by D. Camille
Kent turned his attention away from her and looked at his watch. “Let’s get started.”
An hour later, the meeting adjourned and Kent walked back to his office. He knew that Carla would follow, so he waited for her at the door. Seeing him waiting, she smiled and sashayed down the hall. At his door, she looked up at him.
“Come inside,” he told her.
“Of course,” she said throatily.
Instead of inviting her to have a seat, he stood looking at her by the door. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“What?” she faked innocence.
“I do not have time for your games because I have real shit going on. So go play dress up somewhere else.”
“I thought you liked this look,” she taunted.
“I like it on the woman who created it.”
Carla frowned. “Why are you being such an ass Kent?”
“You haven’t seen how much of an ass I can be, Carla. Stop this shit now before somebody gets hurt, for real,” he warned.
“You walk around here like you’re the shit and every woman should want a piece of you, but when it’s presented to you on a platter, you punk out.”
“Call it whatever you want, but stay the hell away from me,” he said adamantly.
She looked at him for a minute. “You really care about her,” she said in awe.
Carla laughed. “I hope she fucks you over and breaks your heart into tiny little pieces.”
Snatching open the door, she left his office headed to her own. Kent watched her go, then went to sit behind his desk. A quick knock raised his head.
“Hey man, can I come in for sec?” one of his co-workers asked.
Kent nodded and waved him inside. The man closed the door then made his way over to Kent.
“I saw Carla today,” he began. “Why is she dressing like your woman?”
Kent shook his head. “She’s crazy.”
“When your woman was here looking for you, I showed her to your office,” he explained. “I’d remembered her from the club.”
“Thanks, that was a good look,” Kent told him.
He smiled. “Yeah, I wouldn’t want my woman wandering around looking like that. I see why you scooped her up at the club, ‘cause I would’ve been trying to get on too.”
Kent lifted a brow. “Fall back a little.”
He raised his hands. “No disrespect.”
“For real though, keep an eye on Carla. She talks about hooking up with you all the time. She even put together a group to go to the strip club because she knew that’s what you were into,” he finished.
“I’m probably going to have to report her eventually, but I hope she gets it together because I don’t want her to lose her job over this,” Kent said.
“I don’t know man,” he shook his head. “She’s persistent and tenacious.”
Kent looked at him. “She don’t want this.”
“Actually, she does.”
Kent smiled. “Yeah right. This is the first time I actually feel like I’m being stalked.”
“It’s the eyes man. These women lose it.”
“Get out of my office,” Kent said laughing.
When the guy left, Kent picked up his phone. Lotus was still on the plane headed to LA. Closing his eyes, he thought of her touch and her scent. Her voice rang in his ears as he remembered their last night together.
Knowing that she was leaving in the morning, Kent had planned a romantic evening for her. They’d gone to dinner at an exclusive restaurant, then he’d taken her to his apartment, where they’d danced around his living room slowly moving sensuously against one another until neither could take anymore.
Lotus had unbuttoned his shirt and ran her hands across his bare chest. He loved the feel of her hands anywhere on his body. Kent also like the way she kept her nails natural and manicured. When those hands had moved to his belt, it was over.
They’d loved one another deeply and completely while setting the sheets on fire. If Kent had thought that their first time together was an anomaly, he’d definitely been proven wrong because each time he joined with Lotus, his body was ablaze and he could barely breathe.
She’d kissed him hotly, holding back nothing and he’d done the same. Kent remembered every sigh, every moan, every scratch of his back and every scream of his name. He’d stored them away until he would see her again and relive the scene.
Kent’s plate was full right now, with getting Lotus back home, wrapping up the situation with the Hardings, finding out who actually threatened Lotus and dealing with Keisha. He wouldn’t even add Carla to that list because he refused to give that any of his attention.
They had confirmed that Dennis was the one who’d put the hit out on Kent at Warren Harding Jr.’s command. Another strike on his resume that Kent would handle at the appropriate time. For now, though, Lotus was safe and that was most important.
With his eyes still closed, he felt Lotus thinking of him. “It won’t be long baby…I promise.”
******
“I believe you…”
Lotus sat back in her seat and stared out of the window at the passing clouds. Knowing that Kent was concentrating on bringing her back home made her smile. Whenever she had imagined what it would be like to be united with her twin flame, it hadn’t come close to the real thing.
Lotus had never thought about actually being in love with Kent Baker. She’d accepted that he was hers and focused on the physical attraction. Falling in love had not been a part of the game plan, but it had happened. She couldn’t help but to love him since he was everything she’d known he would be and so much of what she’d never expected.
Kent was handsome, charming in his own way, smart, sweet and caring. The Universe had sent her an amazing man and Lotus had no regrets in waiting for him. He melted her heart and stirred the hell out of her honey pot.
The couple had agreed that they wouldn’t talk on the phone until she was settled into her hotel room, but that didn’t keep them from communicating in their own special way. Lotus worried about the task that Kent was about to tackle. He’d informed her of everything going on regarding her situation and assured her that he had it under control.
