CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TORI

THE AFTERMATH

B rock’s grip on my arm was like a vise, pulling me tightly against his chest. In one swift motion, he flung us both off the porch and onto the dewy grass below.

A loud “oof” escaped my lips as my body collided with the hard soil. The ground shook beneath us and before I even had a chance to steady myself, the house exploded into a cacophony of chaos. Splinters of wood and shards of metal flew through the air, whizzing dangerously close to us.

The force of the explosion sent our bodies hurtling towards the nearby chain-link fence, where we were thrown against it with such impact that I could feel every individual link pressing into my back.

Through the deafening ringing in my ears, I could hear Brock yelling something at the top of his lungs. But all I could focus on was Ritchie. My heart clenched in pain at the thought of never seeing him again. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I struggled against Brock’s weight, pinning me down.

“I’m going to fucking kill her,” I gritted out in anger.

“Ritchie!” I shouted.

My whole body trembled uncontrollably, as if I had been plunged into icy Lake Michigan in the dead of winter. Memories of our perfect night together flooded my mind, making the pain in my heart even more unbearable. All that would be left now were memories of what we once had.

Brock met my gaze. “Are you all right?” he yelled.

His blue eyes were wild. He looked like he was ready to kill any and everyone.

I peered at my grandmother’s house that held so many memories. Dark smoke curls rose from the ashes. And the acrid scent of burning wood and plastic filled my nostrils.

The commotion of my neighbors outside the fence snapped me out of my daze for a moment, but my mind quickly returned to Ritchie.

My love, my soulmate, gone in an instant. I wanted to dig through the charred debris and find him, hold his lifeless body in my arms.

My thoughts were interrupted by Brock, my bodyguard, barking orders at the neighbors to stay back. The sound of firetrucks approaching made this all so real. The thought of curling into myself on the lawn, wishing for death, was what I wished I could do.

“Brock, we need to find his body before the fireman get here. I don’t want anyone to touch him but us,” I pleaded with fresh tears in my eyes.

“Since I can’t leave you alone and you’ll probably try to run into the burning house, I’ll take you. We’ll go through the back of the house. Actually, you’ll wait outside. I’ll enter the house.”

“Ok,” I sniffled.

All I could do was sob as I listened to the barks of my surviving dogs in the chaos.

Suddenly, a hulking figure emerged from the thick clouds of smoke, holding onto my dogs’ leashes with one massive hand. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized who it was.

“Oh my God,” I gasped as I ran towards him as fast as my legs would carry me. Our bodies collided with a force that almost knocked us both over. Tears streamed down my face as I covered his soot-covered face with kisses, unable to believe that he was alive and standing in front of me.

“Ritchie, baby, you’re alive,” I cried out in disbelief and relief at once.

I heard barking. My dogs must’ve survived the blast.

He curled a free arm around my waist. The dogs sniffed us and whined.

“I thought I lost you,” I muttered.

His brows pinched together. “I remember stepping out the back door with the dogs’ leashes. Figured I’d get them ready first, then I’d search the house. The explosion tossed me out of the house. My body slammed against the grass. When I came to, the dogs were licking my face. Guess they remembered me from the few times I came over and fed them.

My hand caressed his jaw. “You came over and fed my dogs?” I asked in disbelief.

“Our dogs,” he corrected.

I smiled up at him and pressed my lips against his.

“I only knew you were ok because I faintly heard you call my name,” he said against my lips.

“Brock stopped me from going into the house to warn you. He grabbed me and jumped off the porch. He saved my life,” I exclaimed.

Ritchie stretched out his hand to my temporary bodyguard. “Thanks, Brock, for protecting Tori.”

“You’re welcome.” He smirked.

Two paramedics approached us. “Hello, we understand the three of you were involved in the explosion. It’s important that we get each of you checked out for injuries,” the brown-skinned woman with the cutest raven pixie cut said.

Soon I’d have to inform Ritchie about the person who attempted to end my life, or perhaps our lives. Were we both targets, or was I the main focus and anyone else at my house just collateral damage in this violent attack?

