The Scales (The Black Land Series Book 3)

by D. Camille

  Mac frowned. “Get his ass out of here!”

  As they led him away, Mac yelled at her officers. “Search this whole damn place!”

  When they were done, Mac’s officers had located over ten guns, drugs and stacks of money. She shook her head as they carried out the evidence. Outside she approached the two boys who were now handcuffed and in the back of squad cars.

  She looked into their young faces and held back her sadness, more young lives about to be taken away. Slowly she walked to her car and sat inside quietly watching until all of the squad cars disappear. Mac didn’t know how long she sat there before she picked up her phone. She dialed the number and it was answered.

  “You said to call…” she whispered.

  “I’m waiting for you.”

  Mac bit her lip. “I’m coming to you.”

  ******

  Brandon looked over at Rion as he stood. “I’ve got to go.”

  Rion nodded. “I see.”

  “Tell Tauri I’ll be in touch about accommodations.”

  The two men shared a manshake as Brandon hurried out the door. Rion found his wife in their bedroom with the baby, lying on the bed and she looked up with a smile.

  “Is Brandon gone?” she asked.

  “Yeah, Mac called and he took off.”

  “Is he going to be okay?” Tauri asked concerned.

  Rion lifted his brows. “Tonight he will, I’m sure.”

  Tauri laughed. “Are you going to be alright tonight Young God?” She said coming to him.

  He took her into his arms and kissed her softly. “That’s up to my Goddess.”

  “She says, yes…” Tauri returned his kiss. “Thank you for making me so happy.”

  He smiled down at her. “If I don’t, Granddaddy has promised to get his hands dirty.”

  ******

  Brandon opened the door and saw the fatigue in Mackenzie’s face. Stepping back, he allowed her inside.

  “Come here baby,” he said taking her into his arms after he’d closed the door.

  Rubbing her back, he kissed her temple. “I’ve got food for you.”

  “You must think I’m always hungry,” she teased softly.

  He looked down at her. “I know you work hard Mackenzie.” Brandon led her to where he had food on the table waiting for her.

  She turned to him. “Thank you.”

  Seating her, he moved into his seat and studied her. “You’re tired.”

  “That, counselor is definitely an understatement at this point.”

  “What happened?”

  Mac began eating. “Well you’ll be prosecuting a storeowner for guns, possession and distribution.”

  Brandon shook his head. “The Negus should have found that.”

  “No, it was hidden too well,” she told him. “And without a warrant, nothing would have stuck.”

  “That’s a damn shame.”

  Mac agreed as she continued to eat, not realizing how hungry she actually was. “We also picked up the two shooting suspects, guns were in the trunk. They were at the store, probably bought the weapons they used from there as well.”

  “You’ve been busy as usual,” Brandon commented.

  Mac was surprised that her plate was now empty. She looked up sheepishly. “Sorry, I don’t even remember the last time I ate.”

  “There’s more, I figured you’d be pretty hungry.” Brandon stood and took her plate then Mac closed her eyes and put her head on the table, taking in the silence.

  Brandon returned and found her sleeping on the table. He shook his head and went over to her, gently waking her.

  “Mackenzie, come lie down.” He said helping her from her chair.

  Groggily she looked at him. “I can’t…I’m waiting for a call.”

  “I’ll let you know when they call,” he promised.

  Brandon helped her to his bedroom and began to undress her slowly. When she was down to her underwear, he helped her into the bed.

  “Please wake me up Brandon,” she whispered.

  He kissed her gently. “I will.”

  She looked up through hazy eyes. “Are those hooks on your ceiling?” she asked.

  “Go to sleep Mackenzie.” Brandon pulled the sheet over her before gently stroking her side.

  Because when you wake up…Brandon thought in his head.

  Mac dozed off and Brandon returned to put away the food she hadn’t eaten. Locating her phone, he went back into the bedroom. Sitting the device on the nightstand, he climbed in beside her and held her close.

