CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
COMING CLEAN
BIANCA
“ K am, I’ll run and grab the items you need to get comfortable. At dinner we can discuss what Catch meant.” I smiled.
“Ok, big sis.” He disappeared from the door he left a jar.
I thought back on my life. Our families were dirt poor. When we were younger, we lived off canned food, ramen noodles, and one pot dishes. Most days Asia, Simone, Tyra or I brought meals to Tori. Her mother rarely cooked. She was always in the streets.
Once Man-Man started making more money in the eleventh-grade, things got better. Tori asked if the girls and I could run scams for him. The opportunity kept us from going without food.
I wrung my hands as I strolled to the industrial closet at the end of the hallway where the girls and I had stocked it full of washcloths, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene items, and deodorant. You name it, we had it in stock. Far cry from our childhood when we barely had much.
Shit. Catch’s words really struck a chord with me. I gathered the items for my brother and walked into my bedroom. After grabbing a pair of Catch’s basketball shorts, a t-shirt, and a pair of socks I sauntered over to the room my brother occupied.
I knocked on the bathroom door. “It’s me.”
“Come in,” my brother yelled out.
I opened the door and placed the items on the counter. “Everything you need is here.”
“Thanks, Bianca.”
“You’re welcome,” I responded before I closed the door.
I scooped up the dirty clothes he left on the bed, then darted out of the room, closing the door behind me.
"Once I left my childhood home, I felt the shackles of responsibility loosen, and a newfound freedom washed over me like a cleansing tide. My parents had two less mouths to feed because me and my older brother were on our own. The apartment I called my own might have been compact, but compared to the cramped quarters of my parents' home, my bedroom felt like a grand oasis.
I didn't have many possessions, but what I had was mine, a sanctuary carved from the chaos of life.
However, this newfound sense of self-sufficiency was destined to be short-lived. The relentless demands of my parents’ financial hardship forced me to make the difficult decision to move back home.
When Catch asked about my means of transportation, I casually brushed off the daily ordeal of taking the train as though it were a mere inconvenience. In reality, there were moments when I loathed the public transit system with every fiber of my being. I vividly recalled those bone-chilling winter days when the icy winds slashed at my face, and my toes would go numb as I trudged to the station, the cheap boots on my feet providing little comfort or insulation against the harsh cold. Chicago's winters were as brutal as they were unforgiving, and in those bleak moments, my affection for the city waned.
Owning my own car had been a taste of freedom, a luxury I had grown to cherish. The thought of surrendering it to my mother, as necessary as it might have been, filled me with a begrudging resentment that I couldn't help but harbor.
A smile tugged at my lips as I tossed the clothes into the washing machine. In a few months, I could purchase a used car again. I couldn’t wait.
My eyes grew in size as I remembered what Catch said. “My money is your money.”
Technically, I didn’t have to wait months to purchase a car. I could ask Catch if I could buy a car once the war was over. I couldn’t imagine him saying no. The man drove a different car all the time.
No, I couldn’t. Something in my gut prevented me. I couldn’t ask him. I understood it was fine to ask for what I wanted. But I was an independent woman who hadn’t ever depended on a man other than my dad.
Bianca, your man is different. He’d never look down on you. Or worse, call you a hood rat or a gold digger.
I squeezed my eyes shut and muttered, “Ask Catch for a car.”
My heart raced in my chest and sweat beaded along my hairline.
“Bianca?” Asia called out.
I poured detergent into the compartment in the sleek black washing machine. “I’m in the laundry room.” Those words felt foreign on my tongue. I never had a laundry room. The washer and dryer were always in the basement.
“Hey, B, what’s up?”
I peeked at my best friend as I pressed the start button on the front load machine. The girls and I had never worked one of these machines before. All this wealth surrounding us was a little overwhelming. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around Catch living in a mansion in Jersey. These men who were bodyguards wanted to be with four black women from the South Side of Chicago. We weren’t well mannered. Sure, we knew how to handle ourselves in a professional manner. Thanks to our high school counselor, Mrs. Goodrow. She made it her business to make sure my best friends and I could annunciate our words, create a resume, and so much more.
The girls and I only used broken language around each other. I wasn’t sure if these guys knew the real us.
“Just thinking about my new life,” I said as I turned, leaning against the matching dryer.
“It is a lot to get used to,” she sighed.
“Rémy and Romeo are regular rich. Like they saved their money and invested it wisely.
Catch and Ritchie are mega rich. They don’t have to work for the rest of their lives. Their money will take care of their kids, kids’ lives.”
