by D. Camille
“I don’t know…” she whispered with her eyes on the buttons of his shirt.
He used his other hand to lift her face to his. “I have to find out.”
“Why?” The word was a breathless sigh.
Kent traced her cheek. “Because it feels as if my life depends on it.”
He kissed her slowly, drugging her until she grabbed his lapels to maintain her balance. Her last thoughts were that if this was what she’d been waiting for, it was definitely turning out to be worth it.
Chapter 5
Lotus returned to her schedule at the hospital the next morning. Driving in her loaner vehicle, she made sure to be aware of her surroundings even though Kent had told her that he had a man on her. The report on her car was confirmed that someone had cut the lines underneath. Lotus had wondered if she’d possibly driven over something, but there was no question the act had been deliberate.
Last night, she’d had sweet, hot dreams of one Kent Baker. He’d kissed her at her door until she literally couldn’t breathe, then he’d started all over again. Eventually he’d walked out of her door and into her dreams.
Lotus felt her heart flutter as she exited her car. When she reached for her phone on the seat, it vibrated in her hand and she looked at the text on her screen.
Good morning. Have a good day. (smiley face)
She typed back.
Blissful risings. You too pretty eyes.
Another text came in.
Have some business to take care of tonight, but I’ll check on you later. Call if you need me.
She responded.
That’s fine. I’ll talk to you later.
She laughed out loud when he sent her a row of emojis of a winking faces blowing kisses. She quickly sent back laughing ones.
He then sent her some eggplants and she frowned before sending him back an angry face which was responded to with a laughing face with tears.
Lotus shook her head then grabbed her things and headed in to work.
******
Kent couldn’t contain his laughter as he stared at his phone. He’d known his eggplant emojis would make her mad but he couldn’t help himself. He loved baiting her and watching her fire erupt.
His mother had called him this morning and all she’d talked about was the pretty, chocolate woman with the deep dimples. She had gone on and on with how she was so impressed by the woman that her son had brought home.
Kent hadn’t even thought twice about taking Lotus to his mother’s home. Of course his mother would love her, who wouldn’t? She was a beautiful, accomplished doctor at a prestigious medical center. She was sweet and could cook. What more could a mother ask for?
Kent knew he had to figure out what was going on with him and Lotus, because something was definitely transpiring and he didn’t think it was all one-sided, even though Lotus seemed to be holding back somewhat.
Not that he expected her to fall into bed with him, but it seemed he was doing all the pursuing at this point which was foreign to him. Speaking of pursuing, he watched Carla walk past his office. She smiled and waved as she walked past, which was becoming her norm. Kent nodded and went back to his computer. He had a lot of work to get done before his meeting this evening with Dennis and he didn’t have time for Carla and her antics. After Dennis, Warren Harding was next on his list.
The day flew past and before he knew it, it was time for him to handle his business. After making a stop to prepare, he headed to the location that Dennis had given him. When he pulled up to the deserted area that housed a dilapidated building, he stopped his car and exited slowly. Looking around, he saw Dennis pull up a few minutes later and waited for him to get out of the car.
Kent walked to meet him. “What’s up Dennis? What do you have for me?”
Dennis looked Kent over in his suit and tie, then over at his vehicle. “You came alone right?”
“What do you have Dennis? I don’t have all night.”
“Let’s go inside and talk.” Dennis suggested.
Kent looked at the building, then back at Dennis. “Let’s not.”
Dennis sighed and pulled his gun that was on his hip. He pointed the weapon at Kent. “Like I said, let’s go inside.”
Kent nodded. “So what’s this about?”
“This is about you checking into the wrong people.” He motioned with the gun. “Start walking.”
Kent turned and began walking slowly with Dennis following. They reached the door and Kent stopped.
“Go inside,” Dennis instructed.
Lowering his head, Kent walked into the dusty room and turned to Dennis. “Who are you working for?”
“I don’t think you’re in the position to be asking questions.”
Kent lifted a brow. “I think I am.”
Dennis frowned. “What?”
At the sound of the click, Dennis turned to find a weapon pointed at his head. “Put the gun down,” the man told him.
Slowly Dennis lowered his arms and bent to drop his weapon on the floor then stood with his hands in the air. Kent pulled his weapon from his back and walked over to Dennis, kicking his gun aside.
“Not a good look Dennis,” Kent told him as he patted him down for more weapons. “You’re an officer of the law.”
Kent put the gun to Dennis’ head. “Down to your knees.”
Dennis reluctantly dropped to the floor. “So now, I’m in the position to ask the damn questions.”
“Who sent you?” Kent demanded.
Dennis looked angrily at the two men. “I’m supposed to give you a warning.”
“So, let’s hear it…”
“Stay away from the Hardings.”
Kent shook his head. “Nah, can’t do that.”
“Look Kent, you don’t want to mess with them. They’re going to take you out if you don’t listen.”
“Consider the message delivered,” Kent told him with hard green eyes before delivering a blow with his pistol that knocked the man out.
He turned. “You can do your thing with him now.”
Kyle looked at him. “You didn’t have to knock him out for me to do it.”
“I know.” Kent looked at his watch. “How long is this going to take?”
