Inner Circle (12 page)

“Carmen, I get that you’re worried about your career, but I’m worried about you. Look at you!”

Still sobbing, Carmen tried to gain her composure. “I just don’t understand. Who would do this to me?”

“I don’t know, honey, but the longer we wait to call the police, the more we’re going to have to explain later. We can’t clean you up because the police will need whatever DNA evidence they can gather.”

“What if this is about Drew?”

“What?” Pierre asked as he began to check the remainder of the house. He quickly checked the office, guestroom, and finally Carmen’s bedroom. In the bathroom he ran cold water on a towel and headed back down the hallway.

“What were you saying about Drew?” he repeated, handing her the towel.

“I’ve been sleeping with him for the past four months,” Carmen said.

“You hussy! How could you not tell me you were sleeping with Drew Peteers?”

Pierre noticed the door leading to the garage was slightly ajar, but when he peeked into the garage, Carmen’s Maserati and everything else seemed in place.

“He’s married!” Carmen protested as she began dabbing the cold towel across her face.

“No shit!” Pierre agreed. “This is a fucking PR disaster! No wonder you didn’t want to call the police.”

Although Pierre knew that they should call the police, he also knew that once the story of the attack became public, he would not be able to protect Carmen from the onslaught. News that the Tresses model had been beaten and shaved completely bald would create a media frenzy, and the financial payday for the gruesome pictures could be worth millions.

Pierre grabbed a hooded jogging suit and tennis shoes from Carmen’s closet and darted back to the kitchen. “Put this on. We have to get you to the hospital.” He handed her the clothes and went to pour her a glass of wine from the bottle he had seen in the kitchen.

Carmen dressed slowly and accepted the wineglass without question. She sipped carefully, trying to maneuver the glass around her swollen lips. She wasn’t sure if it was real or just her imagination, but the wine seemed to relax her.

“We’ll call the police from the hospital,” Pierre said, handing Carmen her bag in exchange for the empty glass.

Carmen pulled the hood over her head and tightened the drawstring to make sure it fit snugly around her face. She looked at Pierre, her eyes searching for assurance that she looked less disturbing with her head covered.

Pierre nodded and smiled sympathetically. It was difficult to look at her. He glanced away looking at his watch. It was nine o’clock. “Let me get some pictures.”

Carmen looked confused. “Whaaaaaat? Pictures? Are you crazy?”

“Listen, if anyone is going to profit from this, it’s going to be us! I know it sounds crazy right now, but trust me, photos are always important.” He retrieved his iPhone and asked Carmen to remove the hood. Too weak to argue, she relented and stood silently as Pierre took several shots.

Once done, Pierre led her gently down the hallway. Carmen watched as he set the alarm before they exited the house. Quickly they made their way to his car and headed the short distance to the hospital.

“Now when we get there, I’m going to need you to allow me to do all the talking. Victims shouldn’t speak. The more you say, the more they’ll want to investigate. Got it?”

Carmen could only manage a nod. Her head was throbbing so badly that she was having a difficult time concentrating. She was trying to recall details of the attack, but the pain kept interrupting her thoughts. She still couldn’t believe what had just happened.

At the hospital she remained silent as Pierre took over. It was during times like this that she was glad to have Pierre on her side. While she remained in the car, Pierre made special arrangements to
ensure her privacy. Once inside, she was led to a private room where she was greeted by a specialist, a private nurse, and a detective ready to take her statement.

Within the hour Carmen was examined and x-rayed revealing multiple bruises, contusions, a badly sprained wrist, and one hell of a concussion. The doctor had concluded from his examination that there were no signs of rape or any sexual assault, which she suspected, but was relieved to have it confirmed. Within moments, the bruises to her face were treated and her wrist was carefully wrapped to stabilize her sprain. Although she was reluctant, Carmen agreed to a mild sedative to ease her pain. She felt comfortable allowing Pierre to handle the final questions from the police and do whatever he was going to do regarding the press.

