Pretty Dangerous (15 page)

MiMi swiped a tear from her cheek. “For the
first time since Jack, I felt like a man cared for me. It wasn’t
the flowers or jewelry. He was so sweet with Sage. It was all the
little things, like taking out the garbage and talking to the
plumber who came to fix a pipe. And I thought, you know, for once
maybe my parents were right.”

“You could see y’all as a family,” Willa
said, her tone full of understanding.

“Yeah,” MiMi whispered. “I feel like a prize
dumb ass fool.”

“This video could have been taken long before
you guys started dating. Some heffa is just mad because he picked
you,” Willa offered. She glanced at Jazz for support.

“It’s date stamped,” Jazz said, pointing to
the tablet.

“Oh, I missed that,” Willa murmured.

“No wonder with all that action,” Jazz
blurted out. She shrugged when Willa hissed at her.

“Her name is Yvette. She’s a lawyer he met at
a Chamber of Commerce conference in New Orleans.” MiMi sniffed into
a paper napkin. “He told me about it, the conference I mean.”

“You know her?” Willa said.

“No, she sent me texts to gloat. The
conference was only a couple of weeks before we went to the
DR.”

“To top it off, she’s wearing an ankle
bracelet in the video, the same one he gave me.” MiMi lifted her
right leg. The eighteen karat gold sparkled in the sunlight coming
through her breakfast area’s bay window. Two bezel set diamonds on
either side shined even brighter.

“And you still have it on? Humph.” Jazz sat
down.

MiMi let out an angry yelp and tried to yank
the chain off. She only succeeded in scratching her ankle. “I’m
going to get this crap off me.”

“Hold on! I didn’t say break it,” Jazz
protested. She put her mug down with a thump and grabbed MiMi by
the arm.

Willa grabbed MiMi’s other arm “No need to
rip off a leg over the guy.”

“Okay, okay. But I’m taking it off.” MiMi
huffed a few times. Then she opened the lobster claw clasp, removed
the bracelet and threw it across the room.

Jazz followed quickly to pick it up. “Don’t
be wasteful. You could probably sell this to one of those online
auction sites and make some bucks.”

“Jazz, you might want to be helpful here,”
Willa snapped.

“Hmm.” Jazz was too busy examining the gold
links to reply.

Willa rolled her eyes and turned her
attention to MiMi again. “All I’m saying is talk to him and...”

“I did. Roderick started out apologizing.
Then he got mad at me.” MiMi snatched up a fresh table napkin and
sniffed into it.

“Excuse me?” Willa blinked at her.

“Oh yes, he said I made a scene over nothing,
and it’s not like I’m a saint. He goes, ‘We both know how this will
end. We’ll do what our parents want because it makes financial
sense.’ He told me to quit being a whiny little spoiled rich bitch.
I’d get the best of everything. He’d get the instant family he
needs. He even said I could have a lover every once in a while.”
MiMi grew sober as she recounted his reaction. Roderick’s words
fell over her like a bucket of ice water. The charmer had vanished,
replaced by a calculating snake.

“At least he told you the real deal. How much
is he worth again?” Jazz seemed reluctant to let go of the gold
bracelet.

Willa reached out a hand, palm up. “Hand it
over.”

“Hey, if she’s just going to throw it away...
Fine.” Jazz heaved a sigh as she dropped it in Willa’s hand and sat
down. “I could rock that with gold leggings, a black t-shirt and
six inch gold and black pumps.”

“I’m going to make you a cup of Blue Mountain
coffee. I brought some just for you.” Willa gave MiMi a brief
shoulder rub. “You really out to eat though, MiMi. You’re right
about the casserole. It may be too rich on a delicate stomach.”

“Uh-huh.” MiMi stared out the window.

“I’ll fix you two slices of toast and one
scrambled egg, no butter.” Willa spoke with her head in MiMi’s
stainless steel refrigerator.

“Yeah, right. You do that,” Jazz replied
loudly. Then she looked at MiMi as Willa got busy. “See what I
mean? She likes to control everybody.”

The doorbell of her front door rang just as
MiMi started to reply. Instead she padded off with the napkin still
clutched in one hand. When she parted the curtains and saw Adrienne
holding Sage, MiMi hastily wiped her cheeks dry and raked fingers
through her hair. She opened the door wearing a sunny smile; at
least she hoped it was anyway.

“Good morning, sis! Hey mommy’s little honey
bunny.” MiMi took Sage when the toddler grinned at her.

