A Test of Love: Interracial Erotic Romance (Chasing Love) (14 page)

“Maybe, Dawn and Lucy never buried the gun.”

He lifted his head to me. “Maybe they didn’t.”

“Have you figured out where any of them is now?”

“No. All three are still hiding.”

“Or. . .never mind.” I waved the comment away. There was no need to say it aloud.

Chase raised his eyebrows. “Or what?”

“Nothing.”

“I thought we said no secrets,” he countered.

An exasperated breath left my lips. “Or maybe the two of them are dead.”

Chapter 13

CHASE

Sleepless, I lay next to Jasmine with the weight of the world bearing down on my shoulders.

Lucy or Dawn.

Which one decided to change the game? It didn’t make any sense to me. Sure, Dawn kept the gun. I could see that. She relished lavish items. A George Washington antique gun was surely a major thing to have, probably something that she couldn’t let sit in a hole covered in dirt. Dawn loved numbers. Letting an expensive gun rot away on the beach was like urinating in one of the many Tiffany vases she kept along the mantel in Willow Park.

If I had to be truthful with myself, I could see Dawn trying to get rid of Jasmine. No other woman could take her place, until I met Jasmine. It made sense that Dawn would want her gone.

But killing someone?

Chapter 14

JASMINE

“Jasmine!” Troy’s voice filled the quiet house. His footsteps boomed in the hallway. “Jasmine! Get up. We’re getting out of here.”

Chase and I sat up in bed. I doubted either one of us had even fallen asleep. I’d been lying in his arms with my eyes open as Lucy’s young, smiling face flashed through my mind. In every other moment, Chase had stirred and tapped his fingers on my waist.

The bedroom door swung open. The light came on. Troy stomped his way to the dresser drawers, wrenching my clothes out and searching around the room. “Where are your bags?”

“What are you doing?” I yawned.

“Getting us out of here.” He turned and peeked around the dresser. “This guy is dangerous. I’m done fucking around with him, Jazz. When the shit goes down, you think we’ll still be afloat? Hell, no. He’ll be fine.” He hurried into the bathroom. “Where the fuck are your bags?”

“Troy, stop.” I climbed out of bed.

“Do you know there is a body on the beach cut into pieces? It’s just bones now, but they should’ve been somewhat connected.” He marched over to my side of the bed with half of my shirts palmed in his hand, grabbed my pillow, pulled the pillowcase off, and stuffed my clothes in there. “An accidental death, I can deal with. Some poor bastard cut into pieces years ago, no. That means that whoever did it is even worse now. I don’t want you around this motherfucker.” He pointed to Chase. “I think he killed the person on the beach.”

“He did. He just didn’t cut him,” I said, but my words fell on deaf ears. “Our dad did.”

“And don’t try to stand there and defend him. You’re lucky that I even let it go on this long. I was trying to be different from our brothers, not be a pain in your neck, and give you some support. This is too much though. I haven’t been out this long and this guy has death all around him.”

“Did you hear me, Troy?” I tried to grab the now full pillowcase out of his hand. “Chase told me what happened.”

“Good. You can tell me what happened on the plane ride back to the states.”

“No one’s going back to the states, and no one is damn sure going down.” Chase got out of bed. “I wouldn’t do that to Jasmine or you.”

“No disrespect, but I don’t know you like that.” Troy returned to gathering more of my stuff.

“Troy!” I slung the packed pillowcase on the floor. “Would you listen to us?”

“What?” He stopped pulling out another drawer.

I told him the story as fast as I could. When Troy got riled up, there was no stopping him. He remained set on a plan and executed it whether I wanted him to do it or not. If Troy said he would take me out of there, he would. Chase would probably try to stop him. There was no telling who would win out of the two. All I realized was that, Jasmine would turn into a tug-of-war between two strong, bull-headed men.
God. No wonder I can deal so easily with Chase. I’m surrounded by moronic cavemen.
Once I finished, Troy leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and hate swimming in his eyes. Who he hated? I had no idea. I was just glad he’d stopped packing my things.

“So we’re trying to find them now,” I added.

“Because you think Dawn or Lucy has the gun?” Troy asked.

“Yes.” Chase sat back down on the bed.

