Written by THE BLAKK DAHLIA
from the Heartbreak Diaries Book Series
This is a work of fiction, although experiences are based on some true events of the author. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental.
Cover Copyright © 2018 by E. Alexcina Brown
Cover design by Fearless Vision Marketing
WRONG VENGEANCE
the Heartbreak Diaries Book Series.
November 25, 2018.
Copyright © 2018 The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown).
ISBN: 9781790320561
Written by The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown).
Published by The Blakk Dahlia 2018.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
The Dedication
CHAPTER 1: THE LOITERING BACHELOR
CHAPTER 2: A RARE BREED INDEED!
CHAPTER 3: THE TEST BEGINS
CHAPTER 4: JUST A LITTLE ATTENTION
CHAPTER 5: RIGHT BY HIS SIDE
CHAPTER 6: BATTLE ROYALE
CHAPTER 7: NEW BEGINNINGS, RETURNING HABITS
CHAPTER 8: A LOW BLOW
CHAPTER 9: CAN’T FIX BROKEN GLASS
THE DIARY
CHAPTER 10: HEART DETOX
Further Reading: Rushing to Distraction
Also By The Blakk Dahlia
About the Author
The Dedication
Dedicating this book to those feeling trapped in the past. Understand that you’re loved, you deserve more, and you are enough. Do not allow a horrible past to continue to sting. Seek the healing and guidance needed to welcome new horizons destined for you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Wrong Vengeance
Written by THE BLAKK DAHLIA
_______________________________
CHAPTER 1: THE LOITERING BACHELOR
CHAPTER 2: A RARE BREED INDEED!
CHAPTER 3: THE TEST BEGINS
CHAPTER 4: JUST A LITTLE ATTENTION
CHAPTER 5: RIGHT BY HIS SIDE
CHAPTER 6: BATTLE ROYALE
CHAPTER 7: NEW BEGINNINGS, RETURNING HABITS
CHAPTER 8: A LOW BLOW
CHAPTER 9: CAN’T FIX BROKEN GLASS
THE DIARY
CHAPTER 10: HEART DETOX
CHAPTER 1: THE LOITERING BACHELOR
Brandy rushed to the convenience store at 11:30 pm. Cigarettes, beer, and a few scratch-off lotto tickets, was all she needed. Constant greetings by squatters who had nothing better to do than stand outside asking for change and/or a phone number, made these visits unbearable. She thought the guarded armor of a hoodie and sweats, along with an “I’m a bitch” expression would turn them off...WRONG! The greetings came anyway. A beautiful, curvy, pecan tanned Texas woman with a short black pixie hairstyle, permanently shone through the loungewear.
A loitering bachelor’s radar went off as Brandy exited the car. He waited to meet face to face for an opportunity to reel her in with his eyes. She walked closer, catching a glimpse of the seductive face; not wanting to open the door of unwanted conversation consumed with lies. Nevertheless, the loitering bachelor had other plans. When the stare down of anticipation didn’t work, he moved on to the next approach.
“Hey miss lady! Can I talk to you?!?” He called out.
Giving a grimace look, she breezed past him. Appalled that a man of his caliber would think he had a chance with her.
Brandy was a 28-year old manager at a customer service center. Working hard to earn every dollar. The thought of some men thinking she would be open to having a lazy partner, constantly frustrated her. Being on the brink of turning 30, she started placing life into perspective. Elevation was necessary. The actions she tolerated in her early 20’s was starting to be deal breakers. However, the desire of raising standards was just a thought. No proof of the elevation, outside of ignoring certain types of men.
Refusing to make eye contact with anyone else, Brandy sped through the aisles searching for beer. The phone vibrated in her pocket, but she ignored it, allowing the buzzing to sooth her thigh instead. The phone buzzed again as she walked towards the register. Brandy stood in line while her pants shook looking around as if it wasn’t hers. Reaching the counter, she looked towards the entrance to see if the loitering bachelor was coming in. He didn’t. Taking a sigh of relief, she felt that the walk to the car would be an easy task. Abruptly placing the beer on the counter, she hoped for a quick transaction.
