TOTAL ECLIPSE: The Evolution (Sin City Heat Series Book 7) (20 page)

CHAPTER 22

Darrell stayed out on the balcony for about another thirty minutes thinking about what Lorenzo had said. He was right. No matter what he had to do or say, he had to fix this.

Going back inside, he picked up his cell phone from where he’d tossed it on the bed and called home. The phone rang so long that Darrell didn’t think Jerra would answer. He breathed a sigh of relief when she finally did.

“What do you want?”

Darrell grimaced. Even with that brief greeting, if he could call it that, he could tell she’d been crying. “I just called back to apologize. I never should’ve threatened to take D.J. I’m sorry.”

She didn’t say anything, but Darrell heard a little hiccup in her breath when she inhaled.

“I’ll be home day after tomorrow. We’ll talk about D.J. and work things out.”

“Thank you. I can’t lose my baby too.”

“J., I know this doesn’t mean much to you right now, but you haven’t lost anything. I may not be…living in the house anymore, but…” Darrell cleared his throat before continuing. “I’ll be there to support you, and do what I can to make this as easy as possible on you and D.J. I promise.”

“There you go again.”

“What?”

“Taking care of everybody else except yourself.”

Darrell smiled. “No, I heard what you said before I left and I just had a talk with Lorenzo. I know there are some things that I need to deal with, things I can’t fix by myself. I gotta get myself right so that I can be there for my family. But like I said, we’ll talk. I just didn’t want to leave things the way they were. I’m sorry I upset you.”

“I’m sorry too,” Jerra said softly.

“And J.?”

“Yes?”

“I really am proud of you. Can’t wait to see you in action kickin’ ass, Monroe style.”

“St. James-Monroe,” she automatically corrected, but he heard the smile in her voice.

“Yeahhh,” Darrell drawled. “But kickin’ ass St. James-Monroe style don’t have the same flow to it, know what I mean?”

“I guess.” This time Jerra laughed out loud before saying quietly, “Thank you, Darrell.”

“No thanks necessary.” He hesitated, wanting to say more but at the same time not wanting to push. The silence stretched on, almost as if each of them was waiting on the other to say something. “Where’s Tina? She say when she’s leavin’?”

Surprised at the swift change of subject, Jerra stuttered a response. “She, um, I…I guess she’s in her room. I think she’s leaving tomorrow. Why?”

Darrell had been going back and forth about confronting Tina. He knew he wouldn’t rest until he got this off his chest. “I got some things I need to say to her. If I don’t, it’s gonna drive me crazy. But I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I just wanted to call you back and apologize. Hope you have a good night.”

“You too.”

“I love you, Jerra.”

The pause between those four words and the moment she spoke seemed like the longest of Darrell’s life.

“I know. Good night, Darrell.”

His hand tightened on the phone after she hung up. Only then did he release the breath he wasn’t even aware he’d been holding. The sadness in her voice threatened to undo him, but he cleared his throat and pushed it out of his mind before dialing Tina’s cell phone number.

“Hello, Darrell.”

Darrell walked over to the door leading to the terrace outside his bedroom and stared out at the view again, trying to push back the resentment and anger that filled him to the brim. “You don’t sound surprised to hear from me.”

“I’m not, although I admit I half expected this confrontation to happen face to face.” She paused then exhaled before asking, “I assume you spoke to Isaac?”

Darrell nodded. “I did.”

“And?”

“Is it true? The letters he showed me. Were they yours?”

“Not knowing exactly what he showed you, I can’t really say whether they were mine or not.”

“Let me refresh your memory. In the letters, you wrote about how you set your sights on Isaac, and plotted to sleep with him when you worked as a dancer in a strip club.” He ignored her quick gasp and kept ticking off her list of lies. “Your mother kicked you out at seventeen, not fifteen as you led me to believe, and not for the reasons you told me. Does any of it ring a bell now? If not, I’ll help you out further. Isaac didn’t ‘take’ Lorenzo from you like you claimed…he
bought
him. Isaac bribed you to stop you from aborting him.”

“That bastard,” she whispered, her disbelief clearly evident. “He…he
told
you?”

Her reaction only invited more of Darrell’s disdain. “He didn’t have to. You did. It was there in your own handwriting.”

“Can’t you see what he’s doing? He’s trying to make it seem like I’m responsible for everything while he comes out of this unscathed.”

