CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE SIT DOWN WITH HER DAD
CATCH
“ Y ou’re not leaving,” Mr. Landry repeated my words. He stalked back to my spot in the middle of the living room.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” he snarled; fists clenched at his sides.
I shoved the bib of my baseball cap into my back pocket. “I’m the man who loves your daughter. I’m the man who would lay down his life to protect not just her but her family too,” I bit back, standing firm.
“Callum,” I heard Bianca’s voice behind me.
Turning to the side, I stretched out my hand for hers. I pulled Bianca into my arms under her father’s heated gaze. “Mr. Landry, I love your daughter.”
Bianca snuggled into my chest. “Callum, maybe we should go.”
I glanced at her. “No, Bianca. Your father will hear what I have to say.”
Mr. Landry huffed.
I could feel his eyes harden even more, if that were possible.
“I’ll be back. Spend time with your family.” My large palms captured her cheeks, and I pressed a searing kiss against her soft lips. She broke our kiss, glancing at her mother, then her dad.
“My boyfriend might be a little rough around the edges, but he always has my best interest at heart.”
Her father looked down his nose at her, puffing out his broad chest. “He isn’t forcing you to be with him?”
Bianca smirked. “The first day I met him. I wanted nothing to do with him. Not because I didn’t like him. But because my attraction to him was so strong, it scared me. I put up my defenses and cursed him out. I was determined not to fall for him. Callum saw through my anger and told me how it was going to be. He honestly only wants the best not just for me but our family.”
She left my embrace and stood on her tippy toes and planted a kiss on her father’s cheek. “I love you, dad.”
He turned to mush for his daughter. It was a sight to see. The moment warmed my heart.
“I love you, too, my precious girl.”
With a smile on her face, she whipped past me, taking her mother’s hand in hers, and sauntered toward the back of the house.
It appeared I had to heed my own advice. Like I told her, we were a team. My future wife worked her charm on her father. The woman was a goddess.
“Come on...” he snapped his fingers.
“Is it Catch or Callum?” he asked as we walked toward the home office.
I knew the layout of the home since I selected it.
“My name is Callum Rizzo the II.” I cringed at giving my full name.
“But I go by Catch.”
He nodded as he stepped inside the room, flipping on the light.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, waving a hand at the bar against the back wall close to his desk.
“The liquor and bags of groceries were delivered an hour after we arrived,” he stated.
I smirked. My friend Kagan was very resourceful. That reminded me I’d have a Lamborghini delivered to his home in a few days. He deserved it. The man really came through for us.
“Yes, Mr. Landry, I’ll take a glass of Maker’s Mark. Thank you.” I took a seat in one of the two red leather chairs in front of the desk.
The medium-sized office had a modern flare. The sleek mahogany desk wasn’t made of thick wood like my desk at home. The desk was lightweight. The red chairs were the pop of color the cream room needed.
“What did you mean you’d protect her and her family?” he asked from the bar.
He wore black sweatpants, a gray t-shirt, and black slippers that looked like they’d seen better days.
“I won’t sugarcoat it, Mr. Landry. I’d kill those who tried to harm her and or her family.”
His brows rose as he placed the glass tumbler in my hand.
“You’d kill for her?” he questioned, sinking into the black leather chair behind the desk.
“Mr. Landry, your daughters caught up in some dangerous business. Anyone who tried or tries to harm her will die. That’s a promise.”
After taking a sip of his whiskey, he cocked his head to the side. “You’re a killer?”
“I’m a resourceful man when it comes to Bianca, Mr. Landry. I served in the military. I am a Marine. I’m sometimes called on to handle dangerous situations for our country. The jobs I perform for the government have made me a very rich man,” I lied.
I didn’t think this was the time to tell the man my family was deep in the mafia life. And that my family was wealthy. I wasn’t lying about receiving generous payments for the government jobs I performed. Those payments only made me wealthier.
His brows rose. “Are you in special ops?”
“Yes, sir. I’m a sniper. I can hit a target at almost any altitude,” I replied, bringing the glass to my lips.
“Thank you for your service, Catch,” he said with a straight face.
“Sir, you’re welcome. It was an honor to serve my country. The Marine Corps taught me invaluable skills.”
In particular, how to kill a person and make the body disappear without a trace.
“Why do you find it suitable to murder for my daughter?” he asked.
It felt like he saw me as a murderer than a man protecting his daughter.
“I assure you; Mr. Landry, I only handle problems that leave ugly stains on the planet.” I twirled the tumbler on the desk slowly.
“What would you say if I told you a man blackmailed a woman? Told her if she didn’t do what he asked of her, then her brother would lose his shiny internship.” It really wasn’t a question. I was just making a point.
“This man asked her to carry out ill-suited acts for him and his friends. She didn’t want her brother to return to their crime ridden neighborhood.” I ground my teeth together. Just talking about those assholes made me want to kill them all over again.
“The deplorable actions of men who throw their power around to get what they want from a woman are unforgivable. Those kinds of men don’t get to walk this earth anymore.” I stated, holding his shocked gaze. “Would you agree?”
“Are you insinuating a man asked my daughter to carry out sexual acts?”
“I’m confirming if anyone hurts Bianca in such a vile manner, they won’t be able to hurt her again.” I brought the tumbler to my lips and gulped the harsh liquid.
“You can ponder on that another time. Let’s talk about something joyous. Mr. Landry, in the short time I’ve known Bianca Landry, she’s stolen my heart. I love seeing her face every day. And knowing I’m the man protecting that woman...” Gives me a hard-on. Of course, I couldn’t say that.
