I nodded, not trying to get mixed up with the law, if I could help it, and followed behind her.
The inside of the house matched the outside, large walls filled with artwork and classy shit the kid probably didn’t pick out. It surrounded the home though, made it shiny and pretty. The living room kept up the standard. Cream couches took up a third of the room.
A kid in a bright orange jersey sat in the middle of it, one hand on his face, the other in his lap. Tuck sat in front of a cold fireplace, two other officers chatting off to the side with their hands on their hips. I didn’t fail to notice how close those hands were to their holsters - their guns.
And neither did Tuck. He kept looking up at them, frowning before turning away. He wrestled his hands in his lap and this was a new kid in front of me. He was different from the one I was introduced to the other night, the cocky one.
He was very much a kid now.
And that proved at the sight of his sister.
He stood immediately, taking a step toward the door. They all did, him, the cops, when they spotted Andie come, then me. And that’s where everyone’s gaze flashed first, Andie, then myself. The cops… Tuck…
That’s when Tuck stopped stepping. Something flashed behind his eyes.
His gaze left me and settled on Andie. It narrowed on Andie.
His chin went up, and he was back on the couch, hands in his lap like he wasn’t just sitting in a ball of nerves minutes prior.
Andie’s bag fell from her shoulder. “Tuck… What?”
He pushed his arms back behind the couch. “Took you long enough.”
What was this D-bag’s problem?
I palmed my keys, coming beside Andie. I got a grin from the douche and a wave of his hand as he said, “What’s happening, D?”
I eyed him, but made myself engage.
“Nothing, kid,” I said. “I heard you were into something. Your sister needed a ride over, so I drove her. I was at the club making a deposit.”
That’s when he stood, bypassing Andie entirely. He reached for my hand. “Good looking out, man. Thanks for being cool.”
I wasn’t cool, not with him, anyway. I made the shake short, standing back.
Andie pulled her shades off, and that directed Tuck’s attention. It went to her neck, and his eyes turned to slits.
Turning away, he made Andie blink, and her hand came up, her fingers settling on that necklace around her throat for some reason.
She dropped her hand to her side with a huff.
“What is going on?” she asked, and when Tuck didn’t look any closer to telling her, the officers did.
One came forward, trying to look all official and shit.
“Andie Simmons? Your brother said you were coming. He wouldn’t speak to us until you did.”
She nodded. “That’s me. What’s this about?”
From there, the officer gestured toward the cop waiting in the wings. That one in particular kept his eyes on me, watching, for some reason. I couldn’t say that was something that hadn’t happened to me before, especially coming up in the south side of Chicago. A guy like me always managed to catch the eye of the cops down there. But this one was blatant about it, coming over and handing the other officer some pictures.
That cop handed them to Andie.
“We picked these up in a bust last night,” he said.
Her eyes leaving her brother, Andie fanned through the photos. Her gaze sharpened, narrowing.
“Guns?” she asked, looking up.
But from over her shoulder, more than guns could be seen in her hands. That was a straight militia she had there, ready for battle with all the arms in the photos.
The officer nodded. “We got a tip about them. The perps we took them off outed your brother. Said he sold them to them just last night.”
A curse flew in the air, and Tuck turned on his heel. And damn was that the wrong thing to do, the exclamation was more than incriminating.
“Impossible,” Andie said, forcing her gaze away from her brother. And no nerves were present now. This was Andie. Serious, professional Andie.
“He was with me last night.”
“All night?” asked the officer. “Because we have sources that put him somewhere else around two in the morning.”
That passed over Andie’s tanned cheeks. She couldn’t deny it with the flutter of her lashes. They flickered over to Tuck, then her expression more than fell.
“Tucker?” she questioned.
She got a simple shrug in response, not surprising from the tool bag. He was where this officer said he was. I’d bet money on it.
The officer’s colleague took the photos back, and again wasn’t shy about staring at me. I really hated that shit. I had no issues with cops when they did their fucking job. But when they did this stuff, and were so blatant about it? I hated that.
He went to walk away, but stopped, and I went tense when he got all up in my space, pulling, of all things, a pen, from his shirt pocket.
He produced a paper after that, something that looked to be a receipt.
He grinned at me. “Can you sign something for me? My son follows Indiana. He’d love it.”
I blinked. This guy was… a fan.
“Sure…” I said, not really believing this shit was happening right now. But it could be worse I supposed. I put on a smile, taking the pen and paper. “What’s his name?”
“Brian, and are they going to get you more playing time? Because, man, when you’re out there, you shine.”
I think I was starting to like this guy. I smiled wide, and even wider when he let me use his shoulder to sign. “I haven’t heard much about the new season, but I hope so.”
“Yeah? That would be great. They’d be stupid not to.”
I had only finished the signature when of all things the other officer shoved more stuff in my face, a notebook this time.
“Mine’s for Henry and Jason. My sons,” he said, and I laughed, not believing this at all.
I wasn’t the only one.
