“Thank you. That’s another talent I didn’t know you had.”
She scooted from behind, sitting next to him on the bed. “And I have many more you have yet to discover.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. “It’s been awhile since we… you know.”
“You’ve been through a lot. I didn’t want to push,” he said.
She stood and placed her hands on Nick’s chest, moving towards the center of his shirt. She slowly unfastened his shirt one button at a time, placing kisses on his exposed bare skin. Next, she guided him to his feet to remove his shirt and moved her hands to his belt buckle. He leaned forward and tried to kiss her but she turned her head. “Not yet,” she muttered. She unzipped his pants allowing them to fall to floor. Ramona dropped to her knees and masterfully stroked and pleasured him. His grunts and moans turned her on even more. She stood to her feet and kissed him on the mouth. “I love you,” he whispered, breaking away from the kiss. She led him to bed where she laid on her back with her eyes closed allowing him to explore her body. He placed his lips on every inch of her including the tip of her toes. He then turned her over onto her stomach. She could hear him fiddling in the drawer next to the bed. Her body flinched as cold oil hit the middle of her back. Nick moved his hands in a circular motion across her skin, warming the oil underneath his hands. He’s the tired one, yet he’s massaging her. It didn’t surprise her at all, he has always been a tender and patient lover. He always met her needs before his own. A soft moan escaped her lips as he kissed the back of her neck. She turned over to face him and he slowly entered her. She passionately made love to him, eventually falling asleep in his arms.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“It’s almost time guys.” Ramona watched as Bronson Parker, Nick’s private investigator, open the video call program on his laptop. He had arranged for them to speak with Xavier’s ex-wife at eleven.
“Two minutes till,” said Bronson, as he looked at his wristwatch. “It may not be on the nose of eleven, however, it’s close enough. Let’s get this started.” Within seconds Xavier’s ex-wife face filled the computer screen. “Hi, Misty. I’m with the folks I told you about. Nick and Ramona. I would like for you to tell them exactly what we discussed last week.”
“Bronson, do you mind if I speak to Misty first?” asked Ramona.
He turned in his chair. “Sure. You can sit here.”
Ramona sat in the black swivel chair and faced the computer. “Hi, Misty. I’m Ramona and I briefly dated Xavier. I don’t know how much you know but my relationship with Xavier didn’t end well. I believe he took his frustration out on my aunt by killing her.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m also sorry you had the displeasure of entering Xavier’s orbit. That’s what I call it. Once he sucks you in, it’s hell getting away. Anyway, he and I were young when we met. He was everything I ever dreamed off. Handsome, charming, smart you know the whole nine yards. In the beginning, he was attentive and sweet. Xavier made me feel as if I was the only girl in the universe. He always called to check on me, served dinner under the stars, always wanting to spend all his time with me.”
Ramona glanced at Nick, her story sounded all too familiar. “When did it all change?”
“Right after I said I do. He became controlling. It was small things at first. If I was out with friends, he would call to ask when I was coming home. He tried to change the way I dressed and asked me to stop wearing makeup. He said because I was married I should look like it. He didn't want me to appear attractive to other men.”
“I hope you don’t mind me asking but did he become physical with you?”
“You mean hit me?”
“Yes,” said Ramona.
“Hell yeah! The first time was when I refused to make dinner after a long day at work. I told him he was home all day he should cook for me. He didn’t like my response so he slapped me. The next day I received a dozen roses with a note apologizing. Like a fool I forgave him and it got worse from there. My breaking point was when he pushed me down a flight of stairs when I was five months pregnant with Xavier Jr.”
“That’s despicable,” said Ramona, shaking her head in disgust. “He told me you two grew apart that’s why you divorced. He made it sound amicable.”
“He’s a liar. I left him a year after he pushed me. I was stupid to wait, but I was in love.”
“You were his victim.”
“I was but when I gained the courage to leave, he lost his mind. I had to get a restraining order. He stalked me and begged me to come back. When I refused he threatened my family. He told me he would take everyone I loved away from me one by one until I was just as lonely as he was. I got my son and hightailed it to New York. I never heard from again.”
“He doesn’t see your son?”
“No, and I prefer it that way.”
“Misty, he will never know we’ve spoken to you,” said Bronson.
“Thank you, Misty. You have been very helpful.”
“You’re welcome. I hope he’s not responsible for killing your aunt, but it wouldn’t surprise if he had.”
Ramona couldn’t listen to anymore, she bolted from the room. Nick followed behind her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“It's overwhelming, that's all. Listening to her and relating to what she said. Just like Misty, he was charming and attentive to me. When he showed the controlling side of himself, I would get angry and the very next day I had a gift. And guess what? I forgave him.”
“You can’t blame yourself.”
“I can and I do. I’m a grown woman, Nick! I’m not some naive schoolgirl, I should’ve recognized the signs. You heard Misty he threatened to take her family away. The only difference is he actually took mines.”
Nick pulled her into an embrace. “Don’t worry. We’ll get the son of a bitch.”
