“That’s exactly the way I feel about Natalie. I know I’m not good enough for her, but I’m still not letting her go.”
Preacher eyed him sideways. “I know Tanya was teasing you, but you really do sound like a man in love. Is it serious?”
“I want to marry her,” Dante said.
Preacher didn’t know what to do with that bit of information. Asking Dante if he were crazy was definitely not the appropriate response. “Marriage is a big step,” Preacher said. “Make sure you’re ready for a wife before you take one on.”
“That’s what I’m doing, man,” Dante said. “I’m almost there. I’ve even picked out the ring. I’m just waiting for the right time.”
Preacher turned his soda can up to his lips to give himself time to think of a suitable response. Soon the can was empty. He lowered it and let the question on his heart fall from his lips. “Would that be before or after you stop transporting drugs through your dealership?” He thought Dante would choke on his soda. He clapped the brother on his back. “You okay?”
Dante glanced back at the door to the house. “What are you talking about, man?”
Preacher stepped closer to him. “Don’t play dumb with me, Dante. Atlanta is a small town in a lot of ways, so news spreads. You’re a businessman, surely you know that.”
Preacher watched as Dante’s throat contracted in a swallow, even though he wasn’t drinking anything.
“What do you want?” Dante asked.
“I don’t want Natalie to get hurt,” he said.
“I won’t hurt her.”
“You already have. Your lies have hurt her, and when she learns the truth about you and your business, she’ll be hurt even more. How could you bring her into this, man? How can you even think about asking her to marry you? That’s not the life you want for the woman you love. I know. Believe me, I know.”
Dante stepped back. “I’m not a drug dealer.”
Preacher heard the unspoken “like you” loud and clear. “Keep telling yourself that,” he said, “but leave Natalie alone. Get out of her life.”
“Is that a threat?”
Preacher shrugged. “Consider it good advice from a reliable source. Do you really want to see her face when she finds out who you really are? How about when she and all her friends read in the papers that the cops raided your dealership?”
Dante opened his mouth to speak.
“There’s nothing you can say, man,” Preacher said. “If you love her, prove it by letting her go.”
Dante stepped up to him. “And if I don’t?”
“I’ll have to tell her.” Preacher paused to let those words sink in, a tactic he’d used to great effect in his past life. “I’ll have to tell her, anyway, but I’ll wait awhile after you break it off with her. That’ll be easier. At least then she’ll think you cared enough about her not to involve her or the prison ministry she cherishes in your dealings. What’s she going to think when she realizes you were going to involve the prison ministry in your drug activities?”
“I wasn’t going to do that,” Dante said. “I’m getting out.”
Preacher shook his head. “Either you’re stupid or naive. You don’t decide to ‘get out’ from the guys you’re dealing with. They hold all the cards. You should have checked before you got in bed with them.”
“How do you know so much about it?” Dante asked, a smirk on his face. “Could it be that I’m not the only one with secrets?”
Preacher lifted his hands. “These are clean, man, but like I said, Atlanta is a small town, and I know a lot of people. I hate to say this, since I’m a man, but men gossip more than women. Your business is common knowledge.” Preacher knew he was overstating his case, but he wanted this guy out of Natalie’s life.
“I don’t like threats,” Dante said.
“I don’t make ’em,” Preacher shot back.
At the sound of the women’s voices coming from the house, both men turned toward the door. Natalie came out first. “You were right, Tanya,” she said. “They were missing us.”
Preacher watched as Dante pulled Natalie close. “I always do,” he said.
Tanya strolled over to him. “You need to take notes, Preacher. Dante is making you look bad.”
Preacher met Dante’s eyes over the women’s heads. “Don’t worry. I’ve been taking notes for a while now.” Dante’s frown told Preacher he got the message.
Dante wanted to leave. He didn’t know how much longer he could sit here pretending to concentrate on this inane conversation of Tanya’s while Preacher silently reissued his threats. He hoped the other guests would hurry up and arrive so he could get away from Preacher’s piercing eyes.
