

  Glancing across the table at Sylvia, I wondered what the Madam was doing meeting with Oscar. If Maxwell was able to track Oscar down there, then anyone could connect the dots and start digging into all of our paths, exposing the secrets that we all shared. Gathering my things, I covered the mic on my phone and told Sylvia, “Something’s come up. I’ve gotta go .”

  “So soon?” She threw her head back and groaned. “Kelly, I need to know what you find out .”

  Nodding, I turned my back and hurried to the exit telling Maxwell, “Keep your head down. We can’t let them know I’m on my way .”

  “You got it, sir .”

  “And Maxwell ?”

  “Sir?”

  “Good work,” I said, feeling vindicated for the effort that brought us here—one step closer to learning the truth of who Madam was secretly working with behind my back .

  And I couldn’t wait to see it with my own eyes .

  29

  Kendra

  I t was already too late.

  The Madam knew .

  And there was nothing I could do to conceal the truth. That was the thing about photos. They seemed to live forever. Even when you wanted so badly to destroy them .

  Madam waved me inside her office, directing me to take a seat opposite her. My feet dragged over the floor and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. She had the Hollywood Reporter sitting on her desk. It didn’t surprise me that she had it out for all to see. If she hadn’t told me to come by before the photo was taken, she certainly would have insisted on a meeting after the photo broke this morning .

  “Where’s Jerome?” I asked, hoping to delay the conversation I didn’t want to have .

  “Running some errands.” Her eyes glowed above her cherry red lips .

  “Huh,” I said under my breath, falling into the seat across from her .

  The entire ride here, I’d hoped that what Alex told me wasn’t true. That my face hadn’t been printed on the front page of one of LA’s largest celebrity publications. But I knew it the moment Alex said it. It was the truth, and it wasn’t something that I could just wish away, hoping it had never happened .

  “So,” Madam folded her white-gloved hands on top of her desk and straightened her spine, “did you enjoy the gala ?”

  Last night was a blur. Everything happened so fast. I was still reeling from the ups and downs, the different emotions of the night. I didn’t know how best to respond. I enjoyed it, and then I didn’t. And with Kelly leaving so suddenly, it was impossible to look into Madam’s sharp eyes without experiencing feelings of regret that knotted my belly. I’d told her too much. Let my guard slip, and now I was on edge preparing for the moment she would take advantage of my weakness .

  “I think so,” I murmured, still able to see the bright bulbs flashing, lighting up the dark night .

  Madam chortled .

  Sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, we shared a glance to the city’s new favorite couple—Kelly and me .

  “Looks like the media has made you an item.” Madam smirked .

  “Hope they don’t get too attached,” I said, shifting in my seat. “Thirty days isn’t a whole lot of time .”

  Shaking her head, Madam added, “In this city, a month is a lifetime .”

  Her comment got me to grin. And as I sat there staring at the way Kelly and I looked together—like the next best power couple to take America by storm—I couldn’t stop my head from wondering if Madam had her photo taken last night, too. With as many reporters as there were waiting outside Ty Lemon’s mansion, I didn’t know how anyone could have escaped them. “I assume your photo was taken as well .”

  Madam tipped her head back and cackled. “Oh, no honey. Madam is much too smart to allow that to happen .”

  My brows pinched, wondering how she did it. Like a phantom in the night, Madam could disappear as easily as she came without ever drawing too much attention to her. She was by far one of the most calculating women I knew and it served her well .

  Her knowing eyes searched my soul before she dropped her gaze back to the supermarket tabloid cover. “Though this wasn’t the story I was expecting to see come out from the gala .”

  The crown of my head reached toward the ceiling. “No ?”

  “You saw him there, too.” She glanced at me from under her arched brow. “Timothy Parker.” One corner of her mouth curled upward into a smirk. “Did you manage to say hello ?”

  Casting my gaze to my fidgeting fingers I shook my head, choosing to remain hidden under my swooshing bangs gliding across my forehead like wipers on a windshield .

  “Darling, that’s a shame .”

  I flickered my eyes up to hers just as her frown vanished .

  Her brows raised high on her head. “You know, sweetie, he’s been asking about you .”

  A stabbing stich in my side twisted as I thought back to the conversation Kelly insisted we have about what I discussed with Madam. I knew the real reason I was brought in today, and it had nothing to do with the gala or why I didn’t take the time to greet Timothy. I called her out last night about setting Kelly up to find me with Timothy, knowing he would react the way he did. So why she was telling me these things now had me scratching my head .