Andie stood, jaw slacked with her bag nearly on the floor. Quite a turn, this all took. I finished the other signature quickly, both officers admiring my name like I handed them the most precious treasure. With a clearing of their throats though, they got back into this, and the officer, the more hard-assed one, pressed his hands down on his pants, facing Tuck.
“Now, Mr. Simmons—”
“Was with me last night,” shot out of my mouth, and so did eyes my way, many eyes.
What the hell am I doing?
“With you, Mr. Combs?” asked the officer.
“With me, yes. And it’s Diondre. D to my friends, so feel free.”
That made this grown man’s actual cheeks redden. He shook it off, again clearing his throat.
“But we received word Mr. Simmons was—”
“That was just a tip,” said the other officer, putting his hand on his colleague’s arm.
“Just a loose one.” He faced me. “People put all kinds of names out when they don’t want to get in trouble. We see it all the time, D.”
I nodded. “Well, that must have been the case. Andie was with him some of the night, but the rest of it he was with me. We bounced around at some parties. And, nothing illegal, I assure you.”
“Of course not,” said the officer snorting. He snorted when he chuckled. That throat cleared again.
“I guess we’re done here for today. Come on, Douglas.”
He waved his colleague on, but I held the pair, pressing a hand to their shoulders.
I grinned. “Thanks for your help today, officers. I’ll have my people send some tickets over to you guys. For your sons, as well.”
More excited chuckles and snorts. Escorting them away, I got their information with promises to see those tickets through, and even waited until they got into their squad cars. I waved like a proud papa at the door, letting out a relieved breath when they finally left.
“Just back the fuck off, Andie,” is
what I got to hear when I came back into the house and the scene there made me want to rip the limbs from the little fucker’s body I just saved. He had a finger out, shot pointedly at the concerned sister before him, her hands on her chest.
“Tucker.”
“Just back. The fuck. Off. I’m not your business. Haven’t been for years, so don’t pretend you care now.”
The words blanched her, making that beautiful skin of her cheeks pale, then rose. They got so red. He pushed around her, coming over to me, and I didn’t shake his hand this time. I refused to, and maybe he saw that because he kept his hands to himself.
“Thanks, D,” he said, his gaze averting.
I could give him nothing but a light, “Mmmhmm” in response. I couldn’t care less about this guy. In fact, I didn’t care about this guy—at all.
I’m pretty sure I did this all for her.
He tipped a nod my way before leaving Andie and me alone in his beautiful living room. We stood that way for a while. Still. Quiet. Andie’s red lip went into her mouth, and like in the car, she did anything but face me.
So I decided to go over to her.
“Hey, um,” I started, but I didn’t know what to say. What did a guy say to that? A brother treating a sister that way in front of a stranger.
Pulling her bag, her eyes fluttered away.
“Thanks for the ride. I can call a cab back to the club if you want to just take off.”
That’s it. That’s all I got. I didn’t want a thank you. Actually, I didn’t know what I wanted. I just knew I didn’t want that, this.
Nor did I want to see a girl this pretty, this strong, on the cusp of tears.
She hid them from me, putting her glasses on, and I didn’t stare directly at her. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
I pushed my hands in my pockets. “It wasn’t a problem. I wanted to help.” And I did. I felt I had to almost, compelled. Maybe I just wanted to figure her out. She seemed so guarded despite how strong.
More silence between us, and I didn’t settle for it this time.
“Are you okay—?”
“What do you want, D?” she asked, her cheeks red. “You act like such a, a…” She didn’t finish, letting out a breath. “Why did you help?”
I shrugged, not knowing what to say to that.
But then this came out of my mouth.
“You.”
Her… I said her, and that got her attention.
Those dark eyebrows raised above her frames, so high and nearly reaching the buzz of her hair. They lowered slowly, and she pulled her sunglasses off her face. She had such big eyes, like a doll - wide, brown, and beautiful. I watched that metal flower of hers again. It was big, too, and so detailed as it rested on her full chest.
Her fingers went to it, playing with the large petals. And she said something, something that surprised the hell out of me.
“You mentioned Marigold’s,” she said, a lump moving in her throat, “you said it was pretty, but I… I’ve never heard of it.”
She’d never heard of it, huh?
Well, we’d have to fix that.
Andie
“You coming, Andie?”
Have I lost… my mind?
I stared up at the eyes probing me, that deep, dark gaze awaiting answers - awaiting me. D stood on a high staircase, a long body that could only be dwarfed by the likes of that which ran behind him. The massive jet buzzed, gleaming in the DC sun. D stood atop its ramp almost innocently, grinning like he didn’t have half a dozen humming planes on the tarmac surrounding him.
He popped his hands above his head, stretching out long arms as he held on to the top of the jet’s doorframe.
“Time’s a-wasting. Marigold’s is waiting!”
I shifted on my peep-toed heels. “I never agreed to—” I clamped back the words, biting down a temper. “You never said this place required flying to.”
“And you never asked,” he said, coming back down the stairs. He landed on the tarmac, in front of me, and how this man towered. I was five eleven with my white heels on, but D, he had quite a few inches on that. His arms extended, that wingspan resting on the railings of the staircase. “You wanted to see Marigold’s, and that’s where we’re going.”
