King of Evanston Read online

  KING

  OF

  Evanston

  Book 3 of the Kings of the Castle Series

  J. L. Campbell

  Macro Publishing Group

  Chicago, Illinois

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  King of Evanston by J. L. Campbell Copyright ©2019

  MPG Ebook ISBN: 978-1-7331782-5-9

  Trade Paperback ISBN 978-976-95586-7-0

  Macro Publishing Group

  1507 E. 53rd Street, #858

  Chicago, IL 60615

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever or by any means including electronic, mechanical or photocopying, or stored in a retrieval system without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For permission, contact J.L. Campbell at www.joylcampbell.com

  Cover Designed by: J.L Woodson: www.woodsoncreativestudio.com

  Interior Designed by: Lissa Woodson: www.naleighnakai.com

  Editor: Lissa Woodson: www.naleighnakai.com

  KING

  OF

  Evanston

  Book 3 of the Kings of the Castle Series

  J. L. Campbell

  Table of Contents

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  ABOUT THE KINGS OF THE CASTLE SERIES

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  AUTHOR BIOS

  SERIES MENTORS:

  ♦ DEDICATION ♦

  To those who strive tirelessly in pursuit of the higher good of others.

  May you never grow weary in well-doing

  ♦ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ♦

  Special thanks to Naleighna Kai, the conceptualizer of the Kings of the Castle series, who brought together a wonderful group of writers for this exciting collaboration. Many thanks to J. L. Woodson for a fantastic cover. Thank you to my Tribe and fellow Queen writers. Much appreciation to Debra J. Mitchell, Michelle D. Rayford, Terri Ann Johnson, and Karen D. Bradley for your wonderful input.

  Each literary endeavor comes with unique qualities. King of Evanston stretched me in several ways and reminded me that writing is about learning, growing, and expanding my horizon.

  Many thanks to the Kings of the Castle Ambassadors, who have been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration. Shaz and the entire cast of characters are grateful for your enthusiasm.

  In everything, I am reminded to give thanks. For health, strength, creativity, supportive friends and family, I praise the Almighty Father from whom all blessings flow.

  ABOUT THE KINGS OF THE CASTLE SERIES

  Books 2-9 are standalones, no cliffhangers, and can be read in any order.

  Book 1 – Kings of the Castle, the introduction to the series and story of King of Wilmette (Vikkas Germaine)

  USA TODAY, New York Times, and National Bestselling Authors work together to provide you with a world you’ll never want to leave. The Castle. Powerful men unexpectedly brought together by their pasts and current circumstances will become a force to be reckoned with. Their combined efforts to find the people responsible for the attempt on their mentor’s life, is the beginning of dangerous challenges that will alter the path of their lives forever. Not to mention, they will also draw the ire and deadly intent of current Castle members who wield major influence across the globe.

  Fate made them brothers, but protecting the Castle and the women they love, will make them Kings.

  www.thekingsofthecastle.com

  King of Chatham - Book 2 - Reno

  King of Evanston - Book 3 - Shaz

  King of Devon - Book 4 - Jai

  King of Morgan Park - Book 5 - Daron

  King of South Shore - Book 6 - Kaleb

  King of Lincoln Park - Book 7 - Grant

  King of Hyde Park - Book 8 - Dro

  King of Lawndale - Book 9 - Dwayne

  CHAPTER 1

  “Why do you think she’s going to kill him?”

  Shaz turned away from the group of teenagers who were using barbells and didn’t need to be distracted. He waited for her answer as his stomach twisted. Camilla Gibson was going to give him a heart attack in no time with her reckless antics.

  As he concentrated on the caller, he dabbed his forehead with the towel hanging around his neck.

  “She’s on her way to Alderman Bennett’s office,” Miss Mabel whispered.

  “After I told her specifically not to do that.” With his free hand, Shaz motioned to the boys. “Continue with your reps. I’ll be right back.”

  The clanging of metal from various gym equipment filled the air as the young men followed his instruction. He stalked to the plate glass door, absently wiping away sweat that poured from his skin. When he addressed Miss Mabel, the owner of the Jamaican restaurant where he ate regularly, he lowered his voice. “I’m in the middle of a workout with the boys and I’m scheduled to have a session with them after—”

  “I know they’re important,” Miss Mabel said, her accent growing deeper as her pitch climbed. “But dis is urgent, too. If ya don’ come, I might have to kill ya.”

