Tampa, Florida – 8:11p.m.
Bone tired from working a strenuous eleven-hour day, Kevin climbed into his 2014 Toyota Camry and rested his briefcase on the passenger seat. Being one of the managing partners of a mid-size accounting firm came with much responsibility, especially now that he and the other partners were in the middle of an ownership transition, focusing on the area of sales. They were interviewing transitioning consultants who would be able to provide assistance with finding candidates, making introductions, negotiations, valuations and any other service they needed to catapult their company to the next level.
But at the moment, Kevin wanted to block out anything having to do with work and focus on getting home so that he could enjoy a warm shower and an oversized helping of Chinese food. He veered right to I-75, thinking it would be the fastest route home, but for some reason, the traffic was crawling slowly on the interstate. He thought by this time, the usual five-o’clock traffic jam would have already cleared up. And as anxious as Kevin was to get home, he couldn’t do anything, except try to turn off at the nearest exit. And even that option seemed like it would be a long wait, especially at this slow pace he was moving.
Well, instead of fuming about the situation, he decided to call Hunter and kill some time. He’d been longing to talk to her anyway, ever since he got back to Tampa almost a week ago. Kevin promised Hunter that he would call her every night, but he hadn’t anticipated the recent ventures at his company being so exhausting. Most nights when he got home, he would shower and before he knew it, he was out like a light, only to have to repeat the same rigorous process the following morning. He prayed Hunter understood that his lack of communication had nothing to do with him losing interest in her. In fact, he missed her so much that he was tempted to take a one-day trip to Devin’s Cay, just so that he could be in her presence and feast on her rosy lips.
Kevin called Hunter’s cell phone and he was surprised to hear her voicemail kick in. Normally when he called, she would answer right away. But he tried not to read too much into it, considering it was well into the evening and Hunter was probably busy dealing with her employees. She’d told him at one time that she communicated with them via Skype at all hours of the night. She was a jewelry designer in high demand with a team of skilled experts who were often thinking of the latest masterpiece. Certainly, Kevin didn’t expect Hunter to always be available at his leisure.
But even though those seemed like justifiable reasons why Hunter was not answering his call, Kevin couldn’t completely dismiss the feeling that Hunter was having second thoughts about this long distance relationship. It’d only been about a week since he’d spoken to her – if he didn’t count their brief exchange via text message – but a lot could happen in a week. Women were strange creatures. They could be saying something with their mouths but in their heads they were thinking an entirely different thing. Kevin pulled up Hunter’s last text and read it again, just to make sure he hadn’t missed any signs of her distancing herself from him.
“Thank God your flight landed safely in Tampa,” she’d texted. “I miss you already.”
“I miss you too,” he’d typed back. “I promise that I will call you every night, if only to say hello.”
“You don’t have to, but I would certainly appreciate it. By the way, I’m working on a surprise for you…”
“A surprise? Tell me.”
“Nope…you will hear about it soon enough.”
“I don’t like surprises,” he’d typed. “In any event, I will call you later.”
“Okay…take care of yourself, Kevin. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
Kevin frowned at his thoughts. It didn’t appear like Hunter was distancing herself from him, but was expecting him to live up to his promise by calling her every night. He punched in her cell number again so that he could explain how busy he’d been with his job, but his calls kept going to Hunter’s voicemail, which meant she had probably turned off her phone. He left her a brief message anyway. A heavy sigh exploded through his mouth, as he relaxed his head against the headrest and patiently waited for his first chance to exit off the interstate.
Before leaving the office, he’d called his preferred Chinese restaurant on Fowler Avenue and put through an order for pick-up. If Hunter didn’t return his call by then, he would be tempted to think that maybe she never wanted anything to do with him in the first place.
Same Time
The witness protection program offered by the Devin’s Cay Police wasn’t as extensive or as detail-oriented as the ones in the United States, where one of the key objectives of the U.S. program was to help witnesses assimilate into their new communities through job placement and self-sufficiency. This meant that the witness’ old identity was expunged from the record and with their new identity intact, was given instructions to cut off ties with former associates or unprotected family members.
Well, for Yasmine Strummer, her situation was a little different. Officer Mitchell wasn’t as concerned about changing Yasmine’s identity as he was getting her off the island. Devin’s Cay Police didn’t have the resources anyway to sustain a full makeover, in addition to providing housing, financial assistance, and round-the-clock security watch. Yasmine’s stay in Tampa was at best a three-month hide-out, about as long as it would take for John Dewey’s case to be over and done with.
Yasmine may be under security watch, but she was not restricted from enjoying the beautiful experiences of the Tampa Bay area, where she’d been situated in a one-bedroom condo in a gated community. She wasn’t a stay-at-home kind of person to begin with. And with the thoughts of suicide still toying with her mind, it was therapeutic for her to get out and mingle with a few new faces. Even though she did not know much about Tampa, she was no stranger to being exposed to different cultures. So it wouldn’t take her long to fit in and act as one of the locals.
