Boss: Romantic Thriller Read online

  Kassidy looked toward the window. They had a plan and she stuck to it. But things had changed. She was better now. Stronger. She was no longer driven by the need for risks and danger. She was different.

  55.

  A month later –

  Tarek drove his corvette through the gates of the Marshall ranch. The place where it all began had now fallen into ruin. The bankruptcy courts said the Marshalls had to vacate. But he was able to recover the land in his lawsuit. What was left of it was now his. He parked next to a silver Mercedes and opened the door. The dark lenses of his sunglasses shielded his eyes from the sun. But he could see Yegor on the front porch waiting.

  “How did you manage to beat me here?” Tarek asked.

  Yegor chuckled. “You must have forgotten the way since you’ve been gone.”

  “I never forget.” Tarek smiled and gave him a brotherly hug. “Is it open?”

  Yegor glanced back behind him. “The door was open but I wouldn’t go inside. Vandals have ruined the place.”

  “It’s still mine.” Tarek walked past him and went inside the ranch house. He looked around.

  “Why do you want it? The courts have emptied the Marshall accounts. You have far better places than this one. You’re free of these people. Or are you not?”

  “It’s what’s owed to me. My real father lost everything. This is my trophy!” Tarek smiled.

  Yegor shook his head. “Here.”

  Tarek accepted the envelope. He walked past the stairs into the parlor while opening it. Yegor was right. There was graffiti on the walls, and trash thrown everywhere. The furniture that was left was either cut or ripped by knives, or spray painted over. He pulled out the contents of the envelope. They were pictures, many of them. All of them were of his beautiful Kassidy.

  “We found her three years ago. We couldn’t tell you this while you were in custody. She’s in a small town called Danbury. It’s in Illinois. Her name is Clarissa Wilson and she is a beautician.”

  “Beautician?” Tarek smiled at the name she chosen.

  “Yes, and she sells ladies perfume and makeup. That’s how we found her. She’s listed in their directory as one of their top sales people.”

  “Is she married? Does she have kids?” Tarek asked. He sat on the desk in the parlor and shuffled the pictures. He was no fool. Four years was a long time to ask a woman he'd only spent a few months with to wait. She was beautiful. She’d blossomed.

  “Married? No. Kids? No. She lives alone, and has a pet. A dog I think. She does nothing. We’ve talked to people in town and she’s pretty quiet. Leads a very silent life. This is your woman? No?” Yegor asked.

  Tarek arched a brow. “Yes, why?”

  “Well... I just think she’s pretty tame, for you. Not your style.”

  “She's my style,” Tarek smiled. “This is good. Tell Pakhan I’m pleased that he kept his word.”

  “How’s the Russian?” Yegor asked.

  Tarek answered him in Russian and Yegor nodded with an impressed smile. “Very good. You've improved. Now you can come to the Moscow and tell my father yourself. There are things that are expected of you. As soon as you are able.”

  “I have probation,” he said.

  “You will find that you will get special permission for the trip. It is already being worked on.”

  “I should have known. I’m ready.” He stared at the image of Kassidy. He was more ready than he’d ever been in his life.

  Epilogue

  ***

  “Okay, Millie, what do you think?”

  Kassidy turned the chair around. Millie gasped and her eyes stretched with surprise. Today they were going retro with a Marilyn Monroe dye job and haircut. Millie owned the local bookstore. She was also the wife of the local fire chief. In her early sixties, Millie was one of Kassidy’s first and now most loyal customers.

  “Oh my, Clarissa. You’re a magician. It’s beautiful!” Millie said and fingered her curls. “I look ten years younger.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” Kassidy said.

  “Like it? I’ve told the ladies at the church to come sit in your chair. You have youth and a lot more experience than the other girls. Did you always want to be a beautician?” Millie asked.

  Kassidy chuckled to herself and lied. “Yes, ever since I was a little girl.”

