In Wicked Chains (The Wicked) (12 page)

She pressed speed-dial eight on her phone and called up her voicemail. Stomach churning, she silently cursed the automated voice for yapping instead of playing that damn message.
I know how many messages I’ve got, bitch!

“Harper.” Ah, finally. “Yes, I have your number, I’ve always had it.”

She pursed her lips, shaking her head at the realization that she knew nothing about this man, yet he knew so much about her.

“The person who knows about you and I isn’t someone to fear or be concerned with. She wants us to be together and is doing her damndest to make it happen.” He paused. “She’s braver than me, because I’m letting you go without a fight. I heard you’ve got an engagement party tomorrow. Hope you get everything you want.”

To repeat this message press
—

Shut up, bitch!
Harper squeezed the phone in her palm, body rocking with silent sobs. If she told Maysin he had a shot with her, a chance, he’d fight. She knew that much about him. Maybe he’d win, but was she really worth it? Was the taint she was born with really worth it?

Not a chance she could take. Isaiah held her secrets and he’d tie her to him with them. Where she’d always considered herself a fighter, she, too, had given up. The risk wasn’t worth it. She’d give Isaiah what he wanted, a wife and kids, and live out her days flashing fake smiles and wishing for more, wishing for Maysin.

Bang. Bang.
“Harper, are you in there?”

She jumped to her feet and quickly flushed the toilet. “Yes. Give me a minute, I’ll be right out.” Harper splashed water on her face, washing away the tears she always cried when she thought of Maysin. Wiping her face with a towel, she leaned over and unlocked the door.

Isaiah’s sleep-red gaze searched her face.

“Are you okay?”

He lifted a hand and she flinched away, ducking under his arm and out of the bedroom.

“Yeah.” She went about pulling the blanket and sheets off the bed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You look…worn out.”

Gaze on her task, she shrugged. “Well, I’ve been a busy girl. Planning a wedding isn’t easy, even under normal circumstances.”

He walked over to her and sat on the bed. She shook her head at his insensitivity, biting her tongue to keep her frustrated scream bottled up.

“I suggested you hire a planner, did I not?”

He stared up at her with those fucking gray eyes, all innocent.

“I want control of at least one thing in my life.” She flung away the sheets and clenched her fists. “Is it too much to ask that I be allowed to live my life my way?”

“Are you throwing another tantrum?” He rose off the bed and headed out of the room. “I’ve already told you, those things don’t work on me.”

“What
does
work on you, you fucking bastard?” She snatched the vase filled with lilacs on her bedside table and threw it at him. The porcelain vase landed on the wall next to his head, shattering on impact. Isaiah didn’t flinch as he closed the door softly behind him.

Fucker!

* * * *

Elina and Kingston spent the morning together, clearing the air between them. He explained and apologized for the misunderstanding on the morning of their first night together. Many times during their hour and a half conversation over pancakes and eggs she pinched herself, making damn sure she wasn’t in the midst of the sweetest dream ever.

The man she loved loved her. Elina couldn’t name a better feeling if she tried.

After kissing her goodbye, Kingston dropped her back at home to get ready for her four-hour stint at the day care center. She worked the afternoon shift, mingling with the kids, and loving every second of it.

At first, the thought of being close to so many kids who were around the same age as her son, had he lived, brought tears to her eyes. Over the past couple months the pain eased. She could play and laugh and touch without hyperventilating.

Elina made a left into the day care’s parking lot. She glanced at the rearview, nose wrinkling in a frown. The same blue pickup remained behind her since she’d pulled out of her condo’s underground parking lot. Having paid it no mind before, she put the car in park and leaned out her window trying to get a glimpse of the license plate, or better yet, the driver. She made out the first two numbers before the pickup sped up and away, continuing on down the main road.

She grabbed her handbag, about to call Kingston, then stopped herself. What would she tell him? What if these people were enemies of her father’s come to seek revenge? She’d never had any knowledge of her father’s dealings and associates, but his enemies didn’t have to know that.

Okay, that’s it. I’m calling King
. She punched in his number and he answered on the first ring.

“Miss me already?”

His slow drawl warmed her insides and Elina couldn’t suppress a shiver. “I do miss you, but I… Something’s strange.”

“What’s strange?”

She hesitated.

“El, what’s strange?”

“I, uh.” She swallowed. “I think I’m being followed.”

“What? Are you sure?” His voce rose considerably higher.

Elina sighed. “No, that’s the thing. I’m not sure, not one hundred percent.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“I noticed a blue pickup behind me the minute I drove out of my building’s parking lot. I didn’t pay it much mind, but every so often, whenever I look in the rearview, it’s right there. Behind me.”

“Did you get a glimpse of the driver, or the plates?” Worry sharpened King’s voice.

She shook her head even though he wasn’t there to see. “No. I tried when I pulled into the day care, but whoever it was drove off immediately. I only got the first two numbers.” She recited it to him, then asked, “Do you think it was one of my father’s enemies?”

“I don’t know, babe, but I’ll find out.” He took in an audible breath. “Where exactly are you now?’

“Parked outside the day care center.” She leaned forward, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she checked her reflection in the rearview mirror.

“Are there people around?” When she answered in the affirmative, he said, “Okay, get out of the car. Go inside and do your thing. Try not to worry about it. I’ll be there to get you when your shift ends.”

It might be silly of her, but his words calmed her nerves immediately. She unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her handbag. “Okay, I’ll see you later.” Climbing out the car, she waved at Adrian as he pulled up. She locked her vehicle doors and spoke to King. “I gotta go, Adrian’s here.”

“What?” Kingston growled. “Who’s Adrian?”