“Hey, can I get this, a pack of Newport 100’s, and three Lucky 7s.” She requested, pointing her finger at the items behind the counter.
“ID please.” The clerk demanded through the bulletproof glass.
Brandy rolled her eyes reaching to get her driver’s license, sitting with the vibrating phone. The clerk knew her face since she had to make the late night store runs on the regular.
“Here you go.” She said sliding it through a small opening at the bottom of the glass.
The clerk glanced at the license then handed it back to her. “Thank you.”
The 34 seconds it took for him to get what she requested felt like an hour. He gave her two plastic bags then rung up the purchase.
Brandy paid for everything before bagging the cigarettes, lotto tickets, and beer. The mere existence of her attitude gave a natural sense for those standing around to make a path for her exit.
“Have a good night ma’am.” The store clerk said breaking his firm look with a smile.
“Yea.” She replied, pushing the door.
Outside, the loitering bachelor was waiting to continue his advances.
“Miss lady! Miss lady! I just wanna talk to you.” He called out, walking behind her.
Brandy shook her head in disgust darting towards the car.
“Why you ignoring me?” He continued.
Staying focused, she hoped that his question would be the last. However, the man was relentless in not giving up until she gave in.
“I won’t take up much of your time!” He yelled louder, gaining the attention of those around them.
She had enough. The guy wasn’t taking the hint.
“For what!?” She snapped turning around to face him.
This was the first time she was able to see his face and clothing. The loitering bachelor was dressed in a dark hoodie covered by a bubble vest with black jogging pants and dirty sneakers. The loud stench from him insinuated that he’d been smoking weed without showering for the day. Not attractive at all. She couldn’t understand why he didn’t get the clue.
“Hey! I wanna get to know ya.” He said attempting to walk closer to with a smirk on his stubble face. “And I need a ride to Kingsland Boulevard. Can you help me out?”
“No and Hell no! Houston Texas has a bus line that can take you. You’re a grown man and you’re asking a woman for a ride; talking about you wanna get to know me. What am I going to do with you? Where are we going to go? Am I going to have to finance you too? You can’t take me nowhere cause you ain’t gotta car.” Brandy ranted, shaking the bag back and forth. “Leave me alone please.”
A frown replaced the smirk, and his tone went from suave to angry in seconds. She insulted his ego as his loitering friend leaning on the trashcan became amused. After her speech, Brandy took a glance at the antagonizing friend, and then turned to walk away.
“See bitch, that’s why you prolly ain’t got no man. Always angry ‘n shit.” He shouted pointing his finger in a gun gesture. “Ugly ass bitch can’t even help a brotha out!”
“Clown!” Brandy shouted slamming the car door.
Toss
ing the bag on the passenger seat not caring if the beer bottles broke, she cranked up her new sedan and pulled off. The loitering bachelor stood in place continuing to yell obscenities. The aggravation within her grew while processing what he said.
“How dare he call me out of name? I tried to keep it moving, but he brought that on himself.” She generalized.
Usually a woman would have been scared to yell at random stranger like that. Anything could have happened. In these times, rejected men turn violent quickly.
Although his words were harsh enough, it was fortunate that was all he did. Brandy wasn’t concerned as she didn’t want to go to the convenience store in the first place. The items weren’t even for her. The workday was draining and the thought of going home drained even more. The evening was to consist of a hot shower and peaceful time in bed. Not fighting off random men late at night.
On the way home, the aggression was in full force as she replayed the exchange in her head. Talking in the car as if the loitering bachelor was sitting on the passenger side.
“Why in the hell would I want to take care of you? Ugh I can’t STAND men like that.” She fussed. “I’M going to be the man in this situation?! Always giving and giving and giving. What do you have to offer? A penis!?!? No thanks. Dammit! Why are you going so fucking slow!?!?”