To be honest, she was a little in awe of this man made for her. He was complicated, sometimes confusing, and a complex puzzle that touched her on so many levels. Last night, he’d treated her to an evening she’d not soon forget. In fact, her body still tingled from his lingering kisses and touches.
Lotus looked up as Kyle took the seat across from her.
“Hey girl,” he smiled.
“Hey yourself,”
Kyle studied her for a moment. “You look happy, despite the situation.”
Lotus smiled. “I am.”
Kyle nodded. “I’m happy for you.”
“You’re such a good friend Kyle. Thank you for being there for me.”
“I’ll still bust his ass if I have too,” Kyle warned. “But I don’t think that’s going to be necessary.”
Lotus shook her head. “No, I hope not.”
“He’s clearly crazy about you. He didn’t want to let you get on this plane.”
“I didn’t want to get on either,” she confessed. “I was going to help him fight to get away.”
Kyle smiled. “You two just might be made for one another.”
Lotus turned back to look out of the window. “We were.”
******
Jordan sat in the back of the private car moving through the streets of LA. He rubbed his bearded chin as he glanced out of the tinted window. The past months had been stressful for Jordan, learning of his father’s deception. He wondered what had driven Justin to such extremes.
He was about to find out and he needed to be focused and not let his emotions take over. There were too many people affected by this, from his siblings, to his children and all the extended family. In some ways, Jordan felt partially responsible for the whole situation since it was his father who’d done all of this da
mage.
The door opened and Jordan watched as the man he’d worshipped as a child slide into the vehicle. Two pair of matching dark eyes met, both in trepidation of what was to come.
“Hello Jordan,”
Jordan’s eyes narrowed. “Hello Justin.”
Justin lifted a brow. “So this is how it’s going to go?”
Jordan leaned forward. “Tell me how the hell else it’s supposed to?”
Justin nodded and looked around the vehicle. “Is there a reason we’re meeting in a car?”
“Because depending upon what you tell me, this might be your last ride.” Jordan promised.
Justin smiled. “My son.”
“I used to be proud being called that,” Jordan told him.
Justin’s smile faded. “Do you really think that I’d ever do anything to hurt you? You were my entire reason for living from the time you were born. I married Joanna for the sole purpose of having you. Everything I’ve ever done has been for you…including giving up the twins.”
Jordan looked surprised. “How can you say you did that for me?”
“At that time Jordan, I thought I was protecting you. You were the Black heir that would carry on my name.”
“You sent your own damn kids away! Don’t try to put that on me,” Jordan snapped.
Justin took a deep breath. “I realized how wrong I was when l lost track of Trent. I never wanted either of them to be hurt.”
Jordan shook his head. “You’ll never get Trent to believe that.”
“I’ll have my day with Trent,” Justin told him. “Right now, I need you to understand why I did what I did.”
Jordan frowned. “I have two daughters and a son so I could never ‘understand’ what you did to those kids.”
“Carolyn and I hadn’t planned what happened between us. I’d always thought she was a beautiful woman, but I went after her out of revenge against Xavier.” He looked away. “I hurt her and she deserved better.”
“You almost destroyed her,” Jordan said bitterly. “And Sean.”
Justin looked back at him. “I know how close you and Sean have always been. How could we tell you that we’d been having an affair? Sean was dealing with his father’s death and it would have crushed him.”
Jordan remembered the hurt his friend had suffered during Xavier’s illness and death. “I can’t believe that you and Carolyn kept that secret for so damn long.”
“When I finally located Trent, I knew it was time because I had to send him to his family,” Justin confessed. “I couldn’t go and get him myself, so I sent him to his mother and his brothers.”
Jordan became angrier. “Why didn’t you tell me where he was?”
“You would’ve figured out I was alive,” Justin said simply.
“And just why are you still alive?” Jordan questioned harshly. “Why the hell have I thought you’ve been dead for over ten years?”
Justin looked at him with serious dark eyes. “I had to die so that you could live.”
******
Kent’s work day ended as he waited to hear from Lotus. He decided to stop in on his mother since he hadn’t seen her since the incident with Keisha.
At the house, he entered and called for his mother. She appeared a few seconds later with a frown on her face.
“Don’t look like that Momma,” he told her.
She shook her head. “You can’t do your sister like that Kent.”
“Do her like what?” he questioned. “Make her grow up?”
“You know she’s had it hard…” Vanessa began.
“I’m not buying any excuses. Keisha is spoiled and ungrateful, she thinks she’s owed something.”
His mother came to him and placed a hand on his arm. “I know she upset you.”
Kent placed his hand over hers. “She has to learn Momma. I’m not going to be her crutch and I won’t let you do it either. The other kids at least half-way got themselves together. Keisha is just spoiled rotten.”
“Just talk to her,” Vanessa prodded.
Kent looked away. “I’ve got too much on my plate right now to deal with her.”
Vanessa looked concerned. “What’s wrong baby?”
