Page 48 of Forbidden Desires

My mind raced, and while I was trying to process what James had just told me, he took that opportunity to stroll right past me and into my apartment. Leaving the door open because I didn’t trust him and his motives, I followed him a few feet inside.

“I…I don’t believe you,” I stammered, hating that slip of emotion. “You need to leave, now, before I call the police.” Unfortunately, I’d left my cell phone in the bedroom, and that was not a place I was comfortable leading this man in order to retrieve the device.

“It’s all right here,” he said, showing me the manilla envelope he had in his hand. “The reports, who actually killed your parents, the cover up…”

God, this felt like a cruel joke, which was right up James’ alley. Yet my heart pounded in my chest, the smallest glimmer of hope warring with my better judgement. “That’s impossible.”

“No, not really,” he said, meeting my gaze. “Not when you have enough money to cover things up and make them disappear. I promise, it’s all right here for you to read.”

Still not trusting anything he said, I narrowed my gaze on him. “Why would you do this for me?”

“Let’s consider it a truce.” He flashed a gregarious smile.

James had the ability to be charming when he wanted to be, and he did so now, but I was still wary of his motives. “Are you even capable of a truce, James?”

He shrugged. “When I’m motivated, yes.”

Before I could ask what he meant by that, I jumped at the unexpected sound of someone clearing their throat behind me.

“Everything okay here, ma’am?” Jeff asked.

I turned around, seeing the frown on Jeff’s face as he glanced from James, then back to me, a paper bag from a nearby market in his hand. I’d been so engrossed in the possibility offinallydiscovering who’d killed my parents that I hadn’t heard him arrive.

I was unsure how much of the conversation he’d overheard, not that it mattered, and sought to reassure him. “I’m fine, Jeff. Thank you.” Then I faced the other man still standing in my apartment and said more firmly, “You need to leave, James.”

“Okay,” he said agreeably, and set the envelope on my kitchen table, giving it a little tap with his finger. “I’ll leave this here for you. It’s yours to do with as you please.”

James strolled past Jeff, nodding amicably at the younger man as he headed out the door. Jeff quietly set the bag of groceries on the table next to the envelope.

The last thing I wanted was this encounter with James to get back to Eric before I could tell him myself. Before I even knew what was inside that envelope. “Can we please keep that other visitor between us, for now?” I asked Jeff.

He gave a nod, a bit of conflict in his eyes. “If you need anything else, just let me know,” he said, and then he was gone, too, leaving me alone with the desperate longing to know who was responsible for my parent’s death.

My stomach was in knots, but my heart was filled with hope. I wanted to believe James, even though I didn’t trust him. There was only one way to find out if the truth was inside the manilla envelope.

I reached for the packet and opened it.

CHAPTER 23

Eric

My mother and father missed Jasmine while I visited them. They’d had so many questions about my wife’s absence, and Mom started that emotional spiral until I’d explained that Jasmine was sick with the flu. That confession had gotten me sent home with ten different soup and bread recipes that I didn’t even realize my mother still remembered to give to Jasmine.

Admittedly, I’d missed Jasmine’s company, too, even though we’d texted briefly over the weekend. Since making sure she rested was a priority, I didn’t disturb her often, just a few times to make sure that she was doing okay. She was the first person I messaged when I touched down in Coral Gables late Monday afternoon, since we hadn’t texted since the night before.

Can’t wait to see you. I hope you’re feeling better.

I didn’t get an immediate response, but that had been par for the course the past few days and I figured she was still resting and recouping.

I checked my phone almost ritualistically over the next few hours as I reacclimated back home. Unpacking, checking and replying to work emails, making myself something to eat for dinner. Ignoring and deleting correspondence from James, then finally blocking him and his rants. He’d been furious with me when I’d shared what I’d discovered about his dire financial straits, and I’d made it clear that I had no qualms exposing what a financial risk he was to the community if he didn’t leave me, and Jasmine, the fuck alone.

That ultimatum hadn’t been received well, not that I gave a shit. I now held all the cards in this game James had been playing, and the other man knew it, too.

After eating and cleaning up the kitchen, there was still no response from Jasmine and the earlier message I’d sent showed as “unread”. Since I’d asked Jeff to make another food delivery to Jasmine today, I called his cell.

He answered on the second ring. “Yes, sir?”

“Hey, Jeff,” I said, sitting down on the couch in the living room. “Did you deliver the groceries to Jasmine today?”

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