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  “Look, we don’t know where the threats are coming from. I found a message on my

  windshield. Three days later, my two front tires were flat. Now you know everything I know.”

  “And I don’t like it one damn bit of it.” Isaac looked at Skip. “Is that why you’re staying here?”

  Skip dropped his head.

  “Is it?” Chelsea asked.

  “Actually, it is, and since I’m here, I’m calling David.”

  Isaac took her arm. “If someone is assigned to keep you safe, where the hell was he this morning? Where is he now? I know the city is short on cops but—”

  “We try and handle things like this internally with the police, especially in the middle of a trial. If it goes public, the media gets involved. It jeopardizes our case.”

  Skip hung up the phone. “They’ll send someone around right away. I asked for

  David. He’ll come, even if he’s not on duty. I agree with Isaac. This has gone too far, Chelsea.

  Give that case to someone else or resign if you have to, but don’t put your life in danger for a job.”

  “It’s not just a job, damn it!” she screamed, looking from Isaac to Skip. “It’s my career, just like football is your career. You take your life in your hands every day you’re on that field with five or six big ass guys banging into your body at the same time.”

  They stared and Chelsea thought of the difficulty she had in choosing a career.

  She had been encouraged to follow her father into dentistry and that was not at all to her liking.

  Neither was music or restaurant management. Skip and her older brother, Charles, were musicians, record promoters and owners of a small recording station. She had worked with them while in college and found it distasteful. Her mother taught school, which was something she never aspired to do. When her mother had suggested she run their sandwich shop, she had quickly declined.

  Once she joined the DA’s office, it had been difficult to sit back and watch the

  prime cases go to less qualified attorneys, even if they did have seniority, or to the bosses’

  favorites. She knew Whitney had tried to get her assigned to better cases but the DA had other ideas. This was her first big case and she intended to follow it through.

  “None of you know what it’s like. I’m a prosecutor. I went into this field knowing full well what I was in for, but someone has to do this. Someone, and hopefully someone dedicated and knowledgeable, has to fill these positions.”

  “I admire what you’re doing.” Dee offered support. “I have enough trouble keeping the mayor’s adversaries from rubbing my nerves. I couldn’t do what you’re doing.”

  “Sometimes I don’t know if I can. I spend all weekend trying to forget the gloom and grief I’ve seen the previous week. We don’t see happy people at the DA’s office. So far I’ve been given the menial cases that no one else wants. I accepted this case knowing it was a powder keg, and I’m not giving it up. I would prefer to keep word of these threats out of the paper, but I’m not ignoring the possible danger.”

  Skip finally voiced his admiration. “I understand. I know how hard you’ve

  worked for this and how much it means to you. You’ve always been dedicated, not like our baby sister, who might be in college for the rest of her life trying to find something she can stick with.

  I’m just worried about your safety.”

  Isaac’s head had been down, his fingers tapping nervously on the table. “I’m not

  leaving town until I’m sure you’re safe.” He lifted his head slowly. “I understand your dedication to your job also, but you need to let the police do theirs and stop this before you get hurt.”

  Chelsea was touched by his concern. The look he gave her was enough to make

  her want to confess the feelings she had for him. She thought of Quincy Beckham and the night before. Telling herself the dream was a mockery of Quincy’s earlier boasting, she skipped ahead to the intruder. Who could have gained access to her home and left without disturbing anything?

  Or had they?

  “I’d better check around and see if anything is missing before the police arrive.” Her briefcase and notes on the trial were in the alcove of her bedroom that she used as a study.

  Everything was in place. Had this man been in her room? After all, she had not heard Isaac enter.

  I was in an erotic trance with another man.

  Retracing the route from the front door to the kitchen, she remembered the spare

  key she kept inside the light fixture by the front door. She quickly checked.

  “I know how he got in,” she told the others. “The spare key under the rim of the light fixture is gone.”

  Four minutes after the call was placed, NOPD officers swarmed the building. David

  arrived with another officer, followed by more uniforms and plainclothes detectives, dusting for fingerprints, asking questions, and trying to determine the point of entry. Chelsea told them about the key and David filled in the rest of the information in the midst of Isaac’s angry ranting.

  “If you people knew this was going on, why the hell didn’t you take some kind of

  precautions to keep her safe?” he asked of no one in particular. “Skip was right. Why the hell should she place herself in harms way for a fucking position? I’m not leaving here until somebody provides some answers.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll do our job.” David regarded Isaac with curious ire.

  “The hell you say! Somebody came in here last night. Imagine what would have

  happened if Chelsea had been here alone. Isn’t one woman in a coma enough for you people?”

