Chapter 4
Eleven A.M. — The Home Gym
The home gym occupied an entire wing of Blackwater Manor.
Floor-to-ceiling mirrors lined one wall, while towering windows overlooked the bay on the other side.
Rows of treadmills and stationary bikes faced mounted televisions suspended overhead.
Weight machines stretched toward the back of the room beside racks of dumbbells arranged by size.
Thick black mats covered the designated training area while polished chrome equipment gleamed beneath recessed lighting.
Darius preferred the free weights, finding comfort in the familiar rhythm they demanded.
Metal clanged softly as he pressed the loaded barbell from his chest, the muscles beneath his fitted black sleeveless shirt tightening with each controlled lift before easing as he lowered the weight back down.
He counted through the set in steady silence—one, two, three—while sweat gathered along his temples, then pushed through four and five before finally racking the bar and sitting up.
Even after leaving the Marines, discipline had never left him.
It lived in his routines. Early mornings.
Controlled breathing. Structure. The things that kept a man steady when the world around him wasn't. Blackwater Manor could use more of that kind of steadiness.
Lately, the mansion had seen more than its share of chaos.
Darius reached for his towel and wiped his face when the gym doors opened.
He glanced up automatically, his memory cataloging faces and names before he could stop it.
Sky came in first, all easy confidence and quick energy, with Celeste just behind her, composed and observant in a way that suggested she noticed more than she let on.
He remembered both women from their earlier introductions without effort.
What caught his attention, though, was who wasn't with them.
The quiet, pretty one—Vicky, with the soft voice and watchful eyes—was nowhere in sight.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, Darius found himself scanning the doorway a second time, half expecting her to appear behind them.
Sky carried herself with the confidence of someone who'd never met a stranger.
Her close-cropped hairstyle framed expressive eyes that missed nothing.
Black tights hugged thick hips and powerful thighs while white tennis shoes squeaked lightly against the polished floor.
Celeste moved with the easy athleticism of someone comfortable in her own body.
Long dark hair rested in a high ponytail that swayed behind her.
Gray tights outlined toned legs built for endurance rather than attention.
Sky noticed him first. "Damn," she muttered.
Celeste noticed him too.
The fitted sleeveless shirt stretched across broad shoulders and a thick chest. Veins traced powerful forearms as he adjusted another plate onto the bar. Years of training had sculpted muscles without sacrificing mobility.
Sky elbowed Celeste. "You din' tell me they looked like that in daylight."
"Bitch I didn't know." Celeste fought a smile.
Darius looked over. "Morning."
"Morning," Celeste answered.
Sky grinned. "Hey, handsome."
Darius nodded politely before settling beneath the bar again.
"Girl..." Sky lowered her voice.
Celeste laughed. "Get on the treadmill girl."
The women climbed onto neighboring machines and set an easy pace. For a few moments, the only sounds came from the hum of moving belts and the occasional clink of weights from across the room.
Sky glanced sideways. "I haven't seen Vicky since breakfast. She supposed to be out having a good time, not acting all stuck up and shit. Have you heard from her?"
Celeste shook her head. "No. She hasn't really opened up to me yet. Not like that. I think it was the tea that got to her. Some people don't like gossip."
"You're right about that. She looked like she wanted to disappear at breakfast."
"She was uncomfortable. She don't know any of us yet. Give her some time. She'll come out sooner or later."
"She's always been quiet though. I thought this party would be good for her."
Celeste adjusted the treadmill settings. "Not everybody needs to be the loudest person in the room."
Sky snorted. "Baby, if I had money like her son's, I'd be loud as hell."
Celeste smiled. "Maybe she doesn't look at money the way some of our friends here do." She looked over at Sky. "You never told me how you met her. I'm sure you have history with her. Why you keeping secrets?"
"Girl that's a long ass story."
"Give me the short version."
"You remember my girls Monica and Patrice?"
"Yeah," Celeste continued, "your coworkers who were held up on that cruise ship with you last year. That was some wild ass ship. Vicky was there?"
"Yeah. Her son is the one that we were protecting." She took a breath before continuing, "And the one that we were fucking?"
"All three of yall?"
"Before you start judging me. Rashad was more than enough man for all of us. We're cougars and that's how we rock. Nobody expected to fall in love. He was supposed to be good dick and shit happened. The end."
"No judgment here," Celeste said. "You're not the only one that's ever fallen in love with a younger man in a poly relationship. But sharing him with your best friends and becoming friends with his mother, is a first. Bitch you the shit. Like Betty Wright said, No shame no game."