  “Sometimes it’s too much Brandon,” she confessed into the quiet room, now wide awake.

  “I know Mackenzie. I feel the same way.” He held her tighter.

  She turned to him and touched his face. “What do we do?” she asked confused.

  Brandon closed his eyes. “I don’t know baby,” he whispered hoarsely before opening them again. “What we can.”

  Mac traced his handsome face. “I want to lose myself in you.”

  “I want to love you Mackenzie,” he told her holding her gaze.

  She lifted a brow. “More than sex?”

  “I told you that from the start.”

  “How do you know?” she asked watching him.

  His green eyes turned serious. “It can’t be anything else Mackenzie.”

  “I can’t even close my eyes without thinking about being with you. You’ve got me climbing through backyards just to be in your arms. You challenge me to feel things I haven’t felt in a long time,” he confessed. “And you’re the only one who can do that.”

  “Thinking about the things I want to do with you and to you Mackenzie keeps me up at night. Everything about you is so beautiful.”

  “I don’t want us to hurt one another,” she confessed.

  “We need one another,” he kissed her lips. “That’s why you’re here.”

  Mac kissed him back. “I do need you Brandon and I’ve never needed anyone like this.” She wrapped her arms around him. “Damn, you’ve got me so caught up in you right now.”

  “Ditto,” Brandon pushed the sheet down her body. Unfastening her bra, he pushed it down her shoulders and she assisted before he moved down to slide her panties off.

  Brandon lifted off the bed and began to undress.

  Mac smiled. “I know you like me to watch.”

  His green eyes glowed as he pulled his shirt over his head. His hands went to his jeans and Mac’s attention was focused on what he was revealing.

  Her phone rang and he glanced at the nightstand. “That’s your phone.”

  Mac reached for the device and answered.

  “This is Chief Green,” she said turning her eyes back to Brandon who stood with his jeans riding low on his hips.

  Mac gave her attention back to the caller. “Okay.”

  “Alright…” she commented.

  “Anything else?” she asked.

  She nodded. “Thank you for calling.”

  Mac sat the phone back on the nightstand as Brandon joined her on the bed.

  “Ballistics came back early on the victims. The cousin was shot with an AK.” Mac paused. “The little girl and her mother were hit by a Nine. Tremaine had a 9mm too…”

  Mac put her hand on her head. “If the guns we confiscated tonight don’t match, then Tremaine may be my shooter. Damn…I gotta find that gun.”

  “So his self-defense just turned into attempted murder.” Brandon commented.

  “Not until I find that gun.”

  Brandon nodded. “I won’t pressure you on him, since you have the other two in custody.”

  Mac sat in contemplation for a few minutes before she turned and looked at him lying next to her looking like a male centerfold with his golden muscled chest, lightly sprinkled with soft hair. “You can finish getting undressed now.”

  “I thought you needed to find a gun?” he asked.

  She slid her hand down his chest to his jeans and unfastened them. “Mmmm…the only weapon I’m wor
ried about right now, is this one right here.”

  Mac placed her mouth on his as she slipped her hand into his pants. “Everything else is out of my hands right now.”

  “Is that an order from the Chief?” Brandon asked.

  She turned him over onto his back and straddled him.

  His eyes widened in pleasure. “Oh, I like that…” Brandon grabbed her head and pulled her mouth down to his.

  Mac pulled away when she could no longer breathe. Licking her lips, she moved down his body on a mission to remove his pants and underwear. Standing at the foot of the bed naked, she held his gaze.

  “What else do you like?” she purred.

  Brandon spread his legs then crooked his finger at her. “Come and let me show you.”

  Mac looked at his full erection and smiled.

  “I think I know already…” she said climbing onto the bed.

  Brandon shook his head. “You have no idea, Mackenzie…but you will.”

  Chapter 9

  Mac looked at the green dress lying on the bed and smiled. Khayla had the store hold the dresses she’d tried on and she’d gone back and purchased one of the green ones. It complemented her golden complexion, is what she told herself and that it had nothing to do with Brandon’s sexy eyes.