Once the police officer and fire chief had finished questioning us, we were allowed to leave. During the interrogation, I claimed to have no knowledge of who had attempted to kill me.

My hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel as I pulled away from the curb, with Brock following closely behind.

Richie was in too bad of a condition to drive; the paramedics had diagnosed him with a concussion. They wanted to take him to the hospital, but he refused, promising that he would go later in the day.

“Do you think one of Daryl’s men tried to kill you?” Ritchie asked.

Whimpers from Reaper and Slasher echoed throughout the SUV. Despite their large size, Brock and Ritchie had managed to fit both dogs in spacious kennels in the trunk by folding down the seats. My fire safe was also tucked away back there, keeping my important documents and precious photos protected.

I couldn’t avoid glancing at Ritchie, even though I dreaded the question that would come next. His brown hair was disheveled, sticking up in all directions. But at least his face was now clean, no longer covered in soot. The paramedics had taken care of that. He had a few scrapes on his handsome face, but they were nothing that couldn’t be healed with some tender love and care from me.

I couldn’t control the flinch that overtook me as pain shot through my body.

“Tori, you said you were alright, but it doesn’t seem like it. Should I drive?” Ritchie asked.

“No, I can handle it,” I replied.

Ritchie asked every five minutes if I was all right. My head, chest, and back throbbed with agony, but I continued to insist that I was fine. He could see right through my facade, though.

Honestly, I was just so happy he was alive. I figured I’d tell him the truth about how I was feeling later. After a nap I’d be good as new. My focus was on him. “I’ll call your uncle. He’ll get you back to yourself in no time,” I confirmed.

My eyes were glued to the road.

I could feel his beautiful gray eyes linger on my side profile.

“Tori, you’re not ok,” he growled.

“We’ll be at the warehouse soon, Ritchie. We can freshen up and relax,” I reassured.

“Tori, baby, you’re rambling. Which means you’re stalling.”

Maybe I was. We had just finished one war. Couldn’t we catch a break?

“Ritchie, we can discuss the explosion once you promise to let your uncle examine you.”

He glanced at his phone and muttered a curse. “Fuck.”

Was it his boss calling?

He quickly sent a text. “Ok, Arlis will meet with me later today. Now, who tried to kill you?”

I blew out a breath. “There was a box under a stack of mail. The message on the box read: Tori, this package is just for you. I’m delivering a little bang.

From: You know who.

“She was back and ready to kill,” I stated.

Silence.

“Tori, the name,” he warned.

“Tyra,” I answered.

Ritchie shook his head in my periphery.

“Her cousin lives across the street from me. I’m not sure how Tyra knew I’d come home today.”

“Could she be working with someone in Daryl’s camp?” he asked.

“Yes, she has to be. Probably had corner boys watching out for me. I’ll deal with her soon. We have to get soldiers in place once my father arrives Monday.”

“Good,” he sighed.

“Baby, your best friend Bianca’s getting married tomorrow.”

“What?” My lips parted and my eyes widened.

I hadn’t received a text message or call from Bianca.

“Did Catch tell you this?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“What time? Where?” I asked.

“Las Vegas.”

Silence again.

“Oh,” I whispered.

She chose to get married in Vegas? It was her life. She deserved to get married wherever she wanted.

“I’ll FaceTime her,” I stated.

“You think that’s all you’ll do? It’s not, Tori,” he bit out.

“Well, what else am I supposed to do? It’s not like I’ve willingly left the state of Illinois. I was kidnapped. The rescue trip home was my first time on a plane. I was unconscious for most of the flight.”

“Just like you plan to put forth effort to come to your new home in Jersey, you need to do the same for your best friend,” he said.

“Ritchie, but I don’t start therapy till next week.”

I was using the therapy as a crutch. And I hadn’t even faced my demons with the psychiatrist yet.

His hand slid over my thigh in a soothing motion. His touch made everything better.

“I’ll get you through the trip,” Ritchie confirmed.

