Forbidden Promises

by Synithia Williams

  “If you think he’s so great, why haven’t you gone out with him?”

  Ashiya stumbled. India reached out to keep her from falling. She checked the sidewalk to see what her cousin tripped on, but there’d been nothing in their path.

  Ashiya waved India off. “Sorry, still getting used to these heels. What were we talking about?”

  “I asked why you haven’t gone out with Russell.”

  Color tinged Ashiya’s cheeks. She shrugged and adjusted her shades. “Don’t be silly. I’m with Stephen.”

  “Still? I thought you two broke up a year ago.”

  Ashiya and Stephen had been on-again, off-again since the summer after high school. When they’d first gotten together, their relationship had been filled with drama, arguments over nothing and dragging others into their foolishness. He’d been Ashiya’s first love, which made moving on for good hard for her cousin.

  “We had a fight a year ago.” Ashiya’s tone was defensive. “Mama loves him. Daddy thinks he’s great. He’s finally starting to talk about marriage.”

  “Marriage? Do you want to marry him?” God, India hoped not. She didn’t like Stephen. He took advantage of Ashiya’s love for him and wasn’t shy about proving he still had control over her emotionally.

  Ashiya waved a hand. “Why not? We’ve made it this far.”

  “Making it this far is almost as bad as that song that says you’re not getting younger, so you might as well get hitched,” India said with a shudder.

  “India, you’re so optimistic. Which is what I love about you, but life isn’t a fairy tale. Stephen and I have history. We’re well suited...most of the time, and our families are connected. Not marrying him because I’m waiting for some perfect love is foolish.”

  Was this what her family had succumbed to? People willing to settle for relationships that weren’t exactly what they wanted. Byron was ready to marry a woman for the sake of his campaign. Ashiya entertaining the idea of marrying a man whom she’d sworn to never speak to again just a year before.

  Are you very different? Ready to date someone else when you know who you want.

  But her situation was completely different. The person she wanted was so off-limits he was damn near taboo. Crossing the sibling’s-ex line was a hard no. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. Not only would she lose the fragile relationship she had with her sister, but the scandal in the town would hover over the family for years. Finding someone else to date wasn’t settling, it was necessary.

  “I’m going to call Russell,” she said. She wanted to enjoy the rest of her time with Ashiya. The conversation about her and Stephen could wait until another day. “I’ll see if he wants to go out this weekend.”

  “There’s a new art exhibit at the museum. You should go to that.”

  “What if he doesn’t like art?” Russell asking her to Arts and Drafts didn’t mean he was into that. She’d had guys ask her to museums because they were trying to impress her. India loved the arts, but she’d discovered few men were as addicted as she was. Travis was the exception. He could discuss painting or a piece of music with her for as long as she wanted without ever looking bored. Talk about a hard act to follow.

  “I’ve seen him there before when I’ve gone to the museum for a quick lunch break,” Ashiya said. “A guy that hangs out at an art museum must like art.”

  India nodded. Hanging out in an art museum was promising. Ashiya said he wasn’t an asshole. Despite the misgivings she had of her dad introducing him, Russell didn’t have much going against him. “Cool. I’ll see if he wants to check out the exhibit.”

  * * *

  BY THE TIME Travis left the office to meet with his last client of the day, he still hadn’t gotten the interaction with India out of his mind. He hadn’t mistaken the look in her eye when she’d caught him shirtless in his office. Clearly, India still found him attractive. Which made pretending like he didn’t want to have her body against his whenever they were in a room together extremely difficult.

  He needed to get his mind on something else. Quickly. The meeting with his client should succeed where the other meetings today had failed.

  Zachariah King was out on bond. Despite the general animosity thrown his way by those who wanted revenge for Antwan’s death or thought he deserved to be thrown in jail, he’d strut around town like a tourist on vacation.

  “When are you going to get these damn ankle bracelets off me?” Zachariah said as soon as Travis joined him in his study that afternoon.

  Travis suppressed a sigh and pulled his brown leather messenger bag over his head. “Zach, I’ve told you staying on house arrest is best for you right now. There are people in the town who aren’t happy about what you’ve done.”

  Zachariah snorted. He strode across the study to sit heavily on one of the oversize leather couches. “I did this town a favor, getting rid of that punk.”

  Travis clenched his teeth. He counted to ten before responding. Antwan hadn’t been close to Travis in years, but that didn’t mean Travis wanted to hear him talked about with disgust. “You killed someone.”

  Zachariah tugged on his sweatpants and settled more comfortably on the couch. “I killed a gang member. A gang member who was trying to rob me.”

  “Rob you of money you took from hardworking people around town,” Travis countered.

  “What? You’re trying me now? I thought you were supposed to be defending me.”

  Travis shoved up his shirtsleeves. They stopped mid-forearm because he hadn’t loosened the button and that only frustrated him more. “I am, and as your attorney, I have to warn you that going around bragging about the killing won’t help your chances with the jury.”

  “If you play your cards right, the jury will think I did a public service.”

  Travis’s hands clenched into fists. “Are you forgetting he was my cousin?”

