by C. J. Thomas
Stepping into the dark back room, I was once again relieved to be escaping the heat. “I hope it’s the perfume I like .”
He laughed under his breath as he motioned for me to follow him toward the front .
The smell of shampoo and conditioner filled my head with sweet floral scents that reminded me of my own spa I preferred to visit. Pulling the tops open on a few boxes I passed, Emmanuel reached for my wrist, yanking me along .
“What’s the rush ?”
With his hand on my back, he pushed me to the front. “No rush.” He reached to the shelf and plucked something off the top. “Just wanted to give you this gift .”
“For me?” I extended my hands to the bottle of perfume. “You shouldn’t have .”
He pulled back before I could get my hands on it. “First, you have something for me ?”
“I do. But if that’s what I get in return,” my eyes pointed to the perfume, “then I think your product is way overpriced .”
Without so much as a smirk, he glanced over his shoulder when we both heard a noise coming from the room off the hallway leading to the back .
“What was that?” My brows pinched as my eyes darted between him and the door .
“Nothing.” He snapped his head back around, holding out his hand with palm up. “Do you have the package or what ?”
There was another set of loud bangs coming from the room .
“Who do you have back there ?”
Emmanuel jumped forward, stealing my purse away from me. I watched him find the package and drop the bottle of perfume in its place before tossing my purse back .
“It’s time for you to go.” Emmanuel started dragging me by the arm .
With a racing heart, I slapped at his grip just as a woman came rushing out of the back room behind me, crying. My eyes widened and the air got knocked out of me .
It was her .
Angel’s friend from the gala .
And she was wearing the same tanzanite earrings as the ones Madam gave to me .
Gasping, I covered my mouth, digging my heels into the waxed floor. Her half-clothed body stopped the moment she saw me. With round, scared eyes she wiped the tears from her cheeks as we both stared at each other with confusion filling our faces .
“Kendra!” Emmanuel snapped. “You have to go. Now !”
“What is she doing here ?”
But he was too strong. I couldn’t hold him back. Even after giving it all I had, eventually I lost the battle and I was being pushed out onto the sidewalk and into the glaring sun .
I screamed again for him to tell me what it was she was doing there. He never answered. Instead he slammed the door closed and locked me out .
Beating my palm against the window, I screamed, “Let me in, asshole !”
My voice faded into a raspy whisper as soon as I saw another familiar face emerge .
Blinking, I thought it couldn’t be him. But it was .
There in the back stood Timothy Parker filling the threshold of that forbidden room with no shirt and the front of his pants opened .
32
Kelly
S taying focused proved to be impossible .
Trust had always been a rare commodity in a city like Los Angeles, but after seeing Oscar leading Mario away from Madam’s office it seemed like I had been stabbed in the back by the very same woman who had long ago promised to build me up into the greatness she knew I could be .
Hunched over my desk I shuffled the images of Maria and Sylvia, comparing them next to each other. But I soon found myself wondering what Madam said to get Oscar to agree to work with her .
I’d lost her confidence the moment Mario pleaded down. She’d told me as much. But what had my blood boiling was how quick she was to replace me. I had this. I was determined to solve this. But now I wasn’t sure I could, knowing I might have to go it alone .
Pushing back away from the desk I smoothed my hand over my mouth, turning my gaze to the window .
Madam had dirt on all of us. It was why we couldn’t break our ties from her questionable activities without losing everything we had. That was the reason she was able to make us do the things she asked. And the fact that Oscar was showing his face outside her building had me questioning what she had on him .
I knew I couldn’t trust Oscar. Even before he faked adding my name to Stone’s list of approved visitors I’d kept vigilant. Helping orchestrate my arrest was unforgivable, but now, now that I knew he and Madam decided they didn’t need me and could just push me around like I didn’t have any weight to stand up for myself was cause for revenge .
My brows pinched as my jaw ticked with anger .
This may very well have been Oscar’s retaliation against me, still unable to forgive me for stealing Kendra away. But I swore that I would make my vengeance one hundred times worse than anything he could ever do to me .
A light knock on my door got me to swivel my chair around .
Giselle’s bright intelligent eyes were sparkling above her professionally pressed attire when she greeted me. “What’s going on? Have any updates for me ?”
Dropping my gaze to the photos spread across my desk like wrapping paper, she took a step forward, furrowing her brow. “Where did you get these ?”
Blowing out a heavy sigh, I rubbed my face with my hands. “She gave them to me .”
“Sylvia?” Her head jerked back .
Nodding, I plucked my two favorites off the top and handed them to Giselle. “Tell me what you notice about those two photos ?”
Her eyes narrowed and I watched her take a minute to study both images. “Who did this to her?” She lifted her gaze up to me. “And did she file a police report ?”
Leaning back, I threaded my fingers together. “Nash Brooks .”
Her eyes rounded as I watched her visibly hold her breath. “I knew it .”
“Are you saying that because that’s what you want to believe, or are you looking at the evidence I just shared?” Giselle had her sights set on Nash from the beginning .
