The Bryson Blood Wars

by Cynthia Blue

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The taxi pulled up in front of Opal’s house. She paid her fare and the driver went on his way. Opal walked into her house feeling beaten and defeated. She went straight to her bedroom to take off her costume and found her pajamas to put on. She climbed into bed with her phone calling Dennis.

  “Please be awake!” Opal pleaded.

  “Hey friend,” Dennis greeted. He couldn’t hear anything but sobbing on the other end of the phone. “What’s wrong baby girl?” He asked.

  Opal started to cry even louder, “I’m sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” She tried to catch her breath and hold on to what little composure she had. It wasn’t easy but she managed to do so.

  “Are you alright?” Dennis asked sitting down on his living room couch while his brother and sister looked on. I wish I was there to comfort her. This is why I need to be in Atlanta to be next to her when she’s down and I can be there to pick her up.

  “I am now. I need someone to talk to about what happened tonight and you came to mind.” Opal said.

  “Of course, you can talk to me about anything. You know that,” Dennis said. “Does this have anything to do with Wallace?” He guessed with venom in his voice while Donovan and Tasha picked up on his tone. “What did he do to you?”

  Opal told Dennis everything that went down at the party and how she was humiliated and pulled out of character. She left out the part about what she did with Clover’s business insurance policy nor did she ever tell him the real reason she took his job offer in Miami. She didn’t think he’d understand.

  “I don’t understand. I can’t define him. One minute we’re great and the next minute it seems like he doesn’t want me. I want Wallace to understand the things he says hurt my feelings.” Opal couldn’t hold it in any longer and started crying again.

  Dennis was fuming with anger and Donovan and Tasha could sense it. I won’t hurt you. Leave him and come to me. I’ll take care of you. Dennis wanted to say to her, but didn’t know how she would react or if she’d feel the same way. He thought it was best to keep it to himself.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t be with him anymore. I’ve learned if someone is always putting you down and acting like they don’t have your best interest at heart. I don’t care if it’s a friend, family member or significant other that person needs to be cut out of your life. You’re a beautiful, smart and wonderful woman. You deserve better,” Dennis said.

  Opal let Dennis’ words sink in. She knew he was right, but couldn’t let Wallace go. Ain’t nobody going to love your fat ass like I love you! Wallace’s heartbreaking words still echoed through her head. She believed those words so much it was impossible for Opal to believe any other man in the world would want her. Besides her freedom depended on sticking with this living, breathing nightmare.

  “Opal are you still there?” Dennis asked.

  “I’m still here. I’m sorry,” Opal said. “I am so exhausted. I’m going to bed. Thanks for listening to my drama. I know it must be aggravating for you.”

  “No it’s not aggravating at all,” Dennis said. “That’s what friends are for. I’m here for you no matter what. Remember that.”

  “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,” Opal said. “At least something good happened tonight.”

  “What’s that?” Dennis asked.

  “Wallace now knows I can throw hands,” Opal answered, and she and Dennis busted out laughing.

  “I wish I could’ve been there to see that. You took out both Trisha and Wallace! Floyd Mayweather and Rhonda Rousey better lookout because there’s a new champ in town.” Dennis said with a smile. I bet she looked sexy as hell in that Poison Ivy costume!

  Opal continued while still laughing. “This reminds me of the time Kayson had another bitch in our house. I was out of town with the family attending my grandmother’s funeral in Columbus, Georgia. When I came back I saw another car parked in the driveway. I went inside the house and saw a trail of two outfits on the floor. I knew the female clothes didn’t belong to me. I picked up the clothes which led to our bedroom. I heard moaning coming from the bathroom. They were fucking in the shower. His ass wanted me to catch him. He knew I was coming home that day. Well, the joke was on his punk ass.”

  “What did you do?” Dennis asked. He never saw this side of Opal before. He found it very sexy.

  Opal continued, “I unplugged the alarm clock that was on the side of the bed and found the longest thickest belt I could find. They kept up so much noise they didn’t even notice me opening the bathroom door and walking inside. I plugged up the alarm clock, opened the shower curtain to catch them by surprise and threw the alarm clock in the shower.”

  “Damn!” Dennis exclaimed like Smoky and Craig on Friday when Red took off his sunglasses. My baby’s a gangsta!

  “Till this day it still amazes me how fast they got out of the shower,” Opal said with a shrug and giggle. “They fell on top of each other trying not to get electrocuted; they couldn’t block my belt whips.”

  “Girl, you are something else,” Dennis said with a laugh. Donovan and Tasha noticed Dennis’ glow when he was having a cheerful conversation with Opal and loved it.

  “The best part was after I finished whooping their ass with the belt. The bitch was like ‘I’m leaving’. I was like ‘hold it’ and threw her clothes out the window and said ‘now beat it’. I stayed with Mookie for like three months after the whole thing went down. Me and Mookie laughed our heads off when I told her that story. That was the last time Kayson brought another bitch to the house,” Opal’s laughter stopped because of reality of her dear cousin’s death. “I wish you could’ve met Mookie, Dennis. She was one in a million.”