“I hold him just as responsible as you. Probably more. If he were any kind of decent man, he would’ve tried to find me, but he didn’t. He just wanted you out of his life. If it makes you feel any better to hear me say it, I blame both of you.”

“You’re going to persecute me for decisions I made more than thirty years ago? I was a kid, Darrell.”

Darrell shook his head. “I’m not judging that seventeen-year old girl. I’m not mad at her. I understand the mistakes we make in our youth, because God knows I’ve made my share. As you pointed out, I still make ‘em, but the difference between you and me is that I own my shit. I accept it and take steps to correct it. You still haven’t done that. You can’t continue to blame the person you used to be for the way things are today. It doesn’t work that way.”

“You never intended to give me a second chance, did you?” Tina spat out in a harsh whisper. “You’re always so quick to judge and point out my faults, but from where I sit, the apple doesn’t seem like it fell too far from the proverbial tree.”

Darrell’s frown came quick. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“You try to manipulate Jerra with your charm, and if that doesn’t work you twist things around to make it look like she’s the one who’s paranoid and blowing things out of proportion, when all along you know you’re the one in the wrong. I know how the game is played. You can be just as sneaky and conniving as you claim I am.”

“I’m nothin’ like you,” Darrell growled.

“Aren’t you, son?” Tina countered swiftly. “Aren’t you? Maybe you need to take a good, long look in the mirror, then come back and try and tell me that again.”

Even knowing she was deliberately trying to antagonize him and turn the tables in her favor, Darrell couldn’t help the guilt that tried to edge out his anger.

Sensing she’d found a chink in his armor, Tina pushed her advantage. “Think about it. We both may know some of the things we do aren’t exactly above board, but we do them anyway because we’ve learned how to talk our way out of trouble. We have that gift, you and I. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not.”

“I don’t have time for this. I’ve said what I had to say to you. Jerra said you’re packin’ your things? Good. Make sure you’re gone by the time I get home.”

“What about my grandson?” Tina asked quickly before Darrell could hang up. “I love that little boy, Darrell, and he loves me. You need to think about that.”

“No,
you
should’ve thought about that. Don’t worry about
my
son. Matter of fact, you need to forget about him altogether because it’ll be a cold day in hell before I let you see him again.”

“You son of a...Your father would be proud,” Tina sneered. “A Pattel through and through.”

Darrell heard the combination of quiet outrage mingled with intense hostility in her voice. But why? For the life of him, he didn’t know where all of her animosity came from, why
she
was so upset with
him
.

Then it hit him. At that moment something resonated with him and made him pause. All this time he thought Tina just didn’t have the capacity to love, but that wasn’t true. She loved Gabby and D.J. He didn’t doubt that. A part of him believed she even loved Jerra. She just didn’t have it in her to love
him
, not the way a mother should, and that was because of her hatred for Isaac Pattel. Darrell couldn’t figure out her agenda when it came to Lorenzo, but he knew she had one. She had a reason for getting in touch with him after all these years, but he couldn’t bring himself to conjure up the energy to even think about it anymore. He was done.

That realization allowed him the detachment he needed to close the door between them once and for all. This time, it would be welded shut. Nothing would ever be able to open it again.

“I’m through. This is the last time you and I will talk to each other. The negativity you bring to my life, the lies. It ends now.”

“Darrell–”

Darrell’s eyes were bright in their intensity as he stared unseeingly at the beautiful views of Central Park. “Before I hang up, I’m gonna say one last thing. Do not put Gabby in the middle of this. She loves you. Nothing will ever change that. But do
not
go through her to pass messages to Jerra, or ask about D.J.” His voice was firm and his gaze steady. “Gabby’s already going to feel like she’s caught in the middle…again. Don’t make it harder for her.”

“Of course I’m not, but…”

Darrell looked down and shook his head. “No. There ain’t no need for us to say anything else. There’s nothing I need or want to hear from you.”

Darrell could sense Tina’s mind racing. She didn’t know whether to rage and rant, or revert to playing the victim who was being unjustly punished.

“I suppose Lorenzo feels the same way?” she asked stiffly.

Darrell lifted a shoulder. “Honestly, I don’t know how he feels. I’m not speaking for him, only for myself.”

“Fine. If this is what you want, I’ll never contact you again.”

Darrell’s eyes narrowed in suspicion at her play on words. “Not just me, Tina. I want you to stay away from my family. I can’t be more clear than that.”

“Goodbye, Darrell. Take care of yourself.”