My fingers curled around the steering wheel tighter as I felt the anxiety build in my chest.

“Once we board the jet, I’ll give you a sedative.” His deep voice held a sense of calm to it. Like he was walking through a minefield trying to avoid explosives.

“But you just promised to see Arlis,” I reminded him.

“My uncle will join us on the flight,” he assured.

I pressed the button on the gadget attached to the sun visor. The gate to the warehouse slid open.

Black spots appeared in my line of sight as I parked the SUV in front of the back entrance. Throwing the vehicle in park, I climbed out and darted toward the door. I felt Ritchie’s big, strong hands curl around my body, scooping me into his chest. His soft lips pressed against my forehead.

“I got you, baby.” His deep voice rumbled through my body, putting me at ease.

Ritchie barked orders to Brock before unlocking the door and walking inside.

“Tori, you’ll melt down right in front of me.”

I burrowed into my man’s chest, never wanting to let him go. Who cared if we both smelled like smoke.

Ritchie forcefully closed the door to our bedroom and gently laid me down on the bed. My fingers fumbled with his belt, desperate to have him inside of me. He was becoming my addiction, and I knew it couldn’t end well.

His lips crashed into mine as he quickly removed my shoes, jeans, and panties. With one swift motion, he pushed up my sweatshirt and bra, eagerly taking in my hardened nipple.

My hand instinctively reached for his throbbing cock as a moan escaped my lips. “Ritchie, I can make it through this trip as long as I have you.”

“I’ll be right there with you, baby,” he promised, latching onto my nipple with his teeth while thrusting deeply into my wet pussy.

My body arched off the bed with each powerful thrust.

The pleasure mixed with the pain from the explosion earlier today, a constant reminder of how close we came to death.

“Ritchie,” I moaned, pulling his face towards mine and passionately kissing him.

“We smell like smoke and cologne and perfume,” I chuckled.

“But underneath it all, we still smell like us. One unit,” he grinned.

I smiled back at him, kissing his lips again as he continued to fuck me with wild abandon.

Suddenly, Ritchie lifted my body while still inside of me and turned us so that we were sitting on the bed. He held me tightly in his lap.

“Tori, baby, fuck me like you did this morning. Like you own this dick.”

Ritchie leaned back on the mattress, looking up at me.

I inched backward, meeting his gaze. “I do own this dick. Nobody else can have what belongs to me.”

“They sure as hell can’t,” he growled, gripping my ass tightly.

“Not your neighbor or any other women,” I bit out.

“They don’t matter, Tori.”

I leaned forward, continuing to ride him hard. “They’ll find out soon enough I’m not the one to fuck with.”

Ritchie tangled his fingers in my blonde hair, thrusting into me with unbridled passion.

My body convulsed against his as I reached climax, and I could feel him filling me with his own release. Thank goodness for birth control; we were definitely not ready to be parents yet. But surprisingly, the thought didn’t scare me as much as it used to.

“Baby, we’re here,” Ritchie whispered in my ear.

“Where?” I mumbled in a groggy state.

“Vegas,” he replied.

My eyes popped opened, and I peered out the window, my eyes drawn to the glittering casinos of the Vegas strip in the bright sunlight as the plane began its descent.

My heart leapt in my chest.

His hand squeezed mine. “We’ll order food and eat in the suite. Since Arlis has to continue to monitor me. Later we’ll stroll the strip.”

Arlis met us at a private airstrip in Chicago. After we boarded the jet, he gave me a thorough examination before promising to do the same for Ritchie while I took a nap. He reassured me that he’d examine me later that evening once we were settled in our hotel suite in Vegas.

I met Ritchie’s gaze. “We probably weren’t supposed to have sex,” I muttered.

“That’s true. After all I was thrown out of an exploding house,” he chuckled.

“But I couldn’t resist my drop-dead gorgeous woman. And I damn sure won’t be able to resist her later tonight.” Ritchie winked.

I smiled. “I’ll sleep like a baby.”

The wheels hit the runway smoothly.

“You certainly will, baby,” he assured.

