Page 91 of Love & Vendettas

“What are you trying to say?”

“Sweetheart, I have notsaidanything directly. Take from it what you will,” I reply, turning my back and walking to the dining room table where my laptop is set up.

“Listen. Something’s happened to Parker, and I need to get in touch with him,” she hisses desperately.

I turn back to comment and then tilt my head sideways. Tapping my chin, I shake my head and reply. “Aren’t you forgetting something very important, darling?”

“That’s why I’m looking for Parker. My cover has been blown!”

Shaking my head, I throw my hands up in frustration. This dimwit is so damn simpleminded. I told him that I didn’t want her involved and that his plan wouldn’t work.

“How could you screw up something as simple as being pregnant?”

“My sister walked into the room while I was showering! How was I supposed to know that she would do that?”

“It’s your sister. You’re supposed to know everything about what she would or wouldn’t do. Otherwise, why would you even bother to get involved? You’ve only made a bad situation worse. You should just return home, lay low for a while, and steer clear of me and anything concerning me.”

“What about Parker?”

“What about him?”

“Don’t you want to find him?”

“I’m sure Parker will be found when he’s ready to be found,” I reply scathingly.

She walks toward me with her fists clenched at her sides and her face scrunched up.

“I swear if you have something to do with his disappearance, I’ll—”

“You’ll what, Riley?” I ask, stepping closer to her. “Hmm? Are you threatening me? Because I don’t have time for your little games. I have to go work on a few items for this campaign.”

“Let me make myself clear. If you don’t take me seriously and help me find Parker, or if you had anything to do with his disappearance, there won’t be an election to work on. I promise you that every resident of this town will know what you’re up to. And I’ll personally make sure that Zaire comes after you with everything he has!”

This heifer is fourteen-karat crazy. Does she not realize that she’s crossed her sister’s man up in a way that he will never forgive? Does she really believe that he’ll be on her side or care about her now that they know she’s not pregnant?

I laugh and shake my head. “Not before he handles you. Now get the hell out of my house, and don’t you dare step foot on my property again, or I promise you’ll regret it, Riley Montrose.”

She laughs, shakes her head, and replies. “You think you have all the power, don’t you, Ms. Essence Hamilton? Well, you know something. I’m the one with the power. Mm-hmm . . . I have more power in my little pinky finger than you do. I have knowledge, and knowledge is key. I can ruin you with what I know.”

Yes, this bitch is a certified nut. Did she really just threaten me?

I watch as she walks toward the door and heads out of my home. The moment she closes the door, I return to the dining room table, pick up my phone, and request an urgent meeting.

I step out of my house thirty minutes later after receiving a text message.

A driver opens the back door of a black Lincoln Town Car with tinted windows. I slip inside and sit opposite a man with tawny skin, broad shoulders, and chiseled arms.

I find myself wanting to run my hands through that shock of jet-black hair.

As he slowly lowers his dark sunglasses, he reveals a faint scar under his left eyebrow. I hold my breath until those thin, firm lips turn upwards into a half-smile.

Derek Sawyer was, at some point, a very handsome man. He’s of mixed parentage, Hispanic and Caucasian. I don’t know if the heartache of life or the evil perils that he’s witnessed have etched a permanent downturn between his eyebrows and a pinched expression at his eyes and lips, or what, but he looks menacing. I guess anyone would in the line of work that he does.

“Thank you for coming to meet with me at the last minute, Derek.”

“Any time, Essence. How may I be of assistance?”

“I recently had a guest arrive at my home unannounced and uninvited. I need you to pay her an unannounced and uninvited return visit and immediately dispose of my littlevisitor. I’m pretty sure she’s heading back to this address.” I hand Derek a slip of paper.

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