  “I knew it! I knew it! You can tell when a person loves their job. You are simply wonderful my dear.” She picked at a few of the curls on her head styled and them to her liking. Most of Kassidy’s clients were white. Many of them had reservations about a black woman doing their hair. Some had never had a relationship, friendly or casual, with a black person before she moved into their town. A lot had changed for them all in the past four years.

  “Thank you for accepting my last minute appointment. Chuck surprised me with this trip. I barely got enough time left in the day to pack,” she chuckled. Millie went into her purse to get her money. Kassidy glanced to the clock. It was after ten. Everything on this side of town was closed, and Kassidy was dead on her feet. She’d never accept an appointment so late. But Millie was a good customer, and her roots needed to be touched up. She couldn’t let her go on a cruise looking that way.

  “It’s no problem. I’m glad you like it,” she said.

  “I do! I do!” Millie gave her the forty dollars she owed, plus an extra twenty as a tip.

  “Thank you, Millie. That’s so sweet.” Kassidy took the money and put it in her till. She undid her apron and folded it over her salon chair. “If you wait a second I will lock up and walk you out.”

  “Okay, honey,” Millie said. She kept staring at herself and posing in the mirror. “Clarissa, where are you from?”

  “The South,” Kassidy answered. “I’ve told you that already.”

  “Yes. Yes. I know you’re from the South, but where down South?” Millie asked. “You know in church the other day Gladys asked about you. Said she wanted to encourage you to join the choir. Gladys loves those Tyler Perry movies. She thinks every woman of color can sing in church,” Millie chuckled. Kassidy didn’t take any offense. She and Millie had open discussions over the differences and stupid stereotypes their neighbors in town believed. “We got to talking and realize you don’t tell us much about you. Like, where you come from and who your people are?”

  “I’m an orphan,” Kassidy said as she cut off the lights in the back of the salon. “I was raised in foster care in Florida. Bounced around a little after that and landed here in Danbury. That’s my story.”

  “Oh? So sorry, sweetheart, that must have been tough.”

  “I’ve survived. You ready?” Kassidy asked.

  Millie collected her things. “Gladys said a couple of years back a man came to town asking about the salon, and was curious about you in particular.”

  Kassidy froze. “What?”

  “Yeah. She said he was a nice fella, but had an accent, some kind of foreigner. You know you girls in here are the prettiest in town.” Millie giggled.

  “What did this man want to know about me?” Kassidy asked as she got her purse.

  “Just who was single, who was married, stuff of that nature. Guess he came in one day and saw you ladies and got curious. Gladys remembers because he asked about the ‘black’ one. No offense, honey. You the only person of color here, so she remembered. But it wasn’t anything bad. He just thought you were pretty. You know why this came up,” Millie smiled. “My nephew is coming home from Afghanistan. He’s divorced. Remember I told you about him. His name is Evan. Very handsome and athletic too. He’s thirty-six. How about I set you two up for a dinner? What do you think?”

  “That’s sweet. I’ll let you know, how’s that?” she patted Millie on the shoulder. The two of them walked out of the salon. Kassidy locked the door.

  “Have a good night, Millie,” Kassidy said.

  The old woman waved and got in her car. Kassidy did the same. Millie pulled out of the parking lot, while Kassidy sat there and waited for her engine
to warm. Winter had come and frozen over the town. Everything was covered with ice and snow. She sat there and stared at the snow falling with her thoughts returning to Millie. Gladys was a town gossip and exaggerated everything.

  Six months ago Tarek was released from parole. The FBI told her his probationary period had passed and he was now traveling between Texas and Russia. Tarek had moved on, forgotten his promise, and left her behind. So why hadn’t she let go?

  Kassidy shifted out of park into reverse. She backed out of her reserved space and drove off toward the one main street that ran through town. An old Hall and Oates song played on the radio. She hummed along as she passed through several traffic lights blinking yellow. After ten at night the traffic lights stopped working.

  She drove through the sleeping town half awake. Her mind tended to drift to thoughts of him when it snowed like this. Maybe Millie mentioning the stranger in town years ago brought his memory to surface. Or maybe it was just this particular night she felt the most alone. Either way she knew that meant she would have a fitful sleep.