  “Why would you want to do that?” he asked, biting back a chuckle. Miss Mabel was always high drama, same as her niece.

  “Because my sister might fly over from Jamaica and kill me after Camilla get herself in trouble.”

  Staring at the red brick building across the street, he said, “You mean more than she’s in already?”

  “Boy, don’t joke at a time like dis.” Miss Mabel’s voice took on a desperate edge. “Ya comin’ or not?”

  Despite the way his gut twisted, an involuntary grin lifted his lips as he pictured her scowling. “Don’t worry. I’ll meet you there in fifteen minutes.”

  “Ya better make dat ten. The way dat gal behavin’, she might be packin’.”

  The thought chilled his blood.

  Camilla, Miss Mabel’s niece, was in the U.S. accessing treatment for her daughter, who had a congenital heart condition. The little girl had gone through a series of tests and was yet to be scheduled for surgery. Camilla’s visa would expire in just over a month and she didn’t want to leave her baby behind and go back to Jamaica, especially since the treatment was not available there. Since Shaz met her four weeks ago, she’d turned his life upside down. This latest episode was a case in point.

  He strode back to the teenagers, rubbing the hair on his jaw and chin. “Tajon, you’re going to mess around and cause an accident.”

  The young man anchored the metal disc on the leg machine and raised both hands. “Sorry, Shaz. I got distracted for a second.” He pointed to the flat-screen television anchored high on the wall facing them.

  The teen doing leg presses grinned. “Distracted, my ass.”

  A sharp look from Sha
z and Chris, who was spotting another teen on the bench press machine, had him mumbling. “Sorry.”

  Chris Deans, a dark-skinned giant of a man and Shaz’s good friend, also volunteered at the youth club they started two years ago. They named it the Evanston Gentlemen’s Club and used the facilities, adjacent to the community center, to mentor young men in and around Evanston and Chicago.

  As he slid the towel from around his neck, Shaz debated whether he had time for a quick shower. “I have to leave, so you’re handling the meeting.”

  “No problem.” Chris tipped his close-shaven head to one side. “Trouble on the horizon?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to prevent.”

  In the locker room, Shaz grabbed his bag, then shot in and out of the shower in record time. He shrugged into a long-sleeved white shirt and a pair of dress pants he kept handy in his locker. At five in the evening, they were the only concession he’d make to this errand. Though his career as a lawyer demanded a professional look, he avoided being dressed to the gills as much as he could. He secretly hated suits, but preferred them custom-made for a better fit. Now, he rolled back his sleeves, re-tied his locs, picked up his bag, and left the building.

  Five more minutes found him downtown, stepping out of an electric blue Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV and riding the elevator to Darryl Bennett’s office. The man served as an alderman and once wielded power at The Castle, a sprawling estate—a city within itself—where Shaz now had a seat on the board of directors. He and Bennett had had several run-ins, all of them to do with Camilla Gibson. Only God knew what he’d find when he made it to the office.

  By Miss Mabel’s account, Camilla was threatening to do the alderman bodily harm. After what he’d done, she’d be well within her rights to do so. But that wouldn’t help her precarious situation.

  If nothing else, the woman had chutzpah. Tall and slender, she was no match for Bennett, a strapping man who stood a few inches taller, and had a lot more to lose if things went south between them.

  Bennett’s office was elegant, with dark wood panelling and heavy sofas more suited to a living room than a waiting area. Shaz stepped around a table laden with magazines and addressed the alderman’s receptionist. He’d barely said two words when Camilla’s unmistakable accent hit the airwaves around him. “You’re a damn liar. If you think I’m going to sit around while you …”

  A dozen steps took Shaz to Bennett’s office, where he found Camilla stabbing her finger on Bennett’s desk, while Miss Mabel clasped both hands to her bosom as if in prayer. When she laid eyes on Shaz, she mouthed, “Thank God, you came.”

  Standing to one side of Camilla, Shaz gripped her elbow.

  She turned wild eyes on him as her nostrils quivered and her lips parted.

  With a gentle squeeze to her arm, Shaz murmured, “Now that I’m here, leave this to me, please.”

  Pointing at Bennett, Camilla spat, “I don’t care what arrangement he has with Derrick, he’s not getting Ayanna.”

  Aside from a tic dancing around one of Bennett’s eyes, the man didn’t move in his seat. He threw a malevolent glare at Camilla before drawing a breath to speak.

