Night of Seduction (13 page)

Standing in
front of him, she put her arms around his waist and looked up at
him.
“
Jason, I was more than that to you at one time. It
could be that way again.
”
He looked down at
her hands, then at her. She took a step back and put her hands on
her hips.
“
Jason, all
I
’
m asking is that we do something together with Sierra
as her parents. What
’
s wrong about
that?
”

“Nothing
’
s wrong with the
theory, it
’
s the application
that seems to be difficult for you.
”

“We can make
the same arrangements we have here. We don
’
t have to all be
in the same room.
”

He stepped away
from her.
“
We need to talk about
our living arrangements.
”

“What about
them?
”
She knew him, knew his moods, his tones. This
tone concerned her. It was as if a decision had already been made.
But she had news for him, she was not leaving.

“I
’
ve decided to move
out.
”

“Move
out!
”
she yelled with hands on hips. She walked over and
snatched his arm.
“
You are moving out on
me and Sierra? The daughter you claim to love so
much.
”

“No,
she
’
s going with me. You can have visitation
rights.
”

“Like hell she
is. That
’
s my child, wherever she goes, I
go.
”

He sat in his
chair and stared at her.
“
Really?
”

“Yes, really.
Try me. I will take her and you will never find
us.
”

Her threat did
not faze him. He knew all her antics and had prepared for
them.
“
Take her where Latoya, to CJ
’
s place?
Hell, he barely wants you there. Or maybe Little
T
’
s place? Surprised I know about them, you
shouldn
’
t be. You know how this business is, everyone
knows who you blow. You taught me that.
”
He turned his
back on her and went back to his work.
“
You have one
month to find a place to live. I
’
m putting the house
on the market.
”

Surprise turned
into anger, and then anger turned into rage, when he turned his
back. She reached into the playpen and grabbed Sierra out. The
child cried out.
“
If you value any
portion of your life you will put her down.
”
He said without
looking her way.

“What you going
to do if I don
’
t? Huh? What you
going do?
”

Jason turned
slowly in his chair and glared at her.
“
Do you really
want to find out?
”

Latoya thought
to dare him, but changed her mind. There was something different
about him, no one thing she could put her finger on, but something
was different. There was a certain confidence about him, a more
defined swagger. She had one month to find out why. She put the
child on the floor and Sierra ran to him with crocodile tears in
her eyes.
“
You know I would not
hurt her.
”

Jason picked
the child up and consoled her.
“
Apparently she
doesn
’
t know that. Look, you know I would not leave you high
and dry. You are Sierra
’
s mother and I want
her to be in a good environment. Find a place for yourself and
I
’
ll handle the financial end. But you will not use my
daughter against me again. I will always take care of her, but all
financial assistance to you will cease to exist. Do we understand
each other?
”

“You will take
care of me financially?
”
she questioned for
clarity.

“As long as you
take care of Sierra, as you should,
”
he
emphasized.
“
And as long as you do
not try to keep her away from me.
”

“What kind of
finances are we talking about here, a monthly allotment or a lump
sum?
”

The fact that
she asked the question pissed him off to no end. She did not
question the terms of his proposal, visitation arrangement or even
where Sierra
’
s primary residence
would be. No, she wants to know about the money.
“
We will discuss that later. Find a
place.
”
Dismissing her and any further conversation, he
sat back down, placed Sierra on his lap, and began working
again.

♪

Back at her end
of the house, Latoya paced, wondering what was going on with Jason.
There has been no word about another woman stepping on her turf. In
fact, her sources swore that Jason had been solo for the last few
months. Not so much as a one night stand. Nevertheless, something
was going on she reasoned as she opened her cell and dialed a
number. As she waited for an answer she wondered how in the hell
did he know about CJ and Lil T. Whatever it was, it was messing
with her livelihood and she don
’
t play that.
“
Hey boo. What you into today?
”

“Toya?
”
Stanley questioned.
“
What you want?
”

“I
haven
’
t seen you in a minute and I miss you. Can we hook
up?
”

“The last time
we hooked up you acted like a fool. Beating that girl down like
that was wrong Toya, it was wrong.
”

“Stanley, she
was stepping on my turf. You know how I am about Jason. I
don
’
t want no straight up ho in his grill, you know what I
mean. I
’
m just looking out for the brother. After all he
is my baby
’
s
daddy.
”
Now that she had his attention she went in for
the kill.
“
Since you know he
ain
’
t breaking a piece off on me, I need a little
somethin
’—
somethin
’
.
”

“You need Big
Daddy to take care of you girl?
”

“Nobody can
take care of it like you do Big Daddy.
”

“You know I got
you covered. Come on over, I
’
ll be
home.
”

Latoya opened the double doors to her closet
and walked in. She had to wear just the right outfit to get the
info she needed and leave there untouched by that little thing he
called big boy.

