“Well, I wish she would share some of her moves with Natasha. Every time I try to teach her anything or get her to go to the gun range with me, she gives me that bullshit about her being in the business of saving lives, not taking them.”
“Well, she is a doctor by trade.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. That’s just an excuse she uses. She needs to get serious about self-defense.” Malik brought his drink to his lips and sipped. “So how did it go with the diamond-studded watch for Olivia? Did you tell her that it has a GPS in it?”
“Of course not. She loved it but would have had a fit if she knew about the tracker. She already thinks I’m overprotective.”
“Really? I wonder why she thinks that.” Sarcasm dripped from Malik’s words. “You have to admit, you are a little extreme with your possessiveness when it comes to her.”
“You would be too if Tasha had a psycho sister who attracted trouble like honey attracts bees.” He pointed his beer bottle at Natasha who was across the room. “You should be the last person to talk about someone being overprotective and possessive. Poor Tasha can barely take a step without you following behind her. And on that note, I’m going over there to rescue the love of my life from your brother.”
“Why do you have your arms around my wife?” Wiz asked when he walked into the family room.
“As I understand it, she’s not your wife yet. There’s still a chance that I can steal her away from you,” Hunter Graham said. “Besides, I think she’s ready for a younger version of you.”
A NBA superstar, Hunter had flown to Chicago for the day upon Malik’s insistence to discuss him needing a security detail. Hunter had recently been called out by the media, claiming he had a gambling problem and has since had a few run-ins with the paparazzi.
“Careful, Hunter. You know Wiz don’t play when it comes to Ollie. Many have overstepped and to this day we haven’t seen hide nor hair of them,” Malik remarked, joining the group, his glass held up saluting Wiz.
“Listen, to your big brother, man.” Wiz nudged Hunter aside and wrapped his arm around Olivia. He placed a noisy kiss on her cheek. “She’s all mine. Ain’t that right, sweetheart?”
She glanced at him, that beautiful smile of hers squeezing his heart. He fell more and more in love with her each passing day.
“That’s right. You’re the only one for me.”
She raised up on tiptoes and placed a sweet kiss against his lips.
Hunter’s hand went to his heart. “Olivia, you wound me. I thought we had something special.”
She laughed, snuggling closer to Wiz. He held her around the waist and stared down into her big, brown, tired eyes.
“Okay you guys, I’m stealing the birthday girl away for a minute.” Wiz looped his arm around Olivia’s shoulder. “Make yourselves at home and, Natasha, you’re in charge.”
“I think I can handle that.” She grinned.
“Oh, wait.” Olivia turned to the group. “Hunter, I hope you’re planning to be at the wedding.”
“Wouldn’t miss it, babe, though you’ll be breaking my heart marrying someone other than me.”
She shook her head. “Considering the number of women vying for your attention, I’m sure you’ll survive.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he grumbled, his sad expression a bit overkill in Wiz’s opinion.
“I’m not sure where you’re taking me, but can we stop in the kitchen?”
“Sure.” When he went to her, he didn’t really have a plan, he just wanted to check and make sure she was doing all right.
After grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler near the patio door, she leaned against the kitchen counter. She lifted her foot, twisting it back and forth.
He set down his bottle. “Why don’t you sit for a while, or at least put on some flats?” he asked against her ear and kissed her on the neck. He rubbed his body against her backside, quickly realizing that was a bad idea when his body stirred to attention. “I’m sure no one will mind if you’re not floating around the room, being the perfect hostess by trying to talk to everyone.”
She reached back without turning and patted his cheek. “I’m fine. And if you don’t stop grinding against me, you’re going to start a little something.”
“If that will get you off your feet, maybe I should.”
She laughed and turned to face him. He blocked her in with his hands braced on the countertop on each side of her.
“Maybe you should.” Her sauciness was a serious turn on. She placed her hand behind his head and pulled him close. She nibbled on his top lip and then pulled at his lower lip before slipping her tongue into his mouth.
He groaned and pulled her hard against his body. He would never get enough of her sweet mouth, but he knew that if they didn’t stop, a certain part of his anatomy was going to reveal what was on his mind.
“Okay, maybe you are fine,” he mumbled against her lips before pulling back.
“I told you.” She grinned.
“God I love you.” He cupped her cheek. “Promise me that you’ll sit down for a little while.”
“I love you, too, and I promise.”
He didn’t want to let her go, but when the doorbell rang, she insisted on answering the door.
He adjusted himself and watched Olivia glide across the room. She didn’t seem to be limping as her hips swung left, then right seductively. She might have been thin, but that sexy ass of hers was shapely and enticing.
He lifted his beer bottle from the counter and brought it to his lips. Taking a swig, he almost choked when Olivia screamed.
What the …
He set the bottle down and rushed to the door, but stopped. Ice ran through his veins when Olivia appeared with her arm looped around the shoulder of the new arriver.
Keisha.
