Duke (4 page)

“Why don’t you kids get going?” Duke said. She expected him to smile, but his expression was tense and serious.

The biggest boy stepped forward and reached a hand inside his jacket. Duke with his big form blocked her and Keen a little more. His presence was all of a sudden so overwhelming, if he were her enemy right at that moment, she’d cow like a little baby. How did he do that with just a few inches of movement and the set of his jaw?

The boy wavered for a second but then raised his chin in defiance. “Mind your business, old man.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Duke said. “If you’re bluffing, you’re going to get hurt. If you’re not, well, you’ll get the same result.”

No one moved or spoke for a second. Takiyah felt bile in her throat. They had never been in this kind of situation before. She had taught Keen to keep his head down and mind his business. Don’t linger on the street, calling attention to himself. The strategy had worked over the last couple of years with them living in this area after her divorce.

The boy and Duke stared each other down, and then the boy slowly pulled his hand from his jacket. Takiyah tried to push Keen behind her, but he stubbornly refused to move. When the boy’s hand reappeared, he swung his fist fast and hard at Duke.

Like the badasses in the movies, Duke caught the fist and shoved it back. The boy landed on his ass, and his friends guffawed, calling him a punk. The boy scrambled up off the ground and went at Duke again. Duke stopped him with strong fingers around his wrist and twisted it so that the boy spun around. Duke squeezed his shoulder while holding him prisoner by his wrist.

“Make the right choice, and walk away, kid. You don’t want to scrap with me.”

The boy cried out, and Takiyah grabbed Duke’s arm. “Let him go, Duke. He’s underage.”

“He deserves what he gets when he faces off with an adult.”

She tugged on his arm, but unless he was ready to let go, she wasn’t going to force him. “He gets it. Please, let go.”

Duke gave him a shove, and he stumbled almost hitting the ground again. Accusing eyes turned on Duke. “I’m going to remember this. You better watch your back.”

Duke grinned for the first time. “Bring it on, kid. If you’ve got the balls.”

Takiyah’s head swam. He must be insane. The group of boys ran off, and the three of them were left alone in the alley. She faced Keen and checked him over in the waning light. “Are you okay, Keen? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

Her son had eyes only for Duke. “How did you catch his fist like that? Did it hurt? I bet you’re a great fighter, aren’t you?”

Duke was all relaxation now, stuffing his hands into his pockets and grinning. “I do okay.”

Takiyah grabbed her son’s jacket front and tugged. “Let’s go. We’re having a conversation when we get home. March your butt to the car!”

“Ma, you don’t have to get so upset. It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Not a big deal? Don’t… I can’t… Just please, Keen, get in the car. I need some time before I talk to you.” She made sure he was settled before she started around to the driver side. Duke seemed to be waiting for a gushing thanks, but as far as she was concerned, he could wait the rest of his life.

“I’ll follow you home,” he offered when she said nothing.

“I don’t need you to follow me. I didn’t ask for your help earlier.”

“So you could have handled what happened in the alley by yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Beautiful and a good fighter? Nice combo.”

“Everything isn’t solved by throwing fists.”

“I wasn’t aware I’d thrown a punch.”

“You know what I mean. It’s obvious you like trouble. Just stay away from my son and me. We don’t need you, Duke. I told you, all I want to do is handle my own business and live my life. Keen and I have been fine all this time, and he’s usually a good, obedient boy. So thanks, but no thanks. Good night.”

She climbed into her car and drove off, leaving him standing there in the street. Maybe he wasn’t so bad since he had helped them out, but she wouldn’t allow him to make a habit of it. She and Keen would be fine no matter what.

C
reed frowned
down at his son and pinched the edge of the diaper with two fingers. Duke thought he would pass out at any second. “You’re looking a little green around the gills, cuz.”

“Shut the hell up, and help me with this.” Creed held out the diaper, but Duke raised his hands in defense.

“No way. He’s your son.”

Creed gagged a couple times. “How can he be so tiny and smell so bad? When is Shada coming back?”

“Come on, bud. Don’t you want to do a good job so she’ll be proud of you?”

