Exposed

by Naomi Chase

  Tamia’s face flushed with embarrassment, because providing such a simple yet brilliant explanation to Brandon had never once occurred to her. And she was supposed to be the smart, college-educated one.

  “But our house wasn’t the only thing that came as a surprise to him,” Fiona continued ruefully. “As soon as I opened the front door and he took one look at me, he just started shaking his head. He recognized me from that day he saw me here. So I had to explain to him why you’d lied about me going to Hampton, just like you’d lied about where we lived. He got that sad, disappointed look on his face again. And you know what he said?”

  Tamia gulped hard, then shook her head slowly.

  “He said, ‘I wish she’d spent less time courting my parents, and more time letting me get to know the real Tamia.’”

  Tamia cast her eyes downward, blinking back tears of shame and regret.

  Fiona watched her sympathetically.

  A heavy silence followed before Tamia mumbled,“Go on. Finish what you were saying.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Tamia nodded.

  Fiona sighed. “Well, he took me to Brennan’s for their Sunday jazz brunch. I’d never been there before, and I really appreciated him taking me to such a ritzy restaurant instead of someplace like IHOP or Denny’s. Girl, the maître d’ was so excited to see Brandon! We were seated outside in the courtyard and given the VIP treatment. We talked, ate delicious food, listened to nice jazz music, and enjoyed the fresh flowers and beautiful scenery.” Fiona sighed again.“It was wonderful.”

  Tamia’s eyes narrowed menacingly. “Why do you sound like you’re describing a romantic date?”

  Fiona giggled and rolled her eyes.“Of course not! I know it wasn’t a date. We talked about you and your case. I even told him about my own nightmare ordeal, and he pointed out some mistakes that my lawyer made in his defense strategy. Girl, Brandon probably could have gotten me off if he’d represented me.”

  Tamia bristled. “Yeah? Well, I couldn’t afford Brandon at the time,” she snapped. “As it is, paying your legal fees wiped out my damn savings account.”

  “So you keep reminding me,” Fiona muttered under her breath.

  Tamia pretended not to hear her.

  “Anyway,” Fiona continued with a sigh,“that was the best breakfast I’ve ever had. And being there with Brandon made me realize that you were right all along. I’ve been wasting my time with losers like Marquis and Sugar Bear—niggas who ain’t got shit and ain’t about nothing. It’s time for me to set higher standards and start demanding better things for myself. Brandon’s even got me thinking about enrolling in college. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a hairdresser”—she shrugged—“but maybe God has something better in store for me.”

  Tamia eyed her incredulously, shaking her head. “I don’t believe this. I’ve been encouraging you to apply to college for years, but you always blew me off. Now after one bonding session with Brandon, you’ve completely changed your tune!”

  “I know.” Fiona grinned sheepishly. “Maybe I just needed to hear the advice from someone else, someone more objec-tive. And what can I say? B can be very persuasive—”

  “B?” Tamia repeated scornfully. “Where the hell do you get off calling him B? Like y’all are fucking best friends now!”

  Fiona reddened with embarrassment. “Obviously I didn’t call him that to his face. That’s how I refer to him in my mind sometimes.”

  Tamia glowered at her, not liking where this conversation was going.

  It got worse.

  “Oooh, girl, Brandon’s even finer than I thought he was,” Fiona breathed. “Every time he smiled and flashed those sexy dimples, I just wanted to stick my tongue in them. And his voice is hella sexy, too!”

  Tamia stared at her. “Are you fucking serious?” she hissed.

  Fiona blinked.“What?”

  “Don’t give me that innocent look! You’re trying to push up on Brandon!”

  Fiona blushed, nervously twisting her earring. “I guess I just thought … well, since there’s no chance of you and him ever getting back together—”

  “You thought you could just take my place?” Tamia spat furiously.“Girl, please! If I wasn’t good enough for Brandon’s parents, what the fuck makes you think they’d approve of an ex-convict from the projects with no damn college degree?”

  Fiona recoiled, hurt flaring in her eyes.

  Tamia was instantly contrite. Closing her eyes for a moment, she sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, striving for calm.

  “That was a rude thing to say,” Fiona mumbled accusingly.

  “I know, Fee, and I’m really sorry,”Tamia offered gently.“I didn’t mean to lash out at you like that. But you know how much Brandon means to me, and you know how much I’m still hurting over the way our relationship ended. It hasn’t even been a month since he broke up with me! So it’s pretty fucked up that you’d even think about making a move on him, especially at a time like this.”

  “You’re right.” Fiona looked shamefaced. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone there.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have,” Tamia grumbled. “Besides, you don’t stand a chance with Brandon. He’s in love with Cynthia.”

  “I know.” Fiona sighed. “She called him while we were eating. You should have seen the way his eyes lit up and his voice went all soft and affectionate. And he couldn’t stop smiling after he got off the phone with her.”

  Oblivious to the dagger she’d just thrust through her sister’s heart, Fiona heaved another deep sigh.“Oh well. At least he has a brother close to my age. Maybe I’ll reinvent myself and go after him.”

  Tamia snorted. “Good luck with that,” she said bitterly. “Between your prison record and my arrest, his parents probably have a restraining order against both of us!”

