War, page 2
“Looks like you’ve got an entire platoon at your beck and call out there, Warwick. Thought you were a mild-mannered businessman now.” Quiet approval and a hint of intrigue flavored Seela’s words.
“Gotta become respectable some time,” he shrugged intent on playing down the way her voice coursed his veins like warm syrup. “But it’s useful not to break all ties with the past.”
Seela looked briefly toward the door and smiled. “Clearly.” Brows rising a smidge above their natural arch, she moved further into The Taylor hotel’s main conference room. The space was popular with guests of the hotel as well as businesses throughout Charleston. During late fall and winter however, the rooms were reserved for family.
“Everyone’s saying you’re in charge of what happens next.”
Warwick inclined his head, the slight movement sending a tumble of jaw length dreadlocks into his stunning face. “Is that what they say?” he countered.
“It is.”
“You believe it?”
“I do. Fray and Zy have enough on their plates. They want to see this dealt with but their first priorities are to my cousins as they should be.” Seela said of the women Warwick’s cousins loved beyond all reason.
She moved to the wide rectangular table until she stood close enough to tap her fingers along a gleaming cherrywood corner. “I want in on this Warwick.”
“In?”
“Your group,” she sent a faint wave in the general direction of the room’s double doors. “Whatever the next step is, I want to be part of it.”
“No.”
Seela suppressed her desire to bristle. “I have as much right to be part of this as you do.”
“You’ve done your part,” Warwick said.
She let him see her bristle then. “I haven’t done nearly enough.”
“I say differently.”
“Then, I disagree.”
“That’s your right.”
“That’s not fair,” she balled her fists hating the whine in her voice. More, she hated that she was standing there begging him. Sadly, he had far more firepower at his disposal then than she did. Simply put, she needed his resources and the access he could provide...to her vengeance. She cast another glance toward the door. “No women on your team?”
“Never needed any.”
“You might this time,” she fixed him with a tight smile when his bottomless eyes narrowed. She watched him, and saw the nod he gave for her to continue.
“Do you really think the people the VanStys are keeping will run off with men they don’t know? My guess is that kind of thing hasn’t worked well for them in the past.”
“So.”
“So having a female along might reassure them.”
“Reassure them.”
“Exactly.”
“I see,” he offered a tiny smile that was enough to spark the flash of a dimple to the left of his mouth. “How about reassuring me, See-See?”
Seela felt her lashes flutter, a pure reaction to the name only when he said it. “Reassure you how?” she asked.
“Make me believe this is about freeing those people and not assassination.”
Exasperation took shape on her lovely round face. “So what if it is?”
“It’ll ruin you, See-See, trust me.”
“I’m already ruined, Warwick. Or have you forgotten?”
Warwick ignored her reference to the past and focused on the present. “This won’t be like going after a cowardly asshole of a wife beater, See-See. This will be war. This will make what just happened on Buetree Island look like a party.”
“You think I haven’t seen death, Warwick? Caused it? You’d be wrong.”
“Caused it for those who deserved it, babe.”
“The VanStys deserve-”
“But we’ll have to cut through a lot of men to get to them. Are you ready for that? To kill dispassionately? Guys who are just doin’ the job, some who don’t even know what the fuck the VanStys are really into?”
It was clear to him that she hadn’t thought of that. Clearer still, that the idea disturbed her. She was still in there, he realized. The girl he loved-a woman now, yes. God...was she ever, he decided as his eyes roamed the subtle curves she now possessed. She was still the girl he loved. She was still there.
“How did you know?” she turned when he didn’t answer. “How did you know I hunt down asshole wife beaters?”
That time, his smile sharply defined the dimple. “I didn’t, exactly. Moira filled in the blanks when she told Zy about her business.”
“Filled in the blanks.”
“Well uh...” he cleared his throat and shed several layers of the intimidating general persona. “I’ve been having you followed, See-See, um...Jesus...every few months I...I send someone out to check in on you, make sure you’re okay. I’m sorry.”
“I’d hoped you’d already given all your apologies.”
“Well I haven’t and I am.”
“Warwick...why?”
“Because I worry-”
“No, not that. Why are you sorry?”
“See-See...I’m the last person who should-”
“Care?”
“Yeah...pretty much. I’d say I’ve done a fine job of proving how much I care, wouldn’t you?” he bowed his head and studied the lines in his palms. The dreadlocks shielded his face.
Concerned by the defeated slump to his broad shoulders, Seela left her post at the table and crossed to him. She’d been mesmerized by his gorgeous locks since the day he’d arrived at El’s, the first day she’d seen him in over 16 years. He was nothing like the boy she’d known, but in that moment she saw every bit of the boy he’d been.
Emboldened by what she couldn’t say, she reached out to rub one of the glossy, fat twists between her fingers. Warwick looked up suddenly. Seela blinked but didn’t move her hand. Their eyes held all of ten seconds before Seela was back to treating herself to the touch of his hair. The treat lasted barely a second before Warwick took her from her feet and settled her snug across his lap. There was nothing sweet or tentative in the meeting of their mouths. This was a fierce connecting, a sensuous entanglement of tongues that drew shaken moans from them both.
