Shattered Lives (The Shattered Series Book 1)

by Marilyn Williams

  Ramona left four hours before the intended meet time. She told Nick she had business to take care off and before he could ask any questions she was out the door. The less he knew the better. She drove to her apartment once inside she made a call to Rhonda to inform her of what was about to take place and that it may require a little help. Rhonda didn't hesitate, she told Ramona that she had her back and to expect her in ten minutes. She hung up the phone and grabbed her black duffel bag out of the closet. She gathered the necessary items from various places in her apartment such as zip ties, heavy duty duct tape, knife and her gun. Ramona changed into black sweatpants and sweatshirt, brushed her hair into a ponytail, and placed a black cap on her head. She received another text from Alexis stating she was on her way. While waiting for Rhonda to arrive, she needed help from one other person. She walked next door and knocked on the door. Janice answered staring Ramona down from head to toe. “What’s with the outfit?”

  “Hello to you too, Janice. Can you handle a small issue for me?”

  “What issue?” Janice asked, suspiciously.

  “You know the vacant storage room in the back of the complex?”

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “I need you to go down there and make sure it remains empty until I show up.”

  “You need me to do what?”

  “Janice, you heard me. The kids like hanging out in there. If you were to tell them to clear out they would because they’re scared of you. Besides, you're the one person I can count on to do this for me.”

  “I owe you for helping me. But, I don't want to get involved in anything that’ll bring the cops to my doorstep,” said Janice.

  “It's nothing like that. It shouldn't be long before I'm there.”

  "Okay."

  "Thanks."

  Ramona hated asking her for anything, but she was desperate. It’s too late to bring in another person she trusts, so Janice would have to do.

  Once Rhonda arrived, they made their way to the gated entrance of the apartment. Ramona parked her car facing the gates, which broke a few years back. Therefore, anyone could roam freely throughout the complex. Because she doesn’t know what type of car Alexis has Ramona eyed every car that drove past.

  “So, what's the deal with you and this Alexis person?” asked Rhonda.

  Ramona smirked. “She's an annoying little bitch who can't mind her business.”

  “Do you know why she wants to meet?”

  Ramona rolled down the driver’s side window to get a better view of the cars that drove by. “I’m sure it’s about Tami. But, she will learn to stay in her place.”

  “I guess she doesn’t know you have a loco side,” laughed Rhonda.

  “What? I’m not crazy just somewhat intense.”

  “Do you remember when those twins jumped me in my cell? You ran in and pulled them off.”

  “I do,” Ramona smiled at the memory. “They put me in isolation for a week.”

  “Because you punched one twin so hard she hit her head and passed out. The other twin was on the floor and you were kicking the life out of her. It took two guards to get you to stop.”

  “I’ll admit I was an angry teen. It didn’t take much for me to fly into a blind rage. I’m much calmer now, but when I’m around Alexis, it’s hard not to become that person again.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll prevent you from falling over the ledge. We wouldn’t want you to do anything to jeopardize the nice life you’ve made for yourself.”

  “What do you mean? Everything I’ve done has been in the works for years. I have to see this through, Rhonda.”

  “Have you thought about Nick?”

  Ramona turned her head towards her. “Why bring him up?”

  “You should think how your actions will affect your relationship.”

  “You’re not chickening out on me, are you?”

  “No! I’m here for you no matter what happens.”

  “Good. Because I would do the same for you." Ramona focused on the three cars lined up at the gate. The first two vehicles she recognized as neighbors. Alexis was third in line. “There she is, in the red car.”

  Ramona exited her car first, so Alexis could see her. Through narrowed eyes, she watched her like a hawk as she parked. With the rise of her blood pressure and the thump of her heart beating twice as fast against her chest, she knew she was seconds away from flying into a blind rage. Calm down! She told herself as she kept her fist clenched at her side. She had to be ready in case Alexis was bold enough to strike first.

  “Who's this?” Alexis pointed at Rhonda.

  “A friend. What’s so important that we had to meet?” asked Ramona.

  Alexis shifted her eyes as if she was surveying her surroundings. “There isn't somewhere else we can talk? Perhaps more private?”

  Ramona glanced at Rhonda, then back at Alexis. “Sure, I know where we can speak privately. Just get in your car and follow me.”

  She led Alexis to the abandoned storage room in the back of the apartment complex. When the maintenance workers stop using it, some neighborhood kids jammed the door preventing it from locking. Ramona parked her car and saw Janice standing outside as asked. “Wait here Rhonda, I have to speak with Janice for a sec.” Ramona exited the car and sprinted towards Janice. “Hey, thanks for helping me out. I assume you know not to mention this to anyone.”

  “Your business has nothing to do with me,” she said, walking away.

  Ramona waited until Janice was out of eye view before she led Alexis into the room. “Where are we?” she asked, surveying the room.

  “You said you wanted privacy, so you got privacy. Stop wasting my time and tell me what you want?”

  “We need to talk about Tami.”

  “What about her?” shrugged Ramona.

  Alexis glanced at Rhonda. “This is between you and me. Does your friend have to be here? She doesn’t know Tami.”

