The Circle: Autumn

by Keisha Ervin

  Now all Autumn had to do was figure out a way to keep seeing Quinton on the low without making Dayvid and her sisters suspicious. Fallon was so damn nosey and because Autumn usually shared everything with her, keeping her new relationship a secret was going to be a challenge and Autumn knew it. She had already witnessed how bad a secret relationship had turned out for her Fallon, so Autumn knew she would have to order her steps carefully if she wanted to save herself from the heartache of seeing something bad happen to Quinton. Autumn was determined because the one thing she wasn’t willing to do was let Quinton slip away from her forever.

  Chapter 3 Reunited

  Present Day

  “Damn baby girl you look totally different,” Quinton commented, examining Autumn up and down carefully as she tried to get the knots out of her muscles from sitting cramped up with the pigs for so long. He liked the weight she had put on in all of the right places, but he wasn’t feeling the fake hair since he knew her real hair was so beautiful.

  “Duh, I’m in a disguise,” Autumn said, with a nervous laugh. She also noticed how big and muscular Quinton’s arms and chest looked, in a good way.

  “True…true,” Quinton replied. “Either way you still look as beautiful as I remember. It’s been too long baby girl. I see you like to fly in and out and break a nigga’s heart every time.”

  Autumn blushed. “Yes it has. A lot has changed since the last time I saw you. Trust me, if I had it my way I wouldn’t fly in and out.”

  “Well one thing ain’t change…this nigga’s love for you,” Quinton said, pulling her into his chest for a hug. Autumn blushed again. This time she couldn’t help the big smile that involuntarily spread across her face.

  Quinton still had a way with words that went straight for her heart. She will never stop loving him, although shit had gone sour for them at a time. After sneaking around with Quinton for a few years, Autumn had been put in the position to choose him or her siblings, she had painfully chosen her siblings, yet Quinton didn’t blame her. He told her that he would be around whenever she was ready to make that move and he had definitely kept his word. Autumn knew he had been with other chicks during the time she had been absent, but he always managed to fit her back into his life whenever she came back around. She was hoping this time wouldn’t be any different. Although her intentions were just to use him as a way to get to the Mexican border to meet up with her brother and sisters.

  “C’mon. Get in the truck and let me take you home to get cleaned up,” Quinton said, leading her by the hand to his waiting, fully loaded, and kitted out Suburban. His words sounded like music to Autumn’s ears. She had been craving a hot shower and a warm bed for days now. She knew that she was blessed to have a friend like Quinton to call on in a time like this.

  Quinton pulled his heavily tinted, all black Suburban into the garage of a 3,500 square foot single family home in a nice, quiet, upper middle class neighborhood in Cleveland. Autumn looked around strangely because the last she knew, Quinton lived in a chic condo in downtown Cleveland. This house didn’t look like some place he would live; it looked more like a house for a family with two kids and a dog. Autumn’s alert radar immediately went into overdrive. Is this nigga bringing me to the house he shares with some bitch? Or used to share with some bitch? Autumn’s mind raced, but she didn’t say anything right away.

  The outside of the home looked subtle with a fresh green grass lawn out front, white picket fence and half brick front just like any other cookie cutter house on a suburban block. Knowing Quinton like she did, the house from the outside didn’t seem like somewhere he would rest his head, so Autumn was curious about why he had brought her there and whether or not he really lived there.

  “Home sweet home,” Quinton announced cheerfully as the garage door went up and he pulled the vehicle inside and closed the garage door behind them. Autumn didn’t say anything, but the look on her face probably spoke volumes.

  “Don’t look so happy to be here, ma,” Quinton commented sarcastically.

  Autumn climbed out of the SUV and followed Quinton through a door that led from the garage into a mudroom inside of the house.

  “I got a no shoes rule in my cribs,” Quinton told her.

  “Yeah, I remember from visiting your real home,” Autumn said with a hint of attitude while kicking off the Jordan’s Rain had purchased for her.

