Page 53 of A Trial of the Heart
“Care to elaborate?”
Anita scoffed. “On the friendship? Absolutely not.”
I wanted to probe more on the friendship. Her response alone had my interest piqued, but the sour expression topped it off. I chose not to ask any questions because the friendship wasn’t the reason I was here.
“Rashad is charged with numerous charges. Do you think he is guilty?” It really didn’t matter if she did or not since she clearly wasn’t the determining factor.
Before Anita answered she chuckled softly, and her eyes bounced around before she focused on me, leaned in, and gestured for me to also come closer.
“I don’t know much about Rashad, but from the few encounters I have had with him, he did seem like an upstanding, legit guy. The thing is… who he got mixed up with has some really big ties, so he is guilty before the trial starts. I’m unsure what your connection is with Rashad, but if I was you… if you aren’t too deep in this shit, I would haul ass.”
Just as I was about to ask her why, Anita’s eyes shifted behind me, and they grew in size, causing me to look over my shoulder. Whatever she saw, I was too late to see.
“Everything okay?”
Anita stood abruptly. “I have to go.”
“Wait. Wait.” I stood with her. She’d given me five minutes, and I’d barely gotten two and still was left with many questions.
“No!” she damn near shouted raising her hand. “I have nothing else to say, except run.” She spun on her heels hurrying away.
Looking around, I noticed a few people staring in my direction.
“What the fuck?” I mumbled. I was more confused than when I first arrived. Rifling through my wallet, I pulled out a ten-dollar bill, dropping it on the table to pay for the sweet tea I hadn’t even touched. With confusion, I headed for my car with so manythings on my mind. I needed to call LeeAnn. I needed to talk to somebody. Just as I was about to call her, I spotted Rashad. A smile crossed my face. It was crazy the effect this man had on me. I wanted to do things for and to him that I had never imagined, and I didn’t even mind it. He had me on a high I never wanted to come down from, and I couldn’t even tell everyone about it. Just as I parted my lips to call his name, the smile dropped, and my heart rate increased. A woman stepped in front of him, hugging him tightly, and he seemed to relax under her touch.
My skin felt hot, and my heartbeat was so intense I literally could hear it on the outside of my body.
“Wow.” I found myself mumbling as the hug lingered, and Rashad’s hands dropped to her plump backside, palming it. Was Rashad being around the reason Anita ran off in a hurry? Who was the woman Rashad was with, and why were they so comfortable with each other? Had he still played in my face? I had so many questions, and standing where I was wouldn’t get me the answers I wanted. Pissed, I headed their way but quickly stopped.
“What the fuck are you doing Shiloh?” I asked out loud as my feet planted where I stood. Here I was, a thirty-year-old successful lawyer about to show my ass in these folks’ street. Crazy how good dick, dope conversation, and a sexy man had me ready to risk everything I’d worked for.
Watching Rashad and the female whose face I never saw before walk away hand in hand stung, but it made my job a lot easier. The pain was real, but it was clear he knew how to finesse a situation, and though he had me blinded before, I could see clearly now.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Rashad:
Standing near Lauryn waiting for the hostess to seat us at this decent BBQ spot, my energy shifted all over the place. When I said I was done with Lauryn some time ago, I meant it. However, I was now taking my pops’ advice and playing Lauryn at her own game. I didn’t want anything from her except a way for her to admit the truth about the trumped up charges.
“I’m so happy you called.” Lauryn smiled up at me as she leaned my way, her hands stroking my arms. She was already too comfortable, and I was ready to go.
The hostess headed our way.
“Yeah.” I spoke dryly, pulling from her.
“Table for two?” The hostess neared us with a friendly smile.
“Yes.” Lauryn spoke a little too enthusiastically.
“Table or booth?”
“Bo—”
“Table,” I interrupted because I didn’t want a booth for Lauryn to attempt to sit on the same side as me. It may have been childish, but I was here for one reason and one reason only.
The hostess looked over her shoulder, and her eyes instantly landed on Lauryn, but they quickly looked my way, and I nodded slightly.