“I don’t like this waiting-for-a-motherfucker-to-come-kill-my-sister shit. She’s not prey or some bait for a trap.”

“Of course not,” Chase said.

Troy looked at me and pointed at Chase. “This guy isn’t for you, Jazz.”

Chase interrupted before I could say anything. “It doesn’t matter. You’re going to have to understand two things about me, Troy. One, I’m going to spend my life protecting Jasmine whether she desires it or not. I’m the reason why Dawn or Lucy is after her. I’ll be the reason why they’ll fail. Two, even if she left with you now, she would be in danger. You must realize that with me she’s safer.”

“Didn’t all of the women die with you around?” Troy asked.

I didn’t have to check Chase’s face to know that question upset him.

“Yes,” Chase admitted. “They were around me, but I didn’t think any of them would be in danger.”

“Shit. It only took three women dying to figure it out?”

“Troy, that’s not fair,” I said.

“Wasn’t fair for the women, either.”

“Okay. We’re done.” I gestured toward the open door. “We can talk in the morning. I’m not going anywhere yet so you can just wait until after I wake up.”

“I haven’t decided if you can stay yet.” Troy turned to Chase. “I’m going to need more than assurances if I let my sister stay.”

“You don’t get to decide if I stay or not. I do.” I touched my own chest.

“What do you need?” Chase asked.

“Really?” I glanced at him. “Are you two going to just sit there and haggle over where I’ll be?”

“Your brother is worried for you. I won’t have him stressing you out even more or causing trouble.” Chase sighed. “What do you need, Troy?”

“You can keep whatever guys are already around Jazz, but from this day on, I’m the only person that gets close to protect her.”

I rolled my eyes. “Apparently, you’re not only a felon, but you’re a freaking super body guard.”

Troy got up from the wall. “I want a gun on me.”

“You’re on probation,” I said. “You can’t carry around firearms.”

“I’ll make it happen for you.” Chase nodded.

“I want any additional information and binders on all the women who died,” Troy continued. “And I want the truth from your ass.”

“You’ll know everything that I know.” Chase nodded.

“What is up with those two locked rooms?” Troy asked.

“Except that. It doesn’t relate to Jasmine’s safety.”

“I say it does.”

“It doesn’t.” Chase’s expression hardened. “You’ll just have to believe me. But you’ll know anything else. If I feel the rooms are relevant then I’ll consider more discussion, but for now, that’s a no.”

“This isn’t a fucking suggestion session. If I don’t find out everything that you know, then Jazz leaves.”

Chase grinned. “You’re a good man and loyal brother, but you’re going to have to realize when you’re not in the favoring position.”

“Meaning?”

“You don’t want to separate me from your sister. Things could get really inconvenient for everyone.”

Troy closed his fingers into fists. “Is that some sort of threat, rich boy?”

“Okay. There are no threats.” I made sure to get between them even though neither appeared to be jumping into battle.

“If you want more information, I’ll provide it,” Chase said. “However, Jasmine remains with me. Ask what you need, and I’ll give it if I can. Most would say that is a fair agreement.”

“Most wouldn’t let their sister stay with a guy that keeps a killer around him,” Troy countered.

“That’s fair, since you’re clearly a better man who understands it’s in our best interests to work together and not apart, what do you need to know?”

“What happened when everyone was thirteen? Was that when this Mac was murdered?”

“Yes,” Chase said.

“Dawn’s high school information is not in her binder. What happened with her?”

“I don’t know why it would be out of her binder. She put them all together so maybe she didn’t want me to be reminded of her wild times.”

“So she was a ho in high school? That’s it?” Troy asked.

Leave it to Troy to be as eloquent as possible.

“Let’s just say that Dawn really started experimenting with girls during those years.”

Something about what Chase said made me uneasy. “Did Dawn ever have a relationship with Lucy?”

“It’s possible, but I doubt it.” Chase got up and put on his shirt. For once, I was glad to see him clothed. I’d been sneaking glances at that chest, and now wasn’t the time to be ogling him. I had to make sure I was safe. Finding out as much as I could would probably make a difference in my getting my behind shot again or not.

“Let’s just head downstairs to the kitchen and discuss them some more, since we’re clearly not getting any sleep until your brother’s at ease.” Chase captured my hand and gently guided me out of the room, while Troy trailed behind us, mumbling curse words and stresses.