  To arrive home Kassidy made the series of turns on different streets through her neighborhood. Every house she passed had the lights off. Most people retired early and woke before dawn. She was lucky that the hair salon didn’t open for her until after ten in the morning. She wanted to sleep in late.

  When drove up to her garage door she noticed nothing. The house was the same as it always was. Empty. Millie offered to set her up on a blind date. For years, Kassidy had found a reason to decline suitors. She always blamed it on not wanting to drag anyone into her drama. Her fear was that one day her past would arrive and destroy any new future she had. But she was twenty-eight. She’d be twenty-nine soon and she was tired of her lonely existence. Tired of being an orphan in life. Maybe it was time to consider moving on past her fears.

  Kassidy got out of the car and went up the steps. It was then she noticed the light on the porch was out. She would have to make sure to replace it. She hated coming home to darkness. She unlocked the door and went inside. She closed it and turned on the light in the foyer.

  “Marshall?” she said.

  Her little Pekingese pure breed barked from the living room. She smiled as she picked up the mail that was pushed through the slot in the door. “Come here, baby. I’ll fix you something to eat.”

  The dog barked but didn’t do as she asked. Kassidy sighed. Marshall had a thing about hiding and wanting to be found. He was small enough to scoot under the sofa. So Kassidy figured that’s where he went. She tossed the bills to the hall table and set her purse down there. Her long extensions were pinned in a clip to the back of her head. She released them and scratched her scalp.

  “Where are you, baby?” she asked as she turned the corner. And then she stopped.

  Marshall sat on the lap of a man in a dark trench coat. His gloved leather hand stroked the long fur of her dog. Her eyes met his.

  “You named him Marshall?” Tarek chuckled. He picked up the dog from his lap and turned him to look at him. “I think I like it.” Marshall licked at Tarek’s cheek. Her dog was a traitor. He set her dog down and Marshall stood next to him wagging his tail. He didn’t even try to run.

  “Hello, Clarissa,” Tarek smiled. “Surprised to see me?”

  “What are you... how did you...”

  “How did I find you? Is that the first question you want to ask?”

  “I can’t believe this. That you’re here.”

  He looked her over as he often did. He didn't stand. He didn't explain himself. He held her still with his dark brown eyes. “Clarissa. I like that name. Was that for me?"

  She didn't answer. She was hurt. She'd waited, she'd been patient, and he gave her nothing. Not a letter or a phone call. She walked over to the sofa chair across from him and sat down.

  “I hear you’ve made a life for yourself here,” he said.

  “This is a nice town. Nice people,” she said.

  “You happy?” he asked.

  She frowned at the question. “Do you care?”

  “You're mad at me?”

  “What do you think? It’s been four years Tarek, almost five, and nothing from you. Not a damn word. What do you think?”

  “I think time stood still. I think you are as beautiful as I remembered while I rotted in jail maybe even more so. I think you're more loyal to me than anyone has been in my life. Including Clarissa,” he said.

  “From what I read you won. You got your trust fund back and exposed your father for his crimes. Dale is dead, Henry too. Reese is out of prison, gone somewhere. It’s over now, Tarek.”

  “Not for us,” he said and stood. He walked around her little living room. He stopped to look at the pictures she hung, and the little figurines on the mantel.

  “I don’t see you anywhere in here.”

  “You never knew me,” she reminded him.

  He glanced over to her. “I’m sure I know you better than the people of this town. Right?”

  She pressed her lips together and suppressed the sarcastic reply on her tongue. Kassidy stood. She fixed her sweater. She wore a long wool skirt and boots today. But he glanced at her again as if she were dressed for him.

  “Do you have something for me?” he asked.

  She stared at him for a brief moment, and then released the breath she held trapped in her lungs since she saw him. She nodded that she did. She went into the kitchen. Underneath the sink she pulled out a Drano carton. It was her trusted hiding place. She dumped the thumb drive into the sink. She picked it up and walked over to him and handed it to him.