She banged the horn before jumping back into the solo argument.
“A dick can’t provide for me. What about what I need?! Damn clown. Fuck you! Lazy ass! Who in tha hell raised you!?!? You know what; I should call your mother and curse her ass out for unleashing your stupid ass into the world with that mindset. And the MAIN problem is that women have bowed down to men like that making it hard for...”
Brandy stopped fussing when she realized what she was about to say. An unsettling feeling came over, turning the rage into anxiety.
Yes, it is true that women put up with men like that, making it hard for those with standards to ward them off. What snapped her into reality was the fact that she WAS that woman.
Waiting at home was her own loitering bachelor. Instead, he loitered at home with nothing to offer. Just a man without a plan, living from handout to handout, and Brandy was his main hand.
Barely parking the car, she quickly snatched the bag from the passenger’s seat. Trying to forget about what happened at the store, she hurried up the steps hoping to have a good night. Part of her wanted to leave the bag at the door, knock twice, and runaway. Brandy had not been happy in a long time, and the reason for the unhappiness was squatting in an apartment she paid for every month with no help.
She walked into the unlocked door, and there he was. A 5’10 light skinned man with a thin mustache and fresh haircut. His facial expression wasn’t of the typical man ready to welcome his woman home. The type of man standing before her was cut from the same cloth she had told off at the convenience store.
Meet Jay. Brandy’s no-good boyfriend who would allow his woman to go out late at night to buy his useless items, without giving her money to cover them. There was no concern for her safety, just as long as she returned with what he wanted. Jay was a hood dude. In and out of jail for petty crimes, wanting money the fast way instead of working for it.
His jail tour started at the age of 18, helping friends rob a convenience store. He got away, however one guy from the group wasn’t so lucky and snitched for a reduced sentence. Jay spent two years in jail and received probation for a few years after. In the beginning, the ambition to turn his life around was present, but the conviction made it hard for him to find a job. Using that reasoning as a crutch and a sob story, he fell back into petty crimes for money along with living off others.
Prior to Brandy, he met an older woman unlucky in love. She was so desperate to have a family and Jay wooed her at the right time. He immediately moved in, they had two kids, and he became a third child for her to take care of. After a few years of jail visits, probation payments, and cheating scandals, she grew tired and kicked him out. However, that didn’t stop him from having an open invitation to come over late at night when she was lonely.
Jay and Brandy met at a convenience store. The one day she paid attention to a loitering bachelor, resulted in a relationship that led to unhappiness and anger. It was her turn to deal with the broken promises and him cashing in on the late night visits to his kid’s mother. Giving the excuse of only being there for the children.
She fell in love with Jay and his promises; hoping that her example of being a working professional would motivate him. It only gave the green light to be a leeching man. They had fun times, but only if Brandy paid for the date nights. He always didn’t have it or was going to get it, or simply ignored the check sitting on the table. Growing comfortable with having a man, she didn’t make the effort to move on and start over.
“Aye what took you so long!?!?” Jay asked before she could get in the door. “I’ve been trying to call you. I meant to tell you to pick up some rolling papers too. Did you get my text?”
Brandy ignored him and walked into the kitchen. The phone stayed buzzing in her pocket for that very reason. She fell for that trick before, which taught her to ignore all calls during a store run.
“I asked you a question Brandy. Did you get everything?” He asked following her.
Unpacking the plastic bag, knowing he wasn’t going to let up, she responded.
“What does this look like?” She replied pointing to the unpacked items. “And no, I didn’t get the text. If you want rolling papers walk to the store and get ‘em yourself. Me and my car are staying here until the morning.”
“Shit! I tried to call you. Why you ain’t answer your damn phone? Shit Brandy! Now I gotta find some rolling papers around here. Jay replied, pacing. “Do you know if I have some left?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I don’t even smoke weed so I’m not concerned with all of that.” Brandy said loading the dishwasher. “You’ve been home all day and you couldn’t even run the dishes!?!?”
