She wasn’t proud of any of what she was feeling, but this was her truth and she couldn’t deny it. At the same time, though, she also couldn’t deny Dillon’s history. She couldn’t ignore everything she knew about him—or forget that some people never changed for the better. So what was a girl to do? Take a chance on love or leave well enough alone? She just didn’t know and wondered if she ever would—that is, without getting hurt again.
Chapter 18
Raven hadn’t slept a wink. Maybe she had for ten minutes here and there, but that was about it. Now she was up, pacing back and forth in her bedroom, trying to figure a way out of this mess. For one, she was definitely planning to record another Facebook Live message, clearing up any questions about who might have raped her. She wouldn’t take back the part about being raped, but she would clarify that Pastor Black wasn’t the man she was talking about. She would even state that while she and his son were divorced, Pastor Black had never been anything but a gentleman to her. She would then go on to say that he’d been a joy to work for, and that she was very sorry if her words had led anyone to believe anything else.
But before doing any of that, she wanted to call D.C. again. That way she could try to reason with him one more time about installment payments. He’d already told her that he wanted the entire sum, but maybe she could convince him otherwise. That way, when she clarified the rape story and he lowered the amount she owed, she could still spread it out over several months.
Raven picked up her cell phone and dialed his number before she lost her nerve.
He answered on the first ring. “Banks open up this early now?”
Raven hated how arrogant he was. “No, I just needed to talk to you about something.”
“Unless you’re callin’ to say you have my money, we don’t have a single thing to talk about.”
“D.C., please just listen. This won’t take very long.”
“What is it?”
“I know you said you want all the money, but I just don’t have it.”
“Then what you do have is a problem. A really big problem.”
Raven had planned on offering to pay half of it now, but with the way he was sounding, she decided to up the ante a bit. “Can you at least accept a hundred and fifty thousand, and then twenty thousand over the next six months?”
“What part of ‘I want all my money’ don’t you understand?”
“It’s not that I don’t understand. But I can’t give you what I don’t have.”
“I don’t believe that. I think you have two-seventy and a whole lot more. You’re just tryin’ to get out of payin’ me.”
“I would never do that.”
“A trick like you who used to lie and steal like it was nothing? Of course you would.”
“D.C., I don’t have it. But as I said, I can pay you part of it and then give you the rest over the next six months.”
“I’m gonna say this again. I want all of my money or nothin’ at all. But let me warn you about somethin’. If I end up with nothin’, I’m gonna handle things the way I see fit.”
Raven knew he was threatening her with bodily harm again, and before she could stop herself she said, “Did Pastor Black or my ex-husband put you up to this? Is that why you waited nine years to contact me?”
D.C. laughed at her. “Why would my money have anything to do with them?”
“I don’t know, but it just doesn’t make sense that you would wait all this time.”
“Heifer, I think you need your head examined. Because right now, you’re soundin’ real stupid. Paranoid even.”
Raven didn’t know if he was telling the truth or if he was only pretending that this wasn’t revenge for Pastor Black and Dillon. She just didn’t, and that worried her.
“I don’t know what else to say,” she finally admitted.
“So does that mean you won’t even have the money by next week the way you claimed?”
“D.C., how many people do you know could go to the bank and bring you almost three hundred thousand dollars?”
“I know exactly who could do it. Big-time pastors like you. Those with large congregations and huge online followings. Plus, from what I saw, you’re easily livin’ in a four- or five-bedroom home. A big, beautiful one at that.”
Raven’s heart skipped several beats. “Excuse me?”
“What? Are you shocked that I know where you live? With all my many contacts and as small as Mitchell is? Sweetheart, not only do I know where you live, I know what kind of car you drive, where you work, and as you know, I have your phone number. So if you’re thinkin’ about trying to dodge me, you can forget it.”
“D.C., I’m asking you again. I’m begging you. Please let me pay you what I can. Let me get you the hundred and fifty now and the rest later. Please.”
“No, you’re now makin’ way more money than some people make in a lifetime, and that’s why I want my two seventy. You’re out here using God’s Word to fool people out of their money—innocent people, at that—so it’s like I told you last night, pay me or deal with the consequences.”
Raven tried to figure out what else she could say, but before she could, D.C. said, “The clock starts tickin’ now. You hear me, heifer? Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. You had better get me my money.”
When D.C. hung up, Raven dropped down on the chair in the corner of her bedroom. What if he was telling the truth? What if his wanting all this money from her had nothing to do with Pastor Black or Dillon? What if she was dealing with two different scenarios, and all three men were out to get her?
