Power (Romantic Suspense) (21 page)

The blonde pulled me forward to one of those dressing screen dividers that I’d seen in old western movies. But this one was more contemporary and matched the room. It had black and white panels and a silver hinge attached each of the panels. Behind the divider, the other two women swarmed on me, slowly slipping off my sundress.

“Uh, Noah.” I raised my hands. “I really want to thank you for this experience, but. . .I don’t know how I could repay you for all of this.”

His sexy voice traveled from the other side of the divider. “You’re going to model it all for me. Everything that I like, we’ll buy. That’s how you’ll repay me.”

Model for him?

I blew out my breath unsure of it all. This moment felt surreal. One of them had turned on some music. A low piano tune played. Shadows flickered within the candlelight. Where we dressed, they kept the ceiling light on, but dimmed low.

“Let’s put you in this, first.” The blonde showed me a black dress hanging from a satin hanger. The straps were tiny. It had a deep plunge in the front that would expose all of my cleavage. The barely visible cups to hold my breasts had a swirled ribboned design over some sort of sheer fabric. It looked like everything would hug me. Cling to my hips and bottom. Make my legs and thighs appear irresistible.

Naked, all I could do was stand in awe of that dress. “Wow.”

“Wow is right.” She helped me into it. “This is an exclusive piece, embellished with silk ribbon and crafted into three dimensional floral motifs over light tulle. It’s all hand sewn.”

I let them pull the soft material over my hips and help me in, tucking in each arm and breast. “How much is this?”

“$2,255.”

“Shit,” I mumbled.

“Shit is right.”

“Are you into clothes?” she asked.

“Yes,” I admitted. “I have amazing fashion sense. I’m just too broke to prove it.”

She giggled and leaned into me as she zipped me up. “You must’ve done something really special to get Mr. Brunson to do this for you. He only comes in here once a year.”

“Oh.” A little jealousy panged at my heart. “He brings women in here one a year?”

“No, it’s not like that. He comes in with his mother for her birthdays.” The blonde circled me and made sure everything lay just right on my body. “She’s a nice woman.”

The blonde leaned in and whispered, “But usually, she picks simple and boring pieces. She’s not really into the glam.”

“Oh.”

“But when he called this afternoon, he told us to have some fun. Get the best of the best. The only requirement was that everything be sexy and fitting for a queen.”

Oh, my God, Noah. What are you doing to me?

I had to enjoy this moment. For now, this was my life. By next week, I’d be back in jogging pants and scratching my ass on my tiny bed while I caught up on overdo homework. What would it be like to live this way, all of the time? Be Noah’s woman. The Beast’s Lady.

“How about these shoes?” She held up ones that defied logic. A curved horn in place of the heel. They were high and bold. I couldn’t imagine wearing them anywhere but a fashion runway. She continued, “These are Fein’s Unicorn Haze.”

“O-kay.”

“And just in case you were wondering, they’re $1,000.”

“Holy shit.” Somehow, I got into them and they strapped me up and primped me around like I really was a queen.

In seconds, they guided me around the divider. Noah had had his legs crossed. As soon as his gaze fell upon me, he uncrossed them and sat up. Nervously, I took my time strolling his way. I may have swung my hips a little to make sure there was a delicious bounce in my deep plunge of cleavage.

He stood up when I neared. “Mary Jane. Mary Jane. That dress is going to look amazing on my limo floor.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” I whispered as he trailed his fingers down my hips. “You’re not allowed to touch any of the models or merchandise.”

He directed his attention to my very exposed breasts. “I want you to wear this tonight.”

I leaned his way and whispered, “Did you know that this whole outfit is over $3,000 dollars?”

“Good.” He turned to the blonde. “Do you have this dress in white, too.”

She nodded.

He smiled. “We’ll take both.”

“Noah.” I cleared my throat. “Where will I be going? I don’t need two expensive dresses?”

“I have places.”

“We only have a week and you’re pretty busy taking care of. . .other stuff.”

He tilted my way and brushed his lips against my ear. “When I give you a gift, you take it. No matter how expensive. Do we understand each other?”

“And if I refuse to accept a gift?”

“Then, I would be sad.” He poked that delicious lip out into a pout, backed up, and sat back down in the lounge chair. “I’m really enjoying this.”

He gestured to the women. “Let’s see what else we can buy Mary Jane.”

I held my hands out. “But—”

“No.” He pointed to the dressing divider. “Just be happy I’ve allowed that thing to hide you while you undress.”

And with that, they rushed me back to try on more things—a decadent corset dress, corded with French lace over nude chiffon, a sultry black bodysuit, a red-carpet gown complete with a mermaid skirt and sparkling bodice.

Where am I going with all of these clothes? Seriously?

At one point, the blonde whispered into my ear, “Don’t worry. He clearly has the money. He’s wearing Brioni. It’s hand-stitched and flawlessly crafted, practically sculpted around his body.”

“Brioni?” I mumbled.

“They’ve been known for dressing all of the James Bond actors. Donald Trump’s a big supporter.” She looked at me like I was crazy for never hearing about them. “That suit is well over $30,000.”

I choked a little on my own saliva.

Remember. This is just temporary, Cinderella. The clock won’t strike midnight, but there will be an end to this and the clock is definitely ticking.

By the end of the shopping spree, boxes of expensive shoes were stacked in huge piles on both sides of Noah. It took about twenty minutes for Fuji and Crusher to load all of the bags and boxes into the car. They waited outside as we left the store.

“Are you ready for our date?” He asked.

Like he’d requested, I wore the first dress with the deep plunge neck line, but I had selected much more comfortable shoes. I had no idea where Noah would be taking me, but I thought it was important for me to be able to walk more than ten feet. “Yes, I’m ready.”

