by Kiru Taye
“We both need to get as far away as possible from here." Anuli came over, sat beside Tessa on the edge of the bed and took her hand. "We have two options—head north to Enugu or south to Port Harcourt. We don't know anyone in Enugu but I have a distant Aunt in PHC that we could stay with, hopefully. We talked about this already."
Her friend squeezed her hand. Tessa sucked in a deep breath and swallowed hard before nodding. Running away would create its own problems but anywhere else had to be better than the nightmare of a gilded cage she currently lived in.
She closed her eyes and the horror assaulted her—hot sweaty hands, the press of suffocating weight on top of her, the cloying body musk. Her skin tightened as if she had thousands of ants crawling over it and her eyes flew open.
Fighting nausea, she jumped off the bed and snatched her back pack. "We need to go now."
She couldn’t bear to look at the items without distaste. They had only been items locking her into the horror that was her life. She could afford to leave them all here. But she would need her phone, so she grabbed it. And she also took out the cash she’d hidden away and stuffed it into the back pack.
She took one last look at the space before saying, “I’m ready to go.”
Tessa rushed out of the room, not giving it another glance as Anuli followed her.
“Come on, then” Anuli said and led the way out of the room. She couldn't bear to be in this house anymore. Not another night. Not another moment. She barely breathed as they raced down the stairs. The thudding of their shoes against the concrete seemed to match the thumping of heartbeats.
They descended halfway when the front door swung open. The hairs on her nape and arms lifted as she froze on the spot.
Tessa’s father walked in. He was dressed in the flamboyant lace up and down he favoured. He was a wealthy man and owned several properties in the town. A man that a lot of people respected outside. If only they knew what he did in his home.
Tessa’s first impulse was to rush down to greet him as per usual. But Anuli held her arm stopping her.
“Welcome home, Daddy,”
The man looked up and saw them. First he had a smile which soon disappeared. “Mary Theresa, I’ve told you not to have people in the house when I’m not here.”
Tessa swallowed as her heart thumped. Her father always addressed her with her full name when he was reprimanding her, although everyone knew her as Mary.
“Sir, you know who I am and I’m not a stranger.” Her friend stepped down carrying Tessa’s back pack.
The man stared at her than back to Tessa and shook his head, his expression angry.
“Does Joe know you’re here? I’ve warned him to keep you two separated. I don’t like having you two together when no one else is here. You are a bad influence on my daughter. You make her reject my gifts and turn against me. Hang on. That is Mary’s bag you’re carrying.”
Tessa knew she had to speak up. “Yes, it’s my bag. I’m leaving.”
The man flinched as if she’d slapped him. “You’re leaving? Why?”
“Because of what you do to me. It’s wrong and it needs to stop.”
“How can it be wrong,” his voice softened. “I love you and I take care of you. I buy your beautiful gifts more than any girl in this town ever gets. What father loves his daughter the way I love you.”
“Your love is sick,” Anuli shouted. “And she needs to get away from you.”
Her father backhanded Anuli. She staggered backward. He followed her and kept punching. “I see that Joe hasn’t taught you to behave. In this house girls are seen not heard. I will teach you that lesson.”
“Stop!” Tessa shouted, afraid her father would kill Anuli. She grabbed the bronze statue at the bottom of the stair and hit him over the head. He slumped onto the ground. The object clattered onto the floor as she rushed to pull Anuli up. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m alright,” Anuli said and swiped at the cut on her lip. Her finger came away bloody.
Tessa rushed to the kitchen to get the first aid kid. She would take care of Anuli and then her father who seemed to have passed out and then they would get out of here. There was no way she could stay here now that she’d actually hit the man.
The man would get Anuli arrested and Tessa’s misery would only double.
She pulled out the square box just as Anuli rushed in. “Your father is dead. We need to get out of here now.”
“What? He’s not dead. He can’t be,” Anuli said and rushed out of the kitchen.
“You hit him very hard. He’s not breathing and there’s blood all over the floor and the walls.”
“No!” Anuli covered her mouth at the gore in front of her. Her stomach churned and she bent over and puked all over the floor.
She was in a state of shock as Anuli dragged her back into the kitchen and cleaned her up. Then she dragged Tessa out of the house.
Tessa was still numb as they both walked down the street and flagged down an okada motorbike. They got on and were far away when Tessa chanced one last look in the direction of her house. She could never return to that house now as the police would soon be looking for them.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“What the hell!” Peter shouted, leapt off the bed and began pacing the small room in an agitated manner.
Tessa had never seen him this angry. His whole body was wound tight and he looked like he would punch something.
“You have to believe me. It was self-defence. I hit him only because of the way he was beating Anuli. He was furious with her. With both of us because I said I was leaving.” Tessa clutched her arms around her stomach, pleading for him to understand why they’d done what they did.
She hadn’t set out to kill her father. Just to get away from him. Afterwards they’d had no option but to run away, afraid of what would happen to them if they’d stayed.
Peter froze and swivelled to face her. Then he came back and sat on the bed beside her. His lips twisted in agony as the corners of his eyes pinched.