  “Oh that’s why you look all crazy in the face. It’s not even like that Baby Girl. This is just one of the chill spots I keep when I want to escape from the madness. Not even my boys know about it. So I figured since you need to be on the low, this would be the perfect place until you figure out your next move. You got mad heat buzzing for you ma,” Quinton said as he walked ahead of Autumn leading her into the kitchen. Autumn quickly eased her mind and let the attitude slip away. She was struck silent by the inside of the house. The corny looking outside would’ve never gave her a clue that the inside looked like something out of a HGTV magazine. The kitchen boasted custom black hardwood floors, beautiful light beige speckled Corian countertops, black wood oversized cabinets, a huge stainless steel Viking stove and stainless steel subzero refrigerator that was built into the wall, and top of the line espresso colored art deco light fixtures that dangled over the expansive island where the deep, stainless steel sink was. The windows had custom made window treatments that had crystal accents bordering the top.

  “This is beautiful Quinton, but I know a man didn’t match all of this together,” Autumn said in wonderment. It was definitely a place she could see herself calling home in the future.

  “Damn ma, you never give me credit like I ain’t got no taste,” he said smiling. Autumn blushed. “I picked out all of this stuff. The interior lady put it together, but it was all my doing,” Quinton corrected her.

  “C’mon let me show you the rest…but not before you wash that pig smell off of you,” Quinton said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the steps that led up to the bedrooms. Autumn felt sparks as soon as her skin touched his again. It surely didn’t take long for that old thang to come rushing back.

  Once she got upstairs Quinton led her to the master bedroom. “I gave up my room for you Baby Girl and I don’t do that for nobody,” he said stepping inside. Autumn loved the décor in the master bedroom. It was both masculine and classy, with slate gray walls, plush off-white carpet, silver and glass accents and a huge California king sized bed with a grey and silver grand, high-back, tufted upholstered headboard.

  “I knew Danny was going to put you in the truck with my drug pigs so I made sure I had something special ready for you when you got here…a little something to help you get relaxed,” Quinton said, pointing at the bed where he had all types of goodies laid out. There was a thick, plush white chenille bathrobe, L’Occitane shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and facial products. There was also a gift box of her favorite Marc Jacobs perfume and a beautiful laced La Perla lounge wear set.

  “Oh my God! You’re so sweet Quinton,” Autumn gushed on the verge of tears. She had really neglected him at times over the years since they’d first met, but he was always good to her. Autumn almost forgot she was on the run.

  “You know how I do,” Quinton laughed. “Go ahead and get cleaned up. I have some business to take care of, make yourself at home and I’ll be back after a while.” He kissed her on her forehead affectionately, which completely melted her heart. Autumn knew it was a fantasy, but she wished deep down inside that she could stay with Quinton forever. “If I wasn’t on the run I would love you forever Q,” Autumn whispered to herself as she headed into the bathroom suite to get herself cleaned up.

  Alone in Quinton’s house, Autumn finished her self-pampering session, wrapped herself in the comfortable robe, climbed up on the huge bed, and flicked on the T.V.

  She was immediately glued to the screen when she saw the faces of her and her siblings flashing across the screen with the huge headline flashing:

  WANTED…DANGEROUS…FUGITIVES.

 
“The manhunt for a trio of deadly sisters is still underway in Baltimore and the surrounding states. Police officials reports that the notorious Porter

  sisters: Rain, Fallon, and Autumn are all fugitives at this time. In a brazen

  and deadly prison break that left at least two correctional officers dead and six police and other law enforcement officials injured, Rain and Autumn Porter are the subjects of a nationwide manhunt. Shortly after the deadly prison break, Fallon Porter also reportedly escaped a North Baltimore detention center. It is believed Fallon Porter had the assistance of a detention center employee. Police are flabbergasted by the bravado of this deadly trio of sisters and report that the prison holding their brother Dayvid is now on lockdown and high alert. Police believe these siblings are extremely resourceful and cunning as they are believed to be responsible for a slew of bank robberies and jewelry heists over the years.

