“Marcel, make things happen on your end. Mazzei took the bait.”
* * *
With Caitlyn seated on his lap, Marcel sat next to Vic with the cordless phone in his hand and gave her a look of confidence. “Okay, you know what to do, right?”
Vic picked up the other phone from its base and took a deep breath. “I got it.”
They were at Vic’s house with Alex and A.J. Marcel had just provided last-minute instructions to Vic on what he wanted her to say.
“Cole…Vic.”
Cole chuckled. “Long time, no hear. You know, I was going to call you. Ran into an acquaintance of mine recently and he said Caitlyn might be living in Oakland.”
“She was the last time I saw her.”
“Exactly what do you mean by last time?”
“I’m looking for her. Has she contacted you?”
“No, why?” He paused. “Sounds like you’re mad at her.”
“Ya damn skippy. I’ma kick her ass when I find her.”
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me. Think Tara or Chandler might know where she is?”
“Beats me. What did she do?”
“She pulled an M&M on me.”
“A what?”
“My man and my money. She screwed around with both.”
“Where was she living at the last time you saw her?”
Vic looked at Marcel who had the cordless phone glued to his ear, and he nodded. She recited Caitlyn’s address. “If you hear from her, call me, all right?”
“Yeah…if I hear from Caitlyn, I’ll let you know.”
With tears rolling down her face, Vic ended the call. Her hands shook as she placed the phone back on the base, and slumped back on the couch. “Oh, Lord, I’ve never been so scared in all my life.”
“Good job, Vic,” Alex commended.
A.J., Marcel’s brother sat next to Vic and wrapped his arms around her. “Honey, I’m really proud of you.”
Still seated on Marcel’s lap, Caitlyn leaned over and wrapped her arms around Vic’s neck and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you so much, Vic.”
Marcel took Vic’s trembling hands in his. “Vic, I don’t know if I can ever repay you for what you just did.”
Vic gave him a weak smile. “You just nail Cole’s ass for me, and we’ll call the score even.”
With his arm still around Vic, A.J. looked over at his older brother. “What now?”
Marcel’s jaw twitched as he tightened his hold around Caitlyn’s waist. “Wait him out.”
* * *
After Vic’s call, Marcel moved quickly to put his strategy in motion. Two days later, after he and Caitlyn returned from Atlanta, he called Alex, Ken, his brothers A.J. and Ray, his brother-in-law Zach, as well as his father, and told them a meeting was scheduled at six o’clock that evening at the corporate office of BF Automotive.
Marcel allowed everyone to settle inside his executive suite and then said, “We need to be ready to move into action as soon as Mazzei lands in Oakland.”
“How soon do you think it’ll be?” Ken nervously asked.
Marcel shook his head. “Could be as soon as this weekend.”
Ray blew out a hard breath. “Listen, mon frère, you sure Little Bit will be able to pull this off?”
Marcel offered his youngest brother a smile of confidence. “She can and she will.” He glanced across at Alex and Zach. “Is everything set up with your people?”
Zach answered first. “The Oakland Police have already coordinated everything with New York and Atlanta police. My men are ready to move as soon as Alex gives us the word.”
Alex nodded. “My people are over at Caitlyn’s apartment as we speak setting everything up.” He looked around at the others. “There’s been an undercover team guarding her for several days now.”
“I don’t know…” Ken frowned. “Your plan sounded great at first, but now—” He broke off and glanced at Marcel with hesitation. “It’s like we’re leaving my child wide open for this maniac.”
Alex shook his head in disagreement. “Trust me, Ken, she’s safe. As soon as Mazzei steps off that plane in Oakland, his ass is grass.”
A wrinkle burrowed itself into the middle of Alcee’s forehead. “How?”
“It’s called jail time, Pop.” Marcel leaned back in his leather chair and offered a crafty smile.
A.J. shook his head, confused. “I’m not following you here, Marcel. I thought you told us that Caitlyn never went to the police and filed charges against Mazzei?”
