The server approached their table and they placed their order.
“I’m glad you found me last night,” Olivia said when the server walked away. “I was actually going to hire someone to search for you.” She pulled out the white envelope from the side pocket of her handbag, but stopped when a strange expression covered her sister’s face. “What?”
“I’m still stuck on the fact that you were going to hire someone to find me. Does Cameron know?”
“No.”
Keisha let out a humorless laugh. “Of course your master wouldn’t have allowed it, huh? I guess you’re probably still jumping whenever he says jump, too.”
Olivia shook her head, feeling like Boo Boo the Fool for even wanting to have a conversation with her sister. “Your trifling ass hasn’t changed one bit. You’re still the same mean-spirited, selfish, cold-hearted bitch you’ve always been. I actually thought that just maybe I could have an adult conversation with my sister, but apparently not. And why the need to dress like me? Surely you must know that you will never be me.”
Olivia hated stooping to Keisha’s level. She prided herself on keeping her cool and treating people the way she wanted to be treated, but her sister brought out the worst in everyone.
“Wow, I see someone has a backbone now. What happened? Cameron finally started letting you make your own decisions?”
“You’re a real piece of work. You have your nose turned up so high, like Cameron is some overbearing asshole, yet you went to him for help. Why is that, Keisha?”
The self-righteous grin slipped from her sister’s lips. “He owed me.”
Olivia’s skin crawled with the bite behind Keisha’s words. Last night, when she and Wiz argued about Keisha’s sudden appearance, Olivia had a feeling Wiz was holding something back.
“He owed you what?”
Her sister hesitated, her gaze everywhere but on Olivia.
What the heck is going on?
Keisha sighed when she finally returned her attention to the conversation. “Look, he’s always treated me like crap, but I knew he had connections. I’d like to relocate to Europe or anywhere oversees. I thought he would be able to make some calls and help me out.”
Olivia studied her sister, knowing there was something she wasn’t telling her.
“So you going to his office, pretending to be me had nothing to do with this?” Olivia held up the note she had received from their childhood friend weeks ago.
Keisha narrowed her eyes. “What’s that?”
Olivia handed it to her.
“I’m not sure if you knew, but Donna from the old neighborhood bought Gramma’s old house after Gramma died. Some guy stopped by looking for you, and when she told him that she might be able to get a message to you, he handed her that note. Since I hadn’t seen you in years, I opened it.”
Actually, Olivia hadn’t opened it until last night after everyone had left the party. When Cameron told her that Keisha was in some type of trouble, Olivia got curious. The message was short. You have something that belongs to me. B.
Her sister stared at the writing on the outside of the envelope, her first name and last initial scribbled across the front. She skimmed the note.
“Has anyone else seen this?” She folded the paper and stuffed it in her oversized handbag. “Does Cameron know about it?”
“No, and why would you care if he has seen it?”
Her sister glanced around with worried eyes.
“Because he already hates me. If he has any idea that … oh, never mind.”
Olivia knew why she hadn’t shown Wiz the note. He would have looked at it as a threat to Olivia, since everything her sister was involved in often spilled over to her life. But Olivia couldn’t understand why Keisha would care what Wiz thought. He tolerated her at best early in their marriage, but toward the end, his feelings for her went beyond hate, especially after the drug house incident.
Olivia would never forget when she woke up in the hospital after that horrible night. The first person she saw when she opened her eyes had been Wiz and she almost didn’t recognize him. Disheveled, pale, and considering how thin he looked, it was clear he hadn’t been eating. She hadn’t seen him in a few months, not since he had left on one of his secret missions.
But what she remembered most was when their gazes connected. She saw the strain on his face and tears in his eyes. That’s when she knew. That’s when she knew that she had lost their baby.
Olivia shivered at the memory. She hadn’t thought she would ever recover emotionally, blaming her sister, the hospital, and then Wiz for losing their baby girl. After months in therapy, she was finally able to stop blaming Wiz for not being in the country during her pregnancy. She also felt that he could have stopped her from going to Keisha’s rescue.
Olivia eventually realized that it had been her decision to risk her and their baby’s life that night in order to save her sister. For years, Olivia faulted herself, but Wiz had never blamed her. He blamed Keisha.
The server came with their meals and Olivia was glad for the distraction. They talked about the weather and the birthday party, and for long stretches, ate in silence.
“By your reaction, I assume you know what that note was about. Care to fill me in?”
“It’s nothing for you to be concerned about.” Keisha stabbed at one of her sausage links, cut it in half, and shoved a piece into her mouth.
“So where have you been, Keisha?”
“What do you mean?”
“Where have you been living?”
She hesitated, and Olivia wondered why she would have to think about the question.
“I’ve been all over. I left Chicago years ago and did a little traveling here and there before arriving in New York.”
“How long will you be in Chicago? Are you working here?”
“I … what’s with all of the questions?” Keisha set her fork down, pushed her plate back, and folded her arms on the table. “Is that why you suggested we get together, so that you could ask me fifty-million questions?”
