Owner of a Broken Heart

by Cheris Hodges

  Nina turned to Clinton and whispered, “Are you sure you want to be a part of this madness.”

  He winked at her. “Of course.”

  Chapter 26

  Several weeks passed before Nina could return to her normal activities, but as soon as her doctor released her from his care, she couldn’t wait to head to the Ford dealership and pick out a new car.

  Sheldon had loaned Nina his Lincoln Continental, and it felt as if she were steering a spaceship. Before she headed to pick out a car, Nina knew she wanted to kiss Clinton. He’d been so good to her during her recovery, spending his days and nights at the bed-and-breakfast working and taking care of her. When she’d been in severe pain, he’d sleep on the settee in her room so that he could give her pain medicine every four hours. He worked with the physical therapist so that he could help Nina with her exercises.

  I couldn’t have a better fiancé, she thought as she parked the car, nearly dinging Alex’s car as she exited.

  Nina bounded into the lobby, smiling as she waved at the front desk clerk.

  “Nina,” Alex called out. “What did the doctor say?”

  “Clean bill of health.”

  Alex enveloped her sister in a tight hug. “I’m so glad. You had us worried for a while. I guess all those exercises you and Clinton were doing behind closed doors worked wonders.”

  “You sound like Yolanda.”

  Alex dropped her arms. “Please, I was actually talking about the therapy he’s been helping you with. I keep my mind out of the gutter, unlike your sister.”

  Nina nodded. “I’m glad to see you and Clinton working so well together.”

  “It’s a relief to have him here. So much so that I’m going on vacation. The Bahamas are calling me and I’m going to answer.”

  Nina raised her right eyebrow and smiled. “Who are you? And here we thought you weren’t listening to us at all.”

  Alex thumped Nina on the forearm. “Shut up. Besides, Clinton and Daddy can run this place without me for a week or two.”

  “I hope when you go, you’ll leave your cell phone and your laptop here,” Nina said. “And I’d love to continue this conversation, but I have to find Clinton.”

  “He’s in his office,” Alex said. “Have fun, but remind him that we have a meeting in an hour.”

  Nina dashed off, waving to her sister. She wasn’t sure if she could get used to all of these changes in her family. First Yolanda and her move to Charlotte, then Robin’s divorce, and now Alex was going to get a life.

  As Nina walked into Clinton’s office, he hung up the phone and turned to her with a huge smile on his face. “I was just about to call you,” he said. “How did it go at the doctor’s office?”

  “Great, he said that I’m healed.” Nina hopped up on his desk and took his face into her hands.

  “So, how are we going to celebrate?” She offered him a seductive smile.

  “Well,” he said, rubbing his nose against hers. “I could think of a thousand ways, but they’ll have to wait.”

  “Yeah, Alex said that you all have a meeting in an hour?”

  “Thanksgiving is in a week and we have to make sure we have everything together for the families that are coming in.”

  “Oh, yes, Thanksgiving.” She kissed Clinton gently. “You know Alex is talking about taking a vacation?”

  “What? You’re kidding, right?”

  “No. I think all of my sisters have lost their minds. But hey, if this means they will leave me alone and let me live my life, then I love it.”

  Clinton shook his head. “Your sisters aren’t going to leave you alone any more than you’re going to leave them alone. That’s the kind of family you have and you all love it. How is Robin, by the way? She had me a little worried when she was here a couple of weeks ago.”

  “She hasn’t called lately. I’m hoping she hasn’t killed Logan. Yolanda and I were so looking forward to doing that.”

  Clinton squeezed his future wife’s cheek. “See what I mean.”

  “What?” Nina asked.

  “You all meddle in each other’s lives and that’s not going to change. If it did, something would be wrong.”

  Nina shrugged. “I guess you’re right. And you’d better get to your meeting or Alex will blame me for making you late.” She hopped off the desk and blew him a kiss. “I’ll see you tonight in Summerville and in your bed.”

  Clinton stood up and drew her into his arms. “I’ll be waiting.”