  Fiona grimaced.“Probably. I asked Brandon how they felt about him representing you, and he admitted that they weren’t too thrilled about it. They think he should let you rot in prison. But he doesn’t really care what they think.”

  Tamia was suddenly remembering what Dre had told her. You might even be the one…. If you are, he won’t care whether or not his parents approve of you, ’cause he’s always been his own man.

  Words that would haunt her for a lifetime.

  Shoving the gloomy thought aside, she pinned her sister with an accusing glare. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you, Fee. Why the hell did you concoct that crazy story about Isabel belonging to a Crucian crime syndicate?”

  “Oh.” Fiona gnawed her lower lip, looking sheepish. “I’m really sorry about that, Tamia.”

  “Why the fuck did you do it? You had me terrified of that woman for no reason!”

  “I know.” Fiona sighed heavily.“I guess I got caught up in all the excitement and drama of your stories.”

  “Stories?”

  “Yeah. Remember when we were younger and you used to make up those wild, thrilling stories about adventures you’d had, places you’d visited, people you’d met? Remember how you used to make me feel better after I’d had a nightmare, or after my daddy didn’t show up to see me like he’d promised? You always had such an amazing imagination, which is why you’re so good at your job. While I was locked up, I always looked forward to your visits because you kept me entertained with your antics about people at work and juicy gossip about folks from the neighborhood. So when you told me about the crazy drama with Dominic, I thought you were making the whole thing up!”

  “What?” Tamia exclaimed. “Why the hell would I make up something like that?”

  Fiona’s expression softened. “Because I couldn’t believe you would actually jeopardize what you had with a man like Brandon.”

  That shut Tamia up.

  A long, uncomfortable silence ensued.

  Fiona gulped into the phone. “That’s why I made up that whole story about Isabel belonging to a ruthless crime organization and killing her husband’s mistress. I thou
ght it added an exciting twist to the drama.”

  “That drama,”Tamia ground out tersely, “was my fucking life. Which became a fucking nightmare.”

  Tears welled in Fiona’s eyes.“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

  Tamia glared at her.

  Nervously licking her lips, Fiona leaned closer to the glass, dropping her voice to a hushed murmur.“I … I have another story to share with you.”

  Tamia scowled impatiently. “I think I’ve had enough of your—”

  “This story is about two best friends who are as close as sisters.” Fiona forged ahead as if Tamia hadn’t spoken.“When the tale begins, one friend is behind bars while the other has a fabulous job and an even more fabulous boyfriend. The incarcerated woman isn’t jealous of her friend; she loves her dearly and is truly happy for her. But she often wonders what it would be like to have what her friend has—the job, the boyfriend. She wonders … and she fantasizes. Because while she’s locked up, that’s all she can do—live vicariously through her friend.”

  Tamia stared at Fiona as a deep chill of foreboding spread through her veins.

  “Anyway,” Fiona continued in the same confidential tone, “the incarcerated friend finally gets out of prison. She’s so ecstatic, so optimistic about her future. But several days later when she comes home from running errands—she and her friend are roommates—she checks the voice mail and hears a message from a strange woman. A woman she didn’t think existed. Her curiosity gets the best of her, so that same night she goes to the woman’s house to confirm that she is real. But just in case the woman is dangerous and up to no good, the friend secretly borrows a gun from one of the thugs she used to date. And she takes another precaution by parking blocks away from the woman’s house and heading there on foot. It’s dark outside, with lots of trees in the neighborhood, so she figures no one will see her.”

  Tamia stared at her sister with mounting horror.“Fiona—”

  “When she gets to the house, the woman isn’t too pleased to see her. She thinks she’s being ambushed or something. They argue, and the woman orders the friend to leave. When she stupidly refuses, the woman marches off to another room to call the police. The friend panics. So she pulls out the gun and follows the woman and—POW! POW!”

  Gasping sharply, Tamia recoiled from the glass like she’d just been struck with two bullets.

  A tear rolled silently down Fiona’s cheek. “The friend is appalled by what she’s just done. She panics again, then rushes to the back door and uses the hem of her shirt to turn the knob so she won’t leave any fingerprints. She jumps the fence, and lucky for her, the house backs to the woods. She runs back to her car as fast as she can, never imagining that her best friend will be blamed for her actions.”

  Speechless, Tamia gaped at her sister, paralyzed with shock and horror as her brain struggled to process what she was being told. Fiona killed Isabel—not Dominic!

  Fiona exhaled a deep, shuddering breath. “See, the smart, successful friend has always nurtured and protected the other one, ever since they were children. She’d do anything for her. And she knows what would happen if anyone else found out what her friend had done. She knows that her friend would be sent right back to prison—this time for life. Or maybe even worse,” she added, making a slashing motion across her throat. “So the protective friend is willing to sacrifice her freedom for a while and put her fate in the capable hands of the best criminal defense attorney in town.”

  Heart pounding, Tamia stared at her sister as if she were seeing a deranged lunatic instead of her own flesh and blood. “Fiona, how can you ask me—”

  “Riveting story, huh?” Fiona interrupted, leaning back slowly. “It sounds like something you would have come up with—only better.”