He could have sworn he heard Malik say shit, but he wasn’t sure. All he could focus on was the woman who was bold enough to walk into his home as if she’d been invited.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Olivia wrapped her arm around Keisha and pulled her close again for a hug. “You look great. Everyone, if you hadn’t noticed, this is my twin sister who I haven’t seen in years.”
Cheers and claps went up all around. Anger exploded inside of Wiz. All the chatter and music faded to the background as he charged across the room. It was like his body had a mind of its own and he had no control over what he was about to do. All he could see was Keisha standing just inside their front door with that fake smile spread across her lips.
He clenched and unclenched his fists, his hands itching to wrap around her neck and squeeze. When he got within ten feet of her and Olivia, the stupid grin slipped from Keisha’s mouth and fear shone in her eyes. Suddenly, in a blur, several people came at him from all sides; Malik on his left and Victoria to his right. But then Olivia launched herself into his arms.
That’s what stopped him from killing the woman who had defied him and walked into his home.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Olivia exclaimed against his neck, her voice filled with emotion. Her words of gratitude did very little to squelch the rage roaring through his body. In fact, he got angrier by the minute.
Wiz couldn’t understand her. After all that they’d been through with Keisha, he couldn’t understand how Olivia could forgive and forget and welcome her with open arms.
She released him and quickly ushered her sister farther into the house. Before he could form his next thought, Malik gripped Wiz’s shoulder and forcefully escorted him from the room. They didn’t stop until they were outside on the patio.
“What the hell is she doing here?” Wiz roared, stomping across the small yard. He didn’t care that he was out in thirty degree weather with short sleeves, no hat, and no gloves. The crisp chill of the night couldn’t cool the blistering fury burning through him. “I can’t believe this shit!”
Malik, standing on the patio, burst out laughing.
Wiz charged at him, wanting to hit something or someo
ne, only causing Malik to laugh harder. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry, man. This shit ain’t funny. But you have to admit, the woman has balls. Only a nut case would come here knowing how you feel about her. She had to know there was a possibility that you would be ready to put a bullet in her head.”
“And that’s funny to you?” The tension coiled inside Wiz was almost suffocating. He backed away from Malik. Pacing around the yard, he ran his hand over his head and down the back of his neck.
Malik finally stopped laughing and leaned against the brick exterior of the house, his arms folded across his chest. He knew his friend was waiting for him to calm the hell down, but Wiz didn’t know if that was possible.
“You know what I can’t believe? That your ass was going to attack Midnight with all of those people standing around,” Malik said when Wiz stopped at the rectangular patio table and leaned on it, still trying to slow his erratic heartbeat.
Wiz couldn’t believe it either. When he zoned in on her, it was as if his legs had a mind of their own and moved in her direction. Everyone else in the room faded to the background. He didn’t know what he was thinking. No, actually he did know. He wanted her out of his home and away from his wife.
“So, what are you going to do about her? I could suggest a few ideas, but you’d be risking a life in prison if you choose either of them.”
Wiz ignored his friend’s sarcasm. Then again, he had a feeling those ideas were in line with some of the thoughts he was having.
“What I want to know is where Hank is? He was supposed to be watching Keisha!”
Wiz didn’t care that his voice carried in the backyard. All he wanted to know was why the person assigned to keep an eye on the woman was nowhere to be found.
“I was on my way to tell you that Hank was trying to reach you.”
Wiz straightened. “What? When?” He patted his front pockets realizing he’d left his cell phone on his desk.
“About the same time Midnight showed up. He tried you a few times, but when you didn’t get back to him he called me … well, you know the rest.”
Wiz resumed pacing. Hell, he had done more pacing in the past week than he’d done in all his life. Frustration ran through his veins. It was because of him she was still alive and able to wreak havoc on their lives again. It had been four days and he had yet to find anything to support her story.
He still couldn’t believe Keisha was bold enough to show her face at their home. Not only that, the fact that she knew where they lived didn’t sit well with him. He had purchased the home long after she disappeared.
He needed some answers and he needed them now.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Malik’s large body blocked the entrance.
“Where do you think? I want her out of my house!”
Malik shook his head. “You’re not going back in there until I’m confident you’re not going to strangle the woman.”
Wiz stepped back and sighed. “I can’t promise you that, but she can’t stay here.”
“Then what are you going to do with her?”
“After I get some answers, I’m kicking her ass out. Now move!”
Seconds ticked by before Malik step aside and Wiz went back inside, shaking off the cold that had soaked into his bones. Maybe it was good he’d been outside without the right clothes, the chilling air was getting colder by the minute. It did help get his head back on straight.
That thought was short lived when he spotted Keisha exiting their guest bathroom brushing her hand down the front of her long skirt.
Wiz walked the short distance down the hall and blocked her path.
“How did you know where we lived?” His voice was low and lethal. Her gaze darted around the enclosed space. When she took several steps back, he was comforted knowing he had instilled a little fear in her. He hated the person he became whenever she was around, but he had to make her understand a few things. He tolerated her in the past because of Olivia, but no longer. “I asked how did you know?”
