“Go clean yourself up and go get me some beer,” he demanded throwing money down at her.
Asia nodded tears streaming down her face; she could feel the swelling in face right away. She lifted her sore body from the floor. Bass smirked down at her. When you get back, I want some ass!” he demanded. She nodded docilely, turning she left the house. Once outside she ran, and didn’t stop until she was at the loft. She bolted the door and closed all the blinds. She sat on the bed her knees in her chest sobbing. The phone Aaron gave her rang causing her to jump. She ignored it.
Tia had just finished rehearsal in the studio, and thought to go visit with Asia. She knocked but no answer. In the two months, that Asia had move to the loft, she was a completely different person. She seemed more relaxed, even happy. The first time she ever saw a smile on Asia’s face it stunned her. Aaron was right Asia is a beautiful woman.
Tia shrugged, maybe she was out.
Aaron had been calling Asia, but she wasn’t answering, he started to worry. He called Tia.
“Hey Tia, you heard from Asia?”
“No, why?
“I’ve been calling, no answer.”
“I went to the loft, she wasn’t there. I thought she was just out.”
“When?”
“Two days ago.”
“We’re on our way back; we should be there in less then an hour, meet me at Asia’s.”
“What Aaron, what’s wrong?” Tia asked concerned.
“I don’t know, something doesn’t feel right,” Aaron said hanging up.
Tia went up to the loft, and knocked. Still no answer. A little while later Aaron and Martin arrived. Aaron looked up at the windows, the blinds were closed. Asia never closed the blinds, during the day. They tried the door.
“She’s there, I know it,” he looked worriedly at Tia. “You don’t have a key?”
“No, I gave her the only key.”
Martin looked at Aaron; he has never seen Aaron so disturbed.
“Break the door open, Aaron,” Martin suggested. Aaron looked at Tia.
“Do it Aaron,” Tia said.
Aaron took his foot and kicked the door open; the door swung open hitting the wall with a bang. They heard something fall, then whimpering. Tia turned on the lights. They found Asia, in the corner of the room holding her knees to her chest rocking, her face on her knees. Aaron rushed to her and bent down beside her.
“Asia,” he said softly.
She remained huddled in the corner. Aaron touched her and she tensed pulling away from him trying to bury herself deeper in the corner. Aaron gently turned her head to him and lifted her head.
“Damn it!” he cursed, gazing at her battered face.
“What!” Tia and Martin said together.
Asia right eye was swollen shut, her lip split, dried blood in the corner of her mouth.
“Move Aaron,” Tia said, pushing him out the way.
When Tia saw Asia’s face she gasped. “Come on Asia we have to get you cleaned up.” Tia said and held her hand out to her. Asia looked at Tia.
“Its okay,” Tia said softly. Asia let Tia help her up and lead her to the bathroom.
Aaron was pacing the floor like a caged animal; expletives fell from his mouth, his face a glowing mask of rage. Martin watched as Aaron held a tight rein on his volatile temper his large body tense and seething with rage.
“Aaron, man you can’t let her see you in a rage, she’s already scared, you need to find out what happened to her.” Martin said logically, because he knew Aaron was not going to be logical.
Aaron stilled, looking at Martin. Aaron stopped pacing to glance at his friend, his dark eyes like to blackened coals.
“This happen to my Mother,” Aaron admitted his voice cold and exact. He shut his eyes tightly, as the memories came flooding back to him. He could see Tyrone beating his mother as she lay on the floor, her body jerking from every blow he dealt her. The rage in his heart was consuming him; he had to calm down. Aaron went bedroom, to the corner where Asia sat, his head pressed on the wall, as large tears dropped from his eyes. He knew he had to control the building rage; he had to take care of Asia. She was what’s important now. His eyes squeezed shut, and he took a deep breath.
Martin felt for Aaron, he knew what had happen to his mother when he was a boy when his biological father had adducted them and then beat his mother in front of him.
Tia came out of the shower a few minute later.