“Are you hungry?” He held the door open for me.

“Yes.”

Before I could ask where we were going to eat, a young girl jumped in front of me and snapped several pictures. I held my hand up in front of me. “Hey! What the hell?”

Noah tried to stop her. “Eh! Get the fuck away from her!”

Crusher pulled out his gun.

Wait. Everyone calm down.

The girl sped off. Fuji charged, but lost his speed after ten steps. If I didn’t have the heels on, I could’ve caught her and ran several more circles, but I didn’t see the point in grabbing her.

Yet, the guys thought it was necessary. Out of nowhere, some young teenaged boy with a mohawk dashed out of the shadows, sped past us, and raced after her.

I widened my eyes. “Who the hell is that?”

“Trouble.” Noah guided me into the limo, but didn’t climb in. “Stay here. We need the camera and that girl.”

“Why?”

Without answering, he shut the door.

“Oh, fuck that.” I opened it up and got back outside.

“You don’t listen, do you?” Sneering, he stayed in front of me and kept the limo at my back.

“Listening is for obedient dogs. I’m a woman, Noah.”

“Boss!” Crusher pointed far off. “The boy is coming back.”

Noah didn’t seem any happier about that. The boy with the mohawk arrived in front of us within minutes. The camera was in his hands. Panting, he said, “I got the phone, but didn’t bring her back.”

“Why the fuck not?!” Fuji stepped toward him, grabbed the camera, and handed it to Noah. To my shock, the kid didn’t shrink away from that monster of a man. “Next time, you snatch her up.”

“No.” The boy shrugged. “She’s a female. I don’t grab females.”

“Good for you.” I smiled.

Everyone ignored me. Fuji leaned toward the boy, tilting his whole upper body toward the kid. “Fuck that. When I say you—”

“Fuji?” I shook my head. “He’s just a kid.”

The big man stepped back and got on my side. “Trust me, MJ. This one isn’t a kid. You can see it in the eyes.”

Noah didn’t even glance at Mohawk. He was too busy studying Fuji and me. “Are you two done?”

“Yes,” we both said.

Noah frowned. “Fuji is right. This isn’t a boy.”

Mohawk smiled throughout the exchange.

I glanced his way. Fuji and Noah had a good point. There was a coldness in the boy’s gaze like Crusher’s and Noah’s, but the spark was still low. There would be more death in those eyes, soon, though. Chances were, he’d probably be worse than Noah. He had a gorgeous face. Probably could’ve been a model, if someone hadn’t introduced him to the streets. Even though he was young, he was already close to my height. His mohawk grew curly and ragged. He had tanned skin, but I couldn’t determine his ethnicity.

While I was studying the boy, Noah glared at Fuji. Something passed between them. I didn’t know what happened, but I guessed I had something to do with it.

“I’m not hitting no female,” the boy continued.

Noah turned his way. “Did you ask the girl any questions?”

“No. She kneed me in the balls.”

“Sounds like a match made in heaven.” Noah flipped through the camera, but his words held a sharpened edge. “Give Mary Jane some space, Fuji.”

Shocked, Fuji hurried toward Crusher, giving up more than enough footage between us.

O-kay. Men can’t stand next to me and little girls can’t take pictures? Got it.

I peeked over Noah’s shoulder while he studied all of the pictures. Every picture that came across the screen was of me. The girl had somehow found a space between the blinds to get a few images of me modeling for Noah. Not one image had him in it. I’d been her main target.

Noah slung the camera at Fuji. “Find out who wanted pictures of my lady.”

My lady?

Noah glanced at the boy. “What’s your name?”

Mohawk studied me.

Noah snapped his fingers and brought the boy’s attention back to him. “What’s your name?”

“I don’t like my name,” the boy mumbled.

“So what do people call you?”

“Mo.”

“For mohawk?” Noah asked.

“No, for
mo money
.”

“And what were you doing here?” Noah ran his fingers through his hair.

“Following you.”

“Why?”

“Streets are talking. Now that Domingo and Rasheed are dead. They’re thinking it might be a good idea to kill you.”

Wait a minute. Did he just say Domingo was dead? What the hell? When did he die? What’s going on?

A cold chill radiated up my spine. First of all, the very mention of people dying around me didn’t make me calm. But now, this boy had said that Domingo was dead. That couldn’t have been true. If Domingo was dead, then why would Noah keep me with him?

Mo continued, “Everybody said you’re finally going to lose. They’re betting money on your death.”

Noah’s voice held a bored tone. “And what do you think?”

“I don’t like to lose my money. I’m betting on you, but just in case, I figured I’d be around to help.”

“That doesn’t explain why you’re following me around.”

“I helped you with Domingo. It’s in my best interests to make sure you stay on top. Another guy might not like me.”

“Okay, Mo.” Noah nodded. “Go off with Fuji. He’s in the truck.”

“I brought my van,” Mo said. “I can drive that.”

Noah cocked his head. “But that’s not what the fuck I just ordered.”

“Oh.” Mo bobbed his head and went off with Fuji.

Noah gestured at Crusher. “Check the kid’s van and ask around about him.”

“Okay, boss.” Crusher got in the limo. All the while, Noah kept his back to me as we stood outside of the limo.

When I was sure everyone had given us privacy, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Domingo is dead?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to face me?”

“No.” He placed his hands in his pockets.

“Why?”

“I don’t like lying to you. I’m thinking it’s easier to do it if I don’t look you in the eye.”

I walked around and faced him. When I saw his face, some of the anger and confusion left me. Worry creased his eyes.

People are trying to kill him now. Had he known that the entire time he sat in the store watching me model for him, or is this just a regular day? Are people always trying to kill him?