Love UnCharted (Love's Improbable Possibility) (39 page)

He continued, “I’m here to start repairing my family. As you can imagine your presence in it has caused a bit of trouble. A man in my line of work has many resources that stretches far and wide considering I began my career on the East Coast, coincidentally where you’re from. It’s my job to discover things...less than favorable things that people want hidden. For instance, an Akeem Brimm who is a resident of Caldwell prison. I know who he is and why he’s there.”

I lost my breath. My body stiffened like a board.
Did he just mention my...?

“Yeah, baby girl. I know all about J-Boog and O and how your little fast ass was at the center of the shooting of that innocent little girl. Just like you’re at the center of my little angel’s family.”

Breathe, Rayna...breathe!

“But I think I can help. The lawyer you have working on his appeal can use a little help from my people out there. I can have him freed in a few short months. It only takes a couple of calls on my part. The discharge paperwork would take longer. I can even throw in a…let’s say, sixty grand to help with your moving expenses back home.” He pauses to catch a reaction from me. I couldn’t believe what was happening. He continued, “You’re young, smart, and determined. You can stay in your field out there and start all over. Hey...you may even find someone better than Divine. He’s a very complicated man with demons you would never believe.”

Harrison evaluates my process again. I remain stoic, giving nothing away. I slowly started to regain my wits.

I can play chess, too.

“Now, I know he’s all up your ass
—and by the way, I know it’s a juicy one to have,” he says lecherously. It’s most incestuous. “He’s never home. Every time I drive by, his car is never there. I’m sure he spends romantic nights at your place on Redondo Beach.” I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah, I know where you live. You’re just a block away from the water.” A devious smile crests upon his face. “You must think you’re living the California dream. From the dirty East Coast projects to the Pacific beach. I get reports of his car being there nearly every night, which surprises me because he’s a workaholic. But I get the new pussy syndrome. It’ll pass.” Grease is dripping from his tone.

Detective Harrison stands and gathers his jacket as he’s prepared to leave.

My turn
.

I bring my hand to my nose and snicker.

“You find something funny, young lady?” Harrison’s tone was extremely intimidating, but I wouldn’t give in.

“Yes. You’re far less impressive than Azmir describes you.”

He jolts his head back as to demand an explanation.

“Well, you’re very melodramatic. What man your age comes into a woman’s
—virtually your daughter’s age—place of business, interfering in their daughter’s love life? Then you flash my receptionist you’re title to get back here. That must be misuse of your limited authority.” Now it’s Harrison’s turn to raise a brow. “Yes, limited. I’ve done nothing wrong. You’re investigating me, and quite inconclusively might I add. You have some nerve,” I end as he casually brushes past me towards the door.

With a grimacing expression he vows, “They’ll be married within a year. A year! And you...you’ll be left with the designer shoes he bought you and fucked you in your appreciation of.” He gives me that slick and wicked grin again, attempting to call my bluff. He goes for the door handle and retorts, “Sweetheart, you have seventy-two hours to take me up on my offer.” Another dramatic pause. “If you should choose not to, thinking I’m a fucking joke, tell Divine about our little chat today and get his take on my detailed investigation,” he murmurs too close to my ear before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

I stood suspended in the same position for nearly ten minutes until I was paged over the inter-office P.A. system. I was trying to make sense of Detective Harrison’s surprise visit. I still felt the lingering his disgusting gritty presence in the air. That man was cunning, but I had a strong suspicion that he was also desperate. 

Once the sessions with my afternoon clients were complete, I sat in my office finishing up charts, but struggled with keeping my focus from running over to the various things that Harrison said.

They’ll be married within a year...a year!
I heard the echoes of his sentimentalities loud in my head.

Is that true?
Azmir never gave me the impression that he had flights of fantasies to marry Tara. He told me she wasn’t suited for that level of commitment.
Well, those were things he told me.
How true it was, only he knew. But why would he lie?

Then he begged me to move in with him. To my knowledge and by way of his own admittance, they never lived together. And speaking of which, Harrison said that he had reports of Azmir’s car being parked at my place nights at a time. When he’s not being chauffeured by Ray, Azmir drives his Jeep Wrangler or his Range Rover. Rarely does he drives his cars. Which car is Harrison referring to?
 

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: Harrison is not very much in touch with Azmir! First of all, he’s never spent nights at a time at my place. Secondly, I’ve been living with Azmir for nearly two months now and sleeping next to him every night unless he’s out of town on business. Yazmine is staying at my place and doesn’t have a car similar to any of Azmir’s. Harrison lied by manipulation.

My thoughts were interrupted by the  office phone ringing.

“Hello?”

“That’s what I thought I’d hear say to you at least two hours ago. Where are you, little girl?” Azmir’s silky voice flowed through the phone, stammering my heart.

“Eh...hey, you,” I mustered as I looked for the time. It was nearly eight p.m.
Geesh!
Did I really let the time get that ahead of me?

“Are you coming home, Ms. Brimm? I wasn’t aware of you having church service this evening.” He was expecting an explanation.

I closed my eyes and took a long exhale. With as much confusion as this man has caused today, it was nice to be sought after by him. “Azmir, I’m sorry. I let time escape me. I’ve been working on my charts, trying to clean them up since I’ll be away for a week. I didn’t want to get behind.” This was partially true.

“Your dinner is getting cold,” Azmir said softly.
Focus, Rayna...focus!
Though he didn’t intend to, the tone of his voice spoke to my libido.

“Well, what doesn’t get done by eight twenty, won’t get done until I return. I’ll be there soon.”

“If I call there at eight thirty and get you, don’t bother driving. I’ll have Ray bring me to get you. I mean it,” he threatened.

