“So, lying to my face was helping me?” Richard spat with a humorless laugh. “Give me a break. “You got off on playing these games. I bet you couldn’t wait for me to leave town, could you? It gave you the time and opportunity to play with his ass as long as you wanted and as many times as you wanted.”
“We were going to tell you, tonight,” she whispered in a trembling voice, and already she was on the verge of tears. “We didn’t want to keep you in the dark---”
“Guess what, Hayven? I’ve seen the light. Here I was thinking that you were a woman of principles and morals….a woman of the church. Man! You have your Mama, Daddy, and the entire community snowed over thinking that you’re all that. You’re supposed to be better than the rest. Being a pastor’s daughter, I expected more. But, you’re like the rest of the whoring female population out there and not fit for a decent man. You’re not fit to be any man’s wife let alone mine. Sleeping with my brother…you know what that makes you, Hayven?” The raw anger masked his face. “It means that you’re a filthy, nasty cunt---”
“Watch your fucking mouth,” Christopher warned coldly. “Insult her that way again, and I’ll drop your ass quick, brother or no brother.”
Stunned, they found him standing in the room.
At what point that he entered, she didn’t know.
But, the fury on his face was telling.
Naked from the neck down, he wore only his suit pants, and that fact only proved that he’d been there all night.
A dangerous edge marked him.
Despite the predicament, it was apparent that he wasn’t about to be kicked around.
Slowly, he advanced towards them, and immediately, she sensed the potential of a brutal altercation.
Rushing past Richard, she collided into his unyielding body. “Christopher, don’t,” she pleaded softly, grabbing his wrists, and easily felt his tightly clenched fists. “This is not the way to handle this.”
“Baby, get out of the way,” he warned, being careful to be gentle with her. “Me and him, we’re going to handle this man to man.”
“Look at this shit,” Richard spat angrily. “You’re actually worried about him and not me. In case you don’t remember, I’m you fiancé---”
“Not for long,” he broke in, not bothering to disguise his anger. “As a matter of fact, I can guarantee that it’s pretty much a done deal.”
“Shut your filthy mouth.” Richard advanced towards them slowly. “Get the hell away from her.”
Christopher strained against her firm hold, but she pushed him back. “Why don’t you fucking make me, punk? I’m standing right here---”
“Stop it!” she interrupted sharply. “The both of you---”
Richard spread his arms out wide. “Oh, so you really want to try me?”
“Bring your shit on, if that’s what you want to do, damn it---”
“Stop it,” she said firmly, tightening her hold on him, and stayed him again. “We’re not going to do it this way.” She glanced over her shoulder at Richard. “We all need to take a breath and talk about this like rational adults.”
“Rational? Tell me what’s rational about this, Hayven.” Richard passed a long disgusted look over the both of them. “The fact that you’ve been screwing my brother right under my face negates the whole concept of rationality.” He zeroed his gaze on Christopher. “Why in the hell did you even have to show up? From the very beginning, I knew that you’d be trouble. Our family was perfect before you came. Everything was right. But, you showed up and changed everything. I shouldn’t be surprised that you sullied it, considering who and what you are which is nothing.” He gave a cold laugh. “What’s with all the bullshit about you being a changed man? And that’s what it is--- bullshit. You’re still the same nasty whore that crawled through that dingy nightclub. Only now, you’re giving your ass up for free. No wonder your mother didn’t want you. She knew that you weren’t worth a shit.”
“Maybe so,” he muttered lowly with a tight smile, and then gave him a wink. “But, I know one fucking woman who does. As a matter of fact, she couldn’t get enough of me then and she can’t now.” His laugh was intentionally cold. “You can bark like a mad rabid dog and sling your insults. But, it’ll never change the fact that I’m the one that she wants.”
“You mean the two of you have been together before?” Richard asked, and the shock played on his face. “When?”
“Spring Break week,” she said quickly, maintaining her hold. “We met then.”