Dressed in loose-fitting jeans and a sleeveless turtleneck blouse, Yasmine sat in front of a mirror putting on the final touches of her makeup. She almost looked as flawless as the retouched photos of herself. But if the truth be known, she was trying to conceal the bruises Ronnie’s men had mercilessly applied to her beautiful cheekbones. That, along with the emotional trauma that was still prevalent in her listless gaze. Certainly a beautiful exterior that provided an excellent cover for her pain.
Had she not met Levi when she did, Yasmine was convinced that she would probably be stone crazy out of her mind by now. The fact that they were complete strangers didn’t matter. Somehow, they’d been able to connect on some level. This had never happened to Yasmine before, especially when it came to the opposite sex. Most times, the men she attracted to her beehive only wanted to get with her mainly for sex. They weren’t interested in heart to heart communication, which was something Yasmine still desperately searched for in a man. But if there was anyone to blame for her poor choices in men, it would be Ronnie. That man had jacked up her self-worth beyond her ability to think straight.
However, seeing Levi’s last text, which basically gave Yasmine the green light to contact him whenever she wanted, injected a bit of hope into her future. But Yasmine didn’t want to wear out her welcome with trivial words. Only when she deemed it utterly necessary, would she run to Levi for emotional support. At the moment, she was cool, schooling her tears to stay right where they were – securely tucked behind her heavily fringed eyelids.
She reached over to the bed and grabbed the secured cell phone that Mitchell gave her, calling one of the hosting services that had been paid for by the Devin’s Cay Police. She’d planned on spending some time at a local club, in an attempt to begin familiarizing herself with her new surroundings, but all of a sudden she felt like eating Chinese food, a craving which could only be attributed to Ronnie’s little mutt growing inside of her. She didn’t eat Chinese food and the idea of having to submit to these disgusting cravings made her sicker to her stomach.
When the call came back that her vehicle was out front waiting on her, she jumped up quickly, pulling her handbag from the dresser as she flew out the front door. Her driver took her to the nearest Chinese eatery, which was not too far from the University Mall on Fowler Avenue. Yasmine thought about telling her driver to take her to Wendy’s instead to get a salad, but her tongue was heavy with saliva and longing to be satisfied with Singapore noodles, generously covered in duck sauce. Yuk, I can’t believe I feel like eating that.
In less than ten minutes she was walking through the doors of the Chinese eatery. She sat on a stool at the takeout section and even though she knew that she wanted Singapore noodles, she began to thumb through the menu. Maybe she didn’t really want this kind of food. Maybe it was her mind playing tricks on her, because Yasmine knew the minute she ordered this mess, her taste would change and she would end up throwing away some of Devin’s Cay money. As she continued to vacillate in her decision, her phone suddenly buzzed with a text message. When Yasmine saw that it was from Levi, her lips effortlessly lifted into a smile.
“If you don’t answer, I’ll assume you probably are still asleep,” he typed.
“I am not asleep,” she texted back. “In fact, I’m at a Chinese restaurant, wondering why the heck I’m here. I don’t even like Chinese food.”
“Sounds like baby cravings to me.”
“Yes and it annoys me to the bone. But how did you know?”
“I didn’t know…it was a lucky guess.” There was a brief pause, prompting Levi to steer the electronic conversation to where he really wanted it to go. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Ask whatever you want and I’ll tell you anything. I don’t have anything to lose.”
“You sound as bitter as I feel,” Levi typed.
“Forget me for the moment, because you already know that I’m a basket case. Why are you bitter?”
“Have you ever been so deeply in love with someone that it feels like your entire life is centered on that person?”
“Yasmine Strummer,” a male voice announced, pulling her attention away from Levi’s question. “What the hell are you doing here in Tampa, Florida? You are supposed to be in prison!”
Yasmine’s gaze connected with the handsome visage of a light-skinned brutha, clean-shaven and full of sex appeal. Instantly, she was reminded of the reason why she’d chosen to come to Tampa in the first place: Kevin Beckford – the one man who could have been her husband had his mother or Ronnie not stood in the way of their future. She didn’t expect to run into him so soon. She took it as a sign that fate was working hard to not only bring them together, but to keep them together.
“Kevin?” She slid off the stool to hug him, suddenly determined to make the best of this serendipitous situation. “I’m taking an extended vacation and I’ve chosen Tampa as the place to reconnect with my spiritual roots. However, seeing you has given me a wonderful jumpstart toward my goal. How have you been?”
Kevin recoiled. “You touch me and you will regret it.”
“Oh please, Kevin,” Yasmine quipped. “You never struck me as the violent type. Besides, I’m not going to bite you. I just want a hug. It’s been well over thirteen years since we were this close to each other…you remember how it was between us…”
“As a matter of fact, I don’t.”
“Of course you do,” Yasmine giggled. “We couldn’t keep our hands off of each other. Remember those hot, sweaty nights in the toolshed...”
“You accused my brother of rape,” Kevin said coldly. “That is what I remember.”
“And in the back seat of Ronnie’s car,” Yasmine continued, as if Kevin’s piercing words hadn’t fazed her. She attempted to loosen the top button of his shirt. “You were fourteen and I was seventeen. Your mother thought we’d long separated, but she had no idea what we were doing behind her back. Two insatiable teenagers sneaking around to have sex anywhere we could. Those were some of the best years of my life.”
