Oh God! Does she know about Righteous and me?
“Good evening, Ms. Jariyah.”
I dang near jump out of my skin when the male voice sounds from behind me. It not only shocks me but also causes Mom and the people around her to turn toward me.
“Oh, I . . . uh . . . excuse me. I was just coming to say hello.” My brain spirals as I watch the inquisitive eyes of Mom and her constituents.
I feel like I’m coming out of a fog from the information Mom has just shared, and Preston catches me off guard. The Cheshire grin he’s wearing makes my skin crawl as it feels loaded with an unspoken motive.
“Good evening, Jariyah. Everyone, I’m sure you all know my daughter.” Mom smiles. The problem with it is that it doesn’t reach her eyes, and it makes my nerves jittery.
The various greetings from the gathering people don’t settle my anxiety, and I fight not to react when I feel Preston’s hand on my lower back.
“I don’t want to interrupt your conversation. I’m going to leave you to it,” I say.
“Oh, it’s okay, dear. I was just telling them that I’m going to be working on eradicating the city of the likes of gangs like Iron Baxtown or whatever they call themselves.” Mom sneers and gives me a pointed stare of rebuke.
Shit! She knows. Oh God! Oh God! I gotta warn Righteous.
“Oh, . . . okay. I’ll leave you to it,” I mumble.
“I would like a word with Jariyah if you don’t mind me stealing her, Madam Mayor,” Preston says in a cheery voice that causes me to bite my inner cheek to prevent the frown I want to form.
Lord, please. I have to get out of here. I need to give Righteous a heads-up. This news isn’t good. Oh my gosh.
My mind reels, and I don’t hear Mom’s reply as Preston leads me away from the group. His hand on my back makes me want to jerk away and put some distance between us. Preston’s words are a whisper as he leads me further away.
“I was wondering why you didn’t return to that other event when you and I were supposed to have a discussion. Imagine my surprise when I saw you climb on the back of that thug’s motorbike.”
I gasp, and my feet stop as I turn to look at Preston, whose eyes sparkle with merriment. The smug grin makes my hand itch to slap it off as he continues speaking.
“It would be a shame for the mayor to find out that her beloved daughter has been schmoozing with the very gang shewants to wipe out. After overhearing that conversation, I’ve come up with a suggestion that would benefit both of us. Do you want to hear it?”
Now it’s my time to react as I cross my arms over my chest and stare daggers into this man who seems to employ his blackmail skills.
“I said, do you want to hear it?” Preston asks, and his eyes pinch as they turn stormy with fury.
“What?”
“Either date me, or I’ll tell your mother what you’ve been up to.”
A humorless chuckle falls from my lips as I stare at this weak man who thinks I’m willing to let him box me into a corner.
“Let me think about it.”
“Don’t take too long.” Preston walks away like a prep school jock who’s been chosen for the school’s chess team.
A sense of urgency hits me like a tidal wave, and without explanation, I head toward the exit. My mind is on Righteous and his club because I must ensure he doesn’t get blindsided by Mom’s plan. It takes me less than fifteen minutes to get my car from the valet and speed toward the Baxtown Iron clubhouse. I’m so preoccupied with my destination that I don’t realize that someone is behind me until it’s too late.
*boom*
I scream, and my head jerks when someone rams into the bumper of my SUV. I look into the rearview mirror and tighten my grip on the steering wheel. A black van without headlights is right behind me and rams me again.
“Ah!” My heart leaps, and my pulse races when I hit a hole in the road, and my vehicle swerves to the right. “Oh God! I can’t die like this. Please,” I plead as tears cascade down my face.
The sound of loud motorcycles makes my eyes balloon as they try to flank my vehicle on both sides. The van is still behind me, and I realize that they’re all together. I mash my foot on the gas, and my SUV lurches forward as I drive like I’m in an audition for a competitive race. When I’m near the area where Baxtown Iron is located, the van and motorcycles turn off, and I breathe a sigh of relief. But my speed doesn’t slow as my urgency to reach Righteous overwhelms me. The sight of the Baxtown Iron logo makes me jump the curb and nearly hit the bikes lining the sidewalk.
I quickly throw the gear in park, grab my purse, and make a beeline for the front entrance that’s vacant of anyone at the door like the previous times I was here. I turn the knob and damn near rip my wrist off when it doesn’t budge.