“Of course I believe you, Tessa. I’m just devastated that you had to go through all that to escape the nightmare of your father’s abuse. No one should have to endure what you endured. And it breaks my heart to see you so upset about it.”
He pulled her into a hug and held her for a long time. This man continued to surprise her. To uplift her and she really didn’t know how else to thank him or to show her gratitude.
“Peter,” she pulled back so she could look into his eyes. “The decision for me to run away this time was not an easy one. It tore me up. But I only decided because I didn’t want you to see me as a murderer as well as call girl. And the fact that I love you means I don’t want your life to become messed up when this whole thing blows up.”
His lips tugged up at the corners. “Okay. First things first. Did you just say that you love me?”
She lowered her gaze suddenly feeling self-conscious. She hadn’t been aware when she’d used the words ‘I love you’. But they had been the truth.
“Yes, Peter. I love you.”
His knuckles pushed her chin up and he gazed into her eyes with a face lit up in a smile that sent warmth across her chest.
“Oh countess, that’s the best thing I’ve heard all day because I love you too.”
“You do?” She blinked rapidly as a lump formed in her throat. “Even after everything I’ve just told you.”
“I do. I love you more knowing what you’ve endured. I love your spirit and your resilience. I love the fighter in you. I could go on all day listing all the things I love about you.”
She placed her head on his chest, clutching him tight. “How did I get so lucky? How did I manage to get you into my life?”
“I think I got lucky when you stumbled right out of the ladies into me. You changed my life that night.”
She leaned back to look up at him. “I changed your life?”
He was grinning. “Yes, you gave me a new lease of life. My life hasn�
��t been the same since. This is why you have to stay in my life. I can’t lose you, Tessa. I can’t go back to the broken heart and empty existence without you.”
“But what am I going to do if the police turn up and start asking questions.”
He grabbed her hands and held them together in his. “You don’t have to face them alone. You have me and I know people. Including the attorney general of the country. I promise you that I will make those men pay for what they did to you and Anuli.”
“You do?”
“Yes. So here’s what I want to suggest. Instead of sitting down and waiting for the police to show up, I want to start an investigation to find out what happened after you girls left Okigwe. I also want to investigate your father’s friend Uncle Joe and find out if he’s still alive. I want to find out all I can about the men who molested you girls and bring them to justice. Men like that are predators and there’s a strong likelihood he is still preying on other girls.”
“Oh God.” Tessa covered her face with her hands. “You’re right. We were so focused on getting away that we didn’t even want to think about Uncle Joe. He’s probably found other girls to rape and enslave just like he did Anuli.”
Nausea rose in her gut at the idea of any number of girls been molested by the man and his group of paedophiles.
“This is why I think you and Anuli should stop running. You are both strong girls and you’ve survived this. You could be a beacon of hope and inspiration to other children out there who are going through similar things.”
Her hands trembled. “You’re right, Peter. I’ve spent so long running and hiding. If I can help anyone else out, I’d like to.”
“So you’ll stay?”
“Yes, Peter. I’ll stay.”
He puffed out breath as if in relief. “I’m so glad to hear that Tessa. I’m going to be with you every step of the way from now on. There's something I have to tell you about the night we spent in Richa Ranch."
She closed her eyes as heat flushed her cheeks. She'd tried to forget that night. "What?"
"Look at me." He spoke in a soft voice.
She lifted her gaze to him.
"The man who spent the night with you—Master Chi—that was me."
"You?" she shook her head. "It can't be. It didn't sound like you. He was dominant. Forceful."
"I put on the accent to disguise my voice. As for being dominant, that was me. Naaza and I discovered the place many years ago when we were exploring our sexuality and trying out new thing. That side of me lay dormant for years because I didn’t know I would find another woman who pushed my buttons that was. You do."
Her cheeks heated again at some of the sex they'd had that night. He'd indeed been fierce at times. "But why would you... you were harsh."
"The purpose of the evening had been to punish you. There was no way I would allow anyone else to touch you. So I asked Sir Melaye to bid on my behalf. With the blindfold on you, I could become Master Chi for the night."
She nodded. "I understand. I deserved the punishment. But I'm glad it was you and not somebody else."
"Good. So let's get you packed up. You’re moving into the suite with me and as soon as you finish your exams and can get away, you’re coming up to Enugu and staying with me until this is all sorted out.”
“Are you sure? You do realise that there’s a strong chance that I’ll go to prison for murder.”
“For starters if your father is dead, then it is manslaughter by way of self-defence due to extenuating circumstances. A very good lawyer should be able to get an acquittal in court.”
“But I might still get locked up.”
“This is the reason I want to spend all the available time together while we work this all out. On the other hand, your father could still be alive. You have no real proof of his death.”
She frowned. Could her father really be alive? After all these years? The last time she’d seen him, he hadn’t been breathing and there’d been blood everywhere.
“He has to be dead. Otherwise he would have found us. He had the money to do so and the police were in his pocket.”