“Kelly, look at these photos. Tell me you see it, too.” Her eyes fell back to the flimsy photographs. “These marks on both of them,” she fixed her eyes on me, “they’re identical .”
“I know .”
“Then how can you not know Nash is the one who killed Maria?” she growled as her eyes darted over my face. “Are you having doubts ?”
Swiveling my chair I angled my body toward the window, needing a minute to mull my thoughts over. Then, finally, I whispered, “I am .”
Falling into the empty chair across from me, Giselle started spinning the other images around to face her. “I don’t know, Kelly. You must be seeing something that I’m not. Because every day it seems more probable Nash should be taking Mario’s place .”
Watching a plane slice the sky in the distance, I said, “Something is off with Sylvia .”
“What, like when she gave these photos to you?” The lines on her forehead twisted. “I hope something seemed off. I can’t imagine it was easy for her to show you. They’re awful.” She frowned .
“Her story isn’t lining up.” I narrowed my eyes, still looking in the direction of where I’d lost sight of the plane. “The more I talk with her, the more I wonder if she isn’t somehow behind this .”
Turning my head, I found Giselle rapidly blinking. “Why would she do that ?”
“To get back at Nash .”
Giselle folded her arms over her chest, swinging one leg over the opposite knee, keeping an inquisitive eye on me just as my desk phone started ringing .
“It’s Wes,” I said when I saw his name flash across my caller ID .
Giselle rooted her hands on the arm rest of the chair, beginning to push herself up .
“Stay,” I said, knowing she wanted to give me privacy. “What can I do for you, Mr. Reid ?”
Wes’s laugh shook the line. “So formal. You must be having a tough day .”
“Just busy,” I lied. Tough wasn
’t a strong enough word to describe the day I was having .
“Busy is good. Look, Kelly, I was just calling to confirm my invite. If you’re still interested, I would love for you to join me at the club tomorrow night .”
“Is he going to be there ?”
Wes crunched on some ice and I could imagine his amused eyes crinkling with delight .
“Tell me Nash will be there, or will I just be wasting my time ?”
I watched Giselle’s foot swing as she sat staring at the photos, keeping one ear on my conversation .
“I talked with Parker at Lemon’s party .”
Bringing my elbows to the top of my desk, I pinched my brow and nodded. “I know. I saw .”
“He didn’t budge .”
“And you thought he would ?”
Wes chuckled. “If anyone could get him to drop the charges, it would be me .”
“But you couldn’t ?”
“No.” Wes paused. “Look, Kelly, Parker told me something I think you should hear .”
Glancing up to Giselle, I knew she could see my neck strain with what Wes was about to share next. I had my suspicions about what it was, but I needed to hear what he thought—what he’d heard .
“Oscar pressured him to do it .”
My eyes squeezed shut .
“Threatened Parker with investigating his own business for possible financial crimes .”
Leaning back, I sighed. I didn’t need Wes to tell me anymore. It was what I’d suspected all along. And even though I didn’t know the specifics until now, I knew that Madam was behind this. It had her name written all over it. The calculated orchestra. The moving of chess pieces. And she was ensuring things were moving along accordingly—all in preparation for what we believed was her grand scheme to take over the market once owned by Stone .
“Does anyone else know about this ?”
“Just the players involved .”
“If we get too close to Oscar we’ll be charged with obstructing justice .”
Giselle’s jaw was clenched when I caught her eye .
“It’s only going to get worse before it gets better,” Wes said in an even tone .
“I know.” Extending my arm I reached for my glass of water, needing to find relief for my parched throat. Swallowing down the cool liquid, I said, “And there’s more .”
The line went silent. But I knew Wes was still there .
“I saw Oscar at Madam’s earlier.” Fixing my eyes on Giselle, I wanted to make sure she heard this, too. “He was with someone .”
“I’m listening,” Wes said .
“He brought Mario Jimenez to speak to Madam .”
Giselle’s eyes lit up as she uncrossed her legs, leaning forward .
The line ruffled and I imagined Wes tipping his head back, rubbing his eyes .
“I’m certain she now knows more about Stone’s operation than anyone not already behind bars. It was what she was after all along .”
“Then we stick to our plan,” Wes said firmly. “Where are you with Stone ?”
“It’s taken a slight detour .”
“Don’t wait long, Kelly. We need him first .”
The thud of my heart filled my ears as I leaned back, knowing Wes was right. “I visited with Sylvia earlier today. She showed me something that took my breath away .”
“The photos of her bruises.” Wes didn’t miss a beat .
My brows knitted. “You knew ?”
“And let me guess, she also claimed that Nash was the one to do that to her ?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled .
Over the next several minutes, I listened to Wes ramble on about how he thought Sylvia was a nutcase willing to do anything to get ahead. And maybe he was right, but if Nash did do these things she kept saying he did, Wes would have found out about it and would have done the honors of being the first to kick him out of his club, ensuring it never happened again. “You see, Kelly, the thing about Sylvia Neil is that she doesn’t have style. She’s a gold digger, only after Nash’s bank account and fame .”
