Authors: Serenity King
the same time, I wouldn’t wish him on a good
woman at this time in his life, and Dominique’s
a good woman. All I can say is that you must
want this election bad.”
Marcus glanced at Felton’s son and saw
that he was looking at his father in shock. His
shock almost mirrored Marcus’ own. What the
hell was Hobbs trying to do? What had gotten
into him?
“So you’re saying that you don’t want
Dominique with Junior,” Marcus ground out,
still trying to keep his voice down.
Marcus saw the panicked look Felton Jr.
gave him and wondered what the young man’s
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motives were. He didn’t really give a damn at
this point. That would be Dominique’s problem
once she and Felton were married.
He
needed
a united front with the Hobbs’.
Hobbs Sr. might not have been exactly well-
liked, but everybody appreciated his keen
business sense and his ability to make money
grow. After Marcus won the election his old
friend could do whatever the hell he wanted.
But for now, he needed him and his good-for-
nothing son. “I think you’re being a little too
hard on Felton,” he said, trying to sound
paternal.
Hobbs Sr. shook his head. “Don’t worry,
I’m not backing out. This will be great for all of
us. Well, all of us except for Dominique. But, if
you don’t care, then why the hell should I?
After all, you’re her father.”
“Yes, I am. Dominique will marry a
prominent
African
American
and
not
some…never mind. Just be at the house
tonight,” Marcus hissed. “I take it you’re paying
for lunch today?”
“Why, of course. I wouldn’t have it any
other way.”
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153
“Good, see you two tonight. Don’t be late.
You know how Olivia hates that,” Marcus said
before getting up and leaving the restaurant.
Marcus was so angry he could spit. Who
the hell did Hobbs think he was questioning
him like that? Of course he loved Dominique;
he just needed her to do what he wanted. Hell,
Felton was acting like Dominique was his
daughter or something. All Marcus knew was
that Felton Sr. had better not back out now.
Marcus wasn’t concerned about Felton Jr., he
needed this marriage just as much as Marcus
did. Especially since his daddy was tightening
the purse strings.
Still, this wasn’t the time to be getting
cold feet. He’d have to keep a close eye on
Felton Sr. He didn’t need him spilling his guts
to Dominique. Granted they’d been friends
practically all of their lives and he could always
count on Felton, but lately his friend was giving
him all kinds of grief about everything he did.
After the election, if Felton wanted to part
ways…good riddance. Marcus was sure he
could make more friends once he was elected.
Powerful friends. And that’s all that he was
concerned about now.
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Marcus needed to push fast. He’d seen
how that Cameron boy was looking at
Dominique at the wedding. There was no way
in hell that he’d allow her to marry him, and to
prevent that he needed Dominique here, under
his watchful eye, with as many obstacles
thrown in her path as possible. As for that
Cameron fellow, he’d better stay the hell out of
his way or he’d make his ass disappear
permanently. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t done
things like that before…
CHAPTER EIGHT
Dominique was drained both mentally
and physically. This case was driving her nuts,
and so was her father. If he called one more
time about that stupid dinner, she was going to
scream.
Marcus was still angry that she hadn’t
shown up for the dinner he’d planned at his
house. Dominique had kindly reminded her
father that, had he not hung up on her, she
would have told him that she was busy with
preparing for her trial.
Not only was her father on her case, but
Felton Hobbs Jr. was leaving tons of messages
on her cell phone about having lunch or dinner
with him. That ass had even had the nerve to
show up at her office the night before, as if
appearing at her job would suddenly make her
decide that she actually liked him.
As if
.
Dominique had been feeling depressed
ever since she had had to call Brandon and
cancel for the following night. She needed to
meet with an expert witness and, unfortunately,
Saturday was the only free day he had available
before he was due to testify in court.
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Dominique didn’t like losing, especially
since it was dawning on her that she’d been put
in a position where she could do nothing but
fail. Fuck that. She was determined to come out
a winner. Mr. Johnson would get the best
defense she could offer.
Dominique gave a loud sigh.
Nothing like
Chinese food to make me feel better
, she
thought.
I’ll give Brandon a call once I feed my
belly.
Dominique emptied the contents of her
Chinese food onto her plate. She had a date
with General Tso’s Chicken, Spareribs, Lo
Mein, and a nice glass of red wine. “Yep, this is
the life.” Now all she needed was to hear
Brandon’s sexy voice.
Dominique had taken a forkful of her
food when she suddenly heard knocking at her
door. She glanced at her kitchen clock and
noticed that it was going on 8:30 p.m. Who on
earth…? Diamond was still on her honeymoon,
she’d spoken with her mom earlier, and Chad
and Xavier were both out of town.
Dominique felt the muscles in her
shoulders start to knot up. “If that’s my father I
am going to strangle him with my bare hands,”
she said out loud and stomped over to the door
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157
and yanked it open without even looking to see
who it was.
“Daddy if you so much as—”
“Sorry baby, it’s not your daddy,”
Brandon said with a big smile.
Dominique stood there in shock.