“Anyway, let’s forget all that for now. What matters now is that I love you, Countess and I’ll be here for you no matter what happens.”
When he called her countess, he made her heart sing. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
“You are a godsend, Peter. My rock. You brought light into my dark world and showed me love like no other man ever did. I love you, today, tomorrow and forever.”
He took her lips in a kiss filled with the passion and promise of forever.
Epilogue
"Are you ready?" Peter called out from his living room to Tessa.
"Just a minute," Tessa replied from the bedroom where she was getting dressed.
They were in his apartment in Enugu and would be heading out shortly to Paul's house. Today was Paul's traditional wedding to Ijay which would be happening in Ijay's hometown. Peter and Michael were part of Paul's entourage so they would travel with Paul and his relatives in a convoy to the venue.
It was only seven in the morning. All the preparations for the occasion had been done. Peter wanted to be at his friend's side in case there was an emergency that needed dealing with. But Tessa was coming with him and as she didn't know anyone else very well, he didn't want to leave her to travel to the event separately.
The past few weeks with Tessa had been amazing. He hadn't believed he'd be happy again with a woman after Naaza. But he'd been proven wrong. He'd finally laid Naaza's ghost to rest and made peace with himself.
Now he was focused on building a life with Tessa. First they had to deal with the obstacles ahead which included arresting the man known as Uncle Joe and prosecuting him and anyone else involved in the paedophilia ring.
On a positive note, they'd found Tessa's father. Apparently the injury to his head hadn't killed him but the man had been left paralysed and almost destitute.
Tessa had cried with relief at the news but she hadn't wanted to see the man again. Peter couldn't blame her. At least now she was free of the worry of being arrested.
He heard the click of footsteps in the hallway and turned around as Tessa entered the living room. His breath caught in his throat and warmth spread across his chest.
She was so unrecognisable from the vampy bombshell he'd bumped into months ago in Port Harcourt. There was none of that girl evident in the woman that stood before him now. Gone were the hair extensions, provocative clothes and makeup.
Tessa looked stunning in the plum and pink Ankara print dress and the plum velvet high-heeled sandals that just begged him to fuck her.
Before he knew what he was doing he'd demolished the space between them and tugged her into his arms. He tucked hair behind her ear and kissed a path down her neck.
"What are you doing?" she asked in a breathy voice.
"You are so damned irresistible." He sealed their lips together, licking her strawberry flavoured lip gloss as he ravaged her mouth. His arousal flared, his erection pulsing with each rapid beat of his heart.
He broke the kiss, panting. "I need to be inside you."
He cupped her left breast, pinched the nipple through the fabric of her dress and bra.
"Oh, God. Yes," she moaned, arching her body into his touch.
Releasing her breast, he spun her around and shoved her onto the back of the sofa. "Bend over."
She gave him a sultry smile as she complied, pulling her dress up over her hips. She spread her legs, giving him a view of her bare chocolate bum cheeks not concealed by the tiny scrap of material that claimed to be underwear. One of the things he loved about her, this boldness of hers that defied convention.
His heart felt as if he would explode in his chest and he could likely come just from the sight of her like this. They'd made love earlier before showering to get dressed. Perhaps it was the years of not having sex and his body was trying to catch up. He was insatiable when it came to Tessa.
; "Peter, aren't we going to be late?" she asked but the expression on her face said she didn't want to move until they were both sated. She braced her hands on the top of the sofa and lowered her upper body, pushing out her bum more.
"We have time," he replied as he went down on his knees. He would worry about tidying up his clothes later.
Pushing the thong aside, he traced his index finger along the seam of her pussy. His fingers slid along the slick, dewy pink flesh.
"Oh," she mewled, rocking her hips.
Dipping his head, he parted her brown labia, revealing the pink clit. He captured the bud in his mouth, her tang filling him as he rolled his tongue over it before sucking.
"Oh... Oh." Her thighs trembled as she rocked into him.
He loved the sounds she made her as well as the taste of her in his mouth. He thrust two fingers inside her hot, wet channel and she clamped around his digits as he pumped in rhythm to her movements.
Her insides fluttered around his fingers just as her rocking became erratic. His sucked hard on her clip as she detonated in climax.
"Peter!" His name on her lips was both supplication and praise.
He stood, unzipped his trouser and pulled out his cock. Left hand on her hip, he guided his shaft to her dripping entrance with his right hand. With a slam, he was fully encased in her wet heat.
"Countess." The word ripped out of his hoarse throat. He stood still, took shallow breaths to quell an impending orgasm. He didn't want to come too quickly. Being inside her drove him out of control. He withdrew halfway and thrust back in. And did this again and again. Slowly.
"Peter, please harder." She turned her head and gave him the lusty expression that heated his blood.
All at once he lost control. Gripping her hips, he slammed in and out of her as hard as she wanted. Soon the slap of flesh against flesh mixed with their moans and groans.
As she rippled around him in orgasm, his climax hit him with full force. He rammed in, releasing his seed inside her. They'd talked about babies. He was ready. She said she was ready too. Maybe soon they'd make one. Maybe today.