“Sis?” Adrienne wrinkled her nose. She
studied MiMi with a critical eye as if noting every detail of her
appearance. “Looks like you had an eventful night.”

“No,” MiMi said too sharply. Then she forced
a light laugh when Adrienne’s gaze sharpened to a laser point.
“Nothing more exciting than dinner and a little conversation.”

“I assume Roderick is still here.” Adrienne
looked around the house as if she expected him to walk out
naked.

“Of course not. Was mommy’s sweet girl good?”
MiMi kissed Sage’s soft face and inhaled the welcome smell of baby
lotion.

Adrienne closed and locked the front door
before following MiMi to the kitchen. “I know Roderick’s
reputation, and I know you. I doubt you two spent last night
discussing philosophy or current events. Besides, I see his
SUV.”

“That’s Willa’s SUV. She and Jazz dropped by
to have breakfast with me.” MiMi didn’t look at her older
sister.

“On a Sunday, after your date. That’s
strange.”

“It’s kind of a girlfriend tradition we
have.” MiMi walked fast ahead of her to cut off more questions.
“Hey everybody, this is my sister Adrienne. That’s Jazz and Willa
is the cook.”

Jazz gave Adrienne a quick head to toe scan.
“Mornin’.”

“So nice to meet you. Join us for breakfast.”
Willa put the plate of toast and eggs down into the oven

“We’ve eaten, but what exactly is this dish?”
Adrienne looked at the stoneware dish on the counter top.

“This is an egg, sausage, cheese and sour
cream casserole. Oh, and I have toast to go with it.” Willa smiled
at her. “Sunday morning comfort food.”

“Ah.” Adrienne eyed it for a few seconds
longer before she put on a smile. She placed the bag holding Sage’s
things down on the floor. “I finally meet the famous Willa Crown
and her sister. MiMi talks about you a lot.”

“Not exactly famous.” Willa’s smile
tightened.

“The news made it seem like you practically
cracked the case on who killed poor Jack. Then you and MiMi became
friends. Very progressive. I suppose sharing so much forged a
bond.” Adrienne nodded as she spoke, a sincere expression stamped
on her almost too pretty face.

“Humph.” Jazz studied her, head to one
side.

“There’s no reason why we can’t be friends.
MiMi and I want our children to have a relationship since they’re
siblings.” Willa’s voice dripped ice water.

“Of course,” Adrienne said smoothly. She
turned and kissed Sage’s forehead. “I’m going to miss my little
girl so much. Call if she starts fussing for me or Brayden. He’s
the perfect big brother.”

“Sage has a big sister and a big brother to
keep her company. She’ll be just fine,” Jazz said.

Adrienne spun to face Jazz for the first
time. “I’m surrounded by celebrities. You’re a dancer at a
gentlemen’s club.”

“Yes, pole dancing in teeny weeny costumes.”
Jazz stood up and took a bow. “Damn good at it, too.”

“Obviously since you now own it.
Congratulations. I read how the city tried to shut it down. Well, I
think we need more small businesses owned by women of color,”
Adrienne said with enthusiasm.

“Thanks. I don’t have pole dancers by the
way. It’s a night club and restaurant,” Jazz replied.

Adrienne smoothed back her long thick hair.
“Even better.”

Jazz’s gaze narrowed. She marched over to
MiMi and held out her arms. Sage leaned out. Jazz took her. “I’m
going to get Lil’ Bit upstairs so she can freshen up.”

MiMi blinked at her. “What?”

Jazz spoke low. “Before I kick your sister’s
ass up in here.”

“Right, you haven’t seen Sage in a while,”
MiMi said loudly before Jazz finished speaking.

“Thank you.” Jazz tossed a glare at Adrienne
over her shoulder before she climbed the stairs.

Adrienne followed to the bottom of the
staircase. “Bye sweetie. Aunt Adrienne will see you soon.” She
faced MiMi again. “Listen, you’ve got a lot going on. Why not let
Sage come stay with me for a while?”

“Thanks for the offer, but as you can see I
have plenty of support,” MiMi said sharply.

Willa stepped closer to MiMi until they were
shoulder to shoulder. She gave Adrienne a chilly smile. “MiMi has
more babysitter’s than Princess Kate in England.”

“Sometimes family helping out is for the
best, no offense,” Adrienne added in her best honey sweet tone with
matching smile.

“We’re family,” Willa said, smile still in
place. Her equally sugared tone laced with battery acid came
through loud and clear.

Anger flared briefly in Adrienne’s eyes, but
she recovered. “I’ll be going. Next time Sage can stay until
evening. That way you can recover from another one of your intense
dates with Roderick.”

