Now if you choose not to accept this offer, I will be forced to send these emails, pictures and instant messages to the magazines and your inner circle of contacts and you do know what they love to do to us black folks, when we fall from grace. Never mind the fact that they might not want to do business with a man that has been a wife beater.
Now, I will be back in Maryland sometime Tuesday morning. I expect my answer then. Remember you always told me, always keep your eyes and ears open, you never know what you might hear.
Love you always,
Rebecca Hardy
PS. I will keep the ring as a parting gift.
Kevin threw his glass against the wall in the den. He grabbed the phone.
“You have a fucking nerve trying to blackmail me!”
“I see you finally opened up the envelope and it’s not blackmail sweetie, its facts, which you didn’t hide too well. Now, I don’t expect an answer today…”
“You aren’t getting shit from…”
“Now, now, why must you use such language? I will get the office and here is why, besides that envelope, oh and those are not the originals, remember when you got a little grabby a little while back, well I did file a report, but I have a friend that is holding on to it. Now, your little weak ass ex-wife didn’t press charges against your ass, but I will. Good bye and see you Tuesday.”
He hung up just as the doorbell rang.
“Mr. Kevin Goldman?”
“Yes.”
“Can you step outside please?”
“What seems to be the problem?” he said as he stepped out and saw there were two more police cars pulling up in front of the house.
“Turn around and place your hands behind your back.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“Sir, place your hands…”
“Not until you tell me what the hell is going on.”
“I’m not going to ask you again.” The police officer said while he placed his hand on his holster.
Kevin turned around and the officer quickly put the handcuffs on him and led him to his car.
“Can I at least know what I am being arrested for?”
“Well, you are being arrested for domestic violence against your ex-wife and your daughter this evening.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes sir. Now please watch your head as you get in.”
Chapter 50
Galen’s patience had paid off. Cheryl was a creature of habit, going to her doctor every Tuesday and Thursday, although today she had to stop at the Walgreen’s, but other than that, her day was just like all the rest. Her bratty daughter wasn’t home, but she would get there soon enough and that would be an extra bonus.
As he climbed the two stairs, he took out the bump key and used it to open the door effortlessly.
Donnell
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Donnell gave him a look, “Yeah, that bitch doesn’t know who she is fucking with. She thinks she is so damn smart, but I’ll get the last laugh.”
“Do you think your dad will believe you?”
“I don’t care if he does, she won’t be able to hide the fact that her best friend is also her lover.”
Donnell and his lover sat on the couch and watched as the DVD played. Rebecca and her lover Toni were naked on the bed in the bedroom.
Donnell stopped the video and pushed the note and DVD into the waiting envelope, that was already addressed to Kevin and Rebecca. The messenger arrived just as he finished putting the tape on the second envelope. He handed them both to the young woman and shut the door with a huge smile on his face.
Rebecca
“Toni, are you ready to move to Atlanta?”
“As long as you and I are together, I don’t care where we move to.” Rebecca pulled Toni closer and kissed her.
Her doorbell rang and the young woman handed her the envelope. Rebecca closed the door and shook the envelope.
“Who is it from?” Toni asked.
“Has to be from Kevin. Sounds like our future is in this envelope.” She said as she began to tear open the package.
Cheryl and Mathew
Matthew tried calling her once more but when she didn’t answer again, he knew what he had to do. It had been two days since he heard from her and he was beginning to get worried. He finished up at the office and he arrived at his house and told Lynette that he would be back. Hopefully with Cheryl by his side, but at this point he couldn’t be so sure.
He drove to her house and there were no lights on, but her car was in the driveway. He wasn’t leaving until he saw her. He secretly hoped that she hadn’t seen Sherrie all over him but he knew this had to be the only reason she was not returning his calls.
He got out of the car and walked up to the door. As he pressed the doorbell, he felt the box in his pocket. He said a prayer as she opened the door.
“Matthew.” She started to say when a hand yanked her away from the door.
Before Matthew could say anything Galen had a gun to Cheryl’s head and motioned with the gun for Matthew to come inside.
“You really are as stupid as I thought you were.” Matthew said as he crossed the threshold and saw the overturned foyer table and a small amount of blood oozing from Cheryl’s nose. Her mouth was swollen but he could see the swelling under her right eye as well.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”
“Oh, I will.” Matthew said as he walked towards him while Galen held firmly to Cheryl. “So, how do you want this to end? Quick and easy or slow and painful?”
Matthew was unbuttoning his shirt as he saw the beads of sweat appear across the lip of Galen. He also saw the unmistakable signs of someone in need of a hit of something.
“You see, someone like you can’t go too long without their drug. Now what is yours? Crack, Meth? It has to be one or the other. What you didn’t count on was that she would put up a fight, did you? I taught her well.” Matthew turned his attention to Cheryl.