My heart felt like it was lodged in my throat at her words. “Catch said his money is my money.” I shook my head.
“I don’t feel comfortable spending large sums of his fortune.” I threw my hands up.
“However, I’m going to ask him for the money to purchase the Prius. I only need fourteen thousand.”
I tugged at my fingers and scratched my palms. “Feels like I’m going to have a panic attack.”
“Bianca, it’s going to be all right.” She flashed a warm smile.
“I totally know how you feel. Rémy and Romeo paid two months’ rent on the house where my family’s living. Romeo forced his credit card into my hand. Said I am to use it when they return to Jersey. I’m not allowed to spend my own money. It’s so weird.” She rubbed at her brow.
“At least we’re going through this together,” I breathed.
“Yes,” she chuckled.
“We should check on Simone,” I suggested.
“Yes, lets.” She curled her arm around mine. “I wish Tori was awake. I’d love for the four of us to sit together and hug each other.”
I rested my head on her shoulder.
“I know.” The excitement was clear in her voice. “We’re back together.”
“They’re going to come for Man-Man’s territory. You know that, right?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she whispered.
“Should we mention it to the guys now? Or wait till after we talk to Tori?”
“After,” she responded.
Asia’s mention of Rémy and Romeo returning to Jersey reminded me that Catch would return soon too. My stomach twisted in knots. Pushing those sad thoughts that tried eating at my gut was best. I couldn’t think about being away from Catch. I wasn’t na?ve. I knew he couldn’t stay here indefinitely. He had to return to work.
What would we do once the guys returned to Jersey? Could Ezra keep up with our fast-paced lives? Would he need assistance?
Normally, the girls and I could handle ourselves. Our lives weren’t usually this crazy. That was because we worked for Man-Man and were under his protection. I doubt our lives in the Chi would be without chaos going forward.
I knocked on Ezra’s door. “Does Simone sleep in her room?”
Asia snorted. “Barely. Somehow, he persuades her to sleep with him.” She raised her finger. “The times she does sleep in her room, she tells herself halfway through the night she should check on him.”
“Which leads to her landing on his dick.” I rolled my eyes.
Asia burst into laughter as the door opened.
“What’s so funny?” Simone’s brows lowered.
“You and Ezra,” I admitted.
Asia elbowed me in the ribs.
Simone waved me off as she stepped out the door.
“Where’s Ezra?” I asked.
“In the shower,” Simone responded.
“You’re not taking a shower with him?” Asia pushed.
A chuckle fell past my lips.
“Bianca, stop instigating.”
“What?” Asia smacked her lips, glaring at Simone. “Girl, you know you want to be with that man.”
Simone attempted to cross her arms over her chest, then winced.
They fell back to her sides. Black and red bruises covered her cheeks. There was swelling under her right eye. Her dark brown pupils looked like they bathed in a sea of blood.
“How are you feeling?” Asia asked.
“Sore as hell. Feels like someone literally stumped a hole in my abdomen.”
My brows rose. “We should let you rest.”
“Wait, I need to ask y’all something that’s plagued me since we left the jet. Is it me or did that Opal chick’s face drop when Ezra pulled me into his arms?”
“What?” I shouted.
“I was looking at T. Shit, I missed that,” Asia stated, slamming her hands on her hips.
“Did you ask Ezra about her?” Asia asked.
“Not yet. He just walked into the room not too long ago. But I’ll ask him.”
“So, do you sleep down here now?” Asia pushed.
“No. Ezra said he wanted to keep an eye on me tonight.”
“Simone,” Ezra barked out in the distance.
We peeked around her, waving at him.
Ezra’s dark, wet hair stood on end as he poked his head out the bathroom door. “Hey ladies.”
His eyes darkened. “In the shower now, Simone.”
She smacked her lips. “I better go before he walks out here and carries me into the shower. Not that I would be against it.” She winked.
We laughed before we stepped away.
“I bet their sex is so hot,” Asia sighed.
“We’re all having the best sex of our lives except Tori,” I breathed.
“Don’t worry. Once she’s feeling better, I have a feeling Ritchie will give it to her long and hard.” Asia bent over, laughing.
I burst out into laughter, too. “Yup, they’ll probably go at it for hours.”
“She finally got a man who loves her and will cherish her.” Asia grinned.
“Dinners here,” Romeo announced from the front door.
My brother flew past me like he was running in one of his school track meets.
Asia and I sashayed toward the long table. I set the table earlier. Didn’t make sense for anyone to have to wait to eat dinner. As long as their hands were clean, they could eat.