  The past few days had been hectic as usual. Her victims were still hospitalized but the little girl was progressing. The cousin was almost ready to be released but the mother had not resurfaced and the doctors didn’t think it looked good.

  After her time at Brandon’s home, Mac had not been able to get away to spend any more time with him alone. They’d met regarding the impending cases but that had been all strictly business. Her feelings for him had intensified to a point she’d never imagined. Since they’d decided to act on their emotions, things had progressed quickly.

  One of the things that Mac appreciated about Brandon, besides his always cool demeanor was his patience. He understood what her job entailed and supported her in every way, never making her feel that she had to choose between him and her career.

  She dressed slowly preparing for tonight’s activities. Although she was deep in the middle of a huge case, the Policeman’s Ball was a big thing in the city and the chief had to be in attendance. Her case against the two boys they’d arrested at the store was solid as well as the charges against the storeowner. Mac’s feelings about Tremaine were still up in the air.

  She’d sent her officers out on a search for the missing gun, but they’d come up with nothing. With everything inside of her, she didn’t want Tremaine’s gun to be the one that struck that little girl and her mother. Brandon, however, was a different story. He was ready to prosecute Tremaine to the fullest along with the other two boys.

  Mac’s finished dressing and her doorbell rang. Looking confused, she went to the door and found a tuxedo clad Corvus on her doorstep.

  “Corvus, what are you doing here?”

  He smiled. “Mr. Prosecutor sent me to escort you to the Ball.”

  “What?”

  “Brandon wants me to ride shotgun for you two. If people see the three of us together, they won’t paint you two as a couple.”

  Mac frowned. “This was Brandon’s idea?”

  “It wasn’t mine. I don’t go around playing the third wheel.”

  “Well since you’ve come all the way here, I guess we can ride together.” Mac conceded. “I’ll talk to Brandon when I see him.”

  “He’s in the car,” Corvus told her. “Apparently, I’m the chauffeur too.”

  Mac shook her head. “Let me get my bag.”

  Corvus ushered her out to the waiting car where she climbed into the back seat with a waiting Brandon. She looked at him in the dark designer tux as Corvus climbed into the driver’s seat.

  “I swear, I want all my parking tickets fixed and everything,” he told them.

  “Drive the car Corvus,” Brandon told him staring at Mac in her ball gown. “You look beautiful Mackenzie.”

  She smiled. “Thank you, so do you.”

  Brandon leaned over and kissed her softly making sure not to smudge her makeup.

  “Oh hell! Come on now,” Corvus complained.

  “Drive the car Corvus,” Mac told him as she returned Brandon’s kiss. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered to him.

  He looked at her taking in her cleavage showing above the green cups of her dress. “Yes, I’ve missed you too.”

  Mac smiled at the look in his eyes. “I have a surprise for you later.”

  Brandon lifted a brow. “What is it?”

  “I wanted to do something special for you,” she took his hand. “To thank you for always making sure I’m taken care of.”

  “You know I’ll take care of you Mackenzie.”

  “You always have Brandon.”

  “I’m going to throw up,” Corvus interrupted them.

  Both looked at the front before Mac turned to Brandon. “This was your idea?” she asked.

  Brandon shook his head. “It seemed like a good one at some point.”

  They arrived at the crowded venue and Corvus parked the car as the skies began to darken. Mac looked up at the ominous sight as she exited and commented. “A storm’s coming.”

  Brandon looked up as well. “They’re predicting severe thunderstorms and a tornado watch.”

  The trio stood side by side with Mac in the middle then went inside where she was greeted immediately. Brandon moved away from her side to allow her to serve as chief. He and Corvus met up with Khalil, Lance and Khayla standing by a wall of windows that overlooked the city.

  Lance whispered to Brandon. “Patrice is here and she’s already starting problems.”

