Blueprint for Love

by Chanta Jefferson Rand

  The man fought back, swinging wildly, but it was no use. He punches didn’t even land. Vic was too quick, too seasoned. It was like sending an insect to crush an elephant. The man was no match for him. Vic cracked the man’s jaw, and kept punching until the man’s head rocked back and forth like a bobble head. Somewhere in the distance, he heard Ronnie scream, but he kept punching. Vic took pleasure in splitting the top of the man’s nose. And even more pleasure in watching the crimson liquid that flowed freely.

  “Vic! Stop!” Ronnie yelled.

  It served this guy right for thinking he could steal from anyone.

  “Viiiicccc!” Ronnie drew his name out in a half scream. “Let him go! Please, stop!”

  Vic let up, standing menacingly over the hunched and bloodied man.

  The guy held his hands up, shielding himself from Vic’s blows.

  Ronnie tugged on Vic’s sleeve. “Vic, that’s enough.”

  He wheeled around to face her. “Are you okay?” he demanded.

  “Yes. Just shaken up.”

  Up close, Vic could see the strain on her face. Her full lips were drawn tight. Her eyes fearful. “Ronnie, you could have given that thug the purse. It’s just money.”

  “Oh really?” she accused. “I couldn’t tell by the way you were fighting him.”

  “What?”

  “Is this how you solve your problems? With violence? It seems to be a trend with you.”

  He couldn’t believe she had the nerve to throw that in his face. “Would you rather I’d let him attack you?”

  “You didn’t answer my question, Vic.”

  “And you didn’t answer mine, Ronnie!”

  Vic passed a hand through his hair. “I don’t believe this. I try to protect you and you hold it against me.” He shook his head. “You know what? Forget it.”

  He returned his attention back to Ronnie’s attacker, but the man was gone! He must have run off into the dark while Vic and Ronnie were arguing.

  “Great,” Vic said dryly. “He’s gone.” He let out a long breath. “C’mon, I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “No. I don’t need you to walk me anywhere.”

  “Don’t be stupid. It’s not safe out here.”

  “Oh, so now, I’m stupid?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here anyway? Didn’t you quit?”

  He didn’t appreciate the way she was dismissing him. “I was coming to get my final paycheck.”

  Her mouth formed a tiny ‘o’. Then, she snapped it shut. “You should have called first.”

  “I did. Olivia told me to stop by any time.”

  “Obviously, you came too late.”

  “Well, if I’d known I’d run into you with this accusatory attitude, I would have just told her to mail it to me.”

  “Maybe that would have been for the best,” she shot back.

  Truthfully, he’d waited until after hours, hoping he’d run into Ronnie. He knew she had a habit of working late. He’d missed her face. Her smile. Apparently, she didn’t feel the same. Nothing had changed since last week. She still regarded him with suspicion.

  He shook his head. “Just get in your car, Ronnie.”

  “Excuse me? You don’t tell me what to do.”

  “Still as ornery as the day I met you.”

  She glared at him. “You’ll find I can be quite soft when treated with kindness.”

  He smirked. “I know. I’ve felt your softness beneath me.”

  He’d intended for his remark to remind her of how good they were together, but he could tell by the look on her face, he’d hit a nerve.

  “Cherish the memory,” she said. “There won’t be any repeat performances.”

  Ouch!

  Why was she so mad?

  Vic watched as Ronnie brushed past him and walked several feet to her car. He waited to make sure she made it safely. As she slipped behind the wheel and drove from the parking lot, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Ronnie Jones didn’t make empty promises. Vic realized then, he would probably never see her again.

  FOURTEEN

  “You told me all I had to do was pretend to steal her purse.”

  Allen listened to his pathetic brother who sat on a hospital bed in the Emergency Room, whining like a two-year old. It had taken two hours for doctors to see Kent. He’d given some flimsy excuse about being jumped by three teenagers. Allen stood across from him and tried not to laugh at Kent’s bandaged face. The idiot had a broken nose and three sprained ribs. But it was no laughing matter. Kent had screwed up big time.