Marcel glanced over at A.J. “She didn’t at first, but she has now. When I asked Alex to find out who was behind the bidding war for the dealership, I also asked him to run a check on Mazzei. I wanted to know everything he’d ever done. Pop always told us that everybody has something tucked deep down in a closet somewhere. Mazzei recently pulled his stalking stunt with another woman. She filed a complaint, but later withdrew it. When I went to New York, I spoke with her father. After Caitlyn agreed to our plan and spoke to the woman personally, she agreed to re-file the charges. Plus, Mazzei’s got two other prior convictions for different crimes on his record. Three strikes law. He’s going down.”
Alcee frowned. “But it’s been three years since he stalked Caitlyn. Isn’t there a statue of limitations?
Marcel’s eyes twinkled with victory because he’d had the best team of legal experts to thoroughly examine Georgia laws. There wasn’t a statue of limitations for crimes involving sexual assault in that state. He knew Cole’s previous crimes, coupled with the new charges against him, would land him in jail for a very long time. Smiling, he laced his hands behind his head and propped his feet on his desk. “Nope.”
Alcee smiled. “Son, I know that look. You’ve crossed your t’s and dotted the i’s, haven’t you?” You’re going to prove it, aren’t you?”
“Kitten’s going to prove it.” Marcel’s voice was filled with confidence.
A.J. bunched his brows together. “But how?”
Marcel smiled. “I don’t want to take any chances on Mazzei denying the charges down the road. We’re going to make him confess. Trust me on this.”
Ken glanced over at Marcel. “And you’re absolutely positive your plan will keep this crazy bastard away from my child for good?”
Marcel nodded.
Alex walked over and patted Ken’s shoulder. “Trust me, Ken. No harm will come to Caitlyn. My men are close enough to her that if Mazzei even thinks wrong they’ll be on him like a fly on shit.”
Raphael walked up to Alex. “Okay, so we get him in our backyard, then what? You really think he’ll go after Little Bit?”
Alex chuckled. “Oh, I know he will. He’s probably scared to go after the other woman because he feels her family is too well-connected. Remember, he still assumes that Caitlyn doesn’t have any family to back her up. Since he knows where she is, as soon as he’s off that plane, I’m betting dollars to a doughnut he’ll be at her door. Ray, I know you’re concerned.” He turned and waved his hand around the room. “We all are. Mazzei wants revenge. This is friend’s MO—preying on women he feels wouldn’t put up a fight against him. The problem for him is that he struck out with Caitlyn. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s pissed off enough with her for outsmarting him that he’ll come after her. If nothing more, he’ll want to prove to her he’s in control.”
“We have the warrant ready for his arrest on our end,” Zach supplied.
Marcel scanned the room. “Jail time is a drop in the bucket for what I really want and that’s for Caitlyn to live in peace and not have to worry that Cole’s slime-ball behind will come after her again.”
Alcee snorted. “You’re a better man than me, Son. If it had been my woman, trust me, Mazzei would have his behind beat, bayou style.”
Marcel remained silent.
“Listen, Pop,” Ray chimed in. “Don’t even think my man’s going to walk away scot-free here. Naw, naw, his ass is going to get beat down before Zac
h hauls him off.”
Zach tossed Ray a chastening look. “Listen here, brother-in-law. It’s bad enough I gotta get one criminal off the streets. Don’t need to be hauling kinfolk off to jail, too.”
Ray snorted. “Well, you best make sure five-o stays on him then.” He pounded his fists together. “Nobody messes with a Baptiste woman.”
Marcel chuckled. “She’s not officially a Baptiste—yet.”
Ray grinned. “Mere technicality, mon frère. Mere technicality.”
A few moments later, Marcel glanced over at Alcee, A.J., and Ray who were huddled together. “I want you three to know how much I appreciate your support. It means a lot.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the wry look Alcee exchanged with Ray and A.J. Waving his finger back and forth at them, he issued a stern warning. “Listen, you three, if anything goes down, I’ll handle it. Understand? Besides, the three of you have been known to get into a fight or two in your day.”
Alcee jerked his head up at Marcel. “Don’t worry about us. You just make sure you keep Caitlyn safe. She’s ours, you know.”
Marcel smiled. “Thanks, Pop.”
Alex flipped his cell phone closed and walked over to Marcel’s desk. “Everything’s set on our end.”
