by Ancelli
Liza took a step back.
“Now,” Larissa smirked. “Do you value your job?”
Liza’s lips thinned, glaring at her.
“I can have you fired any time I want,” Larissa voiced. Now who had leverage?
“What are you talking about?” Liza’s voice dropped low.
“Guess what?” Larissa raised her voice. “I work for corporate. They sent me to find out what was going on in this branch. Why so many employees are quitting, and I think I have found the problem. It’s your racist ass.” Larissa twisted her lips. “I don’t have to touch you to hurt you.”
Larissa could hear commotion outside. All of a sudden the door flew open, and Shane ambled in slamming it shut. “You fucking bitch,” he grabbed Liza by the throat, walking her backward until he banged her against the wall. “How long have you been beating on my son?” he roared.
“Shane!” Larissa yelled, “Shane!”
“You beat my child over a fucking drawing,” his fingers wrapped around her neck. Liza was trying to fight him off as he eased her off the wall. “He’s an innocent child, and you beat him over some shit.”
“Let… me… go,” she scratched at his arms.
“Shane… please let her go,” Larissa begged. He was surprised to see her, he glanced back and then at Liza.
“I didn’t… mean… to… hurt… him…” she said between breaths.
“You didn’t mean to fucking hurt him?” Shane’s voice was vicious. “It’s not the fucking first time.”
“Shane,” Larissa grabbed his arm trying to move him, but he didn’t budge.
“Larissa, what are you doing here?” The veins in his neck throbbed.
“I’m working,” her voice rattled, she was worried about him. He was hurting Liza, and she could see his grip getting tighter. “Baby, whatever happened we can solve it together, please let her go.”
“Check your phone,” he demanded.
“Huh?”
“Check your fucking phone,” he repeated.
Larissa walked over to the desk, picked up her phone and searched as fast as she could. And then her heart stopped. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the marks on his baby’s back and legs. “Oh God,” she gasped. “Why?” Larissa turned, yelling at Liza.
“I didn’t…” Liza held onto his wrist. “I didn’t mean… to hurt… him.” She coughed.
“Why would you do something like that to someone you love?” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “He’s a baby!” Larissa shouted.
“Because of you,” Shane’s chest heaved up and down, letting Liza’s feet touch the floor.
Larissa dropped the phone, staring at them. Liza hurt that precious little boy because of her. “Me?” Shane didn’t look back. She sighed; Shane wasn’t going to kill her. If he had wanted Liza dead she would be by now. He was putting fear in her, letting her feel what Grayson must have felt, betrayed by his own mother. Larissa knew Shane was reliving his childhood in an abusive house with his parents.
“Because he loves you, Larissa” Shane cracked his neck, his chokehold on Liza wasn’t as tight as before. “Because I love you,” he said to Larissa, and then glared at Liza with shiny eyes. “You will never see my son again,” he balled his fist, and put it near her face making her flinch. “You fucking come near him and I will kill you,” he whispered.
“Shane, walk away and let me handle her. Please, baby, we’re getting married next Friday remember, and we can’t do that if you’re behind bars.” Larissa touched his back. “I’ve got you.”
Shane swung and punched a hole in the wall right next to Liza’s head. “You fucking bitch, you’re dead to me.”
“I didn’t…” Liza shook her head, gasping. “I made a mistake,” she cried out. “I love Grayson with all my heart,” she wiped her tears. “I made a mistake. You can’t take my son!” She yelled, taking deep breaths.
“Watch me. I’m getting the best fucking lawyer money can buy. I will have full custody of my son.” Shane stormed out of the office, leaving them alone.
Liza was watching the door. “He can’t take my son from me,” she whispered.
She twisted back around and Larissa slapped the shit out of Liza, making her head snap back. “What kind of a mother would hurt her own child like that?” Larissa was angry, now it was her that couldn’t control herself. “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size? Now all bets are off, bitch. I saved you this time, but next time I hope I’m not around when Shane comes after you.”
“You hit me,” Liza held her cheek. “You’re not getting my son, both of you assaulted me today.” She plunged forward.
“Since you’re filing charges, let me finish what I started,” Larissa slapped at her and lunged forward, jumping on Liza. She swung her fist with everything she had.
Liza fought back this time, grabbing Larissa’s bun. “You black bitch!”
Larissa tried to get her to release her hair; she gripped her elbow and bit Liza’s arm, making her let go. Liza leapt at her, and Larissa kicked her in the stomach. “Who’s the bitch now?” She held both fists up jumping from side to side, like she was in a boxing ring.
Liza held her stomach, and charged at Larissa. They thumped on the wall and then the door. She tugged Liza by her locks, tangled her finger in her hair, and with her other hand she punched her in the face. The door flew opened as a couple of people tried ripping them apart. Larissa managed to land another kick in Liza’s stomach before they finally separated them.
Liza wiped the blood off her bottom lip. “Call… the police!” She yelled, looking at her palm.
“What the hell just happened?” Ben stared at Larissa as he held Liza. She pulled the blonde strands of hair from between her fingers. Larissa was taking deep breaths, calming down. Liza was going try to use this against Shane, but she wasn’t going to let that happen.
