by Jaye Cox
"What have I ever done to you that’s so bad you would want to kill me?"
"You think you can just walk in and take other peoples men? My man- he was mine."
“That’s not what he told me."
"He loves me, you stupid little whore. Or why would he have fucked me after they sent you to the loony bin?"
"He wouldn't," I say, she is just trying to get to me, get inside my head and it's working.
"Do you want me to tell you all the details? How he touched me?"
"You're fucking crazy, he doesn't love you. You’re nothing but another notch on his belt." She lunges for me and slaps me so hard, I lose my balance and hit the floor. I manage to fall on my back, but I hit the side of my face on the bed. I can feel the blood running down my face. She grabs me by the hair and pulls me to my feet.
"What the fuck is going on in here?" Razor bites off as he walks through the door.
"She tripped and fell over," Kandi lies.
"Get the fuck out, I told you she was just bait. I’m a sick fuck but I won’t hurt the baby unless I have to. My brother wouldn't risk their lives and it's him I want, if she or the kid are hurt, my plan won't work."
"But Razor..."
"Get the fuck out! Are you stupid?" She reluctantly leaves the room. I knew the baby would be his soft spot.
"Use that bathroom to clean yourself up, but don't try anything. I don't want to kill you, but if you fuck with my plans I will." I just nod my head as he unties my hands and walk over to the bathroom attached to the room and shut the door.
"You have one minute and I’m coming in," he threatens. I turn the tap on and get out my phone- I have seconds. I call Rayne who answers on the first ring. He tells me he tracked my phone and to hide it right away. If they know I have a phone, I could get hurt. He is coming for me, just like I knew he would. I don’t say anything, I just open the top of the toilet quietly, drop my phone in and use the toilet. Razor must know something is up, because he opens the door just as I pull my pants up.
"I’m sorry. I’m pregnant and had too pee," I explain. He stands at the door as I clean my face. I’m scared Rayne will get hurt. He would die for his son; for me. Once I’m done he takes me to the bed and handcuffs me to it before snapping a few pictures.
"Say cheese," he taunts as he takes a picture and leaves the room. This time I hear him and Kandi talking. "This should be enough to scare the shit out of him. He thinks he can out smart me; he thinks I don’t fucking know he was following me and tracking my phone?"
"Kill her and the baby, what better way to get revenge?"
"I just wanted to scare him and get him here.”"
"So what? You get him and then what? We will both go to fucking jail for life. She will tell everyone it was us," I hear Kandi say.
"She won't say shit once I’m done with her, for her baby’s sake and for Rayne’s. Fuck! You’re a cop! You’re good they won’t suspect you and my phone is at home where I’m supposed to be right now with Tammie. Where the hell is she anyway? We needed her for this plan, you said she had a thing for the pretty boy and would be on board."
It all goes quiet they must have moved away from the door. I wonder where I am and why it’s taking so long for Rayne to get here. I tell myself it’s just because they will have to get in carefully. They won’t want to alert him in case he hurts me. I feel like I’ve been in here forever; my head hurts and is still bleeding a little, and I’m starting to freak out I have not felt Jagger move in a while. He has to be ok and I lie there trying to will him into moving but I feel nothing. I try not to think the worst but still I cry and tell him to move, I beg him to move.
"What’s with all the goddamn noise in here?" Razor says standing in the doorway.
"Why do you care anyway? You don't give a shit about anyone except yourself."
"You don’t know anything about me or my life. You know only what he told you and he barely knows the half of it. I protected that little fucker from the bad shit, so before you sit there and judge me, Little Miss ‘my shit don't stink’, know that if everything was different, I would have made an awesome uncle."
"Selling drugs and blackmail are justified because you had a fucked up life? Sorry. I have no sympathy for someone who left my best friend bleeding in a car park and then kidnapped me. Now I can't feel my baby move, so yes I will judge you the same way you have judged me."
"Feisty, I like it," he says, leaving the room but he leaves the door open this time.