“I’d accept her nagging me all day and night if I didn’t have to smell this.”

Duke watched him bathe his baby while he leaned against the doorjamb. Creed had ordered Shada to take a break and go shopping with her sisters-in-law. His cousin had bragged that he could look after their son for once because he had been helping her care for the baby ever since he was released from the hospital. Duke thought Creed Jr. was still really small, no bigger than a child’s doll, but he seemed to be doing fine. Creed was another matter.

“Weren’t you crowing about him the other day to the kitchen staff?”

“I wasn’t crowing, but even if I was, look at him. He’s perfect, and he looks like a Marquette.”

Duke dared to move closer and peered into the tub. Creed had laid the baby in his own green tub that was shaped like a whale. His big hands moved carefully as he handled the baby. “He looks like a peanut.”

Creed growled with offense. “He’s beautiful.”

“Well, he’s got a lot of hair at least.”

“You won’t be so critical when you have your own.”

Duke shook his head. “No way. I have no desire to tie myself down with kids. I’ll enjoy my mini-cousins and leave it at that. I hear Talicia and Stefan are trying.”

Creed frowned. “Yeah, but no luck so far. Never mind about them. When are you going to settle down? That stunt you pulled last week…”

Duke shrugged. “I helped an old lady.”

“Don’t give me that. What really happened, Duke?”

“The usual.”

“Like you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong?”

“Sounds familiar.”

Creed finished with the bath and wrapped his son in a towel to carry him to his room. Because he didn’t have much else going on at the moment, Duke tagged along. He dropped into a chair near the window and stretched his legs out. Creed cooed to his son while he dressed him. Duke scratched the back of his head. Would having a child really change him?

“Trouble finds you,” Creed said. “No matter where you go. You were thrown out of the army. Now every other week I have to bail you out of jail. When are you going to be responsible? You’re what thirty-three?”

“You wish I was younger than you.”

Creed snarled at him. “A year! Anyway, you need to learn some responsibility, settle down—
get your own damn house
.”

“Yours is so comfortable.”

Creed ground his teeth. “This is not a joking matter, Duke. When I’m done with you, no one is going to be there to bail you out.”

“I never asked you to help me.”

“You crashed Damen’s wedding.”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t crying out ‘help, help’ when I did it.”

Creed might have cracked a smile, but it disappeared in an instant. “I know you’re a good man, but you’re also reckless. You don’t need to take on every lost cause.”

Duke thrust to his feet and moved to stare out the window. “Drop it, will you? I am what I am, and no one is going to change me.”

“What about Takiyah?”

Duke stiffened. “What?”

His cousin stood, holding the baby against his chest. “I’m not asking if you think she’ll change you. I’m asking when you’re going to stop playing games with her. She’s not your type of woman.”

“Hey, I thought you would be the last person to block me from dating a woman of a different race.”

“Her race has nothing to do with it. I’m talking about an intelligent woman, someone who’s serious and trying to make a living for her and her family. Every time I’ve seen you with a woman, she’s of a certain caliber, women who are just as irresponsible as you are.”

“Don’t worry, cuz. Takiyah knows I only want her friend, and Adele is definitely my type.” For some reason, an odd sensation started up in Duke’s chest. He recalled the kiss and the way he’d come on to Takiyah in the storeroom. At no time had he thought of Adele while he had Takiyah cornered. In fact, the way his body reacted to Takiyah shocked the hell out of him. He’d realized before then and after, he couldn’t stop chasing her. For that reason alone, he stuck with his original claim, that he wanted Takiyah to get Adele to see him. The idea that he would go to such lengths or even use another woman was ludicrous, but he wasn’t ready to examine what was really going on with him.

“Leave her alone,” Creed said. “That’s an order.”

Duke’s eyebrows rose, and he smirked. “I didn’t know you could order me around in my personal life.”

“This isn’t about your personal life. You harass her at the restaurant, and so far she tolerates you. When the wind changes, she’ll be filing charges. Besides that, you ran out after her the other day without a word to me. I had to hear it from Basil, and you didn’t come back until almost closing! Do you assume I’ll put up with you no matter how you act just because we’re family?”