Seela took advantage of the opportunity to treat her fingers and palms to the pampering effects of the soft thick dreads. They tumbled this way and that with every tilt of his head as he laid claim to her mouth. His hands were equally active, roaming her back, smothering her waist and hips, cradling her bottom before retracing the journey back up to her chest. It was as if he were determined to access every part of her before the moment ended. Seela had no plan to halt anything. She met the strong, filling thrusts of his tongue with her own fiery hunger. She ran her tongue over the ridge of his teeth and shivered at the moan that rumbled through the immense wall of his chest. Her breasts molded to his palms when he cupped them. Instinctively, she arched never wanting the pressure to end.
End, it did, however. Warwick pulled back abruptly ending the kiss so suddenly as if just realizing what he was doing. It took Seela some time to rouse from the spell. His hands were still on her breasts, still nourishing them with the pleasure of his touch. He moved his hands and effectively broke the spell.
“I um...”
Seela held her breath, praying he wouldn’t apologize for what had just happened.
Warwick leaned close instead, pressed a lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth. He set her down with the same effortless grace he’d used to pull her in and then, on determined steps, made his way from the room.
~2~
Uncharted, was perhaps the best way to describe New Island. An unincorporated area, the island was just shy of 70 miles off the South Carolina coast. New had been so named by the newly freed slaves who had settled there as the promise of civil war began to scratch along the shores of South Carolina and its plantations.
Six of the area’s chief plantation owners had predicted an unfavorable outcome to the unrest that was already dividing a nation. They decided they would not be victimized and dictated to by the new regime. Additionally, they knew that the bondage upon which their livelihoods was founded, was an outrage deserving of being dismantled.
The six owners made decisions to relocate, but not before granting freedom to the thousands of slaves they held between them. New had once been scouted as a possible cargo station where goods; including newly arrived slaves, could be unloaded, inspected, and bought.
With the threat of war looming and those plans approaching obliteration, the six not only granted freedom to their slaves but gave them the island- deed included- with their blessings to be fruitful and multiply. As free men, the former slaves were at last allowed to set sail. The island suited their needs perfectly. They settled on the name New Island because they were new people- free people ready for the possibilities their new lives promised.
For Seela Desmond, that new life had focused on security. However, she hadn’t been totally honest when she’d compared the state of her firepower to War’s. She definitely had her fair share, but it was true that he had access to a lot more than she did.
It was also true that he didn’t seem willing to share that access with her. He didn’t want her involved at all and that just wouldn’t do. She had to be there when it ended- had to be part of the finish. What happened 16 years ago- her, El, and Moy- all victims of the brandings... It had only been part of the tragedy. So much more tragedy had occurred long before that horrible night.
Those responsible had acted with impunity and would have continued to do so. Bronson Guthrie V had left her no choice the day he’d met his death at the cliffs. The things he’d said, there had to be a reckoning. Of course, nature required a balance. One monster couldn’t be put down without another to rise in its place.
Russ and Keene Hammond, Jock and Scofield Noble. They were each in line to take Bronson Guthrie V’s place and all were thoroughly equipped to do a fine job. Half of those successors were now out of the running. Now, the focus was on the other half.
Seela could admit to herself that it was personal with this half. She didn’t need to beg War for a seat at the table. She would not be denied the chance to watch those two go down. Nor would she be denied the chance to be part of their defeat.
“They’ve got to be lurking somewhere on the island. If Bin lets the press in, they could stroll right out of here with them.”
Isaiah Desmond’s words brought Seela back to the present. Lunch with her first cousins had started pleasantly enough, with talk of gift buying, the past summer’s travel, and light-hearted family gossip. Then, Bianca Desmond, Isaiah’s sister, had asked whether Bin would let the local media run its holiday exposés on the island’s Christmas decor. Bianca figured Seela, as Bin’s houseguest, would have the inside track on that. The running joke was that the local press only asked out of habit. Bin had never allowed such a thing in all the years the requests had been made.
Isaiah’s comment was only meant as a joke. Given all the recent excitement, his words had opened the door to the conversation now in progress at the table inside the small bistro at The Taylor Hotel. Admitting the media to the island would probably not be in the best interest of anyone on the island- namely those holding sensitive positions related to world affairs.
“Don’t worry, Isi, they won’t get the chance,” Seela assured her cousin. “Bin’s never allowed that- don’t see why she would now.”
“Maybe they’ll go for a rare bit of honesty and tell her why they really want in,” Isaiah considered. “I can’t believe they haven’t caught a whiff of at least one rumor going around about your ex’s brothers.”
“Isi...” Bianca scolded her younger brother.
Isaiah looked properly chastised. “Sorry Seel,” he said, offering an awkward shrug. “So how is it? Being around him and the rest of his family again?”
Seela gave her cousin a patient smile, reading the meaning of the question. “War, Zyon, and Fray aren’t like the others, Isi. If they were, would El and Moy tolerate them the way they have?”
