by T M Kelly
I was lying on the couch with Sparty snuggled up against my chest. “He’s not interested in socializing at the moment.” I winked.
She lifted my legs and sat down on the couch. I placed my feet on her lap. With that simple movement I realized I had several close friends, and they all were willing to protect me. It felt good having so many friends.
“I guess he has acclimated well to the new house?”
“Very much.” I ran my finger over the top of his head. “You didn’t end up adopting a kitten?”
“Nah, I don’t have time to devote to the little sweeties.”
“Doesn’t Zoe bring Lucky to the gym when she’s training?” Zoe was a regular at the gym and recently won a rematch fight for the Strawweight title with AFC. “Speaking of her, how’s she doing?” Being locked up had its major disadvantages; I lost touch with people I had met at the gym.
“She wanted me to tell you that she’s sorry to have missed your fight.”
“Awww, that was kind of her. Was she too busy with her men?”
“Well, yes, but actually Tyler had a fight in Australia two days after your fight.”
“Wow. And?”
“He lost the fight in the first round.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” Tyler was Julian’s youngest brother. I didn’t know that much about him, but I knew Zoe really fancied him. “Wait, that was his comeback fight, right?”
“Yeah, he has some work to do before going back in the octagon.”
It felt good catching up. Like I was a part of something at that moment. Then I looked around and realized I was still locked inside the same four walls.
“When is your next fight?”
“I’m not sure yet. Possibly in a few months.” Lily tapped her palm on my shin. “You look off today. Want to talk about it?”
“I’m just ready to start my new life. I want Ray found so I can go to the gym and work out with you all.” I sat up. “Sorry, that all sounded so whiny.”
“I get it. You don’t sound whiny at all, Jenny.” She reached for my hand. “I’m amazed you’ve made it this long without threatening to go find him yourself.” Lily laughed. “Um.” She held her hand up. “That was a joke. Please don’t go find him yourself.”
“No worries. I will leave that part to the professionals.”
“I know.” She stood and reached out her hand. “You need ice cream.”
“Do we have some here?”
“I have tons up at the main house.” She proceeded to list all the flavors. “I’m sure there are more, but that’s the main list.”
“Guess ice cream is your kryptonite?”
“You have no idea.”
“I’ll take pecan praline.”
“Grab the bowls. I’ll be right back.” She quickly ran out of the room.
I made my way into the kitchen to grab bowls and spoons. It was already dusk and too hard to see if anyone was on the property. The darkness gave me an eerie feeling. My “what-if” thoughts were popping up in my mind. A few minutes later, Lily appeared out of the darkness carrying two containers of ice cream.
Lily stepped into the kitchen and held them up. “The perfect pick-me-up.”
I pulled the ice cream scoop out of the drawer. “A woman who knows how to speak my language.” Sparty ran into the room right at that moment and slid across the floor. “Well, I guess you’re speaking his language, too.”
28
One month later…
“Why am I trying yoga with you?” Malik said with his body bent in downward dog position. “This all seems pointless.”
“Pointless? Getting your body in a stronger position and more balanced will only benefit you come fight day.” I dropped to my knees and glanced over at him.
“I’m not fighting professionally anymore, though?”
“Then it will strengthen your body and make sex that much better.”
He fell down to the floor and turned on his side. “If you want me to be in the positions correctly then don’t start discussing sex in the middle of a pose.”
I burst out laughing. “Was that too distracting, dear?”
He pushed at my side, causing me to fall over. “Careful, I’ll tell Sparty to bite you.”
Sparty was sprawled out on the end of my mat. “He would never hurt me; he loves me too much.”
“Yeah, he’s really not much of an attack kitty.” Malik poked at the kitten’s side. “Try to look vicious.” Sparty lifted his head and let out the tiniest meow.
“Guess that’s a hard no on looking mean.” Right as I reached forward to pick Sparty up, Malik’s phone rang. The only people who seemed to call him lately were the Moore brothers. Julian was close, so it was easy to get together. Tyler and Brooks would stop over and beg Malik to pop up to the main house and hang out for a few hours.
“I’m going to go see Julian. Is it okay if I bail on yoga?”
“You have to make it up later.” I stepped closer. “Just kidding.” I patted my hand on his chest. “Go have fun. I’ll be fine. Lincoln’s watching me, right?”
“I’ll check in with him now and make sure everything’s quiet.”
I watched as he left through the back door. I leaned against the kitchen island and realized I had lost interest in finishing my yoga session. “What do you think, Sparty? Watch a movie or take a shower?” The kitten started to run in circles around my ankles. “I’m not sure what that means, but shower it is.”
Even after a few months in the guest house, there was still this sense of unease whenever I was alone. I knew Malik needed the time with his friends, so I had no desire to tell him I was scared when alone in the small space. My relationship with him was still so new, and I didn’t really know what was okay and what wasn’t okay to say. My time with Ray would always be in my head. Even at times like this when I was nervous to say the wrong thing. I knew the tiniest of triggers would set me off. My plan was to use fighting as a way to let go of the fear, especially on the tougher days.