  After leaving Clinton’s office, Nina sought out Yolanda. She knew that her sister would go with her to pick out her new car. As she was about to walk into Yolanda’s room, she heard yelling.

  “Who is this? Why are you doing this to me?” Yolanda yelled. “I have no idea who you are and I don’t care to.”

  Nina heard a thump, then she burst into the room. “Yolanda, what’s going on?” Glancing around the room, she saw her sister’s phone in pieces.

  “I’ve got to get out of here,” she said, then dashed out of the room. Nina ran after her and grabbed her arm.

  “Yolanda. What is going on?”

  “They found me.”

  “Who? Are you talking about what happened in Virginia?”

  Yolanda nodded solemnly. “I’ve got to get away from here before they show up and someone gets hurt.”

  “Where are you going to go? If they found you here, they’ll find you in Charlotte and you’ll be alone there.”

  “I’d rather them do that than come here and hurt you or someone else in the family.”

  “Will you please go to the police?”

  “Shh,” Yolanda said, grabbing her sister’s arm. “I don’t want Dad or Alex to hear this, all right. I have to deal with this on my own and the best thing for me to do is to leave, okay?”

  “And live looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life? That’s crazy, Yolanda.”

  “Putting you all in danger is crazy and you better not tell Dad or Alex about this,” she hissed at Nina.

  “So, I’m supposed to let you walk out that door and into the line of fire of those thugs?” Nina glared at her sister. “It’s not going to happen and if you don’t march your ass into Daddy’s office and tell him what’s going on, then I am!”

  Nina turned on her heels and headed for the stairs with Yolanda behind her protesting all the way.

  “This is insane. Daddy is going to overreact and—”

  Nina turned around and looked at her sister. “Overreact? Someone is trying to kill you.”

  Yolanda burst into tears. “I’m so scared.” Nina hugged her.

  The sisters walked into Sheldon’s office and waited for him to hang up the phone. He smiled initially when he saw his daughters, but when he noted Yolanda’s red-rimmed eyes, he knew that something was amiss.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Daddy,” Yolanda said. “I’m in trouble.”

  Sheldon pressed the do not disturb button on his phone. “Trouble? Tell me everything that’s going on.”

  Nina nudged Yolanda.

  Sighing, Yolanda began telling her father her story. “I decided to move to Charlotte for more than one reason. Before I left Richmond, I witnessed a murder.”

  “Did you go to the police?” he asked. Yolanda shook her head. “Why not?” Sheldon asked. “I mean, they could’ve protected you from those thugs.”

  “Yeah, right,” Yolanda snorted. “There are so many people who have died waiting for the police to help them.”

  “I didn’t raise you girls to fear the police or to run from you problems,” he said.

  “They’re stalking her, Daddy,” Nina exclaimed. Yolanda shot her an angry glare. “And,” Nina continued, “she wants to go back to Charlotte without me.”

  “Without you?” Sheldon and Yolanda said in unison.

  She nodded. “Clinton and I aren’t going to have a weekend marriage and I’m not going live in Charlotte while he’s here working here. I have the luxury of being able to wo
rk anywhere.”

  “That settles it,” Sheldon said as he picked up the phone. “You need protection and I know just who to call. Are you going to be living in Nina’s place?”

  Yolanda folded her arms and nodded.

  “Good,” he said as he punched in some numbers.

  Yolanda turned to Nina. “I told you that I didn’t want to tell him this,” she said.

  “And I don’t want to see my sister in a body bag,” Nina replied as she rose to her feet. “I have to go, all right?”

  “Thanks a lot, Nina.”

  * * *

  Clinton sat in his meeting not paying attention to a word that anyone was saying. He wanted to be wrapped in Nina’s arms, with her lips pressed against his and his hands roaming her body.

  “Clinton,” Alex said. “Are you ready to make your presentation?”

  “Oh, yes, sure,” he said, rising to his feet and grabbing his notes. Just as he stepped behind the podium, the door opened and Randall Birmingham walked in with two Charleston police officers.

  “That’s him,” Birmingham said. “That’s the man who stole the money from my business account.”