The window in the bedroom is cracked a little and I see a shadow outside coming closer. I can make out that its Ty, but why is Ty here, and why not the police? The idiots are going to try taking Razor down by themselves.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
RAYNE
I managed to get Tiny Dancer out of the house. Tommy offered to take her baby shopping whilst Ty and I put the nursery together. Mum got all the nursery furniture delivered to her house yesterday and I decided after all the effort she went to for my birthday, I would return the favour and surprise her with the new nursery. It hasn't been easy planning what to do but my mum said to leave it to her and I must say the plans look awesome. What was supposed to be just me and Ty painting, has turned into Morris and Dex playing the Xbox, Romeo and Sam arguing about something called Feng Shui and my mother bossing everyone around. We get the nursery painted a grey blue colour; mum had some contractors drop off some industrial fans so the paint would dry faster. She wants it to be perfect before they get back. I tell her there is no possible way it will dry in time, but she tells me that with the list of baby items she gave them, it will be a few hours before they’re back.
"Hey you all need to come watch this," Sam says.
"Watch what?” Morris asks.
"It’s a video Bells posted of Tommy. It’s hilarious," she says. We all crowd around Sam and watch a video of Tommy trying out the breast pump.
"That dude has issues," Dex says walking back over to the couch. We get the walls dry and move in the furniture. I swear my mum makes us move it all a few times, and the last time is the exact same way she asked us to place it the first time. Women. They can never make up their minds. The last thing to do is put his name on the wall next to his cot. In hindsight we should’ve done it before we put the cot in place, since it’s extremely heavy to move and I get Ty to help me shove it out of the way. I just finish hanging the last letter when my phone starts ringing, it’s Richard. I wonder why he is calling me. I answer the phone, but put it on speakerphone, because I have glue all over my hands.
"Hey Richard, what’s up?"
"Please tell me Isabella is with you?" he says. I can tell he is worried by the fear in his voice.
"She is still out with Tommy,” I say, starting to get concerned myself.
"Tommy was just brought into the hospital. He isn't in a good way, Rayne. He was hit by a car, that’s all I know. You need to find my baby, please find her.” he says, I can tell he is crying now.
"I will find her, Richard," I say and hang up the phone. Ty is standing behind me and heard everything. I tell him to get the laptop so we can track her phone, when I try to call her phone there is no answer. I try a few more times, but nothing...
"It’s up but what’s the password?" he asks.
"Fuck, Tommy told me this; it’s something like Bells and Tommy... best friends... Shit, I can’t fucking remember." I say.
"Calm down, it might help you remember," Romeo suggests.
"Don’t tell me to fucking calm down. My Tiny Dancer and son are missing and Tommy is in the hospital."
"We’ll find her, Rayne. Pull up Razor’s page and let’s check where he is first,” Sam says. It looks like he’s at home. He wouldn't be so stupid as to take her there. I get a phone call from a private number. It has to be her - what if she is hurt or my son? God no, please let them be ok. I let her leave without telling her how much I loved her. I’m a fucking idiot.
I put it on speakerphone so everyone can hear. "Tiny Dancer is that you?"
/>
"If that’s what you want to call me now I will take it, but I do prefer Razor or Bobby."
"Where is she? You sick fuck!"
"No need to be so nasty to your big bro. I'm just getting acquainted with your baby mama and my nephew. I must say she is a pretty little thing."
"If you so much as hurt one hair on her body, I will fucking kill you."
"Now that’s no way to talk to someone who could cause serious injuries to the one person you care most about, is it?"
"Fine, what do you want?"
"I want you Rayne. We’re brothers and I have looked out for you all your life that is until they took you away and brainwashed you."
"You looked out for me? Are you kidding? Who lets a fucking young boy sell drugs and sleep with junkies?"
"I did it so you were with me and not him. He would have made you do worse, I wanted to protect you from him."
"I don't give a fucking shit about him, you or the past. I want to know what I have to do to get her back."
"I will call you back with the meeting details. You come alone or I will hurt her," he says as he hangs up the phone.