“Tina, I mean it…
Tina!
” But he was talking to dead air because she’d already hung up. Instead of the sense of relief he’d expected to feel, Darrell paced the room with the restless energy of a caged lion. He hoped to God that she heeded his words, because if he had to confront her in person…

Taking a deep breath, he fought to focus on what was important. Getting his family back. Lorenzo was right, as hard as it would be, he had to bring it down a notch and take things at Jerra’s pace. He didn’t want to risk pushing her away any further than he already had.

Heading to the bathroom to prepare for his shower, Darrell tried his best to put himself in a positive frame of mind, but found it next to impossible. Thinking back to how the phone call with Jerra ended he realized that for the first time in their marriage…his wife hadn’t told him she loved him back.

The elevator to the penthouse slid open at exactly seven twenty-five. Lorenzo glared at Hawk and King as they walked into the apartment, pointedly looking down at his Rolex.

“You’re late. I told you seven o’clock. I was just getting ready to leave your asses.”

King pointed at Hawk. “Blame him. Now we’re gonna have to listen to Lucas bitch and moan about us keeping him waiting.”

Lorenzo glared at Hawk. “Why is it so hard for you to be on time, man?”

“Hey, shit happens. We’re here. The quicker you stop standing there shooting silver lightning bolts our way, the quicker we can leave.” He eyed Darrell and gave him an upnod. “What’s up, Cousin?”

“Nothin’ much.” Darrell accepted the handshake and brief man-hug then did the same with King. “What’s up, my man?”

“Starvin’ like a mu’fucka thanks to this nut.” He jabbed his thumb towards Hawk again.

Darrell suddenly became aware of how hungry he was himself. He hadn’t really eaten since this morning. “Now that you mention it, me too. I hope this restaurant has some good food.”

“It better,” Hawk laughed. “We own it.”

“No shit?”

“Yeah, opened up a couple of weeks ago. Business has been booming too. It’s the latest hot spot, with reservations booked up for the next three months. Let me know what you think.”

“He will if we ever get there,” Lorenzo said gruffly. “Can we go now?”

“I swear, Lo, you can be just as uptight as Lucas sometimes. Ya’ll need to learn to chill a bit. Loosen up.” Hawk grinned and winked at Darrell as he headed towards the elevator. “Now if ya’ll through with all the chit chattin’, let’s go. We’re already late.”

Darrell chuckled under his breath while Lorenzo and King stared at Hawk with expressions of disbelief as he waited impatiently for them to join him in the cab of the elevator. 

“Little shit,” Lorenzo muttered as the elevator doors slowly closed behind them.

Assistant District Attorney Raven Randolph sat at the table with her dinner date, Professor Wesley Logansworth, trying to appear as interested as she possibly could while he droned on and on about yet another award he’d been nominated for. She sneaked a surreptitious glance down at her watch and stifled a sigh. They were only halfway through their meal. The way things were going it looked as if they’d be here at least another hour.

This was their third date in a matter of as many weeks and her boredom was only increasing; it was all she could do to keep her eyes open. She’d had to suppress more than one yawn throughout the evening, not that Wesley noticed. He was too wrapped up into making sure the entire conversation centered around him.

Raven gave the waiter a grateful smile when he came back to the table to refresh their drinks. She brought the wine glass to her lips and took several deep swallows. She needed all of the fortification she could get to make it through the rest of this date; it most definitely would be their last.

As she pushed her food around on her plate with her fork, Raven felt a sudden tingle of awareness traveling up her spine. Sitting straight up in her chair, she casually glanced around the crowded restaurant until her eyes landed on a sight that caused a soft sigh of appreciation to escape her lips without her realizing it. Five of the sexiest men she’d ever seen together in one place strode behind the maître d’ on the way to their table. They all had similar builds, tall, wide shouldered and slim, tapered waists. Every eye in the place seemed to be trained on them as if they were rock stars gracing the restaurant with their presence.

The Pattels.

Well, not all of them. Raven’s eyes narrowed as she recognized Darrell Monroe. She’d met him and his wife, Jerra, on several occasions during visits to see Nikki. Interesting. What was he doing hanging out with the Pattels? Raven’s frown deepened. How did he even know them?

Her brain immediately started working overtime. First, Dominick had a secretive meeting with Angel and the Pattels about something she still hadn’t been able to figure out, and now Darrell Monroe was buddying around with them in New York. Very interesting.

