“I’ll see you later,” Daron said, waving. “Thanks for coming up.”
Steve could be heard laughing as he walked away.
Daron watched as Steve made his way over to his truck, appreciating the fact that Steve drove almost two hours to personally handle this situation.
Daron didn’t care for the distance between him and Cameron that was developing so quickly. Men were already waiting in the wings hoping for an opportunity to be with her. Two of which were in their inner circle.
Cameron was a wild card and Daron didn’t know how far her “dude-like qualities” as Bishop described them, went. The one thing he knew was once he won her heart and trust, he didn’t have to worry about anything else. Until then, he wasn’t taking any chances. Daron wanted Cameron in his life. In regard to their relationship, the timing couldn’t have been worse to become a King of The Castle, have Marquise coming for him, along with the complications of dealing with Levi.
“Did Steve look into your list of candidates for your project?” Cameron asked as Daron wrapped his arm around her waist.
“We should cancel with my aunt and eat in.” Daron lowered his lips to hers.
She pulled back, patting him on the chest. “Mmm, seeing that we have just enough time to drive to meet her, canceling is out of the question.”
“She’s closer to the restaurant.” He retrieved his cell.
“We’re not canceling.” Cameron reached for the door handle. “I want to meet this aunt of yours.”
Daron collected his suit jacket from the couch and keys off the kitchen counter. “Fine, but don’t forget about the charity event.” He’d invited Cameron to join him but she opted for dropping him off and picking him up later.
Brandi had been ignoring his calls and voicemails ever since he’d broken up her fight with Roger’s lady friend.
Cameron suggested that Daron leave Brandi a message about meeting his girlfriend. Of course, his aunt responded to that and this was the only day she was available.
After Daron secured the house, Cameron followed him to the Porsche. “You can answer my question about the candidates.”
He slipped behind the wheel and started his journey to Wishbone Restaurant. “He’s working on it. We have the list down to three people who all will be attending the event tonight. Steve has a team looking into each one.”
“Can I ask you why you’re so passionate about helping these young men?” Cameron turned down the light jazz that was playing on the radio. “It’s not like you were that kid.”
Daron merged onto the I-57. “And my parents worked hard to keep me from being that kid. When my brother turned to that life after my father’s death, I realized that the street will offer them whatever they feel like they’re lacking to lure them in.”
“Every boy doesn’t want to be saved from the streets.” Cameron shifted, adjusting the seatbelt more comfortably over her breasts.
Daron eased on the brakes as the traffic grew thicker the closer they came to downtown. He could feel the heat of her glare on his face.
“Bishop lived and breathed for that.”
Daron agreed and glanced at her before merging into the express lanes. “There are a lot of JD’s out there caught up in the life, who bury their dreams because they feel like the streets are their only option.”
“Mmm.” She touched the control, increasing the volume of the music.
Daron glanced over to see Cameron staring out of the window. “Speak your truth, Cam.”
She didn’t bother to look his way. “What if a Bishop rolls through your program?”
A call rang through the Bluetooth, Daron tapped the word decline on the screen.
Seconds later, her phone chimed. Cameron reached into the clutch to silence the tone. “Some people may enter to get close to you to get what you have.”
She had a point. “So far Pedro’s psychological evaluations have been efficient at weeding out individuals without the qualities to succeed in a program like mine.” Daron finally understood her concern. She was the person Bishop sent in on the hardest assignments. “Sweetheart, if we make it public, there will be no direct access to me anymore.”
“And you think making it public will reduce the ripples of effect on your life?”
“Yes.” Daron exited the expressway. He checked the rearview, making sure no one was tailing him. “It’s why I need to select the correct person to be the face of the program. They’ll be taking the praise and the heat. If they’re truly passionate and love what they do, then they’ll be able to navigate the challenges that are expected at the beginning.”
“I want you to consider expanding your vision in order to widen your net,” Cameron said as he quickly parked in an empty spot on a street near the restaurant.
He smiled at her words, rounded the car and opened her door. “What’s your idea?”
“Give all kids somewhere safe to go after school. That way, students doing well continue to do so and those in your special program can be discreet.”
“I love that idea.” Cameron constantly helped him up his game. He appreciated that the majority of the time she simply made a suggestion or asked him to take another look at his plans without nitpicking.
“Daron, can you save the make-out session until after you introduce us and we eat?”
Something heavy hit his back.
Cameron chuckled and put a few inches between them.
“Aunt Bee. This is Cameron.” Daron turned to find Brandi in a bright lime suit with a silver sequined tank peeking through. She looked more like a 70’s disco queen than a woman hitting a senior citizen stride. His eyes went to his aunt’s oversized Chanel purse.