He needed to talk to Andre. How many other people knew about their illegal business dealings? He’d left all of that in Andre’s hands, telling himself that the less he knew, the less culpability he would have. It had been a lie then and it was a lie now. He was in this up to his eyeballs. He knew it. And Preacher knew it.
Dante breathed a relieved sigh when he heard, from beyond the fence, a female voice call “Where’s the party?”
“Auntie Loretta!” the oldest of the boys said. Then he and the younger boy galloped toward the gate. Tanya got up and followed them. When Preacher rose, she pressed her hand against his shoulder. “I’ll get it. You stay here with our guests.”
“So, is Loretta your sister or Tanya’s?” Natalie asked Preacher, after Tanya had gone.
Preacher swallowed. “Mine.”
Natalie beamed. “Great. I’ve wanted to meet her.”
Dante took note that Preacher didn’t share Natalie’s enthusiasm at his sister’s arrival. “Preacher,” Tanya called, “your sister has brought her beau for you to inspect.”
Preacher’s sister said something in response but Dante didn’t hear what it was. His eyes were fixed on the sister’s beau, his partner, Andre! What in the world was Andre doing with Preacher’s sister?
“Let me do the introductions,” Tanya was saying. “Natalie and Dante, this is Preacher’s sister, Loretta, and her friend, Andre Davis.”
Loretta extended her hand to Natalie. “It’s so nice to meet some of Preacher’s friends. I appreciate the way you’ve supported my brother. I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you.”
“No repayment needed,” Natalie said. “We love Preacher. And I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted to meet you.”
“Well,” Loretta said, “if we hadn’t met through Preacher, we certainly would have met through Circle Autos.”
Dante cleared his throat. He looked down at Natalie. “Andre’s my partner,” he said. “I’ve told you about him. I didn’t know he was going to be here. It seems he’s been keeping secrets.” He took Loretta’s hand in his. “Pretty secrets, at that.”
Loretta tapped Andre in the belly with her elbow. “Andre’s been a bad boy. He certainly should have introduced us before now. But don’t blame him for today. He didn’t know we were coming until a couple of hours ago. I thought it would be a nice surprise.” She looked up at Andre. “Surprised?”
“You know I am.” He extended his hand to Natalie. “Nice to meet you,” he said. “Even though we’ve never met, I feel I know you. My partner talks about you all time. What have you done to the man?”
Natalie chuckled. “Nothing but good, I hope.”
Dante smiled, casting a brief glance in Preacher’s direction.
Andre then extended his hand to Preacher. “Nice to meet you, man.”
“Same here,” Preacher said. He turned to Loretta. “It seems my sister is full of surprises today.”
Loretta laughed as she hugged him. “I asked Tanya to keep my coming a secret. I wanted to surprise you. It worked, didn’t it?”
Preacher glanced at Tanya. “It worked, all right.”
“Lighten up, Preacher,” Tanya said, full of gaiety. “This is supposed to be a party, remember? Why don’t you get drinks for our new arrivals?”
Loretta followed Preacher t
o get the drinks, while Dante sat next to Andre.
“Momma,” Jake called. “Mack tore up his horse.”
Tanya said, “Emergency time. Excuse me.”
Dante pressed her back down in her seat. “Fixing horses is a man’s job. Let me and Andre take care of it.”
“Since you’re helping me out,” Tanya said, “I won’t take exception to that sexist comment. What about you, Natalie?”
She shook her head. “No, let ’em work now. They’ll pay later.”
Dante and Andre headed off toward the boys, the laugher of the women behind them.
“What’s going on, man?” Dante asked, between clenched teeth. “You’re dating Preacher’s sister? How long has this been going on?”
Andre shrugged. “For a while now.”
Dante stopped, as understanding dawned. “Don’t tell me she’s the go-between on our illegal transportation project.”
“I won’t tell you then,” Andre said, striding ahead of Dante so he could reach the boys first. In short order, they had the horse repaired and the boys were back at play.