Minutes later Bronson walked out into the hall. “Everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, she needed a moment to clear her head,” said Nick, “Did you finish up with Misty?”
“Yes. I thanked her for her time. What do you think about what she had to say?”
“It was intriguing for sure. But, we can’t use any of it if she’s unwilling to speak with the Detective,” said Ramona.
“Maybe, maybe not. I bet he already knows about the restraining order. If we explain the dynamic of their relationship and all of what she told us, he might give Xavier a second look,” said Bronson.
“All we can do is try,” said Nick.
“Excuse me.” Ramona’s phone had notified her of an incoming text. It was from Irma, she’d text her 911. Ramona called her immediately. “Irma, I got your text. What’s going on?”
“I thought you should know about the meeting,” she said whispering. Ramona could barely hear her.
“Why are you whispering?”
“I don’t want anyone to hear me.”
“Are you at your desk, Irma?”
“Yes, on my cell phone.”
“Go to your car and call me back from there.”
“I can’t leave my desk unattended.”
Ramona sighed. “I promise you can leave for five minutes.”
Irma was silent for a moment. “Okay. Stay close.”
Fifteen minutes later she called back. “Are you in your car?”
“Yes,” said Irma now speaking in a normal tone.
“Who’s having a meeting?”
“I overheard Cynthia Price, you know the one on the board?”
“Yeah, I know who she is. What did she say?”
“Well, I was in the restroom, I had to take a break because the phone had been ringing off the hook and we were receiving so many deliveries. Mostly condolences cards…”
“Irma!” Ramona interrupted. “Cynthia… what did she say?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. As I was saying, I was in the restroom and Cynthia Price walked in. She was on her phone, well she had that blue t
hingy in her ear.”
“Bluetooth, Irma.”
“Whatever it’s called, and she said she requested an emergency board meeting.”
“By who?”
“Don’t know.”
“Do you know who she was talking to?”
“No idea.”
“When is it?”
“Next Monday and Miss Vasquez there’s something else you should know.”
“What?”
“Whoever Cynthia was talking to didn’t want you to know about it. She specifically said 'We can finally get that criminal element out of here now that Lisa’s gone'.”
“Oh really? Is that what they think?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, Irma. I appreciate you telling me this.”
“I can try to have it postponed.”
“No. Let it go on as scheduled.”
Ramona hung up the phone, fuming. But, she had to remain calm and keep a cool head. There was no way in hell those people would push her out. She called the one person who could help. “Dave, we need to meet.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The Galleria Mall was busy for a weekday. Ramona entered on the ground floor near the ice skating rink. A group of mothers with toddlers, who appeared to be no older than three, occupied the oblong rink. Watching them made her wish she had a childhood memory that could put a smile on her face. The only memories that played in her mind were of her alone for days in a dark home, eating from the garbage because her mother had left on one of her many drug binges.
She continued to watch the ice skaters until it was time to meet Amber outside the Louis Vuitton store. “Remember when we would ride the bus just to come to this store? We never had any money, but that never stopped us from dreaming,” said Amber, as she greeted Ramona with a hug.
“I remember,” smiled Ramona, recalling the memory. “We had a lot of fun back then. That's why I chose to meet here. We spent countless time at this mall to meet boys.”
They both laughed in unison. “We were young, reckless, and thought we were hottest girls in the neighborhood.”
“We were and still are,” Ramona joked.
The women walked and continued to reminisce about the past in between shopping. With their hands full of shopping bags they grabbed a table at a restaurant near the food court. “When I called you sounded like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders. Do you care to talk about it?” asked Amber.
The waiter placed two Cobb salads on the table. “Thank you,” said Ramona, before turning her attention to Amber. “It’s been forever since we last seen each other. We were teens and now we’re adults in different places in our lives, but it’s sometimes nice to confide in someone who knew you before life became overly complicated.”
“You know whatever you say won’t leave this table.”
Ramona let out a long sigh. “My aunt just died. More like someone killed her and I believe I know who’s responsible.”
Amber widened her eyes and place her hand on her chest. “I’m so sorry, Ramona. That’s awful.” She reached over and touched Ramona’s arm. “What can I do for you?”
“Be a friend and listen.”
“Okay, I can do that. Who do you think killed her?”
“A guy I was dating.”
“What?!”
“Amber, that’s only half of my problems. My aunt ran a charity called The Helping Hand and the people there…”
“Wait, I don’t mean to cut you off, but are you talking about the lady on the news? The other day there was a story about a woman found dead in her home who ran this big time charity. The reporter said her niece found her.”
Ramona took a sip of her lemonade. “I’m the niece.”
“I don’t remember you mentioning an aunt when we were in school. It was only you and your grandmother.”
“I didn’t know her then. It’s a long story but here’s the short version. I already told you after my grandmother’s death I ran away. What I failed to mention was the reason, it was because I didn’t want the state to put me in foster care. So, I moved in with my boyfriend.”
“The drug dealer, right?”
