CHAPTER FOUR
BELLA
Bella hopped out of her car and headed up the walkway. As soon as she ascended the steps, she took a breath and prepared herself to deal with her parents. Since she’d been working twelve-hour days, trying to solve two murder cases, Bella knew that she was going to get an earful about not spending time with her family.
Bella could smell the inviting aroma of her mother’s cooking as soon as she hit the porch. Winona, Bella’s mom, in her opinion was the best cook in the world. Her mom was Native American from the Chitimacha tribe in New Orleans. In the kitchen, she often combined her Native American heritage with her Cajun surroundings to create the most delectable dishes that Bella had ever had the pleasure of consuming.
Bella pulled the screen door open and knocked on the door. She checked the knob to see if the door was unlocked.
It was.
Bella twisted the knob and entered her parent’s house. Her dad greeted her in the living room.
“Belladonna Devereaux, where have you been, lil girl? We ain’t seen you in weeks,” her daddy reprimanded with open arms.
Bella rolled her eyes because her dad was greatly exaggerating. She ignored his fib and flew into his arms just like she always had as a little girl.
Since she’d chosen to be a detective in one of the most dangerous cities in America, Bella had dealt with enough to break the thickest branch on the strongest Oak. But her daddy’s embrace always seemed to make everything in the big bad world seem better.
William ‘Bill’ Devereaux was Bella’s hero. He was a black native of Shreveport, Louisiana. Bella’s dad was a giant of a man. He stood at six-foot-five and he was bulky but not fat. He was well-respected and often feared. He was also known for his very low tolerance for bullshit. Bella’s dad was a kind man. But when it came to his family, he was as protective as a pit bull.
“Bella, baby, have you heard from your sister?”
The sound of her mother’s voice prompted Bella to peek around her dad’s broad shoulders.
“Hey, Ma. I’m fine. Thank you. How are you?” Bella sassed.
Bella stepped out of her dad’s embrace and peered over at her mother. She was standing in the doorway, wearing her favorite apron. It read, ‘Do not Disturb.’
Winona, Bella’s mom, was tiny compared to her dad. He towered over her like a giant. Belladonna and her sister, Donatella, had inherited their mother’s crimson complexion and long, straight, black hair. But in regards to their height, they were somewhere in between. They were nowhere near their dad’s height but tall for girls.
“Hi, baby,” her mother responded with a smile.
At fifty-five, Bella’s mom hadn’t lost one ounce of her Native American beauty. Winona had dark, sultry eyes, a proud sharp nose, and plump lips. Over the years, she’d maintained her fit, girlish figure.
Bella crossed the room and hugged her mom. She rubbed her mom’s head and inhaled the familiar scent of love and security. Winona kissed her cheek and stepped back. She inspected Bella as she did every time she visited.
“I’m in one piece, Ma.” Bella chuckled. “What’cha cooking?”
“Hunter’s stew and fried, green tomatoes,” Winona responded with a grin.
Bella’s smile widened. Her inner foodie was secretly dancing. Her mom was making her favorite. “Mmm-mm,” Bella hummed, hugging herself.
Bella began to walk toward the kitchen, but her dad’s booming voice halted her steps.
“You didn’t answer your mother’s question.”
Bella squinted, trying hard to remember her mother’s question, but the only thing that she could focus on was the aroma of the stew and a plate full of fried, green tomatoes.
“Your sister?” her mother reminded.
“Ohhh… No, I haven’t talked to Donna in a couple of weeks,” Bella admitted.
Winona folded her arms and frowned. “How on earth could you go weeks without talking to your sister,” her mother fussed. “I thought that y’all were supposed to have some kinda special bond.”
Bella’s mother was referring to the fact that she and Donna were twins. She was right. They did share a bond. Like Bella, Donatella was a police detective. But unlike, Bella, Donna worked undercover. There were times that the job required her sister to stay away for long periods of time.
Since, as a homicide detective, Bella was usually called after a violent crime has been committed, Donatella’s job as an undercover officer was much more dangerous. However, she would never tell that to her parents. They worried enough about the two of them.