  Alex leapt to her feet. “What are you doing here and what is the meaning of this?”

  “Ma’am,” the taller officer said. “Please sit down.”

  The second officer grabbed Clinton and whipped out his handcuffs. “Clinton Jefferson, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and—”

  “What is this all about?” Clinton demanded as the officer tightened the cuffs. “What are the charges?”

  “Financial fraud, embezzlement, and assault,” the officer said. “It is all in the arrest warrant.”

  Birmingham smiled as Clinton was led out of the conference room in front of several of the bed-and-breakfast’s clients and potential clients. Alex dashed after them.

  “Clinton,” she said. “I’ll have our lawyers meet you downtown.” She turned to the people who hadn’t left the room. “This is all a big misunderstanding. If anyone has any questions about our holiday promotions, please call or e-mail me. Good afternoon.”

  Alex ran outside and grabbed Birmingham’s arm. “You son of a bitch! What are you trying to pull?”

  He grinned and shook his head. “Pull? I’m trying to get the man who tried to rob my company and make him pay.”

  Alex shook her head. “This is about Clinton telling you to kiss his ass and not giving you what you wanted.”

  “So, you’re his cheerleader now? I thought you didn’t trust him.”

  “It’s you I don’t trust!” Alex slapped him as hard as she could. “You piece of shit.”

  Birmingham stroked his jaw. “I guess you want to join Clinton in a jail cell, huh?”

  “That would be a lot better than spending another second in your presence. Get off our property or you’re going to be arrested for trespassing.” Alex turned on her heels and stormed away.

  * * *

  When Clinton arrived at the police station, he was beyond angry. Birmingham was at it again, but he wasn’t going to stand for this. His reputation was at stake and he was embarrassed as hell. Being led out in handcuffs with potential clients watching was too much and Birmingham was going to pay.

  This son of a bitch isn’t going to get away with this. He knows that I didn’t steal a damned thing from him, Clinton thought as the officers processed him. About an hour later, he was sitting in a holding cell with a drunk man who kept calling him Ollie.

  Sitting in the corner of the cell, Clinton found himself in a place where he’d never thought he would be. He’d never been in any type of trouble and had never seen the inside of a jail cell. Until now. It wasn’t as if he was some young kid, he was a successful businessman and he had a lot more to lose now.

  “Clinton Jefferson,” the jailer called out. “Your lawyer’s here.”

  Clinton bolted to the door of the cell and waited for the wide man to open it. Just the few hours he’d been in jail had been too long. He looked up at the man who’d represent him, David Harrington, the bed-and-breakfast’s attorney. The two men shook hands as the jailer led them to a private room.

  “Please tell me that you’ve gotten my bail set and I can get out of here,” Clinton said.

  David shook his head. “Unfortunately, the court is backed up and I can’t get an arraignment hearing until the morning. These are some serious charges and with all the identity theft going around, judges are taking these cases seriously.”

  Clinton banged angrily on the table. “I didn’t steal a damned thing. This is Birmingham’s vendetta against me because I wouldn’t help him get the bed-and-breakfast. I thought it was over when the truth came out the first time.”

  “The first time?” David asked, folding his hands underneath his chin.

  Clinton told David about the plot that Birmingham had hatched when he started working at the Richardson Bed and Breakfast.

  “Now, that’s a horse of a different color,” David said when Clinton finished. “Let me call the judge and let him know what’s really going on. You might be going home tonight.”

  Clinton nodded as his attorney pulled out his cell phone and made the call. The first thing he was going to do when he got out of jail was find Birmingham and one way or another, this thing between them was going to end tonight.

  Chapter 27

  Nina was about to head to Clinton’s office when Alex nearly bowled her over. Nina grabbed her sister’s arm. “Where’s the fire?” she asked Alex.

  “Clinton’s been arrested.”

  Nina shook her head in disbelief. “Arrested, for what?”

  “This is Randall Birmingham causing problems again, I have to tell Daddy before someone else does,” Alex said as she pushed by Nina.