Kyle was on one knee next to the bag he’d brought along with him. He applied some rubber gloves. “Now that we have to wake him up, I’m not sure.”
“I’ll wake his ass up. Just let me know when you’re ready,” Kent confirmed.
Kyle nodded and continued with his work. “Sage gave me a few needles so we’ll start with a low dosage and work our way up if we need to.”
“I need to know everything he knows, about the Atlanta PD, the Hardings and Lotus.”
Kyle looked up. “Lotus?”
Kent lifted a dark brow. “Yeah, she’s connected to the Hardings,” he said slowly.
“How?”
“She was dating Warren Harding.” Kent’s eyes narrowed at the questions.
Kyle stood. “He tried to hurt her?”
“I got it under control,” Kent assured him.
Kyle nodded and went back to his task. “I’ll see her tonight anyway.”
Kent froze. “What?”
Moving over to the man on the floor, Kyle lifted his sleeve. ‘I’ll see Lotus tonight and I’ll talk to her about it.”
“You got plans to see Lotus tonight?” Kent asked frowning.
Kyle didn’t look up from his work. “Nah, I’m going to surprise her.”
Finishing up, Kyle stood again and looked down at Dennis. “Let’s wait like five minutes and wake him up.”
“You surprise Lotus often?” Kent inquired.
Kyle turned to Kent. “I’m not in Atlanta that much, but when I am…yeah. She makes a bomb spaghetti.”
“I know you won’t eat her food, but she’s a good cook,” Kyle finished folding his arms.
“Yeah, she is.” Kent agreed. “So you just got a free pass to drop in on her?”
Kyle shrugged. “Unt
il her man shows up.”
“Her man?” Kent asked confused.
“Yeah, she says he’s coming but until then we can hang out when I’m in town.”
Kent felt his heart drop. Lotus never mentioned having a man. Granted, he’d never asked specifically, but still. He stood in deep contemplation of this information.
A few minutes later he heard Kyle’s voice. “We can try now, Kent.”
Coming out of his fog, Kent walked over to Dennis and slapped his face…extra hard due to the frustration he was now feeling. When Dennis began to stir, Kent stood over him with his gun trained on his chest.
Groggily, Dennis grabbed his head and tried to sit up. “Don’t move!” Kent yelled.
Kyle came over and fished Dennis’ wallet from his pocket and looked down at him.
“What’s your name?” Kyle asked.
“Dennis Sanders,” he answered.
Kyle looked at the license in his hand. “What’s your address?”
Dennis slurred his address.
“When’s your birthdate?” Kyle questioned and Dennis answered.
“He’s ready,” Kyle turned to Kent.
Still standing over him, Kent began his line of questioning. “Who sent you to give me a warning?”
Dennis looked up at Kent. “A few members of the Harding family.”
“What do you know about Lotus Masters?” Kent asked.
“The Hardings have a beef with her family.”
Kent’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of beef?”
“They found out that her sister owes them some money for some paintings or something but they can’t get to her because of her husband.”
“So they’re trying to get to Lotus?”
Dennis rubbed his head where Kent had hit him and moaned. “They want to send her sister a message.”
“Is Warren Jr. involved in this?” Kent interrogated him.
“He wants her for himself but she cut him loose.”
Kyle looked at Kent and both men shook their heads. “So you’re on the Hardings payroll, who else?”
Dennis started naming names of prominent people in and around the city. Kent heard one name in particular that gave him pause.
“Wait, did you say Keith Watson?”
“Yeah, you’re not the only one who wants to keep track of your friend in LA.”
“Fuck!” Kent shouted. “Who else is keeping tabs on him?”
“Erik Hanson, he’s friends with the Hardings. Your friend took over his company.”
Kent’s green eyes froze over as he grabbed his phone and began to record. “Give me the names of the other dirty cops with you.”
When Dennis was done, Kent stopped the recording and looked at Kyle. “You want to knock him out or you want me to do it?”
Kyle looked at Kent. “Let’s not leave too many bruises.” He grabbed another needle and inserted it into an already woozy Dennis who slipped back into darkness.
“He’s not going to remember this, right?” Kent asked.
“Sage said this is a partial memory eraser. It will erase the last four to six hours,” Kyle informed him.
Kent nodded. “We’ll put him back in his car.” Kent dialed Dennis’ number and heard his phone ringing in his pocket.
“Hey Dennis, it’s Kent. Hey, I can’t make it to our meeting, something’s come up with work. Call me to reschedule.”
Kent disconnected the call and replaced the phone. “He’ll wake up and think he was waiting for me.”
Kent and Kyle placed Dennis behind the driver’s seat then Kyle, using his gloves, replaced Dennis’ wallet and weapon before they settled him inside the vehicle.
The two walked to Kent’s car and left the area. While driving Kent turned to Kyle. “Thanks for coming.”
“That’s my job.”
“You want me to drop you at the hotel?” Kent asked.
Kyle looked at his watch. “Nah, you can drop me at Lotus’ place. She should be home now.”
Kent looked at his own watch. “Yeah, I guess she should be.” He turned back to the road. “Let’s see exactly what The Blossoming Lotus is up to.”
