Caught Up

by Shannon Holmes

  A knock on the window startled her, even though she knew it was coming. Oh my God, she thought, shying away from the window, holding her heart.

  “License and registration, please,” the state trooper said with a Southern twang.

  “Excuse me, officer, what’s the problem?” she asked while rolling down her window. “You can’t possibly be pulling me over for speeding. I was doing the speed limit. My car was on cruise control and I—”

  “Hold on for a minute, ma’am. I’ll get to that. Right now, would you please produce your license and registration? Thank you.”

  As Dixyn began digging through her designer purse for the proper credentials, the trooper eyed the interior of the vehicle. All he needed was a reason, and any reason would do, to search the car. Finding both her Virginia driver’s license and her registration, Dixyn handed them over without uttering another word.

  “Gimme a minute, ma’am. I’ll be right back,” the trooper stated before returning to his unmarked car.

  Dixyn wasn’t worried about him finding any outstanding warrants on her, and she knew both her license and registration were valid. What worried her was the box in the back. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself down. It seemed like it was taking an eternity for the cop to return to her car with her identification and an explanation.

  Suddenly, out of nowhere, another state trooper’s car pulled up. In the distance, Dixyn could hear the loud barking of a dog. Her heart began to beat rapidly. This can’t be happening.

  Not only had Dixyn been stopped by the state troopers, now they had called in the K-9 unit. She just knew she was going to jail. She was simply waiting to be placed under arrest. She didn’t know what was in that box, but she was pretty sure that whatever it was, it wasn’t legal.

  The sounds of footsteps approaching snapped Dixyn back to reality. She looked in her mirror just in time to see shadows of state troopers on both sides of her vehicle. Dixyn took another deep breath and waited.

  “Good evening, Ms. Greene. Sorry to hold you up, but the reason I stopped you was not because you were speeding or anything like that. It was because your driver’s-side taillight is out.”

  Although Dixyn couldn’t see the other cop, she suspected he was examining the inside of her car while she was being distracted by the conversation. That didn’t really bother her. What did bother her was the dog that accompanied the other officer. She could hear it sniffing around as the state trooper barked commands. Dixyn prayed that the animal didn’t go berserk and give the troopers a reason to search her car.

  “You may not know this,” the trooper at her window said, “but there has been a whole lot of drug smuggling up and down this very highway. Where did you say you were coming from, ma’am?”

  Dixyn shot the trooper a look of disbelief, like she was offended by what he was trying to insinuate. Still, she chose her words carefully. “I didn’t say, sir. But if you really must know, I’m coming from a family reunion in Richmond.” Dixyn turned around and glanced at the other cop. Just as she’d imagined, he was snooping around, looking inside her car. “What’s he doing back there?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary, ma’am. As I said, this corridor of I-95 has an unusual amount of drug trafficking due to its proximity to DC and Richmond.”

  Dixyn sucked her teeth. “So what does that have to do with me?”

  “Well, I hate to say this, but you’re driving this fancy car and it’s not registered in your name—”

  “Excuse me, officer, this is my fiancé’s car!” she cut him off. “And just so you know, he’s a veteran of the United States Army. He served two tours of duty in Iraq. He risked his life for this country. I think he is entitled to buy any kind of car he wants, as long as he can afford it.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” the man replied. “But you’re missing my point. Would you mind if we searched the car? It’ll only take a minute, and then you can be on your way.”

  Inwardly, Dixyn flinched at the thought. There was no way on God’s green earth she could let that happen. Her mind raced with lies she could tell that would keep them at bay. Then she remembered something Bryce had once told her when they got pulled over in a so-called routine traffic stop. If the police ever ask to search your car, always say no. If it was within their rights, then they would never ask you.

  “I don’t have anything to hide,” Dixyn snapped. “But no, you can’t search my car. I know my rights, I’m not stupid. There’s such thing as probable cause. You can’t just violate my rights . . .”

  Dixyn should have gotten an Academy Award for the angry black woman she was pretending to be. She hoped the mention of her civil liberties would be enough to scare off these overzealous state troopers.