  “I asked you to do one thing,” Allen scolded. “And you couldn’t even do that.”

  “How was I supposed to know some asshole would be there to defend her? Where were you?”

  “I was sitting in the car across the street.”

  “Why didn’t you jump in? The plan was for you to—”

  “I know what the plan was!”

  Allen didn’t need to be reminded. He’d created the plan, just like he did all the thinking for both of them. Kent was supposed to act like he was mugging Ronnie. She’d cry out for help and Allen would come to her rescue. Kent would run off, and Ronnie would be so grateful, she’d invite Allen back to her house. He would console her and then she would see him through new eyes. He would be her protector. Her hero.

  That was the plan.

  Until Vic showed up.

  “I wasn’t supposed to get my goddamn nose broken,” Kent complained. “How am I supposed to work with all these injuries?”

  “Lack of work never stopped you before.”

  “Your idea was dumb anyway.”

  Allen shook his head. “You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken shit.”

  Kent frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means I picked the wrong moron to carry out my orders.”

  “You’re the moron,” Kent snapped. “Why didn’t you help me when I was getting my ass kicked?”

  “Did you want me to blow my cover? There was no need for me to jump in. Prince Charming had already made an entrance.”

  “Who was that guy, anyway?”

  Allen smirked. “The competition.”

  “That was Vic Romano?”

  “Yeah.”

  Kent’s eyes bulged. “Are you crazy? Bro, you don’t stand a chance!”

  “Shut up.” Allen was getting more irritated with his brother by the minute.

  “Seriously, this is out of control now. You need to back off this bitch.”

  “Watch your mouth.” Allen took a threatening step toward Kent. “Veronica is not a bitch.”

  “Okay, okay. You’re going through all this for some broad who hasn’t shown the slightest interest in you. Not to mention, her boyfriend is a killing machine.”

  Not for the first time tonight, Allen seethed. “Vic is not her boyfriend,” he said through clenched teeth.

  The debate was laid to rest when a male nurse walked into the room. The man gave Kent a prescription for pain medication and told him to rest for a few days. After the nurse left, Kent smiled like a Cheshire cat. “Hydrocodone. The good shit.”

  Allen shook his head. He knew Kent would be no more good to him, high on booze and prescription drugs. No matter. Even if this hadn’t happened, Kent was becoming more of a liability to him. Sometimes, when you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself.

  Allen glanced at his watch. “Let’s go.”

  “Cool,” Kent answered, wincing as he slid off the bed. “We can hit the pharmacy before it closes.”

  “No. I’m dropping you back home. You can get your own drugs.”

  Kent scowled. “That ain’t right, man. You know I’m all busted up.”

  “I don’t have time to play nursemaid to you, big brother. I have to pay Ronnie a visit.”

  # # #

  It was well after nine p.m. when Allen showed up on Ronnie’s doorstep. As she peered thr
ough the peephole, her first inclination had been to ignore him, but then she thought the better of it. Most of the lights were blazing in her house and her car was parked out front. He knew she was home.

  “Allen, what a surprise.” And it was. Good thing she hadn’t changed into her PJs yet. She stood in her doorway, barefoot, but still dressed in the skirt and blouse she’d worn to work.

  Allen smiled. “I hope I’m not intruding, I wanted to check on you.”

  “On me? Why?”

  “I have a sixth sense about things. Something told me you could use a friend right now.”

  She scoffed. “I’ve got plenty of friends. What I need is an Algebra tutor for my son. Do you know any?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  A thunderclap sounded, startling her. She didn’t realize rain was in the forecast.

  “Do you mind if I come in?” Allen asked.

  She did, but figured she couldn’t leave him standing on her porch. “Sure. I have a few minutes. Then, I’ll need to go up and check on Jovan.”