But something told her that her instincts were right, and that this had everything to do with that video she’d broadcast. It was true that Raven despised Dillon and Pastor Black, but now she sort of regretted the way she’d led people to believe that Pastor Black might’ve raped her. Until this morning, she hadn’t noticed just how many comments had been left about her ex-father-in-law, those from folks speculating about whether he was her predator. She had certainly hoped that at least a few people would think it was him, because it was getting her a lot of new attention, but now the rumor mill was turning a lot quicker than she’d planned for.
Which meant she had to figure out both a way to change her statement and a way to get every dime of the money D.C. was asking for. He was adamant about receiving it all at once, and now she knew there was no changing his mind about it. She wasn’t sure how she would find so much money so quickly, but she knew she had to. Because when it came to D.C. and his vicious rules, her life depended on it.
Chapter 19
Raven had just finished recording her internal video announcement with Melvin for Sunday, and now she was heading back to her office. She’d considered letting her members know that her ex-father-in-law was not the man who’d raped her, but she’d decided to wait. She also had planned on updating her online following with the same information, but she was putting that on hold as well. The reason: She needed proof that D.C.’s financial demands were in fact connected to Dillon and his father. D.C. had claimed that they weren’t, but Raven just couldn’t be sure. She’d even decided this morning that D.C. was definitely in cahoots with them. But again, what if he wasn’t and she went ahead and exonerated Pastor Black, anyway? D.C. would still end up wanting $270,000 from her, and she would lose all leverage with Pastor Black for no reason. In the beginning, she’d only wanted people to think he’d done something to her for publicity purposes, but she’d also known that her accusation might create a chance for her to blackmail him in some way.
Raven continued down the carpeted hallway, smiled at a couple of her staff members, and walked inside her office. She closed her door, sat behind her desk, and opened her laptop. Then she leaned back in her chair, weighing her options again. Maybe she should call Dillon to see if she could feel him out. Maybe he would slip up and say something he shouldn’t. Although, with Dillon that was highly unlikely. He was too clever for that kind of thing, and whether he was the mastermind behind this D. C.
Robinson drama or not, he would never let on. He would much rather see Raven squirm and suffer with curiosity. He was dirty that way, and he had no mercy on anyone he couldn’t stand. And with her it was worse, because he outright hated her.
But maybe it wasn’t Dillon who she should be calling, anyway. Maybe Pastor Black was the person she needed to talk to. Especially since he was the person all the rumors were circulating about.
Raven debated what she should do and then picked up her smartphone. She Googled the phone number for Deliverance Outreach and dialed it.
“Pastor Curtis Black’s office. This is Lana speaking.”
“Uh, hi. Is Pastor Black available?”
“May I tell him who’s calling?”
“Raven.”
“Is there a last name?”
“It’s me, Miss Lana. Pastor Black’s ex-daughter-in-law.”
“Oh, how are you, Raven?”
“I’m doing well, and you?”
“I’m good. Please hold for a moment.”
“Thank you,” Raven said.
Miss Lana had been cordial enough. And although Raven hadn’t spoken to her since she’d embezzled the money from the church, she knew she probably wasn’t one of Miss Lana’s favorite people. Not when Miss Lana saw Pastor Black as her surrogate son and was very protective of him and his family. It also didn’t help that because Dillon had been estranged from his dad the whole time he and Raven had been married, Raven hadn’t seen Miss Lana in nine years. She’d never even had a chance to apologize to her, but it wasn’t as if Raven felt she needed to, either.
Lana came back on the line. “I’ll transfer you now. And you have a good day.”
“Thank you.”
Raven waited a few seconds for her ex-father-in-law to answer.
“Pastor Black speaking.”
“Hi, Pastor.”
“Raven,” he said with no feeling in his voice.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m calling you, but if you have time I’d like to speak to you about something.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’m not sure how this happened,” she began lying, “but for some reason when I shared online that I’d been raped by a pastor, some people took it the wrong way. They assumed I was talking about you.”
“Uh-huh, and why do you think that is?”
She could already tell he wasn’t happy. “I don’t know. Maybe because I worked for you.”
“Well, for one thing, you and I both know that I never touched you in any way, let alone raped you. I also understand that my son already contacted you about this.”
“He did, but I just wanted to call to say how sorry I am. Because not once when I bared my soul to the public did I think they would start mentioning your name.”
“Well, they did, and it’s already causing people to think the worst of me. It’s damaging my reputation.”
“I never meant for that to happen, so I hope you can forgive me.”
“Have you corrected your statement? Made it clear to everyone that you specifically weren’t referring to me?”
“No, but I’m going to…but I did want to ask you about something else, too.”
“Which is?”
“D.C.”
“Robinson?”
“Yes.”
“What about him?”
“Did you ask him to contact me?”
“No, why would I?”
Raven closed her eyes with disappointment. “I don’t know. I just wondered if maybe you’d done it to get back at me about the video.”
