CHAPTER NINE
SURPRISE
CATCH
I left Jake in the trunk of the car. They’d find his body in due time. Killing my lights, I rolled to a stop on the side of a warehouse, then turned off the SUV. The white van sat in a desolate parking lot. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I followed Bianca from the museum, where she dropped her friends off in an alley. What were they up to? With a light click of the truck door, I strolled through the quaint neighborhood. Figured I’d ponder on my day that revolved around my woman and Tori. Those two were trouble. Time to find out what kind of trouble they were in. I look forward to surprising my baby.
Pulling my cap low, I crept along the side of the van. Back braced against the side of the van, I tapped the muzzle of my Glock against the window. Her breath hitched. I scared her. Shit.
“It’s all right, baby. It’s just me,” I informed her.
“Catch?” Shock hung on my name.
I glanced through the window. Bianca kept one hand on the laptop keyboard, and the other held a gun, pointing in my direction.
“Baby, unlock the door.”
She placed the safety on the Glock, then shoved it in her waist holster. Her fingers flew over the keyboard at top speed.
Bianca ignored my presence. This woman never failed to surprise me.
“You either unlock it or I’ll blow the lock off and draw unwanted attention to you,” I snarled.
Bianca tapped her ear. Was she wearing an earpiece?
“Ugh, Catch.” She tapped the button to unlock the door. I climbed into the van and locked it. Bianca had a little system going. A small flashlight pointed at her keyboard. There was an iPad mounted on the dashboard.
“What’s going on, Bianca?”
“Not now, Catch.”
She tapped the earpiece. “Great, make your way down to the fourth floor.”
I realized they were in the middle of something big. They were stealing something. Instead of fucking with Bianca, I listened. I’d help her in any way possible. Peering at the iPad screen, I watched the girls follow Bianca’s directions. That was when I jumped into action. Stepping out of the truck, I called Kagan.
“Hey, Catch, what’s up?”
“Kagan, I need a favor. My woman and Ritchies are into something dangerous at a museum downtown.”
“Oh, at this time of night, it can only be the diamond exhibit.”
“What the fuck?” I groaned.
“Damn, they have to be some skilled chicks to pull that off. What do you need?”
“Can you create a diversion nearby, but not close enough to draw attention to them?”
Kagan chuckled. “Catch, that’s funny. You know I can. You’re just lucky I hadn’t left for the club yet.”
I nodded as if he could see me. “You’re right. Thanks Kagan, I owe you.”
“Payment would be introducing me to the ladies who have you and Ritchie wrapped around their fingers.”
“In due time,” I snickered.
“The traffic lights on the North Side of Chicago at a busy intersection just went haywire. That should keep the men in blue busy for a while.”
“Fucking fantastic, man. Thanks again, Kagan.”
“No problem,” he stated, before disconnecting the call.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket as I climbed into the van.
“The girls shouldn’t have any problems fleeing the scene. My friend Kagan caused a diversion with the traffic lights on the Northside. The cops will be indisposed for a long time.”
A smile crossed her lips. Her brown eyes held mine for a beat. My hand moved over her black cap. “There isn’t anything I won’t do for you, baby. From now on, you’ll keep me in the loop.”
She nodded.
I took her lips with force and need. My cock wanted deep inside her pussy. This wasn’t the time. I’d have her pussy begging for my dick on a regular basis. That I shouldn’t do. I wouldn’t be here to give her dick when she needed it. Then again, if she lived in Jersey, we’d have the same problem because I might not come home for days due to my crazy work schedule.
Could Bianca handle my life?
“I want to stay with you tonight,” she muttered against my lips.
“Sweetheart, I know.” I inhaled her lips again as my heart melted for her.
Footsteps approached the rear doors. I broke our kiss.
“That’s one of the girls.” Bianca pulled back from my touch.
I forgot in her eyes our relationship only existed behind closed doors. In public, she wanted nothing to do with me. I’d change that.
Placing a finger over my lips, I urged Bianca to be quiet as I leaned back in my seat.
The rear doors opened and closed. Footsteps scampered closer.
“Bianca, Simone should be here soon,” Asia stated.
“Good.” She peered at her iPad.
The doors opened again. “That was invigorating,” Simone chuckled.
I heard her hands collide with Asia’s.
“B, are you all right up there?” Simone asked.
“Yeah.”
My job was to watch Tori, not Bianca. It just so happened to work out in my favor. Tori would fall right into my clutches.
I pointed my Glock around the chair.
“Ah,” the girls screamed.
“Keep it down,” I ordered.
“Listen, my job was to watch Tori. I’m just here doing as my cousin asked. I have no intention of hurting anyone. Just keep your mouths shut and we’ll be out of here soon,” I bit out.
“He isn’t going to harm anyone,” Bianca smacked her lips.
My brows lowered. “Do you think I’m soft, Bianca?”
“No. I think you’re crazy.”
I shrugged. “That’s probably what Jake from the mechanic shop thought right before I murdered him.”
Bianca’s eyes grew in size before narrowing to slits. Gasps fell from her friend’s lips behind us.
“Again, be quiet,” I demanded.
Hat pulled low and my Glock secured, I hopped out of the van. It was time to play with Tori. After revealing my identity, she calmed down. She couldn’t believe my cousin went to great lengths to protect her. When a man fell in love, he’d do everything in his power to protect his woman.
***P***
The ladies were quite the bunch. They were professional thieves and had no problem taking out their own trash within their group.