  “Take it easy, ma’am. No one’s going to violate your rights. I just asked you a question. It was well within your right to say no. And you did.”

  Rising away from the driver’s-side window, the state trooper motioned with his head to his backup to retreat. The two convened at the rear of Dixyn’s vehicle, speaking in hushed tones. They conferred for a few moments before the trooper with the K-9 hurriedly exited the scene. Dixyn watched him speed off with his lights flashing. Obviously he had a more important call. She was finally able to breathe easy again.

  The other state trooper returned to Dixyn’s window. “Here you go, ma’am,” he said, handing over her license and registration. “I’m gonna let you go with a warning this time. But do yourself a favor and get that bulb replaced. Have a nice night and get home safe.”

  “You too, officer.”

  Pulling back onto the highway, Dixyn said a silent prayer, thanking God for sparing her. She was free. Never in her life had this freedom meant more to her than right now.

  Chapter Five

  Finishing up her breakfast, Dixyn kept glancing over at her phone to see if B-Dub had returned her calls from last night. She saw no texts or missed calls from him, but she did notice a text from Kendra.

  What’s good? I ain’t heard from you since you made all that dough the other nite. Hope you putting that money to good use. Anyway call me later. I gotta holla atcha bout something. Don’t call me too fucking early bitch. U know I’m not a morning person. LOL.

  Dixyn chuckled to herself. Kendra wasn’t lying about not being a morning person. She didn’t wake up until late afternoon, early evening. If you knew Kendra, then surely you knew that much about her. But Dixyn was also curious what it was that Kendra had to holla at her about.

  For now, she didn’t entertain any more thoughts about Kendra. She had other things on her mind—namely, B-Dub. She wanted him to come over to her house and get his shit ASAP. Dixyn had a full day ahead of her. She was going to run some errands, pay some bills, and then go see her daughter. Anxious to get her day started, Dixyn picked up the phone and dialed B-Dub again.

  “Hello?” he answered.

  “B-Dub,” Dixyn said, thinking that his name sounded funny rolling off her tongue, “I been tryin’ to reach you since last night. You didn’t see all those missed calls from me? Huh?”

  “Nope. My service is kinda bad in this area for some reason. Everything good?”

  “It’ll be even better once you pick up this package. Why you ain’t tell me about that?”

  “It musta slipped my mind, fam. But don’t worry, I got a li’l extra somethin’ somethin’ for you.”

  “If you could come over here and get this I would greatly appreciate it. I got some things to do today and this be holdin’ me up.”

  “A’ight, I’ll be there.”

  “When?” she pressed.

  “I’ll be there,” he repeated.

  “B-Dub, can you please tell me when I can expect you? Like I said . . .” Dixyn’s voice trailed off as she realized he was no longer on the line.

  While she awaited B-Dub’s arrival, Dixyn headed upstairs to take a shower, get dressed, and prepare for her day.

  * * *

  Beep! Beep!

  T
he honk of a horn pulled Dixyn away from her favorite soap opera, The Young and the Restless. She raced to her living room window and saw B-Dub sitting arrogantly behind the wheel of a platinum Mercedes Benz S550.

  Dixyn ran to the front door before he could blow the horn again. “Pull up into the garage!” she yelled.

  Dixyn jogged through her town house to the entrance to the garage. She opened the door and hit a switch on the wall. Slowly the garage door began to rise, and as soon as there was enough clearance, B-Dub pulled in.

  Dixyn hit the switch again and the door began to descend. Then she walked over to her Range Rover and opened the lift gate. B-Dub took his time exiting his car.

  “Damn, Dixyn, every time I see you, fam, you lookin’ betta and betta,” he commented. “Lemme find out that you tryin’ to seduce da kid.”

  “Knock it off, B-Dub. I ain’t got no time for none of your shenanigans today. I’m already runnin’ late, thanks to you. Oh, by the way, the cops pulled me over last night. I could’ve went to jail for whatever it is I’m transporting in my car.”

  B-Dub stood there with a callous look on his face. He seemed more interested in the box than Dixyn’s story. “Well obviously you didn’t or we wouldn’t be here having this conversation,” he declared. “Now would we?”

