Night of Seduction (49 page)

Latoya did not
say anything for a minute; she stood there and angrily stared at
Eric.
“
Why are you doing this? Why
couldn
’
t you just be like every other man and take what
I was offering?
”
She pulled her robe off and turned
around.
“
Look at me!
”
she said as she
flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“
I am beyond
beautiful,
”
she walked over and stood within
inches of him,
“
you know, and I know,
you know it. I made sure I was your type. I followed you for two
years. Two years Eric, learning what you like in a woman, how the
women you grant the honor of sharing your bed look and act. I knew
the places you took them, the things you bought. I knew you. When I
walked in that room four years ago, there was no reason for you to
walk away from me. You forced me to have to settle for your
brother. You could have had this,
”
she said spreading
her arms out.
“
You know you wanted
it then just like you want it now.
”
She smirked,
“
I can see it in your eyes Eric.
”
She stepped
closer, so close he could feel her breath on his cheek.

Standing off to the side, Kiki wondered if
she was not there, would Eric go to this woman? She was beautiful
to a fault and most men would not resist what she was offering.

Eric put his
finger under her chin to look into her eyes. He saw a glimmer of
triumph in her eyes as he smiled.
“
I do like beautiful
woman, in fact they are my weakness. When you walked through that
door, gracing us all with your beauty, I saw something else. I saw
a conniving, scheming, gold digger walking in and just like now I
wanted to get as far away from you as humanly
possible.
”
She pulled away.
“
What
’
s wrong, you
can
’
t take the truth? What do you call it when someone
studies your life for the soul purpose of monetary gain? When you
couldn
’
t get me to drop, you targeted the next best
thing, my brother. You
’
ve gotten all you
could get from him, so now your target is me
again.
”
He disgustedly looked her up and down.
“
What makes you think I would want to touch you, of all the
women in the world? After the hell you have taken my family
through. You have lost touch with reality.
”

“You
don
’
t get it Eric; it wasn
’
t about the money
when I came for you. It was you, I wanted. You, Eric
“
Silk
”
Davies, the man. I walked in that
room to offer you my body and my love. But you threw it back in my
face and now you have to pay.
”

“Good,
”
Kiki declared.
“
Now we can
get down to business.
”

“I
’
m not doing business
with you,
”
Latoya said to Kiki.
“
And here
’
s a word of advice.
If you have your sights on Tyrone Pendleton I hope you are ready to
be an old maid, because the man is and will always be
non-committal.
”
Satisfied with the look of
uncertainty she saw in Kiki
’
s eyes Latoya turned
to Eric,
“
Either she leaves and you make love to me or the
deal is off.
”

Kiki looked at
Eric who was looking at Latoya as if she had lost her mind.
“
Here are the new terms. I won
’
t humiliate your
precious Siri by selling your nude pictures to the highest bidder.
All you have to do is pay me the five million I requested and make
love to me. I will walk out of Jason and Sierra
’
s life,
and yours for good
—
if you still want me
to.
”
She sat on the bed and crossed her legs.

“Do I have to
stay and watch this?
”
Kiki asked Eric.

Eric reached
behind him and unlocked the connecting door to the next room. In
walked Ty, Chief Goldman, and a female officer.
“
Ms. Wright
you are under arrest for the attempted blackmail of Eric Davies and
I
’
m almost certain extortion charges involving Jason
Davies will follow.
”

“What the hell
are you doing?
”
She jumped up off the bed as the
officer approached her.
“
I
didn
’
t blackmail anybody. This man was propositioning me
for sex.
”

Everyone in the
room went shell shocked.
“
Girl, what world are
you in?
”
Kiki asked confused.

Latoya shimmied
by the officer and stood in front of the police chief.
“
This man and his brother have been passing me between them
for the last few years, chief. I
’
m the victim
here.
”
The officer walked over and handcuffed the
uncooperative Latoya.

Ty, walked over
and whispered,
“
If I were you, I
would evoke my right to remain silent at this
time.
”
He smirked and walked away.

Latoya stopped
as they walked by Eric. She looked up at him with the most
satisfied look.
“
It
’
s not over
Eric
—
it
’
s not
over.
”
The officer covered her with the robe and carried
her out of the room.

“She
can
’
t do anything else to you man. This is
done.
”
Ty said to Eric.

