We Didn’t See it Coming (26 page)

“But Mother had everything a woman could want,” Milandra said as she continued to defend their father.

“I guess we'll never know why Father was harsh to women,” Noelle said.

“He
was
good to us. We have to forget about it and move on,” Kenley said.

“We will as soon as we move back to the estate. I cannot wait to get out of this place. To think, Father entertained Aniyah here. It's dreadful! Just get me back to my bed at the estate,” Milandra said.

“I hope I'm not sleeping in the room here, the room where Father had sex with her,” Noelle said.

“The thought of her and Father in bed together is making me lose my appetite. I can't eat any more,” Milandra said, dropping her fork on the plate.

“I think it's gross.” Kenley frowned.

They left the dishes on the table for the servants to clean up the next day. They went on to sleep in the beds; they had no other choice.

• • •

Morning came soon enough. Kenley was excited about meeting with friends to talk all about her party plans. Her sisters cleared the morning schedule to have breakfast with their male friends. Today, they vowed to forget all about their problems and let Baron take care of their legal issues.

“Nolan said they'll be here at ten o'clock to pick us up,” Milandra called from her bedroom to Noelle. She busily applied dark-brown mascara to her eyelashes.

“I'm doing my hair,” Noelle said as she stroked her hair with a brush. “Has Kenley left the house yet?”

Kenley heard her sister's question. “I won't meet with my friends until this afternoon,” she called from her bedroom; the rooms were adjacent to one another.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Pete, the servant, cleaned up their mess from the night before and prepared bacon, eggs, and grits for Kenley. He had been sent over by Elsa to work for the Houstons.

“Miss Houston, your breakfast is ready,” Pete said.

Kenley came to the top of the stairs to see him. “I remember you. I thought you didn't speak any English.”

Pete grinned. “I do a little.”

“You're one of Aniyah's lovers.”

“No, not me. She made me do things with her. I need to keep work so I did what she wanted,” he admitted.

“Bring my breakfast up to my room.”

Back in the kitchen, Pete prepared a tray of food for Kenley.

Not long after, he walked cautiously toward her room, careful not to spill the glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

“Where would you like me to place it?” he asked as he smiled.

“Sit it on the bed and you better not come anywhere near me,” Kenley said as she glanced at his cute dimples.

“Miss Houston, I no touch you.”

Pete set the tray down. She knew he was the youngest of all the servants.

“How old are you?”

“Eighteen.”

“I forgot your name. What is it again?” Kenley asked as she tried to recall what Aniyah had called him the day she had seen them together. She took a bite of the bacon as she listened to his answer.

“Pete,” he replied.

Kenley saw him as one of her peers. “That crazy woman took advantage of you.”

“Ad-van-tage?” he muttered.

Kenley realized he didn't understand her. “You know she took you for her fun,” she explained.

“Yes, she wild.” Pete giggled.

To make up for his encounter with Aniyah, Kenley asked, “You want to come to a party? It's my sweet sixteen birthday.”

Pete smiled. “I would like to, but don't own any party clothes.”

“Tell Elsa to give you a pair of black pants and a white shirt. They're available for the help when we have formal parties. You do have swimming trunks for the pool?”

“Yes, I do.” Pete grinned.

“There'll be lots of pretty girls your age coming to the party.”

“I will come for sure,” Pete said.

“You can have fun, but no getting together with them. You know what I'm saying?” Kenley teased.

“I know. They're rich girls. They no want a poor guy like me.”

“Yes, my snobby friends won't want you, so just have fun. After dinner, go by Elsa's and pick up the clothes.”

“I will. Thanks for inviting me,” he said, dismissing himself.

Milandra heard Pete out in the hallway. She called “Please unlock the front door. I have guests coming over. They'll let themselves in.”

Milandra had already instructed Nolan that he and Sid could come right on in the house and make themselves at home. At times, it took her and her sisters extra time to get ready.

Pete followed her orders and unlocked the door. He looked out to see there were no visible signs of the guests. He pushed the door, but it didn't close all the way.