  Their expertise and smarts have helped them elude capture, but police

  believe without the leadership of their brother, the sisters will soon run out

  of resources and plans. If you have any information regarding the

  whereabouts of these deadly women, please contact the police immediately. Police warns that all three sisters should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.”

  “Yes Fallon! Yes! You fucking got away! Yes!” Autumn screamed, jumping up and down on Quinton’s bed. “I knew you could fucking do it!” Autumn fell back on the bed kicking her legs with joy. As she lay there for a few minutes, Autumn was suddenly overcome with emotions. Between being on the run and the emotions of seeing herself and her siblings on the news as the most wanted fugitives on the East Coast, her body finally conked out. Sleep overcame her and soon her dreams of everything that happened took over her reality.

  ***

  Autumn shot straight up in her seat on the jail transport bus when she spotted her sister Rain. What the fuck is she doing? Autumn thought as she locked eyes with her big sister. A cold chill shot down Autumn’s back and she began swinging her legs in and out. Don’t do it Rain. They will kill you! Don’t do it! Autumn screamed inside of her head, her eyes growing wide and round as dinner plates. Autumn noticed Rain’s nod and then her hand signals. How many cops? Rain was asking Autumn. The Porters learned sign language from their Aunt Nanny and used it a lot during their bank heists. Autumn was a pro at reading signs from her siblings and a pro at giving back the answers. Autumn used just her head and gave the signal to Rain about the number of guards on the bus. Autumn saw something come over Rain’s face that told a million stories of their lives. Autumn knew right then that Rain was about to go ham. It was probably the boldest thing Autumn would ever see Rain do and Autumn knew she wasn’t going to be able to stop her sister no matter what signal she sent this time. Still, Autumn shook her head left to right, signaling NO. She didn’t think she’d be able to handle seeing those guards and cops kill her sister right in front of her eyes.

  Oh shit! She is not going to listen to me! Rain not playing! Autumn said to herself when Rain signaled for her to get low. That had only happened one other time and when it was all said and done, three bank guards had ended up dead after they had tried to play Cowboy against the Porters. Autumn didn’t like to see people die, but if it came to her siblings or other people…Autumn knew there would be no choice. Rain gave the signal one last time, this time Autumn knew she meant business.

  “Yo! Get the fuck on the floor,” Autumn growled harshly at the girl handcuffed to her. The girl tried to resist, but Autumn grabbed her by the neck and pulled her down.

  “Aye! What…” a correction officer jumped to his feet and started towards Autumn, but his efforts were halted by the sound of two earth shattering explosions. “Oh shit!” the other guards yelled. “We are being attacked!” Screams erupted everywhere—inside and outside of the bus.

  “Oh my God! What’s going on? Did you know this was happening?” the girl handcuffed to Autumn started crying.

  “Yo shut the fuck up!” Autumn growled.

  BOOM! BOOM! More loud explosions sounded off and the entire bus shook like the earth had just opened up.

  “Agggh!” the girl screamed in response to what sounded like an atomic bomb exploding under the bus. Next, Autumn and the girl both jumped from the sound of rapid gunshots. The crash of shattering glass and popping metal filled the air. Autumn’s heart banged against her chest bone. Not because she was scared she would die, but because she was extremely excited about what her sister was doing. Autumn liked the rush and thrill these high stakes Porter operations gave her. They were her high.

  “Be careful Rain! Don’t let them get you!” Autumn screamed in her head as she remained curled down on the floor. She knew to wait for Rain’s signal before she got up. Autumn could hear Rain yelling like Rambo now.

  “It’s a fire! I smell it!” the girl with Autumn screamed. Autumn popped her head up just in time to see that familiar face.

  “Rain!” Autumn screamed, from the rear of the bus.

  “Bitch get your ass off the bus and let’s go!” Rain commanded, still holding onto the huge gun she had been shooting. Rain’s face was curled into a serious snarl, it was her game face and Autumn had seen it before.

  Autumn got to her feet and the handcuffed girl that was attached to her was shaking her head in a protest.

  “Please! Don’t kill me!” the girl pleaded. Autumn gave the girl a swift punch to the throat to let her know she meant business.

