Her cell rang again. The number was unrecognizable. She should ignore the call but had so many irons in the fire that she decided to answer it. “Imani Hadley.”
“I thought I was going to get your voice mail.” The deep voice from yesterday came through the phone loud and clear. Imani quickly swiveled her head around the room as if expecting the man on the other line to appear.
She whisper-yelled. “Raymond! How’d you get my number?”
“I have my resources. Look, I was just calling to warn you some prick posted a ridiculous story about us in the paper today. I know Garrett’s going blow his stack when he sees it.”
Imani narrowed her eyes. “You planted that story.”
“I didn’t. I swear it! While it’s true, running into you wasn’t a coincidence, I had nothing to do with that reporter of that article.”
Nervously, Imani continued to look at the door waiting for Garrett to walk through it. “Great. Wonderful. I’ve got to go.”
“Wait! You wouldn’t listen yesterday but . . .”
“Wait for what? What could you possibly want with me other than to mess with Garrett’s head?”
“An olive branch. I’m reaching out to you, because from what I’ve been told, Garrett listens to you.”
Imani pulled the phone from her ear and looked at it like it was a foreign object. “When it comes to you, Garrett listens to no one, and no one can blame him.”
“I want an ending to this nightmare that we all can live with. You can help all of us with that. I know that you understand how important family is. You’re close to your family.”
Imani didn’t like the fact he knew so much about her and was trying to manipulate her with it. Family was everything. “I surely wouldn’t want to see what hate looks like coming from you.”
Raymond’s voice softened. “Believe it or not, I love my brother.”
Garrett Jr. started babbling and clapping his hands. Using a feather light touch, Imani caressed his little cheek. She didn’t want to admit it, but nothing was more important that that little boy. “Even if I could help, the bottom line is I can’t get involved with the war between the two of you.”
Raymond had achieved more than he thought he would with this call. He figured out the way to Imani Jones-Hadley’s heart was family. “You can’t or you won’t?”
“Doesn’t matter. The result is the same. I’ve got to go. Please don’t call me on this phone again.” She quickly disconnected the call. Imani had given Raymond more time than he deserved. Imani picked up the baby from off the bed and was about to walk out of the room to find Garrett just as he came in.
His face said it all. He was pissed.
Imani shifted Garrett Jr. onto her other hip. “I just saw the article, and I hope you know it’s all a bunch of lies.”
“I know.” He was aware that it was absurd, but there was a small part of him that was insecure. Raymond had always had a way with women and had already stolen one wife. He didn’t want him within a hundred feet of Imani.
She let out a relieved sigh. “Good. I’m glad you’re going to let this go because I’m really looking forward to this time away. I don’t want anything to ruin it.”
“Who said I’m letting anything go?”
“What are you going to do?”
“For now? Take my wife and son to Dubai.”
“Garrett, please don’t. Let it go.”
“Raymond set this entire thing up.”
After her conversation with him, it was likely he did, but Imani wasn’t exactly sure. She remained silent.
“He’s obliterated every boundary there is. He won’t do it with us. One way or another, Raymond will be handled.”
“I don’t like that look in your eyes. You make me nervous when you talk like that. Pretty soon, the courts will give us custody of Garrett Jr., and we won’t have to deal with his games.”
“That’s one way of dealing with this mess.” He changed the subject. “You almost packed?” Garrett would let Imani think whatever she wanted. The bottom line, he was done allowing Raymond to run around without a leash. Sometimes dogs needed to be put down.
*****
Garrett was tense. It took a while for him to loosen up on the plane ride over to Dubai. But, once they arrived and got settled into the luxurious home they’d rented, he seemed to relax—a little.
Imani walked out onto the balcony of her and Garrett’s bedroom and leaned over the railing. Gone was the sweltering heat from earlier. She’d showered and changed into a strapless cotton mini dress, perfect for the balmy night air. It felt good on her body.
Garrett came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist burying his head into the delicate curve of her neck. “That little boy didn’t want to go to sleep. He was fussy tonight.”
She moaned as his lips caressed her skin. Her voice came out in a whisper. “Despite how luxurious this villa is, a fourteen-hour flight and an hour drive will make anyone a little cross, exhausted.”
“I hope you’re not too tired for me.”
Imani leaned back into his body, and he held her a little tighter. Her own voice was husky to her ears. “Never for you.”
“Good.” Garrett breathed her in. Meeting Imani was as unconventional as it came, but she was exactly what he needed, perfect.
There was a part of him that was terrified she would wake up and decide she’d made the biggest mistake of