"FUCK" I yell. Once again my past has put her in danger. If I get my hands on him, I think I’d kill him.
"Rayne, some chick called Tammie is here to talk to you," says Dex.
"Tell her to fuck off, I don’t care what she wants or has to say until I find my Tiny Dancer."
"You might want to hear her out. She is a mess and I didn't catch much of anything she had to say, but she knows something about Tiny Dancer." I don’t need to leave the room, since Sam has dragged her in the house and almost throws her across the room.
"You have two seconds to speak before I put your nose through your fucking face," Sam threatens.
"They have her, they kidnapped her. I was happy to be in with them harassing her. It’s no secret we don’t get along, but kidnapping is too much for me. They are all crazy," she says.
"Who is they" I want to know.
"Razor, Kandace and Natalie," she tells us.
"They were supposed to just scare her, but the plan must have changed at the last minute and they hit Tommy. I didn't want to hurt them, I swear. I'm sorry." She starts to get hysterical again and Sam slaps her hard across the face, the sound echoing through the room.
"Where is she? For crying out loud."
"At Kandace’s parents’ house. They’re away for a few weeks, they knew she wouldn't be a suspect." I get a phone call and this time it’s from her phone. I quickly tell her I’m coming and to get rid of the phone. He will hurt her if he finds it on her. Then I hang up the call.
"I know where they live; we had a party for her there last year. Let’s go," I say.
"We should call this in, Rayne. He’s dangerous," Sam warns.
"I will once we get there. I need five minutes with my brother alone, you either come or you don't." Everyone says they’re coming and we all run out to Morris’s car, it’s the only one big enough for us all.
"You all find her and get her safe; leave Razor to me, we need to end this one way or another. Sam call it in once we get there," I say. The house is a fair way out of town and it feels like the drive goes on forever. I need to get to her now and my leg shakes a thousand miles a minute. It helps keep my thoughts on track; they will both be fine, they have to be. If she or the baby are hurt, he might as well just kill me, life would not be worth living without them - I couldn’t breathe without her. We pull up in a back street and walk over on foot, they won't hear us coming that way.
"Ty, you go round one side of the house and Morris take the other, she might be in a room. Romeo and Dex, you take the back in case anyone tries to run. I will go in the front with Sam. We have about five minutes before any officers will arrive. Everyone goes off and Sam and I sneak up onto the front porch and look through the window.
"No sign of Isabella or any weapons," Sam whispers.
"They must both be in the kitchen," I say quietly.
"On the count of three I will kick the door in, one..."Sam kicks it in before I can count two. Razor turns first when the door slams open and comes for me. I see Kandace start to run for the room but Sam’s a lot quicker than her, Kandace has always hated Sam for being better than her at everything. Sam launches herself at Kandace and takes her down, while I back away out the front door and Razor follows me.
"It's just you and me now, brother," I say as Razor comes outside.
He runs for me and I let him get one good hit in - it’s all he is going to get. I don't feel it when his fist connects with my face. Everything just goes into some sort of tunnel vision; I don't see much, but I can feel myself throwing punches. It doesn't feel real, it’s more like a dream after a while. I don't know why, but at some point I feel myself being thrown to the ground.
Someone squirts me with a hose, and I snap out of whatever just happened. I see Razor lying unconscious on the ground, there is a lot of blood and I find myself just not caring. He deserved everything he got. I look around and I cannot see Tiny Dancer anywhere, only Romeo, so I run inside and start calling her.
"Tiny Dancer?"
"Rayne!" she calls back it comes from the room off the side of the kitchen. I run past Kandace who is out cold on the ground. When I get to the room, I see Morris is checking her out, Sam is holding her hand, Dex is pacing the room and Ty is sitting on the floor with his head between his legs.
Fuck, she is covered in blood and has a gash on her head, I reach her and take Sam’s place holding her hand.