Asia and I opened all the containers. We didn’t waste time preparing a plate for everyone. I balanced three Styrofoam plates on one arm as I strolled to the other side of the table.
“Here you go, Kam.” I placed a heaping plate in front of my brother.
Simone and Ezra would probably eat later. They were too busy fucking to join us for dinner.
“We eat a lot of Italian food.” I said as I placed me and Catch’s plates on the table.
“I love Italian,” Rémy said before shoveling another fully loaded fork of shrimp linguini into his mouth.
“Sis, I’m so hungry. I’ll just about eat anything right now. I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t want to see another bag of chips for at least a couple of weeks.”
Laughter ignited around the table.
“Yeah, we did live off junk food for an entire day,” I said as I sank into my seat.
Asia groaned. “I’m with you, Kam. I can go without junk food for a while.”
Catch took a seat to my right. His hand instantly went to the small of my back. He moved two fingers in small circles, sending tingles up my spine. “What did I miss?” he asked.
The boyish look on his face drew me into him. I planted a kiss on his lips. I loved the way he stared at me. Like I was the only woman on the planet.
I pulled back. A smirk playing on my lips. “We were talking about the mass quantities of junk food Rémy bought that we inhaled.”
“I was in the ki-zone,” he trailed off, peering at my brother.
He couldn’t say kill zone in front of Kam.
“Sometimes when I’m wound up, I eat chips and candy.”
Romeo chuckled. “It’s really bad when we have a play date.”
“What?” My brother’s brows lowered in confusion.
A chuckle fell from Catch’s lips. “It’s a grown-up play date.”
“Oh, you mean like when grownups get together, smoke weed, drink liquor, and play video games,” Kam stated, pushing a forkful of lasagna into his mouth.
Silence fell around the table.
My eyes narrowed at him. “And which friend’s house was this?” I spat.
“Corey’s. His older brothers were getting ready to do a drive by.”
The tiny hairs stood on my arms, and I felt my heart pound into my ribcage like a freight train.
I squeezed his shoulder as I stared deep into his eyes. “Mom and Dad told you don’t hang around him. You don’t want to get caught being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If they go down for the drive by, you could get arrested for just being in their presence. Even though you had nothing to do with it.”
His fist curled on the table next to his plate. “There was a time when Man-Man protected me. He said if anything happened on the street, he had my back. I believed him.” His words came out raspy. “Why would he turn on Tori and us?”
Fuck, I wanted to snap Man-Mans neck.
“He’s afraid Tori will snitch.”
His eyes grew in size. “But she’d never do that.”
“She wouldn’t. But Man-Man’s in a vulnerable place right now. He’s scared. He doesn’t trust us anymore.”
“Bianca, are you safe living here with them?” Kam asked.
My eyes widened.
He continued. “The big guy, Ritchie, killed a lot of people today. Could you and I go to jail?” he questioned.
“No,” Catch bit out.
“Catch, again, thanks for saving my life. But I have to ask. Are you a dope dealer?” Kam’s jaw tightened.
He was still looking after his big sister.
“We don’t sell drugs. However, our lives are filled with danger. Not here. Back in New Jersey. Rémy, Romeo, Ezra, Ritchie, and me are bodyguards for two different crime families.”
I sat back in my chair, watching Kam’s stunned face.
“The mafia?” Kam asked.
“Yes, the Italian mafia. Me and Ritchie were heirs to the Pitucco legacy because our mothers are Pituccos. Ritchie and I didn’t want the boss role. So our cousin Nick Pitucco is now the alleged mafia boss over our family.Ezra works for him. Ezra has been assigned as Tori’s bodyguard.”
“Wow. I knew this moment felt surreal. Like I was sitting on the TV set watching the Sopranos live.”
The guys chuckled.
“I could see that,” Romeo smirked.
“We’re your typical wise guys.” Catch flashed a devilish grin. “Back to what I was saying. Ritchie, Rémy, Romeo, and I work for the Esposito crime family. We’re well connected. So when we say you won’t get arrested for being around us, that’s true.” Catch pointed a finger in my brother’s direction. “Now this doesn’t mean you run around telling your friends and family we’re the mafia. And don’t tell people you’re protected by the mafia. Even though you and your family are. Only mention it in extreme circumstances. Like if someone threatens to harm your mother or Bianca, then you give Ezra or me a call. We’ll handle it for you,” Catch said with a thick Jersey accent. I swear this was one of the rare times I heard his accent.