  Dixyn stared at him coldly. “B, instead of bein’ a wise-ass, you should be kissing my ass, thanking me for not getting locked up with your shit.”

  “Thanks,” he said with a hint of sarcasm. “You did good.” B-Dub reached in his pocket, removing a wad of money, and handed it to her.

  Dixyn took the money without bothering to count it and slipped it in her pocket. “What the fuck is in that box?”

  “If it makes you feel better, I’ll open it and show you,” he said while digging in his pocket for his keys.

  B-Dub inserted a key into the lock and opened the box. Dixyn was infuriated by what she saw—guns, and lots of them. There were military-issued nine millimeters, .45-caliber handguns, and a few assault rifles.

  She had been duped, but she was beginning to see right through B-Dub and his hidden agendas. “Just when I thought you could sink no lower, you turn around and do me dirty like this? What the fuck is on your mind, man?”

  “Look, it was a last-minute thing,” he proclaimed. “My connect wasn’t sure if he would be able to get his hands on these bad boys. When he did, I couldn’t turn ’em down. Do you realize how much money this shit is worth on the streets of New York?”

  “No, I don’t,” Dixyn replied. “So what, you’re a gun runner now?”

  “Oh, my bad, ya used ta drug dealers like my brother. Well, I’m a hustler, but there’s a difference, a very big difference, between the two. Drug dealers sell drugs. Hustlers sell everything. Even dreams.”

  “Ha ha! Very funny,” Dixyn said. “Just grab ya guns and leave.”

  B-Dub ignored her completely, continuing to marvel at his cache of weapons.

  Dixyn continued, “Excuse me. Excuse me . . .”

  Without warning, B-Dub exploded into action. He rushed Dixyn so fast she had no time to react. Pressing her against the car, he slipped his hand inside her sweatpants and groped her vagina.

  “Get the fuck off me, Brian!” she yelled. “You trippin’ right now?”

  Instead of releasing her, B-Dub leaned in closer and attempted to kiss her on the lips. Dixyn turned her head to avoid him.

  B-Dub was losing control of himself. “Oh, you gonna do me like that, huh? You gon’ make me take this pussy?” With one arm B-Dub pinned her to the Range Rover, and with his free hand, he grabbed a handful of her white T-shirt and bra and tugged on it with all his might. He damn near succeeded in ripping the clothing clean from her body. Strips of her bra and T-shirt dangled near her exposed breasts.

  Now Dixyn was furious. In her mind, she had done nothing to deserve this. A new kind of rage surged through her body. What she lacked in strength and body weight she more than made up for in ferocity. She unleashed a knee to B-Dub’s groin. Unfortunately for her, it didn’t connect flush. Still, the blow was enough to back him up off of her.

  Dixyn stayed on the attack, swinging wildly, and every blow she threw was launched with bad intentions. She really wanted to hurt him. But B-Dub wasn’t exactly a slouch with his own hands. He weaved or blocked every blow that came close to landing. He even taunted Dixyn with laughter.

  “Muthafucka, stop runnin’ and fight like a man!” Dixyn called out.

  B-Dub stayed his distance, waiting for her to tire herself out or let her emotions lead her into a crucial mistake.

  Dixyn swung a wild looping right hand, and suddenly B-Dub closed in on her. “Uh-huh, I got ya ass now.”

  Once he slipped another wild left, B-Dub grabbed her arm and threw her to the floor. Landing on top of her, he used his body weight to smother her blows. When Dixyn began biting and scratching, B-Dub squirmed and wiggled to avoid serious damage, all the while grinding himself into her and roughly groping her breasts. Slowly he began to assert his total dominance over Dixyn.

  Realizing that her best efforts were futile, Dixyn quickly changed strategies. A few months ago, she had seen a show on Lifetime about rapists and victims. She noted the fact that rapists get off on dominating others. If the victim stopped acting like a victim and instead like a willing participant, sometimes that was enough to thwart the attack. Armed with that knowledge, Dixyn decided to test out the theory. Immediately, she stopped struggling, becoming totally submissive. She began gently caressing his body as if she were enjoying what was going on. She wrapped her arms around B-Dub and pulled him closer, as if he were her lover.