“Aaron, she was beaten,” Tia said in a choked voice, “she has bruises on her arms and her knees are raw, like she had been dragged.”
Aaron turned to look at Tia, swiping at the angry tears that coursed down his face. Aaron didn’t wait to hear more, he rushed pass Tia to the bathroom.
Quietly Aaron eased the door open. Her back was to him. His eyes surveyed her body, her light brown skin showing the vivid bruises that marred her body. She had handprint on her arms, as if someone grabbed her, her back was scrapped and several purplish bruises formed on her back. The water ran down her body, her wet hair hung down her back. She stood there not moving. Aaron could feel rage invading him; he took in a shuddered breath.
“Asia,” Aaron called softly.
She turned and looked at him, she cast her eyes downward, her head lowered, but not before, he saw the fear and despondence in her eyes. He reached in and turned off the shower. Grabbing a towel, Aaron wrapped it around her, drying her. He helped her into her robe, took her hand, leading her from the bathroom. She held onto him tightly, as he set her on the side of the bed. Tia handed him a small towel with ice. Aaron sat beside her, and placed it gently on her face. Asia took the ice pack, her hand touching his. She looked over at him, her gaze clouded with tears.
“Aaron I’m sorry,” she said, tears blinding her eyes, choking her voice.
“Baby, this is not your fault.”
Asia stared at him through pained eyes; she swallowed hard, hot tears slipping down her cheeks. Slowly her head fell against his shoulder, Aaron arms went around her protectively, as she sobbed, her face pressed into his chest. Aaron looked back at Martin and Tia, seeing the distress on their faces.
“She not going to talk with you here, I’ll call you later.” Aaron told them, his face a mask of fury. They agreed, leaving them.
Aaron held her until her tears subsided. She sat silently, while he made her a cup of tea, neither spoke each with their own thoughts.
Asia knew she had to get away from Atlanta and Aaron. Aaron would want to find out who did this.
As she sipped her tea, Aaron took a comb and combed through her dampened hair. She sat quietly.
Placing the tea down, she reached up and took the comb from his hand, and rose from the bed. Asia looked at him. She couldn’t see him anymore; she didn’t want to involve him in her dysfunctional life.
“I want you to go Aaron,” she stated softly.
“Why Asia? He asked her, looking at her frowning. “What happened?”
Her back was to him. “You and your friends have been so good to me; you don’t know how I appreciate...”
“Asia!” Aaron yelled interrupting her, coming to his feet, towering over her.
She jumped, and backed away, cowering.
Aaron pulled her into his arms and held her.
“Sh…,” I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Aaron said rubbing her back.
Her arms went around her waist, and she held on to him.
“Come on, we’ll talk later,” he said leading her to the bed helping her to lie down. He lay down beside her. He looked at her bruised face, and his anger returned suffocating him. She lay on her back looking at the ceiling. He looked at her face intently. She had dark circles under her eyes. When was the last time she slept?
“Asia when was the last time you slept?” he asked frowning with concern.
“I can’t sleep,” she stated softly. “I don’t want to dream.”
“My Mom use to rub my back when I couldn’t sleep, it works.” he said comforting
ly. “Roll over baby.”
Asia rolled to her stomach Aaron lowered her robe. His hands were gentle on her back, as he tenderly caressed her back. Her eyes closed, savoring the feel of his hand on her body. It would be the last time. She looked at him. “Thank you Aaron,” she said softly pulling her robe to her shoulders and rolling to her side. She slept.
Aaron lay with for a while. Restless he rose and sat in the living room wondering what happened to her. He looked over at her, when he heard her stirring restlessly, tossing, and turning. Aaron went to her and woke her up. Her eyes opened. She sat up pulling her knees to her chest.
“Asia, I need to know what happened.” He asked his tone insistent.
She looked at him. “I should have never allowed you into my life, nothing changes Aaron,” she stated tears brimming over and dropping on her knees.
“Asia what happened?” He persisted.