  “How so?” Brandon asked.

  “Raising questions about how Mac is handling the shooting at the park.”

  Brandon’s eyes narrowed as Lance continued. “She wants Mac to come down hard on all three to set an example and since Mac is only holding Tremaine on possession charges, she’s questioning her toughness.”

  “She knows damn well how tough Mackenzie is,” Brandon argued.

  “Just giving you a heads up,” Lance told him. “You know how Patrice operates.”

  Brandon nodded. “Yes, I know.”

  Lance watched as Brandon walked away in the direction of the woman in question. He reached her side and looked down at her with serious green eyes.

  Patrice smiled up at him. “Hello Brandon. You look very handsome tonight.”

  “Good evening Patrice,” Brandon replied. “I understand you have some issues with the way the shooting at the park is being handled.”

  Patrice’s smiled faded. “In fact, I do. As the next Mayor of Detroit, I will not tolerate community violence such as what occurred over the weekend. My platform is to bring justice to the innocent victims and that can’t happen with a sympathetic Commander in Chief.”

  “Don’t ever question Chief Green’s commitment to justice in this city and as the head prosecutor, I will make sure that the perpetrators are punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Brandon vowed.

  Patrice looked at him. “Even you’re in question Brandon. How are you going to prosecute a case so close to your own situation? We don’t want suspects walking away because you botched a trial.”

  Brandon gave her a cool smile. “I don’t botch trials. Never have and never will.”

  “There’s always a first time and I think yours is coming very soon.” She smiled at him. “Excuse me, I need to mingle with my constituents.”

  Brandon watched as she walked away and knew she was going to continue to be a problem. He turned and saw Mackenzie watching him. Their eyes caught before she turned away to speak with someone standing next to her.

  The room began to fill completely as the band began to play music for dancing. Tauri and Rion arrived and greeted Brandon.

  “Hey Brandon,” Rion gave his friend a manshake. “How’s it going?”

  Brandon had a drink in his hand and took a small sip. �
��I’m keeping an eye on Patrice.”

  Rion frowned. “What is she doing?”

  “I think she’s set her sights on Mackenzie.”

  Tauri chimed in. “I wouldn’t want to be her. Mac doesn’t play.”

  Brandon scanned the room again and saw Mac laughing on the dance floor with Corvus, who slid Brandon a sly look. “No, she doesn’t,” he agreed with Tauri.

  “I’m going to choke your brother,” he told Rion, who laughed.

  “Get in line,” Rion told him. “I swear I would have just taken my chances before asking him to do anything.”

  “He was the only option.”

  Rion shook his head. “You know he’s going to act a fool.”

  “I know.” Brandon walked out to the dance floor and looked at Corvus. “May I dance with the chief?”

  Corvus glanced at Mac. “You want to dance with him or you want to stay with me?”

  “Move,” Brandon told him.

  Corvus laughed as he released Mac and walked off of the floor.

  Brandon took her into his arms and began to move to the slow beat. “Hello counselor.”

  “Thank you for giving me the honor to dance with the beautiful Chief,” he said smiling down at her.

  Mac held his gaze. “I asked you not to put us on display.”

  “I’m not.”

  “When you smile at me like that, you are.”

  Brandon glanced around the room. “You’re so beautiful, I can’t help but smile at you.”

  “That dress only makes me think of what’s underneath and that it’s as good as it looks,” he whispered.

  Mac felt herself getting warm. “We need to change the subject.”

  He continued to smile. “Okay.”

  “Khayla told me about Patrice,” Mac told him.

  “Don’t worry about her.”

  Brandon moved her out of the way of another couple. “She’s the least of my concerns at this point,” Mac told him.

  The music changed to an upbeat number and Mac and Brandon began to get their dance on. The Negus and Nigist watched the two of them getting their freak on and shook their heads.

  “So much for being discrete,” Corvus said aloud.

  Lance agreed. “Yep, it’s a wrap, they about to be on the news.”