He went on to tidy up the kitchen.

Kenley left her food and peeped out the window to see that the lake was full of sailors on their pontoon boats. She could tell by the beaming sun that the temperature was near a hundred degrees. She was happy to be cooled by the central air throughout the house, but she would have to endure the sun soon enough.

Milandra is going to scold me for inviting the help as a guest to the party. I don't care because Aniyah did Pete wrong and he's cute.

Kenley grabbed her iPod and placed the ear buds in her ears. She listened to music as she ate the rest of her breakfast.

• • •

Baron found Tessa sitting at the kitchen table with her head down on it. He came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulder.

“Is there something wrong?”

She sobbed. “I can't do it, Baron; not to my niece.”

“Tessa, you must.”

“I can't believe I pressed charges against my own family. Rosie is my only niece.”

“I know it's difficult, but it had to be done. Your niece has to be punished for her terrible actions.”

Tessa banged on the table. “She's family! The Houstons are loyal to theirs. I must be loyal to my family.”

“You have this whole day to think about it. Whatever you decide, I'll still love you. But you'll be making a great mistake if you let her go, after what she did to you.”

Tessa sat up and wiped her face. Her eyes were red from hours of crying. “I know they'll hold her for acting as if she was their father's daughter. That can be enough punishment for Rosie. I don't want her to feel like I betrayed her.”

“You're too nice. Your niece betrayed you. She thought nothing of shoving you in a closet. Think about it. Give it lots of thought today. Be loyal to yourself first.” Baron placed his chin on the top of her head. “That's one of the things I love about you. You always think of others.”

Tessa patted him on the hand. “I'll make a decision before the day is over.”

He went into his home office and made a few calls.

Tessa got dressed and headed over to the villa. Her decision was already embedded in her head. She wanted to be the one to tell the Houstons her decision. She didn't want Baron in the middle of it.

T
he front page of the newspaper announced Aniyah's arrest. The headlines read: “No Fourth Houston.” Danny read on and learned Aniyah's true identity. He spoke out as he read.

“How stupid could that dumb broad be? Damn! I should have gotten to her sooner. I would've been loaded with cash. Those freakin' crazy Houston women jacked up my plans and the Sanchezes aren't any better. The dumb-ass aunt helped turned over her own niece to the Feds.”

Danny read about how Tessa valued her family's name. “Value the money, broad,” he yelled. He read on about where the Houstons resided at this time.

Danny grabbed a phone book and looked up the number for the Houston Estate. He called the estate and got one of the servants on the line. Pretending to be a magazine writer, Danny inquired about how to get in touch with the Houstons. He struck luck because he promised the servant a few dollars to give up their whereabouts.

He slipped on his clothes. He also took the knife he had used for his steak dinner, wrapped it in a cloth napkin, and left his hotel room.

Danny parked his compact car a little way back from the Houston
Villa, hiding it behind a bunch of trees. He constantly wiped the sweat that drenched his face as he walked up to the house. No signs of people, he hurried up to the front door and noticed the door was ajar. As he slowly stepped inside the house, Danny listened for movement. Right away he heard footsteps coming from the right side of the house. He assumed it was probably the servants in the kitchen because the aroma of the morning breakfast still filled that side of the house.

Coming from upstairs, Danny heard Milandra's voice.

She called to her sister, “Noelle, are you ready?”

“Not yet,” Noelle replied.

Danny took off his shoes and carried them in one hand up the stairs. In the other hand, he held the knife. He went into the room he heard the first voice coming from. Milandra was not in the bedroom; instead, she was in her private bathroom.

Danny gently sat his shoes down on the floor. He tiptoed into the bathroom. Milandra stood in the mirror brushing her hair, fully dressed in a cream-colored, two-piece linen suit. She looked in the mirror to see Danny behind her.

Milandra went to scream, but he covered her mouth with his left hand while he held the knife to her throat with his other hand.

“Shh,” he said. “Make a sound and you'll be scarred for life.”

