Authors: Serenity King
“Nor I you. That’s why you, wife, need to
do whatever it is to get better, because I plan on
keeping you on your back this weekend as
well,” he mocked-threatened.
“Not if I get you on yours first,” was her
sassy reply.
“Oh, it’s like that, huh?” he chuckled.
“Yes, it is. I plan on putting a hurting on
you when I see you, husband of mine,” she
teased.
“Hmm… That sounds promising. Hurt
me. Hurt me, baby.”
“Yep, and seeing as how you get all
winded and all, you’d better bring your oxygen
tank. You’re going to need it,” she joked.
“Oxygen—we’ll see who’s going to need
oxygen. You weren’t complaining about me
being winded when you were screaming my
name
at
the
top
of
your
lungs.
Brandon…Brandon. Oh yes, give it to me baby
.
Harder
,” he mimicked.
142
SERENITY KING
Dominique’s face reddened. She did
remember saying those words. Only she was a
little more forceful. “You know a gentleman
wouldn’t repeat that.”
“Why not? I like it when you scream my
name. You do it so lovely,” he chuckled.
“We’ll see who screams whose name the
loudest this weekend,” Dominique challenged.
“I love challenges, wife. I am looking
forward to it.”
Dominique was spared from responding
by a soft knock at her office door.
“Listen, Brandon, someone’s at my door.
I’ll call you when I get in this evening,” she said
quickly.
“Make sure you do. Love you, baby. Talk
to you tonight.”
“Love you, too. Bye,” she said
disconnecting her call.
“Come in,” she called out. Dominique
watched as her legal assistant, Karen, pushed
the door opened and walked into Dominique’s
office carrying a thick file.
“Hey, boss lady,” Karen chirped.
“How’s it going, Karen? And how many
times do I have to remind you that I’m not your
Through the Fire
143
boss? What have you got there?” Dominique
asked.
“It’s the other half of the
criminal
case
you’re working on,” Karen responded stressing
the word criminal. Dominique knew that Karen
hadn’t approved of her taking this case. She
thought all criminal cases were dangerous.
As far as Dominique could tell, the only
danger in this case was her client being found
guilty, going to jail, and Dominique walking out
of that courtroom with egg on her face. There
were so many players involved that it was hard
to determine what was what. How did a civil
case suddenly go criminal? And all fingers
pointed at her client.
“Ugh! This is getting to be ridiculous,”
Dominique groaned. “By the way, thank you for
leaving that message on my phone about the
trial postponement. Something’s up. The judge
wants to see us all in his chambers in the
morning. This should be interesting. I wonder
what’s going on?”
“I have no idea. Have you spoken with
Mr. Johnson again?” Karen asked.
“Yes, before I left. According to Randal
Johnson, everything’s a conspiracy theory.
144
SERENITY KING
Either the dude is paranoid, or there may be
some truth in his craziness.”
“Oh I think there’s a lot of truth in what
he says,” Karen said seriously. “Not about the
conspiracy thing, mind you, but it does seem
odd that every time there’s an inkling of a
breakthrough in this case something happens.
Makes you wonder.”
“I was thinking the same thing. If I didn’t
know the ADA, I would seriously think
something was up. This last incident with the
attorney who was supposed to take this case
being in a mysterious car accident made me
wonder if someone is really out to get Mr.
Johnson. Old boy might be paranoid, but that
doesn’t mean there isn’t some truth in his
paranoia. I’ve never believed he was guilty of
anything but trusting the wrong people. And as
I was reading the file last night, I couldn’t help
but think that there’s something bigger in this
small picture.”
“Where have you been? This case is
nowhere near small, and it’s getting bigger
since you agreed to take over the defense. So if
there’s a bigger picture than the one we’re
already looking at, then we are in way over our
heads with this one.”
Through the Fire
145
Dominique sat up straight in her chair.
“Come to think of it…I think someone is trying
to play us, Karen. I’m a good lawyer—even I can
admit that…but maybe not good enough for
this kind of case. It’s way out of my comfort
zone. I believe someone is counting on me not
being prepared,” Dominique said.
“I’ve thought that from the beginning.
But you’ve been so hell bent on taking on the
world lately that I didn’t say anything. I don’t
know what happened at the wedding but
hallelujah, thank you Jesus, you’re smiling and
thinking more clearly now.” Karen laughed.
“Must be a man…come on, dish the goodies.”
Dominique blushed and quickly lowered
her head, pretending to sift through the file on
her desk. “I don’t know what you’re talking
about,” she murmured.
“Yeah, sure you don’t,” Karen smirked.
“That’s why you came in the office this morning
walking funny and with damn near a turtle
neck on in ninety degree weather. Umm,
hmm.”
Dominique’s
blushed
deepened.
“I…I…Oh, be quiet and let’s get started on this
case.” She was
not
going to get into her
relationship with Brandon. Although she
146
SERENITY KING
trusted Karen with her life, she didn’t feel like
sharing Brandon with anyone yet. She wanted
him to herself before the world intruded on
their happiness. And the world would…in the
form of her father. She loved her father but
after this case was over, to hell with her father
and everyone else who didn’t approve of her
marriage to Brandon. They’d just have to deal
with it.