One thing was sure: Julian and Lily’s place was locked up like Fort Knox. If anyone attempted to get past security, there were more triggers throughout the property that would notify the guard of a breach.
I stripped out of my clothes at the doorway to the bathroom and turned on the water. It was a scalding hot shower kind of day. I stepped carefully onto the tile floor and immediately placed my head under the water. There was a loud meow and then it stopped. “Sparty, come in here with me.”
There were three bottles of shower gel sitting in the corner. Normally I only had one. Two of the flavors were ocean breeze and spring meadows. Alarm bells started to go off in my mind. Those were the two shower gels I always had at the house with Ray. Why would Malik have the housekeeper pick them up? Or did he?
I shook my head, realizing I was overreacting. It was just shower gel; everyone loved those flavors. Pushing the thoughts away, I dropped my head back into the water and combed my hands through my hair. The fact that I let myself get all worked up over shower gel made me laugh out loud.
As the last of the cream rinse was washed out, I squeezed out the excess water from my hair and turned off the water. “Sparty, you were supposed to come in here.” Normally he would come running at the mention of his name. There was silence this time. “Sparty.” I dried off quickly and wrapped the towel around my waist. “Are you okay, buddy?”
Something inside was telling me all my fears were about to come to light. I had to walk down the hallway without knowing it if was safe. Then I had to round the corner and enter the living room without an ounce of protection. My body moved at a snail’s pace, trying to prolong the inevitable. As I stepped into the opening between the hallway and the living room, my heart dropped. Ray was sitting on the couch holding Sparty in his arms.
“I didn’t know you liked animals.” He moved his hand slowly over the kitten’s back. “Why didn’t you ask for a kitten when we were together?”
“I—” We were alone in the guest house. Someth
ing was very wrong. “Please don’t hurt him.”
“Hurt him. Why would I do that?” He set the kitten on the couch and stood up. “Nice place you got here.”
“How?”
“How did I find you?” He sneered. “That was not easy.” He stepped around the couch and stood only a few feet away from me. “Turns out anyone can be bought out for the right amount of money.”
Was he talking about Lincoln? That seemed impossible. Journey and Lincoln cared about their job and protecting others. I tried to think about who gave up my whereabouts, but nothing was coming to my mind. Then for some reason the guard who was patched into every area of the place came to my mind. He wouldn’t, would he?
“Still trying to figure out who is not a fan of yours?” He laughed and stepped closer.
“I’m sorry for leaving.”
“You’re sorry. See, I don’t think you are.”
“You scared me that night. I almost died, Ray.”
“Almost being the keyword there.” He took that last step and was now just an inch from my body. “We were together for a long time. Never once did I kill you.” I watched as his hand reached up and he looped his fingers around the edges of the towel.
“Please don’t do this, Ray.”
“Please don’t do this, Ray,” he mocked. “You’re my wife, I’m allowed to see you naked. It’s been a long time.” Then he pulled the towel down.
I quickly wrapped my arms around my chest. All the MMA moves were popping up in my mind. I was trying to figure out which one would work perfectly in this situation. Then I realized he was so much faster than me. Anything I tried on him would more than likely lead to me dying at his hands. Which was the one thing he’s wanted all along.
“Where’s your new boyfriend?” He combed his fingers down my hair and looped a strand around his index finger. “You were quick to find someone else.”
“You’ve been with someone, too,” I said without thinking. The vision of him walking out of The Blue Elephant with two women at his side flashed in my mind.
He reached up and backhanded me across my cheek. “Don’t tell lies, Jenny. It’s not nice, remember.”
I threw my hand to my cheek. The pain shot through every part of my face. “I—I’m sorry.”
“You should be. That hurt my feelings.”
I reached my hand up and placed it on his chest. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
He shoved me away. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I wasn’t, I swear.” Where was Malik? Well, the real question was, why wasn’t Lincoln here already? Who was watching the house? I had a feeling I was on my own.
“Put some clothes on. We need to go somewhere.” He shoved me down the hallway. “Which bedroom is yours?”
I stopped in the doorway, fearful to enter. Ray could easily throw me on the bed and force me to have sex with him. The moment I took one step inside, he stepped up behind me and shoved the outline of his erection into my backside. With all the fighting I had been taught, I honestly didn’t know if I had the strength to force him off me.
“Ray.”
“Lie down, Jenny.”
I could feel the tears slowly fall down my cheek. Where was Malik? I needed him. “Please don’t make me do this.”
“Do what?” He reached his hands around and cupped both my breasts. “You’re my wife. I’m allowed to have sex with you whenever I want.”
The thought of him forcing himself inside me made me feel sick. I felt bile rise up in my throat. “No,” I said and tried to step away from him. “You’re not allowed to have sex with me anymore.”
He wrapped his hand around my bicep and squeezed. “Oh, I can have sex with you. You just watch.” He pushed my body back. I lost my footing and fell back onto the bed. “See, you can’t fight against me. You never could.”
“Are you sure about that, Ray?” I kicked my foot forward shoving him away from the bed.
“You bitch.” He lunged toward me and grabbed a hold of my legs. I was quickly pulled off the bed and my back fell against the floor with a hard thud. “You will regret doing that little move on me.”
