One Way or Another by Rhonda Bowen Page B

different lives. They were also both very private persons. He knew their parents had died some time ago, but Trey rarely ever talked about it. And on the few occasions that he did talk about it, he made little reference to his sister. The only thing he said was that it had changed them both—but it had affected her more than him. In fact, according to Trey, Toni was a lot different now than she was when they were growing up.
    As Adam watched the sullen woman walking beside him, he couldn’t help but wonder what she had been like before.
    â€œThat sucks,” Adam said. He immediately wished he could take the words back. What kind of stupid response was that?
    Toni smiled. “Really eloquent, Mr. Bayne. I couldn’t have put it better myself.”
    He smiled ruefully and rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. “I couldn’t think of anything else to say.”
    â€œI get it,” Toni said, slipping her hands into the pockets of her slacks. “You don’t really understand, but you’re afraid that if you press me any further I’ll rip your head off.”
    He snuck a glance at her and saw the smile playing at the corner of her lips. “Yeah, pretty much,” Adam said sheepishly.
    They both laughed and Adam felt the tension ease.
    He suddenly realized that they were quite a ways away from Jacob’s House. In fact, they had walked so far that they were almost at the bottom of the street where Winslow ended in a cul-de-sac. He was about to suggest they turn back when Toni stopped suddenly.
    â€œWhat?” he asked, looking at her curiously.
    â€œIsn’t that Rasheed?” she asked, nodding to a point at the end of the road. Adam followed Toni’s eyes to the park just beyond where the cul-de-sac ended. Two figures were standing under a tree, a few feet back from the road. He squinted a little and saw that it was indeed Rasheed.
    â€œWhat’s he doing down there?” Adam asked, taking a few steps further. He was almost sure the other person Rasheed was with was a girl from his high school. He had spotted the girl near Jacob’s House a couple times before.
    Toni grinned, her eyes still fixed on Rasheed and his female friend. “I think he’s getting his game on,” she said mischievously.
    Adam shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He stepped forward.
    Toni grabbed his arm before he could get far. “Where are you going?” she asked.
    â€œTo get Rasheed,” he said. “He has no business hanging out alone with that girl like that.”
    He began to move forward again, but Toni pulled him back, this time with even more force. He raised an eyebrow, surprised at the amount of strength in her deceptively tiny hands.
    â€œCome on, Adam.” She tilted her head to the side. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting? Rasheed is a kid! You think he’s gonna jump her bones out here in broad daylight? Cut him some slack.”
    Adam was on the verge of thinking that he had indeed overreacted, until he turned around again and saw Rasheed and his female companion making out against the tree—in broad daylight.
    Toni’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “Whoa, Rasheed, didn’t know you had it like that.”
    Adam felt his jaw tighten. “Guess he’s bolder than we both thought.”
    But before he could move off again, Toni jumped in front of him and placed both hands on his chest, blocking him from Rasheed and his antics.
    â€œToni!” he growled. “This is not a game.”
    â€œI know.” She gently pushed against his chest, causing him to back up. “But remember how you told me I needed to calm down a couple minutes ago? Well, now you need to calm down. If you go charging down there like the infantry, disrespecting Rasheed in front of his girl, he’s gonna hate you. And then you won’t be able to get him to do anything.”
    Adam glowered angrily. She had a