Bianca exited a back room wearing the tiniest dress. Men whistled and said shit like hey baby. I filed their faces to memory.
Bianca took my hand. “Not here, Catch. Please don’t remove anyone else from existence. She stared at me with those almond shaped eyes.
I sighed. “Fine.” My other hand caressed her waist.
She smirked and pressed her lips against mine. “You get this one display of affection. That should stop the other men from hollering at me. If for some reason it doesn’t Catch, please leave them.
My chest rose and fell as I peeked from the corner of my eye at a motherfucker’s eyes still on my woman’s ass.
“Bianca,” I warned, trying to clamp down my anger, that was boiling over the sides of the Dutch oven.
She yelled in my ear over the music. “Later tonight, I’ll get on my knees and suck your dick.”
I slowed my breathing. “Ok, I won’t off anyone.”
Bianca smirked. “I have to take care of something important.”
I nodded as she walked away.
The words ‘don’t kill anyone’ ran through my brain. For her, I wouldn’t murder any of the sorry bastards.
The girls were in the room for a long time before they emerged holding up what looked like a drunk Tyra. They were up to something. My cousin’s woman needed to remain under constant surveillance. I could tell she had her hands on a lot of things. He and I would find out all the different pockets she had her hands in before we left Chicago.
The girls strolled toward the back door, struggling to keep Tyra upright. I knew I should’ve carried her the moment we were out of view. But I wanted them to suffer a little while longer. That was for keeping me out of the loop.
Then Tori sent Bianca over to get rid of me. Yeah, that wasn’t happening. I’d keep an eye on Tori no matter what.
I kissed my woman in front of her friends. She fell apart in my arms. The connection between us was obvious to everyone but Bianca.
After I scooped up Bianca and placed her in the truck, I moseyed over and gathered Tyra in my arms, and positioned her in the backseat of the Range Rover. Once we were in the truck, I sat Bianca on my lap. She pretended to be angry with me, yet ground her ass into my crotch every few seconds. She wasn’t slick. Bianca wanted to feel my hard cock against her ass.
I insisted Tori bring me up to speed. I found out they planned to get rid of Tyra. She was a shit starter. You could look at her and tell she was a jealous person. You couldn’t be envious of those in your circle and expect them to trust you. Jealousy was the fastest way to a person’s demise.
In my world, she would’ve been sleeping with the fishes a long time ago.
***P***
Standing on the top deck spinning records wasn’t a part of my job description, but it was necessary to keep the guests entertained and occupied. Tori had a job to do, and I’d assist in any way I could.
The night took a dark turn fast. Before I could wrap my mind around the magnitude of the moment Tori was being air lifted to the hospital. I had to piece my woman back together who was falling apart at the seams due to Tori’s injuries after almost drowning.
I curled a strong arm around her and kept her tucked into my chest where she belonged.
“Tell me about your day. It will keep the negative thoughts from running through my head about my best friend. If only for just a minute.”
“Ok, let’s see.” I pressed my lips against the crown of her head.
“I followed Tori most of the day. Oh, a woman stalked after me as I left the coffee shop. She forced her phone number in my hand.”
Bianca arched a brow. “Forced? So you couldn’t stop her?”
Was Bianca jealous?
“I took it and disposed of it,” I replied.
“Does this happen often?” she asked.
“At least three times a month.”
A scowl took her pretty face. “How would you feel if I took care of her?”
“Bianca, I wouldn’t care.”
Her eyes scanned the desolate waiting room, then met mine.
“I can see the lust in your eyes. You can suck my cock another day.”
She grinned, then blinked twice.
“I almost got sidetracked. When did you stop following us?”
“When you dropped the girls off at the museum,” I replied.
She pondered on my words. “Wait, you mentioned Jake earlier.”
“Yeah, the same Jake who asked you on a date.”
Her lips parted and her eyes widened. “You were in the building?”
“I was.” A smirk hit my lips.
“The asshole asked you on a date. He planned to fuck you,” I bit out.
“Catch,” she interjected.
I shook my head. “Bianca, I forgive you for not telling him you had a man. That’s the last time you conveniently forget to tell a man you’re in a permanent relationship.”
“Catch, the girls and I needed that van,” she protested.
“I don’t give a fuck. From here on out, when you need something, you come to me to handle anything or anyone.”
Her brows lowered. “You don’t mean that last part.”
“Oh, you know I do. Bianca, I’m telling you, I’m a very resourceful man. There’s nothing you need to hide from me.”
Fuck, I’d have to personally call her mother and tell her I wasn’t able to attend Sunday dinner. I hated to back out.
“You took care of him?” Bianca asked.
She was talking about Jake.
“I did, Bianca. We had this discussion last night.”
Holding her gaze, I watched as she visibly swallowed.
“Catch, do you think Tori will be ok?” Bianca sniffed. Her brown almond eyes held mine. The sadness in them was unmistakable.
My woman changed the subject.
I grabbed a tissue from the box resting on the small circle table and wiped Bianca’s nose. “Yes.”
All I had was a one-word answer. I thought about how my cousin reacted when he learned his woman almost died. I knew Ritchie hadn’t claimed Tori as his verbally, but all the signs were there. From him asking me to watch over her, to the actions he was taking to level up her security. My cousin was in love and didn’t even know it.
I hadn’t known Bianca that long. One thing was for certain. She was mine, and I’d kill anyone who tried to harm her or come between us. We were going to war. Time to have a little fun.