She backed into a wall, unable to go anywhere, holding her hands out in front of her.
“Cameron, listen. I’m sorry for just showing up. I wanted to see my sister. Surely you can understand that—”
“Don’t give me that shit!” he seethed, trying like crazy to keep his voice down. “I asked how you knew where we lived. You’re not going anywhere until I get some answers.”
“What’s going on here?” Olivia halted anything else he was going to say. “Cameron?”
He took a few steps back. “I want her out of here. I want her out of my house.”
“Your house?” Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Your house?” she repeated.
“You know what I mean.” He mentally kicked himself for the slip. It had taken him months to convince her to sell her townhouse in D.C and make this house her permanent residence. Now he might have just undone the progress he had made. “She can’t stay here.”
Olivia stood before him, her gaze studying his face. She tilted her head as if something had just dawned on her.
“Can I speak to you in your office?” she finally asked. Without waiting for a response, she escorted Keisha back to the main living area.
Wiz made eye contact with Malik as he followed Olivia. A slight nod of his head toward Keisha and he knew his friend understood.
Keep an eye on her.
Chapter Eleven
Knowing that Wiz was close behind, Olivia stormed up the stairs, her every step landing with such a thud, the staircase vibrated.
I want her out of here. I want her out of my house.
Wiz’s angry words played around in her head, pissing her off even more as she walked into his office.
The spacious room looked more like a high tech central command station. The number of computers and monitors strategically positioned around the room resembled a government facility, rather than a home-office. At the moment she was ticked off enough to take a bat to every single device.
How could he embarrass her like that? And why did he corner Keisha, acting like a madman?
Wiz stalked in and she moved farther into the room, hovering near the leather sofa. All evening she had felt his gaze on her. He had always been attentive and overprotective, but tonight was different. He seemed more worried and clingy.
And then there was Keisha’s arrival. It was clear her presence surprised him as much as it surprised her.
“I should have known you had nothing to do with Keisha being here,” she snapped the moment Wiz closed the office door. The chill that had radiated off him upon seeing her sister could have frozen Lake Michigan. He was beyond livid. “But I can’t help but feel as if I’m missing something here. First of all, where did she come from? How is it that she just happened to come to our house tonight of all times?”
Wiz shook his head and walked over to his desk, perching on the corner of it.
“I don’t know,” he finally said. “That’s what I was trying to find out when you found us in the hallway.”
“Cameron, do not lie to me. We agreed that there would be no secrets between us.” Guilt stabbed her in the chest at her last words. Here she was telling him not to hide anything from her, when she had gone behind his back to search for Keisha. “Just tell me.”
He stood and glared at her. “I am telling you! I have no idea how she knew where we lived or that we would even be home and celebrating your birthday.”
Olivia studied him. He was telling the truth. Or at least some of the truth.
She walked to one of the windows and stared into the night, her arms wrapped around her midsection, as though she was holding herself together. Rarely did he volunteer information. She wasn’t sure if it was because of his military training, but she hadn’t noticed the trait until after his first tour in Afghanistan. Soon after, she realized that if she wanted answers, she had to ask the right questions.
“After you refused to search for her, did you change your mind?” She turned
to him.
“No.”
“Did you know she was coming here tonight?”
“No,” he said with more frustration.
“Have you seen her before tonight? Like recently?”
He hesitated. Bingo.
“Cameron, please tell me what’s going on. I know you can’t stand my sister. So how is it that you’ve seen her or have been in contact with her?”
He walked around his large oak desk and sank into his leather chair.
“She came to the agency Monday night asking for my help.”
Olivia stood speechless. She wasn’t sure what to say, but she didn’t miss the way his greenish eyes turned to dark emeralds. He wasn’t happy. As a matter of fact, he looked as if he were about ready to spit bullets.
Something else dawned on her. That was the day she had stopped by his office on her way to school.
“Your sister pretended to be you.”
Olivia’s head snapped up. “What?”
“She walked into the admin section of the building as if she belonged there.” He sighed roughly, his anger barely under control. All types of thoughts clouded Olivia’s mind. “She says she’s in trouble and wants my help.”
Unease crept through Olivia’s body as she thought about the note that she had been carrying around. She had been tempted to read it, but decided not to. What if the note was … She refused to finish the thought.
Feeling sick, she sat on the edge of the sofa cushion.
“What kind of trouble? And why did she come to you?”
He lifted his eyes to her, disgust written over his face. “Why does Keisha do anything that she does?” He rose slowly from his seat. “I don’t care why she came to me or what she wants. All I know is that I want her to stay the hell away from you and to stay out of our lives!”
“I need to talk to her,” Olivia said, ignoring his comment.
“What? Why?”
“Why? Because, Cameron, it’s been ten years. I’m not going to just turn her away without finding out where she’s been or what’s going on with her.”
Operation Midnight Page 10