“I think so. I know that Milton Petty is involved in this, I just need to figure out how,” Carmen said as Victor escorted the former model and the former madam out of the Lotus Ballroom and to the elevator.
When he saw them leave, Milton Petty took out his phone. “She’s leaving now, so be ready and don’t miss her this time,” Milton demanded and ended the call.
He stood at the bar for a while thinking about how it had all gotten away from him at this point. Milton understood quite plainly that if Carmen knew enough to ask him questions, that it wouldn’t be long before the police would come calling and they’d have more than a couple of quick questions. He shot his drink.
And then there’s the mess that DP had created thinking that he could take over Mike Black’s organization. Milton laughed. I told that boy he been smoking that dope he’s selling if he was seriously considering going up against Mike Black.
All he had accomplished to this point was to get a lot of good men killed. And for what? Milton shook his head and thought that it was time to take an unscheduled trip to Venezuela. When he left the event, he had his driver take him straight to the airport to charter a plane.
When Victor exited the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, he looked at the long line of limousines until he saw the driver waving. Then the driver got in the limo and began coming toward the entrance.
Victor returned to the building to escort Jada and Carmen out when three of the limo drivers donned their weapons and opened fire. As Carmen and Jada took cover behind a pillar, Victor returned fire.
“Do you have a gun?” Jada asked and pulled out her Remington RP9 nine-millimeter pistol. With everything going on with Carmen and in The Family, Jada thought that she needed more firepower.
“No.”
“Why not?” Jada asked and opened fire.
“I don’t know. Didn’t think I needed one.”
Jada stopped shooting and just looked at her.
“Really, Carmen? People are trying to kill you and you didn’t think you needed one?” she asked and then resumed firing at their attackers.
The three shooters continued firing and were about to make a move forward when Kamau came up behind one of the gunmen and shot him in the back of the head and then he shot another. It was then that the limousine driver rolled up and hit the third man with the car.
“Come on!” Victor shouted.
Jada and Carmen rushed to the waiting limousine and once Victor and Kamau were in, the driver sped away.
“Are you all right?” Kamau asked Carmen as they drove away from there.
“I’m okay,” the look in his eyes had once again drew her in and Carmen felt powerless to resist him.
“Victor, please speak to whoever you need to speak with and have some men sent to the hotel,” Jada ordered and then she insisted that Carmen stay at The Peninsular hotel.
Once they were in Jada’s suite, the topic of discussion was Carmen’s safety and the fact that not ten minutes after she talked to Milton Petty, another attempt was made on her life.
“Now that you know this guy is involved, maybe it’s time for you to turn over what you have to the police and let them handle it,” Kamau said.
“No. Not until I know what this is all about.” Carmen stood up. “What am I going to tell the police? I think this guy is involved in something that I haven’t figured out yet? No, Kamau, I need to find out what Milton Petty is involved in, what it has to do with those women, and then I can go to the police.”
Kamau glanced at Jada, hoping that she would be sympathetic and support his position, but he found nothing close to that on Jada’s face.
“Don’t look at me. I agree with her. It’s her life on the line and she needs to do this.” Jada looked at Carmen. “And I will be here for you.”
Kamau took a deep breath. “I think…” he began, but Carmen interrupted.
“I think I should go to my room and get some sleep.”
“All right then. I’ll see you to your room,” Kamau said, his eyes were endless pools of intensity. “That way I know you’re safe,” he added.
Just that quick glimpse of the desire in his eyes had Carmen’s breath trembling on her lips. “Okay.”
“Good night, Carmen. I hope to see you in the morning,” Jada said.
“I promise not to sneak away like a thief in the night this time,” Carmen promised as she and Kamau walked toward the door.