I figured the light would be off and everyone out. Instead, the two cooks moved about the space, taking pots out and preparing for breakfast. Vivian sat at the dining table in the farther area on the right where we’d all eaten yesterday. Like in the old days, she’d wrapped the book in a brown paper bag, concealing the cover from everyone. She used to do it when she read naughty little stories about women having orgasms that lasted several hours. I attempted to read one and couldn’t finish it, after blushing so much. I hadn’t even been kissed yet.

“You couldn’t sleep?” I asked.

“No. Not when there’s an ogre stomping around the house yelling your name.” Vivian closed her book and set it on the table.

“What are you reading?” I reached for it.

She blocked me and moved it closer to her. “None of your business.”

Ooh. You’re reading something really naughty.

“Wipe that wicked smirk off your face, Jasmine. It’s not that type of story.” She flipped me off.

“I’m just hoping animals aren’t involved.”

“Eww,” She shrieked in horror. “You’ve been around this sicko too long.”

Chase raised his eyebrows. “Am I the sicko you’re referencing to?”

“Yes. You’re the one.” She pointed.

“Thank you. I just needed clarification. Let the record show that at no time have Jasmine and I used animals.Yet.” He smirked.

“You’re not funny,” I said.

“I’m glad everyone can be all chummy and laugh.” Troy sat down in his seat. “If you all had been out on the beach, then you wouldn’t be joking around.”

“And why’s that, Inspector Fadget?” Vivian asked.

Chase leaned my way. “Fadget?”

“When Vivian calls someone a fake something, she takes off the first letter of the original name and places an f there,” I explained. “So you have Inspector Gadget or in Troy’s very ridiculous case, Inspector Fadget.”

“Got you.” He returned to his sitting position.

I put my arms on the table and lay my head down on them. “So go ahead, Inspector Fadget.”

Troy’s face wore a neutral mask. “Benny is here.”

That garnered everyone’s attention. I actually sat up at the news.

“Chase’s men can’t do shit, but they look pretty in their little black uniforms. Half the time I thought they took five-minute breaks to check on their lipstick,” Troy said. “When Benny’s men stepped on the beach with metal detectors and guns, I knew they were his. They tried to blend in with Chase’s men, wearing the same uniforms. But these guys had Benny’s stink all over them—both hands holding guns, scars on their necks and faces. His men found everything with these high-tech metal detectors and other equipment. It was like from one of those Navy SEAL action movies. He must’ve called in a lot of favors.”

“Did you see my dad?” Vivian asked.

“No. But all his top guys are here. You know the one with the eye that has that circular scar around it as if someone took a knife, held him down, and drew a loop around it? Well, he was on the beach.”

“Dad doesn’t go anywhere without him,” Vivian said.

“Are you sure?” Chase asked.

“His name is Garfield. His face is in every childhood memory of mine. He barely talks and says only a few words to me at a time, but he lived in the basement of our house. When there were birthday parties, Thanksgiving, or any celebration, he was right there at Dad’s side. Troy is right. If he’s here, then Dad’s here.”

“And if Benny is here, then who the fuck else can be here? One of those psycho chicks,” Troy said. “Once Benny’s men got on the beach, they started giving out orders to your guys.”

Chase’s hardened mask cracked a little. “Is that so?”

“Yes. They had your frilly men digging and hauling out sand. Next thing I know, they discovered bones all over the beach. I’m talking in separate places with lots of distance between them. Who does that? Kill a man, cut him up, and take the time to bury different parts of his body all over the beach?”

“Benny,” Chase muttered under his breath.

“Exactly.” Troy hit the table. “If Jazz hadn’t told me that story, we would’ve been out of here. See, Benny, being in charge changes everything. It means there is some method and rules to his madness. Here, I thought that this was some unknown person that did that.”

Troy continued to explain the rest of the night at the beach. Chase had stopped tapping those fingers. Instead, he rubbed the side of his phone back and forth. Someone was going to lose his job, most likely starting with his security. I checked Vivian. My body froze. She stared at Troy and Chase in pure shock—eyes wide open, mouth agape, fingers shaking more with each second.

Oh, shit. Benny. I forgot she doesn’t know him like we do.