by Linette King
“She did!” I said, even though she told me to stay away from him. Wham! He backhanded me so hard, I was dazed.
“How dare you lie to me?” he asked with a sad expression on his face.
As soon as I was no longer dizzy, I began to mentally weigh my options. I could hear him talking but I had zoned out and didn’t know what he was saying. I could either sit here and let him do whatever he’s going to do to me and make it easy for him, or I can fight back and make it hard for him. “Are you fuckin-” WHAM! I punched him with all of the strength I could muster up from my current position. He lost his balance and fell over on his butt. I leaped off the couch and landed on top of him. I started raining blows on him wherever there was an opening to connect.
Before I realized what was happening, I was in the air. I tried to grab a hold of everything I thought I could reach to stop myself but I missed everything. When I hit the wall, it knocked all of the wind out of me. As I laid there coughing, I watched Brandon stand to his feet and walk up to me. He had a blank expression on his face as he looked at me.
“Ugh!” I groaned out in pain after he kicked me in my stomach. My hands immediately went down to grab my stomach.
“Why would you do that?” he asked before he kicked me again, but this time in my leg.
“Where’s Myra?” I forced out through the pain.
“That’s why you here?” he asked me with an evil look on his face. I tried to sit up but the pain was too much for me to bear, as I collapsed back on the ground.
“I’m sorry Tamia. Are you ok?” he asked, as he pushed my hair out of my face. He scooped me up in his arms as I continued to groan and moan in pain. He laid me softly on the couch and then left out of the living room. My mind was telling me to leave but my body wouldn’t listen.
I heard movement coming from another room then a loud slap. “Chill out lil bitch before I kill you!” I heard Brandon say. A few seconds later, he stood in front of me with a tight grip on Myra.
“Let her go,” I pleaded. “You want me, let her go,” I said as I looked up at Brandon. He let her arm go.
“Leave,” he said to her without taking his eyes off of me.
She looked at me as if she didn’t know what to do. “Go,” I said, as I pointed a trembling finger at the door. She hung her head low as I watched her open the front door. I didn’t look away until she was all the way out the door. I breathed a painful sigh of relief and closed my eyes.
“You just wanted me all to yourself, huh?” Brandon asked.
“Just kill me,” I said in response.
“What?!” he asked.
Before I could respond, I heard glass breaking. When I opened my eyes, I saw Myra had come back and used a lamp to hit Brandon on his head. The only problem was that only seemed to piss him off. “Noooo!” I screamed because he turned around and grabbed her by her neck. He slung her small frame into the wall that he had just tossed me into. I watched her collide with the wall and hit the floor, unconscious. Her body wasn’t on the floor ten seconds before he was on her. He stomped and kicked her over and over as I pulled my body off the couch.
He was so into what he was doing that he didn’t know I was up until I was on his back. I dug my fingers into his eyeballs as he swung and swung, trying to get me off his back.
Armani
I felt like shit as I pulled off and left Tamia to fight a battle I had nothing to do with alone. Hell, I don’t even know why I felt bad about leaving a bitch I don’t even like. All I could think about was how she didn’t have to help me get at Steve but she did! Hell, I just found out that Steve is dead and I’d bet my last dollar that his death had everything to do with Tamia. I had to weigh my options and figure out if having Tamia back in my life was more beneficial or not. I could go back home to Joe and get this ass whooping that he undoubtedly would give me because I lost Rashard again, or I can go back and help Tamia with hopes of getting back in her good graces.
If we get back cool, I’m sure she will let me move in with her and together, we can come up with a plan to get rid of Joe. Then, I’m going to sit her down and tell her about Michelle, so we can get rid of her too. After that, I’ll get my revenge on her for all of the pain she’s caused me and get rid of Rashard. I’m going to see what that dick do before I get rid of him though because I got to figure out why all of these bitches seem to be addicted to this nigga.
Once I came to the conclusion that I’ll be better off in Tamia’s good graces than going home to Joe, I hit a U-turn in the middle of the street. It took me a minute to find the house again because I wasn’t really paying attention. When I found it, I parked in front of the house next door to it and hopped out.
