Page 31 of Deadly Sights

Everyone’s curious eyes spear me with their interest. Moni and Danae must not have seen Julian leave, or else they would have remembered him from the club.

“My life is not the topic we’re talking about.” I blink toward Tamara. “And until we settle topic A, topic B is not on the docket.”

“Did she really shut us down?” Moni asks.

“Shut down and bridge burnt, but we’ll get her soon.” Danae’s promise causes me to smile.

When I put my mind to it, I’ve always been able to deflect their interest. I’ll do so now if they get too curious about Julian before I’m ready to put a label on who he is to me.

The Luxe Continental puts luxury to shame with its amenities, and Tamara deserves all the good stuff considering her past few weeks. As soon as we pull up to the valet, our dedicated butler whisks us to our suite.

“You requested our Platinum package, which includes the in-room mani-pedi. Inside your suite is a private sauna, and a personal chef. They’ll be up shortly to prepare your meal. If there is anything I may assist you with, I’m at your service 24/7. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out.” After taking care of a few items, he leaves us to get our relaxation on.

I turn to Tamara. “Give me a name.”

“What do you think you can do? Look, I don’t want to cause a whole thing that puts my firm in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Just let’s focus on making me feel better.” Tamarastrolls over to the table laden with goodies. From the four-tier dessert plate, she selects a fruit tart.

Moni sidles up to Tamara, throwing an arm around her shoulder so Tamara can’t easily escape. “How you going to feel better if you not offloading what happened? Use your words. Tell us the gory deets.”

“I need names, not details,” I say with a straight face.

Chelsea stares at me as if seeing me for the first time. Or maybe the look she’s giving is of seeing someone familiar that they haven’t seen in forever and not believing their eyes. I’m not sure, but her gaze unnerves me.

“Tamara, it might be a good idea to tell us what happened. I’m genuinely concerned that Nadira will force the truth out of you.” Chelsea backs away from me to stand beside Tamara.

“Really, Chels?” I give her the what-the-fuck look.

She isn’t wrong, but I don’t appreciate her letting the other women know. She shrugs, but it seems her tactic works.

“I was on a date.” Tamara’s soft voice trembles as the first words fall from her lips until they become stronger the longer she speaks. “We decided to go back to her place. I knew she was queer, but I didn’t expect her to be bi. When we got to her place, her boyfriend was there. He wanted to have a threesome. Talking about his dick as the miracle converter because his girlfriend is bi. Then I tried to leave, and this happened.”

“Tamara, I know you’re a lawyer and words are your trade, but nowhere in that story did I hear the names of the pieces of shit that did this to you. Now, if you don’t fess up and give me what I want to hear, I won’t extend your stay here for a full week. And your pampering ends now.” I know my girls’ weaknesses and use them whenever they force my hand.

Tamara never goes all out for herself. Everything she earns, she reinvests in her company. So I don’t mind treating her or therest of the crew when they need something to get their minds, emotions, and health right.

“But Nadira…” Tamara whines.

“Give and take, boo,” I say.

I’m also fine with blackmail.

She reaches for her phone and taps something into it. Curious, I walk behind her to watch.

When she spies me behind her, she clutches the phone to her chest. “Promise you won’t do anything rash. I don’t need my name in the news.”

“I’m never rash. Now stop stalling.” I wait her out.

Our staring contest lasts until Moni, Danae, and Chelsea yell, “Tell her their names already!”

“We want to get into that sauna, damn.” Chelsea rolls her eyes, head, and shoulders to emphasize how fed up she is.

“Fine.” Tamara throws her hands up in defeat. Aside, she mumbles, “I need to work on not succumbing to peer pressure.”

“I wish you no luck with that,” Moni says. “I love peer pressuring every one of you into doing what I want. It’s soul defining.” She lets out a breath as if she’s cleansing her chakras.

“Tamara?” The one word from me jolts her into action.

“His name is Jadan Reales and her name is Royal Lane, but before you do anything, remember I’m a criminal defense attorney. Don’t reveal anything that will get me disbarred when I have to defend you.”

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