  “I know how important she was to you,” Dennis said.

  “It’s strange,” Opal said.

  “What?” Dennis asked.

  “The last time we spoke Mookie said she had something very important to tell me. We were supposed to meet up for drinks after we got off work so that she could tell me the information. She was murdered at her house before she could ever meet with me; so I’ll never know what she had to say to me. I still wonder about that sometimes. A little over a month later I found out about Jacori.” Opal explained.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through all the bullshit baby girl,” Dennis said with sorrow.

  “Thanks Dennis. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  *****

  After they hung up Dennis was in deep thought about his dream woman. He had the strangest feeling that Opal was hiding something from him. Something very important. He didn’t understand why she would keep anything from him. She knows she could tell him anything. His deep thought was interrupted by a hard swat on the back of his head by his little brother Donovan.

  “Ouch nigga! What the fuck was that for?” Dennis yelled while rubbing the back of his head. “That shit hurt!”

  “Stop being a bitch and man up!” Donovan demanded.

  “What are you talking about?” Dennis asked.

  “Dennis, when are you going to tell Opal how you feel about her?” Tasha asked. “It’s no secret you love her. Go ahead and tell her.”

  “I don’t know,” Dennis said with a sigh.

  “Look Dennis,” Donovan said, “Opal is a wonderful person and has always been there for you. She even helped you cope with our sperm donor’s death.”

  Dennis and his siblings struggled their entire childhood being outside children. Their father dumped Dennis’ mother while she was pregnant and married another woman the next day. A few years later he had an affair with Donovan and Tasha’s mother. When she refused to get an abortion, he left her.

  Dennis’ mother was Donovan and Tasha’s mother’s nurse when she went into labor. Then they found out their kids had the same father and was in the same boat; so they decided to raise their children together. For years their father never acknowledged them. He acted like they never existed. Dennis and his siblings struggled with those feelings f
or a long time. When they found out he was dying they took the opportunity to give him a piece of their minds about his abandonment and neglect. Opal was right by Dennis’ side when he gave his father the business.

  “Yes she was. That’s one of the main reasons I fell in love with her. Her loving nature, her beauty, her laugh, her cooking, just to name a few. I love her, you guys,” Dennis said. Dennis and Opal have a lot in common, including the fact that even though they’re the oldest, their younger siblings are the strong and reasonable ones with wisdom. Also, Dennis is the shortest out of the three. Donovan is six-foot-two and Tasha is five-foot-nine without heels.

  “If you love her than tell her,” Tasha reiterated. “Obviously, this Wallace guy is no good. He’s tearing her down. You need to save her before it’s to late.”

  “I know you guys are right. I have to make her mine and show her what true love is. She’ll be mine soon enough,” Dennis declared with confidence.

  “That’s my boy!” Donovan cheered. “Go get your woman!”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Welcome to my sunroom Calista,” Clover presented as they walked in. The sunroom was recently added on to the house, courtesy of Rocco’s construction company. The interior decorator just finished the project.

  “This is beautiful,” Calista said with amazement as she took in the subtly luxurious and cozy setting. It was a beautiful day outside and the bright sunshine through the windows gave the room a natural glow. The sunroom had it all: comfortable lavender furniture, a big flat screen TV and a mini bar.

  “Thanks,” Clover said and the two sat on the couch to revel in the bright natural sunlight. “It’s finally finished. Rocco did an amazing job and the price was right.” Having a niece whose husband has a successful construction company owner for an uncle has its perks. “Rocco’s also building you and Bray’s mansion, correct?”

  “Yes, and it’s coming along nicely,” Calista answered. “Hopefully my stalker doesn’t know where that is,” She added with sarcasm.

  “You’re going to tell Bray when he comes home, right?” Clover asked.

  “Right.”

  “Good girl.”

  “Too bad I have to dump this on him after the loss to the Saints yesterday,” Calista said.

  “That’s too bad,” Clover said with sympathy.

  “The Falcons are still going to the playoffs, but they have to be on the road. You’re right Aunt Clover, I need to tell Bray ASAP,” Calista said with promise. Because Bray is going to spend the entire postseason on the road, she didn’t want to chance her stalker having any more access to her.

  “Remember, you’re always welcome here when Bray’s gone to his away games,” Clover reiterated.

  “Thanks,” Calista said before deciding to change the subject. “This sunroom is amazing with all of the fresh natural light. I love it. Maybe I should tell Uncle Rocco to add one for me to the mansion.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Clover agreed. “A woman needs her own quiet space in her home. Sharp has his man cave and now I have my sunroom.”

  “What will you do in here when it rains?” Calista asked.

  “Watch this,” Clover said. She grabbed a device from the table that looked like a garage door opener and pressed a button. A dark material of some sort was covering the windows. After the windows were covered, Clover pressed another button to turn on the lights in the sunroom.

  “Neat,” Calista said with amazement. “Is there anything you want to watch on TV?”

  “Surprise me,” Clover said with a smile. Someone was heard knocking at the front door. “Somebody’s at the door. Uncover the windows and get everything set up, baby.”