I didn’t, though. The only regret I had at the moment was saying “I do” all those years ago. I tried to move away but something was wrong. There was a pain that shot up my back with even the slightest of movements. If I couldn’t fight against my husband, he would win. That was something I just could not allow to happen.
He surprised me by kicking his foot into my abdomen. “Please,” I cried out and went into a fetal position. Every part of my body was fighting against me, and I didn’t know how much more I could take.
Everything Malik had taught me seemed to disappear. In its place was fear. I was the Jenny from months ago. What kind of fighter would I be for Spartacus if all I did was drop into a fetal position when fear set in?
Ray dragged my legs away from the bed and bent to straddle my body. “Watching you in the octagon surprised me.”
“Why?” I hiccupped and prepared for the blow.
“Because the Jenny I know gives up too easy. She was never a fighter. You just let me do anything I wanted.” He fisted his hand in my hair and raked his nails across my scalp. “Admit it Jenny, you like it when I do this to you.”
“No,” I said and struggled to hold back my tears. “Why don’t you love me, Ray? What did I do to you? I thought I gave you everything.”
“You’re weak.”
“I just wanted to make you happy.”
“You’re weak and boring.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I cried for the man on top of me. Then the tears were for me and letting myself get to this point in my life. “You should see the women at the casino. Now that’s what I need.”
“You could’ve just divorced me.”
“That’s too easy.” He tightened his hold on my head. I closed my eyes and tried to visualize a happy moment from my childhood. I wasn’t prepared for the blow to the side of my head. “Open your eyes. You need to watch everything that happens.”
“Was this always who you were?”
“What do you mean?”
“This. When I met you things were different, or was it all just a cover so I would marry you?”
I watched as he stood up, and I knew whatever was coming would be bad. He bent and pulled me up. The moment he wrapped his arm under my right arm I knew what he was doing. This was going to hurt. “How did it go?” he said beside my ear. Like this?” And just like that I was in position for an armbar submission. “Isn’t this how you won the fight?”
I felt my arm pop and the sharpest pain shoot through my upper torso. “Oh, God.” Only once before did his beatings get to this point, and just like before, the pain was more than I could take.
He let go of my body and I fell to the floor like a rag doll. “This is a bummer. I honestly thought you would put up more of a fight. You disappoint me, Jenny.” I prayed he was done, but that was just wishful thinking. Ray stood in front of me and threw two hard blows against my abdomen with his foot.
I wasn’t ready to give up. There was so much I still wanted to do in my life.
“I was about through with you anyway.” He kicked me again.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered and felt my eyes close. I couldn’t hold on anymore. Ray finally succeeded. Hiding out in this guest house was never the answer. Everything seemed to fade. I tried to stay alert, but my body had other plans.
29
Malik
“Hey.” I stepped into the guest house. Something felt off. Sparty ran into the kitchen, meowing liking crazy with every step he took. “What is it, buddy? Where’s Jenny?” I reached down and picked him up, but he fought against being in my arms. “Fine.” I let him jump out of my arms. “Show me what has you all worked up.”
I followed behind the small kitten and noticed a towel at the entrance of the hallway. Immediately, I knew Jenny was in danger. I ran into the bedroom and noticed covers half off the bed. A lamp was broken and several i
tems from the dresser were scattered on the floor.
“Jenny.” My eyes caught a drop of red by the bed. “No.” There was more than a drop. Someone was bleeding pretty badly at the moment.
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and called Lincoln. “Get your ass here now.”
Then I called Kac. “I need you here like yesterday.”
I ended the call and stared at Sparty standing at the doorway. He actually looked like he was afraid to enter the room.
“Come here, buddy.” I bent down and reached my hand out. “We’ll find her, I promise.” Sparty ran forward and jumped into my arms. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.” It was like the kitten knew I was struggling at the moment. He rubbed his head against my beard. I’m not sure how long we stood there.
“What the fuck happened?” Lincoln startled me from my thoughts.
“That’s the question I thought I would ask you.” I pointed to the blood spots. “Why are there signs of a struggle when you’re supposed to be watching her?”
“I was. I have been.” Lincoln ran his hands through his hair. “Malik, the cameras were on and I was watching. When she took the shower, I put a piece of paper up so I didn’t see everything.” He paced the room. “How?”
“Someone had to of helped on the inside.” Lincoln and I turned to find Kac standing in the doorway. “That has to be the only explanation.”
“Are you trying to tell me someone hacked the computers?” I sat down on the edge of the bed. “Julian does background checks on everyone here.”
“Remember, money talks.” Kac squatted down by the blood. “That looks more like a surface cut because it’s not a large amount.”
“Surface or not, Jenny’s missing or possibly already dead.”
Kac stood. “Stop. You can’t start talking like that right now.” He walked toward the door. “We need to search the grounds. She could still be here.”
I watched as they both left the room. Jenny was missing and this would be all my fault. We both let ourselves get too comfortable in this little house. Why did I go up to the main house to hang out with Julian? Jenny always encouraged me to go, but sometimes I wondered if she was just trying to ensure I was happy.