♪

The house the
Davies called home in the states was lit up with laughter as Miriam
played with her granddaughter and sons. This was what she looked
forward to whenever she came home from touring, spending time with
her family, especially the bundle of joy named Sierra.
“
It
’
s hard to believe she
is three years old. It seems like yesterday when she came home from
the hospital.
”
Miriam smiled as she watched Sierra
in the other room continuously hitting Eric in the head with her
stuffed toy and he played like he was being knocked out.

“She amazes me
every day, Mom. I can
’
t imagine my life
without her,
”
Jason said with a beam of
pride.

“That
’
s exactly what that
hoochie of a mother is betting on,
”
his mother replied.
Jason threw her a warning look.
“
Okay, I take it back.
Where is she anyway?
”

“She is not
allowed here,
”
Jason replied with a quirky
smile.

“Why, what
happened?
”

“Eric had a get
together for the band and I came with a date. Latoya showed her
butt and cursed just about everybody out. Eric forcefully removed
her from the house.
”
Jason laughed.
“
It was a
sight. It had snowed and I must have been taking too long to get
her out after he told her to leave. All of a sudden Eric came over
to where we stood at the door still arguing, put her over his
shoulder and threw her out the front door in the snow. Then closed
the door behind him and locked it. The whole place applauded as he
walked back into the house picked up his glass of wine and
continued his conversation. It was so damn
funny.
”

“Good for him.
Now if I could just get my other son to do the same, I would be a
happy mother.
”

“Well get ready
to smile. I gave her a month to find a place to
live.
”

A scream of
elation escaped her before she could think to control it.
“
Thank God!
”

Sierra was
shaken by the sudden scream and jumped in her Uncle
Eric
’
s arms. Curious what the fuss was all about, Eric
picked her up and walked over to the sitting area where the two
were talking.
“
What
’
s going
on?
”
He asked with a smile as he noticed his
mother
’
s joy.

“Not in front
of Sierra.
”
Jason said as he took his daughter
from his brother.
“
Gabby,
”
he called out. Gabby came in from the
kitchen and took Sierra with her. Jason then turned back to his
family.
“
I gave Latoya a month to find a place of her
own.
”

“He said it
again,
”
Miriam said with tears in her eyes.
“
I can
’
t believe you finally
did it. She never wanted that child; just the financial security
having your child gave her.
”

Eric took a
seat across from them.
“
What did she
say?
”

“She asked
about the financial arrangements.
”

“And?
”
Miriam raised her eyebrow.

“I told her to
find a place and we will discuss it.
”

Miriam sat back
in her seat and crossed her legs.
“
So
you
’
re buying her out of your life?
”

Jason looked at
his mother whom he considered a wise woman.
“
Do you
know another way to keep my daughter and get Latoya out of my
life?
”

“Yes, a
foolproof way.
”

“You
can
’
t have the woman killed Mom,
”
Eric
rationalized.

“Why not?
People do it every day. And this way you won
’
t have to
worry about her meddling in any of your
relationships.
”
Jason and Eric glanced at each other
and decided their mother was not serious.
“
Oh,
I
’
m not serious, but you have to admit it would solve
all your problems,
”
she joked. Hitting Jason on the
knee,
“
Okay, tell me about her.
”

Jason tilted
his head and smiled at his mother.
“
What makes you think
there is a her?
”

“Men
don
’
t make major changes in their lives unless there is a
her attached. So spill it.
”

Eric shrugged
his shoulders and grinned.
“
I have my own deeds
to tackle, I can
’
t help you
brother.
”

“Oh
I
’
ll get to yours. You have been preoccupied since
I
’
ve been home. I know something is up with you, too.
But, Jason first.
”
She picked up her glass of wine and
sipped as she waited. Miriam, who could easily be Diane
Carroll
’
s younger sister, crossed he legs and
waited.