Asia took a breath, gazing at his handsome face. It didn’t matter if he knew she would be gone by tomorrow. She took another uneasy breath. “I forgot my keyboard at my house, so I went to get it, when I got there Bass was there.”
“Bass?”
“He was Marcus second in command. He told me he owned the block now that Marcus is dead, and that Marcus gave him everything, including me. When I turned to run out, he grabbed me and dragged me back through the house. I try to leave but he grabbed me and started beat me, then he sent me to get beer, than he wanted…,” she couldn’t finish.
Aaron visibly tense. “Did he…?”
“No, when I left the house, I ran all the way back here.” she said quickly. Silent now Asia he rested her head on her knees.
“I didn’t expect you back this soon, or I would have been gone, but was too afraid to leave the loft.”
“Asia, I’m sorry this happen to you.” Aaron said in a pained tone.
“Its okay Aaron, thank you for making me feel like I was alive even if it was just for a little while.”
She lay down and turned her back to him. When she slept, he left her. He didn’t want to leave her, but they had to get back to camp.
Asia awoke alone; she had hoped for that, if Aaron were here, he would stop her from leaving. She packed a bag, and then went to the studio. She left a note for Tia.
Thank you Tia, for caring about me
I’ll never forget you
Love Asia.
She folded the note and placed the key on it. She then wrote a note to Aaron.
Thank you for letting me feel special and alive again Aaron.
Asia.
She had some savings and her clothes, everything else she left behind. She caught the bus bound for Macon. There she found a room, a job at the hotel in the city. She could live here, no asked questions.
Chapter Five
Tia arrived at the studio, and discovered the notes Asia left. She called Martin, explaining quickly to him about Asia. Martin handed his phone to Aaron.
“Your not going to be happy, Aaron,” Tia said sadly.
Tia paused. “Asia’s gone.”
“What do you mean she’s gone?” Aaron said loudly in the phone.
“Gone Aaron, she left a note.”
“Read it, Tee,” Aaron demanded. She read the note. Aaron became quiet, and handed the phone to Martin.
“How’s Aaron?” she asked her husband.
“He’s not happy.”
When they got back to Atlanta, Aaron tried to find Asia, with no luck. She had to go out of town; he had no clue where she could have gone. He knew she had no family to go to, so where the hell was she?” He had searched for weeks trying to find her without any luck. He even went to her job to talk to some of the people that worked with her. They all told him the same thing. They didn’t know anything about Asia, she always stayed by herself.
Aaron, Martin, and Eddie went pay Bass a visit.
Aaron wanted to beat him senseless, but Martin and Eddie convinced him not to. They arrived at Asia house late afternoon. Aaron knocked on the door; it opened.
“Bass?” Aaron inquired.
“Who want to know?” Bass said in the voice he was named after.
“I’m a friend of Asia’s,” Aaron told him.
Aaron grabbed him by the front of his shirt nearly lifting him from his feet, pulling him from the house, throwing him off the stoop. Bass landing on the sidewalk. Martin and Eddie following closely behind them. Aaron followed down the steps standing over him.
“If you ever come around Asia, or put your hands on her again, I won’t be responsible for what will happen to you, do you understand!” Aaron said venomously.
Bass looked from one to the other. Fear evident on his fat face. He knew right away these big men could tear him a new one. He looked at them closer, recognition in his squinty eyes. Bass got up.
“Hey, your Aaron Harrison, Martin Holland and Eddie Smith.” Bass said grinning like an ass, “The Dirty Birds,” he said excitedly, not caring that he was being threatened by Aaron.
Aaron frowned at him. “Stay away from Asia,” he warned again.
People in the neighborhood starting to come out of their houses, standing on the stoops.
“Where is she, why you protecting that Bitch?” Bass said, “If you see her tell her to get her ass home.”
Aaron didn’t think, he punch Bass in the mouth, Bass stumbled backward.
“Never come near her, you got me!” Aaron said through clenched teeth, ready to attack him again.
“Why you protecting that bitch, she’s used goods, ain’t worth sh…,” Bass said
Aaron punched him again, this time he fell to the ground.