******
Lotus sat on her sofa reading about some new medical procedures. She’d come home from work, showered, dressed and eaten a light meal. Glancing at the clock, she wondered if she would hear from Kent tonight. He’d said he had some business to take care of, so he was probably still tied up.
Lotus had to admit that she liked hearing his voice when he called her on the phone. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. She really hoped this was the time. When she’d first realized that Kent was her soul mate, she’d not been a happy camper and had refused to acknowledge it any way, but when her mother had confirmed it to her, she’d finally had to accept her fate.
Shaking her head, Lotus thought, of course her soul mate wouldn’t even believe in soul mates and would be one of the biggest hoes in Atlanta. As difficult as it was to look past that, Lotus had been determined to follow her destiny. The end result would be more than worth the wait, at least that’s what she told herself.
Kent Baker was a complicated fool. He made her mad, made her laugh and activated her honey pot like no other. One look from those pretty green eyes could make her melt. She knew he loved to tease her and secretly she enjoyed some of his wild antics.
Her doorbell rang and she went to answer the door. On the other side, she found a smiling Kyle.
“Hey girl,” he said stepping inside, hugging her.
“Hey you!” Lotus exclaimed hugging him back. “What are you doing here?”
He looked down at her. “Here on some business.”
She hit his arm. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
She heard another voice clear his throat and turned to find Kent watching her. “Hey, I didn’t even see you.”
“I see.” He came inside and closed the door behind him, then stared at her.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Lotus told him.
Kent shrugged. “I told you I’d check on you later.”
The two stood watching one another as Kyle studied them. Lotus turned to Kyle and said, “Let’s all sit down.” She watched as the two men took seats on her sofa at opposite ends. Opting not to sit between them, she took the chair.
Smiling she looked at them. “So what have you two been up to?”
Kent remained silent watching her and finally Kyle answered. “Just following up on some things.”
Lotus felt Kent’s stare and avoided it completely. “How long are you going to be here?”
Kyle glanced at the silent Kent then back to Lotus. “For a few days. I need to figure out a few things down here.”
Standing to her bare feet, Lotus asked them both, “You guys want something to drink?”
Kyle felt the tension in the room between the two and wondered what was going on.
“Why don’t I help you?” he said standing. Kyle started toward the kitchen and spotted his picture on her mantle.
“Girl, didn’t I tell you to take that thing down,” he said laughing.
Lotus laughed too. “I am not. If you would’ve just posed like I asked, then you’d like it.”
“I’m not posing for any pictures, I’m not a model.”
“You could be though, if you weren’t so damn smart,” Lotus teased him as they went to the kitchen.
Kent’s phone rang and he saw Trent’s name.
“Not a good time, let me call you back,” Kent snapped.
Trent frowned. “What happened, damn?”
“Everything went fine. I’ll brief you later,” Kent told him.
“Why you sound like you want to kick somebody’s ass?” Trent questioned.
Kent heard laughter coming from the kitchen and frowned.
“I’m putting your dude back on the plane tomorrow.”
“Why? Kyle has some other things to check on.”
Kent shook his head. “He�
�d better hurry the fuck up then.”
“Dude, what the hell is going on?”
Kyle and Lotus were returning and Kent said into the phone, “I’ll hit you later.”
He hung up and put his phone away as Lotus handed him a glass. “I know you like white.”
“Thanks,” he took the glass and their hands touched, causing her eyes to meet his.
Lotus took her seat again and wrapped her feet underneath her, while sipping from her glass.
“You want to go out tonight Lotus?” Kyle asked.
She glanced at Kent then Kyle. “I wish you would have called me. I have another early morning tomorrow, so I’d better not go out partying.”
Kyle turned to Kent. “What about you Kent, you want to hit some places?”
Kent sipped his drink. “Maybe. I know some spots.”
I bet you do…Lotus thought sipping her own drink.
“Uh, Lotus can I use your bathroom?” Kyle asked.
She smiled at him. “Boy, you know you don’t have to ask me that. You know where it is.”
Kyle walked out of the room and down the hall, out of sight. When the door closed, Lotus turned to Kent.
“You can’t talk tonight?” she asked.
“I’d rather hear you talk Lotus,” he answered.
She lifted her eyebrow. “About what?”
Kent shrugged. “How about this man that Kyle says you got?”
“What?” Lotus sat her glass on the table and met hard green eyes.
Kent sat his glass aside as well. “So you playing games?” he questioned.
Her dark eyes flashed. “First of all, you don’t question me like I’ve done something wrong! I’m not your woman.”
“If you got a man, why didn’t you say so?” he accused.
Lotus got to her feet. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
Kent matched her stance. “I’ll tell you who I’m not! I’m not a dude who gets played.”
Kyle returned to see them standing face to face in a heated battle and headed to the door. “So I see you two need to work some things out, so I’ll just get a cab back to the hotel.”
“Kent, I’ll check in tomorrow and Lotus, I’ll talk to you later.” In a flash, he was out the door and they turned back to one another.
“You should follow his example,” Lotus told him. “And get your ass out!”
Kent frowned. “You not putting me out.”