“I don’t think that at all.”

“Well then act like it, damn it. I’m losing my patience with you, Duke.”

Duke folded his arms over his chest and went back to gazing out the window.

“You think you have a permanent get out of trouble card with the family since you helped Talicia and Stefan?”

“I didn’t do what I did to gain favor.” He glanced at Creed. “She’s doing all right now, huh? Shada likes her?”

Creed smirked. “I wouldn’t call it
like
. They did go shopping together with Heaven. Shada is tolerant of her for Stefan’s sake, but…”

“But what?”

“Come on. He wants a bottle. Let’s go downstairs.”

Duke followed his cousin out of the room and downstairs. Creed’s house had six bedrooms. He used two for his family, although the baby stayed in Creed and Shada’s room at the moment. Pete, Creed’s bodyguard used another room, and Duke occupied a third. Thus far, he had seen no reason to get his own place and rattle around in it by himself. While he liked to call himself a lone wolf, and when he entertained women, he did so at their house, he also enjoyed family. Since reconnecting with the brothers, he felt reluctant to go off again. Marquette’s restaurant held a certain charm that kept him going in to work, even if it was for a menial task like waiting tables.

They walked into the kitchen, and Duke grabbed a cold beer from the fridge and dropped into a chair. He twisted off the top and chugged half the bottle. “So is there a possible blow up between Shada and Talicia?”

Creed warmed a bottle in a pot of water on the stove. “Talicia got her insurance money, and she’s thinking about opening the club again.”

“Stefan’s not going to let her do it alone.”

“Exactly, and I’m not going to sit by and let my baby brother put his life in danger. From what Shada’s said, any peace she and Talicia have gained will be out the window if that club opens. She thinks Talicia is being selfish.”

Duke rubbed his jaw, thinking about it. He didn’t like the idea of Stefan going back to that side of town either, but he had lived in rougher areas himself over the years. His experience and Stefan’s were two different things. In a way, Stefan was an innocent. He had his bodyguard Jerome, but Jerome was one person. Against a gun, he might not be ready for what came his way. Yet, Duke already knew Stefan would give in to anything Talicia wanted.

“Maybe I can help,” Duke said.

“No! This is what I meant by you sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Stay out of it.”

Duke grinned. “Is that an order, chief?”

“Shut up.”

Duke left the house chuckling and thinking hard about how he could block Talicia from reopening her club, or at least redirecting her interests. Then his mind moved on to Takiyah. Should he stop bothering her?

As he passed through the security gate and left Creed’s property, he brought up an image of the woman in his mind. Sexy, beautiful, with a mouth so sweet, it was like tasting honey, she tantalized him. “Wait, what am I thinking?”

He shook his head to clear it. The influence of his cousins marrying black women must have warped his desires. He tried to recall the blond and failed. None of her details came to mind except for the slender figure and the hair. Maybe if he slept with her, it would erase thoughts of Takiyah. Hell, if he slept with any other woman it might.

Forgetting the stroll he intended, he returned to the house to grab his car and drove to Café du Monde. Once inside, he scanned the people at the tables. His prey wasn’t among them, so he ordered a coffee and found a spot where he could watch the comings and goings of the patrons.

Duke had already done some reconnaissance previously, so he pretty much knew Talicia’s habits outside of the restaurant. By that, he had learned some of Adele’s as well. Most days, Adele wandered into the café to grab a beignet and a coffee and to sit with a book for an hour or so. He wouldn’t have put her down for the reading type, but he supposed everyone had multiple sides to them.

He didn’t have to wait more than twenty minutes before she showed up, and he pretended to be absorbed in the creamy drink between his hands. The last few times he stopped by the café, he had kept himself out of sight, so neither she nor Takiyah had ever met him there. Duke was aware when she received her order and had spotted him. From the corner of his eye, he saw her hesitation and then heard the click of her heels as she approached the table.

“Mind if I join you?”

He glanced up and affected a startled expression. “Amy.”