“Yea I meant to do that, but I fell asleep. My bad woman.” He said in a softer tone while retrieving a beer. “Good. At least you got something I wanted. I needed this! You want a beer?”
“No.” She mumbled, tossing the soap packet into the dishwasher.
“What’s your problem? You come up in here without my stuff because you ignore my calls and you got an attitude.” Jay whined.
Brandy started the dishwasher then rose to meet his eye contact, with a blank stare.
“The rent is due. You putting some money in on it?” She asked tapping her middle finger on the counter.
“You know my money ain’t come in from my aunt yet and I’m trying to hit my boy up about this clothes shit he selling. Was going let me in on it.” He replied rubbing his head. “He knows this guy that has these clothes and if we up sell ‘em we can make some good money. Shit it’s a lot of stuff too. Them little dresses these females wearing at the club and some jerseys. I think he got some Jordan’s too. Yea we gone make some money off that shit, and I can shoot you a couple of hundred for the rent and lights and shit. But I’m still waiting on him to hit me back, you know.”
She let out a huge sigh and rolled her eyes at the monologue of excuses and the pipe dream that wouldn’t happen.
“Have you tried calling him? Of course not.”
“You got it don’t you?” Jay asked, pointing at her.
“Yea. As always.” Brandy nodded. “I already paid it.”
“See...we good then.” He replied, opening the beer. “Tryna get me all worried for nothing. Thought I’d have to go out and hustle for it woman.”
He took the cigarette box and tapped it on the palm of his hand. The irritating noise made Brandy realize what he just said. Jay knew he wasn’t going to hustle for anything. He never did. Anytime money came to him, it went to gambling or weed. Thinking of that made her mad all over again. In addition to the thought of this dude being home all day and not helping with household chores; then feeling relieved beca
use SHE took care of the bills.
It didn’t bother him once. As long as he had a free place to stay, Jay was content. Not caring about how hard Brandy worked to maintain their small apartment. She was able to afford a bigger place but refused to have him laying up somewhere nice while contributing nothing. If she was going to do everything financially, they would be as cramped as possible.
Sad that Brandy would think to downgrade her life because of the man she chose. Her hope was for him to see their living situation and try to help get something better. That thought never registered to Jay, he was happy just the way things were. He wasn’t used to having much anyway.
“No, I’M good. WE are not good.” Brandy said, watching him pull out a cigarette to smoke.
“Awe hell here we go. You my woman. We got the money for the rent so why you trippin?” He giggled, lighting the cigarette. “It’s like you find reasons to walk around here mad and shit.”
“Quit adding this WE shit when it comes to MY money! WE don’t wake up early to get ready for work. WE don’t fight through traffic to get to work. WE don’t deal with crazy customers and co-workers every day. WE don’t do any of that shit. I DO! I MAKE THE MONEY JAY!”
Blowing out a puff of smoke, he set the lighter on the counter. “Oh, so it’s like that now?”
“Jay it’s BEEN like that. You don’t do shit around here. You go out all times of the night and you contribute NOTHING!”
Brandy walked away towards the bedroom. The sight of him at that point was sickening.
Jay walked behind as she stopped at the bedroom doorway to take off her clothes. He watched her undress, blowing smoke in an upward direction, sneering at the back of her head.
“We don’t have to be together. We can just be roommates in here and leave it at that.” He responded. “You go your way and do your thang and I’ll do mine. You don’t have to be with me Bran.”
“ROOMMATES?!?! Roommates SHARE expenses.” She turned around and yelled. “You don’t pay for shit! Unless you sell a few drugs and then it’s blown on gambling or God knows where else because I don’t see any of it. You contribute zero dollars to this place! ZERO! What part of that aren’t you getting?!?!”
Wrong Vengeance Page 1