Page 40 of Dreaux: The Corporate Assassin

“Rome!” he mocked me and rolled his eyes. “I’m serious! You’ve told me all about your work and how you have to seduce men to get the intel you want. Tonight… you’re going to be on the arm of a man you didn’t have to manipulate. Enjoy the company and let him put your legs in the air later. You can grieve over Rissa’s dead ass later.”

Hearing him speak about my job tactics caused my heart to palpate. I didn’t mind manipulating men if it meant I was cleaning our country of the filth that plagued us. Men were easy targets because most were gullible and stupid. Those low-hanging qualities didn’t stop them from being killers, drug dealers, and abusers, though. I was beginning to wonder if there was more to Dre because he didn’t feel gullible or stupid when I was with him. He also didn’t feel like a killer, even though I knew deep in my soul he was, so liking him had me looking at myself differently. That still didn’t stop me from wondering if he’d see me in a different light if the circumstances weren’t the same. I’d approached Dre under false pretenses, and no one knew because I was moving on impulse. My want to collar him could have me face-to-face with the corporate suit killer. Letting my hair down was not in the cards for me, and I couldn’t stop the tapping thought that I’d possibly fucked up.

“Jerome, I need to tell you something. I think I messed up with Dre. I?—”

Ding Dong.

“Hold that thought…” Jerome cut me off as he walked up the hall to open the door. I wanted to confess to him what I’d been up to regarding Dre, but I would have to do that later since the very man was now stepping inside my house.

“I know you fuckin’ lying! Why in the hell are you so fine, Dre?”

“Rome, if you don’t get your gay ass away from me!” Andre shouted, but I could hear the amusement in his tone. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you… I like pussy!”

Grabbing my clutch, I took one last look at myself. The nude and black floor-length gown fit my curves like a glove. The heels, with the high thigh split, made my legs look even sexier. Thanks to Jerome, my hair and makeup were perfect, finishing the sexy, yet sophisticated look. Dabbing myself with Dolce and Gabbana perfume, I was ready to go. Taking a deep breath, I made my way toward the front of the house. Once I entered the living room, all banter ceased.

“Well, damn…” Dre murmured as he swallowed me with his eyes. Standing from the arm of the sofa, he slowly began to walk my way. I held my breath as he walked around me and stalked my frame as if I were his prey.

Whap!

“Dre!” I gasped at the sudden slap of my ass. “What was that for?”

“Just a little preview of what you’ll get later.” He winked as he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth. “If I was a reckless man, I’d trap you. Ain’t no way you should be walking around here looking this good.” He shook his head and laughed at himself.

Getting a good look at him, I couldn’t help but admire my view. Dre was hands down the most sexist man I’ve ever seen. His cut was fresh, his jewels were dancing, and the smell of his cologne made my clit pulse. Dressed in all black from head to toe, you could tell simply by the way he walked he knew he was the man. My eyes zoned in on the bulge resting against his thigh, and I couldn’t help but lick my lips at the sight.

“If you want to, we can go to the back and take care of this?” He smirked once my eyes landed back on his. “This isn’t my event, so who said we can’t be late?”

“Lock up, Jerome.” I slipped my arm through his and led him out of the door. “Don’t wait up.”

“Baby, I will be sitting right here on this couch with a glass of wine and bucket of popcorn waiting on you. I know the sex is going to be good and nasty, and this time, I’m sticking around to watch.”

As Dre threw his head back in laughter, I kissed my teeth and led us out the door. Helping me inside his car, I reached over and held his door open for him. I was used to seeing his Range Rover parked in front of my house, but we were in a two-seater McLaren tonight. I knew the car was expensive from the interior color and feel of the leather beneath my exposed thigh. I started to ask him if it was rented or brought, but glancing over, his smothering gaze had me too heated to speak.

“Did I tell you how good you look tonight?” he asked as we appeared to head toward the outskirts of town. I assumed the event was being held downtown, but I guess I was wrong. “I can see why your baby’s father skeeted off in you.”

“Andre, please…” I cackled at his silliness as I exhaled from the quick stare-off. “I can’t stand that man, and if I knew then what I know now, we wouldn’t have made my daughter. She’s here now, and I love her… but I can’t stand her father.”

Since declining his last advances, Bryce had been making my life a living hell. What makes matters worse is that for the last two weeks, he’s backed out of plans to spend time with Briley. While she’s been upset, my parents and I have done everything we can to make it up to her. She hasn’t missed a beat of having fun, and I was beating myself up for thinking things would be different this time. I should’ve known not to trust Bryce. He had gotten Bri accustomed to spending time with him just to go back to the way things were.

“How was your week?” I shifted in my seat and asked. I wanted to change the conversation topic so the ride wouldn’t be awkward. “How’s things going with you and Uno making Milly Grove a real city?”

Although I’m from here, I’ve never really had many run-ins with Uno and his brothers. I knew of them because of the city’s history, but I’d never been in the same circle with them. I have a few friends that have raved about Wild and his whorish ways, but that’s about it. I can honestly say that I admire the work they’ve done in the different zones of the city. There was a time when I thought they, too, were involved in illegal activities, but again, it was hard to prove. The town would’ve been in an uproar if I had attempted to take down the very family who’d done so much for the city. I would’ve been crucified for any false claims.

With Andre, it was more than that. It wasn’t a mere coincidence that an officer died once it was publicly mentioned he was building a case against them. It wasn’t a mere coincidence that the director of the ports went missing after speaking with me about inside intel concerning their ported shipments and business. I know this man isn’t who he says he is, and I wanted to prove myself right at the very least.

“My week was very interesting, actually.” He glanced over at me before giving his attention back to the road. “My grandparents came into town to spend a little time with me. They love the city so much that they’re thinking of retiring here.”

“That’s great!” I reached over and gripped his arm. “The city is beautiful and really peaceful. You should take them down to Groves Isles when the weather gets warmer. They will love the water.”

“Trust me, they’ve heard about it.” He chuckled before quieting down. “My mother came into town with them. We got into a big argument, and she ended up leaving.” He shook his head, and I could see his jaw tick under the streetlights as we rode through the countryside. “Well… I thought she left town. Come to find out, she’s been here the entire time.”

Hearing him mention his mother caused my heart to pound. I wondered if he knew I’d gone to see her. Looking through the windshield, I noticed we were almost outside the city. Now that I was thinking about it, we should have been at the venue by now. I began to panic as I tried to figure out where we were based on any landmarks, but nothing could be seen for miles—only the sky, the road, and the green grass and trees.

“Uh… Dre, where are we going?” I asked as I tried to keep my voice steady. “I thought we were going to your friend’s event.”

“You know… she and I said some pretty hurtful things to each other—things that neither of us can take back.” I watched him with scared eyes as he gripped the steering wheel. “It’s hurtful when the ones you love betray you in ways your enemy wouldn’t dare. They use your love for them as a weakness. Everyone has their breaking point—I guess we’re both at ours.”

Turning down a dirt road, I was worried for my life. I could feel the anger roll off him as he spoke about his mother, and I panicked, thinking it would end up toward me. Ms. Boudreaux ranted about him having her followed. If he knew she was still in town, did he know about her meeting me at the park?

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