She scowled. “Adele.”

“I knew you couldn’t stay away long.” He gestured for her to sit down. “Changed your mind about waiters?”

She flashed a bright white smile at him. “Did you win the lottery?”

“Afraid not.”

She sighed. “Where are all the rich men?”

“Don’t you know?”

She pouted and leaned forward. “Do you know where Takiyah works?”

Her question surprised him. “She hasn’t told you? I thought you two worked at a call center.”

“Not that. I mean the restaurant. That girl is being secretive, and I don’t understand it. We tell each other everything, but every time I ask for details, she gets cagey. I’m thinking about tailing her.”

He laughed. “Do you know anything about tailing?”

“No, but it can’t be too hard.”

“Shall I save you some time?”

“How?” Her eyes widened, and she leaned so far over the table as to give him a good look at her cleavage. He waited for the attraction he had felt the first time he saw her. The sensation was still there but greatly dulled. While he had come to the café to seduce her, now that he was there, he felt less inclined to follow through.

“Have dinner with me,” he said.

“That’s your trick? You don’t know, do you?”

He shrugged. “You can take a chance and find out tonight. Or you can try tailing her as you put it.”

“All right. Fine. I’ll go, but you’re not getting lucky.” She pursed her lips and studied his face. “Are you sure you don’t have any money, Duke?”

He grinned. “Would you like to see my bank account?”

“I believe you’d let me see it for real. No, thank you. Dinner it is, and you better break your piggy bank because I like class. You might not have money, but I shouldn’t suffer because of it.”

“How is it the two of you are close friends but so unalike?”

“Because we went to school together. I don’t mind Takiyah’s hand me down clothes, and she accepts my love affair with Michael Kors.”

“Kiyah is pretty interesting.” He bit his tongue, thinking he’d given away the allure she had for him. Adele eyed him in silence for a few seconds. He sensed he had raised her suspicions, but he wasn’t overly worried about it. A few choice words could redirect her line of thought.

“The one thing I know about my best friend is, Takiyah doesn’t like nicknames. You better be careful calling her Kiyah.”

“I’ve been calling her that from the beginning. You’ll find I do whatever I want at any given time.”

“I bet your talents include figuring out what buttons to push.”

“Bingo.” He stood. “Seven good for you?”

“Five-thirty. I have an overnight shift, and I want to get some extra sleep.”

He touched a knuckle to her chin. “I’ll pick you up. Wear something nice.”

Her cheeks pinked. “Wait, I haven’t given you my address.”

“Text me.”

He gave her his number and left the café rethinking his plan. No doubt about it, Takiyah would be pissed off that he had brought Adele to Marquette’s when she had been hiding the information. Duke wasn’t worried about the blond seducing his cousins. They were all devoted to their wives, and from what he had seen, the honeymoon for each was still in full swing. The reasons he was pulling this stunt were clear, but he pushed them away and chose not to think of anything other than enjoying himself.

Having the night off work, he normally found something of interest to do around New Orleans. Once, he’d decided to behave like a tourist and tour the French Quarter. What started with trying to gain an appreciation of the one-hundred to three-hundred-year-old buildings with the red-tiled roofs, wrought iron balconies, and courtyards with fountains lapsed into ducking in and out of souvenir shops, galleries, and old hotels. Eventually, he settled on downing as many beers as possible amid a myriad of jazz spots.

At first he’d become bored, but then he met the gaze of a beautiful woman and it had gone from there. Come to think of it, he had almost been arrested then too. The woman in question never told him she was married, and before they got to the fun stuff, her crazed husband had burst in on them. Duke had escaped out the window. His training came in handy so often.

He chuckled, thinking of the experience. Creed was right. He was reckless, but he needed something to keep him moving, to keep life from getting stale. When it came to responsibility, he and Takiyah were as different as night and day. So why was he drawn to her? Then he thought of her son. There was trouble brewing there. He had a nose for it. Maybe he should follow the kid and see what he was up to, head off whatever Takiyah might not be able to handle even if she did claim she didn’t need anyone.