  Tamia lunged forward, nearly pressing her face against the glass.“Fiona, listen to me. You can’t do this to me. You have to tell—”

  The corrections officer chose that moment to step for-ward.“Time’s up, Luke.”

  On the other side of the partition, Fiona jumped up from her chair.“Damn! I’d forgotten how quickly these visits go by.”

  “Fiona—”Tamia began desperately.

  “I gotta run, Tam-Tam. You know how anal they are about enforcing these time limits. But don’t you worry. You’re gonna be all right in there. I made a lot of friends who will definitely have your back. But watch out for Ebony! That crazy bitch would shank her own mama”—Fiona winked—“or anyone else who got on her bad side.”

  The sisters locked stares.

  And Tamia realized, with a shudder, that she’d just been subtly threatened.

  Fiona smiled consolingly. “Hang in there, sis. Everything’s gonna work out just fine.”

  Easy for her to say. Her nightmare ordeal had already ended, while Tamia’s had just begun….

  A READING GROUP GUIDE

  EXPOSED

  NAOMI CHASE

  About This Guide

  The following questions are intended

  to enhance your group’s

  reading of this book.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  Do you think Tamia and Brandon genuinely loved each other? Or was their relationship mostly based on sexual compatibility?

  What are your thoughts on Dominic? Do you think Tamia would have agreed to his indecent proposal if he’d been unattractive and broke?

  If given the same ultimatum by Dominic, do you think you would have made the same choice that Tamia did? Why or why not?

  Can you identify with Tamia? Is she sympathetic or re-latable in any way?

  If Brandon and Tamia had gotten married, do you think Brandon’s parents would have eventually accepted Tamia into the family? Why or why not?

  Do you think Brandon contributed to the problems in his relationship with Tamia? To what extent is he responsible for what ultimately happened between them?

  Do you think Brandon secretly loved Cynthia all along? Or did his feelings gradually develop as a result of Tamia’s shady behavior? Do you think he would have wound up with Cynthia if Tamia hadn’t betrayed him?

  Do you think Brandon should have been more forgiving toward Tamia? Should he have been more sympathetic, given that she was being blackmailed?

  Do you think Cynthia deliberately set out to seduce Brandon? Was Tamia justified in being suspicious of Cynthia’s intentions?

  When do you think Tamia reached the point of no return? At what point in the story did it become impossible for her to salvage the situation?

  When Brandon became suspicious of Tamia’s behavior, did you think he might end up hurting her and/or Dominic?

  Were you surprised that Fiona killed Isabel Archer and expected Tamia to accept the blame for her crime? Do you attribute Fiona’s actions to mental instability or jealousy?

  Were you surprised that Brandon came to Tamia’s rescue after she was arrested? Do you think they might reconcile in the future? Would you want them to?

  After the way Fiona betrayed Tamia, do you think the two sisters can ever be close again? If you were Tamia, could you forgive Fiona for her actions?

  Do you think Tamia is going to take the fall for Fiona? Do you think she should? Would you ever consider making such a sacrifice for a loved one?

  If you enjoyed Exposed,

  don’t miss Sasha Campbell’s explosive debut,

  Confessions

  On sale now from Dafina Books

  1

  Nikki

  “It’s ten o’clock and you’re listening to Nikki Truth, the host of the most talked about radio show in the Midwest, Truth Hurts. As my listeners know, I don’t believe in holding your hand. If you want my advice, then you better have the balls to accept the truth … even if it hurts. Caller, you’re on the air.”

  “Hi, Ms. Nikki. My name is Kimberly.”

  Obviously, Kimberly had been listening to my show, because everyone knows if I’m not referred to as Ms. Nikki, I have straight attitude. “Hello, Kimberly. What can I do for you?”
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  “I’ve got a little bit of a problem.”

  I leaned forward on my seat, ready to hear what crazy drama was about to unfold.“I’m all ears.”

  “Well, Ms. Nikki, I’ve been married to my husband for thirteen years, but for the last year our relationship has grown distant. I tried talking to him about it, even suggested maybe we get counseling, but he refused, saying nothing was wrong with our marriage. But I knew something wasn’t right, because we haven’t had sex in four months.”

  “Yep, that would do it. So what did you do?” I asked while adjusting my microphone.

  “Well, something told me my husband was messing around.”

  “Something like what?”

  “Like locking his cell phone, coming home at all hours of the night.”

  “Hmmm, those are definitely some signs.”

  “Well, yesterday I waited for him to get off work and followed him to this house. When I knocked on the door, guess who answered?”

  “I hope for your sake it was a woman and not a man,” I said with slight laughter, trying to make light of the situation.

  “Oh, it was definitely a female. He came up behind her in his underwear. I confronted him. He screamed at me and acted like we’ve been separated for years instead of still living in the same house!”

  “Okay, wait a minute. The brotha tried to pretend the two of you weren’t even together?”

  “Oh, yeah, and I went off!”

  “Good for you, Kimberly.”

  “I finally asked him to choose, and he told me on her front porch in holey draws and a dingy wifebeater, he was in love with the other woman.”