Going Down (38 page)

Zack smiled, practically blushed and I wondered why. “Yeah, I remember her.”

“I was just telling her last night that Atlanta is really a big/small town. I can’t believe you guys are friends,” Tyhedra said, as the waitress returned with her drink. She took a sip and then a deep breath. “So, how uncomfortable a situation is this gonna be, guys?”

“I can’t speak for them, but I just wanted to say thank you,” Zack said.

“Wasn’t expecting that.”

“Me, too. I wouldn’t be getting ready to go onstage if it wasn’t for you. I owe whatever success I have with my music to you.”

“No, Tee. It was your hard work that got you here. All I did was give you a little push in the right direction,” Tyhedra said graciously.

“A big push and a lot of help and encouragement.”

“Now, Zack, what are you thanking me for?”

Zack looked at me and Tavarus, then whispered something in her ear.

“Wow. See, I knew there was more to it. Do you want Maritza’s number?”

“No, but thank you, I got that covered for the time being.”

“I’m just glad I was wrong and that you decided to pursue it, and especially that I could help.” Tyhedra finally made eye contact with me. “Look, guys, that’s all I was trying to do is help. That’s just who I am. I like helping people see their dreams. I’m sort of a Muse.”

“A what?” I asked.

“A Muse,” Tavarus said. “In Greek mythology, the Muses are a sisterhood of goddesses who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music, and dance.”

“Very good, Tee,” Tyhedra said and patted his hand.

“I can see how that applies to me. You truly inspired me and my music, but what about them? They are not musical at all.”

“To you, Tee, I was
Euterpe
, the well-pleasing Muse of music and lyric poetry. For Zack, I was
Erato
, the Muse of love or erotic poetry, lyrics, and marriage songs.”

“What about me? How do I fit into this Muse thing?”

“To you, Chris, I was
Polyhymnia
, the singer of many hymns. The Muse of oratory and rhetoric.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Do you remember the day we met, Chris?”

“I do.”

“You were looking for solution to your problems with business, so I helped you with that.”

“I get it,” Tavarus said.

“That’s good. Maybe you could tell me then.”

“You said it yourself: She taught you how to present yourself to prospective clients. She helped you stabilize your big accounts, and got you new business. That made it possible for you and CJ to bring in me and Zack,” Tavarus said.

“What’s this? You two are joining his business?”

“Made us an offer today,” Zack said.

“Good, ’cause you really needed to be doing something with your talent.”

By that time, the band came on the stage and began turning up. “Look, I gotta get ready; you all stay and enjoy the show.” Tavarus kissed Tyhedra on the cheek and headed for the stage.

I looked at Tyhedra and she looked into my eyes. She turned to Zack. “You’ll excuse me and Chris for a minute,” she said and stood up.

“No problem.”

“Chris, can I talk to you for a minute?”

I got up and followed Tyhedra out of the club. We walked in silence for a little ways. “I want you to know that I meant what I said in there. I really was just trying to be helpful. It’s just that sometimes my own passions get in the way. But with you it was different. I got weak for you. Weaker for you than any man ever had me.”

“Is that why you ran away from me?”

“Now you know why I felt that I had to. If I hurt you, and I can tell from that look that I did, I never meant for it to happen and I definitely never meant to cause you any pain. So I ran. I tried to get as far from you as I could, so this wouldn’t happen. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

I stood there and looked at her for a minute. “I do owe you a lot.”

“There was something between you and CJ, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I could tell every time I talked to her. She gave me the feeling that I was invading on something that she considered to be hers. But neither of you were willing to admit to what you both made so obvious.”

“Right again.”

“The truth was I was just standing in her place, and to you, I began to feel like you could get from me what you really wanted from her. I would have just been in the way of what you really wanted.”

“I guess I could be thanking you, too?”

“Only if you think you have something to thank me for.”

“Come on, let’s go watch the show,” I said, and started walking.

“No, Chris. I’m gonna go. You say good night to Zack and Tee for me, but I really meant what I said about you, and being weak. It’s better I go.”

“Will I see you again?”

“Maybe.”

Tyhedra walked away, and I stood and watched her until she was out of sight. When I went back in the club, Tee was already onstage, playing his heart out. I sat down at the table with Zack.

He looked around. “Where’s Tyhedra?”

“She said to tell you good night.”

“I can understand that.”

Zack and I sat and enjoyed the rest of the show. I don’t know about him, but while I listened, my mind was on Tyhedra, marveling at how one woman was able to change all of our lives.

I had just gotten finished packing my things to leave, when I got the call from Tavarus about meeting him at the club. I started not to go, but in the back of my mind, I was thinking about going to the well one more time, before I left. Knowing that would be a bad idea, I put my stuff in the car and figured I’d stop by, hear Tavarus play one last time, say good-bye and head north.

I wasn’t expecting to meet three men that I’d had sex with. But all in all, it went well, and it gave me a chance to say good-bye to Chris. I meant what I said to him, but I knew it was CJ that he really wanted and I was just standing in her spot, keeping it warm until she was ready for it. That wasn’t a spot for me.

I had to laugh at myself and that Muse analogy I went with, and I was glad that Tavarus knew what I was talking about. But in a way, if you really sit and think about it, that’s what I did. In my own way, I helped each of them make their dreams a reality. I guess—no I’m sure—it was better than killing them.

So what now? I always wanted to go to New York.

If you enjoyed
Going Down; An Erotic Tale of Murder
, please check out
Killing Them Softly: An Erotic Tale of Murder. It is
a wild ride from cover to cover. The story centers around Devin James, Avonte Petrocelli and
Qianna
Patterson and the events that draw these three very different people together. After Devin and his wife
Taye
lose their second baby,
Taye
slips into a deep depression. At that point Devin realizes that nights that were once filled with great sexual experiences shared by two people who were desperately in love with each other, were now a distant memory. During a trip to Puerto Rico with
Taye
, Devin meets Avonte Petrocelli. She’s a married woman with issues of her own. Her rich husband has a new blonde mistress and wants a divorce. It doesn’t take long before the two begin a very steamy affair. Devin and Avonte become sexually involved with
Qianna
Patterson; a very beautiful, but unstable woman, fresh out of prison with a history of violence.

When
Taye
makes Devin’s life a living hell, they plan to murder her for the insurance money. Once the deadly deed is done, their real intentions come to the forefront, and the drama and murders begin.

Beneath The Surface

Commit To Violence

Bury Me Deep

Private Deceptions

The Mike Black Saga: Book One

The Mike Black Saga: MOB

The Mike Black Saga: Outlaw

The Mike Black Saga: Payback

The Mike Black Saga: No More Tears In The End

An Urban Drama

The Playa Chronicles

All About The Money

On Sale Now from Kingstown Publishing

The Request by LaVonda Kennedy

Southern Comfort By La Jill Hunt

Whatever It Takes by Angela Jones

Somebody’s Somebody by La Jill Hunt

Don’t be a Dumb Bitch by Ayana Ellis

Coming Soon from Kingstown Publishing

Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing by La Jill Hunt

Out of Control by Roy Glenn

Visit www.kingstownpublishing.com