Simply Beautiful Read online

  “Do you think everything is okay with the office?” Alisha asked Tristan, worried that they hadn’t heard anything yet.

  “I am sure they would have called if something was wrong. These things take time. One of them will call,” Tristan tried to reassure her, but wasn’t at all sure himself. One of them should have called by now.

  Tristan was brought out of his reverie by the sound of the doorbell. “Hmmm, I wonder who that could be?” he said.

  “Maybe it’s the guys,” Alisha said getting up to follow Tristan to the door.

  Tristan looked through the peephole of his door to see two uniformed police officers standing on the other side.

  “Uh oh, this can’t be good,” Tristan said unlocking the door.

  “What can’t be good? Alisha inquired.

  “It’s the police,” Tristan responded as he opened the door. “Yes, officers, how can I help you? Tristan asked.

  “Hi, we are looking for a Ms. Alisha Carrington. We were told we could contact her here,” one of the officers’ said.

  “And you are?” Tristan asked.

  “I’m Officer Ramsey and this here is my partner, Officer O’Connor,” indicating the man standing next to him.

  Tristan looked at the officers. Something was up with them. One seemed just a little too edgy for his taste. “And, why would you be looking for Ms. Carrington?” Tristan probed.

  “It’s about her apartment. We were sent to go over some minor details. If she would prefer we could meet her down at headquarters. The captain thought it would be more comfortable for her to talk here,” Officer Ramsey informed them.

  Tristan looked at the two men skeptically but invited them in anyway. Maybe he was being paranoid but he didn’t think so. He could agree to go with them but it could be a setup and Alisha’s life would be at risk even further because he didn’t know who the players were yet. Inviting them in was risky also, but he felt that if something went down he had a better chance of two against one then God knew how many against them. He decided to keep Alisha close to him so when she went to move ahead of him he caught her by the hand and waited for the two to enter before proceeding after them. He closed the door and pretended to lock it by turning the lock back and forth. Just in case he thought to himself.

  “As you can see I don’t have any furniture so we need to make this quick. Are there any new leads as to who broke into her house?” Tristan questioned.

  “Yes, there have been,” Officer Ramsey responded.

  “Really!” Alisha said excitedly. She went to move away from Tristan only to be restrained by his arm.

  “Hold on, Beauty,” he whispered. Tristan saw the officer’s gun come up just in time to push Alisha behind him.

  “Tristan what…Oh my God!” she screeched seeing the gun for the first time.

  “Keep calm. Beauty,” Tristan murmured, eyeing the one who called himself Ramsey and who had a pointed gun trained on them.

  “Listen to the G-Man, lady. Now why don’t you be a good cowboy and send the lady over here,” Ramsey sneered.

  “I don’t think so,” Tristan countered.

  “You see I’m the one with the gun and if you don’t want me to use it, then I suggest you hand the lady over and we will be on our way,” Ramsey snarled. “On second thought both of you are coming. Let’s go. Any false moves and we will shoot both of you. Lady first, of course, she’s our insurance you won’t do anything stupid. Now, both of you get over here now!”

  When Tristan didn’t move, he walked over and snatched Alisha by the arm and pulled her closer to him causing her to cry out in pain.

  “Ouch!” Alisha cried out.

  “Make one wrong move and she gets it in the head,” Ramsey barked to Tristan with cold, unfeeling eyes.

  Tristan had seen this look before on many men. This man had killed before and would have no problem shooting Alisha. He would have to think of another way to get Alisha out of his grip. He could probably take one of them with a gun but not two, and considering the one named O’Connor appeared to be nervous or scared shitless, he wouldn’t take a chance. A scared person with a gun was unpredictable and dangerous.

  Tristan gave the one called Ramsey a scathing look, his voice deadly. “Hurt her again and you will eat that gun. I can promise you that.”

  Tristan noticed that the man’s hand shook a little at his words. He recovered quickly enough but not before Tristan had noticed.

  “Make a sudden move and you both will be waking up with the daisies,” Ramsey shot back.

  “Man we have orders not to hurt the girl, so get them and let’s go,” O’Connor said giving his partner a nervous look.

  Tristan’s cell phone began to chirp startling the two men. “Don’t answer that. Give me the cell phone,” Ramsey ordered, looking at Tristan. “And remember, any funny moves and you are both gone.”

