Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [28]
Tony Roberts’s hands tightened to fists at his side. His face got hard as stone. “She’s going to pay for doing that, right along with that hotshot attorney of hers. Now tell me what you found out.”
Billy shook his head. He hated spying on Jada as Tony had instructed him to do but everyone in the family knew that Tony had a mean streak. The last thing Billy wanted was to make his cousin angry and give him a reason to come looking for him, just as Tony intended to go looking for Jada, once he got out of the slammer.
“Jada’s working at this restaurant, man. It’s a real nice place. She’s been working there for over two weeks.”
Tony frowned. “Who owns the place?”
Billy raised eyes to the ceiling. “How would I know and what difference does it make, Tony?”
“It makes a lot of difference to me. No one should have given her a job. I take care of what’s mine. No one takes care of Jada but me.”
“And just how were you supposed to take care of her locked up in here?”
Tony’s features darkened. “I wouldn’t be in here if it wasn’t for that hotshot attorney getting into my and Jada’s business, but her day is coming.” His eyes became chilling. “I plan to take care of her when I get out of this stinking place.” The look in his eyes was as cold as ice. “I want to know where Jada’s living, and I expect you to let me know if she begins messing around with anybody. She’s mine and will always be mine. And as soon as I get out of here I’m going to make sure she never forgets that fact again.”
Chapter 8
The baby shower for Corinthians Avery Grant, given by Caitlin Madaris and Corinthians’s best friend, Brenna Jordache, was a lot of fun. Netherland watched Corinthians open one gift after another. According to Corinthians this was her fourth and final shower. The pressure she’d been feeling in the lower part of her stomach indicated it wouldn’t be too much longer before she and Trevor became parents.
“So, Nettie…” Syneda Madaris, who was sitting next to her on a love seat, leaned in close and whispered beneath the hum of “oooohs” and “ahhhhhs” going around the room with each gift Corinthians opened. “What’s going on with you and Ashton Sinclair?”
Netherland took a slow sip of her wine and met Syneda’s curious gaze. Syneda was known to be direct and straight to the point. “What makes you think something is going on?”
A smile twitched at Syneda’s lips. “I have eyes, Nettie. Even a blind person would be able to detect there’s something going on between the two of you. It’s so obvious.”
Netherland frowned. “In what way?”
Syneda gave a rueful smile. “In the way he looks at you. I couldn’t help noticing the way Ashton’s face lit up when you arrived here today. And the way he hesitated to leave when the guys suggested they become scarce and go to my place for drinks. The man acted like he didn’t want you out of his sight.”
Muffling a sigh, Netherland said softly, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with him.”
Syneda chuckled. “Do you actually need some ideas?”
Netherland couldn’t help but find amusement in what she’d just said, too. “I know that any woman would be gloating if they were the center of Ashton Sinclair’s attention.”
“But not you?”
“No, not me.”
Syneda’s smile faded. “This sounds serious.” She reached for her cup of milk. “Come with me for a minute. We need to talk.”
Moments later Netherland found herself alone with Syneda in Caitlin’s kitchen and opening up and telling the other woman why she and Ashton could never have a future together. Syneda hadn’t said anything but had attentively listened to her every word.
“Did you know I almost lost Clayton because of something similar?” Syneda said, her voice dropping as she remembered that time. “Because of my childhood I didn’t want to fall in love and get close to a man. In fact I had broken things off with Clayton.”
“But the two of you got back together.”
“Yes, because a very wise woman,