But the only thing I could think about was how everything she’d told me fit the pattern that eventually led to Maria’s death. And deep in my heart, I also had a feeling that Alex was next. “I’m not so sure .”
“Kelly, drop it,” Wes suggested. “Let Mario take the fall .”
Shaking my head, I knew that I couldn’t live with myself knowingly letting an innocent man sit in prison for something he didn’t do .
“And let’s not forget, Mario is connected to the Santa Marta drug cartel, the same dangerous people Blake Stone was—is— working for .”
A sickening feeling turned my stomach as the truth of what Wes reminded me of sunk into my conscience. It was true. Mario was affiliated with the cartel—the same organization that once kidnapped Alex. Mario may very well be guilty of many crimes, but not the one he was taking the fall for .
“Kelly, are you listening to a word I’m saying ?”
Closing my eyes, I said, “I’m here .”
“Good. Move on and get back to focusing on putting Stone away. I need to know that you’re not giving up on our plan to destroy Madam before she makes a drug network so big we can’t take it down .”
“I’m with you .”
“Good. Come tomorrow. I’ll have more reasons for you to see why Sylvia can’t be trusted .”
Wes killed the call, leaving me to openly stare at Giselle .
“How can I help?” she asked, seeming to understand the gravity of the call better than I did .
“Call Kendra.” I stood, just as my cell phone started ringing. “Tell her to get down here ASAP .”
Giselle hurried to her office, leaving me to answer my phone. “Sylvia. I’m kind of in the middle of something .”
“Kelly—”
Pursing my lips, I could hear her sniffles through the line. “Is everything all right ?”
“No,” she cried .
Fearing the worst, I pressed, “Tell me what’s wrong .”
“It’s my publisher .”
Oxygen flooded my brain as relief swept over me, thankful to not hear her say she was once again being threatened .
“They want me to write a story — ”
“A story about what ?”
“Your legal troubles with Timothy Parker .”
My chest tightened as I turned on a heel, shoving a hand through my hair .
“I can’t tell them no .”
“Do what you have to do.” My brows pinched. “You know I would rather you write it than anybody else .”
“It’s not just that, Kelly. You know I would be fair when telling it .”
Giselle hurried back into my office. Pulling my phone away from my ear, I covered the microphone with my hand and gave her a questioning look .
“She’s not picking up. Her phone is dead .”
My blood pressure spiked as worry settled in my bones. Putting the phone back to my ear I said, “Then, what is it, Sylvia ?”
“It’s about Kendra Williams. I think she’s in trouble .”
33
Kendra
T he moment I heard the front door open, my eyes fell shut .
A feeling of fear stirred deep within, threatening to bring up the wine that I had just drank .
I wasn’t looking forward to this moment since seeing Kelly parked outside the Madam’s. What she suggested he did to Nora only amplified my feelings of wanting to flee .
His heavy feet clacked against the floor, causing my insides to jump after each step .
Without having to turn and look, I knew it was him. I could feel his gaze staring into the back of my head .
The lights were dimmed and it was dusk. And despite the soaring temperatures of the day, my flesh prickled against the cool air swirling around me .
There was so much on my mind, I didn’t even know where to begin. Feeling dizzy and lightheaded, I wasn’t discrediting the chance Kelly was upset with me for not answering his c
alls from the office. But I needed this time alone to process all that had happened to me today .
Unfortunately for me, the wine—and alone time—only seemed to complicate matters .
“I’ve been looking all over for you.” His voice was sexy deep and I hated how it could reassure me that I was safe when I was filled with so much doubt .
“Found me,” I replied without turning to face him, unsure whether or not I should admit that I saw him at the Madam’s today .
“Kendra?” He hovered behind me and I wondered how much he knew about my day .
Pulling my feet out from under me, I leaned forward on the couch and set my nearly empty wine glass on the coffee table. And though I wanted to tell him everything that I saw at Madam’s new salon, I thought better of it—afraid of how he would react when learning of my deliveries .
Kelly set his beefy hand on my shoulder, and when I thought I would jump in response, I did the opposite. Melting into his warm comfort, I crossed my arm over my chest and blanketed my palm over his knuckles. “How was your day ?”
He sighed and when I twisted around to look up into his strong jawline, I fixed my eyes on his. After this morning, I was afraid to see the torment of his dream still wreaking havoc on his emotions. But instead of seeing depression, I found light .
“I’ve missed you,” he said .
Extending his arm, he managed to hang onto my hand while stepping around the couch before falling into the cushions, filling the empty void next to me .
Snuggling up next to his side, I toyed with the buttons on his shirt before murmuring, “I’m sorry I missed your call .”
His fingers threaded through my hair, tucking it behind my ear .
“I was in the shower.” When his head fell to the back of the couch, I cupped his face inside my hand, stroking the five o’clock shadow filling his face .
“I don’t like not knowing where you are,” he admitted .
Dropping my gaze to the hand pressed against his rippled abs, my brows pinched. “I’m fine .”
His chest rose as he took a deep breath in through his nose .