  Tristan handed him the cell phone. If it was Brandon he would know something was wrong giving everything that had been going on.

  “Now, everyone move towards the door,” Ramsey commanded.

  Ramsey had his gun in Alisha’s side with Alisha standing on the side of him. O’Connor had placed his gun in the middle of Tristan’s back.

  All four went to make a move towards the door when the doorbell suddenly rang.

  “Don’t say a word. Got that G-man? Or the lady here gets it,” Ramsey whispered.

  “My cell phone is ringing and the doorbell is ringing that leads me to believe that whoever is at the door is probably the caller on my cell. If I don’t answer one of them whoever it is will know something is wrong and then you won’t have a chance in hell of getting out of here. Your call,” Tristan informed Ramsey.

  “He’s right Ramsey. Let him answer the phone,” O’Connor instructed Ramsey. “We don’t need any problems man. Let’s do this, collect our money and get out of New York.”

  Ramsey handed Tristan his cell phone with one hand while still holding the gun on Alisha with the other. “Here. Get rid of whoever is on the other line. Don’t be a hero G-man and talk quietly,” Ramsey said handing the phone to Tristan.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello brother, you want to let me in?” the caller said in his no-nonsense voice.

  “That’s because I am not in Atlanta. I am in New York. I’ll have to get it to you when I get back to Atlanta, Art,” Tristan said not missing a beat, his facial expression never changing.

  “Who the hell is Art? I know you’re in New York I’m at your—. Trouble?”

  “Of course, listen Art, I was on my way out. Can this wait until I get back in Atlanta? Someone is at my door.” Tristan said not looking at Ramsey.

  “You’re inside, Tris?”

  “Sure. If you need it before I get back just go to the office and tell my secretary to give it to you. My office should be unlocked, but if not my secretary has a key,” Tristan relayed.

  “The door is unlocked. Is there a gun involved?” he asked.

  “Yes, no problem. Anytime. Talk to you soon. Bye,” Tristan hung up the phone. “We still have a problem. Whoever is at the door was not the caller.” Tristan looked at the men trying to gauge their next move. The doorbell rang again. Thank God his brother knew what to do.

  “Shush. Don’t say a word. Whoever it is will eventually think that you are not home and go away. Since I know for a fact that you were gathered in your brother’s apartment earlier today, they will think you are either not at home or at your brother’s. Either way they will go away and we will leave. We’ve wasted enough time here,” Ramsey said.

  “How do you know it is not my brother at the door? He’ll know I’m not at his apartment. What if he doesn’t go away but calls for help?” Tristan taunted.

  “Please, your brother is being detained by a nice fire. You were not supposed to be here. We thought you would go with your brother. A small inconvenience but doable just as well. By the time he finishes there and gets back here, we’ll be long gone. Now shut up before I shut you up,” Rams
ey muttered.

  Tristan’s mind was working fast. Okay, someone’s feeding this dude information and the fire was a diversion to get us out of the apartment. Apparently James wanted Alisha at all costs. He’d better hope the police catch him before I do. When I catch up with him, I can guarantee there won’t be a trial.

  “Move slowly towards the door,” Ramsey instructed Tristan pulling Alisha along with him. “Do not open the door. O’Connor, see who is out there.”

  O’Connor, with the gun still trained on them, looked over at Ramsey.

  “Go ahead. G-man won’t try anything. I have the lady, he’ll cooperate,” Ramsey sneered.

  O’Connor moved Tristan towards the door with the gun still pointed and his back and moved around Tristan to take a look through the peep hole. Suddenly the door was kicked open catching them all by surprise, slamming into the man known as O’Connor’s head, knocking him off balance, and causing the gun to fall to the floor. Tristan dove for the gun, picking it up and shooting O’Connor in his knee. The man yelped in pain and lunged for Tristan. One fatal shot and the man fell to the ground.

  “I don’t know who you are but nice of you to join the party. Now, if either of you makes a move the lady is dead,” Ramsey snapped cocking the gun pointed at Alisha’s temple.

  Tristan stopped dead in his tracks. He knew he could take the man called Ramsey but he wouldn’t risk it with that gun pointed at Alisha’s temple. Tristan looked at his brother. He didn’t know why his brother was here but he sure as hell was grateful. Sinjin was a master marksman.