“How?” Richard snapped. “How did you meet, damn it?”
“I was his client.” She kept her eyes on Christopher. “When I went to Atlanta, it wasn’t for professional development meetings.” Turning fully, tilting her chin, she met Richard’s gaze head on. “Truth was, I was meeting Christopher every night that entire week. We became lovers then.”
“You’re sick---the both of you.” A look of disbelief seized Richard’s face. “Here you are selling ass, and you sadly, are buying it.”
“We weren’t together then, so I don’t have to justify my actions to you. Besides that, it’s none of your business,” she said defiantly, resting her back against Christopher’s tensed form. “My mistake was getting involved with you when I had feelings for someone else. That wasn’t fair to you, and I’m sorry. I’ll never forgive myself for what I did to you and causing the rift in your family.”
“So, when things didn’t work out with the whore, you decided to take a gentleman instead, right?” Richard taunted, laughing humorlessly again. “How is it that I don’t know you anymore?”
“The truth is, you never did. I was living a lie and pretending. I’m sorry” she said remorsefully, and tears swelled in her eyes. “I’ll say it again, and you can believe me or not. But, Christopher and I, we didn’t set out to hurt you. Time and time again, we wrestled against our feelings and tried to do right by you.” She took in a shaky breath. “But, we realized that lying to you and keeping our feelings a secret wasn’t the right thing. We weren’t being true to ourselves or you.”
“She’s telling you the truth,” Christopher said stiffly. “Lying to you like this---it’s been eating away at her---”
“You think that I give a damn what you think, or better yet, how she feels?” Richard bit out, glaring at him over her head. “I could care less.” Then, his gaze dropped to the scattered photos on the floor before shooting to Christopher again. “This is your doing, isn’t it? You tried to force her hand. Take a few pictures, send them to me, I’m out of the picture, and then, she’s all yours, right?”
He stiffened further behind her. “What fucking pictures?”
Richard hurtled one in their direction. “These, you lousy son-of-a-bitch.”
Cautiously, she stepped away from him and picked up the glossy photo. Then, after returning to him, she passed it to him. At once, both animosity and anger laced his features. “Fuck,” he hissed angrily. “I know exactly who’s responsible for this.” He looked at his brother. “Where did you get this?”
“The envelope was stuffed in my mailbox,” Richard said stiffly, and now, curiosity played on his face. “Why?”
He shrugged. “Not important. It doesn’t concern you.”
“The hell it doesn’t,” Richard shot back. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Listen, I’m not dancing to your fucking beat, no matter what happens or what’s going on between us right now. Get that straight quick, brother,” he quipped tightly. “And no, I’m hardly a saint, and I never will be. But, straight up, I never meant for things to happen this way or for you to find out like this.” He sighed hard. “I’m sorry, and you have every right to hate me.” He paused again. “But, you absolutely, absolutely will not disrespect her at any turn. I don’t care how angry you are.”
“I hate you,” Richard spat nastily. “I hate your fucking guts.”
“I want you to leave,” she said straightforwardly. “Things have gotten far out of hand, and we’re not getting an
ywhere. There’s nothing more to say. Hopefully, when we’re all thinking clearly and not so emotional, we can deal with it in a better way. We’re all saying things that we’ll regret later.” Another pang of guilt hit her as she looked at him. “Please leave, Richard.”
“Our family…our friends…what will we tell them?” Richard asked with a look of panic. “They’re all depending on us.”
“We’ll tell them the truth,” she said softly. “That’s the only thing to do.”
“So, the wedding’s off?” Richard asked pained. “You really want to be with this whoring, streetwise loser?”
“Yes, the wedding’s off,” she nodded, tilting her chin proudly. “As for this loser, I love him.”
Richard passed them a long look. “I hope you both go straight to hell.”
With those last parting words, he left.
