Beauty and the Beast (33 page)

“You lose that money, you’ll be really dead. Do not blow it, Dennis. You know how you get. We need that money to leave the country.”

“Like I said, I’m only taking ten grand with me. After tonight, I’m getting out of town. It won’t take long for Butch to talk to the cops and tell them about you. The more the cops get to asking questions, the more antsy Marco will get about my delay in finding you.”

“I think you should just come on down now. We can head on to Mexico. I’ve made twenty grand since I’ve been here. With your eighty, we’ll be drinking margaritas for years to come.”

“Don’t worry. I’m out of here tonight.”

Freshly showered and ready to crash, Bruce and Nefertiti fell onto Bruce’s bed. They’d returned to Maxwell Manor, and their folks would arrive in town tomorrow. They were grateful for the time to unwind beforehand. Nefertiti’s father was already talking about a barbeque. They’d missed celebrating Labor Day, and he wanted to enjoy what was left of the warm weather

Bruce cupped Nefertiti into his body. “You did good today.”

“I wish I could stay here forever.” She soaked in the love and security of his embrace.

“You know, I was terrified about going to court, but I needed it. I had to have my chance to show Butch that I’d survived. I had to fight back.” It was dark and quiet, but the peace she felt came from within. She hadn’t felt this settled since the attack.

“I know, water ninja.” He intertwined his fingers with hers. “You did good.”

His breathing became heavy with sleep, but her mind raced from her father to Butch to Dennis to their wedding to Virginia…

“Have you heard anything new from Catherine or Roy? Is she still planning on resigning?”

“I think I’ve talked her into staying,” came his groggy reply. “Once we moved past her emotions, she admitted that this was the only way to save her family business. No, she won’t be across the field from the mill anymore, but she’ll still be the CEO, and I’m giving her the Dixon home and the twelve surrounding acres as a token of my appreciation.”

“You own everything except her thirty percent now, right?”

“Yes.” He nibbled on the rim of her ear and knocked thoughts of work out of her mind. “We own seventy percent of Dixon Textiles.”

“Umm, you’d better stop that before you get me started again.”

“If you’re going to keep me awake, we might as well use the time constructively.”

She tried to suppress a giggle. “You are too much.” She sighed. Though she’d reconciled with her father and her ordeal with Butch was over, she knew the fight wasn’t over yet. “The calm before the storm. Or maybe this is the eye of the storm. We still have to go through the other side.”

“I’ll protect you with everything I have, baby. You know that, don’t you?”

She rolled over and faced him. The minimal moonlight didn’t hide the unease in his eyes. “I know.”

“I won’t rest easy until Dennis and Jay are caught. I told Givens everything I know, which is circumstantial where Dennis is concerned and hearsay where Jay is concerned.”

“Has Marco given you any news about them?”

“He says Dennis has been spending his time gambling.”

“Maybe he and this Jay aren’t connected.”

“No, they’re connected. Givens had the nerve to give me grief about my ‘relationship’ with Marco.”

“So they’ve been watching you?”

“Actually, they watch Marco. I guess they don’t like what our ‘relationship’ could mean. When I told him Dennis owes money, I didn’t name Marco. So they probably think I’m covering for him.” He shook her. “Enough of this. When are you going to marry me? We have baby ninjas to make.”

“As soon as Mama and Auntie Vic finish planning it.”

“Hold up. You’ve been fantasizing about marrying me,” he boasted, “since we were young, and now you’ve turned the planning over to our parents. What happened?”

“I was joking and they didn’t get it. They just don’t like my ideas, so they’re coming up with a few of their own to present to me.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

B
y the end of the week, the grounds of Maxwell Manor looked as if a family reunion were being held there. The overwhelming heat of August was a distant memory, yet the milder temperatures of mid-September didn’t stop folks from enjoying the pool.

Nathan had invited everyone from actual family to family of security to his baby’s engagement party/barbeque. Even Catherine and Roy showed up, though they barely spoke a word to each other. Catherine let herself go and had a good time, while Roy sulked about. After a while, he disappeared in the direction of the cabins on the opposite side of the creek.

Bruce approached the large barbeque pit that dominated the southeast corner of the patio. Nefertiti had wanted a costume ball, but Nathan talked her out of it.

“I’m heading in, Uncle Nathan.”