“Is Preacher in on it, too?”
Andre shook his head. “No, he was in prison when we got involved. It’s Loretta’s gig, all by herself.”
“But he knows about it.”
“I’m not sure,” Andre said. “Since he’s been out of prison, things have been strained between them. He’s trying to go Christian on her. Why all the questions about Preacher?”
“I wasn’t asking a question. I’m telling you, Preacher knows.”
Andre shrugged. “So, he knows.”
“He’s threatened to tell Natalie if I don’t end our relationship. He even mentioned police raids.”
Andre laughed. “Empty threats. Think about it. Whatever happens to us, happens to his sister. What’s he going to do?”
Dante relaxed a bit. “He could still tell Natalie.”
Andre clapped Dante on the shoulder. “That, my man, is your problem. We know how far Preacher will go with his information, but I’m not sure about your girl. Maybe we need to hurry and lock down our participation in her brother’s jobs program.”
Dante eyed him. “The one you’ve been against since day one?”
“Hey, I’m flexible. We need some leverage against your girl. Having that jobs program linked to the dealership is as good a way as any to assure that she stays in line.”
When Andre started to walk away, Dante grabbed his arm. “I can’t do that to her.”
“I don’t care what you do, man. I tell you like you tell me. She’s your problem. Take care of her.”
“This is all your—”
“I’m not even listening to that lie today. I’m here with my woman. It’s a beautiful day. I’m going to enjoy myself.” With that, he shrugged off Dante’s arm and headed back toward the group. Dante had no choice but to follow him.
Serena cast a sideways glance at her husband as he pulled into Preacher and Tanya’s driveway behind the two other cars parked there. She had never known Barnard to be this angry with her. He hadn’t spoken to her since he’d accused her of using delaying tactics to get out of coming on this outing. She couldn’t help it if she hadn’t been able to find anything to wear, could she? Nor could she help it if her parents called just as they were leaving.
Well, Barnard thought those things were deliberate. Unfortunately for her, he was right. She should have realized how transparent her actions would be, but she hadn’t been thinking clearly. No, all she’d been thinking of was ways to get out of spending an afternoon with Preacher and his family. A root canal sounded more inviting.
Barnard got out of the car, still not speaking to her. She sat waiting for him to open her door until she realized he wasn’t going to open it. Her husband was already headed toward the side of the house. Serena thought about stubbornly sitting in the car, but decided against it. She scrambled out of the car and rushed towards her husband.
“You trying to leave me?” she asked.
Barnard frowned down at her. “I should have left you at home. You’ve made it clear you don’t want to be here.”
Serena had no answer for her husband. He was right.
Barnard started shaking his head. “I don’t understand why you won’t give Preacher a chance. This is so unlike you.”
“I’m here now,” she said. “That’s all that matters.”
“Don’t fool yourself, Serena. It’s like something evil comes over you when the subject of Preacher comes up. I think you need to pray about it. I don’t think the Lord approves.”
Serena felt her own anger rise. Barnard was chastising her? She couldn’t believe it. If he only knew—but he didn’t know. And that was her fault.
“It’s about time you two got here,” Natalie said, when Serena and Barnard walked through the gate into the backyard, where the other six guests were seated around a big redwood picnic table.
The woman sitting between Natalie and Preacher stood. Serena assumed she was Preacher’s girlfriend, Tanya. “Welcome,” the woman said. “I was beginning to worry.”
The tall, sleek woman pressed her cheek first against Barnard’s cheek and then against Serena’s. “So this is your wife, Barnard?” she asked.
Serena thought Barnard did a good job with his fake smile. “Yes, this is the little lady. Serena, this is Tanya, Preacher’s fiancée.”
“Thanks for inviting us over, Tanya,” Serena said. “I’m sorry we were late. My parents called before we left and you know how parents can be.”
Tanya laughed. “Don’t I ever. You’ll have to meet my mother some day. Until then, we’ll have to settle for trading horror stories.”
