Black Obsession

by C. J. Thomas

  Shoving my hand through my hair, I needed a drink of water. And I also needed to remain unbiased to the opinions I sought as I worked to answer these questions myself .

  A light turned yellow and I gunned it. Flying through a red light, I whipped through two cars’ hoods about to sandwich me, dodging getting hit by mere centimeters .

  Laughing through the rush of adrenaline, my limbs began to tingle as I got closer to Madam’s .

  There was an excitement coursing through me, hopeful that the answers I sought to find started here, with Madam and the associate she was working with to make my life miserable .

  My muscles tensed when thinking that Madam had already given up on me. I knew she was pissed about Mario pleading down. Angry that I couldn’t get the information about Stone to her before I lost access to the client I’d let slip between my fingers once already. But if what Maxwell saw was true, then not only would this confirm my suspicions I was being played, but it would also present a much larger problem to work through than the hurdle I was already having to jump over with Nash .

  And this fight would be much tougher to win than any I had fought before. A battle with lasting consequences to whoever lost .

  Slowing my vehicle to a crawl, I wiped my sweaty palms on my thigh .

  Adrenaline pumped through my veins, keeping my senses on high alert .

  Faces peeked through windows while others stopped to stare .

  I was coming in from the opposite side of the neighborhood from where I knew Maxwell to be parked. And as soon as I passed under a large oak tree, my eyes widened at the sight of Madam’s red brick building .

  It was go time, I thought as I readjusted my grip on the steering wheel .

  Maxwell was parked in the SUV exactly where he said he would be. And as soon as he saw me coming, he turned his key over and started up his car. Slowly rolling past me, we exchanged a subtle nod. With his job now over I settled in, keeping my eye on the bright red car parked along the curb .

  “Un-fucking-believable,” I said under my breath as I passed the C7 Corvette, knowing exactly whose it was .

  It was a beautiful car. A luxurious ride. And there was only one person in the entire city who I knew owned that type of car—Oscar Buchanan, Los Angeles’s District Attorney .

  Pulling to the side a couple hundred feet past the DA’s car, I killed my engine and immediately angled my rearview mirror to a position I could see Madam’s entrance. It was the only way in or out, the one we all took when stepping into Madam’s world. And now it was only a matter of time before Oscar revealed his ugly face, confirming that they were in fact conspiring against me .

  My mind raced to guess what it was they were up to now. And my toes tapped with feelings that this was definitely connected to the phone call Madam made to him just before Mario pleaded down. Praying that this was a meeting to convince Oscar to drop the charges being brought against me by Parker, I knew it was a pipe-dream. Madam set me and Kendra up—wanted me to fight Parker—and now it was her and Oscar making sure that I got arrested .

  Letting my head hit the headrest, I sighed .

  Lucky for her, she got what she was after .

  Blood rushed to my groin as memories of taking Kendra in the shower flooded my mind. I wasn’t kidding when I said that I would make sure Parker never laid a hand on her ever again. Balling my hand into a tight fist, I imagined breaking his nose the next time I saw him .

  When I opened my eyes I caught Janine in the mirror, entering the building .

  But despite my promise to protect Kendra from another man’s pursuit, it wasn’t going to be enough to convince her to stop asking about how Nora died. I hated that she’d witnessed my nightmare. Hated that I selfishly sought her protection in an effort to escape the regrets of my past. And when I slipped my cell phone out of my pocket, I thought about calling her just to see what she was up to, who she was with .

  Suddenly, my thoughts of Kendra vanished when I saw Oscar trotting down the stairs from the entrance .

  Sinking down low in my seat, I watched the DA swivel his head on his shoulders, looking around suspiciously like he didn’t want to be seen .

  “What are you up to asshole?” I murmured, hoping to remain undetected. “You can’t take me out without me breaking a couple of your bones first .”

  Oscar turned back to the door and waved for someone to follow .

  The sun hit the door’s glass perfectly when it opened, blinding me from seeing who hid behind. It could have been anyone. Madam. Jerome. Janine. Or even one of Madam’s many escorts .

  Time dragged as I waited to see who it was .

  “C’mon,” I said to myself, drumming my hand on my bouncing knee .

  Then my breath caught in my chest and my heart stopped when I saw who Oscar had with him .

  “Holy fuck.” I whipped my body around in my seat, needing to see his brown face with my own two eyes. Looking through the back windshield, I couldn’t believe it. It was him. The last person on earth I’d expected to see following Oscar to his car .

  Mario fuckin’ Jimenez .

  31

  Kendra

  P assing Janine’s desk on my way out, I wondered what had Jerome panting like a dog .

  “Good to see you too, Janine,” I joked as I passed her empty desk. I was glad she wasn’t here. There was too much on my mind. Too many puzzle pieces scattered without a clue to what the final picture would look like when put together .

  Pushing through the front glass doors, I was relieved to be leaving Madam’s .

  The way she rushed through my meeting had me questioning this delivery. It wasn’t the package or what I knew was inside. Nothing was new there. It was the feelings swishing around my insides—my instinct telling me that things were getting out of control. And fast .