His fit body followed long arms and biceps; both with the tone and hardness of volcanic rock. He said I wanted to see Marigold’s. But no, I was tricked. I was tricked into wanting to see it by this man, this man and his arms and, and… his eyes.
They danced my way.
“We’ll be back before the day ends. I’m assuming you have things to do at the club, right?”
I nodded.
A deep dimple pierced his cheek. “And I wouldn’t take you anywhere I couldn’t come back from quickly. I do have an event coming up at that same club, remember?”
I had forgotten and I didn’t forget things.
But one thing he said was correct. He wouldn’t take me far. He fought too damn hard for that spot.
I unfastened my heels from the tarmac, stepping toward him, and that spread a smile on D’s face. He let me pass in front of him, and I mounted the staircase, making my way inside the jet. I had been on birds such as this before. My brother traveled this way quite frequently, though I advised many times against it. He was quite new in his game, and the world could be fickle. Things could be taken away as quickly as obtained, especially if a player spent his money too frivolously in the beginning. Private jet use was expensive, and could easily be switched out for a cheaper way of traveling.
Another thing he never listened to me about.
I dropped my purse on a padded seat, turning. I didn’t fail to miss chocolate brown eyes. They hummed a full rotation of my backside, unashamed, before finding my eyes. I should check him for that. I normally would check him for that, if my body wasn’t jumping because of it, my core dancing. D made averting my eyes hard. Like I said, he was unashamed by what he was doing. He was expressing his enjoyment of something, his approval, and he wanted me to know. He only let go to give an attendant a drink order, asking me if I wanted one, too.
I sat demurely on an ivory seat. “Um, just water please.”
“Water?” D asked, lifting an eyebrow, but there was humor in his voice, a smile on his lips.
I nodded, facing the attendant. “Water will be fine.”
The man in a navy ensemble acknowledged my request with a head bob, then headed away, leaving the pair of us.
Sitting tight in my seat, I held my purse in my lap. I studied the interior of the bird because I had no idea what else to do.
“You comfortable over there, Andie?”
Not really. Could he tell?
“Just fine,” I said, pushing an ankle behind the other. Hopefully this made me look more casual, less tense.
His amusement of the situation – of me - he had to push off his face. His hand moved over his mouth, his leg crossing at the knee. He dropped his fingers.
“You should come over here,” he said, stating the words casually, “those seats suck. You’ll be more comfortable.”
Currently, his long body sat on a couch against the interior wall. I was in a tight seat, no matter how plushy, that resembled that of a commercial flight. It was also located on the opposite side of the plane, which was why I’d chosen it.
I settled my arms over my purse with a huff. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Uh huh,” he said, lowering his chin. “What’s that exactly?”
The attendant came back, handing him a long neck beer. He took it, thanking him and I did the same when my water arrived ahead of me.
I placed the white napkin on my lap, setting the drink down.
“I may have entertained this whole… thing,” I said, looking up at the plane. “But we should get something clear.”
“What’s that?”
“I did not come to sleep with you. I’m not one of your groupies, or… or your jump offs. I’m not one of your whores, Diondre.”
; I said them because I felt those words needed to be said. In all actuality, I had no idea why I had been entertaining this little endeavor. Something about yesterday, about the way he helped my brother - me, I supposed. But that didn’t mean he could get anything he wanted from me.
Thoughts flashed back after that; the club, and how I found him. Was I becoming one of those girls? His playthings? How easily I’d come on this trip when he offered.
D had smiled nearly this whole time thus far, the whole day from picking me up to dropping us off at the airport, but that seemed to fade now. Yes, it was gone completely now.
His fingers moved to his jaw, pushing under his chin. He dropped his leg from his knee, leaning forward.
“Well, I guess now that we both completely understand why I didn’t ask you to come out with me today, can you come over here please? It really is more comfortable, and the TV,” he paused, gesturing to the center aisle above, “comes right down from the center there. I figured we’d watch some movies on the flight. You’ll see it easier from over here, better.”
Damnit.
He leaned back after that, settling in, and I got over myself for a moment, and decided to sit next to him.
*
We had a pretty short flight. And a quiet one. That had been my fault, but really, how could he blame me… considering the way we met.
The silence was filled with the drinking of beverages and chewing of snacks aboard the flight. It had been smooth and easy, and the entertainment only aided that. The TV actually provided us with television, not movies. In our time in the air, the crew had Sanford and Son playing for us, everyone on the flight crew laughing lightly - everyone but Diondre and me on that comfy couch.
Again, I guess I had been to blame.
The wheels hit the tarmac with a soft thud, the landing more than smooth in the luxury vehicle. Upon coasting, D and I remained silent once more, and I considered asking if we could just stay on the plane. After refueling and maintenance, we could just take off again, get back in the air, and head back to DC like nothing happened.
D unbuckled before I could throw out the proposition.
The crack of the door let the light in, and I unstrapped and got up, too. He was at the door now, looking out.
Enthrall: A Found by You Novella Page 5