  Searching her desk, I knew there was a delivery waiting for me somewhere. But it wasn’t out in the open like the tabloid. Madam was working down her list of points she wanted to discuss and knew exactly what she was
doing. Unfortunately for me, no matter how much I wanted to just get on with learning about my next delivery, she wasn’t through discussing Kelly .

  “It’s Kelly, isn’t it?” She tsked. “He doesn’t want you to speak with Timothy ?”

  “Can you blame him ?”

  Madam gave a dismissive nod. “You continue to surprise me, darling .”

  One brow arched as my lids narrowed .

  “Whatever you’re doing to keep Kelly calm—” she turned her head and looked away, “—especially with the challenges he’s currently facing,” her eyes rolled back to me, “keep doing it .”

  Tucking my hair behind my ear, I was quickly reminded of Kelly and the way he fisted my hair as he drilled me from behind. I hadn’t been feeling well since learning of his arrest. I was worried for him—for our future—but I knew the exact reason why Kelly seemed to be able to keep his emotions in check, and it had everything to do with me .

  Feeling Madam’s intense gaze locked on me, I glanced down my front. Memories of Kelly taking his frustration out on me had my nipples tightening, reminding me of the way he clamped them to follow the rhythm of his thrusts .

  But I knew the truth .

  And Kelly wasn’t as calm as Madam thought he was .

  Inside he was grappling with the challenges he faced, tormented by the obstacles ahead .

  Madam sighed when opening her side desk drawer. “Not to waste any more of your time,” her smile hit her eyes, “I need you to deliver this for me .”

  I watched as Madam slid a similar sized package as my previous deliveries across her desk. “To Emmanuel’s ?”

  “Actually, no.” She lifted her hand to her head, lightly patting her perfect hair. “It’s a new destination. The instructions are inside .”

  I flicked my eyes to the package .

  “I trust you won’t have any problems.” She held her chin high, exposing the diamonds hanging off her neck. “But, if you do, call the number on the card .”

  Running an unsteady hand through my hair, I couldn’t help but regret my decision to take on Alex’s debt owed to Madam. I did want out. Everything I told Kelly was true. And now that Kelly knew my desire to leave, I was afraid that word would get back to Madam—if she didn’t already know .

  “About what you said at the gala,” Madam broke the silence that had settled between us, “about Kelly — ”

  My eyes came alive .

  “—I’ve been thinking.” Madam straightened the bangles on her wrist before removing the tabloid from her desk .

  Suddenly, my eyes popped out of my head when I saw who was hiding beneath. “Is that Nora?” I lurched forward. “Why do you have a picture of Nora?” My face twisted in confusion .

  “Oh, yes.” Madam’s eyes glanced at the picture of Kelly’s wife. “I nearly forgot.” Madam settled back in her chair with exaggerated nonchalance .

  “Forgot?” The crease between my brows deepened. “Forgot about what ?”

  Turning her head to the window, Madam said, “I’ve been thinking about what you said at the gala .”

  My mind swirled to recall everything we’d discussed .

  “And I think you were right.” She rolled her head back, fixing her eyes on me .

  The last breath I inhaled caught in my throat as I heard the faint pounding of my heartbeat between my ears. Did I hear her right? Was she admitting she was wrong? I had to be misunderstanding her but her expression said otherwise .

  “You deserve to know why Kelly’s wife killed herself .”

  I sank back into my chair, covering my mouth with one hand. My eyes were round and, though they were open, I was deep inside my head wrestling with my own thoughts. Madam’s words hit me like a semi-truck and now that I was about to learn the reason why Nora did what she did, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer .

  “Nora was a sweetheart.” Madam’s voice was calm, sprinkling her words with a little remorse. “She was the type of woman you would take home to Mom .”

  Madam nodded, so sure of herself, as I sat there wide-eyed, listening. And though my heart was beating fiercely inside my chest, I felt numb, cold .

  “It’s not my place to tell you the specifics.” She paused to wet her lips. “I don’t want to speak for Kelly, but let’s just say that Nora wouldn’t have killed herself if it wasn’t for what he did .”

  My lids fluttered as I refocused my lenses, letting them land on Madam’s reluctant face .

  She couldn’t be saying what I thought she was saying. Nora took her own life because of what Kelly did? What could he have done? And if he didn’t do whatever it was she was hinting at, would Nora still be alive? My heart ached, not knowing if Kelly was the man I thought he was. “You mean,” my brows pinched as my hands trembled, “Kelly killed her ?”

  The door swung open behind me. With fresh air rushing in, I turned to find Jerome working to catch his breath .

  “Sorry to interrupt,” he said to Madam, “but it’s time .”