  “Get up!” Autumn demanded. Rain reached into her bag and handed Autumn a 9 millimeter pistol.

  “Where is Dayvid and Fallon?!” Rain yelled, as she frantically searched the terrorized faces of the remaining female inmates on the bus.

  “I don’t know. They separated us right after the arrest,” Autumn screamed over the thunderous roars of Rain’s cannon as she shot at the police.

  Rain started firing back and yelled, “Let’s go and stay real low.

  Off the bus, the girl chained to Autumn started protesting again. “Nah, I’m not getting killed because of y’all.”

  Rain turned around with fire in her eyes and threatened through gritted teeth. “Die with a bullet in your head right here, right now, or take a chance by shutting the fuck up and move your fucking ass!” Rain didn’t wait for an answer and took off running.

  The three of them kept low and blended into the crowd, dropping smoke grenades along the way. Autumn followed her sister to a car that was running and waiting for them.

  Rain hopped into the front seat, Autumn and the other girl dived into the rear of the car.

  “Lie down on the floor and don’t sit up.” Rain ordered, as she frantically drove off. Before the car could get far enough away from the scene…BOOM!

  ***

  Autumn jumped out of her sleep, her entire body was drenched in sweat. “Rain? Rain?” Autumn huffed out in labored breaths. Autumn was breathing like she had just run a race and her chest rose and fell so rapidly she could barely catch it. “Oh my God! Something happened to Rain!” Autumn was on her feet, whirling around trying to get her bearings. Her eyes blinked rapidly against the dark. She clutched at her neck, feeling like she was suffocating.

  “What’s up Baby Girl?” Quinton asked, sitting up in the bed next to where Autumn had just been. Autumn spun around on the floor frantically, ready to attack him.

  “What? Who the fuck!” Autumn screamed at him.

  “Whoa, whoa…” Quinton threw his hands up defensively. Autumn blinked rapidly in the dark and finally her eyes adjusted enough for her to see him. Suddenly she realized where she was and who he was. She relaxed a little bit and backhanded the sweat off her head. She flopped back down on the side of the bed, her entire body shaking all over.

  “Oh my God. It was so bad,” Autumn covered her face as tears fell from her eyes.

  “Shhh,” Quinton grabbed her. “Tell me what’s up?”

  “I dreamt the entire scene of Rain breaking me out exactly like it happened that
day, until the end…she…she…” Autumn said, breaking down.

  “What? Tell me ma,” Quinton comforted, stroking her hair.

  “Rain blew up at the end of the dream,” Autumn sobbed. “We all blew up in the car that we escaped in. What if that means something happened to her? So many people are hunting for her. She could be dead and there is no way for me to see her one last time or really know for sure,” Autumn cried, her body quacking with sobs.

  “Nah…you know Rain. She’s a trooper. That was just a dumb ass nightmare ain’t nothing happen to her,” Quinton said softly, kissing the top of Autumn’s head. “Rain is one of those chicks with a hundred lives to live.”

  “Quinton, I never really told you everything about me…about us…” Autumn started.

  “I know all about the infamous Porter clan of bank robbers ma. I don’t care about all that,” Quinton cut her off.

  “Shhh…wait,” Autumn halted his words, putting her pointer finger on his lips.

  “Just in case I don’t make it out of this alive or I never see the light of day again, I want you to know everything about me. The real me— where I come from, my family…just everything because I love you Quinton. I never loved a man before,” Autumn poured out her heart.

  “Before you tell me all of that, let’s do this…” Quinton said, forcefully placing his mouth on top of hers. Although she was a bit taken aback by his bold actions, Autumn didn’t protest like she had done with him so many times before. Autumn was ready to take things to places she had held back with him. This time she followed her heart and let nature take its course. The hot feeling of wanting that was growing between her legs let her know that’s what she was let happening and it was what was meant to be. Quinton’s hands moved sensually over her body sending stabs of heat all over her skin. Autumn was burning up inside and out. She could feel herself getting wet in more than one place.