“I’m surprised you remember. Anyway, one night I had gone out with a group of friends and we ended up breaking into a house. The house we chose belonged to a police officer.”
Amber laughed so hard she almost spat out her drink.
“It’s funny now, but it wasn’t back then. The court sent me to juvenile detention for three years. Mostly due to my record. It turned out to be a blessing because that’s when I met my father and eventually my Aunt Melissa.”
“Ramona, that’s some story. I wished we had kept in touch. I missed you when you left the neighborhood. You were the closest friend I had.”
“Since elementary school.” Ramona smiled. “But, I would’ve dragged you down with me. I only recently turned my life around. I’ve made more than my share of bad choices, some I regret.”
“You can’t because everything happens for a reason. Your life is going according to how it was written.”
“You think so?”
“Of course, there’s a reason we ran into each after all this time. Think about this, we were fifteen when we last saw each other and here it is almost fifteen years later we reconnected.”
“Well, since you put it that way. It seems like fate.”
“You better believe it.”
As much as Ramona has changed to fit into Lisa’s world, it was nice to have someone from her other life to talk to. “I’ve gone on and on about myself. How has life treated you? Are you married or have any kids?”
Amber nodded her head yes. “I’m no longer Amber Porter, it’s Simmons now. Married for four years and I have twin girls, Angelica and Annabelle.”
“Aw, that’s adorable and I see you have an ‘A’ theme.”
Amber retrieved her phone and showed off photos of her girls. They were clones of their mother. Both had her heart-shaped face and pouty lips. “Beautiful girls,” said Ramona.
“What about you?” she asked, putting her phone away.
“Me? Oh, no! No kids or husband. That’s not on my radar. I have a boyfriend and that’s enough.”
“By that smile on your face, I can tell he must be the one.”
“Nick is pretty special. However, that’s another long story I’ll save for another day. I have to get home soon. Because of everything that’s happened with my aunt and my ex, I have to be cautious. Nick doesn’t like for me to stay out too long at least until my ex is behind bars.”
“Of course, sweetie. I understand.” Amber stood and hugged Ramona goodbye. “Call me as soon as you can.”
When Ramona arrived home, it surprised her to see Nick in his office slaving away on his computer. The text he had sent stated he would be home late. “I thought I’d beat you here,” she said, standing in the office doorway.
“My client cut the meeting short. She received an emergency phone call from her son.”
“She?” Ramona placed her purse and bags down on a chair. “Should I be jealous?”
“Only if you think I would be attracted to a woman thirty years my senior.”
She walked around the desk and sat on his lap. “Hi,” she smiled and kissed him on the lips.
“Hi.” He returned her kiss. “Did you have a good time with your friend?”
“Yes, I did. It was almost like old times except now we’re grown women. We caught up on each other’s lives and shopped in between. Let me show you what I bought from your favorite lingerie shop.” Ramona ran over to the pink and black bag.
“You said you ran into her and she recognized you after fifteen years?”
“I know what you’re thinking it had to be more than a coincidence. But, it’s not. Amber and I said it’s fate.” Ramona held up a black lace teddy. “This is for later. What do you think?”
“Be careful. You don’t want to be pulled back into that world. Especially, after you worked hard to turn
your entire life around.”
“You worry too much. Amber and I are both adults. We are no longer two teens who got a thrill from sneaking into clubs, having older men buy us drinks, only to get them drunk enough to steal their credit cards and money.”
“You used to do that?” asked Nick, sounding shock.
“And much worse. I grew up in the streets, Nick. Although I had my grandmother, she couldn’t control me. I consider my friends my family, which included Amber.”
Nick closed his laptop and sat back in his swivel chair. “Why haven’t you mentioned her before now?”
“When I returned to my old neighborhood Amber had long moved away. So, it was a pleasant surprise to run into her.”
“How much does she know? Did you tell her what happened?”
“No, but I will, eventually.” Ramona frowned. “I need a favor. Can you recommend a good criminal attorney?”
Nick squinted his eyes in a puzzling manner. “Why?”
“For Rhonda. Before Lisa died, she said she would have someone look into her case. She thought we could help get her a reduced sentence.”
“I know it must be hard not to be able to contact her.”
“It is, but I made peace with it. I now want to do everything possible for her.”
“Let me speak to Dave about it. Maybe he knows who Lisa contacted on Rhonda’s behalf. You have enough on your plate.”
“I love how you always think of my needs,” she smiled and held the teddy against her body. “Are you ready to see me in this number?”
“What do you think?”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ramona arrived at the Helping Hand with the understanding she was in for a fight. With a few exceptions, most never wanted her there and with Lisa gone she had to win this battle alone. However, unbeknownst to the board, she brought a secret weapon. “Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” asked Dave, holding the entry door open. “Yes, and I will do exactly as you told me. Nothing extra. Promise.” Ramona had met with him the moment after she’d gotten the call from Irma. He’d informed her of her rights and Lisa wishes. Most importantly, he informed her the board could not meet in private without consulting her.
Shattered Hearts (Shattered Series Book 2) Page 13
