“I’ll talk to her tonight.”

“The sooner, the better. I don’t want to give Brooke any opportunity to damage what you and Lily have.”

“If that bitch causes you any more problems, you tell me immediately.”

“I will. I promise.”

Shade gave her a brief nod before going to his bike, watching as the excited women left to go shopping. Sighing, he sat down.

He had mistakenly believed he and Lily would have a peaceful life after their honeymoon. King was no longer trying to break them apart, and Lily was no longer in danger from her past. He had thought their troubles were over. According to Evie, however, they were just beginning.

* * *

Lily rolled over to face him, her hand reaching out to cup his face. “You’re the best husband.”

“I hope you always think so, Lily,” Shade said seriously. “I really do.” He sat up in the bed, turning on the lamp.

Lily blinked at the light.

“Sorry,” Shade apologized. “But I need to talk to you.”

“Is something wrong?” Lily sat up in the bed.

“You remember when I told you Evie and I went to high school together?”

“Yes.”

“I went to school with her sister, too.” Shade stared at Lily. “I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable in church, and I wanted to make sure there was a need to tell you before I did.”

“Shade, you’re frightening me.” Lily’s voice trembled.

“Lily, Brooke is Evie’s sister.” When Lily’s expression turned angry, Shade raised his hand, stopping her angry outburst. “She and Evie do not get along. Evie hasn’t spoken to her in several years, and I didn’t think it was my place to talk about Evie’s relationship with Brooke. I have only talked to her a few times, which I couldn’t avoid, and I have never touched her, nor have I ever wanted to.”

“I can understand Evie not wanting to talk about her past. I don’t like to discuss mine, either. I thought you were going to tell me you had a relationship with her. I learned to accept the women at the club, but I’d feel strange looking at my pastor knowing you and his wife … Well, you know.” She waved her hand in the air.

“Fucked each other?” Shade asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“I don’t think you should talk like that about a pastor’s wife. God might punish you,” Lily said seriously.

“I’ll take my chances where Brooke is concerned. She’s an evil bitch.”

“Shade…”

“Listen, I wasn’t finished,” Shade interrupting her. “While I didn’t care for Brooke in high school, unfortunately she developed an obsession for me. Evie had a boyfriend. Levi and I hung out together, we played football, and both of our fathers were in the service. It was through him that Evie and I became introduced. We would even party and double-date together. Brooke always tried to butt in, which I didn’t pay much attention to until it was too late. I had believed she was trying to bug Evie. At one point, I even thought she had a thing for Levi.”

“But it was you she was interested in, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Shade’s voice became unconsciously harsh. “She began to flirt with me.”

Shade would never forget the night he had showed up at Evie’s house. He was meeting Evie and Levi there to watch some movies. When Brooke had answered the door, he had gone inside thinking Evie and Levi were waiting. They hadn’t been. When he asked Brooke where they were, she explained they had gone out to dinner with her parents.

“Why did Evie text me to come over then?” Shade had asked impatiently, turning toward the door.

“She didn’t. I did, on her phone when she was getting ready,” Brooke had admitted, gleefully proud of herself.

Shade had turned back to see Brooke removing her T-shirt and jeans.

“They won’t be back for a couple of hours.” She was wrapped around him the next instant, rubbing her naked tits against his chest. He had jerked her arms away from him, taking a step back.

“I don’t care if they don’t come back until tomorrow. I’m not fucking you.”

“Why not? You fuck everyone else,” she had snapped. “I’m prettier than any girl you go out with.”

“No, you’re not.”

Brooke’s ugly expression proved his words; however, she deliberately softened it in an instant, trying to look sexy. “I can do things for you they can’t.” Brooke had licked her lips, staring down at his jeans before raising her eyes to his. “I’ll even let you hit me if you want to.” She reached down on the couch, picking up a plastic rod that was used on blinds.

“Why do you have that?” he asked, raising a brow.

“Bethany told me how you like sex. I wanted to know why you saw her more than the other girls you go out with.”

“Bethany wouldn’t tell you.” His eyes narrowed on the bitch holding the rod casually in her hand. “Touch her again, Brooke, and I’ll take more than that belt to you,” Shade threatened.

The girl actually shuddered at his words.

“I mean it, Brooke. I’m not going to fuck you. I’m never going to fuck you, but I’ll wring your fucking neck if you touch another one of the girls I see.” Shade went to the door without looking back.

Brooke tried to catch his arm, but he jerked it away, going out the door. Brooke is crazier than I am, Shade had thought then, and he still believed it.

Shade saw Lily was expectantly waiting for him to finish.

“I had several girls I was dating and she would bully them at school, making it miserable for them. One was Bethany. I saw her a little more often than the rest, and that was why Brooke picked on her the worst.

“Prom night, Levi, Evie, Bethany, and I were coming out of a restaurant. Levi and I went to get the car while the girls waited at the door. We weren’t even at the car yet before we heard the girls screaming and ran back. A car had jumped the curb and hit Bethany and Evie. Evie had a couple of broken ribs and a broken leg.”

“And Bethany?” Lily prompted.

“She was paralyzed from the waist down.”

“Oh, my God.”

Shade nodded. “It was a hit and run. It was so quick, the driver disappeared before Levi and I could get back.”

“You believe Brooke did it, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I could never prove it. I left Georgia after graduation, and I haven’t seen Brooke since. Evie was attacked when she was in the service. Levi was dead a month after that; he got in a fight with Evie’s attackers. One of the men had a connection with Brooke. I believe she was responsible for that, also. Evie had come home with me during a short layover, and she had told her mother.”

“It could be coincidences.”

“Maybe, but I don’t believe so. You have to be careful around her. I don’t want you to go anywhere that someone else can’t see you with her in the church,” Shade stated firmly. “I wish you would quit, but I know you won’t,” he added when he saw she was about to protest.

“I won’t, but I’ll be careful. I promise,” Lily said, lying back down.

Shade turned the lamp off, lying back down with her.