Authors: Sasha Campbell

Suspicions (31 page)

BOOK: Suspicions

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Yeah, right, like I would let that happen. Homegirl better think twice about dealing with me.
But I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't get all shiny and done up to scrap with some girl over a fugitive. Besides, I promised Dustin I wouldn't show out up in here. So I gripped the chair as she approached and relaxed when she breezed past. I watched her enter the ladies' room, then patted my cheeks with my palms. I was getting too old for this crap.

As soon as the child left his side, Cade slinked his way over to where I was sitting. I looked below at the bar where Dustin watched me. I waved my fingers at him until he dropped the martini he was making.
Man, he is cute.

While I daydreamed of a date with Dustin, Cade stood over me. “So you know my cousin?”

I turned toward him.. “Is that your way of introducing yourself to me or are you jealous?”

He smiled and reached for my hand. “My apologies.” He kissed my hand. “I'm Cadence Taylor, but everyone calls me Cade. Don't tell my cousin, but I think you're stunning.”

“No, I'm not.” I giggled. “I'm Angel.”

“I can see that.” He sat beside me. “Like a guardian angel . . . no, a cherub.”

“More like an archangel.”

He clapped and laughed. “Not you. You don't look like the fighting type. You have sweetness written all over you. You're definitely Dusty's type.”

Oh, great
.
Now you tell me.
I moved closer toward him. “And you have âbad boy' written all over you.”

He grinned. “You don't have to be afraid of me. I'm a good guy when I need to be.”

I smiled back. “Can you promise to be good, if I ask you for a favor?”

He nodded. “Anything for you, Angel.”

“I'm tired. I'm ready to go home. Can you escort me to my car? I was supposed to wait for Dustin, but I don't have the stamina for this club life.”

“Of course, you don't, because you're a good girl.” He stood up and reached for my hand. “Surprisingly, I'm not a clubber either. How about you leave your car and I take you for a quiet night drive through the city, then over to the Cupcakery for some dessert. By the time we get back, Dusty will be closing up this place.”

“I don't know. I don't think Dustin would like that so much. Sounds too much like a date.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” He scratched his head like his cousin, another Taylor trait.

“Besides, your girlfriend would be upset if you left her here.”

“What girlfriend?”

I pointed toward the ladies' room. “Her.”

“Oh, her. We're not together.”

I came closer and whispered in his ear. “Neither are Dustin and me.”

He smiled and his eyes outshined the VIP lounge. “Why don't you escort me to my car and follow me home instead, just to make sure I get there safe?”

He placed his hand at the small of my back. “I can do that.”

Because Cade almost carried me out of Night Candy, I couldn't text Big Tiger to let him know that I was coming outside. All I could do was hope he was where he said he would be.

We stepped outside. No Big Tiger. I hit the hands-free Talk button on my phone earpiece and voice-activated Big Tiger's phone number to dial. I got nothing. My heart began to race. Where was he?

“Is something wrong?” Cade asked. His hands were all over me.

I removed his hands, but said nothing. I had no words.

Sometimes bail bondsmen needed women locators to lure a defendant out of their hiding spot. I didn't mind doing it. Honestly, I needed the money, but we had a deal. I brought them out; he rode them in. So why was I out here alone? Well, not entirely alone . . . with Octopus Cade.

Cade watched me. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“I have a confession to make.” I scrambled for something to say while fiddling for my handcuffs. They were trapped somewhere under the chiffon.

“So do I.” He pulled me toward him. “I can't keep my hands off you.”

I wanted to cuff him, but I couldn't, because he had wrapped his hands around my waist.

“Not here, not like this.” I removed his hold on me again, but held on to one of his hands.

He smiled until he feltâI assumedâmy cold handcuffs clank against his wrists. “What theâ”

“You've violated your bail agreement, Mr. Taylor,” I said. Still no Big Tiger in sight. “So you'll have to come with me.”

He chuckled as he dangled my handcuffsâthe ones I thought had locked him to meâover his head for me to see. A piece of my dress had wedged between the clamp. They were broken. My heart hit the floor.

“Unless these handcuffs are chaining me to your bed, I'm not going anywhere with you, sweetie.”

Then, quicker than I anticipated, he head-butted me. I saw stars and fell to the ground. A pain so bad crossed my forehead. It reminded me of labor pains. I couldn't scream. I had to breathe through it to ease the pain.

The head-butting must have stung Cade, too, because he stumbled before he could get his footing. I caught one of his legs and clutched it. I closed my eyes and groaned as he dragged me down the alley. Through the excruciating bumps and scrapes I received holding on to Cade, past the onlookers who didn't care to help this poor damsel in distress, I asked myself, “Why wouldn't I let go?”

My forehead and my skinned knees throbbed now. I'm pretty sure Whitney's dress looked like wet trash. To make matters worse, I was angry with myself for putting myself in this position. I couldn't afford to be so cavalier anymore. I knew that before I took this stupid assignment. I knew it while I sat at the bar. I knew it the day I became a mother, but I did it anyway. What's wrong with me? I couldn't leave my daughter alone without a parent. Now I had to hurt this fool to get back to my baby in one piece.

Cade stopped and cursed. My heart beat so fast and loud, I prayed it would calm down so I could prepare for his next move.

“Angel, sweetie, I think we need to have a little talk.”

He pulled me up by my hair. My store-bought hair. I wore a combed-in hairpiece because I didn't have time to go to a hair salon and I didn't want to damage my hair. However, Cade's tugging made the plastic teeth dig deeper into my scalp. I screamed to keep from fainting.

“Shut up!” He slapped me. “You stupidâ”

Before he could say another word, I grounded my feet, then threw a round kick so high and hard with my left leg that I heard his jaw crack against my stilettos. He hit the ground, unconscious. While he was knocked out, I turned him over and handcuffed him again, but from the back this time and with the chiffon visibly gone.

I dialed Big Tiger. “Where are you?”

“Where did I tell you I was gon' be?” Big Tiger's voice seemed crystal clear. “Right here.”

Someone tapped my shoulder. I jumped.

“It's a good thing I showed up when I did. You could have killed the man, I'da lost my money, and then I would have to take care of your raggedy bond.” Big Tiger laughed, then helped me hoist Cade up. “Why didn't you wait instead of messing up your sister's dress? How many dresses have you slaughtered now?”

I looked at him and growled. “Say that again. I dare you.”

“And your face, Angel Soft.” He squinted. “I think we'd better call 911 after we put homeboy in my truck.”

I walked toward Big Tiger with the intent to give him a right hook across his jaw. When I lunged, I think I fainted. I don't know what happened next and I almost didn't care until the EMS worker asked me who I should call to let them know I was being taken to the emergency room.

“Call my sisters. Tell them where I am and make sure Ava comes to get me.”

Then I faded back to black and it felt good. In my dreams, Dustin was on his knees proposing to me with some chocolates and a pink diamond.

His voice was so clear. “Angel, will you . . . be healed in the name of God.”

God?

DAFINA BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

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ISBN: 978-0-7582-4197-9

BOOK: Suspicions

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