So, he’d get rid of Wolf himself, but he’d also start working on Corey. He hoped he could convince his little brother to leave New York with him so they could live and operate in a place without Cyrus and his bullshit around. That had been his plan all along, and he knew eventually, he’d get Corey to go along with it. He had to get Corey away from Cyrus before Cyrus ruined his life too. Now, though, there was a major knot in Chase’s noble plans, and the more he thought about it, the more Gordian that knot became.
Frankly, now he was stuck where he was because he wasn’t about to leave Bliss. He laughed at himself: All it took to bring the almighty Chase Brown to his knees was nine days with one sweet little fine-ass woman who’d walked into his office in a dirty gray skirt and shown him a muddy, smeared résumé. He hadn’t even slept with her, yet he loved her so much it hurt to look at her. Chase knew she owned his heart already. Even there, in his own hot shower, thoughts of her had him covered in goose bumps.
Chase was not a stupid guy by a long shot. He knew that feeling so completely in love with someone so fast was a rarity. He also knew it was rarer, still, for the object of a man’s affection to feel the same way—like Bliss did. He knew it with his entire heart.
Chase thought this over as he stepped out of the shower and toweled off. The very last thing on Earth he wanted to do was hurt Bliss. He had to walk a tight rope to keep everything separate, because if Bliss ever found out the real reason people called him Smoke, he was sure she’d walk—no…run—away from him without looking back.
His life had been so full of sadness and darkness, and he just wanted a happy ending. He thought there might be a slim chance of finding that with Bliss. He knew he couldn’t let his brother Cyrus even suspect what was going on between them. If Cyrus had any idea, he’d use it to his advantage to keep Chase bound to him.
As he dressed, his brother infected his thoughts again. Fucking Cyrus. I’m so tired of him—really tired. There was only one end for Cyrus. He was blazing a path of destruction and ruin, determined to take everyone down with him, just to feed his own greed and have his own way. Well, fuck that. He’s not taking Corey or me with him—not if I have a damn thing to say about it.
Chase couldn’t lie to himself: Greasing someone was thrilling to him in a very dark sort of way. It made him feel powerful and invincible, and he was extremely good at it. He would almost have labeled it fun, except for the inevitable bouts of guilt and self-loathing that always followed. He hadn’t killed anybody in a while, and he was seriously hoping those sick feelings were gone, but he doubted it.
Chase was not a psychiatrist, and he didn’t try to over-analyze himself; that job usually fell to J.T. Chase’s life was what it was. If he wanted to twist it so that Cyrus was the only villain in the whole sordid story, he could have easily said that the first life he’d taken was only to impress Cyrus and make him need him. He could even claim, “I just wanted my big brother to love me more. After all, I was just young, hurt, and a goddamned orphan.” He was, after all, just misguided and aching for approval from someone he assumed probably hated him from the start. Even then, though, he knew he’d never get much in the way of affection from Cyrus—something Cyrus probably didn’t have to give. Cyrus obviously had his own issues, though, and Chase was sure he would die a selfish, hateful, manipulating, greedy bastard.
It was probably the truth, but he wasn’t trying to live his days out in Hell on Earth. Chase had never been one to just sit around and wait for shit to happen or to wait and let things fix themselves. He’d always been a man with a plan, and he was about to set one in motion.
Chase put on his pants and stepped into his shoes. Usually when he made an appearance at Cream during club hours, he wore a suit, and the one he’d chosen for the evening was a straight, black Armani-cut so classic it looked like a tux, along with a crisp white shirt. He ran a brush over his hair and thought of Bliss again. He wondered what she would think about working at Shelter or Delight instead of for Cyrus. He’d decided he really didn’t want her around his brother because Cyrus was trouble. Also, by getting her away from Cyrus, he hoped if he kept Bliss as close to him as he could until he could pull up stakes, there was a chance she’d never find out about his razor-wielding ways. He hated the deception, but he was only leaving out some parts of the truth that she’d never asked about.
He looked in the mirror again and promised himself that Wolf would be the last of his kills. Bliss was his future—he knew that—and Chase wasn’t about to risk her or Corey for Cyrus’s sorry ass. It’s time to make my move, he resolved, checking his reflection one more time.