  30

  Kelly

  T he pickup truck in front of me didn’t see me coming .

  Punching the gas, I swerved out of his way, avoiding a near collision .

  I leaned across the center console as I passed. He flipped up his middle finger and I laughed at the asshole who nearly side-swiped me .

  Letting my engine roar, I opened up my Audi TT and let her rip .

  With my hand firm on the wheel, I weaved through a couple more cars before finding the open road I was seeking in order to get to Madam before I was too late .

  Driving fast, I was thinking how strange it was feeling like I was getting control back over my life. Nash was closer to conviction, Mario was one day closer to freedom, and Kendra was filling her role—the role I asked her to play—better than I could have ever imagined. But despite my good vibes, my head was continuously stuck on Maria and Sylvia .

  Topping out my speedometer’s RPMs I shifted to a higher gear, watching my speed continue to climb .

  If what Sylvia was saying was true, Nash could have been the one to kill Maria. And with time running out to make my final attempt to save Mario, I needed to know for sure. I couldn’t speculate. The judge would need evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, and inside I felt like we were close .

  There was only one way to do that—get inside Mint and see if Nash was there with Alex, just like Sylvia suspected he would be. If he was, then his alibi of dropping his membership to Mint before Maria’s murder would be null and void .

  Pressing in the clutch, I dropped a gear, spun the wheel, and leaned my shoulder into the turn. The tires squealed as I zipped around the corner, eager to see if Madam was really meeting with that douche, Oscar Buchanan .

  Glancing at the clock on the dash, it had only been four minutes since I’d first gotten behind the wheel. And though it didn’t seem like a whole lot of time had passed, it was still four minutes that could mean the difference between me catching them in the act or me going back to the office and back to the drawing board .

  Keeping my eye out for cops, I couldn’t stop my mind from playing over my meeting with Sylvia .

  She had gone through so much these past couple of weeks. My heart went out for her. She was the first to bring Maria’s death to my attention, then, immediately after, she was hit with death threats of her own. And today it was the fear and hesitation that underlined her response to my questions. I could see it, feel it, and the only relief I could offer was to go back to Nash and increase the pressure in hopes I could get him to admit what we both believed he had done. Because the images of what she said he did to her were horrendous .

  Wiping my nose with the backside of my hand, I suppressed the remorse of making such a big assumption without ever knowing for certain—that Nash had been the one to end their short relationship .

  But now I knew why Sylvia ended it with him .

  Erasing my mind of her images wasn’t going to be easy. I could still see the pain in her swollen eyes. She didn’t wa
nt that. Nash should have recognized that. Listened to her pleas to stop. But he didn’t. And now it was looking like he was repeating the pattern, thinking he’d gotten away with Maria’s death—and could do it again .

  Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I felt the beginnings of a headache coming on .

  I couldn’t blame Sylvia for leaving him. Who would want to stick around and be with a monster like that? Even with his reputation and billionaire status, Nash was no Dom. Doms didn’t destroy or create fear. They committed to their partners, created the escape through submission .

  My eyes narrowed as the faint beat of my heart tapped against my sternum .

  I hated that Kendra had seen Maria’s photos, that she knew what happened to her. She was right, I should have never brought her with me to confront Nash about his relationship with Maria. And I hated the fact that Kendra had already questioned my intention to lead her down this path—like she might be having doubts of her own—all while painting a dangerous picture of Nash when it could so easily have been me standing in his shoes .

  The contradiction .

  The irony .

  The agony and grief. It was all there, chipping away at my soul, one paradox at a time .

  But I wasn’t Nash. I would never do anything that Kendra wouldn’t ask of me .

  Flipping on my blinker, I merged off the highway .

  Rolling up to a stop sign, I came to a complete stop and rubbed my face inside both my hands. A sour taste filled my mouth. The bile in my stomach churned as I feared my nightmare of Nash being the one to have killed Maria was coming true .

  Blowing out a heavy breath, I took my foot off the brake. The wheels of my car started rolling once again and it was important to not forget the similarities between Sylvia and Maria. The marks and bruises were identical. No one could speak for Maria, but Sylvia was doing a damn good job at convincing me what was possible .

  But there was still something that kept my heels dug into the dirt .

  Glancing through my windshield, I couldn’t stop thinking how a jealous look flashed across Sylvia’s face when I was talking about visiting Mint. Though it was not long-lived, the look was there. And I knew what I’d seen. Then, when I combined it with her adamant claim to when she was sure Nash stopped attending Wes’s nightclub and how it conflicted with what everyone else was saying, I wasn’t sure what to think .