Tia shook her head, trying to avoid eye contact with everyone she passed. The girls usually sneered and made catty comments, while the guys leered and made her feel dirty. All things she tried to avoid.
Of course, Jasmine was another story. She never took shit from anyone—male or female. If they were nasty to her, she quickly put them in their place. To make matters worse, she always seemed to hunt trouble.
“What you looking at, bitch?” some girl asked loudly as Jasmine tried to come to a stop.
She cut her eyes and lifted an eyebrow. “Who you callin’ bitch? Get the fuck outta my way.” With a hard shove, she forced her way through the throng of bodies.
Tia held tight, tried her best to make her friend avoid being violent, and continued to guide her to the kitchen.
As they rounded the corner and moved through the entryway, Jasmine finally stopped trying to get away. Thank goodness, because Tia wouldn’t have been able to keep her grip much longer. Coming to a screeching halt, she let her friend’s wrist go, transfixed by the image before them. Tia’s stomach plummeted, and another fraction of her heart broke off the already damaged organ.
Tommy was in the kitchen where she was told he would be, but of course, he wasn’t alone. The girl from earlier, the one Tia had watched him hit on from her perch on the fire escape, was seated firmly on his lap, arms wrapped around him, and the girl’s lips were all over his neck as he played cards with the other guys surrounding the table.
Tia tried to berate herself for reacting; she knew Tommy was like that. She’d never seen him at a party without a girl, if not two, on his arm. That night was different. For some reason, the conversation she’d had with Jasmine in the hall, just before they walked in, got Tia’s hopes up in a way they’d never been before.
As stupid as she knew it was, she thought maybe her friend was onto something, and that Tommy had started to see Tia as more than a friend, more than the girl in his building he looked out for like he did his kid sister. Some small part of Tia had hoped he’d be alone. That he’d be waiting for her, have her on his arm, and stake his claim to all his boys that she was taken and his.
How dumb could I be? I’m an honor student, for God’s sake! Why did she let whimsical dreams of happily ever after even begin to seep into her brain? She knew better, and seeing Tommy with that fucking tramp was like a bucket of cold water waking Tia up from her fantasy.
Just as she was metaphorically splashed in the face and pulled out of her trance, Tommy’s eyes moved away from the guy he was talking and laughing with to roam the kitchen. That chocolate brown gaze landed on her almost instantly and widened slightly before a slow grin tipped the corners of his mouth.
Then, the girl on his lap reached up and slid her palm along his jaw and cheek as she turned his face toward her.
Tia didn't need to see what happened next. She’d seen it one too many times and was tired of torturing herself. Her heart could only lose so many more pieces before it was completely shattered and irreparable. Before she could think better of her actions, or how they would look, she whirled around and fled the room. She heard Jasmine calling from behind, but Tia didn’t stop. She couldn’t. If she did, she’d lose it, and the last thing she needed was to allow any of those people to see her cry. Crying was an emotion she couldn’t afford in a place like that, full of people that preyed on weakness and used it to their advantage. Tia had yet to show up on anyone’s radar, and she’d be damned if she let that happen after so many years of keeping it at bay!
Pushing past Jay with her head down, she walked as quickly as possible toward the elevator and pressed the button with much more force than necessary, praying all the while that it would arrive before her friend caught up. Jasmine might have guessed Tia loved Tommy, but she’d never admitted it, and sure as hell wasn't going to do it while she was so upset and emotional.
Giving it about two seconds, Tia pressed the button again, leaving her finger on it while she silently cursed the old building and its slow ass equipment.
“You know holding the button doesn’t make it come any faster,” an amused voice said from behind her, making Tia grit her teeth.
Of course Tommy would come after her. He needed to keep an eye on her and keep her safe. She was his charity case, one of the ones he was going to help get out of that hell hole of a neighborhood. If that didn't happen, he wouldn’t be able to absolve himself of the all the sins he’d committed to make sure she succeeded.
Well, she didn’t need his charity, his protection, any more. Fuck that. Fuck him.
Whirling around, she met his amused gaze with an angry one of her own.
As soon as he saw the look, all the amusement fled his face, replaced instantly with concern. He took a step closer and reached his hand out to her. “Baby girl…” he began but stopped short when Tia moved away from his outstretched hand and raised one of her own.
“Don’t. Just, don’t,” she said with a shake of her head as she moved her gaze to the floor, unable to look at his confused and hurt expression. I’m the one that’s hurt, damn it! Not him!
“Tia?” he asked, not using her nickname the second time.
“I can’t do this anymore, Tommy. I’m sorry,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but she knew he heard. He was standing too close not to.
“Do what? I don’t understand. Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?” His voice grew in volume, and a hint of anger tinged his words by the time he finished questioning her. The idea of her being hurt by someone obviously made him mad. If only she could tell him it wasn’t any use being mad because he was the one who’d hurt her.
She was saved by the bell, or rather the ding, of the elevator indicating it had finally reached their floor. The doors slid open, and a few more partygoers stepped off, the girls giving Tommy a once over as they walked past him. It was odd, but finally, for the first time since she met him, he actually only had eyes for her. Eyes that were pleading with her, begging her to tell him what was going on. But she couldn’t.
