Love in the Limelight: Volume One
Page 32
“Oh, no, don’t get it twisted. You’re the killer, not me.”
“But you were in that alley. Like you knew Betty was there, that she was high. How would you know that, T.K.? How would you know unless you were the one who sold her the bad dope?”
T.K. just laughed. “You can’t prove that.”
“You’re right, I can’t. But I know that’s what happened and that’s all that matters.”
“But the Feds are going to get proof that says otherwise.”
“You can’t blackmail me, T.K.”
“I can do whatever I want!”
“That’s what you think. Just like you thought your no-good daddy was coming back for you. Until he picked your behind up, drove you out to the county and stripped you naked, leaving you like a piece of trash.”
T.K.’s nostrils flared. His eyes grew darker as his fists balled at his sides.
“Yeah, you were real pissed off about that. He didn’t want your mother, didn’t even pick her up off the streets when he rode by and saw her nodding on the corners. And he sure as hell didn’t want you. You were his half-breed son, half boy, half junkie—why would he want you? So you killed him. You stripped him and shot him and left him in that crack house. So which one of us is going to the Feds first, T.K.? You with your news about a junkie being left to die in an alley or me with my info on a dealer who killed a cop?”
T.K. growled in anger. With both hands he pushed Akil back. As Akil stumbled backward T.K. reached into the back of his jeans and pulled out a gun.
“I will kill you where you stand,” he said, his voice deadly calm. Like a man who’d done this before.
* * *
Charlene had heard enough. When she’d stopped by Akil’s house to see him Mrs. Williamson had hurriedly told her he was at the yacht and that he was probably waiting to see her. She didn’t really believe that but was not going to be deterred.
At the dock she was directed to his yacht. She was walking slowly down the dock. Since she hadn’t anticipated being out on the water, she’d worn a sundress and three-inch-heeled sandals. The last thing she wanted to do prior to taking a stand with Akil was to fall on one of these wooden planks and break a bone.
Then she’d heard the yelling. It was coming from Akil’s vessel. She’d moved closer and recognized the second voice as T.K.’s. Wondering what he was doing there, she’d decided to eavesdrop for just a few minutes, then she’d let them know she was there.
The exchange was heated, with Akil verbally attacking T.K. for his transgressions as T.K. had tried to blackmail Akil for his. It was on the one hand disheartening to hear the tragedy of both their childhoods. When they should have banded together to rise above their situations, they’d been brutally torn apart. On the other hand, it was scary as hell to hear them yelling at each other like this and it just about stopped her heart to hear T.K. threaten Akil’s life.
That was the final straw.
Using her cell phone as she made her way onto the boat and down the few steps, she alerted the police to their location.
She thought T.K.’s threat was just that. It didn’t dawn on her that he might really have a weapon to carry out his plans. But the moment she stepped into the cabin his entire body, including the arm with the gun, turned and now pointed directly at her.
“I know you’re not using her as your backup,” he snarled. “Get over there with your man, since you picked right now to show up.”
“Don’t move, Charlene,” Akil said in a slow, venomous voice.
She didn’t know what to do. All she knew was that her heart was racing and her palms were sweating.
“Fine. I ain’t got no problem shooting her first, then taking your sorry ass out.” Something clicked and Charlene thought it might have been him taking the safety off the gun.
But at that exact moment Akil pounced, knocking T.K. to the floor.
They tussled for a minute but T.K. was still holding on to the gun. Charlene took another step in their direction and stomped on his wrist, over and over until his fingers finally gave out and let the gun go. That pointy three-inch heel had come in handy. She didn’t want to pick up the gun but didn’t want T.K. to have the opportunity to pick it up either so she kicked it out of his reach.
Akil took that moment to plow his fist into T.K.’s face. Okay, he deserved that one, she thought. But then Akil didn’t stop, he kept pounding and pounding on T.K. until she could see blood and didn’t know where it was coming from.
“Stop it! Stop it, Akil! He’s not worth it,” she said as she heard the first police sirens pulling into the marina.
Stepping around them she tried to grab his shoulders, then his arm as he went to swing again. “He’s not worth it and beating him to death won’t bring your mother back.”
Akil’s chest was heaving as he sat back on his legs. She held the right arm but his left one fell to his side. When his head turned and he looked at her she saw the weight of his world clearly in his face.
He’d felt guilty for leaving his mother to die. For years he’d lived with that guilt. He felt guilty that Lauren was on drugs and had lived with that, too. Now he felt rage, a tremendous amount of rage that she feared could lead him down the wrong path.
“It’s okay, baby,” she was saying, falling to her knees to kneel beside him. “It’s okay now.”
His head dropped, his chin hitting his chest, and he made a sound that she wasn’t sure was crying or sighing. But she put her arms around him, hugged him tight and kept telling him that it was all right.
“You did what she asked you to do. You saved Lauren, that’s all she wanted.”