I walked cautiously to the front door that was left wide open and the sight before me was pretty comical. Who I assumed was Rashard’s little sister was laid out on the floor knocked out cold, while the guy, who I assumed is Brandon, was trying to sling Tamia’s little ass off his back.
I crept up behind them. “Let go,” I said and she did, but I think more so in shock than because I told her to. She flew into the table next to the couch. Brandon bent over in pain with his hands rubbing the shit out of his eyes. I used my elbow and jumped on his back while elbowing him in the back of his head. He went down fast but that was way too easy.
I stood to my feet and stomped him everywhere as he groaned out in pain. “I knew this nigga wasn’t out!” I said out loud, as I continued to stomp him. His smart, crazy ass was pretending to be knocked out, probably so he could kill me. It wasn’t long before Tamia came over and pushed me away from him.
“What the fuck you doing?” I asked her until she pulled a gun out of her purse. I watched her take the safety off and shoot him twice in his back. He laid there with blood leaking from him but he wasn’t moving at all anymore. I kicked him again to see if he was dead or playing possum, and he didn’t move.
“Let’s go,” I said, as I grabbed Tamia’s hand but she snatched away from me. “The fuck!” I screamed out, getting fed up with her super save a hoe tactics.
“I’m not leaving her,” she said sternly. I walked over to the girl and helped Tamia lift her up. It was dead fucking weight and I was not about to carry her all the way to my car.
“Hold on,” I said, as I let the girl go and they both fell. I laughed loudly as I ran out to my car and backed up in Brandon’s driveway. I ran back inside and helped Tamia up first and then she helped me grab Rashard’s sister.
“She alive?” I asked Tamia.
“Barely, we gotta get her to the hospital,” she said, damn near out of breath. We got her in the backseat and then drove straight to the hospital.
Michelle
I stood under the hot water in the shower, washing the blood of my favorite cousin off of my body. It’s only been a few hours, give or take, since I killed her and I can already tell I’m losing control. I’ve always heard voices since I was younger but they stopped after my dad decided to leave. They didn’t start back up until Ray started dating Tamia, so I figured if I got rid of her, they would stop again. Now, my problem is, it’s not just voices anymore. Now, it’s like I’m not always me; sometimes I think I’m the voice in my head. “What do I do now?” I asked myself out loud as I continued to stand under the showerhead. “You finish what they started or I will!” the voice snapped in my head.
I’ve noticed that since I left Tiffany’s house, I do things that I actually didn’t do. It’s like I can see it being done but it’s completely out of my control. Like when I pushed Lisa into the mirror, that wasn’t me but I saw it happen. I asked myself why’d I do it when she was only trying to help, I had no answer and that’s why I apologized to her.
The sound of the door opening caught my attention. When I looked in that direction, I saw Lisa had returned with clothes and a pair of scissors. “She’s going to kill you. Kill her!” the voice said. I scanned the bathroom for a weapon and there wasn’t one in sight. The last time I was forced to fight someone without a knife, I
ended up getting beat the fuck up, so I was not about to try that again.
“Are you going to kill me?” I asked her, as she stood by the door with the scissors clenched tightly in her fist as she stared at me.
“What?” she asked with a confused look on her face. “Oh! No girl,” she said after she followed my gaze to the scissors. “I’m going to cut your clothes off and clean you,” she explained. I nodded my head and turned back around to stand directly under the water.
I could feel her cutting my wet clothes off my body as they clung tightly to my skin. I stood there thinking of the fun times I had with Tiffany but the memories kept fading. “Ugh!” I said because I was frustrated. Lisa jumped away from me, visibly frightened by my sudden change in demeanor. I understand she doesn’t understand my thought process and maybe I’m thinking, that maybe, I just need a friend to replace Tiffany.
“I’m not gonna hurt you,” I said to her, as I turned my body to face her. I could feel the remainder of my clothes slide off my body then Lisa gasped. I watched her hand fly up to her mouth as she stared at my body. When I looked down, I saw the bruises for the first time. Damn, Armani did a number on me, I thought to myself as I touched each bruise softly.