Marcel nodded and stood. With a look of total trust, he stared Alex dead in the eyes. “I’m placing my life in your hands, Robinson, because Caitlyn is my life. I’m counting on you. Whenever things go down, protect her.”
* * *
After a walk to get some fresh air, Caitlyn arrived back at her apartment just before dusk. She inserted her key and turned the lock. She froze at the voice behind her.
“Well, well, well. It’s been a long time, Caitlyn.”
She whirled and stared straight into the eyes of the man she had feared so long. “What do you want, Cole?” Her voice was strong and steady.
Cole’s dark eyes shone with anger. “You.” His cynical grin made his lips curl upward. He moved in front of her and opened the door. Then grabbing her left arm, he shoved her. “Get inside.”
* * *
Marcel sat on the passenger side of an unmarked van across the street from Caitlyn’s apartment, along with Zach, Ken, A.J., Ray and Alcee. With headsets strapped across their ears, they listened intently, their eyes glued to the surveillance screens and their emotions reacting to the activities unfolding across the street.
On the edge of his seat with his elbows on his knees, Marcel unconsciously jiggled his legs. “If he touches her again…” What he saw flash across the screen made him cringe, and he looked over at Zach. “Did you see that?”
Zach lifted the right side of his headset. “Brother-in-law, I’m warning ya, one more word, and ya outta here.”
* * *
Cole fumbled to find the light switch. “Go pack your things and hurry up. We’ve got to get out of here.”
“We?”
“Yes, we.” He jerked her by the right arm and yanked her next to him. “You’re going with me. Understand?”
For the first time in three years, anger replaced fear. Caitlyn snatched her arm free and took two steps back. “It’s not all right. You’ve made my life hell, and it stops right now, Cole. Right now!”
Cole narrowed his eyes. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me, you crazy son-of-a-bitch. The buck stops here.”
He wrapped a fistful of her hair around his hand and yanked so hard her head bent backward. “Don’t ever talk to me like that again.” He released her hair and shoved her. “Now go pack.”
“Why should I go anywhere with you, Cole?”
“Because you have nothing and nobody, that’s why.” Cole balled his fists, but kept them at his sides. His tone was icy as he advanced on her. “You ran, and I don’t like my women running away. Now let’s go.”
“No.” Caitlyn stared at Cole. “You raped me. It landed me in the hospital for two days, and now you want me to go with you? You must be a fool, Cole.”
“I told you I never meant to do it.” Cole shrugged. “Besides, you can never prove it. Your word against mine, baby.”
“So, you admit you raped me?”
Cole sighed. “All right, it wasn’t consensual, but sweetheart, you aren’t the only one it happened to, so don’t get all bent out of shape. Now go pack your things so we can go.”
“What do you mean, I’m not the only one?”
Cole sighed. “You know, all of you women are just alike. Another chick back in New York claims I did the same thing. Now move it.”
She remembered the instructions the police had given her. He has to say her name. Caitlyn shrewdly lifted her brow. “I’m sure me and…what did you say her name was again?”
“Allyson. Now hurry up and go pack!”
“Go to hell, Cole.”
* * *
“That bastard,” Ken roared. He was seated directly behind Zach and failed miserably in his attempt to bolt from the van because A.J. and Ray reached out and restrained him. “I’ll kill him.”
Zach lifted his headset from his ear again. He turned all the way in his seat and peered around at Ken. “Sssh. The same thing I told Marcel goes for ya, too.” He turned back, readjusted the headset and scribbled on a note pad: one count of aggravated rape.
* * *
Cole released an eerie chuckle and glanced around at the apartment’s simple furnishings before he examined Caitlyn from head to toe. “Getting awful bold here, aren’t you, Caitlyn? Tell me what you gonna do, huh?” He cocked his head to the side, his arm lifted high in the air. “Run away again?” He drew back his fist to strike. “Tell me, what do you have in Oakland that makes you want to stay?”
* * *
“Alex, move in. Move in now.” Zach yelled into his mouthpiece. “She’s in trouble. We got what we need.”
Marcel snatched his headset off and bolted from the van. The others followed swiftly. Armed police officers raced from all directions and flooded the walkway to Caitlyn’s apartment. Zach led the pack with his gun drawn with Marcel a heartbeat behind.