“Beat his ass!” someone yelled from one of the houses. Aaron was ready to attack him.
Martin grabbed Aaron, Eddie ready to step in.
“Let me make him understand,” Eddie said smiling sinisterly.
Bass was scared now; he knew these big men meant to kick his ass.
“Okay, okay! I didn’t want the bi… her anyway,” Bass said. Satisfied, the three men turn to leave.
“Hey can I get my jersey signed,” Bass called after them.
Aaron turned to go after him, but Eddie and Martin stopped him.
Eddie shook his head. “He’s not too bright is he?”
Later that day the police got any anonymous call to the address. After the arrests at Asia’s house, Aaron then had the house boarded up.
Asia was gone for almost three months. Aaron hadn’t been able to find her and it scared him. Aaron physically gave up looking for her, although he thought of her all the time, he also hoped she was okay. Aaron returned to his old routine, his parade of women, although, he couldn’t be intimate with any of them. He found none compared to Asia. Martin was worried about Aaron; noticing how reckless Aaron was becoming. He was not the good-humored person he used to be. He partied day and night, starting missing football practices. Martin knew Asia had affected him more then he cared to admit.
Aaron, Eddie, and Wayne were schedule to appear at the Macon Elementary School for a public appearance, to talk to he kids about the dangers of drugs. They checked into a hotel, in town. Aaron stayed in the suite to himself most of the time, while Wayne and Eddie went to see the sights of Macon.
The next morning Wayne and Eddie were going up the hallway, when they heard a familiar sound.
Eddie frowned, “I heard that voice before,” he told Wayne. The sweet sound was coming from one of the vacant rooms. Wayne and Eddie peeped into the room. It was Aaron’s Asia.
Asia turned seeing them, dropped the towels, she held, surprise registered on her face. She didn’t know them well, but she knew they were friends of Aaron. Was Aaron here too, she thought, with dread? She couldn’t take the chance of running into him. When they left she rushed out the room and into the employee’s entrance.
Eddie and Wayne rushed back to the suite.
“Aaron!” they called. “Your Asia is a maid in this hotel.”
Aaron sat up in the bed. “Where?”
“Down the hall.”
Aaron pulled on his pants and rushed from the room and up the hallway. She was gone. Aaron came back to the room. “If it was her, she gone now, anyway,” he shrugged, “I stopped looking for her a long time ago.”
Eddie and Wayne knew Aaron was broken up over Asia. He still cared about Asia although he denied it. They were to leave Macon in the morning. Eddie and Wayne convinced Aaron to go this nightclub they discovered. Aaron reluctantly agreed.
He sat most of the night, the women in the club throwing themselves at him. Aaron decided, he had to forget Asia, take one of the willing women to his room, and lose himself in her, and then send her on her way. With an attractive woman on his arm, he informed Eddie and Wayne he was leaving.
It was about two am; Asia had stayed working a double shift. She would get done in the morning then it would be safe to leave. She had gone to the linen closet to get more towels, carrying them under each arm. She turned the corner and saw Aaron walking up the hallway towards her, a pretty woman clinging to his arm. He didn’t see her at first. Asia stood shocked for a second. Wondering why was he in Macon. The way he was coming was the only way out of the hallway. Lowering her head, letting her hair fall on the sides of her face Asia rushed pass them. Aaron stopped and turned, looking at her retreating.
“Asia?” Aaron called, and ran after her, leaving the woman in the middle of the hallway. Asia stopped, sighed, and faced him.
“Asia I’ve been looking for you,” he said a little harsher then he meant to.
“Why?” she said softly.
“Aaron!” the woman called impatiently.
“Wait here Asia,” he said going to the woman, with the intention of sending her on her way.
Asia watched the women and Aaron talking, she was obviously upset that Aaron left her alone, she said some choice words, and turned to leave in a huff. Asia used the opportunity to get away. When Aaron turned back, Asia was gone.
“Damn it,” he swore, and went to the room and called the front desk.
Aaron's Fall Page 6