The Season of Sin (Peace In The Storm Publishing Presents) (26 page)

 “Well why did she have those clippings?” Steven asked. “And don’t say it’s because she was collecting them like the others. We all know we found way more than clippings.”

“Okay, what about Zoë? You think Nadia knew she was Elle’s daughter?”

“No.” Jayce shook his foot.

“What about Jasmine?” Steven shrugged. “Think she knew about this?”

“If she did she deserves an Oscar for how she acted in the station.  No I don’t think Jasmine knew anything either. She loves Dylan too much to hide something like this.”

Steven turned toward Jayce. “Even if Nadia told Jasmine Dylan was kidnapped and made Jasmine promise not to tell?”

“We don’t know Nadia even knew Dylan was kidnapped.”

“She knew. You can stay in your fantasy land where Nadia is so great if you want, Bree. But if you start looking at this with sense you’d see what Jayce and I do.”

Brianna scratched Davis’ ear. “Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot.”

“Then stop acting like one.”

“Hey.” Jayce leaned up.  “Don’t go there, Steve. The last thing we need is to be fighting. We’re all on the same side.”

“I apologize okay, Bree?” Steven tilted toward her. “But you gotta look at what’s going on here. I know it’s hard to imagine but you can’t ignore it. Nadia knew. I’d bet my life on it.”

His scent.

She sniffed several times to make sure her nose wasn’t playing tricks on her. Did she smell what she thought she smelled?

 “You okay, Bree?”

She sniffed his shirt.

“What?” Jayce raised his hand. “He needs deodorant or something?”

She put Davis down, got on her knees and sniffed Steven harder.

“Bree?” He wiggled. “What the hell are you doing?”

Jayce set the remote on the table. “Uh, you guys want me to leave?”

“Bree you’re freaking me out here.” Steven held her still. “Wanna tell me why you’re sniffing me?”

 “Cologne.” She pushed her face into his shirt. “What kind is it?”

“I’m not wearing cologne.”

“Smell.” She pushed Steven’s face into his shirt. “You smell that?”

“Oh that? That’s Zoë’s perfume. I was with her earlier. You should see how many different perfumes she has, like a damn boutique.”

“Bree you look like someone hit you over the head again,” Jayce said.

That’s the smell.

“That’s…that’s the smell.  The smell, the cologne I smelled the night Nadia was murdered.”

“What? Wait a minute.”

“It is, Jayce.”

“You’re mistaken, Bree.”

“Steven I’d never forget it.” She sniffed him again. “No. This is the exact same smell.” She inhaled to her stomach. “Zoë was at Nadia’s that night. Oh god she was there.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Steven snatched his arm from her.

“You heard me. She was at Nadia’s the night she was killed.”

“This is fuckin’ crazy.”

“Is it?” Jayce asked.

“Yes. If Zoë had been at Nadia’s the night she was killed she wouldn’t have hidden it.”

“Like she didn’t hide her relationship with Billy Curtis and the fact that she was Nick and Elle’s daughter?”

“Stop it, Bree. She would’ve been honest about something this serious. She wouldn’t play with a murder investigation.”

“Then ask her about everything straight out.” Brianna got up. “See if she for once tells you the truth.”

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Bruce cleaned his bedroom while Dylan changed in the bathroom. He sprayed some of the old air freshener he hadn’t used since she was last there. He hadn’t had a woman spend the night in a long time. Of course Dylan wasn’t just any woman. He didn’t want her smothered by unholy man-funk when she came in.

They’d stopped by Jasmine’s for Dylan to get some things. Funny but her overnight bag had turned into two suitcases.  Had she planned to stay longer than a night? She even brought her easel and paints. Thank goodness Jasmine hadn’t been there. He wasn’t ever in the mood for her shit but tonight he probably would’ve mangled her if she’d said the wrong thing to him.

He threw dirty clothes into the closet and tossed junk into the dresser drawers.

He thought of the last time they made love.

“Snap out of it.” His dick pulsated.

Why drive himself crazy with what could have been if it wasn’t possible? He got sheets out the linen closet in the hall. Or was it possible? Did Dylan want to be with him again?

