by D. Camille
More silence. Melvin couldn't understand what was going on. Who were these people and what did they want?
“Is it money that you want? I don't have any,” he told them.
They drove for a while in silence before finally coming to a stop. Melvin was yanked out of the car and led in a straight path. After an extended walk, he felt himself being pushed into a chair and in the distance he heard a door closing.
“Is someone there?” he called out and there was no answer. “Please! Is anyone here? Help me!”
The hood was removed and Melvin adjusted his vision for a moment. He recognized Sean and Jordan from high school; with them was a very angry, very big man sitting on a sofa across from him in what looked like a small log cabin. The big man held a very large gun and his brown eyes looked hard and cold.
“Sean? Jordan? What's going on?” he asked warily.
Sean looked at him. “What do you think is going on Melvin?”
Jordan shook his head. “We warned your ass a long time ago not to mess with Izzy.”
“Isabelle? What about her?” he asked watching them.
“About you blackmailing her,” Ray inserted.
Melvin's eyes widened. “Look, I was just trying to make Shana happy.”
“Why did you tell Shana that Isabelle was a whore?” Ray asked in a hard voice.
Melvin shrugged and lifted his bound hands to his chest. “It's what she wanted to hear.”
Sean leaned in. “So your cousin didn't tell you that Isabelle was sleeping around?” he questioned.
Melvin let out a breath and sat quietly.
Ray stood and pointed the gun. “You'd better answer the damn question before you're not able to answer any more.”
Melvin looked up in fear at the big man standing over him with the big gun. “No. He told me that Isabelle was a stuck up, snotty bitch and he was going to teach her a lesson.”
“Did you know that he attacked her?” Ray barked.
Melvin looked shocked. “No! I didn't know that.”
Jordan looked at Melvin. “What did you tell your cousin about Izzy?” he asked suspiciously.
Melvin lowered his head and Ray placed the barrel against his temple. “Don't even think about lying.”
Melvin stayed silent until Ray tapped him on the head with the gun. “I told him she deserved whatever happened to her because...I hated her,” he said quietly.
“But I didn't know he was going to attack her!” he added in a terrified voice.
“But you didn't give a damn what happened to her, is that right?” Ray questioned.
Melvin lifted his head. “I'm sorry!”
“Then you tried to blackmail her,” Ray continued.
Melvin looked into Ray's cold eyes. “Please! I'm sorry. What do you want me to do?”
Ray lowered the gun. “I don't want you to do anything Melvin. We just needed to know the truth.”
“Are you going to beat me up?” he asked looking at each man.
Sean and Jordan stood and shook their heads. “You don't have to worry about us Melvin.” Jordan glanced at Ray before he and Sean walked out the door leaving Melvin alone with a very angry Ray Parker.
Melvin watched them go then turned his attention back to the man with the weapon. Ray placed the gun in the holster attached to his shoulder.
“You know what you are Melvin?” Ray asked watching him with angry eyes.
Melvin shook his head slowly.
“You're bacteria,” he told him. “You're not the actual disease but you're the cause of it.”
Melvin looked confused.
Ray sighed. “I heard you were never that bright.” He shook his head. “See, you didn't hurt Isabelle yourself, but you were the direct cause of it and because of you she had to suffer for a long time.” He walked slowly to the door. “Since she belongs to me now, I have to make sure that she's never exposed to that bacteria again.”
“And the best way to kill bacteria is to heat it,” Ray explained before walking out of the door closing it behind him.
Melvin waited until he heard the car drive away. He looked around the tiny one room cabin. The windows were painted black so you could not see outside. He didn't know where he was and he didn't have a phone. In addition, his hands were still tied. He stood slowly and moved with caution to the door. He laid his ear against it to try to hear if anyone was still around. Gingerly he reached for the knob and found it unlocked. He cracked the door just a bit and peeked outside. When he didn't see anyone out in the deserted space, he opened the door further and heard a loud click right before the explosion was triggered.
Sean and Jordan turned to Ray as he watched the large orange ball of fire in the distance. Ray nodded then turned and walked to the car followed by both. He sat staring out of the window as the car took off.
Jordan turned to Sean. “You want to get something to eat?” he asked.
Sean nodded. “Yes. How about some Middle Eastern?”
“Cool.”
Jordan glanced over at Ray who was still staring out of the window. “Ray?”
He turned to them. “Nah, I've got some other plans.”
“With Izzy?” Jordan asked watching him.
Ray paused then nodded. “Yeah.”
Sean turned to Ray and looked at him intently. “Are you two serious? You and Izzy?”
Both he and Jordan stared at Ray as he ran a hand down his face.
“I'm caught up in the game. Don't want to stay but don't want to get out,” he told them.
“You do care about her right?” Jordan asked pointedly while lifting a brow.
Ray smiled at Jordan's tone. “Yeah Jay, I do.” He paused for a moment. “Too damn much.”
Jordan patted him on the shoulder. “Now you see what your sister did to me.”
Ray glanced at him. “I gave you hell, didn't I?”
“Hell? I wanted to kill your ass every damn day,” Jordan told him.