“That bitch jumped me for no reason,” Liza watched Larissa.
Larissa fixed her hair, and smoothed out her clothes. “You want to know why your employees hate working here, why they quit?” She grabbed her laptop, placed it in her briefcase, and picked up the small recorder. “It’s because of her,” she pointed at Liza. “Your supervisor is a racist pig.”
“Ben I’m not a racist,” Liza cried out. “I like you and you’re black.”
Larissa rewound the recording, and hit play. ‘Are you here looking for a job, because we do not hire people like you. You people don’t understand the concept of work. Maybe you should be looking for a job in a fast food restaurant.’
Ben listened, and stared at Liza.
“Yes call the police,” Larissa clutched her briefcase. “I have a few things to say to them too. Like how you sent your goons to attack me. If it wasn’t for Shane they might’ve hurt me, and then if it wasn’t enough you beat your son because he loves me. He’s a child,” Larissa’s heart hurt, the pictures were horrible. She could imagine what Grayson was going through. She prayed this wouldn’t scar him, hoping that he still loved her. “No matter what you do I will love Grayson. Press charges,” she glared at Liza. “See you in court, bitch.” Larissa walked out the door.
Chapter Twelve
Shane had been driving for over an hour, he wanted to snap that bitch’s neck. His hands were still shaking from how angry he was. If Larissa hadn’t been in the office he probably would’ve actually hurt the mother of his child. He wondered what Larissa was doing there? Liza’s sorry was too little too late. He should’ve taken care of this years ago. Shane didn’t want his son growing up without his mother, but enough was enough.
“Daddy… juice,” Grayson said from the backseat.
He grabbed the book-bag off the passenger seat, and dug into it, pulling out a juice box. “Here, buddy,” he handed it to him.
“Thank you.” Grayson took the juice, placed the straw in the box, and continued watching cartoons on his iPad. He was smiling without a care in the world. He was so innocent; he didn’t deserve what happened to him, just becaus
e he loved someone else other than his mother. “We going to see Grandma and Mommy?” he watched Shane through the rearview mirror.
“No, buddy.” No matter what that bitch did, Grayson loved her. When Shane didn’t know any better he loved his mother too, even with all the abuse he received from her until he was old enough to know better. Love should never cause physical pain. “Daddy needs to talk to a friend.”
“Okay.” Grayson replied.
“Please stop!” Shane cried out, covering his face with his small hands as the belt struck his small wrists, stinging him. “Mom, I didn’t do anything,” he whispered with tears rolling down his swollen face. His father had just slapped him because he didn’t move fast enough to grab him a beer.
He could smell the liquor on his mother’s breath as she spoke to him in between lashes. “When James asks you to do something you run. Because of him we have a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs.” She swung the belt again hitting him in his back. “You will never amount to anything if you don’t listen,” his mother released the belt, dropping it on the floor. She grabbed him by his hair making him look at her. The woman who was supposed to protect him, and love him was the one hurting him over a man that didn’t give a damn about her. “No one wants a boy like you.” She smacked him in the face so hard, making his nose bleed. She pushed him against the wall, and Shane must have blanked out for a few seconds because when he came through, James was towering over him.
“You will respect me in this fucking house,” James roared, and then he closed his fist, and was about to strike him when someone yelled stop. They all glanced toward the front door; it was his granny.
“James, stop!” She shouted coming through the screen door. “Leave that child alone. Haven’t you learned the consequences of laying a hand on innocent children with anger?” She yelled.
“What I do with my son is none of your business,” James stared at his mother.
“It is my business, when it comes to my grandchildren.” His granny’s eyes shined with unshed tears. “James, I never let your father hurt you, like he did me. I prayed you wouldn’t turn out like him.” Shane swore he would never turn out like his father and grandfather.
The ringing of his phone brought him back to the present, lighting up the screen in his car. ‘Beautiful,’ flashed on the screen. He pushed the button.
“Is Grayson okay?” Larissa’s voice rattled.
“He’s okay, babe.” He looked at his son through the mirror.
“Those pictures, poor baby. Are you sure he’s okay? Did you take him to the hospital?” She asked concerned.
“Yes,” he sighed, thinking of the lacerations on his back. Lorenzo stayed with Grayson until he took care of Liza. “The doctor said he is going to be okay. Nothing is broken.” After the credit union incident Shane took his son to the hospital. The doctor said, Grayson didn’t have any internal injuries and he gave him an ointment for his lacerations, and marks.
Grayson waved his hand. “Hi, Rissa,” he yelled from the backseat. “I okay.”
Larissa chuckled. “I love you, buddy, don’t ever doubt that.”
She was the one, man he loved her to death. Larissa handled the situation, when he couldn’t, woman to woman. He couldn’t wait until next Friday.
Grayson didn’t answer right away, and he started giggling. Shane glanced at him, and then back at the road. He was into watching the cartoon. “Buddy, Rissa said she loves you.” Did Liza finally get to his little boy, was he afraid to love Larissa?
