Tenacious Billionaire BWWM Romance Series - Books 1 to 4

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

This had to be the answer. This was the only way to get rid of DeShawn once and for all, even if it hurt him. Adalia massaged her chest and stared up at his building, heart pounding against her ribs.

She was never this nervous. Not for DeShawn, certainly, he’d lost his chance with her ages ago, so why did she feel so... hollow? Adalia reached into the glove box of her tiny car, a loaner from Trent, and took out a bag of peppermints. She ripped it open and the candy erupted out and sprayed all over the passenger seat.

“God dammit,” she grumbled, then snatched one up and crunched it between her teeth. The mint sweetness flooded her mouth and she breathed the stinging flavor through her nostrils. DeShawn’s apartment was on the third floor of the brick-faced building. The exterior was cracked and faded, a trash can expelled its guts over the concrete and a group of kids, teenagers actually, loitered on the corner.

There was an exchange of cash and three of the teens wandered off down the road, acting casual, their jeans hanging below their butts, exposing their boxers. The other guy, who they’d left behind, lit a cigarette and leaned back with his foot c****d up against the bricks.

Drug dealer. This was her father’s neighborhood, her deceased brothers’. Hell, it had been her neighborhood as a kid, but she still couldn’t get used to the sight of drugs and money changing hands.

Adalia shivered and shrugged on her coat, though she wasn’t that cold. The trembling was from anxiety. She steeled herself, squared her shoulders and got out of the car, then slammed the door closed and locked it.

She walked a few paces, turned back and jiggled the door handle, just in case. The d**g dealer perked up, tipped his cap back with a finger and gave her a grin – his grill was gold and speckled with small diamonds.

Adalia hurried past him and up the concrete steps then barged through the broken wooden door. The buzzers on the wall were obsolete and the entire mechanism hung askew. She swallowed and headed for the elevator, then stopped at the ‘out of order’ sign.

Yet another obstacle, albeit a small one.

Adalia took the stairs in measured steps, stalling constantly. A woman with a cigarette between her lips and curlers in her hair charged into the hallway, closely followed by a shirtless guy covered in tattoos. Their argument echoed down the spiral staircase, but she continued up.

The rancid scent of sweat and stale smoke permeated her senses, and she coughed to clear her lungs.

DeShawn’s door was cracked open, which meant he was in. That was his ‘thing’, his way of proving that he didn’t have to worry about anyone hurting him because he was too scary to f**k with.

That had been a major issue for her when they’d dated.

Adalia pushed the door open and it creaked inward.

“Aw yeah, baby, that’s so good.” DeShawn’s voice traveled between the scarred sofa and ashtrays filled with discarded butts. “Don’t stop, girl.”

She knew that tone, she’d suffered through it for many months. DeShawn was in the middle of a personal favor, and it sure didn’t sound as if he was enjoying that favor alone. A woman’s shrieking moans pierced Adalia’s ears, along with the squeak of bouncing bedsprings.

That bastard.

Here she was stressing about telling him she was in love with Trent and he was in the throes of some sordid s*x act with God knew who.

Adalia tightened her grip on her handbag and walked into the living room. There were bags of w**d and cocaine everywhere. Fury pulsed alongside her beating heart, and she stormed through to the bedroom and crashed inside.

“What the f**k, DeShawn?” She folded her arms and stared at him.

The woman was on top of him, and she shrieked and slid sideways, then covered herself up with his ratty sheets. DeShawn struggled up and his d**g-addled confusion turned to horror.

“Daly, it’s not what you think, baby, she just a friend.” He covered his fast-wilting hard-on and leapt out of bed.

“Hey!” the woman, who had long braids and perky breasts, yelled. “I ain’t just a friend.”

“Really?” Adalia rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. “Really. You’re going with that lamest excuse in the book?”

“I- I,” he started, then paused and pointed at the n***d woman. “Get the f**k outta my place, bitch.”

“f**k you, DeShawn,” she spat, then dropped the sheet, gathered her heels and what looked to be a mini and tank top and charged out. A door banged shut a moment later, and the apartment fell into relative quiet.

“See, she nothin’ to me, Dalie. She nothin’.”

Adalia feigned a fluttering heart, pressing her palm to her chest. “Oh, DeShawn, you shouldn’t have. I’m so honored you kicked out your cheap lay for me.”

“Please, you gotta understand,” he said, reaching out to her.

Adalia backed out of the bedroom door. “You really don’t.” And she meant it too. He didn’t have to explain anything to her, because what happened in his personal life was not her problem anymore.

She’d been scared of him and she’d had to face her demons by coming to see him. She’d had to prove that she wasn’t afraid of what he thought was his ‘power’. It helped that she’d tucked a Taser into her purse to drive the message home if he got frisky.

But DeShawn was on the back foot. “I didn’t want her like I want you, girl,” he said.

She snorted. “I don’t care what you want, DeShawn. I came here as a favor, actually, because I thought you deserved an explanation.”

“Huh?” He scratched his forehead and it wrinkled in that trademark DeShawn frown.

“I felt I led you on by going on a date with you, and then seeing Trent afterward, but I think we don’t operate under the same rules. It seems you get to do whatever the f**k you want, and still claim me as your woman.”

DeShawn was quiet for a moment. “Well, yeah.”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but it doesn’t work that way. I have no interest in being with you, most specifically because I am in love with Trent Dawson.”

“What?!” DeShawn strode forward and she whipped the Taser out. He stopped immediately and stared at it. “What the f**k that for?”

She clicked the switch up then pressed the button, and the non-lethal weapon crackled with electricity. “That’s what the f**k it’s for.”

“Dalie, get real, girl. You ain’t gonna shock me.”

“I will if you take another step in my direction. I need you to understand this, right now, DeShawn, I’m not your woman and I don’t think I ever was.” She walked backward into the living room and stared at the drugs. “You’ve lied to me about this and so many other things. I’m done seeing you around.”

“I’m sorry,” he muttered, but it was more out of reluctance than genuine remorse. Those sirens grew closer, maybe an ambulance or a cop car. Regardless, someone was dead or injured in the near vicinity.

“I don’t care what you are. DeShawn, I’m going to make this clear to you. If you come near me again, I will shock you. And if you come near me after that, I’ll buy a damn g*n for self-defense.” She jabbed the Taser in his direction to punctuate her words with meaning.

“What the f**k?” DeShawn clutched his wrists and rolled his head around.

“You heard me. I never want to see your face again.” Adalia turned and walked to the front door, then opened it and strode down the hall, the stairs and into the lot. That d**g dealer was there, but his smile vanished at the sight of the Taser in her hand.

She unlocked the car, started it and idled for a second, breathing hard. Then a slow smile spread on her face. She’d done it.

Adalia had gotten her groove back.