Maybe he felt comfortable talking about his life.
“One more question, Catch?”
“I’m listening,” Catch stated.
“You told my sister you’d marry her to keep your body count down. What does that mean?”
I narrowed my eyes at Catch. “You don’t have to tell him,” I muttered.
“In so many words, that’s what I said. Kam, your sister is a gorgeous woman. And in the short time I’ve known her, I’ve encountered men who’ve said things about her I didn’t like. So I made them disappear.”
Kam visibly swallowed as he held my boyfriend’s gaze.
A smirk hung on the brothers’ lips. They got a kick out of my boyfriend’s nonchalant way of speaking of those he’s made disappear. Asia and I held our breath in the awkward silence.
“Are you obsessed with my sister?” my brother asked.
Catch rubbed his jaw, pondering on his question. “Yes, I am.”
“Would you kill her if she left you?” Kam asked.
I couldn’t believe my brother mustered up the courage to ask Catch that question. We were from the hood. So you had to be tough. My brother wasn’t really afraid of anyone. But these men were in the mafia. I felt this was one of those times he could be a little scared.
“No. I wouldn’t. I’m not that kind of monster. I’m not violent toward women. She’s aware we are a forever couple. I admit, we handle our disagreements differently than others.”
“Will you ask my dad for my sister’s hand in marriage?”
Catch smiled wide. “I will.”
“I can tell you love my sister. I heard you tell her to climb into your lap while we were on the road. I saw your face in the rearview mirror. The pain etched in your face said you hated seeing her hurt. I don’t aim to be in the mafia. But one day I want to be a stand-up guy like you.”
My hand flew over my heart. Kam’s words filled my heart with joy.
Catch reached around my chair and gripped my brother’s shoulder. “So far Kam, you’re my favorite between you and your brothers.”
Laughter erupted around the table.
My fourteen-year-old brother didn’t back down once tonight. He asked Catch everything that was on his mind.
I pulled my brother into a hug. “Just so you know, Kam. Man-Man’s a dead man.”
“Good,” he said firmly.
He pulled back. “Are you happy, Bianca?”
I turned his statement over briefly in my mind. “At first. I was against being in a relationship with Catch. It was the most non-conventional relationship I’d ever heard of. I’m his forever woman.” And now he wanted to marry me. I shook off that last thought.
“Even though we haven’t been together long. I’m very happy with Catch. Don’t let his brooding exterior fool you. He’s very caring. I’ve never had a man treat me with such love the way Catch does.”
I swiped at a tear that fell.
“Awe,” Asia cooed.
She ran around the table and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.” A calming warmth washed over my body.
Asia scurried back to her seat.
My hand circled Kam’s wrist, and I squeezed. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Sis.” He didn’t waste time turning back to his meal.
***P***
After dinner, Catch hung back and talked to Rémy and Romeo. I enjoyed a piping hot shower that I desperately needed. Pulling the robe closed, I tied the terry cloth belt tightly at my belly button.
A yawn escaped my mouth as I climbed into bed, diving into the four puffy pillows.
Catch and I would take my brother home at nine. My father was going to tear Kam a new one for leaving the house. I’d have to admit that he left to protect me. The bomb vest wouldn’t be mentioned. I didn’t need Dad talking about pressing charges against Man-Man. Or worse, killing him with his bare hands. The girls and I planned to murder that sorry bastard.
My brother stepped up tonight. Jacquel would’ve been proud of Kam.
Another yawn drifted from my lips. That was the last thing I remembered.
I felt big strong arms wrap around my waist. The smell of Tom Ford body wash hit my nostrils. His lips slid along my cheek. “We only have a two-hour window for a nap.”
“Uh, huh,” I mumbled.
His hand cupped my pussy.
“Callum,” I moaned.
The stubble on his face scratched the shell of my ear. “It’s hard to cup your pussy and not bend your knee and slide my cock inside that sweet cunt.” His deep voice hit my eardrum, making me wet for him.
“Callum, baby, I promised I wouldn’t tempt you. We’ll make love later,” I groaned as he slid his fingers back and forth along my slit.
“Make love?” he chuckled.
My eyes popped open. Why was it funny if we made love?
“There will be no love making tonight, bombshell. I owe you a punishment.”
“Shit,” I groaned.
“I plan to fuck you so hard against the wall you won’t be able to walk straight for two days,” he taunted.
I knew this was coming. I’d take my punishment like a champ. My skin heated in his embrace as I peeked over my shoulder at him. “Bring it on, Daddy.”