  Everything was unraveling .

  I couldn’t explain it .

  But I could feel it .

  There was a buzz in the air. A crackling in my eardrums. The kind that made your hair stand on end just before lightning struck. And that was what was making me flee this building quicker today than each visit before .

  Sucking back a breath, I looked up and down the street before skipping down the front steps. It was hot today. No clouds to shelter me from the intense heat blaring down upon me. As soon as my feet landed at the bottom, I turned up the block and hurried down the sidewalk, knowing my lift would be arriving soon .

  Sweat formed on my brow and I kept my head down to the ground, galloping forward. I couldn’t stop thinking what Madam implied just before we were interrupted—that Kelly was the reason Nora killed herself .

  Clenching my stomach, I couldn’t deny how much sense it made .

  There was no way I could tell Madam about Kelly’s nightmare I’d witnessed or how he woke up in a cold sweat after thrashing in bed yelling for someone to hurry up and help. This was the reason why Kelly wanted to keep her death a secret—because he was the reason she was gone .

  Gathering my hair inside my hands I pulled it back, tying it into a ponytail trying to ignore the empty feeling filling my stomach .

  My heart wanted me to tell Madam what I’d seen—how Kelly woke up from the dream he’d had. But I knew that was impossible. I’d learned my lesson and I couldn’t ever open up to Madam again. It was too dangerous. Too uncertain. Even if she did deserve to know why Kelly was acting the way he was .

  Picking up my pace, I continued my canter up the street in long strides .

  The same thought spiraled in my brain, playing on repeat between my ears .

  Kelly killed Nora .

  I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Couldn’t stop repeating it. I mumbled it and tried to squeeze it out. But nothing worked .

  Even if it was unintentional, I couldn’t begin to guess what he’d done to make her take such extreme measures. Though he never confirmed it, I knew he’d found her dead. And I could only imagine how awful that day must have been for him .

  Kelly pushed he
r over the edge to her death .

  My scalp prickled as I lifted my head, mulling over the revelation. A black SUV passed on the street and I caught the color in the corner of my eye. Without lingering on it for too long, I was certain I knew whose it was .

  That was Kelly’s black SUV. The same one he had driven me in a dozen times before. And he was on his way to the Madam’s. But for what ?

  Without slowing down my relentless pace I glanced over my shoulder, needing to take a second look .

  There was no doubt in my mind it was his. The dark tinted windows and spinning chrome wheels were the final identifiable marks that made me certain it was Kelly’s. There was no mistaking it, he was here—but for me or for the Madam ?

  Turning my head forward, I closed my eyes and felt my face twist with agony .

  Bella, who do you belong to ?

  Coughing, I remembered the dark abyss that made up his eyes as I chocked on his dick cutting off the oxygen to my lungs. I remembered it well. I belonged to him. And I also remembered him reminding me that he was always in control .

  Tightening my jaw, my eyes flickered open .

  My body temperature spiked and my insides tremored with the fear of him seeing me here. I wasn’t ready to face him with what Madam just told me. I needed time to process the information, make sense of it. Because, God knew, there wasn’t any way I could look Kelly in the eye and pretend that I didn’t know that he may have been the reason why Nora took her own life .

  When I heard my phone chirp inside my purse, I knew my ride had arrived .

  Looking up the block, it didn’t take me long to find the familiar sedan housing the Uber logo in the back window, waiting with brake lights flashing red. A smile curved my face and I was happy to know it was Lucky who would be taking me across town .

  As soon as I was within reach, I yanked the backdoor open. Taking a moment to pause, I glanced once more behind my shoulder to find myself staring at the back of Kelly’s car .

  He was parked off to the side, and though it was impossible for me to see inside, I was sure he was sitting behind the wheel. Staring. Waiting to catch me coming out .

  Swallowing down the bile burning my throat, I shook my head with disgust, hating how it seemed like he would go out of his way just to spy on me. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Working with Madam wasn’t a secret. It was only these deliveries I didn’t want him to know about .

  Ducking my head I slid inside the back of Lucky’s car, grateful to be one step ahead of Kelly’s power trip, knowing that I could call him out on it later. “I should have known it would be you .”

  Lucky turned and looked over his shoulder, smiling. “Miss Kendra. I’ve been wondering when I was going to get your call .”

  “Ahh … you’ve been waiting?” I teased .

  “You might not believe this, but not all my customers are like you .”

  My brows pinched. “I hope that’s a good thing ?”

  “Yes.” He laughed, turning around and facing front. “That’s a very good thing .”

  Reaching across my lap, I buckled in as soon as we began to drive. “Lucky, have you had a woman in here ?”

  His eyes crinkled with amusement as he puffed up his chest .

  “Tell me about her.” My eyes drifted to the world outside, relieved to be inside his air-conditioned car, somehow finding it relaxing to inhale the fresh feminine scent I assumed was from a previous customer .

  Lucky laughed. “You know the old saying.” His eyes shifted to the rearview mirror, catching my gaze. “Don’t kiss and tell .”

  My brows raised, surprised to hear the romantic undertone lacing his choice of words. “So, have you been seeing each other long ?”