Tanya’s openness put Serena at ease, but that vanished when Preacher approached. He patted Barnard on the back and squeezed her shoulder with his hand. She fought back a wince at his touch. “Good to see you two,” he said. “Come on. Let me introduce you to everybody.”
“I’ll get you something to drink,” Tanya said.
“Barnard and Serena,” Preacher said, “I’d like to introduce you to Loretta, my sister, and her date, Andre Davis, who’s also Dante’s partner at Circle Autos.”
Barnard gave Andre a hearty handshake. “Small world, man, small world.” He inclined his head toward Dante. “What’s it going to take to get you guys to sign on with the jobs program? The paperwork is ready. All we need are your signatures.”
Andre lifted his hands. “No business talk today,” he said. “But I think you’ll be hearing from us soon. Dante and I were just talking about how much we want to get involved.” He turned to Dante. “Weren’t we, man?”
Serena couldn’t help it, but her gaze kept straying to Preacher. Something was going on between him and Dante. For the second time, she caught Dante glancing at Preacher when he was asked a question. She wondered what that was about. She hoped Dante hadn’t picked up on Preacher’s interest in Natalie. She turned a hot stare on Preacher, telling him with her eyes what she thought of him. He turned away to say something to Andre.
“You know,” Loretta chimed in, “Tanya has a couple of salons. You may want to sign her up as well.”
Tanya joined them with glasses of lemonade for Serena and Barnard. “Did somebody call my name?”
“No business talk today,” Andre said again. “Loretta and I are trying to get to know Serena and Barnard. Aren’t we, babe?”
When Loretta smiled, Serena thought she looked familiar. She was sure she had seen Preacher’s sister before but she couldn’t remember where. “Have you and I met before?” she asked Loretta.
Loretta studied her face. “I was wondering the same thing,” she said. “Your face does look familiar.”
“Maybe you’ve been to our gym?” Natalie offered. She gave the address.
Serena’s eyes widened. Now she remembered where she’d first met Loretta.
“I’ve been there,” Loretta said. “But only once.” She smiled at Serena. “You have a good mind for faces, if you remember e
very one that comes into your gym.”
Serena glanced at Preacher again. His strained expression told her that he knew how she knew his sister as well. Loretta had been the courier for the letter Preacher had sent to Serena. Serena wondered how much Loretta knew about her relationship with Preacher. She prayed she knew nothing, and if she did know something, Serena prayed she’d keep it to herself.
“Serena’s good with faces and names,” Natalie added, “much better than I am. She’s strong in a lot of areas where I’m weak, and vice versa, so we make good business partners.”
“It’s the same way with me and Dante,” Andre said. “He’s the number cruncher; I’m the front man. We operate in different roles, but we’re always on the same page in our decisions. We’re a great team, aren’t we, man?”
Again, Serena saw Dante glance at Preacher before nodding. Natalie only smiled at her man, rubbing her hand down his arm. Serena doubted her sister-in-law saw the exchange between the two men.
“Partnerships have always fascinated me,” Loretta said. “I wish Preacher and I could go into business together.”
Serena forced herself not to look in Preacher’s direction.
“Maybe you can,” Barnard offered. He glanced at Preacher. “You and Loretta should really think about it. A lot of people complain about going into business with family, but it’s worked well for Serena and Natalie.”
“It sure has,” Natalie said. “I trust Serena and she trusts me. I can’t think of a better arrangement.”
Serena agreed because it seemed to be expected of her. “It works for us, but then we run a small business.”
“It works for me and Dante,” Andre said. “We’ve known each other since college. We’re more brothers than friends, wouldn’t you say?”
“Brothers,” Dante repeated.
Andre tipped back his drink. “Remember when we were thinking of a name for the dealership. We were going to call it Brothers Auto. Remember that? Then we decided people might interpret Brothers the wrong way, so we went more generic. There’s nothing like being in business with someone who has your back. I’m lucky to have Dante at my side. This business would be nowhere without him.”
Up Pops the Devil Page 19
