No Sin in Paradise by Dijorn Moss Page A

it,” I say.
    â€œAs they say, pleasure doing business with you.” Demetrius extends his arm to the front door.
    â€œYou really should watch soccer,” he says just before I reach the door. I turn to look at him. “It’s a game of strategy and endurance.”
    Strategy and endurance. Those are the two things I’ll need if I’m going to survive this ordeal.
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind.” I then head out the door.
    â€œDon’t forget this.” Demetrius summons one of his henchmen to bring me my gun.
    He takes the gun and examines it with a smile before handing it over to me. “Here, the gun is a little too girly for my taste.”
    Demetrius lets out a big laugh, and the other men join in on the laugh. Well, at least I got Adele’s gun back, and I didn’t have to use it.
    My driver walks beside me and escorts me back to the car. A deal has just been concluded, but I wonder which devil I made it with.

Chapter Nine
    For the first time since we met, I’m trying to avoid Victory. I can’t handle her disappointment in me. I can’t bear entering the room and seeing this woman who I care about being so disgusted to even look at me. What is even more frustrating is that I’m being played by two men. I have allowed myself to be played, which is even more frustrating. Two men are using me as a pawn—Pastor Bryant and Demetrius—to do their bidding, and then there is Knott. I haven’t met him, but I’m certain that he will want to employ my services as soon as we meet. Provided that I get close enough to Mr. Fortune 500 to even have a conversation with him.
    I wouldn’t blame Victory for wanting to pack up her things and leave. I’m sure this is not the trip she had in mind. That’s the reason why I don’t let anyone get close. That’s the reason why I’m alone. I can’t tear myself away from the problem-solving business, and I’m afraid of the man I would be without it. I thought Victory would be different. I mean, I thought that I would be a different person with her. We have a connection, and there’s no denying it, but it seems like as strong as the connection we have, the pull to my dark calling is stronger. Lord knows where I will end up when this song plays out. Maybe it will end with me being in the lake of fire.
    I finally found enough intestinal fortitude to get up and head downstairs. As I get closer to the kitchen I can smell the biscuits being made. Adele makes her biscuits from scratch. I arrive at the kitchen where, at the end of Adele’s long white table, sits Victory. She’s cutting up a mango.
    â€œI’ll be ready for you in a minute, sugar,” Adele says to Victory.
    â€œOkay,” Victory says before she turns to me and flashes me a smile.
    The smile is neither pleasant nor condemning; it just conveys that she’s content. That means she still hasn’t given up on me, and it’s up to me to turn things around.
    â€œDid you sleep okay?” Victory asks me, but she doesn’t make eye contact.
    â€œYeah, I slept fine.”
    In truth, I didn’t sleep. I can’t sleep. The lives of those who I care about are at stake, and I have millions of reason why I need to find out who killed Pastor Cole. Sleep doesn’t come to a man that has a million questions weighing on his head.
    â€œNic, could you set the table?” Adele asks.
    â€œSure.”
    I take the plates and the silverware from her and walk outside onto her deck and start to set the table.
    Victory comes outside. She still avoids eye contact. She starts to place fruit and biscuits in the center of the table.
    â€œAbout last night,” I say, but Victory stops me with her hand.
    â€œLast night was last night. Let’s just have breakfast and go on with our day.”
    My mission is taking its toll on the serene personality of Victory. That is the last thing I want, but I had to go