  “Brand new.” He nodded. “Hmm. Hmm .”

  Traffic was light and because of it, we moved quickly through the center of town .

  “Hey.” I twirled my finger through my hair, nervous to be asking. “Can I ask you something ?”

  His lips flattened in response to the tone in my voice .

  “You remember that nightclub you told me you take women to ?”

  He shifted in his seat, hiding any chance of me seeing his brown eyes reflecting back in the rearview mirror. The uplifting mood we’d started the ride with was now gone, but I knew that I needed to hear his answer .

  “Have you been there recently ?”

  Silence filled the car and in that moment, I missed the beach tunes he normally liked to play .

  “Fine. I understand if you can’t discuss it with me.” I turned my head to the window and tried to decide what had originally got me curious .

  It could have been my worry for Alex’s safety. The images of Maria’s battered and dead body. Or the fact that Angelina Davis had a unique way of surprising me at the most inopportune times. I still had a feeling that Madam knew more about her than she admitted. What her angle was, I wasn’t sure. But if she kept finding ways to cross paths with me, it would only be a matter time before I found out who she really was .

  Lucky casually drove in silence, refusing to answer my questions. And since I wasn’t going to press him, my thoughts soon drifted back to Kelly before we finally arrived to my destination .

  “The place doesn’t look open.” Lucky slowed the car and peered out the passenger side window as he pulled to the curb .

  “I guess I’ll find out.” Unbuckling myself I said, “Lucky, I’m sorry if what I asked made you uncomfortable — ”

  His head fell to his chest as he nodded .

  “—but I need you to do me a favor .”

  He lifted his head and turned to look over his shoulder. Pulling out my phone, I showed him a picture of Kelly. It was the one of us taken by the paparazzi last night at Ty Lemon’s gala. The same image the entire world was now talking about .

  “If you do happen to make a visit to that club, can you please keep your eye out for this man ?”

  Nodding, he asked, “And how can I tell you if I do see him ?”

  Smiling, I said, “We always seem to find each other. Don’t you worry about that.” I winked, opening the car door and saying my goodbye .

  As soon as I shut the door, he left without saying another word. No good wishes, no asking if I would like him to wait for me. And though I wasn’t going to hold that against him, I did consider it a bit strange from a person I thought I knew .

  Facing the building, I glanced up at the sign for the new salon. It was bright, fresh, and I could still smell the newly finished scent. Stepping to the door, I pulled on the handle to find it locked .

  “Fucking Madam,” I cursed under my breath, growing to hate these errands she was making me run .

  Peeking through the window, there wasn’t any sign of life. Yet again, everything looked brand spanking new. This must have been the place Emmanuel and his crew were preparing to open when I had visited his warehouse. And I could only hope that maybe he would at least hook me up with some free items before I turned around and headed home .

  Moving to the shade, I dug in my purse, pulling out the package. Not wanting to waste another minute of my day, I knew that I needed to find the phone number Madam said would be inside—the one to call if I experienced any trouble .

  Pulling the tab open, I peeked inside only to find the heavy block wrapped in a second envelope. The card was at the bottom and when I pulled it free, it only took a fraction of a second to realize it was the business card that matched the salon I was staring at .

  Dialing the number circled with pen, I lifted my phone to my ear and waited for it to ring .

  A shiver worked its way down my spine .

  I turned to face the street with feelings like I was being watched .

  Searching the building’s windows, I saw nothing .

  The line continued to ring, my eyes searching the street .

  When I turned back to the building, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Squinting into the sun’s glare, I watched a long camera lens recoil back inside a da
rk vehicle parked a block up the street .

  “Leave me alone,” I growled quietly as I cursed the paparazzi that seemed to have followed me here .

  A second later, the line clicked over and a man’s voice answered. “What can I do for you ?”

  “I’m here on special delivery and the door is locked .”

  “Come around back. I’ll let you in there .”

  Tucking away my phone, I hated that life as I’d always known it would never be the same. Not with my face becoming the interest of the town .

  Marching down the block, I turned the corner and quickly found the back alley where I began counting off the buildings until I stopped on the one I knew was the back of the salon .

  I didn’t know how the media found me here, but they did. Unless they managed to tail me from Madam’s, it didn’t make sense. All I knew was that I needed to make this quick before those assholes really did ruin my day and I woke up tomorrow to find another story written about me .

  Rapping my knuckles against the metal door I cast my gaze to my shuffling feet, feeling the vibrations rumble the ground beneath. And just when I was about to knock again, the door cracked open .

  Emmanuel hid behind the door and even though I couldn’t see his full face, I knew it was him. It was his paranoid eyes hiding behind narrowed slits. He first eyed me before checking the alley .

  “Well, are you going to let me in?” I asked .

  He licked his chops as if debating whether or not he should. Then he looked behind his shoulder, taking another minute to decide .

  “Or you can just take this, here—” My hand dove into my purse, retrieving the package .

  “No,” he barked as if not wanting to expose the package. “C’mon inside.” He finally opened the door wide enough to allow me to slither inside. “I have something for you, too .”