by Love Belvin
I took a deep breath.
“Or I can go get the car, swing back and pick them up.”
“Okay. I can have my guy bring them out to you.” She walked behind the counter for the phone. “I’ll look out for you from the window.”
After a nod, I was off, trekking two blocks to a parking garage for the car. When I drove back around, as promised, JAG was opening the door for a guy dressed in dark dress pants, white dress shirt, and a matching vest. He strode over to the car as I popped the trunk. I got out like an idiot and tried to help.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” JAG asserted with a million-dollar beam. “He’s got it. Just be prepared to shoot me a text with how those YSLs fit. I love giving Tony Vaccarello my take on their practicality.”
“Okay!” I agreed as though I had a clue who Tony was.
From the rearview mirror, I could see her wave me off. Overwhelmed. This had all been nice—fairy tale-like, even—but so overwhelming. Why did I agree to this? Why was it hard to not give into this guy’s push to get to know me?
I had less than twenty-four hours to figure it out because that would be the next time those kaleidoscope-colored eyes would be caressing me again.
∞9∞
“Please! Please, Double E!” He choked on a cry. “I swear, I don’t know what that man’s business is. We been cool for fifteen years and he ain’t never speak a word to me about what he do!”
“Yeah, but you moving to South Jersey with him, though,” Iban snarled at dude.
I looked away. Fucking annoyed, I checked the time. They did this shit for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had better things to do.
“It ain’t just me!” Tank, an affiliate of Damien’s, apparently caught stumbling out of a male’s review club in Elmwood Park, tried to convince the angry trio standing over him. My father’s shooter, Travis, rocked a mean scowl that would make anyone on the other end of it piss their fucking pants. “It’s like four of us. We all friends. We all moving down there.”
Iban scoffed, rolling a toothpick around in his mouth. “A bunch of fuckin’ grown ass men living together sound gay as shit to me, Tank.”
Tank’s eyes closed in defeat and squeezed in anguish. My father’s reputation was solid in the streets, and it was known if you were taken by Double E Bag’s crew, you weren’t coming back. For him, Iban’s eyes weren’t glossed over, body wasn’t fidgety, which meant he wasn’t over the edge at this point. It also meant Tank would live to see another day. My father stood stoic and silent, nostrils flared and jaw twitching.
Tears streamed from the sides of Tank’s eyes, and snot dripped from his nostrils. I could tell his toes curled from the form of his shoes. His mouth shivered as he continued to plead. “All I’m saying is, I don’t know what beefs Damien got. I don’t know his business, man. You talking about something that happened six years ago. I ain’t even know him then…” He sobbed hard.
Smelling the fear of a petrified and anguished man in the air, I’d had enough. Dressed in my favorite tux, I was too clean for this sweaty ass environment of my father’s warehouse, where another associate of Damien’s was being questioned.
“Move on,” I growled, ready to dead this bullshit.
“Just chill for a second.” Iban moved to stand in front of me. “He ain’t shit hisself yet. We still got more time.” His leer game was serious.
I shook my head. “Sir,” I called over to my father. “Can I rap with you for a minute?”
“One second, son.” He pulled out his favorite gat, a G29, and fired a single shot into Tank’s head, leaving his neck to go limp and his body to flop in the chair.
Ears ringing and head fuckin’ spinning, I turned to leave.
Fuck this!
By the time I reached the door in the dim storage room of the warehouse, one of the men opened the door for me.
“Wait up, Deek!” I could barely hear behind me. Then my brother grabbed my arm. “Hold the fuck up!” He winced, holding his ear.
“I’m good, man.” I yanked away. “I don’t need this bullshit.”
“You think we could let him go after bringing him here? Fuck no!”
“Then why the fuck am I called in?” I cocked my head to the side, questioning. “Why the hell am I even involved in this? You and Pops can take it from here, shootin’ up muthfuckas like it’s Call of fuckin’ Duty out this bitch!” The ringing in my ears wouldn’t relent.