  “Oh, right. Make sure he’s all tucked in?”

  “Hardly. He’s a pre-teen. The thought of being tucked in is probably worse than getting a case of acne the day before picture day. I just need to make sure he’s doing his homework and he’s not chatting it up on social media.”

  Allen chuckled as Ronnie shut the door behind him. “Nice house. You changed the décor since the last time I was here.”

  She searched her memory banks, trying to recall when Allen had been in her home. Then, she thought back to last year’s company Christmas party for Three Sisters. She’d held it at her home. Allen had come.

  “Have a seat,” she said. “Care for something to drink?”

  “No thanks.”

  Something about his arrival was suspicious to Ronnie. Quatara’s warning still burned in the back of her mind. In dress slacks, loafers, and a button down, Allen seemed so harmless. Ronnie sat across from him on the sofa in her living room. For a fleeting moment, images of her and Vic making love on this couch flashed through her conscious. She’d lain shamefully spread-eagle beneath him as he filled her with his massive length, pumping over and over into her. She warmed between her legs recalling how he’d brought her to the brink of pleasure multiple times.

  Ronnie shook her head to clear away the nasty thoughts. It was only last week, but it seemed so long ago. She was here with Allen now.

  She turned to him. “So, Allen, why are you really here?”

  He served her that innocent smile again. “Like I said, I’m worried about you. We left on bad terms last week.”

  “I never said we were on bad terms.”

  He shrugged. “You haven’t returned my calls.”

  She let out a long breath. “I just needed some space from everyone. Having you and Toye there was a bit overwhelming.”

  “And Vic too. I’m sure learning what he did five years ago was a blow to you.”

  So, that’s what this is all about? He’s still trippin’ on Vic!

  “I wanted you to know I had the best of intentions,” Allen continued.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes.” He moved to sit beside her on the couch. She smelled his faint musk-scented cologne. “I don’t want you to doubt me, Ronnie.”

  “If you tell me the truth, I won’t have reason to doubt you.”

  His eyes locked with hers. He pulled her hands from her lap and clasped them in his. “The truth? The truth is I’m crazy about you.”

  Ronnie tried to slide her hands from his grasp, but Allen held tight. “Uh, I don’t know what to say.” It was true. She didn’t.

  “You had to have seen the signs,” Allen implored. “I try to be where you are. I call you constantly. I’m always available for you. I try to save you from people like Vic Romano.” He squeezed her hands, sending a jolt of apprehension through her.

  “Look, Allen…”

  “Hear me out,” he interrupted. “I’ve remained silent long enough. I’m putting it all on the table. I’m being vulnerable, something I don’t do with everyone. I can’t stop thinking about you, Veronica. We’re kindred spirits. Both business-minded. Both passionate about our work. I know we could transfer that passion to each other.”

  He was definitely starting to creep her out now.

  “You have a tough exterior,” he continued. “But I know deep inside, you need companionship. I’m ready to be everything you need.” He stroked her arm from palm to elbow. “Let me take care of you. I promise you won’t regret it.”

  Ronnie’s mouth dropped open, and when Allen leaned in to kiss her, she snapped it shut.

  She jumped up from the couch, putting as much distance between them as possible. “I’ve never given you the slightest indication that I’m interested in a relationship with you, Allen.”

  The crestfallen look on Allen’s face told her he was totally delusional. “Are you telling me you don’t share my affection?”

  She nodded vehemently. “Yes, Allen. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  That should have been the end of it. He should have slapped some sense into himself and left with his head held high, but he didn’t.

  “What can I do to change your mind?” he replied. “Name it. I’ll gladly comply.”

  “Nothing. In fact, it’s getting late. You’d better leave.” She headed toward the door and opened it.

  He trailed after her. “How can you be so cold, Ronnie? I pour my heart out to you and you have no regard for my feelings?”

  “I told you, I don’t feel the same about you, Allen. You’re a nice guy, and I’m sure you’ll make some woman a great husband.”

