Chapter Four ~ Blind Spot
Red shirt- tight, little skirt. Mike licked his lips. Abby was rocking her new outfit. Her brown eyes scanned for him through the sea of people in the crowded bar. She found Mike leaning on a pool table with the biggest grin on his face. It reminded her of the night they met. Abby sauntered over to him from the doorway. "You look amazing," he greeted, opening his arms for her. She walked into the embrace.
"Thank you," Abby replied, hugging him back. She pulled back and kissed his lips. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting," Abby said.
Mike shook his head, "Not at all and even if you had, it would have been well worth it."
"There's more," Abby teased. She tucked in close. Her lips hovered oh so devilishly close to his ear. "For your eyes only," Abby whispered. Mike swallowed.
Their interaction was being watched by one of Bello's soldiers sitting at a table. "Mike's met someone," he reported to his boss who was on the other end of the connection.
"Who?" Bello demanded.
"A girl. She's a brunette- it looks like he is on a date," the man answered.
"Get me a picture of her," Bello directed.
"Just a moment," the soldier replied. He set his phone edge down on the table top. He angled to get as clear a shot of Abby as discreetly as possible. Once he got one he immediately send it on.
"How is that?" the soldier asked.
Bello scrutinized the picture. Sweet and innocent looking type girl he thought. Pretty if you were into that sort of thing. "Good work, Reggie," Bello said.
"Anything else I should do?" Reggie asked.
"Just keep me updated," Bello instructed.
"As you wish," Reggie hung up the phone and tried to blend in. He had no clue what the boss wanted him to watch Mike for, but he would do exactly what he was told. If you valued your life you did not disappoint Jeremiah Bello.
Mike racked up the balls while Abby chalked up the cue sticks. Mike came up and got his cue stick. "Ladies first, it's your break," Mike said.
"Thank you," she handed him his cue. Mike stepped back. Abby set the cue ball then leaned over to line up her shot. His eyes drifted down. He bit his lip to sniffle an appreciative sound. Mike certainly was enjoying the view of Abby's backside that her current position offered. Abby chuckled knowingly, but made her shot smoothly.
"Nice, you've done this before," Mike smirked.
"Maybe once or twice," Abby turned back to him and sat the end of the cue stick on the floor, "Your turn."
"I'll take it easy on you," he promised.
"Don't hold back on my account," Abby flipped her hair.
"Solids," he called. Mike studied the table before choosing a ball. He called the number and pocket. Mike lined up the shot and hit the ball into the pocket effortlessly.
"Looks like I'm in trouble," Abby quipped.
"You know if one of us had a pool table at home we could have made this a way funnier game," he winked.
"Strip pool?!" Abby raised an eyebrow. She needed to work on getting a pool table. Too bad one wouldn't fit in her current rental. "Naughty boy," Abby smirked.
They went back and forth in this bantery way until they were down to the eight ball. It was still Abby's turn. If she sank this ball she'd win. Mike sat his pool cue aside. He came up behind Abby. How was she supposed to concentrate with Mike skin tight to her? Mike tilted his head. He sniffed her hair. Abby closed her eyes and made her shot and sunk the ball.
"Wohoo!" Abby's hands shot up in celebration. She pivoted to face her boyfriend. Mike grabbed Abby by her waist and pulled her close. Those red lips had teased him long enough. He pressed Abby up against the pool table and kissed her hard.
The man Bello had sent to report on Mike snapped a picture of the couple. Reggie was happy for some movement finally. It was getting old watching another guy flirt with a woman and check out her butt at every given opportunity.
Mike & Abby went to put their pool cues away. "Is the winner hungry?" he offered.
"Yeah, actually," she said, "Where are we going?"
"La Cofase," Mike purposely butchered the pronunciation.
"La Covas?" Abby blinked. He nodded. "You're kidding me," she smiled.
"I got us reservations," Mike confirmed.
"Courtney has been dying to get in there for the last month- she's going to be so jealous," Abby replied.
"I want to take you somewhere nice," Mike replied.
"Ok, do I have time to freshen up?" Abby asked.
"If you want too," he answered, "Have I told you how hot you are?"
"Not in the last two minutes," she chuckled. Abby gave him a light peck on the lips. "I won't be a minute," she drew away and left for the restroom.
It was then Mike spotted Reggie. He frowned at the soldier, but approached. Mike had to take care of this before Abby came out of the ladies room.
"Hello, Reggie," Mike greeted, "Did Bello send you?" It's the only thing that made sense. After what happened to Eddie for questioning Mike none of the other guys would dare follow him unless they were under orders. This was all the way on the other side of the city and it was highly unlikely one of the guys would just randomly appear here. Reggie shifted uneasy now that he had been made. He didn't reply. "Give me your phone," Mike held out his hand. Mike check it. Bello was the last person contacted through the phone. Mike called Bello back and put the phone to his ear and waited for the kingpin to answer. "I thought we were past this, Bello," Mike said.
"Good evening, Michael," Bello replied.
"Tell your guy to back off," Mike demanded.
"Why should I?" Bello defied the command. He did not take orders from anyone.
"I don't appreciate being followed," Mike growled.
"I don't appreciate being questioned," Bello threw back.
"Come on," Mike groaned, "I'm trying to get laid, ok?" Truthfully he was, but he was also there to romance Abby and relax. This was a convenient excuse that Bello would understand. "Which isn't going to happen if Reggie here spooks the girl," Mike added.
"Hand the phone over to Reggie," Bello directed. Mike did so. "You've done enough for now- go to your car and wait for further instructions," Bello ordered.
"Yes, Sir," Reggie replied. He got up and put his phone away. Mike watched Reggie as he marched out. Abby walked up to his side. She caught Mike glaring at the retreating man. "Hey," Abby put an arm around Mike.
"Ready?" Mike took her hand.
"You bet," she replied.
He saw Reggie sitting in a truck as they made their way to his jeep. Mike unlocked the vehicle via remote. Mike helped her up into the jeep. She settled while he got into the driver's side. He shot one last warning glare Reggie's way before starting the engine and taking off.
"What was up with that guy?" Abby inquired.
"The guy I'm investigating sent him to spy on me," Mike answered, "I'm sorry, I don't know how he managed to follow me to the bar."
"Ok," she let out a breath, "What do we do now?"
He relaxed a little. Abby was taking this pretty calmly. "Nothing unless he follows us," Mike replied.
"If he does?" she asked.
"I'll ditch him if I can," Mike replied. Abby squeezed Mike's knee. She trusted him. He knew what he was doing. "He already reported we're on a date- for now we'll just go the restaurant as planned," Mike added, "Is that ok?"
"Yes," Abby nodded, relieved he didn't want to call the evening off. She needed more time with her boyfriend.