“Nah, young man,” my father announced, approaching us. “This Double E Bags Black Ops, and that muthafucka was lying through his fuckin’ teeth. You heard him say he was cool with Damien for fifteen years in one cry, but in the next say he ain’t even know that nigga six years ago? This the bullshit I can’t tolerate. You told me to be patient and wait, but for some reason, you don’t think six years is long enough!” He hit his angry soprano. I widened my stance, hands clasping at my pelvis as I gave him my undivided attention. “Fuck that new aged bullshit. These muthafuckas need to remember my name!” he barked loud in my buzzing ears.
Shaking my head, I stretched my lips, reigning in my building anger. “Y’all got this, man. I got better shit to do.” I turned to leave, cognizant of the time.
“Sadik!” my father’s commanding voice halted my steps.
I didn’t turn to them when he uttered what seemed to be low to my beating eardrums.
“I’m sorry my business… My method of making a living that’s provided you a fuckin’ superior life ain’t good enough for you.”
That blow had me sucking in a heap of air and expelling it right away. Heated all fucking over, I took off.
“Good, Geoffrey.” I nodded with the phone to my ear. “I’m glad we were able to finally bring in the shipment, despite the delay.”
“Hey, man,” he uttered into the line as I checked my watch and glanced up to the front of her house from inside of the limo. “Shit happens. We understand that here. Carmichael was able to stretch what we needed when you called with the heads up.”
Geoffrey Griffin was the assistant to Carmichael, the top engineer at the laboratory my firm had an account with. I appreciated his blithe persona. “I just need you and the big man to understand I value my relationship with Kaiser Laboratories. You could choose a competitor to import your chemicals, but you’ve solidified this relationship by trusting me for close to ten years.”
“Looking forward to more, brother. Take care.”
We disconnected the call, and my gaze swung ahead to Rory in the driver’s seat. “Jet ready?”
“Fueling now.” Her head was down when she answered.
“Food?”
“Taken care of.”
Why the fuck was I so nervous? I tried to think of the last time I’d been on a serious “date” with someone I tried pursuing in earnest and couldn’t recall.
Having spent enough time procrastinating, I placed my fingers on the door handle. “Send a text to Clifford’s office and tell them we’re on the way.”
As she responded, I stood from the limo, and headed to the steps leading to the porch of her house. Before I reached the top, the door opened slowly and Bilan appeared in the doorway expressionless.
But her goddamn beauty…
Why his exotic features caught me off guard each time I saw him was beyond me. His five o’clock shadow was freshly lined, and the blonde bristles of it glittered in the afternoon sun. Butterflies took flight in my belly, and anxiety danced on my bladder. His honeyed eyes darkened as he stood motionless, paying inspection from my head to the hem of my gown. I followed his line of vision and when my eyes ascended to his face again, I caught his tongue roll, swiping the inside of his bottom lip.
God…
I glanced away. “Stop it,” I muttered. “I can still change my mind.”
Challenge that statement!
I needed him to say something, killing this awkward moment.
“You’re absolutely stunning.”
My eyes roved up his black tux, reminding me of the first night we
informally met. His regard jumped all over my face.
What’s wrong?
“Then why the wrinkle in your forehead?”
He stretched his lids, jaw collapsed just slightly. “I just hate I can’t see your freckles.”
My hand instinctively flew to my face. “Oh. That’s because I’m wearing foundation to even my complexion.”
“I like your skin tones.”
My belly fluttered. “That’s not the point.”
He extended his palm to me. I accepted it and was gently yanked into his chest. I yelped, being hit with the warmth of his palm, and hardness of his chest; the assault from his delicious cologne had my lashes fluttering.
His mouth was at my ear. “You accept advance apologies?”
My eyes mushroomed. “For what?”
“For not being able to keep my hands off of you. You deserve a gentleman.”
I sucked in a breath, taken by his charm.
“And what are you?”
“When you’re around: a wolf.”