We were driven to the Bellagio hotel in luxury, which was turning into the only way my rich boyfriend did anything. I relaxed and enjoyed the smooth ride in the backseat of the luxurious Maybach. As we stepped out of the car, I couldn’t take my eyes off the stunning beauty of the hotel. Enthralled, we made our way through the lobby and ordered a meal at one of the exclusive restaurants. My boyfriend held me close as we rode up to one of the penthouse suites. He was working tirelessly to keep my panic attacks under control.

As the elevator doors opened, we sauntered inside.

“Ritchie, this suite is absolutely gorgeous,” I gushed, as I took in all the vibrant colors that brought a sense of peace to my soul.

You can’t stay in the room, Tori. You have to step outside and walk amongst the crowd of people.

I felt a twinge of anxiety at the thought, but Ritchie’s hands on my arms reassured me. “Just imagine walking through the busy streets of Chicago,” he said soothingly. “It’ll be fine.”

He could always read my mind and help push down my insecurities.

I took a deep breath and nodded my head. “Ok.”

And with his lips pressed against my temple, he whispered, “Let go of all your negative thoughts. You deserve to go anywhere in this world, Tori.”

When I awoke from another nap, I noticed a rack of clothes. My lips parted as I bounced over to the colorful dresses, shorts, shirts, blouses, and gorgeous stilettos. My fingers brushed the expensive material. I heard the water running in the bathroom. Ritchie must’ve been taking a shower.

The negative thoughts were trying to creep in. You’ll never amount to nothing. Your mother’s a strung-out crack head. And that pretty face of yours should best be seen from a position on your knees. My mother’s boyfriend’s demonic chuckles filled my head.

Strong arms enveloped me from behind, pulling me close against a firm chest. “I’ve got you, Tori,” Ritchie’s deep voice rumbled in my ear.

Feeling embarrassed and apologetic, I mumbled my apology to him.

But he firmly held my face in his rough, callused hands and commanded, “Open your eyes and look at me.”

Reluctantly, I obeyed and took in our position on the bed. His gray eyes revealed a stormy gentleness reserved just for me.

“Don’t apologize. Just pick a pretty dress so we can go meet our friends,” he said with a soft smile.

My hand brushed along his still-wet chest before I stood up and looked through my dresses.

“Was it a coincidence that you found me like that?” I asked, remembering my recent panic attack.

Ritchie loomed over me from behind. “No, baby, I installed cameras.”

There was a moment of silence before embarrassment flooded over me. The man couldn’t even take a shower without having to keep an eye on his girlfriend.

Swallow it down, Tori.

This trip wasn’t about me and my struggles. It was about celebrating my best friend’s wedding. Ritchie’s gentle kisses on the back of my neck made my heart flutter. He whispered, “I love you, Tori, with all of my being.”

At that moment, I realized what true love felt like. I had never experienced it before. But with time and proper support, I knew I could heal from my own issues and become whole again.

I chose a deep green mini dress to accentuate my curves.

“Later, I’ll tear this dress apart with my teeth,” Ritchie growled seductively in my ear.

“I can hardly wait,” I moaned in response.

Ritchie and I entered a diner with retro vibes about thirty minutes later.

I spotted the girls hugging at the diner counter.

I took a deep breath. They had no idea I was coming. It would be a total surprise that I left Chicago.

Ritchie squeezed my hand as we approached our group. We were more like family than friends now.

Catch met Ritchie’s gaze and spoke first, “You made it.”

Our friends turned and looked at us. Bianca’s tear-stained, shocked face caught my attention.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

She pulled me into her embrace and squeezed. “You’re alive. You’re alive.”

Honestly, I had no idea what they knew about the explosion. I thought it was just supposed to be a surprise that I was coming to Vegas.

I pulled back as a smile tugged at my lips. “Yes, luckily we’re alive.”

“Bet you can’t guess who tried to kill me?” I shrugged.

The girls sighed.

“She’s back, huh?” Simone asked.

“Yup, Tyra’s back,” I replied.