He stripped the sheets off the bed and threw them in the corner.

He’d been the first person she ran to tonight. She’d clung onto him at the station. She’d held his hand as if she’d been afraid to walk without him.

Didn’t that mean something?  Oh god. Did she still love him?

He smoothed the lavender sheet over the mattress.  He imagined laying her down on top of it and moving his hands all over her body.

“Shit.” He yanked the crotch of his jeans.

The real question wasn’t if Dylan still wanted him. It was whether or not he could control himself if she did.

She walked inside. He took one glimpse of her in that flimsy nightgown and his dick sprung up like a sword.

“Jeez.” He held the sheet in front of him. He pretended to straighten out the wrinkles long enough to coerce his dick to behave.  “Uh, you can sleep in here and I’ll take the couch.”

“No I couldn’t do that. This is your place. I’ll be fine on the couch.  Besides I don’t know if I’ll get much sleep in anyway.”

“I’m not letting you sleep on that couch. It smells like ass.” He slapped the sheet. “You’re sleeping in here. Besides I sleep in there sometimes anyway to watch television.”

“Oh I was gonna ask you what happened to the TV in here?”

“Took it to the pawnshop.”

“Oh. Uh…” She crossed her arms then uncrossed them.  “You did?”

She looked like she wanted him to explain but he wasn’t about to pile his financial problems on her when she had her own shit to deal with.

Tkk…tkk…tkk…

“God when are you gonna get that faucet fixed?” She propped her supple hip on the dresser. “You think I should take the DNA test?”

“What?” He turned the sheet to her to block his cock.

“Do you think I should take the DNA test?”

“I can’t answer that.” His dick relaxed against him.  Usually he’d be pissed when he lost a hard-on but thankful tonight.

“Come on, Bruce.”

He laid the top sheet on the bed.  “What the hell do you want me to say? You gotta make that decision. It’s your life.”

“Don’t be an asshole. I need some advice.”

“Jeez.” He tucked the sheet in the corners. “Take it then.”

“Why?” She chewed on her thumbnail. “Why do you say I should?”

“Well hell, then don’t take it. Look I don’t know.” He sat on the bed.  “Do you want to know if Nick’s your father or not?”

“I know he’s not.” She looked at her fingers. “I think this is some game he’s playing.”

“Okay fine well then take it and prove it if that’s what you believe.”

“You say that like you think he could be my father.”

“He could be right? You can’t ignore the shit he had at the station.”

“So you think I’m Victoria? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Hold on okay?” He raised his hands.  “You asked for advice now you’re charging at me.”

“I’m sorry.” She played with one of the rubber bands from his dresser. “This is just so painful.”

“I know.” He went to hold her but backed off.  “You can stay as long as you want. You can paint all you want, relax, anything.”

“Thanks. Bruce?” She lay on her stomach on the bed and kicked her legs up. “What’s it like having a real family?”

“You have a real family.”

“No I mean that shares blood.” She watched him like a newborn baby.  “What’s it like?”

“Hell you’re closer to your family than I am to mine. Shit you know how it was with my dad.” He scooted up in the bed.  “Shit we barely got along. Always getting on me about making mistakes but hell they were the same mistakes his ass made.”

“What about your momma?” Dylan rolled over and put her arms behind her head. “I know she abandoned you but don’t you ever think about her?”

“Shit she left when I was three. I don’t even remember her. Wouldn’t know her if she walked up to me.”

“But didn’t you wonder about her at all? I mean you had to.”

“No.” He scratched his head. “Not really.”

“How could that be?  I thought about my real parents even though I was happy with my adoptive family.”

“I never thought about her much. I mean, sometimes I wonder if she’s still living. But other than that I don’t care.  The bitch left her kid. Why would I wanna know her?”

“Ever wondered if she thought about you? Maybe she wanted to come back.”

“Please. That bitch ain’t thought about me once.” He scratched behind his ear.

 “You don’t know that.”

“Well she’s had decades to come see me if she wanted to. She knew where I was. So fuck her.”

“See?” She propped up on her elbows. “I wish I could be like you.”

“What do you mean?” He took his
Nikes
off.