"I’m so sorry, so fucking sorry. It’s all my fault; I thought I would lose you and the baby. Are you hurt anywhere besides your head? Is the baby okay?” I rattle off questions, placing my free hand on her belly"
"Slow down. I'm fine, but Jagger hasn't moved since I fell," she says. I pull her shirt up, place my head on her stomach and sing I'll Fight by Daughtry. It’s the first song that popped into my head. Jagger always responds when I sing and I start to get worried when I’m half way through the song. The officers finally arrive, but I don't care- I sing this damn song like my life depends on it. Dex joins me and puts his hand on her belly, while everyone stands around and waits. The room has an eerie vibe and everyone is waiting for that kick or movement, when bam... he starts kicking the shit out of my hand. I stop singing and pull her into my arms.
"I didn't get to tell you I loved you when I left. I was afraid I would never get to tell you again."
"Sir, we need you to move away." "Sir, please step away." I move so the paramedics can check her over. Morris is talking with them and I ask Ty if he is okay.
"I thought we lost her- I can’t lose her- I can't lose my family. She was the first person in a long time to give a shit about me, to love me for me and not want anything in return," Ty says. I hug him, I hug my brother and tell him it’s okay. He is part of this crazy family, whether he likes it or not. The paramedics say they’ll be taking her in to have a doctor check her and the baby. I tell them I will be catching a ride with them and everyone else will meet us there. Remembering I should’ve called Richard back, I call out to Ty and ask him to give Richard a call and get him to meet us there.
"Rayne," she says looking up at me with fear in her eyes. She looks terrified about whatever she wants to say.
"Is Tommy okay? Please tell me he is okay. The car hit him and his body hit the ground; I couldn't get to him - I couldn’t get to him," she cries.
"He’s at the hospital. I don't know any details." I hold her hand while she cries. A few months ago I would have felt threatened by their relationship, knowing he loves her, but now I can see their friendship through her eyes- the love she has for a friend, almost like a brother. I admire Tommy for being that friend for her even when he loves her deeply. I’m too selfish, I couldn't go through life seeing her with another man, it would kill me. Tommy though, he has accepted it and respects her too much to say anything. To change the relationship they have.
We get to the hospital and she is bough
t into emergency where Richard is already waiting. He rushes over to her and I give them a moment. I charm a nurse into telling me that Tommy is doing okay now. He is pretty banged up with a broken leg, a fractured arm and a nasty concussion and he is getting some tests too rule out anything internal but he should be fine. I go back to her as they’re wheeling her up to maternity. The doctor says her head is fine except for the nasty bump, and they just want to do a trace on the baby to make sure he is doing okay. I fill her in on Tommy and she wants to see him as soon as she makes sure the baby is doing well.
In the maternity ward they put a trace on Jaggers heartbeat and he is perfect. Somehow everyone manages to sneak into the room and it’s getting a bit packed, so I tell everyone we will meet them at home soon. They say their goodbyes and that leaves just us and Richard. Half an hour later the doctor comes back to tell us everything is perfect and to come straight back should we have any concerns. Richard fusses over Tiny Dancer and gives her strict instructions to go home to bed, before promising he will be over to see her when he gets off his shift.
We go to find Tommy before we leave. I have to remind her to slow down when we find out Tommy is on the other side of the hospital. As we walk over to the reception desk to find out which room he is in, Ty and his sister Ruby are already waiting there. Ty tells us he thought Bells might come to see Tommy and wanted to make sure we didn't need a lift home. When we start to hear yelling, I turn to see Natalie being dragged out of a room. Tiny Dancer steps out from behind me and as soon as Natalie spots her, she starts to go crazy.
“We should have just killed you when we had the chance, but no my cousin wanted to wait for Razor. It's all your fault; Bells this, and Bells that,” she yells, managing to get loose from one of the officers but another grabs her by the waist and lifts her in the air to get a better grip and her legs are kicking and waving around. This chick has some serious problems, I am going to put in a call once we leave here and find out if Kandace and Natalie really are cousins, and I have always known Kandace was a bit crazy, so it must run in the family.