“Is someone beating you too?” she asked with her hand still covering her mouth.
“Too?” I asked with my eyebrow raised. She slowly raised her shirt and I could see large bruises all over her stomach. Some were old but most of them were new. I frowned at her as I tried to figure out why she would stick around when this is happening.
“Who’s beating you?” I asked because I’m going to make them pay for messing with my friend. She looked down and stepped away from me like I was the one beating on her. “I want to help you,” I said, as I stepped out of the tub. The water had gone cold and I was not about to stand there freezing. I walked closer to her and forced her to look up by grabbing her head and standing directly in her line of vision.
“Who’s beating you?” I repeated. I watched the tears well up in her eyes. “Oh, here we go. Cry me a river!” the voice said in my head. I ignored it as I waited for Lisa to answer me.
“Andre,” she said and the tears fell.
“Why are you here then?” I asked because there is no way in hell I’d stay.
“Nowhere to go,” she answered sheepishly.
“You’re coming with me. Let’s go,” I said, as I reached over her to open the door. Her jaw hit the floor as I stepped out into the hallway. “Let’s go,” I said and walked away. I walked into the living room and everybody was looking at me like I was crazy. “The fuck ya’ll-” Lisa cut me off by snatching me by the arm and pulling me back into the restroom.
“Girl, put some clothes on first,” she said, as she shoved the clothes she brought for me in my arms.
I started laughing so hard that I had done started crying. I looked at Lisa and she was shaking her head as she laughed at me. “Check this out. Let’s stay for the meeting and then I’ll drive you home like you’re too sick to drive yourself,” Lisa said to me and I nodded my head in agreement.
Rashard
I sat in the ER waiting area aggravated beyond reproach. I had tried to call Twan and Dre, so we could find this nigga Brandon and handle them but neither one of them were answering their phones. I called Deuce and he picked up right away. I was trying not to call him because Brandon is his cousin.
“Man, you gotta get up here to Detroit Medical my nigga. Candy in the ER,” I said into the receiver after he answered the phone.
“What the fuck? Shit man, she called me! What happened?” Deuce asked and the question pissed me off. I just told this nigga his girl in the hospital and he asking me what happened!
“Man, I just said Candy in the ER! If I’m calling you instead of her, then some serious shit happened, my nigga! Don’t ask me no questions; say you on yo way!” I snapped on him.
“Hold on my nigga; I understand that’s yo sister but I’m outta pocket right now. I’ll be there when I can,” he said in an aggressive but nonchalant tone. Then I heard something that let me know exactly why he couldn’t come right now.
“Nigga, you wit a bitch right now?” I asked, as I jumped out of my seat. The young girl at the window shot me a look like she was scared or some shit, then picked up her phone.
I walked over to the window and snatched the phone from her and hung it up. “Bitch, don’t play with me!” I snapped. “Go back there and tell Tamia to c’mere right now! She wit Candice!” I snapped on her too. I thought I heard Deuce say some unbelievable shit but I can’t be sure because I was watching the girl run off to the back.
“Wait, what you just say?” I asked. I placed my finger in my ear, so I could hear him clearly.
“I said I’m with my wife! Don’t disrespect her again,” he said and I hung up the phone. I can’t believe this nigga been playing Candy! I know she works in the club but she a good girl forreal, so she ain’t deserved what he was doing to her.
“Damn man, I ain’t gettin in that,” I said out loud to myself.
When I turned around, the young girl came back and she had security with her. “Tamia isn’t back there,” she said with an attitude she didn’t have before she left.
“Bitch, you think he can protect you?” I asked her and laughed maniacally. I got one sister fighting for her and another one that’s been abducted; I will kill both of these bitches just for trying me right now. “Where she at?” I asked, as I took a step closer to the window.
“She left,” the girl said in a fearful tone. I watched the security guard reach for his strap, so I reached back for mine. As soon as I gripped the handle, I felt a soft hand touch my hand.