“...makes me a happy man. We’ve been getting to know each other for the last month. Bianca makes my heart skip a beat. Whenever we’re in the same room together, I can’t help but smile at my bombshell. I love her deeply.”
Sitting up straight, I lifted my chin. “Mr. Landry, I’d like your blessing to marry your daughter.”
I knew asking for his blessing was the right thing to do. However, if he refused to give his blessing, I’d still marry Bianca.
Her father’s eyes widened, and he sat back in his chair.
Silence fell over the room.
“Have your parents met Bianca?”
“No, my parents live in New Jersey. She’ll speak with them soon.”
He nodded. “I noticed the way she looked at you. I hadn’t known another man to make my daughter smile like that.”
And you never fucking will .
It was getting really hard to hold my tongue.
He stood and stretched his hand across the desk. I rose to my feet, placing my hand in his.
“You have my blessing, Catch.” He smiled.
A huge grin curled my lips. “Thank you, sir.”
“I plan to ask her very soon,” I stated as I released his hand.
“Let’s celebrate. Would you like a Cuban cigar?” I reached into my cargo pocket.
His face lit up. “I’d love one.”
“I hope you like it. Partagás are one of my favorite Cuban cigars.” I placed one in his hand.
“Next time I’ll bring Montecristo cigars. The Partagás have different flavors,” I stated.
His eyes closed as he slid it under his nose and inhaled. “It smells like hazelnut, with a woodsy aroma.”
A light chuckle rumbled in my chest. “Yes, I love hazelnut.”
That was something I hadn’t told Bianca yet. Every day I tried to learn something different about her. I always paid attention to Bianca. Usually when she least expected it. I’d do a better job of sharing more about myself.
“I smoked a Cuban cigar for the first time with a good friend of mine who was leaving the plant we worked at together since we were eighteen. Five years ago, he started his own tech company. He and his family moved to Silicon Valley.”
The smile on his face was infectious. “He was a good guy. I miss him.”
“Do you ever talk to him?” I asked.
“From time to time.” His smile withered.
“He’s a busy man,” Mr. Landry stated. I could see how the loss of his friendship affected him.
“Would you like another drink?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Yes please,” I responded as I reached into my cargo pants pocket, retrieving the cigar cutter.
Mr. Landry placed his cigar on the desk and sauntered across the room.
“Figured since we’re smoking Cuban’s I’d give our cigars the Cuban cut.” I grinned like I was the happiest man on earth as I cut the cigars at an angle.
“Sounds good to me,” he replied.
After I placed the cigars back on the desk, I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and tapped play on Lupe Fiasco’s new album ‘Food and Liquor.’ I thought it would be nice to listen to a Chicago artist.
Her father and I were at odds fifteen minutes ago. A simple discussion brought forth clarity. He initially thought I was just some rich prick who used his money to control his woman. A simple discussion brought forth clarity. I understood my future wife. She didn’t like all the frills tons of money brought. Not yet anyway. Over time, she would. She’d embrace our wealth.
“What do you know about rap?” he asked as he placed my glass on the desk in front of me.
“My cousin Ritchie and I have loved rap music for a long time. Bianca loves this album. I’m a T.I. and Jay Z fan.” I grabbed the lighter out of my pocket.
He laughed. “You guys have good taste in music. Bianca listens to Lupe’s album all the time.”
“Yeah, I picked it up from her.” I pressed the button on the torch lighter.
Mr. Landry held the cigar near the flame, turning it until the cigar was evenly lit. He sank into his seat and puffed on the cigar. “This is good.”
I lit my cigar, then brought it to my lips.
“Have you ever dated a black woman, Catch?”
“No. Not going to lie. Her snarky attitude really did it for me. I courted her. Showed her how serious I was about her. Before Bianca, I hadn’t thought about being in a relationship. I love my nerdy girl.”
Her father smiled and raised his glass. “If you love her nerdy side, then I know you really get her. Not many men could come second to a laptop.”
I tapped my glass against his. “Mr. Landry, I wouldn’t say I come second to the computer. I just understand what makes her happy. The desktop computer and the new laptop I bought for her brought a smile to her face. Usually when she’s on her computer, she’s sitting next to me. There are times I put the computer away so that I can have her undivided attention.”
He sipped his whiskey. “I’d never seen her face light up like that. She loves you.”
My heart raced in my chest at the statement. Bombshell loved me.
“Mr. Landry, I can see you’re a wonderful father. I can’t pretend I understand how hard it is to raise a family mainly off one income. Also you own your home in a city where the cost of living is astronomical.”
He smirked. “Thanks, Catch. It means a lot to me that you noticed. All I ever wanted to do was be a good family man.”
“Sir, I’d like to put your house on the market. Once you receive the proceeds from the sale, you can invest some of those funds. I’ll purchase a house for your family in Naperville. I understand your wife loves this city.”
“She does,” he grumbled.
“I’d also like to pay for the boys to attend private school. Kam is very intelligent. They deserve to attend great schools. And you deserve a break, Mr. Landry. Consider taking time off from work.”
He rocked in the chair. “I could use a real break. Maybe take the family on a little vacation.”
Another smile curled my lips. “Yes, enjoy life. We only get one.”
“Catch, very true.”
“Sir, I look forward to being a part of your family,” I stated honestly.
He shook my hand again. “You’re a good man, Catch. We welcome you with open arms.”
Mr. Landry released my hand. “My wife and I would like to meet your family, too.”
I internally cringed. Shit, I’d have to speak to my father more than once.
“I’ll make it happen,” I responded.