“But I didn’t. I didn’t save her.”
“Yes, you did. Lauren grew up and made her own decisions. You can’t blame yourself for that. You did your best.”
“I should have done more. I should have been stronger, put my foot down, made her listen.”
“No!” Charlene said adamantly, pulling back to look at him. He still had his head down so she cupped his chin and lifted it up. “She should have been stronger. Lauren should have fought harder to be different. That wasn’t your battle and it’s not your burden to carry now.”
On the floor T.K. was moaning. Footsteps sounded on the dock and in seconds the police were busting into the cabin. Akil stood, then helped her to stand, holding her hand tightly.
The officers were cuffing T.K. and retrieving the gun Charlene told them she’d kicked to the side.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She was already shaking her head. “Don’t. It’s done.”
“But I hurt you.’
She nodded. “You did. But I’m stronger than I look. I’ll get over it because I know you were doing it out of self-preservation.”
“No matter what you call it, I was wrong. And I apologize. I love you,” he said simply.
And it was enough.
She picked up his bruised hand, kissed his knuckles. “And I love you.”
Chapter 21
Two Weeks Later
Holding that last and final note had felt good. The following applause felt even better.
She’d done it!
The song was titled “Journey.” It was the one she and Akil had both written the lyrics to. After the episode on the yacht they’d returned to his house to be pampered by Mrs. Williamson and the staff. The FBI had come along with questions to which Akil openly provided answers. Even about his mother’s death and his involvement in the impromptu sting to catch a drug dealer all those years ago.
He said he felt like he’d completely purged himself and she was happy for him. Heading back into the studio, the first song he wanted to work on was “Journey.” It was a joint decision that she’d sing it tonight as she was in L.A. performing for the Pediatric AIDS Benefit Concert produced by Playascape.
There were no nerves when she’d stepped up on the stage this time. Well, okay, there were some, but they were quickly tamped down when she touched the bracelet on her wrist, the one
Akil had given her. Just that action reminded her that he was in the room with her, that their hearts were now intertwined and their love strong. Singing the song, “their” song, seemed appropriate.
Afterward, the gang was all there, so to speak.
As Charlene walked off the stage, down some stairs and through a door that led to the seating area of the club, she saw them all sitting at a large table, already toasting glasses of champagne.
Jax was right beside her, helping her make her way through the crowd. A few people stopped her, gave their congratulations or comments, making her feel like all her hard work had paid off. Well, all their hard work, she should say.
At the table her parents were the first to hug her. She still couldn’t believe they’d shown up, but as Marjorie had tried to tell her, all she’d done in the past had been out of love and concern for her child.
Candis was also back in the States, sitting a little close to Jason on the high-backed black leather couches that offered seating for one whole half of the table. After her parents, Candis had torn herself away from Jason to stand and give her a hug. “He’s too young for you.”
Candis only laughed. “Girl, didn’t you know I was a cougar?” she said giving a mock growl.
Charlene was still laughing as Jason pulled her in for a tight hug. “You’re doing the damn thing, girl! I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Jason. It’s all because of you.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I’ll take some of the credit.”
He was so goofy, maybe he and Candis did make a good couple after all.
“Hey, girl, you were fantastic up there.” Rachel was next up, hugging her once, then again for good measure. “And you look great. Mia told me you were going to look good. I wish he was here, but he had to go to New York. You know how he is.”
“I know you should have warned me about the hormone therapy before he showed up as a she,” Charlene said, laughing.
“Oh, yeah, forgot about that one.” Rachel laughed.
Charlene noticed the handsome man sitting right next to where Rachel had been and looked in his direction.
“Oh, almost forgot. This is Ethan Chambers.”
The first thing Charlene noticed was that this brother was even finer in person. The tabloids didn’t do him justice. The second thing she noticed was that he absolutely adored Rachel. The way he’d been watching her as they’d talked said it all.
“Hi. It’s nice to finally meet you, Ethan.”
He nodded and shook her outstretched hand. “Same here.”
“And this—” Rachel took her hand from Ethan’s and walked her a couple steps toward the end of the table “—is Olivia Blake. She worked on the set with us at Paging the Doctor and now she’s signed up with Limelight.”
Wow, was Charlene’s first thought. Tall, mocha-skinned and gorgeous were the only words she could think of to describe Olivia.
“Livia, please. And you sounded great up there.”
“Thanks,” Charlene said, shaking her hand also.
“So, listen, Ethan and I are getting married at his brother’s winery.”
“What? Married? Did I miss something?”
Rachel looked from Livia to Charlene. “Oh, no! I told you. I know I told you, Char. I had to.”
“You didn’t, but we can talk about that later. So you’re getting married at a winery?”
“Yes, his brother has this great winery in Napa Valley. The perfect setting, right? So, anyway, I want, no, I need, both of you to help me plan this thing because you know I don’t have a clue.”