My eyes closed as I felt a dollop in my panties. I swallowed hard. “I need to lock up.”
He squeezed my hand. “Hurry.”
During the entire ride, Sadik was on his phones. And as rude as it could have been perceived, I was actually relieved for the time to settle my nerves about all of this. After getting settled in last night, I pulled out all the clothes from JAGMisha Boutique, including the gown. The brand was MEEHAR, a designer I’d never heard of. So my Google fingers led me to learn the gown Sadik had picked out for me was from MEEHAR’s Spring 2017 line and went for as much as two thousand-four hundred dollars now! No way I could afford that. And for that reason, I stopped snooping. I refused to look up the other things JAG and I had picked out.
But the gown felt different. It was layered and heavy, certainly nothing cheap. I couldn’t move an inch without it taking effort. Sadik, on the other hand, appeared well-versed with formal wear. His medium build owned the black suit he donned. The whole cut, black leather oxfords didn’t present not a single scuff. His enticing cologne fragranced the air to a teasing level, shaming my little Bath and Body Works body spray—
What am I doing here?
We pulled into the parking lot of a high-storied business building. When the limo came to a stop in front of the door, my face fell. Was this where we were going?
“I gotta go, Jill,” Sadik told his caller—latest caller. There had been four. “I’ll hit you tomorrow about the meeting.” He cupped my hand with his own, his touch snatching my attention. His chin swung toward the entrance. “One stop before the show.”
His door was opened for him and with a gentle yank, I was prompted to shuffle behind him. With a bit of effort on my part and patience on his, I was helped out of the limo. The first set of eyes my regard fell on was buggy ones. Rory never greeted me or smiled to show I was welcomed, but I decided immediately to swallow my concern. There were more important things to tend to, like why we were at the brick building.
Holding his hand while trailing behind him, I followed Sadik inside. Behind me was big Lamont. Once inside, it was clear to me this was an office building. Names and business types were listed on a glass-encased directory board. I didn’t have enough time to read before I was urged into a waiting elevator. We ascended two floors before Sadik led us out.
A…nurse greeted us.
“Mr. Ellis, we’re all ready for you. This way.” She turned to head down a hallway. We passed by a waiting room, where I counted four people and a receptionist desk with just as many people working behind it. All women, and all but one rubbernecking the bald, russet-skinned man with an orange five o’clock shadow. One even tapped another to call her attention to him. I got it. I really did. Sadik’s features were attention-snatching alone, and those mixed with his confident gait and compelling aura could have you hypnotized. But I still didn’t like it. “Right in here.” She swung an arm into an open waiting room. “Now, I wasn’t clear on if we would need two rooms or one—”
“One is fine,” Sadik barely let her finish.
I turned behind me for his security and saw he was nowhere to be found. Why were we at a doctor’s office? Why was there a need for two rooms? This was freaking me out as he held my hand and we ambled into the room.
“You look very nice, ma’am,” the pudgy woman complimented with a smile.
I had nothing for her. The minute I turned to ask Sadik what was going on, a booming voice entered the room.
“Sadik!” I turned to find a silver haired, balding man wearing tiny glasses enter the room. One of the women from the front desk—the tapper—followed behind him, fighting for covertness of her ogling. “You’re oh so prompt. I have my girls ready for the screenings. There’s just some paperwork I need this beauty to fill out.” He acknowledged me. “Well, lovely lady, your arms are out, so you’re good there. However, we’re going to need a urine sample for a full screening.”
I jumped in my shoes to Sadik as he removed his suit jacket. “Doctor Clifford.” The two men shook hands. “Glad you were able to fit me in.”
“Oh…” the doctor droned as he waved him off. “Anytime. Anytime.” He grabbed papers from the ogling nurse with heat creeping up her neck. “Here’s the questionnaire and registration papers. We offer gynecological services, though…” He skimmed down my gown. “…I don’t think this afternoon would be an ideal time to offer a full vaginal exam with pap smear, but you can always schedule a time to come back with the girls up front.”