  Alisha looked at the tall, imposing figure standing close to the opened doorway in a stance as to block them from leaving. Damn. If the situation wasn’t grave she would be drooling. The same blue/grey eyes as Tristan’s but face sharper, tanner, short military haircut that only accented his eyes and damned if he didn’t have dimples. His frown had dimples. Wow, he was gorgeous and dangerous looking. Oh well, it was time for this nonsense to end. If she ever caught up with James she would kick is ass herself.

  “And just how do you plan on getting out of here?” Sinjin asked in a voice that sent chills down Alisha’s spine.

  “Oh I will leave. G-man won’t shoot me. He has a thing for the lady here. But then again so does my boss and I’m being paid a nice piece of change to bring the lady to him. Must be one fine piece of ass to have so many wanting her,” Ramsey said giving her the once over. “Maybe I’ll try her out before I hand her over to the boss.”

  Tristan went to make a move.

  Ramsey put his free hand around Alisha neck, jerking it back, and pushing the gun into her temple. “Don’t try it G-man. So you two are going to drop your guns, back up, and move out of my way. Now! Or I will splatter her brains all over this apartment,” Ramsey yelled looking from one to the other hurriedly. He didn’t trust either man. The one that had busted through the door looked very dangerous but he wasn’t worried, he was a skilled sniper and hit man.

  Tristan gripped his gun tighter. Sinjin just looked at the man. “Put the gun down now!” Ramsey shouted at Tristan and turned on Sinjin. “You too.”

  Alisha looked at Tristan as he bent to put the gun on the floor.

  Sinjin just snarled.

  “Don’t play the hero, Cowboy, or you and the lady will be dead. Trust me you don’t want to take the chance. You kick your gun over here,” Ramsey told Tristan.

  Sinjin tipped his head back and laughed a deep hair-raising laugh that had Ramsey’s eyes bugging out. A laugh that if you heard it on the streets and didn’t know who it belonged to, you would turn and go the other way.

  Alisha’s breath caught in her chest.

  Tristan glanced at his brother from the corner of his eye. What in the world was Sinjin up too? He’d better not be playing one of his crazy games or he’d shoot Sinjin himself for putting Alisha’s life at risk.

  Sinjin laughed harder, never putting down the gun.

  Ramsey’s hand shook for the briefest of moments and Alisha took advantage of it. Slamming her foot down on his and jabbing him in the gut, she threw her body on the floor.

  Ramsey raised his gun to shoot but Sinjin was too fast for him. Sinjin had gotten a shot off before Ramsey could raise his hand, shooting the man right between the eyes. Ramsey hit the floor in a swoop.

  “Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Fucker!” Sinjin snapped as he watched the man fall to the floor.

  Tristan ran to Alisha, picking her up off the floor and embracing her. She was shaking like a leaf. No doubt from all of the blood on the floor. He ran his hands all over her body checking for damage, finally coming back up to her head, he ran his fingers through her hair and began to kiss her passionately.

  Sinjin just stood back looking at his brother in shock. “Damn brother can you let the lady breathe?” Sinjin remarked shaking his head. “In case anybody’s interested I’m going to get someone to clean this garbage up.” Shaking his head again he went to get help but met the police, his brother, Domino, and two African-American men that he had no idea who they were. He waved them in. The police, with weapons drawn, assumed the two on the floor were fallen cops yelled. “Police nobody move!”

  “Are you for real?” Sinjin asked the officer looking at the officers as if they had lost their everlasting minds. “These men are not cops. They were holding my brother and the young lady over there hostage.”

  “Put your hands up in air where I can see them,” the officer commanded Sinjin.

  Complying with the officer, Sinjin raised his hands, “You have to be kidding me. I am not the criminal here. Tristan can you let go of the lady long enough to tell these officers what happened!” Sinjin shouted.

  Brandon and Detective Rodriguez walked over to the officer and informed him that Sinjin was not the responsible party and that the men on the floor were impersonators, hired guns.

  After giving Alisha and Tristan the once over, gauging that they were alright, Domino, Darion, and Trevon went to talk with the other detectives trying to ascertain who the imposters were. Police where all throughout the apartment.

  Tristan and Alisha continued to stand in the middle of the floor, kissing. A flurry of activity escalated around them. Not caring, they continued to kiss passionately.