  “I knew I could trust you,” he accepted the USB drive and smiled.

  “It's what you came for. I think it's time for you to go.”

  “What if I want to stay? What if I want to stay and talk?” he asked.

  “About what, what could we possibly have to say to each other now, after all this time?”

  “Stop pretending,” Tarek stepped to her. He clasped his hands behind his back. “Look at me, Kassidy. Really look at me. I'm still in here. You’ve seen through me since you were a little girl. See through me now. I’m in love with you. Am I lying?” A sly smile tugged at his lips. He touched her face. “I missed you.”

  “I’m better now Tarek. That agent who gave me this life also helped me get therapy. No more nightmares about my parents. No more dreams about Clarissa. I’m not that girl who lies and steals or chases behind danger. I’m better.”

  “You’re still my woman.”

  “Don’t make me do this again...”

  “Make you?” he arched a brow. “Make you what? Be who you are. Be the woman I want. You don’t need any fucking therapy, no cure, there's nothing wrong with you or your pain. You are how, you should be. You’re mine Kassidy.”

  He pulled her hands to draw her toward him. She tried to resit. “You're mine Kassandra,” he said and kissed her lips. She turned her face and he kissed her neck. “Mine.”

  She lifted her arms and they naturally went around his neck. She hugged him. Tarek kissed her. His tongue swept into her mouth and her breath hitched in her throat before it was stolen from her lungs. The last man to kiss her was him. It dawned on her that this was the very last kiss she ever wanted. Her eyes closed and his tongue slipped deeper.

  “It’s been so long. Too long,” he groaned and pulled her up into his arms. She kept her arms around his neck. Tarek squeezed her ass. He was stronger, more solid than she remembered.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” he said between kisses, and before his lips bushed from her mouth across her cheek, and down her neck. And then she stopped him. She let go of their embrace.

  “What happens now? If we're seen together what will they do? Are you here to say goodbye, or are you here for me? What happens next? I've changed myself over and over again Tarek. I don't even know who Kassidy is anymore.” She wiped at her tears.

  He pulled her closer. “I know who you are.”

  He took her hand and wal
ked her out of the living room the bedroom He must have searched her place because he knew exactly where to find it. He stopped at her bed. He lifted her up against him, and she kissed him with as much fervor as she could muster. He went down on the bed with her. She looked up into his eyes when their mouths parted.

  “I apologize for every lie, every scary thing I’ve ever put you through. Things are going to be different now Kassidy. Tarek Marshall is dead. He died in prison. I will take you with me and protect you always. And your loyalty will protect me. Swear you will only be loyal to me. To the family we make.”

  “Family?”

  “Yes, sons, daughters, whatever you can give me.” He kissed her neck. “Our beginning. Swear it and you will never feel forgotten again.”

  Kassidy nodded her acceptance. Tears slipped from her eyes as if floodgates had been opened. Pinned beneath him, her breasts were crushed by the hard breadth of his chest and her nipples stiffened, ached from the contact.

  “I have to hear you say it, darling,” he said.

  “I swear Tarek. I'll only be loyal to you,” she said. Her hands were trembling as they slipped down his back.

  Tarek’s grin was slow and full of devilment.

  “That’s my Braveheart.”

  Tarek hadn’t held a woman, smelled a woman’s body, touched or kissed anyone since before his release. In fact, Tarek realized that she was the last woman he had made love to. No wonder he suffered in prison with nightmares of her turning him away, or choosing another man.

  “You have on too many clothes.” He kissed her cheek.

  She turned her face away and smiled. It was the first smile she gave him since he arrived. Tarek drew up her wool skirt and she helped. He had to pause at the sight of her thighs, they looked yummy. She wore boots that reached up her calves, but no stockings. Her skirt was pushed up to her waist. He forced her thighs apart and looked at her body. He traced the top lace frill to her thin purple G-string panty. He stroked and petted her pussy with his two fingers, and pulled the seat of the panty out with his teeth, and then let his tongue savor her.