  Another officer addressed Isaac’s concern. “I’m Detective Barrett, Mr.

  Charbonnette. I might be wrong, but I think the intruder did exactly what he planned to do. He probably wanted to send everyone into a state of frenzy, especially Ms. Constantine. Since this person had a key, I suggest you change the locks and use the alarm system at all times.”

  “And what do you plan to do?” Isaac’s face was red with anger.

  “We’ll do our best,” he answered. “Officers will be assigned to check in with Ms.

  Constantine and make their presence more visible in this area.”

  “What you really mean is that one of your boys will pass by on his way to the

  donut stand. The rest of the time Chelsea is on her own.” Isaac kicked the armchair, sending a stack of magazines to the floor. “Why can’t you post someone here fulltime?”

  “We can’t spare an officer full time, but if you do your part by making the place

  less accessible, we’ll do our part by maintaining high visibility. I live close by and I’ll personally sweep the area as often as I can, become familiar with the vehicles that are usually parked here, and the people who frequent the neighborhood.”

  “And at work?”

  “That’s my area,” David said. “I can’t swear they won’t do something to her car,

  but I’ll stick as close to her as I can. She’s has a handgun license. If you really want to help, take her out to the firing range and make sure she’s comfortable using it.”

  “That’s not good enough.” Isaac spoke while dialing his cell. “I’ll hire fulltime

  security for home and work. They can train you to shoot a pistol—”

  “You will do no such thing!” Chelsea grabbed Isaac’s hand. “I appreciate your

  concern, baby. I’m not taking this lightly, but let’s just see how things go. We’ll change the locks, install a safety chain, and I’ll use the alarm system when I’m here and when I leave. I have a gun and I do know how to use it.” She tried to lighten the mood. “I also took archery for three years. I’m damn good with a bow and arrow.”

  Isaac was not amused. Skip and Dee stayed close to each other. David was the last

  of the officers to leave.

  “I’ll make sure you’re not alone here,” he told Chelsea
. “I’ll be here myself when I’m not on duty.”

  “Thanks, David, but I can’t let you do that. You have a wife at home. We’ll take care of the locks. I’ll be fine.”

  Surrounded by male compassion, Chelsea felt especially blessed when she overheard

  Isaac ask David to help him find a security guard to keep her safe.

  “I appreciate your concern, guys, but I’ll be okay. I sure won’t leave any keys by the front door.” She reached for Isaac’s hand.

  He pulled away. “I’m going to worry about you one way or the other, but I might

  worry a little less if stop acting like this is playtime. Someone broke into your home, Chelsea.”

  “I hate to say this, but I agree with Isaac.” Dee, who had been silent through most of the hysteria, was still unable to control the tremor in her voice. “I know this makes me sound like a big baby, but I enjoy being home with my parents. It makes all of us worry a little less.”

  “Well, I can’t go back home to my parents.” Chelsea looked at Skip. “They still

  have a full grown bird in the nest. I know you’re worried. I’m not exactly jumping for joy, but I refuse to allow these people to do what they’re obviously trying to do. I’m not going to be frightened into taking a low road on this prosecution.”

  “Can’t you just withdraw from the case?” Isaac asked. “Let someone else take it.

  It’s not a career breaker, is it?”

  “It is for me. I can’t run away. I’m working in a male dominated field where

  women are finally starting to make inroads. I will not support the helpless-female contention that helps keep us down. I was given that opportunity when this harassment began. I won’t back down.”

  Skip talked as he paced. “As concerned as I am, I do see your point. This is an old building. I doubt anyone has a floorplan that covers the entire house. That back entrance bothers me more than the front. Someone can hop across adjourning buildings to those back stairs. I’ll stay here every night until this is over.” He patted the bulge in his waistband. “As a reserve deputy, I do have a gun, and I’m not a bit afraid to use it. Next time, this bastard will have a surprise waiting for him.”

  By evening, Isaac and Skip had changed all locks, installed additional deadbolts and double locked windows. Skip called a friend, who was also a master electrician, to install trip wire in as many areas as possible, both skirting and ignoring city codes. David returned and conferred with Isaac on the kind of security Chelsea would have during work hours, and swore never to let her leave the building alone.

  Chelsea knew Isaac cared for her, but over the course of the day, she began to see something deeper. He was hovering. Worrying. This was not the attention one bestows on a casual relationship.

  Skip and Dee left them alone for the rest of the evening. “I know you have a game

  tomorrow, so we can go out or just stay here and relax.”

  “I don’t want to go anywhere.”

  She ordered dinner and felt Isaac’s eyes on her in a new and different way. The old way, in bed together, was also more intense.

  “You’re the best I’ve ever had,” he whispered, removing her robe and flimsy nightgown.