He walked out of the bedroom as he fastened his watch. He rang for the elevator, and his eyebrow went up when it started to rise from the garage because he was sure he’d left it on his apartment level. Chase stepped back and put his hand in his pocket, instinctively curling his fingers around his straight razor.
The elevator popped open, and out stepped Corey, looking angry.
Chase relaxed and smiled. “Hey, little bro.”
Corey looked at him, frowning. “Why the hell did you break Cyrus’s nose?”
“Because that fool put his hands on me.”
Corey shoved him in the chest, hard enough to move him. “There. So did I. You gonna break my nose too?”
Chase smiled at his younger brother and shook his head. “It’s not the same, Corey, and you know it. And don’t mess up my suit. I got a date.”
Corey smiled. “With Bliss? I really like her.”
“Yeah, me too. Listen, Corey, before you ask…yeah, I meant to break Cyrus’s nose. It wasn’t a mistake or an accident. I was fuckin’ aimin’ for it. He deserved it for disrespectin’ me.”
“Y’all gotta stop this shit, Chase.”
“It’s stopped. Everything is beautiful.”
“Come on. I’m serious.”
“No, you come on, Corey. I said everything is cool. I’m gonna do him one last solid, and then I’m gonna step away from his grimy ass for good. I mean it.”
“Chase, y’all can fix whatever this—”
Chase turned on Corey with an disbelieving look on his face. “Corey, do you hear yourself? There’s no fixing this shit. Don’t you fuckin’ get it? Cyrus wants me to kill people for him! This ain’t a fuckin’ game. I’ve been putting people in the ground for him, and I don’t want to do it anymore, but he keeps forcin’ my hand.”
“Can’t you just fuckin’ say no?”
They stared at each other for a long, drawn-out moment before Chase shook his head, realizing Corey must not know what it was all about. He felt such a sudden wave of love and ferocious protectiveness for his little brother that he almost grabbed him and hugged him. If Corey was clueless that Cyrus would try to use him as an ersatz assassin, Chase planned on keeping it that way for as long as possible.
“No, Corey. I can’t just say no,” Chase said, looking away so Corey couldn’t read his expression.
“Why not? You still owe him money or somethin’?”
Chase laughed. “I don’t owe Cyrus shit, Corey.”
“Then why—”
Chase cut him off by throwing a companionable arm over his shoulder. He picked up his keys and rang for the elevator. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not rushin’ you out, but I’m late. I got some stuff I need to talk to you about, so get with me for lunch on Monday.”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday. Let’s do it tomorrow.”
Chase laughed. “I don’t plan on leavin’ my house this weekend, so Monday’s better.”
Corey laughed too. “If you plan on lockin’ yourself in here with Bliss, I ain’t mad at ya, son.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan.”
They rode down together. Chase walked Corey to his Lexus, and then got in his Porsche. He had a million things on his mind, but they all took a backseat to Bliss. He grinned as he pulled his car into traffic. He couldn’t wait to see her, and his heart was already racing at the thought of her all dolled up.
&
nbsp; Chapter 10
“Who you goin’ out with, Tash? That same guy…Trevor?”
While Bliss got ready for Chase, Tasha sat on her bed, as usual, keeping her company. Tasha was dressed to go out herself. “Yeah. Same ol’, same ol’.”
Bliss sat down beside her and started pulling on her stockings. “You sound bored with him. Are you?”
Tasha took her foot out of her sandal and inspected her pedicure. “A little. He’s just a doctor—not some exciting club owner like your fine-ass friend Chase.” She stuck her foot back in her sandal, then took the other one out and inspected it. “You like him a lot, don’t you?”
Bliss put on her other stocking, pondering whether or not she wanted to let her best friend inside her head. She wanted Chase to be the first person to know how she felt about him.
“Hello? I’m talking to you, Bliss.”
She stood up and put on a pretty black lace garter belt and snapped her stockings onto it. Bliss glanced at Tasha with a guarded expression. “Yeah, I like him a lot.”