  “Alright Aunt Clover,” Calista said while flipping through the TV channels.

  “I wonder who this is,” Clover wondered out loud, as she opened the front door and was terribly surprised at who the visitor was.

  “You bitch!” Wallace snapped and brushed past Clover and walked in the house. Nobody told this nigga he could come in! Clover thought as she followed Wallace into the living room wondering what the fuck this fool’s problem was. “What the fuck you was trying to pull the other night?” He was pissed that Opal still hadn’t crawled back to him yet. He was losing his power over her and blamed Clover. It was time to set her straight.

  “My family was here,” Clover said innocently. She knew Wallace was referring to the intervention.

  “No, it was an ambush!” Wallace accused.

  Clover looked at Wallace up and down like he was crazy and yelled, “What goes on in my home isn’t any of your motherfucking business!”

  “Opal told me about it Clover,” Wallace said.

  “Oh I see, you want to talk about what happened the other night,” Clover assumed.

  “I didn’t appreciate that shit!” Wallace complained.

  Who gives a fuck! “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of shit you’re not going to appreciate so get your ass out of here.” Clover said, as she turned around to walk towards the door and kick Wallace out.

  “No, your ass is going to listen!” Wallace demanded and grabbed Clover’s arm firmly.

  “Nigga, don’t you touch me!” Clover yanked her arm away from Wallace’s grasp.

  “I’ll do worse than touch you!” Wallace threatened.

  “Oh really, keep it up!” Clover bluffed.

  “You’re pushing me to this with your brainwashing and meddling. You try to control and run everything. Well, no one controls and runs Wallace Melvin!” Wallace argued.

  “Obviously, not even Wallace Melvin,” Clover half-joked at Wallace’s lunacy.

  “I tried to be civil with you, but you want to fight me.”

  “And I’m going to fight you until Opal finds out exactly what’s going on!” Clover declared.

  “Oh, so you’re going to make her choose between me and her family.”

  “What’s the matter, you don’t like the odds?” Clover asked with a smirk.

  “I want to get along with you people. Why can’t you give me a chance?” Wallace asked.

  “Because you’re a liar and an abuser! I know you’ve done something! What have you done, Wallace? Why did you really disappear for three years?” Clover accused. She wanted to get to the bottom of Wallace’s bullshit ass story.

  Wallace took a deep breath before trying to work his manipulative magic. “Alright, I ran into a few problems I was trying to fix but...”

  “No, your punk ass is avoiding the question!” Clover interrupted.

  “That’s because it’s none of your fucking business! I’m marrying Opal, Clover!” Damn! Unlike her sister this bitch actually has a brain! Wallace thought with discomfort. Getting Clover to back down was not going to be an easy task.

  “No, Opal is my sister.”

  “So that gives you the right to turn your family and friends against me!”

  “My family and friends have minds of their own.”

  “No, you’re poisoning them,” Wallace accused.

  “Why don’t you accept the fact that they don’t like you?” Clover said.

  “They don’t know me! I’m not a threat to your family!” Wallace insisted.

  “I think you are!” Clover accused.

  “I’m trying to turn over a new leaf, so damn it Clover! Would you let me and Opal live our lives?” Wallace demanded.

  “Not as a husband and wife! I’ll never let that happen! This wedding is history and you are finished with Opal! You understand motherfucker! Finished!” Clover yelled in determination.

  “No Clover, you’re dead wrong. There will be a wedding!” Wallace yelled.

  “Not if I have anything to do with it!” Clover yelled back.

  “There’s nothing you can do about it and you better slow your fucking roll if your pretty ass knows what’s good for you,” Wallace said through clenched teeth.

  “That sounds like a threat,” Clover replied calmly.

  “It’s a warning,” Wallace corrected.
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  “I’m not intimidated and you’re never going to marry my sister,” Clover said.

  “I’m going to marry your sister, so why don’t you stay the fuck out of it?” Wallace asked.

  “No,” Clover simply answered.

  “I’m not playing with you, bitch, don’t you understand me?” Wallace asked threateningly. “You better back the fuck off or you’re going to regret it. That’s a fucking promise!”

  “What the hell is going on here?” Calista demanded as she entered the living room wanting to know what all the commotion was all about. Wallace and Clover were at a standstill glaring at each other with hate and disgust.

  “Nothing sweetheart, Wallace was just leaving,” Clover replied not taking her eyes off Wallace.

  “Are you sure?” Calista asked with slight worry.

  “I’m sure. Thank you very much Calista and go back to the sunroom and wait for me. I’ll be there in a moment,” Clover instructed Calista and she went on her way.

  Wallace walked out of the door to leave and Clover slammed and locked the door behind him. She brushed off the confrontation and went back to enjoy her sunroom with Calista. They were having a great time unaware that Wallace only drove a block over, hid in the bushes with his binoculars to peek inside to lustfully stare at Calista, the center of his twisted forbidden desires.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “The next time you have the slightest inkling that you’re not safe give a nigga some notice,” Bray said to Calista as they were looking through security system packets.