  Shaz put up a hand to stop him. “Camilla, Miss Mabel, please give me a minute.”

  After sending the older man a killing look, Camilla swept out with Miss Mabel on her heels. The black ankle-length dress, and her hair pulled into a top knot, highlighted Camilla’s regal bearing. At the moment, she might look the part of a queen, but her attitude was far from that of a monarch. If Bennett knew what was good for him, he’d watch himself with this fiery woman.

  The second the door closed behind them, Shaz said, “I’m not sure what happened to set this off, but—”

  Bennett pointed to the door. “She needs to understand that I’ve made a legal arrangement with the father of the child. I have—”

  “I don’t care what you have.” Shaz fixed his gaze on Bennett. “What I know is, you’d better put a hold on whatever funny business you have going on with Derrick Porter.”

  Bennett rose from his seat. “You can’t come in here and tell me how to run my show.”

  “And you can’t tell me you’re so desperate to solve your family problems, you’d take advantage of someone who’s here trying to find solutions for her sick baby.”

  Eyes wide, Bennett gasped. “You’re just saying that. As far as I know—”

  “You don’t know anything, so shut up and listen.”

  Slowly, Bennett lowered himself to the executive chair.

  Shaz folded both arms and held Bennett’s gaze. “It doesn’t matter that she came to your attention the wrong way, Ayanna Porter is not up for adoption. Nor will she be, in this life, or the next. Whatever paperwork or exchange you’ve done with Porter, consider it null and void.”

  Moving his head side to side, Bennett smirked. “Life doesn’t work like that, Shaz.”

  “It’s Shaz for my friends. Shastra for you. Matter of fact, Mr. Bostwick would be even better.”

  With both hands splayed on the massive glass-topped desk, Bennett grimaced at the insult. “I don’t know what Miss Gibson told you, but my wife and I have a deal with—”

  “You clearly didn’t hear what I said.” Shaz planted his hands on the half-inch-thick glass. “The deal is off.”

  CHAPTER 2

  Under the dim light on Miss Mabel’s matchbox-sized porch, Camilla stared at Shaz, defiance in her dark-brown eyes.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong.” She stood straighter and waited a beat before continuing. “Especially since I don’t know how that man could think I’m giving up my daughter for adoption. My situation may be bad, but I’m not that desperate.”

  “I understand all that,” Shaz said, looking toward the street as a gold and black Stanley Steemer van drove by. “But I told you I’d handle it. You can’t just storm into a politician’s office and make threats. People get put into jail for stunts like the one you pulled this evening.”

  She angled her head back and shot a glare at him. “A desperate woman does desperate things.”

  They both knew she’d be deported and lose her visitor’s visa if she overstayed the six months she was allowed to be in the U.S. and she was coming close to that point. Still, she was unrepentant.

  “What exactly am I supposed to do when Derrick is trying to give away my baby?” she asked.

  Moving his index finger between them, he said, “What you are supposed to do is let me deal with Bennett, and Derrick Porter eventually.”

  When she grumbled, he continued, “I know this is difficult, but you have to trust me. Porter has citizenship, so he has a right to be here. If you keep doing things like you did this evening, you can be sent home without your baby, or getting the help she needs. D’you understand?”

  Camilla blinked and her eyes went liquid. Or so he thought, until she pulled her shoulders back and stepped away from him. “I know all that but I didn’t feel I had a choice. If I leave, Ayanna goes with me. That means delaying the life-saving treatment she needs. And if you don’t get a move on,” she snapped. “I’ll have to do just that.”

  Shaz winced, knowing there was more at work than she understood. He held her by the shoulders while studying her face. While Camilla’s eyes reflected her frustration, her plump lips dared him to kiss them. He shelved that thought and focused on getting her to understand his position.

  “Don’t forget that with Dro’s help we’ve pulled together more information than we had about your case. That will help us get to the bottom of this mess.”

  At the mention of his friend and fellow King, Camilla gave Shaz a grudging smile. “Yeah, he did come through on that, but—”

  A car swept by and he released her, but lifted her chin with one finger. “Hey, let’s take this one step at a time.”

  Ayanna let out a squeal from the living room, and Miss Mabel laughed.

  Shaz tipped his head sideways. “You hear that?”

  When Camilla nodded, her face in shadow,
he turned her toward the door. “That’s what’s important right now. Go spend time with your little girl. Leave the business end of things to me.”