Her eyes went back over the group as a whole. It wasn’t as if they were being loud or boisterous or obnoxious. Nothing like that. They were actually very refined, talking and laughing quietly amongst themselves as if unaware of the disturbance they were causing around them…especially with the female patrons. Raven supposed they were used to owning any room they walked into, not only because of their striking good looks, but also because of the air of power and importance their strong shoulders carried. Confidence was evident in every step they took.
Especially
the cocky swagger of Hawk Pattel.

As if her thoughts had summoned his attention, Hawk turned his head at that very moment and spotted her staring at him. Even from across the room the physical attraction between them was painfully evident. Raven didn’t want to acknowledge it, but the connection was damn near electrifying.

She lowered her fork and placed her hands in her lap to hide their violent trembling.  When everyone else kept walking by, Hawk slowed down and stopped at her table. Deliberately ignoring Wesley, his eyes crawled over her face in a soft caress, visually outlining her striking features.

“Hello, Raven.”

Raven’s pulse accelerated. His voice poured over her like a smooth, aged cognac. Raven inhaled deeply, held the breath for a moment, then slowly released it. Once she did, she felt a little bit more settled. She refused to fall under Hawk Pattel’s spell the way she had last time she saw him at her sister’s house. Her face burned with embarrassment when she remembered how close she’d come to letting him kiss her. Even now, she cringed whenever she thought about what would’ve happened if Nikki hadn’t interrupted them when she did.

“Everything okay?” he asked mockingly, drawing her attention back to him.

By his amused tone, Raven knew he was aware of exactly where her thoughts had taken her. Lifting her chin in cheeky defiance, she forced herself to look him straight in the eye. “Of course, everything’s fine. Why wouldn’t it be?”

Her teeth scraped together in irritation when his lips twisted in a disbelieving smirk. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the rest of his family pause and wait for him. Great. Now they had an audience. Determined to ignore him, she picked up her fork and resumed eating, silently willing him to just
go
.

“Enjoying your dinner?” he prodded.

Suppressing an irritated sigh, Raven peered up at him, hating the fact that he towered over her so. “Yes. Or at least I was. If you’ll excuse me?”

Her stomach muscles clenched in tight knots when he grinned and rubbed his chin. Without looking at her plate, he purred seductively, “I bet it’s good. I might have to sample a taste soon. ”

Of their own accord, Raven’s eyes dropped to his mouth. For some reason, the way his tongue peeked out to moisten his full, bottom lip fascinated the hell out of her. What was it about Hawk Pattel that intrigued her so? He was a very attractive man, that went without saying. However, it was more than that. She’d only been around him a few brief times, but those moments had been agonizingly intense. Hawk had a way of making her feel as if she were the only person in a room. And the way he uttered her name...

Raven’s breathing turned shallow as her lungs struggled to draw in air. She had no idea how long the two of them stared at one another. Raven forgot that Wesley was even there until he threw his fork down on his plate. The clattering noise sounded thunderous to Raven’s ears, thankfully breaking the sensual spell Hawk had somehow cast and enfolded her in. Blinking rapidly, she looked around as if in a daze, surprised to find herself in the restaurant and not somewhere in the throes of having hot, sweaty sex with Hawkins Pattel.

Wesley stood and glared ominously at Hawk. “I don’t know who you are, but you either leave our table now–”

“Or what?” Hawk interjected laughingly.

However, when Wesley took a step towards him, Hawk’s amusement instantly disappeared. Raven shivered when she witnessed his warm, brown eyes turning as dangerously cold as some of the New York blizzards she’d had the unwelcome displeasure of experiencing.

“Know what, you’re right,” he told Wesley. “You
don’t
know who I am. But I strongly, s
trongly
suggest you find out before you take another step, my friend.”

His words finally galvanized Raven into action. “Are you threatening him?”

“Depends on whether he opens his mouth again.” Several seconds passed before Hawk released Wesley from his intimidating glare, and that was only because Lorenzo walked up beside him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

Turning her attention to Isaac Pattel’s only son, Raven couldn’t help but note how his silver grey eyes stood out in a face that was breathtakingly handsome. She’d seen him on occasion at a few political events and charity functions. Although they hadn’t been formally introduced, she knew who he was just as she was sure he knew her.