Eric shook his
head.
“
I have a feeling it
’
s
not.
”

♫

The sun was
rising to a new day as Eric walked into the hospital room where
Siri was resting. The nurse informed him that her mother had left
around midnight and Siri had rested peacefully throughout the
night. Peace. Why wasn
’
t he feeling at
peace? Latoya was locked away, Jason and TeKaya were enjoying their
honeymoon, Sierra was at her new home sound asleep with Gabby and
her grandmother Miriam. Ty and Kiki were, well, he was sure they
were somewhere together making love. And he was with Siri, the
woman that he loved beyond reason, and the very same woman that
would be giving him his first child. His mind should be at peace,
but it wasn
’
t. The chilling look
in Latoya
’
s eyes flashed in his mind as he looked at Siri.
And for the first time in his life, he was afraid. Not so much of
Latoya, or what she might do, but of being a good father, a good
husband, and a good provider.

He was so deep
in thought that he did not see when Siri opened her eyes.
“
Having second thoughts?
”

He blinked and
then focused in on her. She was his weakness, his strength, his
heart and his soul.
“
No.
”
He kissed the tip of her nose as he
took the chair beside her.
“
You are stuck with me
for the rest of your life.
”

She smiled, and
then became serious.
“
I
don
’
t know if I can deal with all the publicity or media
that comes with the territory of being your wife. But now the
thought of having you in my life has taken root and I will fight
whatever demons there are to keep you around.
”

“I wore you
down,
”
he laughed.
“
I
’
m not sure
which I
’
m happier about, you or the baby. Out of all of
this madness, can you believe how blessed we
are?
”

“If
I
’
m released early, I want to go to church this
morning.
”
She thought for a moment. It is Sunday,
right?
”

“Yes, it is,
but I
’
m certain the doctor is going to order you to rest in
bed for a few days. That mean, no church and no
school.
”

Siri rolled her
eyes.
“
Oh Lord, I have to call
Roscoe.
”

“I
’
ll call
him,
”
Eric said a little too enthusiastically.

“Okay, but I
would like to have a job when you finish.
”

“I
’
ll be
nice,
”
he yawned.

Siri pulled the
blanket back. Eric took off his shoes and slipped into bed beside
her. Gathering her in his arms, lying comfortably on his shoulder,
she looked up at him.
“
If we have a little
girl, she is going to have locs just like yours. And if we have a
boy, he
’
s going to have them, too.
”

He put his head
on top of hers and closed his eyes.
“
I have to cut them
soon.
”

“Why?
”
she asked shocked at the
revelation.

With his eyes
still closed, he smiled remembering the conversation.
“
My father asked me on his dying bed when was I going to cut
my hair. I told him I would cut my hair when I got
married.
”

“But I love
your locs. They
’
re a part of
you.
”

He opened one
eye.
“
Would you love me less without
them?
”

“No.
”
She reached up and touched
them.
“
I think I
’
ll miss them. You
know the way they cover your face when you make love to me is a
turn on.

“Really,
”
he smiled.

She nodded.

“I
’
ll tell you what,
I
’
ll cut them for my dad and grow them back for you.
How
’
s that?
”

“I think I can
handle that.
”

“Good, now stop
looking at me like that before I forget we
’
re in a hospital
and make love to you.
”

He closed his eyes and pulled her close;
dismissing the teasing smile she flashed him.

Siri

M
onday morning brought
an array of events, the first being the arrival of Carl at
Kerri
’
s house. He had stopped by the school to visit Siri
only to be told by Cashmere that she had called in sick. To his
knowledge, Siri had never called in sick and he was concerned. When
he called Kerri, he was advised Siri had spent a day at the
hospital and was now at Eric Davies
’
place recuperating.
He was surprised to learn Eric had a home in Richmond and wondered
if it would be okay for him to stop by to see how Siri was doing.
Kerri gave him the address and called ahead to let Eric know he was
coming.

To
Eric
’
s surprise, Carl did not come alone.
Siri
’
s friend Cashmere was with him.

“We
don
’
t mean to impose, but we were concerned about Siri.
May we see her?
”
Carl asked Eric as they stood in the
doorway. This could have been a very awkward moment, but it
wasn
’
t.

Eric stepped
aside.
“
Please come in.
”

As they walked
into the foyer, the vastness of the room took their breath
away.
“
This is magnificent,
”
Cashmere said
as she walked over to the windows and looked out at the
scenery.

“Thank
you.
”
Eric replied as he motioned for them to have a
seat.
“
Siri should be out in a moment. The doctor put
her on bed rest for a few days.
”