Page 63 of Brown Sugar
TYSON
“It’ll be over soon. We’ll get through this, princess.”
I draw her toward me for a goodbye kiss. We both linger a moment longer than we should. Both of us are thinking the same thing—this is the worst part.
The part of our plan where we’ve got to do what we’ve agreed to do.
We’ve got to separate in order to end this mess once and for all.
I’m parked outside her sister’s apartment building after the day and a half break Kiana was afforded by the label. Between her resting from the car crash and packing up Jax’s things, time went by too fast. Today she’s performing a small set for a talk show and then flying back to New York City to resume her tour preparation.
I’ll be seeking answers on the West Coast.
We finally separate from our kiss, still hovering close. Neither of us are looking forward to the days to come.
“Don’t say a word to them,” I remind her. My thumbs sweep along the curve of her cheeks. “Remember, princess. We stick to the plan no matter what.”
She gives a reluctant nod, her expression so glum it tears at me. She’s been through so much, especially over the past couple weeks, that it makes me want to crush her in my arms and never let her go.
“Oh,” comes Amari’s voice from the sidewalk, “so you two reallydogot it bad.”
We look over at the same time, two lovers caught in the middle of a moment inside my car. Amari’s smirking at us, hands on her hips and right eyebrow raised. I can damn near feel the bashfulness that rolls over Kiana as she clears her throat and sits up straighter.
“Guess it really is time to go.”
“Don’t worry, Tyson. I’ll take care of her,” Amari promises. “I’m done working on the project with my other client. I’ll be with her for the rest of her tour prep. Which means anybody tries anything, they’ve got me to answer to.”
Her twin sister might be joking, but she’s got no idea that it’s some form of relief on my end. Though I haven’t known the sisters for long, it’s clear they’re protective of each other.
I nod at the twin. “Keep me posted.”
“You do the same,” Amari says.
Kiana throws me a parting glance from over her shoulder as she joins her sister on the sidewalk.
It’s our final goodbye before the two disappear inside the apartment building.
I release a deep sigh, doing what I’d done for Kiana—reminding myself that this next period is necessary. We’ve got to get through it in order to eliminate the threat and set her free from the vultures surrounding her.
Starting up the Hummer’s engine with a roar, I drive off to my next task.
Forcing answers from the man who was supposed to love her.
Shawn Lassiter is walking out of practice when I accost him. He’s crossing the parking lot of the LA Stars training facility, his duffle bag slung over his shoulder and a ball cap wedged low over his brow, hardly paying attention to his surroundings.
He’s driven himself, parking his shiny little cobalt sports car away from others in the lot. Clearly, he didn’t want to risk any dents or dings for his pricey toy.
Yet he’d been petty enough to shop around explicit photos and videos of Kiana for cash…
The mere thought makes the blood in my veins boil all over again.
I tamp down on letting my temper spiral. As pissed off as it makes me to know how Shawn’s treated Kiana, I need to focus if I’m to get this phase of the plan done.
He slides into the driver’s seat of his toy-sized sports car and then jets off.
I give it a couple seconds before following him.
He’s a wannabe speed racer on the freeway, breaking the speed limit without a care. I’m able to keep up despite the fact that my Hummer’s three times the size and guzzles gas like no other.