Tears ran down her cheeks. Danny kept his ears and eyes open.

“Point to where the closet is,” he whispered.

Milandra pointed to a huge closet inside the bathroom. Danny was about to open the closet when Milandra bit him on the hand. He nipped her on the neck with the knife. As quickly as she tried to scream, he placed his hand back over her mouth. This time, though, he applied lots of pressure. “I see I'll have to slice you and your sisters into pieces.”

Danny shoved her into the closet and she fell on the floor. He shut the door and locked it.

Milandra placed her finger on her neck to feel for blood. She cried, “God, why is so much pain coming to my family?” She took a dark-blue scarf off a dress and placed it around her neck to absorb the blood.

Danny left the bedroom. He kept a close watch on his surroundings as he made his way to Noelle's bedroom next. She hadn't gotten dressed yet. He walked in on her and saw she was dressed only in a white-laced bra and matching panties.

Noelle noticed him and tried to run. She screamed, but Kenley couldn't hear her because of the ear buds in her ears. Danny ran after Noelle and tackled her to the floor. He lay on top of her, then kissed the back of her neck, absorbing the perfume she wore. He eased the knife down the side of her face. Touching her just enough not to cut her. Noelle felt his erection against her leg.

“Please, don't hurt me,” she begged.

“Do what I say and maybe I won't,” Danny whispered.

As much as he wanted to have her, he had to stick to his plans. “Get up and keep quiet. Move and I'll slice one of those pretty tits of yours.”

Danny eased the knife around her right breast, making a full circle. Noelle didn't say anything. She stood up. He grabbed her from behind, covered her mouth, and stuck the tip of the knife against her right cheekbone. He walked her through the hallway into Milandra's bedroom.

Danny unlocked the closet door and Noelle saw her sister on the floor. Before she could say a word, Danny pushed her with force. She fell on top of Milandra. They held on to each other. Then, he locked the door again.

Danny was happy that things were going smoothly. One more sister, he thought as he went into the last bedroom. Kenley sat on the bed, still listening to her music. She sang along with one of Beyoncé's songs. She wore a pair of pajama shorts and a sleeveless pajama T-shirt that resembled outerwear. He startled her when he snatched the iPod out of her hand. The ear buds fell out of her ears.

Kenley looked up, staring directly at the tip of the knife. She tried to crawl backward on the bed, knocking her breakfast tray on the floor. The remainder of the juice spilled on the carpet.

“Who are you?” she yelled.

“It doesn't matter. You move another inch and blood will be all over this bed.”

Danny moved in on her and rubbed her face with his hand. Kenley stood still. Her eyes popped wide open as she placed her hands against her chest.

“You remind me of Aniyah, Rosie, whatever her name is, when I first met her—fresh meat for a man.”

“What is she to you?” Kenley mumbled, but hoped he wasn't planning on hurting her.

“My escort and my money ticket, before you broads destroyed that.”

Kenley thought quickly. “My family has plenty of money. How much do you need? My oldest sister is in the next room. She'll go to the bank and get all the money you want.”

“Your sister isn't going anywhere at this time. She's safely locked up where you're going to join her.”

Danny pulled Kenley by her T-shirt to join her sisters, still pointing the knife. He tossed her in the closet.

Kenley cried when she saw her sisters sitting on the floor. “I'm so happy to see you both.”

“As long as you all cooperate, no one gets seriously hurt,” Danny said and locked the door.

• • •

Inside the closet, the women listened until Danny disappeared.

“What are we going to do?” Noelle asked.

“Stay calm,” Milandra said.

“Who is this man?” Noelle wondered.

“He knows Aniyah. He says we caused him to lose his money,” Kenley informed them.

“No such thing,” Milandra said as she fanned herself. “I think I'm going to faint.”

Milandra removed the scarf from around her neck. Kenley noticed she had been bleeding.

“Oh, he cut you, Milandra. You may need to see a doctor right away.”

“Lucky he didn't cut me deeper or I would be bleeding to death. I'm just getting overheated from being in this closet.”