“My whole life has changed,” he confessed quietly. “And it will never be the same.”
She heard something in his voice that she’d never heard before and quickly ushered him into the kitchen. Kent took a seat at the counter with his head down while his mother looked him over.
“You want something to eat?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Nah, I’m straight. I can’t eat.”
Every motherly instinct activated within her. “You can’t eat? Did you have a big lunch?”
“I worked through lunch,” he answered.
Vanessa saw the sadness in her son’s green eyes when he glanced at her. Kent not wanting to eat her food was a huge red flag.
“Are you sick baby?” she asked touching his forehead.
“No,”
She lifted his face to hers. “Then what is it?”
Kent closed his eyes and took a breath. His memory smelled coconut and he groaned.
“Kent!”
Opening his eyes, he looked at his mother again and what she saw startled her. She smiled and touched his jaw.
“Please tell me that pretty little doctor has done this to you.”
Kent bit his lip. “She’s done everything to me.”
“Like what?”
He ran his hands down his face. “Taken over my life, fuc…” He stopped and changed course. “Messed up my mind and taken my breath away.”
“I take it this isn’t what you want?” Vanessa asked suspiciously.
Kent looked at her confused. “Did I want to meet my twin flame? Did I want her to be everything I’ve never imagined in a woman? Did I want her to touch me and set me on fire?”
“Nah, I really wasn’t looking for that,” he finished.
Vanessa now looked confused. “Twin flame?”
Kent threw up a hand. “Don’t ask…I couldn’t explain it if I tried and believe me I’ve tried to do it to myself.”
“Okay, so what did you do, break up with her?” Vanessa asked.
Kent frowned. “Break up with her? Break up with her?” he repeated agitated. “I put her on a plane this morning and I’m ready to head to the airport and bring her back.”
“There is no ‘breaking up’ with Lotus,” he continued oblivious to his mother’s observations. “She called me.”
Vanessa looked at her son. “She called you from the plane?”
Kent put his arms in the air. “No, Momma, she called me to come be with her. She was waiting for me because I’m hers.”
“Baby, you sure you’re feeling okay?” Vanessa asked cautiously.
He collapsed in a seat. “My heart is on its way to LA and I have to handle things here to get her back. She’s trusting me to get it right.”
“Can you do it?”
“I’ll die trying,”
Vanessa looked afraid. “How does she feel about you?” she questioned. If her son was willing to die for this woman, she had to know that she was worth it.
“Despite all the things I am and all the things I’ve done,” he paused. “She loves me…”
His mother touched his perfect hairline. “Maybe because of all the things you are and all the things you’ve done, she loves you.”
“I never thought someone could make me feel the way Lotus does. I want to make her happy. I want to see her smile and keep her safe,” he said quietly. “I just want to be with her.”
“She must be very special,” Vanessa commented.
Kent agreed. “She always has been. It’s just taken me a minute to realize it.”
“And now that I have, there is nothing that’s going to keep me away from her,” he finished.
Vanessa took his hand. “I knew she was special when you brought her here. I’m so happy that you see the same thing.” She squeezed his hand. “I
was hoping you wouldn’t let this one get away.”
Kent smiled. “She got me.”
“She’s beautiful, she’s brilliant and she can cook,” Vanessa pointed out. “If she loves you too, then you’d better, as you say, ‘handle it’.”
He laughed. “Vanessa Baker raised a monster, not a fool.”
She joined him in laughter as she wrapped her arms around him. Pulling back, she looked into his face. “You’re not a perfect man, but you’re a damn good one. I’m so proud of you and all that you’ve become. I can’t wait for my grandbabies.”
He frowned. “Let’s not start talking about that.”
Vanessa matched his frown. “Why not?”
Kent shook his head. “I’m not really the daddy type.”
“A pretty, sexy girl like Lotus,” she began. “Oh yeah, you’re going to be daddy, son…real soon.”
******
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jordan demanded after hearing his father’s last comment.
Justin knew this was the tipping point with his son that he adored. Leaving him had been one of the hardest things he’d had to do, but the most necessary.
“Jordan, you and your friends had stepped into some dangerous shit becoming the Black Diamonds. Today, you three are highly skilled and deadly, but you know that wasn’t always the case.”
Jordan listened quietly.
“Your missions made you quite a few enemies. Enemies that you’re not even aware of currently,” Justin explained.
“How did you find out what we were doing?” Jordan questioned.
Justin shook his head. “You are my son Jordan. I watched your every move and knew everything you did. I knew where you were on the day I allegedly died. You, Sean and Ray were in Columbia taking on Esteban’s little brother. I knew that it would take you a few days to return to the States, so my death plan would work perfectly and there would be no questions.”
“So the alleged request to be immediately cremated was part of your plan?”
Justin nodded. “I knew you’d respect my wishes without question.”
“You know me too well,” Jordan commented.
“You are my son,” Justin repeated. “When I got information that my son was in danger, I acted immediately.”
“What kind of information?”