He looked up, “Rissa, I love you too.” Liza’s brainwashing didn’t affect his son.
“I should’ve been there for him,” Shane’s knuckles started getting pale from the way he was gripping the steering wheel. “Where the fuck was his grandmother?”
“Shane, don’t you dare blame yourself for something that bitch did. You didn’t know Liza was capable of hurting your son,” she responded in a raised voice. Larissa was passionate about Grayson.
“I’m suing for sole custody. She will never lay another hand on my son again.” He wished someone had saved him when he was younger. Shane had no one, however that wasn’t the case with his son. Grayson had him, and now Larissa.
“Liza is going to fight us, but we will hit her with everything we’ve got, including her own mother.” Larissa said.
Mrs. Barbara loved Grayson, and there was no way she would let Liza beat him like that. When he returned to town he would talk to Mrs. Barbara. She didn’t like him, but they had one thing in common, they loved Grayson. “I’m supposed to keep him safe.”
“Shane…”
“I’m fine, babe,” he gripped the steering wheel. He shouldn’t have left Larissa with Liza. He knew Larissa was a firecracker when messed with. “Do I have to come bail you out of jail?”
“No,” Larissa sighed, “that heifer got what was coming to her.”
“Sorry I left you with Liza, but if I had stayed any longer I would be the one in jail.” Shane continued down the highway. Fuck, he was supposed to only scare the shit out of her, he shouldn’t have touched her.
“Yeah um about that, we might still end up in jail.”
“Larissa, baby what did you do?” Fuck why did he leave her there alone? She could be over protective of her boys. “Did you take that bitch out?”
“Unfortunately she’s still living. You’re rubbing off on me,” she chuckled, making him smile. “I don’t see any police cars.”
“What were you doing at the credit union?” Shane was surprised to see her, but glad she was there to talk him down.
“I was working, doing a consult.” She laughed. “Liza and I were getting some shit straight.”
Shane wasn’t alone in this battle, Larissa was right by his side. “Babe, I’m so sorry I got you involved in my shit,” he glanced at the sign ahead of him.
“Really! Shane, I would do anything for you and your son. I involved myself. I think I got my point across, no one messes with my boys.”
“Is that so?” Shane grinned.
“I will always have your back. Are you on your way home? I’m coming over.”
“There’s something I need to take care of first. Something I should’ve done a long time ago.” He had ten more miles to arrive at his destination. “I’ll see you at the house later, I’m on my way to secure our future.”
“Shane, I love you.”
“I love you too, Rissa.”
“Please promise me you’re not going to do anything crazy.” He could hear the concern in her voice.
“Promise, babe. Bye.”
“Bye, Rissa.” Grayson sang.
Chapter Thirteen
“Just in case,” Larissa said to herself, before making a U-turn, and driving down the street. She wasn’t going to let Liza have any more control over them. Shane promised he wouldn’t do anything crazy, but he was taking care of business. Now it was her turn to fix what happened earlier today. Larissa parked in an empty space next to a police trooper SUV. She grabbed her purse and got out of her vehicle.
She ambled toward the building.
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” a police officer opened the door for her.
“Thank you,” she slipped by him as he was leaving the police station.
Larissa walked up to the front desk, but there wasn’t anyone behind the counter. A female cop looked up from her desk to the side, “May I help you?”
“Yes, I would like to report an assault,” She inspected the room. Larissa had never visited a police station before. She kept away from Shane’s line of work. She’d never been in trouble with law enforcement. That was a lie, she was always a bad girl with Shane, hoping for a little punishment from him. Her lips curled into a naughty smile watching the cuffs on one of the officer’s waist. Last time she saw a pair of cuffs, her wrists were hooked to her bed, and Shane was doing some naughty things with his tongue.
“Ma’am,” the officer snapped her fingers in the air.
“Yes,” Larissa snapped o
ut of her trance.
“I can help you,” she pointed at the chair next to her desk. “Have a seat. I’m Officer Thompson.”
She sat in the plastic chair with her purse on her lap.
“May I have your name?” Thompson pulled out a notepad from her top drawer, and started inputting date and time. “Address?”
“Larissa Edwards.” She watched her scribble her name, and her address.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
Larissa started telling the officer everything that happened the night Liza’s brothers and lover came looking for her. About the threats and bats they had. “My fiancé already filed that report.”
Thompson dropped the pen, and reared back in her seat. “You’re Morgan’s fiancée?” She smiled.
“Yes,” Larissa stared at her.
“Nice to meet you,” she shook her hand. “Man… Morgan was furious. If I were him I would’ve done more damage than flesh wounds. They came to his house with the intent of hurting him and you,” she leaned closer whispering. “They’re out on bail,” she moved back. “Morgan already filed a report. Those idiots will not be bothering you guys again,” Thompson twirled the pen with her fingers. “Why are you here?”
“Something else happened today.” Thank God she already knew about Liza’s goons and what they did the other night, and Thompson knowing Shane was icing on the cake. Shane worked close with the police department.
“Continue,” Officer Thompson started writing again. “Did they come at you?”
“No, this time it was her.”
“Her?”