Page 75 of Compelled Obedience

“I’ll get you for this.” I shoved my bowl away, instantly grabbing a napkin. I enjoyed being a sticky mess, but not because of ice cream.

Oh, I was such a wicked woman.

As I struggled to wipe the streaks from my curls, I rolled my eyes. Then I noticed someone standing on the street below staring at us. Well, I couldn’t be certain since the person was wearing sunglasses, but my skin crawled nonetheless.

“What is it?” Grant asked, following my gaze.

“I don’t know.” The cold chill sweeping through me had no rhyme or reason. I couldn’t tell a thing about the guy other than he was huge and muscular, dressing in black jeans and a dark tee shirt. He stood with his arms folded across his chest, staring up at the balcony. He could be looking at anything, but I sensed his eyes were locked on me. Watching me. Waiting for the right time.

Grant took a deep breath then stood, obviously realizing who I was staring at.

“Don’t. It’s nothing. You know that.” I touched his arm, shuddering from the electricity that always soared through us.

“Just let me find out.”

“Grant Wilde. I’m surprised to find you out of your cave.” The dark voice came from behind me. While it wasn’t menacing by any standards, I could instantly tell Grant was annoyed.

He glanced from Casey back to the mystery visitor, his jaw remaining clenched.

“Silas Young. And I’m surprised to see you out of the courtroom or following behind the mayor like a good boy.”

He laughed and the two men shook hands, but this meeting was anything but friendly.

“Touché. I didn’t mean to interrupt a family outing. I had no idea you had a child.”

Casey took that moment to turn over the bowl, beating the spoon on the bottom in time to whatever beat was going through his head. As he started to giggle loudly, the old feeling of angst rushed into my system.

Grant wasn’t flustered in the least, smiling down at the child as if this was the norm. “This is a good friend of mine and her brother. Kerri Bettington, this is Silas Young, LA’s up and coming stodgy prosecutor.”

Prosecutor. There was no reason for the word to trouble me other than the ugly memories from all those years ago. I stiffened but smiled at the guy, noticing he was scrutinizing me before drifting his full attention to Casey, who’d begun to chatter to himself. That usually turned into utter disruption, which mean the sooner we got him out of here the better. There was too much noise and excitement. And a stranger being close wasn’t good for him.

“I think it’s time to go, Grant,” I said softly. Raising my voice wasn’t good for anyone right now, least of all Casey. Maybe I was too protective of him or maybe I hated the way people reacted when he threw a fit a little too much. I was the queen of not giving a fuck what people thought yet here I was worried my brother would make a scene.

He nodded. “Good to see you, Silas, but we have a deadline.”

“Of course.” Silas started to back away then yanked off his sunglasses. For some reason, the sudden action forced me to look into his eyes. They were searching mine, seconds later lighting up as if recognizing me from somewhere yet I’d never seen him before. “If it’s alright, I’m going to give you a call in a couple days.”

“I’ve already approved your membership, Silas. There’s no need.”

“Grateful but I have something else to talk to you about and I certainly don’t want to interrupt your afternoon. Such a pleasure to meet you, Kerri. You look familiar. I just can’t place from where.”

“I’m a cage dancer at Blackout,” I offered quickly, momentarily forgetting where I was.

“Ah. That must be it. Costumes. Right? Kitty cat?” Silas laughed and I sensed Grant tensing more than before.

“Yes.” I laughed then pulled the bowl away from Casey before he dropped it on the cement floor.

“Anyway. I’ll call you later,” he said to Grant before walking away.

Casey had uncanny timing, picking that very moment to wail at the top of his lungs.

“Whoa, little man. Ready to go for a ride?” Grant was quick to react, tugging Casey from his chair and over his shoulders, which shifted the oncoming fit of rage into one of laughter.

I stood, hating the fact my legs were shaking, taking a few seconds to glance over the balcony’s railing. The man I’d seen before was gone.

When I turned the opposite direction, Silas remained in the far doorway, also staring at me as the stranger had done before. I’d never felt so uncomfortable in my life.

There was something terrible going on that I’d been driven into the middle of.

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