Shaking her head, she stepped through the open doorway onto the old metal contraption and pressed the button for the first floor.
Tommy stood there in silence, watching her as the doors slowly slid closed.
Only then did Tia take a much-needed breath as she leaned back against the cool wall. She knew she shouldn’t have run out of there like that. It only made him more suspicious. He’d want answers and wouldn't accept no. Tommy might have let her go just then, but she knew he’d seek her out the next day, once his party was over and he was finished with his flavor of the night. Just the idea of him with that girl made Tia’s stomach roll, which made her furious. The anger pushed her over the edge, and the tears finally came.
At first, it was a slow trickle, one tear then a second, but by the time the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors slid open once again, there was a steady stream. The sobs escaped her throat against all her efforts to keep them in. Knowing there would be a group of people waiting to go up, Tia fixed her gaze firmly on the floor and rushed out as soon as she could slip past the opening in the doors. Her shoulder bumped against a few people as she ran by, and she ignored the muffled curse words thrown at her. Her long hair shielded her face enough to keep from being recognized, and the short ass dress she wore would definitely throw off anyone who suspected it might be her.
Once outside, she drew in a deep breath of the cool night air. It did nothing to calm her breaking heart or the sobs that were trying to rip from her throat. She only needed a few more seconds, and then she could let it all out. Turning to her right, she ran down the sidewalk, only to stop when her ankle twisted slightly. Throwing up a hand to brace herself on the building beside her, she leaned down and ripped the stupid heels from her feet, dropping them to the ground. She had no intention of ever wearing them again, so she left them where they landed and took off as fast as she could to the end of the block. Turning, she raced through the dark alley until she reached the fire escape. He
fting herself up on the ladder, she climbed the few rungs until she reached the landing just outside her bedroom window. Only then did she finally allow her body to let go. Falling into a heap on the cold metal grate, she pulled her knees up, wrapped both arms tightly around them, and buried her face to help muffle the sobs tearing from her throat.
The amount of time that passed didn’t matter. She had to finally let it all go. Her hopes that Tommy would finally see her, realize he loved her as much as she loved him, and stop lusting after every other girl in the world were over. He’d never change. Why’d it matter if he did anyway? She was leaving in less than a year. It was time to go away to college, get out of that shit hole of a neighborhood, and leave it all behind, including him.
College would give her a chance to grow, learn, and hopefully fall in love again. He wouldn't be Tommy, no one ever would be, but she could have happiness. Something she’d never have with T-Dogg. Sure, he’d made her smile and laugh, joked around with her, and teased her. He’d made her stomach flutter with hope and anticipation, her body shiver with awareness and arousal, but she’d never had happiness. Only a broken heart and shattered dreams.
So, time didn’t matter. Tia didn’t worry about how long she sat there and cried for all she’d never have. She didn’t care who heard or saw. It was something she needed: a cleansing, ridding herself of Tommy once and for all. Once she was finished, she’d bury her feelings for him as deeply as possible and bide her time until she was free.
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Date: August 12, 1995 10:32 pm
So lost in her own sorrow, her sobs muffling any other noise in the night, Tia didn’t hear the clanging of the metal ladder as someone climbed up. She didn’t see the intruder move stealthily onto the landing beside her or sense his presence as he stood, watching over her. She was completely unaware of him until his hand was touching her shoulder. Scrambling back, she let out a startled scream as her head whipped up, and she tried to identify the person hovering over her. It was dark outside, the alley even more so from the lack of streetlights. The moon was the only thing to offer any sort of light, and the person before her was blocking it, leaving his face completely in shadow. But she didn’t need to see him to know he was a stranger.
Unsure of what he wanted, Tia tried to remain calm. Maybe he was just another resident of the building who decided to take the fire escape up to his apartment. Which was weird, but she did it, so who was she to judge? Her heartbeat began to slow, and her breathing evened out as the idea began to take root. Placing her hands more firmly on the metal grate, she scooted back farther to allow him room to pass by and continue up the ladder. Instead, he moved closer to her, his hands extending and reaching toward her. She tried to create some distance, but soon her back was pushed firmly up against the brick wall, and she found herself cornered.
Her palms began to sweat, her breathing became labored again, and a few more tears escaped her eyes as her sorrow quickly morphed into terror.
The man crept closer until his face finally became visible. Recognition instantly dawned, causing her distress to spike. She knew him.
Shorty. He was dangerous, and he didn't belong in their neighborhood. Tommy kept a close eye out for Shorty and any of his boys. He’d been trying to encroach on Tommy’s turf, dealing and causing trouble in the neighborhood. It was so not a good thing that the thug was standing in front of her in the middle of the night.
It was even worse that she was alone.
Tia was torn from her thoughts when his hands gripped her shoulders roughly and jerked her toward him. “Well, what do we have here?” he asked in a deep, teasing voice. The teasing didn’t hide the danger behind the statement.
“What do you want?” she gritted out through the dread that consumed her.