Ray laughed before Jordan turned serious. “But you kept me in check. I had to keep my game tight because she deserved it.”
Ray looked at him. “I entrusted her to you and you haven't let me down bruh.”
Jordan nodded. “I'm entrusting Izzy to you.”
Ray nodded and they gave each other a manshake.
“You two need some tissues?” Sean asked.
They both turned to him. “Shut up Sean.”
*********
Milton Martin rang the bell to his daughter's apartment. The apartment he paid for, along with everything else she had. He had to tell Isis about Shana before she found out some other way. He knew that she would forgive him. She always did. She was his baby girl. Isabelle, on the other hand, was more like him than he'd ever imagined. Although she appeared soft and fragile, she was tough as nails inside.
“Daddy!” Isis answered the door happily. She kissed her father's cheek and ushered him inside.
Milton smiled. “Hey baby girl. You look beautiful.” He took a seat on the sofa.
She smiled. “Thank you Daddy. What are you doing here?” She asked taking a seat next to him.
He took her hand. “I need to talk to you.”
Isis became alarmed at his tone. “What's wrong Daddy? Is it Isabelle?” she questioned afraid.
Milton shook his head. “No baby. Isabelle is fine.”
“Then what is it Daddy?” she frowned. “Is it that Agent Graham?”
He patted her hand and shook his head. “It's something else.”
Isis waited quietly.
Milton launched into the story, “When I was a young man before I met your mother, I was involved in another relationship. From that relationship I have a daughter.”
“A daughter?” she asked confused.
“Yes, her name is Shana.”
Isis stood to her feet. “You have another daughter?” she asked again. “That you've never told me about?”
Milton lowered his head. “No one knew.”
“Then why are you telling
me this now? Did you just find out?”
“I've known all along and Isabelle recently found out,” he said quietly.
Isis turned to him. “Isabelle knows this already?” she accused.
“She found out...by mistake.”
“So you were never going to tell us?” Isis asked in a voice filled with hurt. “Why would you do that Daddy?”
“When I met your mother, I told her that I was single and didn't have any children. Iris would not have given me the time of day if I'd told her the truth. Over the years she suspected, but I would never admit to it. That's one of the reasons she left everything to Isabelle, she wanted to make sure that if it was true, her money wouldn't go to another child that wasn't hers.”
Isis took a seat. “You let Mommy die and never told her the truth?” she asked incredulously.
“I couldn't. I couldn't do that to her.” Milton walked over to her. “I'm sorry baby girl.”
She didn't look up at him but kept her eyes to the floor. “I don't understand this Daddy. I don't understand how you could do something like this.”
“I always took care of her Isis. Just like I took care of you and Isabelle,” he told her.
Isis looked up at him. “Did she ever want to know us?”
Milton looked away and went to take a seat back on the sofa. “She attended school with Isabelle,” he said quietly.
“What!” Isis exclaimed standing to her feet.
He remained silent.
“Oh my God Daddy!” Isis sat and covered her face. Her mind was racing. Her Daddy, who she believed could actually walk on water, apparently couldn't even swim. How could he do something like this? Who was this man? She turned to him.
“What other secrets do you have Daddy?” she asked quietly.
Milton looked at his daughter. “None that concern you baby girl.”
Isis closed her eyes and sighed. “When can we meet her?” Isis asked.
“Isabelle has already met with her. If you want to meet her I can arrange it.”
She rubbed her head opening her eyes. “I'd rather talk to Isabelle first.”
He nodded. “I'm sorry I kept this from you. It's not something I'm proud of and I didn't want you to look at me differently.”
“Is she the reason you've had problems with Isabelle?” she asked.
Milton shrugged. “I never wanted Shana to think I loved Isabelle more than her or that I left her for Isabelle and because Isabelle had me in her life, I hold her to a higher standard.”
“Why didn't you stay with her mother?” Isis asked curiously.
There was no way Milton could tell his daughter that he'd married her mother for her money. “It didn't work out between us. She wasn't what I wanted.”
Isis looked at him. “Mommy had what you wanted?”
He looked at her. “Yes, she did.”
*********
Callie arrived at Trent's apartment after her class. He answered the door with a smile and quickly pulled her inside kissing her.
“Hey sexy girl,” he whispered.
She smiled. “Hey baby,” she responded stepping further into the room. She sniffed and smelled food. “What is that smell?”
He smiled down at her. “I made dinner for you.”
Callie looked confused. “You made it?” she asked.
“Uh, yeah. I know how to cook,” he pointed out. “Ms. Baker made both me and Kent learn how to cook everything. She said if we ate, we had to cook too.”
“What did you make?” She sniffed the delicious aroma again.
Trent shrugged. “Fried chicken, red beans with rice and corn bread.”
Callie's eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah...”
She grabbed his dress shirt pulling him closer. “I'm going to have to marry you one day.”
He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “Okay.”
She looked up at him. “Thank you baby, that was so sweet.”
“That's what a dude does for the girl he loves,” he told her taking her hand leading her to the set table.
Callie looked at the beautifully arranged table complete with flowers then back at him. “Sage and Lily showed me how to do this,” he explained.