Raven was just getting ready to thank him for intervening when something made her pause. She stared at him until he lifted an inquiring brow. The gesture suddenly made everything crystal clear. She held her breath for a moment as her mind started connecting what had to be farfetched dots. Was it possible that…

Her eyes flew to Darrell as she digested the ramifications of what she was thinking if it turned out to be true.
Was Darrell Monroe a…Pattel?
His resemblance to Lucas and Hawk was obvious now that she was paying attention, but Darrell and Lorenzo? The two of them could almost pass for…
brothers
!

That would certainly explain why he was with them now. Raven’s brain mentally scanned the information the D.A.’s office had gathered about the Pattel family over the years. Other than Joseph’s estranged daughter, Leah, nothing about any other family member had ever been mentioned. Things instantly catapulted from mildly interesting to intriguingly strange.

Hearing Lorenzo call her name, she blinked and brought her attention back to the situation at hand. Once she did, she found herself the object of Hawk’s hungry gaze. It had been dangerous to take her eyes off of him for even a moment. She had to make sure she didn’t make that mistake again.

Realizing Lorenzo was speaking to her she forced herself to look away from Hawk. “I’m sorry, excuse me?”

“I just said it’s good to see you, Raven. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m…I’m fine. Thank you, Lorenzo.”

“Good. We hope everything has been satisfactory tonight. Your meals tonight will be on the house. Enjoy the rest of your dinner.” He glanced at Hawk, seemingly sending him a silent message. “Ready?”

Hawk’s eyes remained on Raven, boring into her until he was satisfied she felt the heat of his lust melting over every inch of her skin. “Yeah, I’m through here…for now.”

But instead of going with his cousin, he ignored an indignant Wesley and leaned down close to whisper in her ear.

“Just so you know, I’m a man who likes everything out in the open so that there are no problems or misunderstandings later.”

Raven swallowed, lowering her lashes, determined to appear aloof and unaffected by his nearness as he continued.

“I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since I saw you at Angel’s house several weeks ago. I know you’ve thought about me too, but I don’t expect you to admit it.” 

His lips grazed her delicate earlobe as he spoke. Raven literally trembled in her chair. Warm butterflies danced the two step in her stomach before traveling down to do the same at the very hot, very wet spot between thighs.

“I want you, Rae. Just so you know, I intend to have you…soon.” He started to straighten up, but then as if an afterthought struck, he leaned back down to add, “And, Rae? When I come for you, make sure you’re ready for me. ”

Hawk was so close that Raven felt the minty fresh warmth of his breath fanning against her cheek. Apparently content for now with what he saw in her face, satisfaction and outright desire glowed brightly in his eyes.

As if he hadn’t just threatened Wesley within an inch of his life just now, Hawk gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. “As my cousin said, enjoy your dinner. It’s on the house.” Winking at Raven, he added, “Be talking to you soon, Rae.”

“So what’s up with you and Angel’s sister-in-law?” Darrell asked Hawk after they were seated at their table. “You two got somethin’ goin’ on?”

Hawk grinned, his eyes glued to their waitress’ ass as she leaned over and pointed out something on the menu to King. “Not yet. Let’s just say I’m working on it.”

Darrell stared at him for a long time. “Let me guess.” His eyes went Lorenzo. “She’s an insurance policy too.”

“Something like that.” Hawk reached for a piece of bread from the breadbasket and tore a piece off before popping it in his mouth.

“I’m sure you know how protective Angel is about his family.”

“Whose idea do you think it was to get close to her?” Hawk answered smoothly with a grin.

Darrell picked up the mug of ice-cold beer he’d ordered when they sat down. “Never mind. I don’t wanna know. I’m just gonna tell you the same thing I told Renzo. You feelin’ lil’ mama a little bit too much to say it’s all business. Don’t get caught up.”

“Never happen,” Hawk scoffed in a dismissive tone. “I’ll leave the domesticated life to you and your friends in Vegas with those strong-minded women ya’ll got. That wife of Dominick’s…” Hawk whistled low and shook his head as he remembered meeting Keisha at Angel’s house.

Darrell laughed. “That’s right, I forgot you met Keisha. But hey, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the fact that my wife is a strong woman. Keeps things interesting.”

“How long have you been married, Darrell?” Lucas asked.

“Six years.”

“Happily?”

“Very. We’ve had a few rough patches along the way, but what good marriage hasn’t? I’m not ashamed to say I love the hell outta my wife, and my son is my everything. My
family
is my everything.”

“I heard that, man.” King’s head bobbed up and down as he raised his glass. “To family.”

“Can’t argue that,” Hawk said, raising his glass with the others to join in the toast.  “Family above all else.”