"I think she said, no pain no game, but I get it.
I still love him, but I couldn't share him, so I let him go.
We all did. Vicky forgave us and decided to stay in our friend circle for support.
Rashad made sure we paid for protecting him and his formula.
Now he's all over the world selling products. "
"Lord, Vicky has been through enough."
"That's why I brought her here. I thought this would give her a chance to let her hair down and enjoy herself. I don't think she's been fucked since the cruise."
"Last year?" Celeste squinted.
"Yeah. She was fucking one of the agents on board. She loved him. He died saving her."
"That's a lot." Celeste slowed the pace on her treadmill. "How did you get past the trauma? It couldn't have been easy."
"My girls, Monica, Patrice," She paused, "and Vicky. We held each other down. Vicky needed more counseling than any of us, but we stood with her. It wasn't easy, but you know we some strong bitches."
Celeste smile. "I'm happy you guys made it out and got past it all."
"You really like her huh."
Celeste looked straight ahead. "Who Vicky? I barely know her. But she seems cool."
"That ain't what I said." Sky's grin widened. "You think she's sexy?"
Celeste hesitated as Images of Vicky drifted through her mind. Short curls. Curves she carried without trying. The softness in her voice. The sadness in her eyes.
"She's beautiful," Celeste admitted.
Sky stared, then covered her mouth. "Oh my God."
"What?"
"You got it bad."
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
Celeste rolled her eyes. "She's attractive but I ain't trying to step up to the plate and shoot my shot. She's probably not even into women."
"I am. Why aren't you watching me?"
Celeste glanced over. "You're my bestie. I don't look at you like that."
Sky's teasing smile faltered for half a second before returning. "Your loss."
"I'm not trying to compromise our friendship." Celeste bumped the treadmill speed up another notch.
Sky sighed dramatically. "Friend-zoned by Detective Celeste Mills."
A silence settled between them.
Then Celeste asked, "You don't think it's strange?"
"What?"
"CC."
Sky shrugged. "Girl, CC probably somewhere recovering from the weekend before the weekend even started."
"Maybe." Celeste frowned. "I don't know. Something feels off."
Sky waved her hand dismissively. "She'll pop up. You know how she is. Relax. You didn't come here to work a case. You came to get drunk and party. CC is fine."
Celeste wasn't so sure. "Have you been to her room?"
"If it makes you feel better, I'll holla at Teresa. She got keys to all of our rooms. She'll check for us."
Across the room, Darius unracked the bar again, pressing through another measured set as the weights controlled rise and fall mirrored the steady rhythm of his breathing.
"Girl," Sky started, "did you see the print between his legs?"
"Hell yeah. That dick was hard to miss. I had to hold my pussy tight to stop it from farting."
Sky laughed hard and glanced over just long enough to miss the edge of the moving belt beneath her feet. "Oh shit!"
Her foot slipped and the treadmill spit her backward. She screamed as her body twisted sideways before crashing onto the floor with a sharp cry. "Ahh! Fuck!"
"Sky!" Celeste hit the emergency stop and dropped to her knees beside her. Sky clutched her ankle with both hands. Tears sprang into her eyes before she blinked them away. "Don't touch it. Don't touch it." She squeezed her eyes shut. "Damn. Damn. Damn."
Across the room, Darius was moving before either woman could ask for help. "You hit your head?"
"No," Sky hissed through gritted teeth.
"You dizzy?"
"No."
Darius crouched beside her. His voice remained calm. "Can you wiggle your toes?"
Sky blinked. "What?"
"Your toes."
"I heard you." She wiggled them.
Darius nodded. "Good."
Celeste shifted beside him. "You know what you're doing?"
"Somewhat." He looked at Sky and continued. "Tell me where it hurts."
"Right there." Sky pointed toward the outside of her ankle.
Darius removed her hand gently and examined the swelling already beginning beneath the skin. He pressed lightly along the bone. "How about here?"
Sky winced, "Shit."
He looked up. "I don't think it's broken."
Celeste let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "You sure?"
Darius rubbed his thumb slowly and softly over the bump. "I'm not a doctor, but my best guess would be, you're gonna live." He looked back at Sky. "I spent enough time patching Marines together to know the difference between a bad day and an emergency."
Sky managed a weak smile. "So what's the verdict, Dr. Fine-Ass?"