  “Damn, daddy, you gotta big dick,” she told him. “Bryce ain’t got nuttin’ on you.”

  Dixyn could feel the sticky heat from B-Dub’s breath on the side her neck. Just the thought of having sex with her fiancé’s brother sickened her. She hoped like hell that this psychological ploy worked, because if not, she was going to get her ass whooped or end up giving up some pussy. There were no two ways about it.

  “Take me upstairs and fuck da shit out of me,” Dixyn begged him. “Let’s go to the bedroom and I’ll let you fuck me anywhere you want: my ass, my mouth . . . You can have me however you like . . .”

  At first it was hard to tell if her words were having any effect on B-Dub at all. He continued his savagery, voraciously licking her neck, acting as if this was all foreplay. Dixyn had little choice but to up the ante.

  She began kissing B-Dub passionately—long, deep, wet kisses. The move shocked him, yet he went right along with it. Somehow Dixyn managed to roll them both onto their sides. That created enough space for her to start fondling him. She unzipped his pants, removed his average-sized dick. Dixyn squeezed his manhood, and began jerking him off. Then she resumed talking dirty to him.

  “C’mon, big man, fuck me,” she insisted. “Let’s take it in the house.”

  In the midst of the hand job, B-Dub peered at Dixyn with complete disdain. Instantly he began to lose his erection. Dixyn could feel his dick shriveling up in her hand. To save face, he broke away from her.

  “Sorry,” he said while getting to his feet. Then he straightened up his clothes. “My bad.”

  His apology baffled Dixyn. She didn’t know what to make of the situation. All she knew was that whatever she had done or said worked. Considering what could have happened, she thought she had made out good.

  B-Dub extended his hand in an offer to help her up. Thinking it was some type of trick, Dixyn refused it.

  “I can get up by myself. I don’t need ya help,” she told him.

  Finally Dixyn rose to her feet, and as if she was suddenly aware that her breasts were exposed, she crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Yo, I’ma have to leave some of these guns here. I can’t take ’em all, my trunk’s not big enough,” B-Dub said.

  “That’s not my problem!” Dixyn snapped. “I want all ya shit outta my house.”

  “Yo, c’mon, fam. Could
you do me this favor? There’s no way in the world I’ll be able to fit . . .”

  Besides being a pervert, Dixyn thought something was seriously wrong with this man. He was carrying on a conversation as if nothing had happened. “Once again, not my problem. In case you didn’t notice, you’re not exactly one of my favorite people at the moment. I’m goin’ in the house to get myself together. When I come back downstairs, I don’t wanna find you or your guns inside my garage.” Having successfully silenced him, Dixyn backed away from B-Dub, who now busied himself unloading the weapons from her Range Rover to his car. She didn’t turn her back on him until she was safely inside her home.

  Before even cleaning herself up, Dixyn watched and waited from the inside until B-Dub had left. Once she was sure he was gone, she went upstairs to take a shower, the incident having left her feeling more than a little filthy. She felt morally unclean. Even the thought of kissing B-Dub repulsed her.

  Inside the shower, the hot water cascaded down on Dixyn’s body, relaxing her. She stood directly underneath the showerhead lost in thought. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand B-Dub, nor was she really trying to. She couldn’t believe the audacity of him trying to force himself on her! What was especially strange to her was that the person who was supposedly helping her out of a bad spot was the same person who now seemed to be ruining her life. In her fiancé’s absence, Dixyn was being forced to rely on a man who clearly didn’t have her best interests at heart.

  Chapter Six

  What a life! Dixyn was thinking as she drove around running her errands. The things she had to do to get ahead were troubling her.

  For the first time in a while, she was beginning to chip away at her mounting debt. With the money she had been making over the course of the past week, Dixyn caught up on the delinquent car note, deposited some money in the bank to stop the foreclosure, turned her cable back on, and took her car to a mechanic to have the rear brake bulb replaced. But she remained far from happy.