“Keisha, I haven’t seen you in ten years. Of course I’m going to have questions. I think of you often. Wonder how you are, if you’re safe. We didn’t leave off on the best of terms and,” she shrugged, “I guess I was just concerned.”
“You weren’t that concerned when you told me to never call you again and to stay out of your life,” she seethed, her breathing coming in short spurts. “You knew I wasn’t working and didn’t have a place to live. Yet you discarded me like an old pair of tennis shoes.”
Yep, this was the Keisha Olivia remembered. The arrogant person who thought the world revolved around her and the person who never took responsibility for her own actions.
What was I thinking? Why the heck did I think I could talk to her?
The hate in Keisha’s eyes was like a dagger to Olivia’s heart. How could she have thought that someone like Keisha could change?
“Keisha, I seem to remember the situation and the conversation going a little different back then.” Olivia lowered her voice when a few people glanced their way. She had to say her peace because this would be the last time she saw Keisha. “I think it all started with me going out in the middle of the night to search for you and pay off your drug dealer. Oh, and if that wasn’t bad enough when you refused to leave with me, you allowed someone to drug me and then you left me there. My own sister left me in a house barely conscious with drug addicts.”
“Well you should have—”
“I lost a whole lot more than you that night, Keisha,” Olivia said through gritted teeth, willing herself not to shed a tear. “I also lost my baby that night. My little girl.”
Olivia recalled the day she had shared her pregnancy news with her sister. It was one of few days Keisha wasn’t high. At the time, Keisha was staying with her while Wiz was away. Unlike most sisters upon hearing that type of news, she showed no love. Her response had been “don’t expect me to babysit.”
Even now, the
re was no remorse and no apology. Not that an apology would have made Olivia feel any better.
“You have a perfect life.” Bitterness laced each word. “You have always had it made. Brains, talent, and you even landed the great guy. The man still worships the ground you walk on. He caters to your every need and treats you like some damn princess, even after you divorced him,” she spat out, the venom returning to her words. “Well, Olivia, I had nothing. Even now, I have nothing. So forgive me if I’m not feeling any love for you right now.”
Olivia had always known her sister was jealous of her, but had no idea she held this type of animosity.
“Your life could have been different had you made different choices. So don’t blame me for all the bad in your life. You brought all that on yourself. How many times did I try saving you, only to be pulled into your mess?” A shiver ran through Olivia’s body remembering the condition of the drug house that she’d been lured to. She hadn’t been sure what to expect, but was glad that she had told her father-in-law about having to go and help Keisha out of a jam. Otherwise, Wiz might not have known where to start looking for her. Like always, he had saved her from some mess her sister had pulled her in to.
Right now, all she wanted to do was get away from Keisha.
“Excuse me for a minute. I’m going to the lady’s room.”
“Take your time,” Keisha mumbled and turned her attention to the guys at the other table.
Unbelievable.
Olivia headed to the bathroom, but slowed when she spotted Travis, one of the agency’s security specialists, sitting alone at a table for two eating pancakes.
She offered a small smile. She wasn’t sure if Wiz had orchestrated the coincidence or if Travis just happened to be there.
He nodded a greeting in her direction and went back to eating.
Olivia kept walking. She hurried to the bathroom hoping it was empty so she could pull herself together. How could she be so foolish for thinking Keisha had changed? She owed Wiz a huge apology.
God, what was I thinking? She knew what she was thinking. One, she was concerned about her sister’s well-being, and two, she really had hoped they could talk like civilized people.
Well, that wasn’t going to happen.
She dabbed at her eyes and blew out a breath. She might not have a sister, but she still had Wiz and his family.
On the way back to her table, Travis was no longer at the table he had occupied moments ago. Apparently, Wiz hadn’t put protection on her.
She smiled. She knew him well enough to know that he did probably think about it.
When she returned to the table, her sister was smiling at a business card in her hand.
“What’s that?” Olivia asked, feeling refreshed and back in control of her emotions.
“A telephone number. Nice to know I can still get some digits.”
Olivia didn’t comment. She was so glad to be out of the dating scene.
Thinking about Keisha’s words from earlier, Olivia was reminded of what an amazing man she had. Her sister was right when she said that Wiz treated her like a princess. She never doubted his love for her, not even while they were divorced.
Thank God Wiz didn’t give up on her. He didn’t give up on them. More than once he had told her that he wanted to fight the divorce, but had felt guilty for being away from her more than he was with her. In the past three years, he had proposed marriage three times. The last time, she had said yes. She was finally ready to put their past in the past and focus on a future with him.
Her father-in-law’s words from months ago came to mind. “Why deprive yourself of the joys of marriage with the man you love, for fear of him being taken away from you? We all have to go sometime, but in the meantime …”
She’d been living life differently ever since.
Olivia reached for her glass of orange juice, but stopped before the liquid touched her lips.
Never leave your drink unattended, she remembered the self-defense instructor at Supreme Security saying. And Olivia didn’t trust her sister.