She waited a moment for the sedative to kick in. She knew she’d have more questions to answer in the morning regarding her attack, but for now, all she was craving was the rest she so desperately needed. Her mind raced with thoughts of who could have attacked her. Although she knew she hadn’t acquired many friends in Los Angeles, she’d made it a point not to make any enemies either.

Carmen pulled her cell phone from her bag and checked her missed calls. There were two. The first one was from an anonymous caller, who Carmen immediately assumed was Drew. She smiled at the thought of Drew, then panicked at the thought of how she would explain to him what had happened to her. Although she knew her bruises would eventually fade, it would be an eternity before her hair grew back. As she rubbed her hand across her peach-fuzzed scalp, tears welled in the corners of her eyes.
What am I going to do now?
she thought. She couldn’t imagine Drew being so shallow that he wouldn’t like her now that her hair was gone, but then again, she could not have imagined her own insecurity and the shallowness
she
felt about what she now thought of herself.

Carmen wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to concentrate on the now blurred second missed call in her phone. Her face became
stony as she saw the number that belonged to her ex. She cleared the number only to notice that someone had left her a message. She prayed that it was Drew, and then held her breath as she retrieved the message. It was a woman’s voice on the opposite end of her phone.

“Did you actually think I was going to let you get away with this? I warned you about betraying me, but you didn’t listen. I will not share what’s mine. When I said “til death do us part,’ I meant it. Now you’ve got two choices: either leave Drew alone or leave America in a body bag.”

Tears flooded her eyes as she replayed the message over and over again. Carmen wasn’t sure if it was the sedative kicking in or the chilling revelation of whom she now knew with all certainty was her attacker, but she was dizzy and almost drunk with emotion. The question in her mind was no longer about what she was going to do, but rather how fast she would be able to get out of dodge.

9

“What
the fuck do you mean you’re not going to make it to my game, Ev? It’s the fucking playoffs. Win or go home, remember? If we lose there isn’t another game. That’s it, season over!”

“You guys have a perfect record, honey. Come on, it’s not a big deal! You make it seem like I’m trying to go fucking shopping when I’m just doing my job.” Eve kicked her Uggs off and tossed them in the corner of their room near Chase’s gym bag.

“You wouldn’t have to go away this weekend if you had taken your ass to the office this week instead of running around town the past few weeks playing mother hen to them damn wives. What, you thought I didn’t know?” Chase took off his shirt exposing his perfectly chiseled chocolate chest. “Eve, I’m your husband, and for the last couple of months you’ve really been putting everything and everybody else before me.”

Chase was right, and Eve knew it. She’d devoted the last few weeks of her time and energy to either work or the wives. She’d missed three games and hadn’t made it home for dinner with Chase in over two weeks.

“Babe, I’m sorry. Until now, I hadn’t even thought about the fact that I’d been so insensitive.”

“You have been,” he pouted as he sat on the edge of their bed and went through his practice bag.

Eve tossed her work files aside and kneeled down in front of him. “I’ll figure out a way to make it to your game this weekend, I promise.” She stroked the side of his face with her hand.

“What else?” he said flirtatiously.

Eve took the hint. “I could . . .” She unzipped his pants exposing his already erect penis. She didn’t bother to finish her sentence and instead, allowed her mouth and tongue to complete it for her.

Chase moaned as Eve pleased him orally. While she pleasured him, she realized that the two of them hadn’t made love in over two weeks. It was that kind of neglect that Eve knew led to problems in relationships, especially relationships with athletes. For every night she didn’t fuck her man to full satisfaction, she knew there was some thirsty groupie bitch that would be more than willing to do it for her.

The mere thought of someone else fucking her man made her fume. She pulled Chase’s dick out, fully exposing it, and began to suck him harder. As he lay back on the bed, Eve went to work, handling her man as if he were a Big Gulp from 7-Eleven. She felt it was her duty both as a woman and a wife to make it impossible for any groupie to compete with her. Before he had an opportunity to cum, she removed her clothes, fully exposing every inch of her naked body, and positioned herself on top of him. The butterflies tattooed on her back were about to take flight, and she smiled in anticipation of what was to come.