“Don’t. Myra needs you,” she said in my ear. I removed my hand and felt her cover the handle with my shirt.
“I need another gurney,” Tamia said to the girl. She took off to find help. “C’mon,” Tamia said to me and pulled me outside. The person I saw was Armani and as soon as our eyes connected, she looked away. That bitch has been following me for a few weeks now and I’d been fucking with her. I’d let her follow me until I get bored and then I’d ditch her. I should have led her somewhere and just killed her, so she couldn’t hurt Tamia but I didn’t think about it.
“Rashard, help me,” Tamia said. I snatched my eyes away from Armani and focused on Tamia in the backseat. I peered inside of the window and almost passed out from the sight of my sister laid out on Tamia’s lap.
“Watch out!” a guy in scrubs yelled as they brushed passed me with the gurney. They pulled her out of the back seat carefully and rushed her to the back. I tried to follow behind them but they stopped me at the doors that lead to the back. Tamia still hadn’t come in, so I walked outside and saw that Armani was helping her in from the parking lot.
My blood began to boil over as I watched her barely making it inside. The fuck happened to her? I thought to myself, as I did a light jog to get her. “What happened?” I asked, as I scooped her up in my arms.
“Well-”
“I wasn’t talking to you!” I snapped at Armani. I heard her suck her teeth as I picked up my pace.
“Don’t be like that baby,” Tamia pleaded, as she looked up in my eyes.
“Why were you with her?” I asked, not caring that she could hear me.
“She needed to talk and I needed a ride,” she said, as she laid her head on my chest.
“Ion fuckin like her,” I told Tamia.
“Rashard!” she said and punched me in the chest.
“Alright girl, I almost dropped yo lil accident prone ass,” I said and laughed.
“Says the guy that just woke up from a coma,” she said playfully.
I stopped laughing and ignored that statement all together as I sat her down in the wheelchair. Her words made me think about everything that I was hiding from her and everything I was doing when I was supposed to be in a coma. I was fucking off with Chardae every now and then, but I been fucking off with Natasia heavily! Hell, I was still gettin
g head from Tiffany. Shit, I had to do something because Tamia still hadn’t even given a nigga any.
“Coma? When was he in a coma?” I heard Armani ask Tamia.
“Bitch, mind your business! Tamia don’t tell her shit about me!” I snapped because all this fuckery I been committing will come out if they start talking too much.
I just realized I let the bitch follow me to all of them hoes houses before I ditched her, not ever thinking that maybe one day she will see Tamia and be messy! “Rashard, chill out,” Tamia said, but she didn’t answer Armani’s question.
“Oh my gosh, Tamia, you wanna check in?” the girl asked and ran from behind the counter.
“Yea, she do,” I answered for her. She shot a look at me but I could look at her and see she was in pain and needed to see someone. The girl stood there like she was waiting on an ok from Tamia or something. “Gone go sign her in,” I said to her and she turned around and went back behind the counter.
I heard Tamia suck her teeth as I went and sat next to her wheelchair. A few minutes later, they came out to get her but wouldn’t let me go back with her. They said it was because I was already waiting on someone and they didn’t want me in the back roaming the halls. Straight bullshit.
Tamia
Thoughts of rather or not I’d be a fool for letting Armani back in filled my head as I was being wheeled to the triage room. I went through the triage questions without being all the way there. I don’t even remember answering any of them. I was rolled back to my room and helped in the hospital bed.
“Hey Tamia. How are you feeling?” a familiar voice asked.
“I can’t complain. Well, I could but it would do no good,” I replied, once I looked up and saw nurse Jennifer. She chuckled softly before she responded. Her face took on a serious expression as she closed the door and walked further into my room.
“Tamia, I came down here to talk to you about work,” she paused, as she looked at me with a sympathetic expression on her face. My heart sank down into the pit of my stomach as I waited for her to continue. “I’m not sure if you know this but I’m the head of the review committee. I’m also head of the hiring screening board,” she said and my eyes lit up. The fact that she’s at the top and I know I made a good impression on her gives me a shred of hope that all of my hard work will not be in vain.