“You see things so differently than others.  You don’t brood over the sadness or depression of something that happened. You just go with the flow and cut folks who do you wrong out of your life no questions asked.”

He shrugged.

“But me, I’d be sad. Most people would be sad. But you have a different way of looking at things and I admire that.  That’s what I like about you. It’s easy for you to let go.”

“Not of everything. Some things I can’t begin to see my life without.”

“I’m just so tired of all this shit.” She closed her eyes.  “It’s so peaceful here.” She propped her leg up and moved her knee from side to side.  “I’ve missed this so much.”

Did she miss him in particular or just being able to relax without someone jumping down her throat?

Seemed like it had been a million years since the first time they met. He’d gone to the art museum with another chick on a first date. She’d been an artist too and he’d hoped to impress her with his false knowledge of art so he could fuck her. 

But at the museum he’d found the most enchanting piece of art he’d ever seen in his life. It bewitched him at first glance. Michelangelo couldn’t have painted something this remarkable. This work of art wasn’t hanging on the wall or propped on a platform.

This work of art was just as alive as he was. She walked around the museum with some dude and Bruce forgot about the other chick and why he’d been with her. Once he saw the girl with that short green hair, giant smile and bright eyes it was too late.

Shit he didn’t believe in love at first sight but with one look he knew he and Dylan would be together. 

He lay back. She hummed beside him.

That day he’d declared his mission of wooing the chick with the short green hair. He vowed to win her heart no matter how hard it would be.

And he had.

Zoë arrived at Steven’s five minutes after he called. He didn’t speak just gestured for her to come inside.  He obviously hadn’t invited her over for lovemaking or a glass of wine.

They went into the living room. He didn’t take her up to his bedroom or light candles like he had before.  He didn’t tell her how beautiful she was or that he wanted to make love to her. His eyes didn’t hold the passion of an encouraging lover but the glare of a cop.

What was going on?

“How come I get the feeling you didn’t invite me over for a little nightcap huh?” The red teddy underneath her dress couldn’t have seemed sillier now. “Am I wrong?” She unbuttoned the first two buttons of her dress. 

He sat on the arm of the couch. “We need to talk.”

“What do you wanna talk about?”

He scratched his arm. “Are you really in love with me?”

“I am falling in love with you, yes.”

“And you want this to grow into something more than what it is?”

“I think I’ve been clear about that.” She sat on the table.

“And you trust me right?”

“Of course I do. Steven what’s going on?”

“And I assume you want me to trust you too right?”

She kissed him so hard that their lips made a suckling noise when she pulled away.

“Does that answer your question?” She opened another button. “If not then maybe this will.”

“No.” He laid his hand on her chest.  “This isn’t happening okay?”

“Did I do something wrong?” She touched his cheek. “I love you, Steven. Nothing else matters.”

“I need to know more about you and I mean it.”

“I don’t get this attitude but I’ll play along.” She closed her dress halfway.  “I’ve been as honest with you as possible but if you don’t believe that then ask away.” She crossed her legs.

“I wanna know the truth about you and Billy Curtis.”

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

“I…I told you the truth.”

“We both know you didn’t.”

 “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You remember when I went out of town a few weeks ago?”

“Yes. You went to some law enforcement seminar in Chicago.”

“Guess again.”

 “Well what did you go there for then?”

“Bree and I went to Chicago to find out answers about you and Billy. We spoke to his friend Kael.”

“Why would you lie to me?”

“Because I asked you to be honest about Billy and you weren’t.”

“The fuck I wasn’t! I told you he was bothering me and that I didn’t want anything to do with him. He tried to rape me and I shot him in self-defense.” She touched his knee. “I thought you believed me.”

“I did at the time.”

“What changed? Oh right.” She snapped her fingers.   “You said you went to Chicago with
Bree
right?” She got up. “Yeah I see now.”

“Zoë.”

“Let me guess. This bitch is planting lies about me in your head and you’re dumb enough to believe her?”

“This has nothing to do with Bree and I’m not about to play these games with you anymore.”

“You’re the one playing games.  You go off to Chicago behind my back and ask questions about me? How could you?”