“Don’t even bother to sit down.” Alwayne pointed his index finger at Suave. “I’m leaving in a minute.” He stood up.
“I’m being charged with first-degree murder,” Suave blurted out, standing to his feet as well.
Alwayne’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow. You did it this time, huh?”
“I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a murderer.” Just then, an image of Pastor Ralph dying popped up in Suave’s mind. “Well, there was that one time—” He stopped when Alwayne held up his hand.
“I’m not your attorney, Mr. Brown. So be careful what you say to me.”
“All I’m saying is that I didn’t kill Danny Moore. I’m being set up, and I need your help,” Suave begged. “I need someone like you to help me beat these charges.”
“You may be innocent of these charges, but there is nothing innocent about your lifestyle. No, no.” Alwayne put up his hand when Suave opened his mouth to speak. “I can’t represent you. But what I’ll do since you are so persistent is to give you the telephone number for a colleague of mine. She’s very good.”
Suave sighed in disappointment. “Fine, I’ll give her a call. Can you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Can you think about it?”
“And I want you to think about something,” Alwayne said seriously. “If you ever beat these charges, get out of the drug-dealing business. You stated that you’re a wealthy man, so get out before it kills you, or you end up in prison for the rest of your life.” He held out a business card to Suave.
Suave took the card. “Thanks. But don’t be surprised if I show up again.” He walked out to the reception area, ignored Evelyn shooting daggers at him, and headed toward the front door.
As Suave pushed the door open and stepped outside, he collided with a young lady who stumbled but kept her balance.
“Sorry,” Suave remarked as he looked at her.
“Sorry,” she said at the same time as Suave, looking up at him.
“You?” they both exclaimed together.
“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Smooth Suave,” Dupree said lightly, a little smile flirting at the corner of her mouth.
Chapter Forty
Suave stared at the stunningly beautiful young woman, noticing the long, straight hair hanging down her exposed back like a satin curtain. Her dark, smooth, flawless complexion seemed to glow. Her tall, slim, toned body was wrapped in a tight-fitted flowery dress that flirted at her knees. Long, beautiful legs were tucked into a pair of espadrilles, showing off bright red pedicure toes. But to Suave, her best feature was the flashing megawatt smile sparkling through luscious, glossy lips. It was one thing he remembered clearly about the innocent young woman that he had betrayed in the worst possible way. Suave hung his head in shame.
Dupree peered at Suave’s lowered head and felt compassion instead of anger. Seven years ago, this man had presented himself to Dupree as an educated, twenty-three-year-old sales representative who had graduated from the University of Technology, the same college she was attending at that time. Being the naïve country girl that she was, Dupree fell hard for Suave after he wined and dined her. But everything came crashing down one dreadful night when she had too much to drink, and Suave used the opportunity to rob her of her virginity. Dupree felt even more betrayed when Suave admitted that he was actually thirty-four years old, had eight children with six baby mommas, and the only thing he sold was illegal drugs. He didn’t love Dupree. He only wanted to sleep with her.
It was a very tough time in Dupree’s already-complicated personal life. For a long time, she was angry at the man who betrayed her. But just as she had learned to forgive the mother who abandoned her as a child, and the father who never acknowledged her most of her life, Dupree had also forgiven Suave. It took awhile, but standing here in front of him now confirmed what Dupree already knew in her heart.
“How are you?” Dupree asked brightly, displaying those pearly whites.
Suave’s head snapped up, and he briefly glanced at her. She was actually smiling at him. “I’m... I’m... I’m, well, hanging in there,” he mumbled. Feeling like a centipede crawling on its belly, Suave looked everywhere but at Dupree. This was the first woman Suave had ever felt like he had forced himself on. Something that had angered him after the incident but had quickly slipped his mind as he continued to build his drug empire.
“You look well,” Dupree commented.
“Thank you.” Suave took a deep breath before he finally made eye contact with her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m not sure why you’re smiling instead of screaming at me, but I’m sorry. What I did to you was really messed up.”
“Yes, it was,” Dupree replied. “But I forgive you, and I’ve moved on with my life. God has been very good to me.”
Suave shifted uncomfortably on his feet. This was something he remembered too. Dupree was a church girl, and obviously, she still was. “Hmmm... Did you go away to New York as you wanted?”
“Yes. I’ve completed my undergraduate and graduate studies at NYU. I’ll be taking the CPA exam in a few weeks to become a certified public accountant. Isn’t God amazing?”
Suave didn’t respond.
“I’m here for my little brothers’ fifth birthday party,” Dupree continued happily. “They’re twins.”
Suave nodded politely but didn’t say a word.
“So, you just had a meeting with Uncle Alwayne?” Dupree broke the uncomfortable silence.
“Yes.”
“Didn’t go well?” Dupree pressed.
“No, it didn’t. But that’s cool.” Suave was ashamed to elaborate.
“It doesn’t look ‘cool’ to me.”
“I’m being charged with first-degree murder, and your uncle refused to take my case.” Suave looked shocked that the words had actually left his mouth.
Dupree’s mouth popped open, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Murder? That’s very serious.”
“I didn’t do it. I know you’ll probably find it hard to believe me, but I’m innocent of these charges.”
Dupree nodded. “Suave, you
