Through the Fire (15 page)

the same time, I wouldn’t wish him on a good

woman at this time in his life, and Dominique’s

a good woman. All I can say is that you must

want this election bad.”

Marcus glanced at Felton’s son and saw

that he was looking at his father in shock. His

shock almost mirrored Marcus’ own. What the

hell was Hobbs trying to do? What had gotten

into him?

“So you’re saying that you don’t want

Dominique with Junior,” Marcus ground out,

still trying to keep his voice down.

Marcus saw the panicked look Felton Jr.

gave him and wondered what the young man’s

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motives were. He didn’t really give a damn at

this point. That would be Dominique’s problem

once she and Felton were married.

He
needed
a united front with the Hobbs’.

Hobbs Sr. might not have been exactly well-

liked, but everybody appreciated his keen

business sense and his ability to make money

grow. After Marcus won the election his old

friend could do whatever the hell he wanted.

But for now, he needed him and his good-for-

nothing son. “I think you’re being a little too

hard on Felton,” he said, trying to sound

paternal.

Hobbs Sr. shook his head. “Don’t worry,

I’m not backing out. This will be great for all of

us. Well, all of us except for Dominique. But, if

you don’t care, then why the hell should I?

After all, you’re her father.”

“Yes, I am. Dominique will marry a

prominent

African

American

and

not

some…never mind. Just be at the house

tonight,” Marcus hissed. “I take it you’re paying

for lunch today?”

“Why, of course. I wouldn’t have it any

other way.”

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153

“Good, see you two tonight. Don’t be late.

You know how Olivia hates that,” Marcus said

before getting up and leaving the restaurant.

Marcus was so angry he could spit. Who

the hell did Hobbs think he was questioning

him like that? Of course he loved Dominique;

he just needed her to do what he wanted. Hell,

Felton was acting like Dominique was his

daughter or something. All Marcus knew was

that Felton Sr. had better not back out now.

Marcus wasn’t concerned about Felton Jr., he

needed this marriage just as much as Marcus

did. Especially since his daddy was tightening

the purse strings.

Still, this wasn’t the time to be getting

cold feet. He’d have to keep a close eye on

Felton Sr. He didn’t need him spilling his guts

to Dominique. Granted they’d been friends

practically all of their lives and he could always

count on Felton, but lately his friend was giving

him all kinds of grief about everything he did.

After the election, if Felton wanted to part

ways…good riddance. Marcus was sure he

could make more friends once he was elected.

Powerful friends. And that’s all that he was

concerned about now.

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Marcus needed to push fast. He’d seen

how that Cameron boy was looking at

Dominique at the wedding. There was no way

in hell that he’d allow her to marry him, and to

prevent that he needed Dominique here, under

his watchful eye, with as many obstacles

thrown in her path as possible. As for that

Cameron fellow, he’d better stay the hell out of

his way or he’d make his ass disappear

permanently. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t done

things like that before…

CHAPTER EIGHT

Dominique was drained both mentally

and physically. This case was driving her nuts,

and so was her father. If he called one more

time about that stupid dinner, she was going to

scream.

Marcus was still angry that she hadn’t

shown up for the dinner he’d planned at his

house. Dominique had kindly reminded her

father that, had he not hung up on her, she

would have told him that she was busy with

preparing for her trial.

Not only was her father on her case, but

Felton Hobbs Jr. was leaving tons of messages

on her cell phone about having lunch or dinner

with him. That ass had even had the nerve to

show up at her office the night before, as if

appearing at her job would suddenly make her

decide that she actually liked him.
As if
.

Dominique had been feeling depressed

ever since she had had to call Brandon and

cancel for the following night. She needed to

meet with an expert witness and, unfortunately,

Saturday was the only free day he had available

before he was due to testify in court.

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Dominique didn’t like losing, especially

since it was dawning on her that she’d been put

in a position where she could do nothing but

fail. Fuck that. She was determined to come out

a winner. Mr. Johnson would get the best

defense she could offer.

Dominique gave a loud sigh.
Nothing like

Chinese food to make me feel better
, she

thought.
I’ll give Brandon a call once I feed my

belly.
Dominique emptied the contents of her

Chinese food onto her plate. She had a date

with General Tso’s Chicken, Spareribs, Lo

Mein, and a nice glass of red wine. “Yep, this is

the life.” Now all she needed was to hear

Brandon’s sexy voice.

Dominique had taken a forkful of her

food when she suddenly heard knocking at her

door. She glanced at her kitchen clock and

noticed that it was going on 8:30 p.m. Who on

earth…? Diamond was still on her honeymoon,

she’d spoken with her mom earlier, and Chad

and Xavier were both out of town.

Dominique felt the muscles in her

shoulders start to knot up. “If that’s my father I

am going to strangle him with my bare hands,”

she said out loud and stomped over to the door

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157

and yanked it open without even looking to see

who it was.

“Daddy if you so much as—”

“Sorry baby, it’s not your daddy,”

Brandon said with a big smile.