Isaiah Desmond retreated into another quiet round of thinking. “Knowing Moy as well as I do, I’d say there’s a strong ‘no’ to that.”
Laughter followed and then the siblings and their cousin were interrupted by the sound of Isaiah’s phone. He checked the screen, muttered something unsavory, and then asked the women to excuse him as he left the table.
“Can’t believe the same little boy who used to try to keep up with us in a diaper and bare feet, is now the head of a billion-dollar chemical engineering conglomerate,” Seela marveled.
“Girl...the world is indeed a strange place,” Bianca put in.
“So? How is it really seeing War again?” Bianca asked once she and Seela enjoyed laughter at Isaiah’s expense.
Seela studied the crumbs left behind from the cheesy quiche she’d ordered and devoured. “It’s not like I expected,” she finally admitted.
“Expected to be spending your time clawing out each other’s eyes, huh?”
“That’s Moy,” again, Seela laughed. “No,” she sighed. “I thought I’d be going out of my way to avoid him. It’s not like I have to stay on the island to see Bin every day. I could easily stay in Charleston. If it was really bad, my folks are just in Wilmington.”
Hayes and Serena Desmond had moved to the North Carolina coastal town the same year Seela had gone to Denver, Colorado.
“Anyway, no. No wish to claw out anyone’s eyes.”
“Well,” Bianca checked to see if her brother was on his way back before she finished, “on behalf of women everywhere, thank you for contemplating no ill will against a face as divine as Warwick Noble’s.”
Seela laughed at once and robustly, grateful for the time with her cousin. Next to Moira, Bianca was the only one with the power to make her laugh on a dime.
“You’re laughing, but that was in no way a joke,” Bianca promised. “If you didn’t know his story, it’d be hard to believe he’s single on purpose.”
Seela frowned now. “His story.”
“Get over it, Seel,” Bianca rolled her eyes. “Everyone who knows Warwick Noble, knows he’s only ever been in love with one girl-that’s you, cousin.”
Sighing now, Seela shook her head. “Anything that could’ve happened between us was over a long time ago, B. His family’s...tradition took care of that.”
“You really still believe that? Now? After being around him the last few weeks?”
“We can’t go back and...redo this, B. Too much has happened to make it work right.”
“And you’re good with that?”
“What choice do I have to be anything other than good with it?”
“But if you had a choice- which, by the way, I think you do- then what?”
“B...”
“I’m not trying to tease you here, Seel. I’d just really like to know.”
Seela puffed out her cheeks and considered. “If things were different...If War and I had the kind of lives kids like us thought we’d have without living through a nightmare brought on by people who should’ve loved us like family is supposed to...then yes. Yes, Warwick Noble would be the man I’d want to share my life with.”
Bianca nodded and toyed with the handle of the spoon in her coffee cup. “You know, it is possible to live and be happy despite what happened?” She smiled sadly. “I was there too, Seel, remember?”
Seela did remember. She remembered everyone who was there that horrible night. The victims... the survivors as well as the tormentors and the devil who had brought on the suffering out of some misguided loyalty to a deranged ancestor.
Seela turned into Bianca who was confessing how much she’d wanted to shut herself away after what happened.
“...I was doing a good job at it too,” Bianca was saying. “I had a full life. I had no love life, but that was okay. I wasn’t lonely and then...”
“Doctor Courtney Ames,” Seela supplied the name of her cousin’s surgeon husband of 8 years. She adored the shy smile coming to Bianca’s face as she bowed her head. If only the criminals who stood before the woman’s bench could see her now, Seela thought.
Bianca Desmond was a respected, revered, and feared judge. Those on the wrong side of the law in Dallas, Texas hoped they never had to face her. Bianca Desmond could be brutal. Bianca Ames was a romantic.
“It’s always so inspiring,” Seela said, chin propped to her palm, her expression dreamy. “The way you guys handled it when he saw...your injury.”
Bianca nodded. She had never had her brand removed. Once she’d made the decision to study law, she’d told Seela it would be a reminder. She never wanted to forget that there were monsters in the world and people who were strong enough to fight them.
“I expected him to walk away. I prepared myself for it,” Bianca laughed breezily and shook her head in a slow, bewildered fashion.” He wanted to hunt down the Guthries and all the rest-make them pay. I told him that a doctor shouldn’t say such things. He told me he wasn’t speaking as a doctor, but a man in love. He asked me to marry him that same night.”
Bianca laughed again, that time wiping at a tear that slipped from her eye. “How do you always trick me into telling that story?’
“Because you love telling that story and I love hearing it.”
Intrigue gleamed on Bianca’s round, lovely face. “What’s going on, cousin? What’s happening- between you and War, I mean?”
“What isn’t going on?” Seela raved. “There are plans in motion to uncover the rest of the Hammond Noble operation involving the people from Buetree. I went to see War about being part of it.”
“What?” Bianca’s disapproval was hard to miss. “Seela no. Leave War to clean up his family’s mess, alright?”
“I want to help.”
“You want revenge and I don’t want to see you standing in front of someone’s bench on trial for murder.”
“It’s murder no matter who pulls the trigger, B.”