Kevin slapped Yasmine’s hand away from his chest, pinning her with a murderous stare. Yasmine may be skilled at stirring up a man’s lust, but he would be damned if he’d allow himself to be ensnared in her web of seduction. “Your filthy mouth didn’t work on my brother and it certainly won’t work on me. Who the hell do you think you’re fooling?”
Yasmine sniggered. “Really now, Kevin. If it had been you in that hotel room, you would have given in to your lust. As I recall, you love sex too much to think about consequences. However, I applaud Drake for walking away, which says that he is more man than you when it comes to resisting temptation. Compared to you, Drake is a saint, almost too perfect, if you ask me.”
“Then why the heck did you try to assassinate his character, if you think so highly of his morals? Do you know how serious it is when a woman cries rape? It’s right up there with murder.”
Yasmine tossed a lock of her hair behind an ear. “If I could begin to explain, you wouldn’t understand. It was imperative that I went after Drake, if my plan was going to work, but why are we rehashing this? All of this is old news now. I recanted my statement and Drake has been exonerated of all charges. The last time I heard, he and Sasha are back together. So, I don’t understand why you’re still giving me attitude.”
“You had better thank your lucky stars that attitude is all I’m giving you, because had my brother gone to prison for something he didn’t do, you would have had me to deal with.”
Yasmine smirked at the statement. “As if I would have a problem with that. As young as you were back then, you were a ravenous beast in bed – something I will remember about you for as long as I live. I wish you could get past this little chip on your shoulder, because I know our reunion could be even hotter than our yesteryears.”
“You’re pathetic,” Kevin spat, “and sadly, a tad too desperate for my taste. How you could even assume that I would be remotely interested in a traitor like you is beyond me. I will despise you for the rest of my life.”
“You don’t despise me,” Yasmine countered. “You love me…you need a woman like me in your life to make you feel alive. Without me, that little lion between your legs would have never known what it was capable of doing. I was your first and you know what they say about your first.”
“Why the hell am I even wasting my time entertaining your nonsense? You’re a has-been, a washed-up piece of trash, looking to score your next victim. Leave me and my family alone. Because I can’t promise that I will be this civil if I see your face again.” Kevin took his take-out order from the Chinese waiter and turned on his heel. “Get a life, Yasmine.”
She felt her cell phone vibrating in her hand, but because she didn’t know when she would have the opportunity to see Kevin again, she ignored it for the moment. “Where can I find you?” she yelled, “because we are not done talking. Kevin, did you hear me? This conversation is far from over!”
Kevin kept walking without looking back. A film of tears dampened Yasmine’s eyelids, as she watched her future and the only man who’d ever meant anything to her, disappear through the exit. Now how in the world was she going to pull herself out of this emotional rut without Kevin? It was one of the main reasons why she was in Tampa – to win back Kevin’s heart. But it was obvious he didn’t want anything to do with her. Or had she hurt him that badly that she had forever ruined their chances of getting back together? Her sad thoughts soon turned her attention to Levi’s text.
“Are you going to answer my question or am I wasting my time with you?” he’d typed.
She responded, “A guy just called me a washed-up piece of trash, a has-been looking to score my next victim. Wow…I feel so low right now, I could kill myself.”
A long pause ensued before Levi responded.
“Killing yourself is not the answer. It viciously steals away the prospects of what could turn out to be a bright future. Besides, you’re carrying a baby and you are now responsible for its life. But that is another discussion for another time. However, I do want to say how sorry I am that you had to endure the words of that fool – you are not a washed-up piece of trash and whatever else he called you…though I’m also guilty of misjudging you.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I initially found out that you’d falsely accused Drake of raping you, I thought you were so evil and calculating. But then I thought about my own actions, of how I tried to destroy the relationship between my best friend and his wife. I was stunned to discover how similar my impetuses were to yours.”
“I don’t know what impetuses mean.”
“Sorry…my drives, what motivated me to do what I did,” Levi tried to clarify. “I think it all goes back to one thing.”
“And what is that?”
“Our hearts are hungry for love, but it is not being reciprocated, especially by those who are the objects of our affection. So we do a lot silly things to get their attention, only to have it blow up in our faces. Quite a miserable existence, I must say.”
“Okay, Mr. Shakespeare, quick question: Why do you assume that I’m in love with anyone?”
“Before I answer your question, tell me more about this guy you mentioned. I have a feeling you’re holding back.”
“I want to talk about something else.”
“Nope. You told me to ask you anything and you would tell me.”
Yasmine wiped her tears with the back of her hand, suddenly not wanting to order anything from the Chinese menu. “He was the man I was supposed to marry.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. He moved to the United States and I was left in the hands of my abusive stepfather. I hadn’t seen this man in many years.”
“Do you still love him?” Levi questioned.
“Yes, very much. And do you still love her?”
“Who?”
“The wife of your best friend.”
“Loving her isn’t enough. I’m obsessed with everything that involves her. I don’t know if I would ever have the strength to let her out of my heart.”
“Wow…that’s deep and sad...”
“I know,” Levi concluded. “And it frightens the heck out of me.”