“Baby are you ok?” he said as he touched her face and felt the swelling under her eye.
She was trembling but nodded yes as the lone tear slid down her face. It was then that he noticed her blouse was ripped and she didn’t have on pants.
He felt a tear forming in his eye and his breath became rapid. His jaw clenched and he knew that he needed to be quick or it could cost her life.
“The fight has taken more out of you than you expected. So, either you let her go right now or I promise you, I will make you suffer. Your choice.” He said as he continued to advance toward them. They had come to rest in the living room and Matthew kept looking to his left.
“No, you under-estimated me. You thought you were so smart. But I had your wife.”
“Correction, ex-wife.” Matthew said.
“Whatever, I had her nine ways to Sunday and this one here…well let’s just say she got a little taste of what I could do.”
He lowered the gun to her thigh and Matthew heard her inward gasp as another tear fell from her eye.
That was the moment that Matthew needed. As Galen looked away for a split second, Matthew lowered his shoulder and tackled Cheryl and Galen. His arms were wrapped around Cheryl as to break her fall but Galen hit the floor hard. Cheryl rolled away and scrambled towards the kitchen. Matthew scampered on his hands and knees over to Galen as he scrambled to recover the dropped gun. Galen had the gun in his hand and swung and connected with the side of Matthew’s face. Blood poured from the open wound just above Matthew’s temple. Matthew punched at the air as the blood stung his eye but connected at the knee of Galen, sending him crashing down to the floor.
Matthew was able to get to his feet and pulled Galen up with him. He gathered Galen by the shirt and punched him twice in the stomach, stealing his breath and then hit him with a left punch that sent Galen sailing over the couch. Galen groaned from behind the couch as Matthew stood over him. Galen didn’t move until Matthew got close enough and then Ga
len swept Matthew’s feet from under him, sending him crashing down beside him. Galen got up and kicked Matthew in the stomach but as the second kick came towards him, Matthew grabbed his ankle and twisted. The cracking sound was not as loud as the howl from Galen as his ankle exploded through the skin. Galen fell, yelling in pain as Matthew looked around for the gun.
Galen’s eye bulged as he saw the gun being aimed at him.
Matthew turned to see Cheryl holding the gun.
“Baby, it’s ok, give me the gun.”
Her stare was hard as she shook her head no.
“Cheryl, baby, give me the gun.” Matthew said as he saw her hand begin to shake.
“That bitch don’t have it in her.” Galen said from the floor.
“No, no. Not again. I am not weak. I’m not.” Cheryl said as she smiled and blew out a breath. “You are just like him and unless I stop you, you will do it again.”
Matthew moved closer to Cheryl. “Baby, give me the gun. You don’t want to do this.”
Her voice was shaky but calm. “But I do. I can’t let him do this to anyone else.”
“You are not going to shoot me because you are just like his momma.” He said motioning his head towards Matthew. “That dumb bitch…” before he got the rest of the words out, Matthew had kicked him in the stomach.
“Don’t you ever say anything about my mother!” Matthew shouted as he kicked him twice.
“I’m not weak.” He heard Cheryl say from behind him. “I’m not weak, not anymore.” The tears were streaming down her face as Matthew rose and walked towards her.
“No!” she shouted as Matthew stopped and held his hands up. “Move!’
Matthew took a couple of steps to the side. “Baby, just give me the gun…”
Before he could get the rest of the sentence out, she had fired. The first shot hit Galen in the left leg but the second one hit him in the chest. Matthew walked slowly to Cheryl and when he reached her, she collapsed into his arms and he let his tears join hers.
The coroner, the police and the detectives stayed and questioned Cheryl and Matthew separately for hours.
He could hear her sobs from the other room and he couldn’t take it. He had long finished but she was still being questioned. She finally emerged. Her curly hair was unruly, her eyes were bloodshot red and her right eye was almost closed. The blood around her nose had dried and she had a split lip.
Her head was lowered as he whispered her name and she raised her eyes to meet his.
“I’m ok.” She said to Matthew.
“I know baby.”
“I love you.” she said.
“I love you too.” He said as he pulled her into his arms. “Nothing will change that and nothing or no one will ever hurt you again.”
THE END
B. Swangin Webster
Biography
B. Swangin Webster is an accomplished novelist with two novels to her credit. She is also a talk show host on WLVS Radio; streaming live on computers in 21 countries and the USA. Her talk show, The We B Swangin Show focuses on the latest in the publishing industry, authors and her love of shoes.
B. Swangin Webster attributes her success to consistently being in front of people and loving what she does.
When she is not writing or thinking of her next novel; she enjoys spending time in the kitchen and playing with her nine grandchildren.
Let Me Say This, Again Page 19