Page 66 of Every Breath

Rodney watched in satisfaction as the large SUV plowed into the side of the black Mercedes, causing the smaller car to flip over on its hood. The accident was made even sweeter by the fact that Collins’s brat was with him.

Good. I hope they both die.

If this accident didn’t take care of the bastard, he would just have to keep trying. The thought brought a smile to his face. Rodney had known something had to be done when he had received letters about the night of Damon’s shooting. They intimated that if he didn’t stay away from Brandi, then the secret would come out.

Collins already hinted that he knew about it, and the only other person who did was Tina, and she couldn’t possibly have sent the letters. As though to drive the point home, the letters had been signed with Damon’s name and handwriting. How the hell did he find out and how had he gotten hold of Damon’s writing? Who the fuck was he to tell him to stay away from his woman? No one kept him from what was his.

There was something about Collins that he couldn’t quite put his finger on: something about the man niggled at him. Well, it didn’t matter now because with Collins out of the way, or at least temporarily, he could concentrate on what needed to be done about Brandi.

She called the police on him and he had spent one humiliating night in the tank, like a common criminal. People he had worked with were unable to look him in the eyes. Him! Once she realized that she belonged to him, he’d have to teach her a lesson.

It would hurt her as much as it hurt him.

Rodney watched while a crowd gathered around the big wreck and smiled. He hoped the bastard suffered. He popped in a CD of the Police’s greatest hits, started his engine, and headed off to find Brandi. “Yes!” he exclaimed in glee as the lyrics played.

Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break… I’ll be watching you.

‘Why the hell do you look so damn happy and where did you go?” Lisa demanded. “You’ve had that big cheesy grin on your face since you came back.” as they stuffed the birthday goodie bags.

Brandi smiled at her sister. “Can’t a girl just be happy for no reason?”

“No. You look like you just got laid or something.”

“Be quiet. One of the kids might hear you.”

“They’re all in the yard. Now tell me where you’ve been.”

Brandi rolled her eyes. Why did her sister always think she had a right to know everything? “If you must know, I had to go see a friend.”

Lisa’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “A friend, huh? A certain man, I suppose?”

“And if it was? What’s it to you?”

“What’s it to me? Nothing, as long as you’re happy. Are you happy?”

Brandi couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Deliriously so. Oh, Lisa, I know it’s only been a little over two months, but when I’m with him, I feel like I’ve known him forever.”

“Hmm, would this new man happen to be that hunky Mason Collins you were trying so hard to avoid a few months back?”

Brandi could feel her face grow hot with embarrassment. “And if he is?”

“Ha! I knew it! He’s hot and loaded, lucky you. So have you two bumped uglies yet?”

“Lisa! That’s none of your damn business!”

“I know. Did you?”

“You’re impossible. Why should I tell you?”

“You did, didn’t you?” Lisa must have seen something it in her face because she exclaimed, “Oh, my God! Was it good? Is he hung? I’ve never been with a white boy before. What’s it like?”

Brandi was torn between strangling her sister and laughing hysterically, but she knew there was no getting around the barrage of questions unless she told her persistent sister something. “Let’s just say I had no complaints.”

“I knew it! My little sister has jungle fever!” Lisa chortled.

“Yuck. I hate that expression. We’re just two people.”

“Two people of different races.”

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