“Ah, she thinks about her distant lover,”
Dominique heard Karen say.
“Hush up, Karen. Time to get to work.”
Dominique’s blush deepened.
“Okay. I see I’m not going to get anything
more out of you today.” Karen pretended to
sulk. Dominique ignored her. “Just promise
you’ll give me all of the juicy details soon.”
“Promise. Now, we have work to do. Did
you find any case law that I can use?”
Dominique asked.
“Only a little, I plan on doing some more
research. I think I have enough for us to work
with for now so crack the whip, boss.”
Dominique sighed. “Will you please stop
calling me boss?”
“Yes, boss,” Karen sassed.
Through the Fire
147
Dominique could only shake her head
and giggle at Karen’s silliness. “That fresh
mouth is going to get you in trouble one day,
Karen.”
“I sure hope it’s in the form of a man. A
sistah’s been on the decline lately.”
“Date didn’t go well?” Dominique asked
as she started reading the paperwork in front of
her.
“No. Long story for that day when you tell
me about your man.”
“Fair deal.”
Dominique and Karen worked nonstop
until Dominique’s desk phone rang.
“Hello,” Dominique murmured as she
highlighted information she thought pertinent
to her case.
“Dominique, it’s your father.”
No shit
she wanted to say, but then
thought better of it. “Hello, Daddy, what’s up?”
she said, trying to hide her lack of enthusiasm.
“Are you free for lunch?”
“No, sorry, Daddy. I have too much work
to do. Karen and I are working through lunch,”
she said.
“Dinner, then, and I won’t take no for an
answer. Be at the house by 7 p.m.”
148
SERENITY KING
“I don’t think—” Dominique didn’t have a
chance to respond. Her father had hung up and
she was now listening to the dial tone. “He
hung up,” she said furiously to Karen. “How
dare he think that I’ll jump because he says
so?”
“Well, you have been doing just that for a
while now. Don’t get me started on your dad. I
know you love him and all, but his ideas are
just as phony as he is,” Karen said.
Dominique was shocked. Had Karen
always felt that way about her father? If so,
why? “Karen, I never knew you didn’t like my
father.”
Karen clucked her tongue. “I’ve never
liked the way he used your love to manipulate
you into doing his will. He’s a user and a
manipulator with a control streak. And before
you protest, I recognize the signs. Remember
what I’ve told you about my childhood. I say it’s
about time you got some man balls where your
daddy’s concerned. You standing up to him is
long overdue.”
“Wow, I never knew you felt this way.
We’ve been friends since high school and
you’ve never said a word,” Dominique said.
Through the Fire
149
“Yes, I have. You’ve just never paid
attention. You think your father walks on
water, as well as any daughter should. I just
know different. Now, let’s get finished with this
so you can meet Daddy for dinner.” Karen
practically spat the last words at Dominique.
Dominique stared at Karen in shock. She
didn’t know what to say so she bent her head
and continued to go over the case file. She had
read the same paragraph for the fifth time
when she realized none of the words made
sense to her. And did she just see a mention of
her father’s name? She scanned the page again,
but after a few times of not being able to focus
she gave up. Karen’s words had really hit home.
The scales were falling away from her eyes, and
she was starting to see her father in a way that
others always talked about. Dominique didn’t
like feeling this way or thinking ill of her father.
Either way, he was still her father and she loved
him dearly.
* * *
Marcus Shaw faced the two men sitting
across from him in the restaurant and smiled.
“Gentlemen, it’s done. Dominique will meet us
150
SERENITY KING
at my home for dinner. Just be there by seven
o’clock this evening.”
“We’ll be there,” the senior Hobbs said.
“Now, you’re sure Dominique’s going to agree
to a marriage with Felton?”
“I’m sure. Listen, nothing’s getting in the
way of me becoming Governor. You just make
sure Junior gets his gambling under control.
I’m serious, Felton. You’re one of my biggest
contributors. We are two of the richest African
American families in the Atlanta area and a
union between us would be awesome. Besides, I
thought you were all for this marriage between
our children.”
“Oh, I’m just surprised
you’re
still
agreeable. You and I have been friends a long
time…almost like brothers. You know my faults
as well as my son’s, and yet you still want your
daughter to marry my son. Makes one question
your real motives, or maybe you’re just not that
fond of your daughter.” Felton eyed Marcus
suspiciously.
“You have the nerve to question my love
for my daughter, Felton? You, who can’t keep
your son out of gambling casinos nor from
spreading his seed across the hemisphere,”
Marcus thundered. A few of the other diners
Through the Fire
151
looked over at the two men, and Marcus made
an effort to get his temper under control and
plaster a fixed smile on his face.
Felton Sr. smirked. “See, you do know my
son’s faults. But from what I’ve gathered all of
these years, none of your children has brought
you a moment of trouble. In fact, since you had
the attack, you’ve used Dominique to your
advantage.
“Sure, a marriage between our children
will work for both of us. I have the financing
and you have the political connections. I would
love for my son to marry a good woman but at