* * *
“If you touch her, you’re a dead man.” Alex’s 6’6” frame stood rigid in the entrance connecting Caitlyn’s living room and hallway, his legs braced apart, his gun pointed at Cole’s head.
Caitlyn pivoted at the sound of Alex’s voice. The next thing she knew, her back was pinned against Cole and he had his right arm anchored around her throat.
Marcel burst open the front door. “I’ll tell you what she’s got here. She’s got more money than God, a family who loves her, and a man who will kill you if you don’t turn her loose.” Marcel’s words were smooth, yet deadly. “I’m only going to say this once, Mazzei. Turn her loose. Now!”
Oakland police officers entered with guns pointed and inched to opposite sides of the apartment. Marcel walked inside.
“Marcel…” Caitlyn cried out.
“Shut up.” Cole held Caitlyn in front of him as a human shield. “Get out of here, all of you.” Trickles of sweat clung to Cole’s olive-toned skin.
Zach inched forward. “Turn her loose, Mazzei. You’re in enough trouble as it is.”
“W-What do you mean, I’m in trouble?” Cole stuttered.
Zach reached inside his coat pocket and withdrew a piece of paper. “We have a warrant for your arrest.”
“For what?” Cole shouted.
Caitlyn answered as she struggled against his hold. “For rape. Now turn me loose.”
“You ain’t got nothing on me.” Cole blinked, once, twice in disbelief as he looked up to the surveillance camera Marcel pointed to overhead. He leaned around and spoke to Caitlyn’s profile. “Y-You bitch. You set me up, didn’t you?”
“You heard what Marcel said, Cole.” Zach took a step forward. “This is the last time any of us are going to say this again. Turn her loose.”
Cole tried to reach inside the waistband of his pants.
“Don’t even think about it. My trigger finger’s a little twitchy over here.
” Alex issued the order from a crouched position. He had a double-handed grip on his Glock, which was pointed at Cole’s head.
Cole spoke low against the side of Caitlyn’s neck. “You better tell all of them to get the hell out of here.”
Without taking his eyes off Caitlyn, Marcel issued a final order. “Robinson, if he blinks hard take him out.” He motioned for Caitlyn with a nod.
Caitlyn bolted, and the sudden movement caused her to stumble. Regaining her footing, she made a mad dash straight to Marcel’s arms. He crushed her against him, his embrace so tight she thought her ribs would snap.
“Marcel,” she cried against his chest.
“Sssh. It’s okay. It’s over, and trust me, he’ll never come near you again.” The rage inside Marcel made him shake. “I just need to hold you,” he whispered, burying his face against the side of her neck.
Cole stood in the middle of the room, his face red from rage and pointed at Caitlyn. “I should’ve beat your ass when I found you in Atlanta.”
“Oh, naw, partner.” Ray stood with his back against the wall, feet crossed at the ankles. He made a tsking sound and shook his head. You should have never said that.”
Lunacy overruled lucidity and Marcel lunged for Cole.
“Marcel, stop it,” Caitlyn shouted as she darted after Marcel and yanked the back of his shirt, pulling him away from Cole. “He’s not worth it.”
Marcel’s balled left fist halted in midair. “Come near her again, and you wake up dead.”
“Get this scum out of here and read him his rights.” Zach issued the order to his officers and they led a handcuffed Cole toward the door.
“Yo, partner, let me holler at ya here for a minute.” Ray winked when Cole halted. “Be seeing ya around.”
* * *
Two days later, Caitlyn rushed through the doors at the BMW dealership in Oakland.
“Marcel Xavier Baptiste.” Caitlyn stood in the middle of the empty service bay and shouted at the top of her lungs.
She knew he had to be here since the doors were unlocked. She glanced down at the text message she’d received from him about thirty minutes earlier. It read, Hired someone to head the foundation. Caitlyn narrowed her eyes, fuming. He had some nerve hiring someone without discussing it with her first. After all, she’d worked hard setting the darn thing up. Rushing behind the service desk, she stumbled as she tried to avoid stepping on Max and Kenji. But just like the first time she’d almost fallen in this same spot, a strong pair of hands grabbed her at the waist. Only this time, she knew who it was.
When I’m With You (Indigo) Page 19