“Deal,” I agreed, relieved he couldn’t see my face heating up. 

And we disconnect.

After being snapped out of my trance, I looked down at my progress on the charts. Only two more to knock out and then I can leave with a cleared desk. I completed them and then headed over to the marina.

I couldn’t shake my conversation with Harrison on my drive. So many things he said just didn’t add up. Even over dinner I couldn’t escape the echoes of his voice. He was creepy. What was even more upsetting is that Azmir could tell something was going on.

“You’ve barely touched your steak. Boyd would be offended,” Azmir phished for my thoughts.

“The filet mignon is really good. And the béarnaise sauce sends it over the moon. I’m just really exhausted. I didn’t plan on working as late as I did. And I still have more packing to do.”

His intense gaze told me he didn’t buy my story, but I wasn’t ready to divulge the truth quite yet. I just wanted to finish up my packing and go to bed.

“What time should I be ready in the morning, again?”

“We ascend at seven sharp, so we should leave at six fifteen,” he replied, maintaining the interrogative gaze. Even that was sexy as all get.
My goodness!
Is this man even capable of making an ugly face?

I dismissed myself, saying that I needed to finish packing. He rose from the table with me, as he always does, being polite. I knew he was burning a hole in my back with his gawking, but I had to keep a straight face until I was out of his presence.

As I packed, I wondered why was I even going on this trip. If Azmir’s heart wasn’t totally with me or our relationship why should I go through the motions of vacationing with him? Was he really just out sewing his oats with me when his heart had actually belonged to Tara? Also, if Harrison knew about my past he could easily call my bluff and tell Azmir. I didn’t like the idea of that creep having privy to my past that not even Azmir had. For heaven’s sake, he described Azmir as some helpless puppet under his control. That stung my conscience. If Azmir found out about Akeem from a source other than me that could be devastating to our friendship.

Once done packing, I decided to do the only thing I could think of. I retreated to the shower and prayed. I prayed in silence, hard and long. I’m sure I was repetitive, but I wanted my requests clear and known. When I stepped out I had resolved to telling Azmir a piece of my past.

As I walked back into the bedroom, I saw Azmir lying in bed with his perfectly sculpted chest wondrously bare, watching ESPN, one of his favorite pastimes. I eased over to the bed, pulled back the cover and glided in.

He looked at me, this time more relaxed in his gaze and asked, “You good?”

I thought about his question for a few. Then I finally found the courage to say, “No.”

The next thing I heard was flicking from the television being shut off.
That was apt.
Azmir looked over to me, giving me his undivided attention. He murmured, “Pocket watch.”

It’s now or never, Rayna.

Action!

“Azmir...playing spades with the cards up...all trust.” I gulped in air as I was sitting on my legs, facing him in the bed.
5-4-3-2-1.
“I have a brother, just a few months older than me, who’s incarcerated back in Jersey for murder. I don’t want to discuss the details right now, but I can say that I’ve been paying his attorney fees for quite a few years now. We’ve been pursuing an appeal.” I ended there, unable to think of anything more to disclose.

He lowered his gaze to the comforter on the bed, I’m sure confused and definitely taken by surprise.
Say something, Azmir! Please!
I don’t know what I was expecting him to say. I certainly didn’t think he’d go berserk, but I anxiously awaited a reaction.

“Do you need money to help with the attorney fees?”
 

What?
“No. God, no!” I was taken aback.

“Sounds like you need a new lawyer. Is that what you’re asking for?” he ask, clearly bemused.

Seriously?

“Azmir, I don’t need anything from you...just for you to know. That is a huge part of my life that I keep extremely private. You’re only the second person who knows.” I was at a loss for words.

“Is that why you visit Jersey?”

“Yes. To see Akeem and replenish his commissary.”

“Only him?”

“Oh, God...yes! Only my brother.”

“Is that the reason for such short trips?” He’s catching on, attempting to make sense of the bomb I just dropped on him.

Is he asking if I had some type of jump-off back there?

“Yes. The trip last summer, when you came out, was the first for something other than him. I’d learned my father had passed and my sister asked for me, something she’s never done. And I went to see about her and my grandparents, again, something I’ve not done since leaving.” The lids to my eyes collapsed as I recalled the horrific event. I hated talking about anything relating to home or my past. “And for some odd reason, I went to check on my mother: another first for me, too. Had to visit old demons, so to speak,” I said that last line with a forlorn giggle in an effort to disarm his doubts of my odd story.

“I’m sorry to hear about your loss,” he murmured before a long pause. Then, “I didn’t know you had an older brother…didn’t know you had a sister until I found you out in Jersey.”

“I know...because I don’t discuss them. And I’m still not ready to.” I looked him in his eyes as a way if asking permission to re-seal my box of secrets for that moment. His ruminative expression tugged at my heart.
 He grew silent.

“Azmir, say something,” I murmured.

“I’m not sure what to say. You’ve made it clear that you don’t care to discuss more than you have. So I have to make do with what you’ve given.” He then shifted towards me, “Rayna, is there something detrimental, illegal, life threatening—or anything of that nature in your past that I should know of? Remember, we’re playing spade with the cards up...all trust.”

My heart rate increased as I pondered his question.
Death maybe, but not in a present tense
. Ummmmmmm...

“No.”

He gave me a deep, intense, and purposely emphasized gaze into my eyes. I swear I started to perspire where I sat. He was intentionally intimidating me...sending a message to my conscience. I now have an idea of what his staff experiences under his tutelage.

Here we go
.

“No,” I repeat.

“Then go to bed. We have to be up bright and early.” Azmir exited the bed.