“Look,” Pastor Black said. “First of all, I know I’m not guilty of raping anyone, and second, Dillon already told you what you needed to do. Retract your statement…correct it or do whatever you need to do to clear my name. That’s all I want. Nothing else.”
“Well, it just seemed strange that I broadcasted live on Monday, and two days later D.C. showed up at my church. He literally came to Bible study last night.”
“Why?”
“To scare me, I guess. But that’s not the worst part. He wants his thirty thousand dollars back.”
“Well, Raven, it’s not like you don’t owe the man. So I suggest you pay him.”
“Well, I would, except he wants one hundred percent for every year I was late. So instead of the original thirty thousand, he wants two hundred and seventy.”
“I guess I don’t know what to tell you, because I don’t get involved in D.C.’s business.”
“But you did before I went to prison.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“No, but I just had a feeling that you did, because D.C. doesn’t let anyone get away with not paying him. Even after I was arrested and was going back and forth to court, he never bothered me. For years, I never heard from him.”
“I’m sorry about your situation with D.C., but you’ll have to work that out with him.”
“I already tried, but he wants his money. And I don’t have it.”
“Well, it’s like I just told you, Raven, I don’t get involved in D.C.’s business.”
Raven wanted to plead with him to help her, just like she’d pleaded with D.C. earlier, but she didn’t.
“I need to get going,” Pastor Black said, “but I trust you’ll be clearing my name as soon as possible.”
“I will,” she said.
“I appreciate it. You take care.”
Raven ended the call and set her phone on her desk. She wasn’t sure what to think or what the truth was. Would Pastor Black lie about hiring D.C. to do his dirty work? He didn’t sound as though he was, but what if he were? What if he’d only told her what she’d wanted to hear, and once she cleared his reputation, D.C. would still be waiting to collect six figures from her? Because it wasn’t like she could ignore her gut feeling about this. Or what if Dillon had hooked up with D.C. on his own as a way to finally get back at her? He’d lost his church, his power as a pastor in the community, and his popularity with women, and he blamed her for all of it. Not to mention, she’d divorced him, and she also had that sex tape of him and Porsha.
This last thought sort of lifted Raven’s spirits a little. She’d always told herself that there might come a time when that lurid sex video might become her saving grace. She hadn’t known how or when, but she’d always thought that she would use it if she had to. So maybe it was time she stopped being a scared little wimp—maybe it was time she stood up for herself. At least when it came to Dillon. She still had to figure out how to handle this D.C. state of affairs, but if Dillon contacted her again, she would remind him about his and Porsha’s sex tape. If he threatened her, she would threaten him right back with no fear in her heart.
This was also the reason she wasn’t retracting anything about her rape story. She was leaving everything as is, and if Dillon or his dad wanted her to fix her statement, they would have to pay. They would need to compensate her dearly—by way of $270,000.
Chapter 20
Four days in a row. That’s how often Dillon had called Porsha, and once again, she was happy to hear from him.
“So you do realize we just talked last night, don’t you?” she asked, leaning back in her office chair at the church.
“Yeah, but what does that have to do with me calling you today?”
“I guess I don’t understand why you’re calling. Not after all the drama we’ve been through.”
“That’s all in the past.”
“Maybe, but I still remember every single thing that happened.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’m not giving up on us. I’m going to keep calling until you agree to see me.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“I just don’t.”
“Okay, wait a minute,” he said, as though he’d had some huge lightbulb moment. “Are you seeing someone? Is that why you keep turning me down?”
Porsha scooted slightly away from her desk and crossed her legs. “As a matter of fact, I am
.”
“Is it serious?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Because if it is—or even if it’s not—I want you to end it.”
Porsha chuckled. “Wow, you have some real issues.”
“No, I just know what I want, and I’m not afraid to go after it.”
Porsha didn’t comment.
“Are you there?” he asked. “Because I don’t hear anything.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“That you’re willing to give me another chance. That you never stopped loving me. Because I certainly still love you.”
Porsha closed her eyes, trying not to let his words affect her. But they did. She didn’t need this kind of thing happening in her life right now. Not when she was already struggling with her conscience and the fact that she knew she wasn’t honoring God the way she should. What she wanted was to focus on her singles ministry for women, figure out a way to end things with Steve, and also tell Dillon that they could never be a couple again. That a relationship between them would never work. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She couldn’t convey any of what she was thinking, because in all honesty, she did want to see him. More than ever.
“You only think you still love me,” she finally said. “Or who knows? Maybe you never loved me at all. Maybe what we had was only about sex.”
“The sex was out of this world. You and I both know that. But I also cared about you and loved you.”
“Right. You loved me so much that you started seeing that woman, Taylor, and then you asked her to marry you.”
“I know, and I realize now how much I hurt you. I mean, I always knew that I had, but talking to you this week has let me know how much it really affected you. And I’m sorry.”
Sin of a Woman Page 11