“Oh Trent...” She turned to him. “No one has ever done anything this nice for me.”
Trent kissed her softly. “I'm a nice dude,” he told her before holding out her chair for her.
Callie smiled as she Trent held out the chair and she took a seat at the table. She watched as Trent returned with two plates sitting one in front of her before taking his seat in front of the other. She continued to watch him until he looked up at her.
“What's wrong?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I'm just speechless.”
He turned those dark eyes on her. “Eat your food Callie.”
Her attention moved to her plate and the expertly prepared meal. After she quickly cleaned her plate, she looked over and found him watching her.
She smiled. “Yeah, I was hungry and it was really good.” She shrugged.
“I'm glad you liked it. Do you want some more?” he asked.
“Nah, not right now, but maybe I'll take some home with me,” she suggested.
He gave her a wicked smile. “In the morning?”
“Maybe...” she whispered.
Trent rubbed his face. “I'm going to have to change that to a definitely.”
“How are you going to do that?” she asked watching him.
He stood to his feet. “Let me show you.” Trent took her hand and led her into the bedroom over to the bed.
“Sit back,” he told her and she complied by sitting up against the pillows watching him.
Trent began playing striptease music on his phone and winked at her. Slowly he pulled his shirt out from inside his pants and let it hang. He began at the top button giving her a slow gyrate as he proceeded to open each button revealing his strong brown chest. When it was open, he gave a slow motion demonstration of removing it. He held her with dark eyes before he threw the garment at her and it landed in her lap. Callie didn't take her eyes from him as he began his performance that put both Magic Mike and Chocolate City to shame.
Callie watched in anticipation as his hands went to his belt while he gave her a few hip thrusts. When he turned his back to her and looked over his shoulder while performing a sexy male ass shake, she wished she had some dollar bills. Callie's breath caught as he lifted his arms in the air and she watched the play of his muscles while he worked it like a pro.
Callie bit her lip when he turned back to her and unfastened his pants. He teased and played with her ever so slowly slightly opening his slacks to reveal fitted dark underwear. She waited while he paused. Finally, she lifted her eyes to his and watched as he climbed on the bed towards her. When he got close enough she reached out and touched his chest.
“Is this what you were doing in Atlanta?” she asked smiling.
He shook his head. “Nah, that's just for you,” he said taking her mouth in a torrid kiss until her phone buzzed. Callie smiled and moved back while pulling her phone out of her pocket. She glanced at the screen then back at Trent before turning the device off and putting it away. Callie touched the chain around his neck.
“Be sure to wear your chain tomorrow, okay baby?” she told him quietly.
Trent lifted a brow. “Do I need to?” he asked.
Callie touched his face. “Yeah, you do.”
*********
Ray and Isabelle entered the nightclub owned by a former employee of Black Diamond and an acquaintance of Ray's. The owner Gayle spotted Ray and rushed over to him throwing her arms around him.
“Ray Parker!” she exclaimed. “I can't believe you're here.”
Ray smiled. “Hi Gayle.” He turned to Isabelle. “This is Isabelle.”
Gayle smiled at her. “I remember you coming here before.”
Isabelle nodded. “Yes, I came with Jordan and Sage for her birthday.”
> “Right. Right.” Gayle turned to Ray. “Let me get you some seats. Private booth?”
Ray nodded and she led them through the club to a secluded area.
“The waitress will be over to take your orders,” she told them.
“Thanks,” Ray told her taking a seat next to Isabelle.
Gayle disappeared and all of Ray's attention was on Isabelle. She was wearing a short black dress that showed her beautiful long legs that he loved to feel wrapped around his back. Her shoulders were bare except for the thin spaghetti straps of her dress. Her cleavage called for him to lick the puffy tops of her breasts.
“You shouldn't look at me like that,” she whispered.
He raised his eyes to hers. “Hmmm...like I want to lie you down on this sofa and devour you?” he asked.
“Yes...like that.” She smiled sexily at him.
Ray laughed. “Come dance with me Goddess.” He stood and took her hand leading her to the dance floor as a slow song was playing in the background. When they reached a spot, she stopped to turn around but he kept her back to him pulling her against him with an arm around her waist. His other hand moved to her hips to guide her in a sensual sway against him as he bent to her ear.
“You know what you do to me when you put this ass on me?” he whispered.
Isabelle leaned back against him and pressing even closer. “Tell me,” she answered placing her arm over his across her stomach.
“You make me want to eat you up, lick you, suck you and taste every inch of it.”
She smiled as he continued to rock slowly with her to the music. His arm tightened around her waist holding her closely.
“I think people are wondering why we're dancing this way,” she told him glancing at the other couples.
“Because I want to.” He leaned down and kissed her neck and she threw her head back.
She moaned softly. “They're going to put us out of here.”
“Let me worry about that.”
They danced that way for a while longer before he turned her in his arms. Isabelle placed her arms around his neck and looked into those mesmerizing eyes.
“I want to take you home with me Belle,” he told her.
She smiled remembering the first time he'd told her that. It had the same effect as the first time and she felt her private lady spot respond to his words.
