If You Don't Know Me by Mary B. Morrison Page B

the table. It’s my turn to shower.”
    Pressing my lips to his I opened my mouth, sucked his tongue, then swallowed our saliva. “Sweet. Let’s save some of that for dessert toppings.”
    Seductively walking away I entered his bedroom. There were no visible signs of Madison ever living here. I’d asked him to get rid of her belongings. A man who’d justify holding on to his woman’s or his wife’s property after they’d separated wasn’t over her. Since Roosevelt’s mother and brother weren’t fond of Madison, I didn’t imagine he’d store her things at their place. Most condos had a storage space for each unit. I’d be happy if he’d put them there. I was not treading on insecurity. I was thinking ahead. And I wasn’t sharing room in his space with another woman, especially his estranged wife. My toiletries had replaced hers.
    I preferred a bath but opted for a shower. I cleansed my body head to toe and every space in between in ten minutes. Another five to brush my teeth and dry off and I was ready to enjoy what was left of our night.
    â€œYou ready for me to fix the plates,” Roosevelt called from the dining area.
    â€œYes, sweetheart.”
    â€œYour cell phone is ringing. It’s your dad.”
    I hurried to the living room before it went to voice mail. There was no telling what Charles Singleton was up to. “Thanks,” I said then answered, “Hi Daddy.”
    â€œHave you heard?”
    â€œHeard what?” That Granville had changed his mind about the hit my father put on Roosevelt? If that were true, it’d be the right thing for Granville to do. I wasn’t supposed to know any of this so I didn’t mention it. Even if I wanted to tell my father off, I couldn’t do it in front of Roosevelt.
    â€œGranville?” my father said.
    â€œWhat about him?”
    â€œHe was arrested for violating his protective order.”
    â€œAnd?”
    Roosevelt mouthed, “Everything okay?”
    I nodded.
    â€œI heard from my sources that Nyle Carter is going to tell the police that Granville told him he’s plotting to kill Chicago again.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œOkay, baby girl. What I heard sounds a lot like I was listening to you. Are you behind Granville being arrested? Are you still trying to protect Chicago?”
    â€œI think you know the answer to that question. Bye Daddy.” I didn’t tell my father I was about to have dinner with the man who had done no wrong to my dad, Madison, or anyone. And yes, I’d do everything I could to protect Roosevelt, but I wouldn’t take a bullet for him or any man.
    â€œSindy.”
    Lost in thought, I realized I hadn’t ended the call. Whenever he called me by name, he was serious. “What, Daddy?”
    â€œI’m going to bail Granville out.” That meant I was getting Nyle out.
    While my dad was saying, “You are going to marry this billionaire who has already paid for you or he’s going to kill me. Don’t cross me. I’m not asking,” I was texting my inside contact: Release Nyle Carter immediately.
    I wasn’t backing down. The inside guy couldn’t do what I’d requested on his own. I had a few more texts to send. I never gave my father permission to accept money from a wealthy stranger in a foreign country in exchange for my virginity the way he’d done with my sister, Siara. My gut told me our mother wasn’t dead. My sister believed she was. Siara had said, “If she’s alive, why hasn’t she contacted either of us?” My sister loved her family.
    I was with the man I wanted to marry and there wasn’t anything my father could do to make me change my mind.
    â€œGood-bye, Charles.”

CHAPTER 10
    Madison
    T he five minutes I’d planned on spying on Roosevelt turned into my barely blinking for a half hour. This was not supposed to be the life of Madison