  Zachariah leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. His eyes sharpened. “Are you forgetting I’m paying you a lot of money to make sure I don’t go to prison for this?”

  Travis did remember. He didn’t agree with his cousin’s lifestyle. Didn’t agree with what his uncle constantly got away with, but he hadn’t wanted to see his cousin dead. Just as he didn’t agree with Zachariah’s allegedly shady undercover dealings. He’d agreed to defend him before learning exactly whom Zachariah had shot. Honor wouldn’t let him go back on his word. There’d be a shortage of defense attorneys if they only agreed to defend perfect citizens.

  Antwan had been wrong. He’d forcefully entered Zachariah’s business. Held him at gunpoint and stolen cash and jewelry. He’d made the fatal mistake of turning his back on his target. Zachariah had a right to defend himself against someone breaking into his business. Travis had a duty as Zachariah’s lawyer to make sure he didn’t go to jail just for being a shitty person.

  “I haven’t forgotten,” Travis muttered. “That doesn’t mean I have to like what you have to say. Show some damn remorse. Don’t let everyone see just how much of an asshole you really are. Because if you don’t calm down, your own arrogance is going to send you to jail regardless of how much you pay me.”

  Zachariah glared for several seconds. His square jaw worked as if he wanted to spit out angry words. After a few seconds, he sat up. “Fine. I’ll try to pretend like I feel guilty for killing the little punk.”

  Travis inhaled and exhaled slowly. He didn’t have time for this. “Is that all you called me over here for?”

  “When is jury selection?”

  “Next week. I’m reviewing the candidate pool now.”

  “And?”

  Finding a local juror who wasn’t familiar with the rumors surrounding Zachariah was going to be harder than finding a contact lens in a mountain of sand. “It’s going to be tough, but we’ve got enough to work with to put together a group who will hopefully understand where yo
u’re coming from.”

  “Good.” Zachariah nodded. “What about this house arrest?”

  “Stay in the house and work on looking repentant.” Travis picked up his bag. “Don’t call me unless it’s really an emergency.”

  Travis left Zachariah’s home more frustrated than when he’d arrived. He’d known Zachariah was a coldhearted, vindictive man before he’d agreed to take the case. Growing up in Sunnyside Acres and having Grant Robidoux as a mentor for twenty years had taught Travis not to be too scrupulous in whom he associated with. People both good and bad had a purpose in this world and sometimes you needed both.

  Just because Zachariah was a dick didn’t mean he needed to go to jail for the rest of his life. Not for this anyway. Still, the looks on the faces of Travis’s parents... The threats from his uncle Mitch and cousin Devon made his neck tighten. Regardless of the outcome of this case, people weren’t going to be happy. Calls for retribution would be made, and Travis would be right in the middle of the fire.

  Shit! You should have stuck with corporate law.

  Yeah, and stayed under Grant’s thumb? He’d rather take his chances with the backlash from this case.

  Travis mentally went through the details of the jury selection pool for the case as he drove back to his office. He could’ve gone directly home, but there were a few things he needed to finish at the office.

  Finding jurors who would look past Zachariah’s less than stellar personality and not use this case as a reason to punish him was going to be difficult. There were a few on the list he wanted to have in the final selection. He also had to pull more information on Antwan’s illegal activities to show he had a history of violent break-ins. The challenge would be doing so without putting too much undue scrutiny on his uncle.

  When are you going to stop trying to protect a family that doesn’t want to protect you?

  He doubted that would ever happen. He’d learned loyalty from Grant. His family was imperfect, but they were his. He wouldn’t plot to make their lives miserable.

  He pulled into the parking area of his law firm and frowned. Grant’s car was parked beside his building. His driver stood outside and leaned against the driver’s side door while smoking a cigarette. Travis got out of his car and strolled over.

  “Hello, Barry,” Travis said.

  “Travis, what’s up?”

  “You tell me?” He glanced at the back of the car, then back at Barry.

  Barry shrugged and took another drag of his cigarette. “I just drove him here. He’s waiting on you inside.”

  Travis suppressed a curse. He nodded to Barry and made his way inside. Grant didn’t make trips down to Travis’s office. He’d come to the grand opening and that was the last time he’d been here.

  Travis walked in and found Grant flirting with his receptionist, Frances. He leaned on the tall circular desk and smiled down at the young woman. Frances leaned forward, her arms crossed on the desk and her head cocked jauntily to the side. She batted thick lashes at Grant.

  Travis shook his head. Grant loved Patricia, but he had a personality that made women swoon. “Grant, what brings you down here?”

  Grant looked away from Frances. The smile still on his face, but the laughter in his eyes died away. “Just came down to see how things were going.”

  Travis’s neck tightened. Grant didn’t just check on things. “Things are going fine. Come on into my office.”

  Grant winked at Frances. “You have a good time at the book festival this weekend.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Robidoux. Maybe I’ll see you there.”

  Grant’s smile widened. “Maybe you will.”

  Travis led Grant to his office. He pointed to one of the leather chairs for Grant to sit in and closed the door. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t flirt with my receptionist.”

  “I wasn’t flirting. Just talking to her,” Grant said innocently.