“Well, that’s not a very hospitable greeting. Here I am, visiting your neighborhood, looking for a friend, and I get a welcome like that?” His fingers dug into her shoulders as he jerked her up and into the front of his body. Meaty hands moved down quickly to wrap around her wrists, which he took firmly in one hand while the other reached around and grabbed her waist. His fingers dug into her skin so hard she was positive she’d have bruises.
Tears rolled down her face as she tried to stay quiet through it all. She knew his reputation. He liked to hurt people—especially women. The more she struggled or showed her pain, the more he’d enjoy it. As long as she could help it, she wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.
“So, Tia.”
She let out an involuntary gasp at hearing her name from him.
“Ah, you didn’t think I knew who I was talking to, did you?” His hand at her waist began to roam, roughly and painfully caressing her lower back down to her ass.
She had to bite her lip to keep from whimpering.
“I definitely know who you are. You’re T-Dogg’s bitch. Why he’s so pussy whipped over a little piece of ass like yours when he can get all these other fucking sluts, I’ll never know, but that’s irrelevant. He is, and I plan to use it to my advantage.”
“I, I think you’re mistaken… Tomm…T-Dogg isn’t whipped by me. We’re, we’re just friends.” She hated the way she stuttered, showing him the fear and weakness he was sure to be craving. The way his hands roamed over her body made her skin crawl and bile rise up in her throat. He didn't have to tell her what he was going to do; it was clear in the way he touched her and in the feeling of him getting hard as he did.
Shorty started laughing, deep and hard. “Shit, he’s pussy whipped over a girl that ain’t even his girl? This shit keeps getting better and better. Fuck, this is going to be fun! Bet you’re a virgin, too, huh?”
Then, she was shoved backward, her body hitting the abrasive wall behind her so hard that her head snapped back and slammed into the brick. Pain shot through her as white lights danced before her eyes, blinding her even further in the already dark night. Hands moved over her body again, angry and rough, lifting her clothes and pinching her skin. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she squeezed them shut and tried to block what was happening from her mind.
Shorty wouldn’t kill her; that would defeat the purpose. He was there to hurt her, bruise and rape her, and then send her back to Tommy as a warning. Tia’s only saving grace was that it was happening to her and not Tommy’s baby sister. It would kill her and Tommy if Chantel were ever hurt. A large, clammy hand reached under her shirt, ripped her bra away, and wrapped around her breast, squeezing hard enough to draw a whimper from her.
“You like that, baby?” Hot breath blew across her cheek as he whispered the words to her like a lover would.
It made her gag in response. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to happen…
That only fueled his assault. “That’s right, you like it rough…” He trailed off as his other hand reached down past the hem of her skirt and gripped her thigh. Jerking her leg up, he dug his nails into her skin.
She tried to block him again, thinking of her parents, her best friend Jasmine, Tommy and Chantel, and going away to college, anything that would get Tia’s mind off of what was about to happen. But it wasn’t working; the more Shorty touched her, the more she wanted to scream. His grip on her was getting rougher and rougher, and with each movement, he seemed impossibly closer. She could feel his calloused skin, smell his hot breath, and taste her own terror as it consumed her. Finally, she couldn't hold it back any longer, and she opened her mouth, letting all her fear and anger pour into the scream she let loose.
Shorty jerked back in surprise, but recovered quickly, reaching up and smacking her in the face before covering her mouth with the palm of his hand. Slamming her head against the brick wall, he leaned in close to her ear. “Shut the fuck up, bitch! You scream like that again, and I’ll kill you once I’m finished with you. Understand?”
Tia closed her eyes and nodded.
After a moment of making sure she wasn’t going to scream, which she seriously considered, he resumed his assault. She w
as thrown to the rough metal on her back. His pants unzipped, his fingers clutched at her panties, and he thrust his pelvis forward.
Inches from her apartment, she was going to be raped, and her first time wouldn’t be with the man she’d always dreamed about. Instead, it was going to be a filthy hulking piece of shit who took her most prized possession. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip so hard blood pooled into her mouth.
Then, suddenly, his weight was off her.
It took a moment for his absence to register, but as soon as it did, her eyes sprang open and she was gripped by a new fear.
Tia gasped.
Tommy was there, gun drawn, touching the temple of Shorty’s head. Tommy’s face was difficult to see, but she could feel the anger radiating off him. “Baby girl? You okay?” He was shaking with emotion when he asked.
Unable to answer, she let out a sob as she took the few steps separating them and clung to him. He’d saved her.
Tommy gripped her tightly to his side, but not painfully, as Shorty had done. No, Tommy’s touch was desperate and fearful as his hand ran up and down her back, his body vibrating with controlled rage.
“You better lower that gun, T-Dogg, if you wanna live to make sure your bitch is okay.” Shorty snarled the threat as if he wasn't the one with a gun pointed at his head.
Tommy tensed before pausing the movement of his hand on Tia’s back. He gave her one last squeeze before he gently pushed her away from him so he could look down into her face. He didn’t address Shorty. “Here, baby, take this.” Tommy reached behind his back and pulled out another gun.
7: The Seven Deadly Sins Page 17