“Uh, baby, I think you should invite me
in. Not that I’m not enjoying the view, but I
wouldn’t want anyone else to see you dressed
like that,” he said with a scowl on his face.
Dominique was wearing a skimpy pajama
tank top and boy’s shorts. She didn’t care.
“Brandon! Oh my God! Brandon! It’s really
you.” With one step, she closed the distance
between them. Brandon lifted her off her feet in
a bear hug and claimed her lips in a scorching
kiss.
Brandon was the first to break the kiss.
“Baby, I think we should go inside,” he
whispered against her lips, walking inside with
her in his arms and kicking the door closed
with his foot.
Dominique planted little kisses all over
Brandon’s face. “I…missed…you…so…much,”
she said between kisses.
“I missed you too, baby. When you said
you couldn’t make it, I decided that I would
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come to you. I told you before that we won’t be
spending our weekends apart if I can help it.
Never again, as far as I’m concerned,” Brandon
said placing her on her feet. “I see someone’s
been pigging out.”
Dominique blushed. Brandon knew that
Chinese food was her comfort food. “I figured
since I couldn’t see you this weekend I’d do the
next best thing.”
“Eat Chinese food. Glad I rate up there
with your favorite food dish,” Brandon teased.
“I’m glad you’re here. Did you eat? You
want to join me? Sit,” she said, making her way
over to the kitchen to grab a plate for Brandon.
“I can’t believe that you’re here. How long are
you here for?”
Brandon washed his hands in the kitchen
sink, snatched a paper towel with which to dry
them, and went to sit next to Dominique at the
table. “Believe it. I don’t know how long yet. It
doesn’t feel right with me in New York and you
here. Plus, you’ve started to worry me with this
case you’re on. Too many key people keep
disappearing. I want to see some of the
paperwork. Maybe I can help,” Brandon said.
“Yay! I would love to share with you.
Maybe a fresh set of eyes is what we need.
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159
Karen and I have been wracking our brains.
We’ve only been in court for three days and
already this is giving me a headache. I just have
this feeling that there’s something I’m missing.
Karen says the same thing.”
“Karen’s your legal assistant, right?”
Brandon asked as he began to eat the food that
Dominique placed in front of him.
“Yes. Karen’s actually a lawyer. She’s
taking the bar exam in a few months. Anyway,
this is a case from hell. I don’t know what to
think. I mean with the way things are going
now, this jury will go with the prosecution all
the way. It’s not looking good for my client and
I don’t like that at all.”
“What do you mean? Are you starting to
doubt his guilt?”
“Honestly, I did have my doubts once this
trial began. Now, there’s just so much
convenient evidence against him. Little
coincidences. Circumstantial stuff. Makes you
wonder…It’s almost like it’s too damn perfect.”
“You’re thinking it’s a setup?” Brandon
asked.
Dominique shrugged her shoulders. “I
don’t know about my client. But me, yeah,
there’s no question that I’ve been setup to fail.”
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Dominique saw Brandon stiffen and wished she
had kept her mouth shut.
“What do you mean you’ve been setup to
fail?” Brandon barked.
“Calm down, Brandon. I mean this case is
huge. It’s the talk of Atlanta. So why ask
me
to
take over the defense? I’m good Brandon, but
not that good. I’m not a criminal attorney, and
I’m sure as hell not a trial lawyer. Anyway, I
have to meet with the expert witness the day
after tomorrow, and at some point in the
upcoming week I need to check out that
building for myself. My client is being accused
of veering from the original engineers report,
accidental damage, shoddy workmanship while
under construction, faulty drainage systems,
along with a shit-load of other stuff,”
Dominique said.
Brandon whistled through his teeth. “I’m
going with you Saturday. Don’t even think
about protesting, Dominique. I’m going, and
that’s final,” Brandon stated firmly.
Dominique rolled her eyes to the ceiling.
“And just how am I supposed to explain your
presence? You’re not associated with this case
in any way, shape, or form.”
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161
“That’s where you’re wrong, Dominique,”
Brandon said. “I’m associated with this case in
every way, because you’re connected to it.
You’re my wife, and as far as I’m concerned,
that seals the deal. I’m going with you. Get used
to it.”
Dominique threw up her hands. “Okay,
you Tarzan, me Jane…but just how am I
supposed to explain your presence since no one
knows
we’re married?” Dominique tried to
reason with him.
Brandon got up and closed the short
distance between them, taking her by the hand,
lifting her up from her seat, and pulling her
into his embrace. “They don’t have to know.
You won’t have to explain my presence to your
witness. For all he or she knows, I’m just
another attorney working the case with you,”
Brandon said, placing his forehead on hers and
using his hands to palm her ass. “Humor me,
okay?”
Dominique knew that Brandon was trying
to make it seem as though she had a choice,
when in reality she knew that Brandon would
do what he wanted to when it came to her
safety. She had a feeling that this was going to
be one very long trial. Not only did she have to
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deal with six other arrogant attorneys, the ADA,
and her client, now she would also have to