“My male companion from last night.” She chuckled. “Remember him?”

“Oh, yeah. You guys work together?”

“Yep and I gotta go. Bye, I love you.”
Dios, I can’t believe I actually get to say that
to
him
.

“Love you, too. I’ll see you later.”

He hung up and she stood against her car with a huge-ass smile on her face.

“Hey there, pretty lady.” Adrian walked up and air kissed both of her cheeks. “You’re alive so I guess that means the scary man from last night didn’t hurt you?” He raised an eyebrow in a way that said
tell me more, spill the freaking beans!

Elina grinned and fell in step beside him. “Oh, nah. He’d never hurt me. In fact…” She winked as they stepped into the building, greeted by the cries of fifteen children ranging from six months to three years old. “After you left he fu-uh, we got physical and he told me he loved me.”

“Wohoo!” Adrian slapped her a high five. “Congrats, I knew he felt the same with the way he threatened to plug my a-s-s.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that.”

“Hey, no problem.” He shrugged. “If I helped him realize his feelings, then I’ll gladly take one for the team.”

Elina grabbed him in a quick hug, then they got swept up in the daily routine of caring for their charges. Changing, feeding, corralling, and reading to fifteen kids took its toll on her exhausted body, but Elina reveled in it. She loved the smell, the sounds, even the mess the kids made as they played and ran around. Having reconciled to the fact she’d never experience those things with her own child, she figured this was the next best.

An hour before they closed up for the day, with only four kids waiting to be picked up by their parents, a knock sounded on the main door, then a giant walked in. She handed over six-month-old baby Sara to Adrian and hurried to the dark-skinned man hesitating on the threshold.

“Hello, can I help you?”

He pinned her with eyes as black as King’s and flashed a crooked grin, exposing brown and rotting teeth. She took a step back.

“Yes, maybe you can help me.” His predatory stare dropped to appraise her body, then slowly made its way back to her face. “I’m considering moving my grandson to this place, tell me about it.”

“Um, well.” For some strange reason her fingers trembled and she brought a hand to her throat. “I’m not the owner, I just work here, but we’re open five days a week. Seven AM to seven PM.” Through her words he stared into her eyes, deep, as if searching for something. A foul scent drifted to her nose and she coughed. Was it coming from him? “Um, how old is your grandson, sir?”

Brushing his bushy salt-and-pepper beard with a dirt-streaked hand, he grinned again.

She cringed.

“What’s your name, ma’am?”

“I’m Elina Vin-ah, Elina Ortiz. And you are?” She’d almost forgotten she used her mother’s maiden name at work.

He whirled around and yanked the door open. “Maybe I should shop around before making up my mind, hmm?” Again he showed his disgusting smile and then he disappeared.

Elina stared after him, teeth worrying her bottom lip.
Strange man. Strange, yet familiar.
The lingering pungency of his odor brought a disgusted scowl to her face.
Don’t people bathe anymore?

“Who was that?” Adrian asked from behind her.

“Dunno.” She faced him with a frown. “He’s strange and he smells, but he’s not our problem. Let’s get the last of our kids ready.” She went about her business, all thoughts of the familiarly strange man pushed out of her mind.

At seven-o-five, she and Adrian punched out and locked up the place. They exited the building to find Kingston leaning a hip against his Cadillac Escalade. Clad in dark jeans, an unbuttoned black pea coat over a gray knit sweater and black Timbalands, his braids hung loose around his shoulders. Her fingers itched to tug on them.

“Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Look at him.” Adrian smacked his lips. “Dangerously yummy.”

Elina concurred with a chuckle. “Hey, you,” she greeted King as she reached his side. He circled her waist and brought her flush against his chest, mouth covering hers, tongue sliding inside for a way-too-short taste. He released her and she hung on to his shoulders for support.

“Hey, you,” he repeated her words. “How was your day?”

“It was fine.” Except for the smelly stranger. She grabbed Adrian’s hand and pulled him forward. “You two haven’t been properly introduced. This is Adrian. And this is Kingston.” She flicked a thumb at King.

King granted Adrian a brief nod. Adrian’s forehead wrinkled. He crossed his arms and tapped a foot as he stared King down.

Elina nudged Adrian with an elbow. “What’s wrong?’

Her co-worker flashed an incredulous frown. “I’m waiting for my apology from him.” He jerked his chin to indicate King.

Christ.

Kingston grinned. “Well, you’ll be waiting for a fucking long time.”

She pinched his arm. “King, be nice.”

“Yeah,” Adrian spoke up. “Be nice. You have Elina because of me.”

Aw, shit. Now he’s done it.

Kingston moved in a blur, grabbing Adrian by the throat and slamming him up against the Cadillac. “What the fuck did you say? You had your hands all over Elina last night. I’ve killed for fewer offenses. The only reason you’re not riddled with bullet holes is because I love El more than I want to shoot you.”

“Let him go, King.” Elina tugged on his arm until he released a whimpering Adrian. Throwing Kingston a dirty look, she caught Adrian before he slid to the ground. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

Adrian coughed and struggled to his feet. “I’m okay.” He waved off her concern and apologies. “S’okay. He’s clearly crazy, but he loves you so I can forgive his temper tantrums.” His eyes glinted with laughter.

Elina returned his smile and blew him a kiss. “See you tomorrow.”

Adrian waved and climbed into his car. “Bye, Kingston.”

King grunted. He remained quiet until Adrian drove off. “Cocky little shit.”

“He’s my friend, so be nice.”

“I’ll try.” He hauled her into his arms and buried his face in her neck. “Are you ready to go?’

“Yes.” She pulled away. “But we have two vehicles.”