I shot hard eyes to Sadik. “What am I doing here?” My tone was helplessly uncompromised.
“What are we doing here,” he corrected, undoing the cufflinks on his right wrist. “We’re doing the responsible thing. I almost lost it on you in the backseat of my car last week.”
My neck whipped to the doctor turning beet red behind us. The sight of him being visibly uncomfortable over the topic had my pulse racing. The crushing nurse blushed scarlet with her mouth open.
When I faced Sadik again, his forehead was creased as though he was confused. “It was just a kiss,” I grumbled through gritted teeth.
“A kiss that had me ready to tear your skirt,” he argued. “Look…” Sadik shook his head. “…I’m a very forward man. I want you, and I’m going to have you. I’ve already convinced myself to be patient, but it’s inevitable, Bilan.”
“Are you serious?” I croaked as a new skittish nurse rounded me on her way to Sadik. She carried a small plastic basket with syringes and other things my mind couldn’t process, thanks to the conundrum I found myself in.
His head shook faintly as he rolled up his sleeve. “About wanting you? Hell, yeah.”
“About dragging me to a doctor’s office for testing without asking for my consent first.”
The room stiffened, bodies steeling in place. Sadik’s head leaned to the side, and a disarming grin formed on his face as he stepped toward me. “Sweetheart, consent is for the actual sex. These are just measurements for the uniform. We’re going to play the field, I’m sure of that. And if you could get honest with yourself, you do, too. Now, they’ll be drawing blood today, but nothing harmful. There’s no need to make this awkward.” He shifted even closer, licked his lips and lifted one cheek—a sharply lined cheek from the barber. “Now, we have to hurry this along to catch a show, so if you need help lifting that gown, I’m volunteering.”
One of the nurses sputtered a giggle she struggled to contain. Another muttered something I could have sworn was shit. And the doctor, the only other male in the room, cleared his throat.
My face fell. “You’re serious!” I breathed as his phone rang.
“Deathly,” he affirmed before taking the call.
The nurse began to rub an alcohol swatch on his extended arm while another quickly swiped his mouth with a swab. He didn’t flinch when pricked by a needle.
“That oral swab is for rapid HIV testing,” the doctor discretely shared over my shoulder. “We can have the test results back
in less than twenty minutes. The blood draw is for other diseases like herpes, hepatitis, and syphilis. Meredith, over there, has a cup for a urine sample. That’ll give us the status on gonorrhea and chlamydia…”
As he rambled on low in my ear to not be heard over Sadik’s call, I watched the nurse taking his blood. She couldn’t stop shifting her weight from hip to hip. Her eyes careening between an occupied Sadik and the window they stood next to. The woman was behaving like a horny teen.
I was effectively embarrassed, and strangely jealous. I turned toward the doctor, snatching the paperwork from his hands. “Where’s the bathroom?”
After throwing myself onto the leather bench in the backseat of the limo, I adjusted my dress, completely ignoring Sadik sliding in across from me. I could feel those feline eyes burn into me, but refused to acknowledge him.
How embarrassing!
I was all dressed up for STD testing. Unbelievable!
His security got into the front of the cab, and we were off. My heavy gaze was out the tinted windows as I second-guessed myself. Was Sadik really into me? Or was I over my head as Randi tried to warn? I didn’t date. Had never been on a real one, so I had no point of reference.
A white box being pushed into my range of vision appeared, breaking my thoughts. Sadik wanted my attention.
“What’s this for?” I finally looked at him.
“So I can see your face when we chat. I can’t count those freckles.”
It was an iPhone, reminding me of the conversation we had over the weekend.
“Is this how we’re going to handle what just happened?”
With lifted brows and a faint smile, Sadik shook his head softly. He was gorgeous, making this unfair. It hit me again, how unusual this all was for me. I’d never been so attracted to a man in my life. It actually scared me.
“What happened wasn’t a grave matter, Bilan. It was just precautionary.”