Dominique stood there in shock.

“Uh, baby, I think you should invite me

in. Not that I’m not enjoying the view, but I

wouldn’t want anyone else to see you dressed

like that,” he said with a scowl on his face.

Dominique was wearing a skimpy pajama

tank top and boy’s shorts. She didn’t care.

“Brandon! Oh my God! Brandon! It’s really

you.” With one step, she closed the distance

between them. Brandon lifted her off her feet in

a bear hug and claimed her lips in a scorching

kiss.

Brandon was the first to break the kiss.

“Baby, I think we should go inside,” he

whispered against her lips, walking inside with

her in his arms and kicking the door closed

with his foot.

Dominique planted little kisses all over

Brandon’s face. “I…missed…you…so…much,”

she said between kisses.

“I missed you too, baby. When you said

you couldn’t make it, I decided that I would

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come to you. I told you before that we won’t be

spending our weekends apart if I can help it.

Never again, as far as I’m concerned,” Brandon

said placing her on her feet. “I see someone’s

been pigging out.”

Dominique blushed. Brandon knew that

Chinese food was her comfort food. “I figured

since I couldn’t see you this weekend I’d do the

next best thing.”

“Eat Chinese food. Glad I rate up there

with your favorite food dish,” Brandon teased.

“I’m glad you’re here. Did you eat? You

want to join me? Sit,” she said, making her way

over to the kitchen to grab a plate for Brandon.

“I can’t believe that you’re here. How long are

you here for?”

Brandon washed his hands in the kitchen

sink, snatched a paper towel with which to dry

them, and went to sit next to Dominique at the

table. “Believe it. I don’t know how long yet. It

doesn’t feel right with me in New York and you

here. Plus, you’ve started to worry me with this

case you’re on. Too many key people keep

disappearing. I want to see some of the

paperwork. Maybe I can help,” Brandon said.

“Yay! I would love to share with you.

Maybe a fresh set of eyes is what we need.

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159

Karen and I have been wracking our brains.

We’ve only been in court for three days and

already this is giving me a headache. I just have

this feeling that there’s something I’m missing.

Karen says the same thing.”

“Karen’s your legal assistant, right?”

Brandon asked as he began to eat the food that

Dominique placed in front of him.

“Yes. Karen’s actually a lawyer. She’s

taking the bar exam in a few months. Anyway,

this is a case from hell. I don’t know what to

think. I mean with the way things are going

now, this jury will go with the prosecution all

the way. It’s not looking good for my client and

I don’t like that at all.”

“What do you mean? Are you starting to

doubt his guilt?”

“Honestly, I did have my doubts once this

trial began. Now, there’s just so much

convenient evidence against him. Little

coincidences. Circumstantial stuff. Makes you

wonder…It’s almost like it’s too damn perfect.”

“You’re thinking it’s a setup?” Brandon

asked.

Dominique shrugged her shoulders. “I

don’t know about my client. But me, yeah,

there’s no question that I’ve been setup to fail.”

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Dominique saw Brandon stiffen and wished she

had kept her mouth shut.

“What do you mean you’ve been setup to

fail?” Brandon barked.

“Calm down, Brandon. I mean this case is

huge. It’s the talk of Atlanta. So why ask
me
to

take over the defense? I’m good Brandon, but

not that good. I’m not a criminal attorney, and

I’m sure as hell not a trial lawyer. Anyway, I

have to meet with the expert witness the day

after tomorrow, and at some point in the

upcoming week I need to check out that

building for myself. My client is being accused

of veering from the original engineers report,

accidental damage, shoddy workmanship while

under construction, faulty drainage systems,

along with a shit-load of other stuff,”

Dominique said.

Brandon whistled through his teeth. “I’m

going with you Saturday. Don’t even think

about protesting, Dominique. I’m going, and

that’s final,” Brandon stated firmly.

Dominique rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

“And just how am I supposed to explain your

presence? You’re not associated with this case

in any way, shape, or form.”

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161

“That’s where you’re wrong, Dominique,”

Brandon said. “I’m associated with this case in

every way, because you’re connected to it.

You’re my wife, and as far as I’m concerned,

that seals the deal. I’m going with you. Get used

to it.”

Dominique threw up her hands. “Okay,

you Tarzan, me Jane…but just how am I

supposed to explain your presence since no one

knows
we’re married?” Dominique tried to

reason with him.

Brandon got up and closed the short

distance between them, taking her by the hand,

lifting her up from her seat, and pulling her

into his embrace. “They don’t have to know.

You won’t have to explain my presence to your

witness. For all he or she knows, I’m just

another attorney working the case with you,”

Brandon said, placing his forehead on hers and

using his hands to palm her ass. “Humor me,

okay?”

Dominique knew that Brandon was trying

to make it seem as though she had a choice,

when in reality she knew that Brandon would

do what he wanted to when it came to her

safety. She had a feeling that this was going to

be one very long trial. Not only did she have to

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deal with six other arrogant attorneys, the ADA,

and her client, now she would also have to