  Without saying a word, she headed outside, got into her father’s car, and headed for the Charleston County Detention Center. She was going to bail her man out and this Birmingham person was going to deal with her.

  Nina had never seen the inside of the detention center. She expected a scene from a low-budget prison movie, but she found a man sitting behind a desk. It was as if she’d walked into a hotel, a one-star hotel with bad service, but a hotel nonetheless.

  “Excuse me,” she said to the desk sergeant. “I need some help.”

  The man sucked his teeth as he looked up at her. “Visiting hours are over and if you’re not on the inmate’s list twenty-four hours in advance, you’re not getting in.”

  Nina folded her arms across her chest. “First of all, I’m not here to visit anyone, I need to bail my fiancé out of this place. His name is Clinton Jefferson.”

  “What do you want me to do about it? Are you a bail bondsman?”

  “No, but can you check and see what his bond is?”

  The man sighed as he began typing something into the computer. “Clinton Jefferson, you say?”

  “Yes.” She sighed in frustration.

  “He’s been released. About two hours ago.” Nina dashed out of the center and sped to Clinton’s house. Her trip was impaired by late-evening traffic and the fact that Nina wasn’t too sure of herself on the highway. Her accident still haunted her. When her cell phone rang, she didn’t reach for it, since her phone wasn’t connected to the Bluetooth in her dad’s car.

  If it’s important, they will leave a message, she thought.

  * * *

  Anger flowed through Clinton’s veins like blood as he took an Uber back to the Richardson Bed and Breakfast. As soon as the driver pulled into the parking lot, Clinton opened the door and hopped out of the car.

  His bond hearing kept replaying in his mind. Though he was released on his own recognizance, Clinton was still angry. He should’ve never been in front of a judge in the first place. I didn’t do anything, he bitterly thought as he got into his car.

  If he was going to be treated as a criminal, then maybe he needed to find Birmingham and do something to him that would warrant jail time. But he knew he couldn’t make
a bad situation worse.

  Nina.

  What was he going to say to her? This was the last thing that Nina needed right now. They should’ve been focused on their wedding and building their future together. Birmingham was standing in the way of his happiness and he wasn’t going to have that. Not after everything he and Nina had made it through.

  Just as he was about to peel out of the parking lot, Sheldon appeared in his rearview mirror. Clinton slammed on his brakes, placed the car in park, and exited the vehicle.

  “Sheldon, I . . .”

  The older man shook his head. “Alex told me everything and I know that Randall is up to his dirty tricks again. Fool me once, shame on you, but Sheldon Richardson is nobody’s fool twice. Don’t let this man make a fool of you.”

  “What do you mean?” Clinton asked.

  Sheldon clasped his arm around his future son-in-law’s shoulder. “You’re leaving here with a head full of steam and I’m guessing you were going to find old Randall. Rough him up a bit and make him confess to setting you up?”

  Clinton nodded. “I was arrested in front of many of our clients and it makes you look bad.”

  “What would make me look bad is having my daughter marry a man in prison. I know what Birmingham is trying to do, so if you’re going to confront him, I’m going with you.”

  “Sheldon, I can’t let you—”

  “This is and has always been about my bed-and-breakfast. This man has been trying to get his mitts on my property for years. This has to stop, because I’m not selling and he can’t keep coming after you. You’re family now and I’m going to show you how we protect family.”

  Clinton and Sheldon jumped into the car and headed for Birmingham’s office. Clinton told Sheldon that he was sure the man was still there plotting and planning as he usually did.

  “It’s a damned shame that the man won’t leave you alone,” Sheldon gritted. “He knew that I wasn’t going to sell, and after that stunt he pulled trying to make it seem as if you were a spy . . . unbelievable.”

  Clinton slowed his car as they pulled up to a traffic light. “So, what are we going to do?”

  Sheldon smiled. “He isn’t the only one who knows how to play dirty.” Reaching into his pocket, he produced a USB drive. “When he watches the eleven o’clock news tonight, he’s going to wish he had never messed with my family.”