She sagged against him weakly. “That was hard. But, I’m relieved that the truth is out and the fact that we no longer have to hide,” she whispered tearfully, turning, and hugged him. Then, she pulled back before peering up at him. “Are you okay?”
“We both knew that it wouldn’t be easy. If I were in his position, I’d probably feel and react the same way. He has every right to be indignant towards me.” Releasing her, he moved to pick the other pictures from the floor. Then, he sauntered back to her. “This is what concerns me as well. Red Widow is up to her tricks again.”
“Oh, no,” she said aghast, covering her mouth with both hands. “You don’t think that she did this, do you?”
“Who else would stoop that low?” He bit back a curse. “She’s done it before, and now, she’s doing it again. That means that she’s watching our every move.”
“Do you think that she’ll go as far as to drug you, again?” A fearful shudder ran through her. “Better yet, try to kill me?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past her. She’s capable of anything.”
“We need to contact the police.”
“And say what?” Sighing with frustration, he shook his head. “We don’t have proof, and they’re not going to arrest someone based on suspicions alone. But, she’s bound to trip up, sooner or later.”
“What do we do in the meantime?” she asked with concern. “We can’t stop living our lives.”
“We’re not, and you’re coming to stay with me.” Grabbing her hand, he led her towards the bedroom. “I don’t like the idea of you being here alone with that psycho running amok. There’s no telling what she’ll try next.”
Chapter 34
“She seems to be at peace,” she said quietly, running a gentle hand along his mother’s face, later that afternoon. Then, she smiled at him across the hospital bed. “You resemble her a lot.”
He gave a hesitant, but prideful grin. “You really think so?”
“You have the same colored eyes, the high cheekbones…Yes, you’re definitely Josephine’s son.” She looked at him hopeful. “Has the doctor given you the test results yet?”
“No. But, they’re saying that I will know something today.” He sighed in resignation. “It’s the waiting that’s hell.”
She joined him on the other side of the bed and hugged him. “You haven’t eaten anything all day,” she said concerned, pulling back, and looked up at him. “Starving yourself won’t do anyone any good. As a matter of fact, it’ll land you in a hospital bed if you’re not careful.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Baby, you have to eat something,” she scolded. “Well, I’m going to grab a bite from the cafeteria. Then, I’m going to go to the vending machine and get you some crackers and soda. Will you at least eat that?”
“Okay, I’ll eat it.” He gave her a fast peck on the lips and then winked. “Just to shut you up if nothing else.”
She playfully punched him the stomach. “You’ll have to pay for that comment later.”
Several minutes later, alone in the vending area, she faced the snack machine. As she fed the loose change through the thin slot, she saw the silhouette of a man in the shiny glass.
The terror froze in her throat.
It was the same man from the elevator, the one who’d made the weird and scary comments…the very one who’d been in the vending area days before!!!
Her gut had been right.
She was his target.
Hitching her arm behind her back, the stranger stepped behind her quick and jerked her back against him. He tightened his stronghold before placing the barrel of the gun against her hips. “Say one word and I’ll blow a hole right through your fat ass, bitch. Try anything else, I’ll blow the whistle, and your little whorish boyfriend is dead.” His grip was like a hard vice. “If we have an understanding, just nod your head real slow.”
She swallowed past the clogged tears and nodded slowly.
“Now, seeing as we have to get out of this place with little problems,” the stranger breathed against her head. “We’re going to play a little game. The game is you walk slow, stay close, and you don’t say anything to anyone. If you do, I’ll shoot the first motherfucker that we’re standing close to.” His laugh was dead cold. “Now, nod again.”
She nodded again.
“Now, move.”
He grasped her elbow tight and led her away from the vending area. Keeping her head downcast, she didn’t look at anyone and followed every bit of his instructions.
But, still, more than a few glances were tossed their way as they made way for the elevator. When the doors opened, he shoved her own, and to her chagrin and relief, it was unoccupied.
She watched as he pressed the button for the garage level. Quickly, she spied a glance at the security camera before looking at him again.