“You can call me Brandi.” She looped an arm under Cameron’s, guiding her to the door. Her reddish-brown skin contrasted with Cameron’s light tone. “No wonder his ass didn’t call me when he got back into town.”
Daron held the door then followed the ladies in, glad there were seats available. The scent inside the restaurant immediately reminded him of soul food Sundays with his family before his father died. His friends used to tease him about his Filipino mother cooking soul food. They didn’t realize she was raised down south where most of the Filipino population settled on the East and West Coast. While her mother was Filipino and her dad was Caucasian, Theresa spent a lot of time with her Godmother who owned a restaurant that specialized in southern cuisine. The one thing Theresa did not do was play when it came to food, his father and her children.
“Troy, Shane, and Daron, when they were young were always getting into something.” Brandi sat her bag in the empty chair next to her. “The stories I could tell.”
“She’s more interested in knowing about you.” Daron’s cell vibrated in the pocket of his slacks. He wondered if Nicco’s team had completed the interviews of the seven Castle staff who were suspected of helping Cedric. Not thinking, he checked the message to see if a notification of the results had come through. Cameron placed a palm over the screen then slid a menu in front of him.
“Nonsense.” Brandi glanced over the menu.
“Ha, nice try.” Cameron gave him a wicked glare, tightening her hand on his. “I love to hear all about his adventures.”
Daron cut his eyes over at Cameron, who winked at him. He caught the waitress’ attention with his free hand and waved her over.
“Did he tell you the story about how he almost got his brother and Shane in trouble for drinking his father’s specialty beer?”
Cameron bumped his shoulder with hers and loosened her hold on him. “You don’t say.”
The petite waitress came to the table. “You’re ready to order?”
“Yes,” Daron responded, ordering the crab cakes, blackened chicken breast, mashed sweet potatoes and the red beans and rice, then making sure Cameron tried the southern fried catfish, collard greens and macaroni & cheese.
“Could I have the Cajun shrimp and grits but without the sautéed mushrooms? Could I add sautéed bacon, and get a co
uple of lemon wedges on the side.” Brandi dismissed the waitress with a wave of her multi-ringed fingers.
Cameron’s smile disappeared and Daron sighed. He had selected Wishbone because his aunt was notorious for de-constructing an entree and building it into something different. He was praying they cooked it right or she’d get belligerent and send it back.
“So how have you been?” Daron slid his cell from the table back into his pocket. “When does Shane get back into town?”
Brandi flicked her jet-black hair over her shoulder. “I didn’t forget what I was talking about.”
“How about you tell us how you’re doing first?” Daron wanted to extend the conversation as long as he could. The beer story wasn’t the most embarrassing one she could tell but she did have a few that he’d prefer never reach Cameron’s ears.
“So, Darius had this expensive beer and when he picked it up to drink—” Brandi waved him off as she pulled out a cell, “—It was gone. He just knew it was Troy or Shane.”
“Well, I know who the culprit was. How old was he?” Cameron placed an arm on the back of his chair and accepted the phone Brandi extended her way. She stared at the picture of Troy, Shane, and Daron when they were younger.
“Three or four.” Brandi mouthed a thank you as the waitress sat a glass of water in front of her. “Daron was underneath the bed. Every time his dad set the beer down, he’d sip out of it.”
“Adorable.” Cameron returned the cell. “How did he find out it was Daron?”
Brandi dropped the cell back into her bag. “He’d caught Troy and Shane at the foot of the bed. If Daron hadn’t belched, Darius would’ve never known he was hiding.”
Cameron chuckled. “I didn’t know you were such a smooth criminal.”
Daron didn’t respond.
Brandi cackled with glee. “The foolishness the three of them would get into.”
They did get into a lot of trouble together. Troy’s motto was he had to be first and Daron had to make sure he was second. Daron laughed. “Those were good times.”
Brandi also told the story of the time when he was injured skateboarding down one of the hills to Longwood, getting caught playing strip Uno and throwing a party while his parents were out on a date. She had Cameron in stitches.
“Your dad was always looking after me and Shane.” She became teary-eyed, at the mention of Darius, then pushed back the chair and snatched up her purse. “I’ll be back. I need to use the restroom.”
“I’ll go with you.” Cameron was on her feet, trailing Brandi.
Daron glanced at the window, noticing one of Marquise’s men approaching the restaurant while another was checking out the parked car. Quickly he rose to his feet but Roc, Brandi’s, guardian, intercepted him, then Linc made a move on the other man.
His cell chimed with a message that the situation was handled. Daron lowered himself back onto the wooden seat. He sent a message to Roc to confirm that he didn’t need to have someone else watch over Brandi. Daron assumed Linc was relieving Roc for them both to be there. His focus stayed divided between the direction the women went and out of the window.