Bruce didn’t like to be around people, and with at least a hundred people running around, he needed a break. He’d already been victorious in the men versus women volleyball game, was beat down by the teens in basketball, and had even socialized with a few of his relatives he hadn’t seen in years. Nefertiti was playing tennis with Tiffany, and his aunts Victoria and May were off plotting the wedding of the century.

Nathan wiped his hands on his “Real Men Cook” apron, then took a bandana out of his back pocket and swiped the sweat off his brow. “Come on over here a minute.” He sat in one of the three lawn chairs close to pit. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“It’s been a long day, Uncle Nathan. I want to take some time to unwind before we eat.”

“This won’t take long. Come on now.”

“How do you do it?” The smell of ribs, hotlinks and burgers accompanied Bruce as he made himself comfortable in one of the lawn chairs. “If one more kid asks me to throw him into the pool, I think I’ll throw him to the dogs.”

Nathan chuckled. “You know you like it.”

“Maybe a little.” He watched the children bombard each other with water balloons.

Nefertiti exited the tennis court. The bright white of her tennis shorts and top paled in comparison to her smile. She waved and blew Bruce a kiss. Embarrassed, he shook his head and returned his attention to Nathan. “I’m ready to have children.”

“We’re so much alike… You and me… So much alike…”

“I think that’s a good thing.”

“Too much alike. I didn’t speak to my mother for years after May and I got married.” He glanced over at his mother who was sitting in a rocker under a shade tree. “All the wasted years over stupidity. Learn from my mistakes.”

“I speak to Auntie Vic daily.”

“You know who I mean, boy.” Nathan kicked Bruce’s seat. “Victoria told me what happened between you and Alexis. No doubt about it, she was wrong.”

Bruce could hear the “but” that was coming.

“But you’re overreacting.”

“It wasn’t this last incident, but a lifetime accumulation of taking her shit.” He watched Nefertiti enter the oriental garden with her mother and Victoria. When they’d first come down, Nefertiti had worn her veil, but as she became more comfortable, she tossed it.

“I know your case is more extreme, but Victoria isn’t ready to give up on Alexis.”

“I never said she couldn’t have a relationship with Alexis.”

“You know how Victoria is. If Alexis is dead to you, then she’s dead to Victoria. I’m not saying you have to nominate Alexis for ‘Mother of the Year.’ You don’t even have to associate with her, but don’t force Victoria to give up hope.”

“Fine. I’ll inform security to allow Alexis on the property.”

“Good, because she’ll be here any minute.”

“Why would you invite her when you know I’m through with her?”

“This isn’t about you. It’s about Victoria. I think you’re right to distance yourself from your mom, but let Victoria come to her own conclusion about what to do with her sister.”

 
“Excuse me,” Silas interrupted.

Nathan and Bruce turned in their seats and saw the middle-aged head of security. Instead of his usual dark blue slacks and button-up shirt, Silas wore jean overalls and a black T-shirt.

“What’s up?” Bruce asked.

“Joel says there are two detectives at the front gate here to see you. He wanted to tell them to come back on Monday, but I thought they might have news about that Dennis fella.”

“Did he ask them what they wanted?”

Silas nodded. “They wouldn’t tell him anything. So I figured I’d see what you wanted to do.”

“I’ll meet them in the study in about fifteen. And tell the guards at the gate that Alexis is allowed on the grounds again.”

Nefertiti rushed into the study, excited to hear what the detectives had to say.
Starsky and Hutch. Nah.
She nodded a hello to detectives Shorewood and Clemmons who were seated on the sofa
. Oh, I’ve got it. Law and Order. The one with Lenny and Mike!

“Take the chair, baby.” Bruce placed his hand on Nefertiti’s lower back and guided her toward the tapestry armchair near the sofa.

Nefertiti could tell the detectives were trying not to stare at her. They stood as introductions were made, then returned to their seats. She hoped Bruce wouldn’t swing into his overprotective mode and jump on their cases before they had enough time to update them on Dennis and Jay. At least that’s what she hoped they were there for.

Bruce stood behind the chair and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Is there a problem, Detective Clemmons?” Bruce asked the younger of the men.

Clemmons shifted uncomfortably in his seat and smoothed his hands on the legs of his cheap charcoal suit. “No, no. I’m fine.”