Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Morning came fast after the emotional rollercoaster last night.
I owed Miss McLean my life. I decided to let her sleep in after her battle.
Those types of night terrors could take a toll mentally and physically.
I called Donavon as soon as I awakened and was looking into Tristan, using everything I had on Tisha McLean.
I was confident he would get what I needed to put an end to Tisha’s threat.
I’d promised to give my statement to the police this morning, which was why instead of wrapping my arms around Tisha in bed, I was here. I walked into the police department to give my statement. Two detectives met me at the door. I’d taken two of her men, giving her a break. She deserved it.
“Follow me,” the taller of the two said, leading me through the main floor and a long hallway. My security team followed. We entered a small interrogation room at the end.
“Mr. Smith, please have a seat,” the detective said. I settled into the chair across the table from the detectives. “Thank you for coming this morning.”
“No problem.”
“We just want you to write down everything that happened or what you can remember,” he instructed.
I scribbled while they looked on. Once finished, I slid the pen and the paper across the table to the lead detective.
“Did he point Derrick Collins out as being the one who hired him to kill me?” I asked.
“Without risking compromising the investigation, he is a strong suspect,” the second detective answered. “Do you know of any reason Mr. Collins would want you dead?”
I leaned back in the chair, contemplating if I should divulge the terms of my business proposal. They more than likely would find out, anyway.
“We had a meeting a few days ago. I gave him a business proposal and told him to get back to me in three days.”
“What was in the proposal that would cause him to hire someone to kill you?”
I shrugged. My terms were fair to me. “I get controlling stake in his company, or he gives his company over to his son. Those were my terms.”
I didn’t regret the proposal. He needed money, or his family legacy was gone.
It was simple. Cold-hearted, sure, but I didn’t get to be one of the richest men in the world by letting people control me with fucking heartstrings.
And I didn’t get my street cred from going soft and feeling sorry for people.
Had there not been the media putting everything on fucking display last night, I would have taken care of Derrick Collins myself.
“There’s just one more thing, Mr. Smith.”
I faced the lead detective. He was older, his hair graying at his temples, with bags under his eyes. It was obvious he had one too many doughnuts in his lifetime.
“Yes.” I narrowed my gaze. The younger detective seemed visibly shaken by my perusal of him and his partner.
Good, he should be.
“There was a report of a shooting at the brewery yesterday. Witnesses say you were there.”
I nodded. “I was checking on one of my shipments, but I don’t know anything about a shooting.”
“Witnesses said you and a woman left in a hurry.”
I chuckled. “Detective, I don’t hurry for anyone. And the woman was my head of security. Now, are we done?”
The detective nodded. “The victim is in the hospital. He said he didn’t know what happened, and neither did the owner, Mr. Lowery.”
So, he’s still alive.
“Like I said, I was checking on my shipment that was a month late. I don’t know about any shooting, nor did I hear anything about a shooting. Now, gentlemen, if there is nothing else?” They shook their heads. “Please keep me informed about the man who tried to have me killed.”
I gave each of them a pointed look and made my way to the door, my security in tow.
Now that Collins was out of the way, I could move forward with his son as planned.
I’d put Collins in an impossible position, but I never thought he’d try to kill me.
Regardless, I was moving forward. The son would be a lot easier to deal with than the father.
I texted Josh that I was coming back earlier than I’d planned.
I needed to let him know what Collins pulled.
Still can’t believe the son of a bitch tried to kill me.
“What are your intentions with Tisha?”
I looked away from my phone to see one of my security team narrowing his eyes at me.
I smirked at his gall. There weren’t too many men who would have the nuts to come at me like this.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I see the way you look at her,” he pointed out. “The unnecessary, subtle touches.”
Were those touches unnecessary?
No, definitely not. Admittedly, Tisha McLean was under my skin. The only way to get her out was to fuck her out. That meant the occasional touch, lick, or kiss as far as I was concerned.
“Seems to me you need to mind your business.”
If I didn’t think Tisha would quit if I fired his ass, I would, or at least put the asshole in his place.
“I know your rep. I’m from Chicago. I know who you really are.”
“Look.” I paused, realizing I didn’t know this guy’s name. “What’s your name?”
He snorted. “Dennis. Dennis Blackman. And Tisha is like a sister to me. To all of us.” He nodded to his partner sitting next to him whose eyes were two slits as well, but their intimidation tactics didn’t work on me. “We are very protective of her.”
“Look, Dennis. I’m sure you know Tisha is her own woman, and you know she wouldn’t appreciate this little…
intervention.” The two men stared at one another.
They knew I was right. I leaned forward.
“You don’t know anything about me, and you better pray you don’t fucking find out.
Step out of line again and you’ll fucking regret it.
It’s because of Tisha I’m not shooting you in the fucking head and leaving your ass on the side of the road. ”
I sat back, satisfied from the way their necks worked as they swallowed nervously.
“This better be the last time I hear about this bullshit.”
I called Donavon so he could get the plane and crew ready for takeoff in the next hour. I was ready to leave this hellhole and get back to my beloved Chicago.
“Your head of security is on a rampage,” he said.
“What are you talking about?” I questioned as the car made its way onto the highway.
He chuckled. “I mean, she’s giving everyone the riot act about letting her sleep while you went off gallivanting. Her words, not mine.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “Gallivanting, huh?”
“What do you need?” he asked.
“Get the plane ready to leave in an hour. I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes to fill you in.” I ended the call. For the rest of the ride to the hotel, I answered emails.
We pulled up in front of the hotel. The security filed out of the car first, followed by me.
I had to fight not to scowl. I didn’t care for Tisha’s team—well, Dennis.
He needed to watch himself, or he was going to be heading back to Chapman Security before he could even gotdamn blink.
Before I reached the elevator, her heels sounded on the stone floor.
“Where the hell have you been?” Tisha asked.
I knew it would piss her off, but she needed to be reminded I was her employer, no matter how good her pussy was. I stepped into the elevator when the doors opened, not bothering to answer her question until the doors closed.
“Miss McLean. Let me remind you, I don’t work for you, and you are not my wife,” I said as calmly as possible. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Shit, every time I was alone with her, I wanted to fuck her. That wasn’t a good thing when you were trying to remind an employee of their place.
She blew out a breath. “I apologize, sir.” I didn’t know if that was good or bad for me that her professionalism was back. She folded her arms across her chest. “It won’t happen again.”
I got the feeling she wasn’t talking about her keeping tabs on me.
Shit.
I grazed my fingers against her wrist, the bracelet I gave her snuggled around it, and the earrings were nestled in her ears. She backed away from me, going to the far corner of the elevator car.
I wouldn’t win this fight right now, but I wasn’t one to give up. Miss McLean would be a constant in my bed no matter how much she fumed right now.
“Pack,” I ordered as soon as the elevator doors opened, and she pushed past me into the hallway for a sweep.
“We’re leaving already?”
I nodded and headed to my room. “I want to be gone within the hour.”
She nodded and swiped her keycard, stepped through her door, and I went through mine. I needed to center myself. There was business needing my attention. I wasn’t one to let good pussy deter me from what needed to be accomplished, and I sure as fuck wouldn’t start now.
Marching to the bedroom, I rubbed my hands down my face, catching my nails on my beard.
Miss McLean fucked with my head, and I didn’t like it.
I believed fucking her would help me think straight again, but I was wrong.
I couldn’t shake her or the need to be inside her as she rode me hard.
I growled, angry with myself for what I knew I would do.