Their server approached the table. “Can I get you ladies anything else?”
“Just the check please,” Olivia said.
“Will this be on one check or two?”
“One,” she and Keisha answered in unison.
Olivia lifted an eyebrow to her sister. Well, this is a first. She couldn’t ever remember Keisha treating her to a meal.
Keisha shrugged. “What? I figured this was your treat since it was your invitation.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t expect you to pay for anything,” Olivia mumbled, more than ready to get away from her sister.
They stood, preparing to leave. “Oh, can we swing by your house?”
Olivia frowned. “Why?”
“I think I left my makeup bag there last night. I would have called you to bring it, but I didn’t have your telephone number.”
After the fight she and Wiz had the day before, there was no way she was taking Keisha to their house. As a matter of fact, like Wiz, Olivia didn’t trust Keisha.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have time right now. I have another appointment, but let’s exchange numbers and I’ll call you if I find it.”
They both pulled out their cell phones and added the contact information. Olivia didn’t see them as ever being close again. She couldn’t even see them talking much, but she was glad that they would be able to keep in touch if ever they wanted to.
“Well, I’m only going to be in town for another day or two. And I’m not sure exactly where I left the bag. It would probably be better if I swung by and—”
“If it’s there, I’m sure I’ll find it. I’ll call you.”
Keisha huffed but dropped the subject.
They walked toward the front door, and Olivia smiled when she saw Travis leaning against a wall near the exit. Dressed in a leather jacket, with a matching cap pulled low over his eyes, dark jeans, and black Timberlands he acted as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Now she knew Wiz had sent him.
“Well, hello handsome,” Keisha flirted, flashing him a sexy smile.
Travis touched the brim of his cap and nodded. “Ma’am.”
Keisha scowled at him. “I got your damn, ma’am.”
Olivia burst out laughing when Keisha stormed out of the restaurant. She couldn’t help it. The look on her sister’s face was priceless.
Olivia mouthed a “thank you” to Travis when he smile and winked at her.
Yeah, Wiz was right. Malik and the gang were her family.
Chapter Fourteen
Once Olivia climbed into her car, she activated her Bluetooth to call Wiz.
“Good afternoon, Supreme Security, this is Stacy. How may I direct your call?”
“Hi Stacy, this is Olivia. Is Cameron in his office? He’s not answering his cell phone.” Olivia had to get used to someone else answering besides Victoria on the weekends, since she now only worked Mondays through Fridays.
“Oh hi, Olivia. Actually, he’s right here at my desk. Hold on and he’ll take the call in his office.”
Seconds later, he came on the line. “Hey, babe.”
“Hey yourself.” She turned on the heat in the car and rubbed her palms together to warm them.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, first of all thanks for the security detail. I hope you’re not mad that I didn’t tell you that I was meeting Keisha for brunch. I just didn’t want another argument.”
“Yeah, I know and I can’t say that I blame you. But I hope one day you’ll understand that my only concern is you. I just don’t trust her.”
“Yeah, I know. So how did you find out I was going to be meeting with her this morning?”
“Malik. He overheard the two of you talking before she left the party.”
Olivia smiled to herself. “You guys are good. You both are definitely in the right business.”
Wiz chuckled. “I’m glad you think so.” Paper rustled i
n the background.
If Olivia didn’t have plans with Natasha for the rest of the afternoon, she would surprise Wiz with a visit to his office. She was sure he’d enjoy a repeat of Monday.
“So how was brunch?”
“It was … enlightening.”
Olivia was glad Keisha appeared to be clean, but that edginess she wore like a badge of honor was still intact. By the time they said their good-byes, Olivia felt confident in knowing that she had done all she could do for her sister.
“Enlightening, huh? Does that mean you two are best friends now?”
“No. It means that I won’t be making an effort to see her again.”
“I see. Well, though my feelings for your sister haven’t changed, I’m glad you have some closure.”
Closure. That was a good way of looking at her time with Keisha. Now Olivia could move on with her life.
“By the way, I’m really proud of you.”
Olivia grinned like a little kid. “Really? Why?”
“Travis mentioned how you looked around the parking lot before exiting your car this morning, and then again as you approached the restaurant. And did you think Keisha had put something in your juice or was it just intuition that kept you from drinking from the glass when you returned to the table?”
Wow, their team really was good if Travis saw all of that.
“I guess some of the self-defense I’ve learned over the years is starting to stick.”
After Wiz’s first tour in Iraq, he had drilled many self-defense tips into her. Then she took a course that Supreme Security offered and now some of the techniques learned seemed second nature.
Part of her didn’t want to know, but she had to ask. “So did Travis see her put anything in my drink?”
“No. She didn’t touch the glass or the food left on your plate.”
Olivia sighed in relief. Her opinion of her sister already wasn’t that high. Had she done anything to her food or drink, that would have definitely been the last straw for Olivia.
“So where you headed?” Wiz asked.
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