  Travis lip quirked as he tried to suppress a smirk. He hung his bag on the hook next to the door, then walked to his desk. “The look you gave her was a little more than just talking.”

  “Oh really.” Grant sat and crossed his legs. “Kind of like the looks you were giving India the other day.”

  Travis froze. All traces of a smile were gone from Grant’s face. “Say what you came here to say, Grant.” He fought the urge to fidget with the buttons of his suit jacket under Grant’s hard stare. After all these years, Travis still swore Grant could see past his bullshit to the truth.

  Grant leaned back in his chair. “What I told you before about India hasn’t changed.”

  Travis sat stiffly in his chair. “Why do you think I need a reminder?”

  “You’re free. She’s here. I don’t need you getting any ideas.”

  “I’m not getting ideas.” The fact that he could look Grant in the eye and say that without flinching proved how good of a lawyer he was. Guilt swelled in his chest as he remembered the way India had looked at him this morning. The hot, hungry look in those bright amber eyes of hers.

  Grant studied him before nodding slowly. “Good. Byron is running for Senate. We don’t need to screw things up because you decide to play around with my baby girl again.”

  For the second time today, Travis’s hand clenched. His nails dug into his palms. “I never played around with her.” He shouldn’t have let things get so far that night, but he hadn’t been playing with her. He’d felt something with India he hadn’t been able to forget. Something he would do his best to ignore out of respect for her family and what they’d done for him.

  “That’s not how it looked to me,” Grant said in a cold voice. “I let that time pass because you fixed things. You walked away from India and did right by Elaina.”

  “You didn’t leave me much choice.” None of the regret he felt came through in his voice. Again, being a good lawyer had its perks.

  “I like you, Travis, but I wasn’t going to let you disgrace both of my girls. India deserved better than to be the rebound of her sister’s ex-boyfriend.”

  “She wasn’t going to be a rebound.”

  “But you weren’t planning to make her your wife. Were you?”

  Travis clenched his teeth. He hadn’t thought past that night with India in his arms. He didn’t know what he would have done with his split with Elaina so new. That’s why he’d initially pushed her away. He’d needed time to think.

  None of that mattered though. Elaina’s pregnancy sealed their fate. He may not have initially considered marrying Elaina, but neither had he planned to leave her to deal with things on her own. Grant put the idea in his head, and Travis made the decision to ask because he’d been afraid of ruining his relationship with Grant. Now it was too late to entertain thoughts of what would have been or what could be now.

  “I’m not doing anything to or with India.” He let the conviction he felt come through in his tone.

  “Keep it that way. I don’t agree with you two paired together, but I understand why. As long as we’re clear you aren’t to start up any trouble by trying to rekindle what you started in that tobacco field.”

  “I’m not rekindling anything. India and I are working on a project for Byron, but we’ve both moved on from one night years ago and too many whiskey shots in a tobacco field. Give both of us some credit.”

  Grant watched him for several long seconds. Clearly evaluating whether he believed Travis or not. But Travis meant what he’d said. He shouldn’t think about India as more than a friend. He wasn’t so sure about their base instincts though... The heated look in India’s eye. The tension that hummed between them in his office earlier. They both put on a good show pretending there was nothing there. How long could they keep it up?

  “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but if I get one hint you’re trying to fool around with my baby girl, I will make your life miserable.”

  “Indi
a is an adult.”

  “And she still deserves better.”

  Travis stood, tired of this conversation. Tired of this day. Tired of the reminder that he wasn’t good enough. He was emotionally and physically spent. “It was good seeing you again, Grant.”

  Grant grinned and eased to his feet. “Come over for dinner on Friday. We miss you around the house, son.”

  The words I’m not your son were on the tip of Travis’s tongue, but he bit them back. Grant had done more for him than almost anyone else. He didn’t like what Grant said, but Travis understood where he was coming from. Pursuing anything with India would cause a scandal and turmoil in the family that wouldn’t help anyone involved.

  “I’m going out with Camille on Friday. Maybe another night.”

  Grant nodded with approval. “Another night, then.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  INDIA SMILED AND accepted the beer Russell handed to her. The crowd at the art museum was thick. People milled around inside, viewing the exhibits or talking to people at the various tables set up with simple arts and crafts, while local indie bands played everything from rock to R & B. Vendors selling craft beers were inside and out, and a fortune-teller predicted attendees’ futures in one of the auditoriums. Outside, along with the beer and food vendors, a DJ played old-school and contemporary hits. This was India’s first time at the event, and she was enjoying herself.

  In the weeks since telling Ashiya she needed a man, she’d stopped avoiding Russell’s calls and texts. Her first impression of him hadn’t changed. He was a nice guy. Attentive, considerate and funny. She’d expected dating him would be difficult, but that wasn’t the case.

  Russell placed his hand on her lower back and leaned in close. “What do you think of the band?” His lips brushed her ear when he spoke. The music was loud and unless he got close he had to nearly yell to be heard, so he’d been speaking into her ear all night. This was the first time his lips had touched her, and surprisingly the sensation wasn’t unpleasant.

  “They’re good.” She sipped her beer and leaned slightly away.