fair.”
This was a no-brainer. Takala didn’t have any pending cases at the moment. In fact, a mob boss had tried to abduct her a month ago for testifying in court against him. His thugs had almost killed her. If Fala, her older sister, hadn’t used her healing powers, Takala would be dead. She could also spend time with Lilly and see if she really was a murderer, much less someone she could even like.
Takala thought a moment and said, “I’ll have to call my boyfriend first and let him know where I’m going. He’s about to propose,” she added to gain Lilly’s confidence. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Lilly arched a dark brow. “Oh, one of those. Isn’t it comical that we can make men do anything we want?” She grinned sardonically.
Takala smiled back, but it was only a polite smile. Something told her Lilly Smith enjoyed manipulating more than just men.
Takala didn’t like talking on the cell phone while driving, but she had no choice. She pulled out her phone and hit 1 on the speed dial.
A woman’s high-pitched giggle sounded in her ear, then, “Oh, Akando. That feels wonderful.” Lust filled each word.
Another giggle.
Takala felt jealousy soar through her like a hot poker. “Who the hell is this?” When there was no response, she yelled, “Hello! Akando!”
A deep, sexy voice melted over the phone. “Hey, babe.”
“Don’t babe me. Who’s with you?”
“No one.”
“You’re lying through your teeth. I heard a woman’s voice.” Takala wished she was standing before him, because he wouldn’t have any teeth when she was done with him. “Who’s with you?”
“Just a friend.”
Another giggle, then a smooching, sucking noise. Takala felt a hole opening in the pit of her stomach, and her heart began being sucked down through it. Her chest ached as if he’d just put his foot through it.
She’d really thought Akando was the one. The love of her life. No! No! No! This wasn’t happening. “Just tell me the truth,” she said, the need to cry burning the back of her throat. She wouldn’t cry. Not over him.
He paused as if summoning his courage. She’d never thought Akando was weak until this moment. “The truth is, you’re sweet, and we’ve had a good time, but I want to date other women.”
“You told me you loved me.”
“I never said that.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t. I made a point of not telling you that.”
Had she heard only what she wanted to hear? She could have sworn he’d said it at least once. When she couldn’t remember the exact moment, she said, “You implied it.”
“I can’t help what you let yourself believe.”
“Let myself.” How could she have been so oblivious?
“Yeah, you got carried away.”
“Only because you made me believe you loved me.”
“Don’t blame me, babe. You came up with that notion on your own.”
Another feminine giggle near the phone.
The sound cut through Takala like fingernails on a chalkboard. “I guess we’ve both been deceived,” she said.
“No, I pretty much knew what I was getting into with you.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re just too intense.”
“So that’s why you’re breaking up with me?” she asked, hating the whiny and weak sound in her own voice.
The woman spoke in the background. “Just hang up on her.”
“Don’t you dare,” Takala said. “Explain intense.”
“Insecure, clingy. You’re sweet, but …”
“But?”
“You scare me.”
The woman chuckled softly.
The knot in Takala’s throat grew baseball-size as she said, “You didn’t seem too scared when we slept together.” She heard her voice crack.
“That was different. You’re a good lay.”
“That’s all I am to you?”
“No, I mean—”
“Forget it!” Takala slammed the phone shut. Tears streamed down her cheeks in earnest, so much so that she couldn’t see to drive. She slowed and pulled the MINI over onto the shoulder.
“Everything okay?” Lilly asked softly.
“I thought he loved me. I thought he was the one, but he’s still in love with my older sister.”
“You’re rebound material?”
“I guess so.” Takala wiped at the hot tears on her face, smearing them across her cheeks.
“And you didn’t see it coming?” Even Lilly sounded surprised that Takala had been so unaware.
In all honesty, Takala had considered it. Akando had been betrothed to Fala, Takala’s older sister and the current Guardian since birth. It almost destroyed Akando when Fala chose Stephen Winter over him. Takala had been angry at Fala at first for hurting Akando; she’d had a crush on him since childhood. But it had not worked out because Takala had been there to nurse his emotional wounds. And she believed she could make Akando love her. Who would put balm on her own wounds?
Takala hiccupped and said, “I should have listened. My baby sister warned me not to get involved with Akando. I just didn’t want to hear the truth.” Why hadn’t Takala seen what was so obvious to Nina? Why was it Takala could read people in her line of work, knew the moment they were lying, but when it came to her love life, she was clueless? She thought of Fala and Nina. Both happily married to men who worshipped them. Why couldn’t she find someone? What was wrong with her?
Lilly Smith patted Takala’s shoulder. “Heck with him. You don’t want someone like that. There’s plenty fish in the sea.”
“I’m sick of trolling for them. I always end up getting the pointy end of the hook. Men are pigs.” Takala banged her head on the steering wheel, making the whole car shake.
“Tell me about it, honey,” Lilly said.
Takala felt Lilly Smith’s comforting hand on her shoulder, the hand of the woman who might possibly be her mother, and her sobs became uncontrollable.