“I want to ride you,” she moaned, resisting his offer of help. She gently moved his hands, preventing him from gripping her waist. “No!” she demanded with a sultry grin. “I got this,” she teased, while placing his rock-hard love fully inside her.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” she screamed, expressing how good he made her feel.

Their bodies were rhythmic as her pussy led his dick in a tango of pleasure. Holding nothing back, Eve was wild with passion.

“You forgive me?” she whispered as she squatted up and down on him, and then hovered above him, allowing the wetness of her center to drip slowly down the tip of his dick before resuming her stroke.

“Oh yeah . . .” Chase managed between moans, fighting to control his need to cum inside of her. “I . . . Ewwwwwwwwwwwww, Eve!” he muttered unable to complete his thought.

“You ready to cum, baby?” She moved her hips faster.

“Ewwwwwwwwww, I don’t want to buuuut . . .” Chase grabbed Eve’s hips, ignoring her earlier command and navigating her direction to suit his own needs.

“You feel it, baby? Is it wet enough for you?”

Chase licked her breasts. “It’s good.”

“How do you want it?” she quizzed, wanting to make sure she gave it to him exactly the way he liked.

Eve placed her hands on top of Chase’s, which were still on her breasts. “Squeeze ’em,” she ordered.

He obliged.

“Harder!” she yelled as her body began to tingle with satisfaction.

Eve knew Chase was close to climax, but she didn’t want their lovemaking to end. She slowed the rhythm of her stroke, toying with him.

“I want to taste it,” he begged.

“Okay,” Eve whispered, removing his hands from her breasts and replacing them with her own. She licked her nipple, motioning Chase to take charge.

Eve submitted as Chase lifted her off his dick and turned her, positioning her pussy over his face as she leaned down to gently lick the head of his dick. He gripped her ass, making her scream with pleasure as he slurped and licked her pussy hard. The sensation was so strong she gasped for breath and struggled to hold her position.

“Take it,” he ordered as he gripped her ass tighter and continued to lick her dry.

Finally catching her breath, Eve placed him inside her mouth. Determined to make him cum first, she pulled out all the stops and began to suck vigorously, displaying a perfect combination of spit, tongue, throat, and jaw action to guarantee her victory.

It was obvious that Chase was on a mission of his own as Eve felt her insides start to quiver. She sucked faster, and the two of them fell into rhythm, sending each other into a sexual frenzy. Just as her body was about to succumb to the pleasure, she felt Chase’s dick respond, first with just a shudder, then a geyser-like release. Eve smiled and was about to declare her victory when she felt her own body tremble, and then begin to shake uncontrollably as the floodgates opened. She was happily the winner of both producing and receiving the gold.

They both laughed as Eve rolled over to lie next to Chase. They lay in the sticky residue of their lovemaking, both fully satisfied as they allowed their breathing to return to normal. Eve initiated conversation.

“You know how much I love you, right?”

“Yeah,” he said, gently smacking her ass.

“And if I’ve been crazy, it’s only because I’ve just been watching how all these men have been taking advantage of their wives. I hate it!”

“I know. I hear you. But, babe, you’ve got to know that ain’t me.”

“I know. It’s just hard,” she said, flipping her hair, dampened from sex.

“To what? Imagine that you do live in a world where not all men cheat? Because Eve, not all men do. I’ve got sisters. I’ve seen them get hurt by dudes that just weren’t ready for a real relationship. I’ve experienced through them what it’s like to have your heart broken by some guy who’s fucking around. I get it. I know that there’s unconquered pussy out there that’s constantly being thrown at us. But it’s not everybody’s story to want to conquer it. Some men really love and only want to be with the woman they chose to be with. And I chose you. You’re it for me, babe. You’re all I want!” Chase confessed.