Dead by Midnight - Beverly Barton [85]
“You know I can never say no to you, baby.”
She had been going crazy cooped up at home, with no one to keep her company but Tyrell, the big, scowling brute who never said a word to her unless she asked him a question. No doubt Tony had warned him not to get friendly with Shontee. Tony was the jealous type. But Tyrell had taken his job as her vigilant but silent bodyguard to the extreme. He was like a gigantic stone statue hovering over her.
At least here at the Rough Diamond in Atlanta, Tony’s first nightclub, she felt free, even with the tight security. Although he’d had to attend to business part of the evening, Tony had spent a lot of time with her. They had shared dinner in his upstairs office suite and then he’d taken her back down to the club and they had danced. He knew that she loved to dance.
They had been on the dance floor for quite a while when one of his flunkies came up to Tony and whispered something in his ear. He nodded to the guy, then let his hands drift down her back until they reached her hips. He caressed her butt as he leaned in and spoke softly into her ear.
“I love the way you feel, baby, and I hate to leave you, but we’ve got a situation that needs my attention.” He motioned for Tyrell, who stood on the edge of the dance floor, a dark shadow keeping watch over her.
Tony escorted her off the dance floor where Tyrell met them. “Take her upstairs.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll straighten out this problem and come get you soon. I promise.”
Doing her best not to pout—after all, Tony had to take care of business—Shontee went quietly with Tyrell. They took the elevator to the top floor instead of using the stairs. Rough Diamond was housed in a three-story plus basement building that Tony had completely renovated from top to bottom. Although she’d never been in the basement, she knew most of the space was used for storage, a climate-controlled wine cellar, and the center of the club’s state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. The club itself covered the entire main level, including two bars, a stage, a dance floor, and the kitchen in the back. The second floor contained small suites used by select clientele for intimate dinners and whatever other pleasures that required privacy. Tony’s office and a deluxe apartment took up the entire third floor.
Cocooned inside the elevator, Shontee looked up at the six-six Tyrell. “Do you have any idea what situation Tony had to take care of?”
“No.”
Tyrell punched the level three button and the elevator began its ascent.
“Do you think it’ll take him very long?” she asked.
“Don’t know.”
Shontee tapped Tyrell in the center of his chest. He tensed. “Are you sure you’re human? I’m beginning to think you’re a robot.”
He glared at her, but didn’t respond.
Suddenly, the elevator stopped at level two. Tyrell stepped in front of Shontee as the doors opened. She had to lean her head to the side in order to see around his wide body. A man and woman, all wrapped up in each other, her kissing him and him pawing her, got on the elevator.
“This elevator is going up,” Tyrell said in his deep, no-nonsense voice.
“We don’t mind riding up and down, do we, doll baby,” the guy said, laughter in his voice.
The redheaded woman’s shrill giggles grated on Shontee’s nerves. She was long, leggy and bosomy, and no doubt a high-price prostitute. Judging the man from his tailored dress slacks, expensive white shirt, neatly trimmed dark mustache, and the Rolex around his wrist, he was a wealthy businessman.
“I mind,” Tyrell said. “Please, get off and wait for the elevator to come back down.”
Disregarding Tyrell’s request, the man reached around his “date” and hit the Close button. “Sorry, I can’t do that.”
Several things happened all at once, the events unfolding so quickly that Shontee had no time to react. Tyrell shoved back his jacket to expose his shoulder holster and reached for his pistol. The redhead shrieked at the sight of