Tasha raised an amused eyebrow. “I see. He gets real stockings instead of plain old pantyhose. Very sexy. Are you gonna give him some tonight?”
Bliss looked over her shoulder. “Are you gonna give Trevor some?”
Tasha sighed expansively. “It looks like it’s on the itinerary. So is Chase gettin’ lucky or not?”
Bliss slipped on her nicest, slinkiest little black dress. “Yeah, probably.” She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him peeling it off of her. “No, make that definitely.”
Tasha grinned at her and hopped off the bed. She ran out of the room with the heels of her strappy sandals click-clacking noisily on the hardwood floor.
Bliss laughed and shook her head, wondering where she was running off to. She put on her perfume and started to do her hair.
Tasha came back in the room just in time to zip her roommate and best friend up.
“Thanks,” Bliss said, still fiddling with her hair.
“Don’t thank me for that. Thank me for these.” She handed Bliss a strip of three condoms. “Just make sure you put ‘em in your purse…and use them. Don’t stand there looking embarrassed. It ain’t always about the monster, though that’s always there, but in my humble opinion, Chase looks potent. He also looks like he wouldn’t mind getting you pregnant. If you need to use them, use them. Please.”
Bliss laughed because her mind immediately went back to what he’d said about kids, that he wouldn’t mind “helping her out” with that. Tasha was right, and Bliss took the condoms. “Thank you, Tasha, but I’m sure he has his own.”
“Never trust a man when it comes to your contraception,” she said, sounding like a school nurse or some eight-grade health teacher.
Bliss didn’t want to talk about it anymore. She wasn’t stupid, and Tasha was coming off a little condescending, like she was talking to someone who was slow. “All right. Okay. I got it!”
Tasha put a hand on her arm. “He looks at you like he loves you, you know, and you look at him the same way. Sometimes when your emotions are that strong, common sense goes out the window. That’s all I’m saying, Bliss. I don’t mean to sound like I’m preaching. You and Chase have some real serious shit going on between you. You’d have to be blind not to see it.”
Bliss put on her earrings and was about to say something, but she was interrupted by the doorbell.
Tasha looked at her watch. “That’s not mine. Trevor’s never on time.” She followed Bliss to the front door like a puppy, the shells in her hair clinking, her bracelets jingling, and her heels clacking.
Bliss smiled. Her dear friend could never sneak up on anybody. She made too damned much noise. Bliss looked at her with some amusement. “What are you so excited for?”
“’Cause that dress means suit. I can’t wait to see that dude in a suit.”
Bliss laughed. “You stupid, Tash.” She opened the door, and sure enough, Chase was standing there wearing a very nice one.
He was gorgeous. He smiled at her and, oblivious to Tasha, pulled her into his arms and kissed her firmly on the mouth. “I missed you,” he said, letting her go.
Bliss smiled, speechless. Oh yeah. It’s on…tonight!
“Damn!” Tasha said from behind her. “Look at you, all tricked out and spruced up. Showin’ up here lookin’ like the black James Bond and spittin’ lines like that. You give lessons? ‘Cause Trevor could use some.”
Chase laughed. “It ain’t something you learn.”
Tasha smiled. “Unfortunately, you’re right. Just don’t go bringin’ my friend back here all knocked up.”
Oh no she didn’t! Bliss hit her in the arm. “Be quiet, Tasha! Jesus Christ!”
Chase didn’t seem upset in the least though. “Okay. I’ll try not to, but I can’t make you any promises.”
They left, and Chase drove Bliss in his very nice car to a very nice restaurant, where they enjoyed a very nice, very expensive meal. They got back in his car, and he drove to Cream and parked his car right in front of the club. Chase took her hand as they walked in. Bliss must have heard his name called out at least fifteen times, and he nodded and stopped to speak to a few people: a guy who played for the Knicks, a guy that played for the Jets, a well-known rapper, a record mogul, and an actress who seemed a little tipsy and tried to kiss him on the mouth. Bliss smiled and let it go, because Chase never let go of her and introduced her most graciously to everyone they bumped into. That woman—if she ever mattered—didn’t matter anymore. Chase didn’t just seem to be drifting aimlessly through the club; he seemed to be looking for someone in particular. He stopped at the bar, and the bartender stopped what he was doing and made his way over to him. Chase reached across the bar and clapped him on the back. “Congratulations, Jimmy! Dee told me you got a little girl now.”