  “You’re all I need, baby. All I’ll ever need.”

  Ever?

  Wanting to give everything she received, Chelsea slid her body down his, face first. His tongue burrowed into her core. She took all of his maleness into her mouth, licking the ridges and veins and swiping her tongue across the swollen head. When she moved to swipe her hair to one side for a clear view in the mirror, his cock gently beat the side of her face. Taking him into her mouth, she swallowed until she felt the butter soft skin that sheltered savage steel hit the back of her throat. His tongue traveled the length of clit before burrowing inside. They moved together in rhythm.

  He tensed and she slid her lips away, rolled to her stomach and onto her knees.

  Doggie style. It was what he liked best. Not hesitating, he moved behind her and aimed his glistening penis at the center of her spread and into the liquid oasis.

  “All of it, baby. I want it all.” She arched higher and watched from the mirror.

  She became lost in the sight of his glistening hardness as he pulled back for the next careful plunge. She undulated against him when he filled her completely. His sac pressed against her wetness, sending still another wave of ecstasy through her body.

  “I can’t take this anymore, baby.” He pulled back. “You know the sight of my

  cock slipping in and out of you sets me off quicker than anything else.”

  She flipped over and smiled when he moved between her legs. “Then bring it to

  me straight on.”

  Knowing she could not last much longer, she tried to think of something else to

  prolong the pleasure. Quincy’s face popped in her mind. “Isaac.” She said his name over and over until they were the only two lovers in the world. Skin against skin, they rolled, like enemies, in a tangle of arms and legs. Panting, and finally screaming as spasms of organism racked their bodies. With the explosion going on inside of her, she still heard his whispered growl.

  “I love you, baby. I love you so much.”

  * * * *

  Isaac spent the rest of the day and night close to her. Shielding. Hovering. He made several trips downstairs during the night, even after Skip returned, and continued to stay close by her side until he had to leave the following morning. Feeling the weight of being shadowed, she kissed him goodbye and breathed a sigh of relief. She called her parents and her sister, Cara, to accompany her to the game, along with Dee and Skip.

  She watched him play, still feeling him inside of her and hearing his pained whimper of love. Listening to the women around her scream his name, she wondered about married life with such a high profile man. Just dating him had proven to be a challenge. Women sometimes ignored her and shoved their phone numbers in his face. She felt confident in his fidelity, and in most cases, he responded defensively enough to dissuade the anxious fans.

  She felt confident enough to joke about it, but when a zealous female fan had pushed her into a trashcan container near the locker room, she had grabbed the scantily clad woman before Isaac could react. Watching him on the field always filled her with pride. As much as she wanted to think otherwise, she knew having Isaac as a husband would keep her on the defensive.

  They waited for him to shower and change after the game, and left him with a host of reporters. Dee assured him she would stay at the loft with Chelsea until he arrived for the gala.

  “I have to tell you, Dee, I really am getting a little scared,” Chelsea admitted.

  “I’m going to the firing range. Damn! I really needed to relax this weekend and have a little fun.”

  “And the fun was just starting for me. Your brother is the first man to make me

  scream. Skip is hung like those stallions we admired when we went to summer camp. He’s got it, and the boy does know where to put it.” She licked her lips salaciously.

  “You’ve known that since we were sixteen and I couldn’t get you away from the

  window of Papa’s barbershop. I mentioned it to David the other day. You should have seen his face.”

  “Did you tell them we were watching?”

  She nodded. “I never told Skip. David may have. I only told him after he threatened to tell Dad about Winston and me.” She smiled. “Come to think of it, David was always extra protective. He certainly never liked Winston.”

  “I don’t think they cared that we saw them back then. Skip was holding his cock

  out to that hoockie he had in back room, and her eyes got as big as saucers. That’s when I decided I had to get me some of that. It took a long time, but it’s worth the wait…and the anguish.”

  “I’m glad you had a good time, but I’m going to say it again.” She wagged her finger.

  “Don’t take Skip too seriously.”

  Chelsea sipped lemonade a
nd tried not to wince as Dee styled her hair for the

  evening. “Not too tight.”

  “Okay. I know how you hate political functions, so I was just trying to give you a permanent smile.”

  “Yeah, right.” Chelsea’s thoughts went back to Friday night. “You know, for the

  first time in my life, I’m having a man-dilemma. When Isaac and I are together, I never want to him to leave.” She confided his admission of love to Dee. “It was at the height of passion, so I won’t take it to heart. I remember what he said when we started dating, and I’m afraid to let him know how I feel. I was also a little baffled by the ease with which Quincy Beckham was able to get my juices flowing.”