  “But not you.”

  He stood on the threshold of the open doorway. A light rain fell outside, blurring the scenery. Ronnie didn’t like the spooky look in his eyes. He was really making her scared.

  “I’m sorry,” was all she could say.

  “I thought you were different,” he spat. “But I see you’re just like all the other women. You don’t want a man to treat you right. You want a criminal. Like Vic.”

  “Jeez! What is your obsession with him?”

  He pointed his index finger at her. “You two deserve each other.”

  Ronnie’s heart palpitated as she looked at the man-turned-monster. “Out!” she ordered.

  Allen’s dark eyes flashed as he left a parting remark. “Be careful of the company you keep, Veronica. Remember, if you hang out with cutthroats, you’re liable to get your throat cut.”

  Ronnie slammed the door in his face. The nerve of him!

  She triple checked the locks before setting the alarm.

  She was so angry, she was shaking. Allen had crossed the line tonight. How dare he warn her about Vic? She felt safer with Vic than Allen any day. If she wanted any man to take care of her, it would be Vic—not Allen’s psycho ass! Vic wasn’t dangerous. He’d rescued her on more than one occasion, including tonight. When he punched that mugger, she’d felt a bag of mixed emotions. She was relieved to see him. Yet, frightened by his violent nature. She’d never seen that side of Vic. She didn’t know how to react, so she’d said all the wrong things. Now, she realized he was only trying to protect her the best way he knew how.

  She grabbed her cell phone, poised to dial Vic’s number. She needed to hear his reassuring voice. Then, she paused. Vic had come to her aid. And she’d berated him for his aggression. He probably would not want to hear from her again. He probably wouldn’t care that she was sorry for acting so stupid.

  Dejected, she climbed the stairs to check on Jovan. He was sprawled across his bed with his ear buds in. His eyes were glued to the screen of his cell phone. She sat on the edge of his bed.

  He looked up and flashed her a warm smile. She could always depend on her son to cheer her up. He pressed pause. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hey, kiddo. What’s up?”

  “I’m watching a baseball tutorial on YouTube. When you let Vic teach me a few things, I’ll be rea
dy.”

  Ronnie’s pulse quickened. She didn’t have the heart to tell him Vic wasn’t speaking to her. Jovan would ask questions she wasn’t ready to answer. He would want to know why she was mad at Vic. The worst part was Ronnie didn’t even have a good answer for her son. She wasn’t sure why she was mad anymore. All she knew was she missed Vic more than ever. She had to make things right somehow. She made up her mind. She would call him first thing in the morning and tell him how she felt.

  FIFTEEN

  Another week dragged by, and Ronnie still hadn’t heard from Vic. Her repeated calls to him went unanswered. She knew he was getting the messages she’d left on his voicemail, but for some reason, he wasn’t returning her calls. She didn’t blame him.

  If I were him, I wouldn’t want to talk to me, either.

  She’d abandoned him when he needed her most. And now, he’d quit. He’d rather work somewhere else than deal with her and the drama she brought along. After Allen’s visit last week, she saw it more clearly than ever. He was right. She did want Vic. And she wasn’t ashamed to admit it. Now, she just had to tell Vic. And hope he accepted her apology.

  She turned the corner into his neighborhood. The last time she saw Vic at his apartment, he’d been working outside, his bronzed torso glistening with sweat beneath the sun. Her stomach fluttered at the memory. She’d wanted so badly for him to kiss her that day. Now that she’d had a taste of his lips, she had cravings all the time. Maybe that was why she’d never pressed him about his criminal record. She didn’t want to know. But he’d avoided her for long enough. Today, he was going to talk to her whether he wanted to or not.

  She slowed down as she neared Vic’s apartment complex. The gate was open, so she drove through and headed straight for his unit. As her eyes flitted over the beige and black doors, hunting for his apartment number, her heart dropped to her stomach.