“Bet you’re wondering who the fuck I am, right?” the stranger taunted cruelly. “I’ll give you a little hint. I’ve been stalking you and that asshole for weeks. Now, our little game is reaching a different stage, and it’s going to be hotter than that sauna that nearly fried you months back. Speaking of that---bet it was hot as hell in there, wasn’t it?” His laugh was caustic. “What’s going to happen to you now---it’s much worse.”
Saying nothing, she stared straight ahead.
The elevator doors opened.
Stepping to the corner, he positioned her directly in front of him. As the elderly woman stepped on, he offered a wide grin.
The woman gave a curious look before looking away. But, still, she seemed tense and cast a fast glance at her face.
On the 1st floor, the elevator stopped.
Five more people piled on.
She gulped hard.
The sweat beaded on her forehead.
Sensing her distress, the stranger tightened his stronghold again, issuing a silent dangerous warning. There was no doubt that he’d stay true to his word.
“Excuse me, young lady. I think that I recognize you from somewhere,” the elderly lady said politely, staring up at her, and adjusted the glasses on her nose. “Are you from here?”
The barrel of the gun cut into her waist.
Staying silent, she shook her head fast.
The woman frowned. “Are you sure?”
Please don’t let him hurt anyone, she prayed inwardly, feeling the cold steel against her.
She shook her head ‘no’ again.
They reached the garage level.
As the doors opened, they stepped off with the crowd. Staring straight ahead, she didn’t dare look at anyone for fear of bloodshed.
Just ahead of them, the elderly woman walked slowly. With each step that she took, the cane tapped against the concrete and made a steady beat. Then, to her horror, the woman stopped before turning around. “Hey, I do know you. You’re Pastor Jonas’s daughter!” As she took in her strained features, the woman’s smile died. “Are you alright, sweetheart? You don’t look like you feel---” The click of the gun silenced her, and he aimed it straight at her chest. Her face crumpled with naked fear. “No…please…no…”
“Don’t hurt her,” she p
leaded desperately. “I’ll do anything that you want. Please, let her go.”
“Get your fucking ass on the ground! If you move, I swear that I’ll kill you!” The goon cast an anxious look around. “Shit!”
Sobbing uncontrollably, dropping her cane, the elderly woman collapsed to the ground.
“Come on,” he said sharply, gripping her elbow harder, and quickly guided her past the weeping woman. Uncaring of her pain, he dragged her along with him at a furious pace. “We’ve got to get the fuck out of here!”
They moved to the last row of cars. A four door sedan was parked in the shadows. As they drew closer, she saw that they weren’t alone. In the middle of the rear seat, a shadowy figure waited. But, the dark hood and sunglasses shielded their identity well.
When they reached the driver’s side, he shoved her against the car roughly. Cursing violently, keeping her pinned against the car, he confiscated the handcuffs from his pockets and put them on her quick. Then, removing a white handkerchief fast, he shoved into her mouth and gagged her.`
Though the car windows were tightly closed, she heard the other stranger’s muffled voice. “Hurry the fuck up! You stupid son-of-a-bitch, you’re going to get us caught!”
“Fuck you!” he shouted back, and then grappled her roughly. “Come on. Let’s go.”
He maneuvered her to the back of the car.
Sobbing against the gag, she could only stare in horrified silence as he popped the trunk. He lifted her easily and deposited her inside of it.
The smell of burnt gas and oil filled her nostrils. It added even more levels to her discomfort and fear. Finally, as she looked upward, her terrified gaze clashed with the stranger’s.
A violent malice filled his eyes.
The fearful sight of his face was her last visual freedom before he slammed the trunk closed.
Within the pitch black darkness, she released her muffled screams.
***
Sighing tiredly, he rubbed his eyes before looking at his ailing mother in the hospital bed. The monitors beeped a steady tone, and the IV dripped a stream of medication through the tube.
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