CHAPTER TWELVE
THE DARKNESS IS WHERE SECRETS BELONG
BIANCA
T he three of them were here. Catch had no idea what he’d done. Man-Man wasn’t the only person with power on the South Side of Chicago.
HQ (Harold Quincy) the high school basketball star of our neighborhood, hung around Darius and Marquis. HQ went on to play college ball at Northwestern University.
They were two years younger than the girls and I. Age wasn’t a factor for them. They had the height and muscle thing working for them. They could overpower us.
Whenever you saw HQ, you knew Darius and Marquis weren’t far behind.
HQ was the type of guy who didn’t believe rules applied to him. If he wanted something, he got it.
A couple of years ago, the girls and I were hanging out at the local pizza joint one Friday night.
After selecting a song on the jukebox, I strolled to my table. Laughter kicked up from HQ and his friends' table. I hated getting into arguments with HQ. So I ignored him and his friends. HQ grabbed my hand and pulled me into his lap, kissing my lips. Eyes wide, I jerked back. My hand flew across his cheek. A heavy whack hung in the air. Gasps left the mouths of everyone at his table. This wouldn’t end well for me. He didn’t like being embarrassed.
HQ laughed it off, then blurted out, “She likes to get physical. Makes it fun.”
More laughter erupted. I jumped out of his lap, then joined the girls across the restaurant.
After that incident, I hadn’t seen him around much. He’d gone away to college. I thought that was the end of our encounters. Well, I was wrong.
One night at the club, he followed me into the bathroom.
“Bianca, we need to talk?”
I peeked up from my makeup bag at the counter. “We have nothing to talk about. You need to get the fuck out.”
HQ locked the door behind him and stalked toward me. “That shit you pulled at the pizza place a while back was embarrassing. You’re lucky I had important things to do. Like go off to college.”
My eyes narrowed as I turned to him. “HQ, I’m not attracted to you. Your ego has an entire zip code. Find another woman who wants you.”
His brows lowered as his brown eyes darkened. “It turns out my uncle Glenn works at the company where your brother is a college intern.”
My stomach dipped at his words.
HQ traced his long finger along my bare arm. A shiver shot down my back.
I pushed my chin in the air, staring him down from my spot. “So. What the fuck does that have to do with me?” I bit out.
He leaned into my ear. “My uncle is the director of Human Resources. He has enough clout to kick Jacquel out of the program. All he has to say is Jacquel harassed a few women around the office. The company frowns on sexual harassment.” He smirked.
The fucker was getting a kick out of this.
“Funny. You’re harassing me right now,” I huffed.
My fist curled at my sides as his big hands squeezed my waist.
“I want to fuck that sexy mouth and tight pussy,” he said. His words were raw and laced with desire that I wanted no part of. His voice grated on my nerves, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me.
My heart beat erratically as anger surged through me. He stood before me, tall and proud, lips curved in a seductive smirk. His broad shoulders tapered to lean hips; a body sculpted by hours of playing ball on the court - the type of body many women would find appealing.But something about him made my skin crawl.He had the confidence of an athlete, clearly believing his status should make me swoon.
Why did guys from the hood think once they became basketball or football stars, all the women were supposed to fall at their feet? We weren’t all built the same. I wasn't interested in his advances. I just wanted to be left alone with my books and computer.
Tears stung the back of my eyes, but I wouldn’t let the fucker see the pain he brought. He had me in a tough spot.
“What’s the name of the company where your uncle works?” I asked.
“Grey’s Engineering.”
Fuck. I roared deep within.
“Why me?” I asked as anger coursed through my veins.
“Because you're beautiful.” His fingers skated along my jaw.
“You don’t even blink when I walk into a room. I like that you play hard to get.” He grinned.
“I’m Not playing Harold. I don’t find you remotely attractive.”
Fists pounded on the door. “Open the door,” a woman hollered.
Fury burned in his eyes at my statement.
“Hold the fuck on. HQ is busy right now,” he yelled back.
What the fuck? He spoke of himself in the third person.
The banging stopped.
“Get on your fucking knees and suck my dick before your brother loses his internship. I bet he needs that for his sparkling career he expects to have after college. Refuse me and shatter his dreams in seconds. Remember, my family will do anything I want.”
For a few seconds, I considered slamming a razor I kept in my makeup bag into his jugular.
I also thought about how happy my parents were when my brother got accepted to UCLA. He made it out of the hood. As much as my brother loved football, he didn’t want to play forever. He said the internship was the best move for his career. Those who were previously in the program before him became very successful in their careers after college. I’d do this for my family. I wanted the best for my brother. He made it off the South Side. I’d help to keep it that way. The program would come to an end soon. So this bullshit wouldn’t last long.
You can do it, Bianca.
Bracing a hand on the counter, I dropped to my knees on the shiny new floor before the fucker.
His brown eyes peered down at me. “Pull it out,” he ordered.
And I did. That was one of many times I sucked his dick. The shame I felt hung over my head like a heavy gray cloud.
Strong hands gripped my arms. “Bianca, Bianca.” His voice brought me back from my thoughts.
My sad eyes met Catch’s.
“Baby, talk to me right now or I break out the torture kit,” he warned.
“Catch, just have your fun and let them go.” A tiny fake smile lifted my lips.
He threw his hands in the air, taking a step back.
Was that all it took to make Catch walk away from me?
I twisted my hands in front of my body. “I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not,” he roared as he grabbed a wooden chair from across the room. He stalked toward the guys and placed the chair in front of them.
“Sit, Bianca,” Catch ordered.
“No, Catch. Don’t make me.”
I stood, giving the three men my side profile as I stared into the distance. Their grunts and screams didn’t go unnoticed.
Catch stepped closer. His thumb brushed my cheek, and I did the unthinkable. I jerked away.
“I know we haven’t been together that long, but you’ve never been repulsed by my touch.”
“I’m not Catch. Just please don’t make me do this.”
His beautiful gray eyes warmed. He placed his hands on my cheeks again, then took my lips. My fingers twirled in the front of his t-shirt. Briefly, I forgot we had an audience.
“I won’t stop fighting for you,” he muttered against my lips.
Tears streamed down my face. The uncontrollable sobs I hadn’t cried in a couple of years pushed to the surface.
Catch’s face turned a deep red hue. “The street code doesn’t count with me, Bianca. Spill your fucking guts.”
Silence.
If I told him what really happened between the four of us, he’d kill them for sure.