“Bye,” Willa said pointedly.

MiMi shot a warning glance at Willa. Then she
steered Adrienne to the front door to avoid a bloodbath. “Thanks
again, Adrienne.”

Adrienne opened the door but spun around
instead of leaving. “Next time wait until you get to the parking
lot to make a scene, dear sister.”

MiMi gasped. “How did you...”

“A friend of a friend saw the whole show.
Don’t worry. Shelia is discreet.” Adrienne chuckled.

In other words everyone in their social
circle would know by the time the sun set today. “Oh. No.”

“Mother and daddy will be quite upset.”

“Then tell Mother to take one of her pills to
calm down. I so appreciate you keeping Sage, Adrienne. Have a good
evening, and kiss Brayden for me.”

“Goodbye,” Adrienne said dryly. She strode to
her BMW. Minutes later she drove off with a flip of the hand and a
smirk as a going away present.

“Ding, dong the witch is gone?” Jazz gazed in
the direction of the BMW. The taillights vanished when it turned
the corner.

“Yes, and please don’t threaten my sister.”
MiMi shooed her inside. She shut and locked the front door.

“Hey, I threaten my sister all the time.
Admit it. You wanted me to take a swing at her.” Jazz pointed a
forefinger at MiMi.

“No, I didn’t.” MiMi went back to the
kitchen. Willa played with Sage as she bumped around in her
walker.

“Just a lick, right upside the head. C’mon,
say the word and it’s done.” Jazz laughed.

MiMi giggled as she spun to face Jazz. “Girl,
you’re too crazy.”

Willa leaned down and placed both palms over
Sages tiny ears. “Adrienne is a bitch.” Then she took her hands
away.

“Willa!” MiMi put both hands on her hips.

“Sage didn’t hear. Even if she did, baby girl
doesn’t know what it means. Do you sweetie?” Willa tickled Sage on
the chin. A baby cute smile was her reward.

“She’s been super helpful with Sage. So I
give her points for being a good aunt.” MiMi shrugged and sat at
the table.

Jazz sat in the chair across from her.
“That’s no reason to let her wipe her four hundred dollar shoes on
you. She pretty much thinks you don’t take care of Sage.”

“Adrienne thinks she does everything better
than everybody,” MiMi said.

“Well you shouldn’t be prim and proper. Cuss
her out and be done with it. It’ll bring y’all closer, like me and
Willa.” Jazz grabbed her mug of coffee. “Tell her, big sister.”

“Oh yeah, a good profanity laced family fight
works wonders as therapy,” Willa drawled.

“Told ya,” Jazz quipped.

MiMi shook her head. “My parents are going to
find out. Someone Adrienne knows happened to be having dinner and
saw us. My parents will be so mad. I try to stay on their good side
since they’ve been so helpful. Daddy helped me with expenses a
lot.”

“Which means they get to control you,” Willa
shot back.

“Look, if I found Jack’s money, I wouldn’t
have to ask them for anything. If you’re so concerned about their
controlling ways then help me find it.” MiMi pressed on when Willa
hissed. “Mikayla and Anthony should get their inheritance, too.
Jack owes us all that much.”

“Jack ended up... you know, over that money,”
Willa said with a glance at Sage. “And last but not least is Jazz’s
gangsta man. If he gets wind Jack ended up with his money, we’re
all toast.”

“Hey, Felipe isn’t my ‘gangsta man’. I don’t
know why everybody keeps saying that,” Jazz complained.

“But did you find checks deposited from that
company? No,” MiMi answered while Willa’s mouth still hung
open.

Jazz put the mug down. “Hey, she’s making
sense.”

“I checked with Cedric. Jack had seven major
contracts. Well, Crown Protection had them anyway. Plus there were
ten smaller ones. On paper the business was doing well, but the
business accounts didn’t add up. I think we’ve had it wrong this
whole time. What if Jack was stealing from the company?” MiMi
looked from Jazz to Willa.

“Okay, now you’ve stopped making sense. Jack
didn’t need to steal from himself.” Jazz picked up her mug again.
“I vote for the money being Felipe’s drug cash, a healthy down
payment. Felipe paid Jack to look the other way at what really went
down at those warehouses Crown Protection was guarding at the Baton
Rouge Port.”

“Jack wasn’t in on the arrangement with
Felipe. Remember?” MiMi said, shooting a huge whole in their
theory.

“The cops never found proof one way or the
other. He could have taken the money as security, to escape,” Willa
said.