  Tristan could hear his brothers speaking to one another and couldn’t care less what they were saying. Tristan continued kissing her deeply. He could have lost her. Lifting his head from her he asked, “You okay baby?” Tristan whispered against her lips. “I could have lost you. Are you sure you’re okay? You hit the floor pretty hard baby.” Tristan began to run his hands all over her body checking for injuries.

  “Tristan I’m fine. I didn’t hit the floor that hard. I did that on purpose. It’s a move I learned in my Tae Kwon Do classes,” Alisha assured him, still physically shaken from the incident.

  “Is she hurt? We need a statement from the both of you.” Detective Rodriguez informed them.

  “Listen, we will give you guys whatever you need, but at this moment I need to get her out of here,” Tristan advised the detective while still holding a very shaky Alisha.

  “I don’t think that will be a problem,” the detective advised.

  “Good, because I wasn’t asking,” Tristan said, eyeing the detective while guiding Alisha out the door. “Brandon you can bring them to your apartment when you’re done. Detective, you can follow us down the hall if you want. If not…”

  “Hold on brother, I’ll follow you down. Brandon and the rest can handle things here. That way you can catch me up on what the hell’s been going on,” Sinjin commanded.

  Tristan took in Sinjin’s gruff appearance. Sinjin’s six and a half foot frame was heavily-muscled. With his military style haircut, deeply-tanned skin, and five o'clock shadow, Sinjin gave off the appearance of a very dangerous soldier. The only discerning features he had of the Cameron’s right now were his grey-blue eyes and the firm set of his jaw. Sinjin was an enigma. However he was fiercely loyal to his family and loved ones. “Welcome back. How
did you know that you were needed?” Tristan asked as he let them all into Brandon’s apartment.

  “Domino got word to me that Brandon wouldn’t be coming, that he would be sending one of his men instead. Since neither you have ever let me down before, I figured something was up. So I finished up most of what I could, left the rest to the others, called in a favor, and came here. I went to Brandon’s first. I got worried when he wasn’t home, came down to your apartment, rang the doorbell, and when you didn’t answer, I called your cell. I could hear voices in the apartment but not well enough to make them out. Thought you were occupied—,” Sinjin stopped what he was about to say looking at the beauty his brother was holding onto so tightly. “I had no idea what was going on until I spoke with you. And you always said I get shit started brother. Apparently it’s in the genes. Exactly what the hell is going on anyway?”

  “I think we would all like to know what is going on,” the detective spoke up.

  Sinjin, Tristan, and Alisha all turned to the detective, startled by the intrusive voice. All looking at the detective as if they had forgotten he was there.

  “Come on in detective and have a seat,” Tristan said still holding onto Alisha’s hand.

  The detective, along with Sinjin, followed Tristan over to the sofa.

  Alisha broke free of Tristan’s grip and went to face the man that no doubt was Tristan’s younger brother. Walking over to Sinjin, she stood in front of him and held out her hand. “Hello. My name is Alisha Carrington. Nice to meet you,” she said.

  Looking down at the extended hand of the beautiful woman that his brother kept calling Beauty, and boy was she beautiful, he decided to forego the handshake. Pulling her into a tight, yet brief hug, “welcome to the family,” was all he said before he released her and sat down next to the detective.

  Alisha was so stunned by the abrupt hug and the giant of a man’s words that she stood in the middle of the floor with her mouth hanging open. Alisha gave Sinjin a puzzled look before taking her seat next to Tristan, her hand automatically seeking the comfort of his. Alisha had never seen so much blood before in her life. Tristan could have been killed. She could have been killed. This situation was getting worse and worse by the minute. She didn’t know how much more of this she could take. She had been moving, non-stop, for two days now and it was beginning to wear on her nerves. She hoped they would find James and solve this thing quickly so she could get her life back. She couldn’t understand how someone could be so mean and evil. Alisha hadn’t realized that Tristan was speaking to her until he shook her a little. Looking up into his face Alisha could only see the scene at his apartment and the two men that lay dead on his floor. She started to feel clammy, then nauseous. She needed a bathroom before she embarrassed herself. “Ah Brandon where’s your bathroom?” she whispered, her voice shaky. Alisha stood up, but when she went to move, she began to shake uncontrollably then the room began to spin before her. She thought she heard voices but they sounded so far away. The next thing was total blackness.