By the time the police arrived, which he assumed Roc called, he realized quite a bit of time had passed. The food had been placed on the table and the women still hadn’t returned. He texted Cameron, EVERYTHING OKAY. She replied. ON OUR WAY BACK.
Minutes later, they returned to the table. Daron noticed that Cameron kept the conversation general, talking about music and fashion. Aunt Bee wasn’t her flamboyant self for a change. He couldn’t wait to have a conversation with Cameron about what happened away from the table. Brandi was always over the top. She didn’t bother to send her meal back to the kitchen. Daron settled the bill as they headed out of the restaurant.
“When Shane gets back, we should all get together,” Daron suggested once they reached Brandi’s BMW.
“Yeah,” she answered half-heartedly, looking emotional.
He pulled Brandi in for a hug before she slid behind the wheel, then walked back to the Porsche to open Cameron’s door. Once she was seated, he made his way to the driver’s side. Daron waited until Brandi drove off before leaving, noticing that Linc was now following her.
“Damn,” Cameron glanced at him, pulling out a mirror to reapply her chocolate lipstick. “I knew your brother was dead to the organization. I didn’t realize he’d faked his death to make it happen.”
Daron simply looked at her for a moment. He hadn’t realized she’d known any part of that. He was relieved he could actually talk about it without revealing what he wasn’t ready to tell her. “Yes, she’s feeling guilty about his death and I can’t convince her that it was an accident. And I can’t tell her the truth either, I’ll endanger Troy and his family’s life.”
Cameron looked in the direction Brandi had taken off.
“You need to figure out why she feels guilty over your father’s death, then maybe you can find a way to help her accept that Troy’s was truly an accident.”
CHAPTER 12
Daron was hesitant to let Cameron drop him off at the reception. But he also didn’t want her in the lobby bar either. Marquise was supposed to be attending this event. The last thing he needed was for his nemesis to happen to lay eyes on her. He pulled off Michigan Avenue in front of the luxury hotel.
“What are you planning to do while I’m here?” he asked, retrieving the suit jacket from the back seat.
“Going with you,” Cameron smirked, daring him to protest. “I didn’t wear this outfit for your aunt.”
“Babe, you have made my night.” Daron would’ve been worried about her the second she left his side.
He slid out and rounded the car to open the door but the doorman had already done the honors. Daron joined Cameron near the revolving door and they made their way up the large elegant staircase to the event in the grand ballroom. He’d purchased two tickets expecting Pedro to attend, but a friend who could help him with the evaluation of the women staying at Reno’s shelter had an opening in his schedule. The results would determine which women would receive the tracking earrings and which ones would need an alternative device like a watch or bracelet.
Cameron springing this on him meant she was clearly up to something but he didn’t care. Daron pulled Cameron close. When he spotted one of the program candidates, he positioned himself to have an opportunity to conduct an unofficial interview.
“I only have to be tied down with these stupid kids two more years before my father lets me into his company.” A heavyset brown-haired man stroked his date’s arm and continued to gripe about being there.
Daron maneuvered Cameron away since he was immediately crossing the man off the list and had no desire to speak to him. “Calvin and Mia should be here tonight.”
“Mia mentioned Calvin liked to speak at youth programs.” Cameron ordered a martini from the bar. “He’s truly destroying my belief in tech guys being nerdy.”
“What about me?”
“You’re a techie or a nerd?”
“You got jokes.” He networked his way toward the second candidate. Ralph Pullman looked distinguished in a black suit and with a few gray hairs in his fade that hinted he was older than his youthful skin suggested.
Daron introduced himself and Cameron. “Ralph, I’d love to hear more about what you do.”
Cameron listened intently, interjecting by occasionally asking questions. Only one name remained on the list, Daron scanned the room. The woman either hadn’t arrived yet or she was taking care of things in the background. Nothing was official until after the in-depth background checks came back and he decided on whether to present the proposal to them.
A dark-brown beauty wearing designer shades that covered the top part of her face smiled brightly as she crossed the threshold. Elegant in a Dior red dress that hugged her slender hourglass figure, she pulled off her spectacles, greeting the crowd near the door along with an alderman as though she was some type of celebrity.
Levi enter
ed seconds later, stopping to talk to a senator.
The woman sidestepped the alderman, who entered with her, while both attempted to give the appearance of not knowing each other.
Daron had the feeling those two were an item or at least had been. The woman made a beeline for him and Cameron almost as if she had already been informed of their location. “Hello, I’m Alisha Roderick.”
“Daron Kincaid.” He slid his arm around Cameron’s waist as he shook Alisha’s hand. He focused as Levi faded into the crowd. “This is Cameron.”
“Your face was familiar. I thought I’d introduce myself. I run a program for at-risk youth out of the Gresham neighborhood.” She handed Daron a brochure. “What is it that you do?”
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