“She’s been talking like this for the last couple of days,” Livia explained to Charlene.
Rachel was getting married? “Sure, you know I’m there for whatever you need.”
“Okay, so how soon can you be in Napa Valley?” she asked.
“Who’s going to Napa Valley?” Akil asked, stepping up behind Charlene and wrapping an arm around her waist.
“We are, to plan a wedding,” Rachel said, practically beaming. “So you have to give my girl here some time off so she can come and help me.”
Akil looked at Charlene and was all smiles. Since leaving his yacht that day and watching the police toss T.K.’s begging behind into the patrol car she and Akil had been inseparable. And their relationship—the personal one—was now common knowledge. Everybody who had eyes and were blessed to be in their presence knew they were in love and Charlene was ecstatic about it.
“A trip to Napa might be nice for both of us,” he said, then dropped the sweetest kiss on her lips.
“Hmm, we might be hearing more wedding bells soon,” Livia chimed in.
Everybody was talking and laughing and having a good time. Everybody except Sofia.
Charlene had talked to her briefly before going onstage but she had yet to see her since finishing her performance. She was curious to hear what she thought of the song and the sound of the CD, but she didn’t see her.
She’d just left the table and was headed to the ladies’ room when she spotted Sofia and the guy Rachel had told her earlier was Ramell Jordan, head of A.F.I. Ram, as Rachel said he liked to be called, who was also a good-looking man. Only Sofia probably wasn’t thinking that right at this moment.
From Sofia’s defensive stance and the sway of her neck as she was speaking, Charlene was guessing that whatever those two were discussing wasn’t good. She figured she’d better get back to Rachel and let her know. It looked like they’d be planning some sort of intervention for Sofia and her workaholic status some time in the very near future.
* * *
Akil owned a penthouse in L.A.’s South Park district. Here, in stark contrast to his Miami home, was all about what money could buy. Spacious, decorated in sharp black, silver and gray tones, each room spoke of elegance.
Charlene didn’t not like it, she just liked the Miami house better.
They’d been back from the concert for about an hour. She’d changed into her nightclothes as it was almost one in the morning. Akil still had on his slacks but had shed the jacket and button-down shirt he’d worn earlier. He was sitting at the piano that she hadn’t known he could play. Going over to sit on the bench beside him, she noticed it was a Steinway grand piano and whistled.
“Really nice piano. I didn’t know you could play,” she said.
His fingers were moving idly over the keys and a quick melody echoed throughout the room.
“I can do a little somethin’, somethin’.” He smiled and she leaned against him.
“You’re very talented, Mr. Hutton. I think that might be one of the reasons I love you so much.”
“Oh, really?” He played a little more. “So it has nothing to do with my charismatic personality?”
“Nah,” she said, playing along with his good, joking mood.
He nodded. “Good, because I thought it was more about the way you seem to hit all the high notes when you’re with me.”
That made her blush but she didn’t back down. “That’s certainly a high point. But that’s not it, either.”
He stopped playing and took her hands in his. “I can tell you why I love you so much.”
No matter how many times he said the words her heart still fluttered at the sound. “Why?”
“Because you’re you. Never once were you afraid to just be yourself. I had no choice but to fall in love with Charlene Quinn, the woman, the singer, the friend.”
She smiled at that and he was rewarded. There was no need for her to say the words to him; he knew how she felt. And he was content just having her here with him. Finding Charlene was the best thing that had ever happened to Akil and he vowed never to mess that up.
The doorbell rang just as he was about to tell her they should retire for the night.
“Don’t tell me you planned an after party?” she joked.
He was already standing and walking toward the door. “I didn’t, because I wanted us to share this part of the celebration alone. So if it’s Jason with more c
hampagne I’m leavin’ his butt right in the hallway.”
But it wasn’t Jason, as Akil saw quickly upon opening the door. She was about thirty pounds smaller than the last time he’d seen her, but he’d know her anywhere. They had the same eyes, the same strong chin. She fidgeted with her bag, looked down at her feet then up again at him.
“Hi, Akil,” she said in a raspy voice. “Can I come home, I mean, can I come in?”
His heart was too full to speak. When he felt Charlene’s hand on his shoulder he could only nod.
“You must be Lauren,” Charlene said, extending a hand to the pretty young woman standing nervously in the doorway.
Lauren nodded and shook Charlene’s hand.
Akil finally cleared his throat. “Of course you can come home, Lauren.” When she had released Charlene’s hand he took a step forward and pulled his sister gingerly into his arms and hugged her tight. “I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered in her ear and felt his life was now more than complete.
He had his sister back and he had Charlene, the love of his life.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460340332
Love in the Limelight Volume One
Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright
holders of the individual works as follows:
Star of His Heart
Copyright © 2010 by Brenda Streater Jackson
Sing Your Pleasure
Copyright © 2010 by Artist Arthur
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.