Chapter 1
Kevin couldn’t believe his eyes. It was ‘her’ and he knew for a fact that it was! Granted, her appearance was noticeably different but in his heart he knew that it was Kristina. He needed to get a closer look before he could call ‘D’ and tell him that after a year of searching he had accidentally stumbled upon her and of all places at the club he owned. He knew that Howie was going to completely freak after searching for so long and he was dying to know just how she ended up at Howie’s club without anyone realizing who she was. Especially Howie’s own brother, John, who ran the club. Kevin had always liked Kristina and despite the fact that she had broken Howie’s heart when she left, he was glad to see that she was apparently doing well. However, he knew that he had to be 100% sure it was actually the same girl before he placed that call, a call that was destined to change several lives.
Kevin threw his hand in the air and was able to get John’s attention. He motioned for him to follow as he glanced over his shoulder for one last look at her as she finished performing.
"Kev, what’s up?" John asked with a smile.
"Who is that?"
John looked towards the direction in which Kevin was staring and then he laughed. "That’s Kris. I want you to meet her when she’s finished with her set!"
"Yeah, well first I need some answers. Okay?"
"About what" he said looking more than a little confused by Kevin’s tone of voice.
"Kris and how you met her" Kevin said, once again glancing in her direction.
"She dropped off a tape and after listening to it, I called her."
"Does she know that ‘D’ owns this club?"
"No. I haven’t told her yet. She’s pretty guarded and it’s taking some time to really get to know her."
"How does she NOT know who he is? She does know the ‘Dorough’ name, right?"
"No" he said reluctantly. "I don’t think she has a clue."
"Well, how do you sign her checks?" Kevin asked, his patience wearing thin.
John lowered his eyes, trying to avoid Kevin’s angry stare.
"John-?"
"I pay her cash."
"You what?"
"I pay her cash!"
"Why the hell would you do something stupid like that?" Kevin barked.
"She was new in town and didn’t have a valid driver’s license or a bank account. Besides, her voice was so awesome and she seemed really scared. I didn’t want to take the chance that she would leave. She is just what the club needed!"
Kevin couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He knew that John knew better than to do something that stupid.
"You know that ‘D’ is gonna kick your ass when he finds out - right?"
"Don’t start lecturing me, Kevin. All right? She’s a really sweet girl and the club is doing much better now that she sings here regularly."
"Do you have any clue about this girls past? Where she came from? Why and how she ended up here in Orlando, specifically here at Tabu?"
Kevin’s line of questioning puzzled John, and he knew that it wouldn’t be long before John clamed up and demanded to know why he was asking so many questions. Kevin hoped to get a few more answers out of John, a few more details about this girl, but it was too late as John responded.
"I know a little. But what I don’t understand is why you are so interested."
"I believe she is someone from your brother’s past, someone that he has been looking for."
"Well, I’ll tell you what I know about her but you can drop the demanding tone with me. I’ve known you for many years and consider you part of the family, but even they don’t talk to me that way" John said roughly. "And one more thing, Kev. Don’t tell me how to run this club!"
"You are right and I’m sorry. It’s just that this is really important and to be honest with you, she is the last person on earth I expected to see here tonight.
"How do we find out if it’s really the same girl?" John asked.
Kevin went on to explain what he wanted John to say to her in order to find out her true identity. John didn’t like it, but he agreed because of his love for his brother.