The bartender was beaming. “Yeah, day before yesterday. Eight pounds even.”
Chase smiled. “She got a name yet?”
“Not yet. We’re still working on it.”
Chase reached into his jacket and took out a slim white envelope. He handed it to Jimmy. “Here you go, Jimmy. Put it to good use. If you need to take some time off, tell Dee I said it’s okay.”
“Thanks, Chase. We really appreciate it.”
“Speaking of Dee, you seen her?”
Jimmy looked over Chase’s shoulder and grinned. “Comin’ right at you, boss. Two o’clock.”
Chase turned around, and Bliss took a slightly intimidated step behind him. Dee was parting the crowd like Moses in the Red Sea, and people were falling back to make way for her beeline to Chase.
“Uh-oh. I think I might have stayed away too long,” Chase muttered under his breath.
Dee was an impressively beautiful woman, somewhere in her forties, with an equally impressive figure. Bliss straightened up and smoothed her dress down as the woman approached the bar like a tidal wave. “Well, well!” she said in a loud, boisterous voice. “If it ain’t Chase Brown! I’m a little shocked to see you standing here in your own club. I thought you’d abandoned me.” She got a little closer to him and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re wearin’ the hell outta that suit, Chase.” She turned her entire body and looked Bliss over from her head to her toes. Dee smiled at her a bit ruefully and then offered Bliss her hand. “Delia Montgomery…and the only person you could possibly be is Bliss Riley. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Nice to meet you, Dee. I’ve heard a lot about you too.”
“Don’t hold it against me. I’m not as bad as they say. I just like things my way, although his way does work sometimes. Look at you! Aren’t you just the prettiest little thing? Oh shit, I’m babbling, and I don’t know what for. Shit.” Dee never lost her smile through her whole little rant.
Chase was looking at her with his lips tucked in. “You all right, Dee?” he asked.
Dee still had hold of Bliss’s hand. She shook it again and then let it go. “Yeah, Chase. I’m great. How about you?”
&n
bsp; Bliss looked from one to the other. Okay. What is this shit?
“I’m a little shocked, Dee.”
She gave him a slightly sour smile. “It’s a small thing, Chase. Don’t worry about it. I’m good.” She touched Bliss’s arm. “I’ll see you next time, Bliss. We’ll get to know each other. Sorry about the theatrics,” she said and then walked away before they could say goodbye.
Chase thoughtfully and silently watched her retreat, then turned back to Bliss. “I could say I had no idea what that was all about, but that would be a lie. I just kind of hoped it wasn’t true.”
Bliss felt bad, but she didn’t feel sorry. All is fair in love and war, but she wasn’t insensitive. She squeezed his hand. “Let’s go, Chase.”
He took her out without a word of protest. They got in his car and took Broadway up to Riverside Drive. They rode all the way up to Chase’s place, making small talk, with his hand on her thigh. Bliss could tell Dee’s reaction bothered him, but he didn’t seem to want to talk about it, and having just met the woman, she didn’t want to bring it up.
Bliss was slightly upset that it had cast a bit of a pall on their evening, but he’d explained to her beforehand that he wanted to stop by because he had something for Jimmy. Also, he’d wanted her to meet Dee, an important fixture in his life. Bliss looked over at him. He wasn’t talking, and he looked like he was lost in thought. Chase had a tendency to brood, she’d noticed. She placed her hand over the one he had on her thigh and laced her fingers with his. “Don’t be upset, Chase.”
“I’m not. I’m really just a little shocked, like I said. I didn’t really think she was feelin’ me like that. I thought it was a game we always played. Okay, okay…someplace in the back of my mind, maybe I thought she was a lot more serious than I was, but still.”
Bliss rubbed the back of his hand. “Let it go, Chase. It’ll work itself out.”
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