  Ramona’s right hand tightly formed into a fist. She heard no words as Alexis spoke, instead the amount of disdain she felt for her consumed her mind. In one fast motion, she struck her in the jaw. Which caused Alexis to stumble backward into the wall. Ramona continued to pound her fist into her face, never giving her the chance to react. Alexis fell to the ground and Rhonda stepped in between them. “That's enough, Mona!”

  Ramona rubbed her bruised hand. “I'm not done with this bitch! Rhonda get my bag out my car,” she demanded. Without hesitation, Rhonda left and returned with the bag. Ramona retrieved her gun. Alexis’ eyes widened at the sight. “Wait...Wait…I only came here to talk,” she said holding up her hands while she sat on the filthy floor.

  “Put your damn hands down. As long as you do as I say, you won't get hurt.” Alexis turned towards Rhonda as if she was searching for reassurance. “Hey! Don't look at her! You keep your eyes on me and me only.”

  Alexis turned to Ramona with her face bruised and blood dripping from her nose. “I know who you are,” she mumbled.

  “Speak louder!” yelled Ramona, kicking Alexis' foot.

  “I know your secrets! You tried hard to conceal the identity of your father and what you did to Tim. But, we know everything.”

  Ramona knelt in front of Alexis and waved the gun in her face. “So you thought you would come here and confront me?”

  “I want you to stop attacking Tami. You've destroyed everything that matters in her life.”

  “And it couldn't happen to a better person!” exclaimed Ramona. “Tell me, who helped you put two and two together because you’re too dumb to have done it yourself.”

  “No one,” said Alexis, wiping tears away from her eyes.

  Ramona didn't have the time to force Alexis to tell her. Because in the big scheme of it all, it doesn’t matter who helped her, it all was about to be over. “Rhonda, tie her hands behind her back with the zip ties.” Alexis squirmed and tried to fight back as Rhonda tied her wrist.

  “Where's your cell phone?”

  “In my jacket pocket,” she
cried.

  Ramona searched her jacket for the phone finding it in an interior pocket. With her gun in one hand, she scrolled through Alexis' contact list with the other. “We will make a call to your bestie. You will ask her to meet you in the Tavern’s parking lot. If she tells you she is too heartbroken to meet. You stress why it’s important that she does.” Alexis shook her head no as she continued to cry. “I can't let you hurt her!” she screamed.

  “Listen you infuriating, spineless little bitch, I’m beyond tired of you! What’s happening here is your fault. If you would have mind your business, I wouldn’t have you tied up in an abandoned shed. But, you had to come to defend your friend’s honor. So, you will do as I say.”

  “Go to hell!!” screamed Alexis.

  Ramona placed her hand on the back of Alexis’ head and grabbed a fistful of her blond hair. “You see this gun? I'm not afraid to use it and I will if you don't do as I tell you. So, you call Tami and when she answers, you get her to that parking lot.” Ramona dialed Tami's number and put the phone on speaker while pointing her gun at Alexis.

  “Hello,” answered Tami.

  “Tami, hey I know you wanted time alone but, I don’t think that’s wise. How about meeting me at the Tavern?”

  “Are you okay? You sound upset?”

  “I’m fine. I had a fight with my boyfriend, but it’s no big deal. So, can we get together?”

  “I can't. I'm on my way to see Josh. Maybe another time.”

  “That’s great, but I need to see you and it can’t wait. Can you come after your visit with Josh?”

  "If it’s that important to you, we can meet. But, I can’t stay long."

  “I understand. I’ll get there about six and wait for you.”

  Ramona hung up the phone. “Good girl.”

  “You better not hurt her!!! When I get out of here, I'm calling the police on your psycho ass!”

  Ramona responded by hitting Alexis upside her head with her gun, knocking her unconscious on the floor. Rhonda duct taped her mouth and zip-tied her feet together. They dragged Alexis to a dark corner of the shed, lying her down on the ground. “Are you still in?” Ramona asked Rhonda.

  “Don’t worry, I got your back.”

  Ramona peeped out the door, verifying the coast was clear. Although it was dark out she saw no one nearby. She and Rhonda slowly crept out of the storage room.

  “So, what now?” asked Rhonda, once they returned to the car.

  “We go get Tami. Afterward, you’ll return here to let Alexis go.”

  “You knocked her out. I don't think she's walking out of there, she’ll need a doctor.”

  “No, she won’t. She’s unconscious, not dead, Rhonda.”

  “And if she talks about calling the police again?”

  “You'll make sure she understands why that would not be in her best interest. Now it’s time for Tami to pay for her sins.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Tami knocked on the door of Josh's hotel room for what felt like ten minutes before he answered. When he answered his appearance shocked her, he looked like hell. He stood shirtless wearing only blue boxers. His eyes were bloodshot, and he held a bottle of whiskey in his hand. It was disturbing since she’s never seen him consume any alcohol. “What do you want?” he asked, blocking the doorway.

  “I came to talk,” replied Tami, gawking behind his shoulder to see if he was alone. Josh didn't budge it was clear he did not welcome her visit. “How did you find me?” he asked, as he took a swig from the half-empty whiskey bottle. For someone who never taken a sip of alcohol, he was remarkably coherent.

  “Josh, why are you drinking? You don’t even like the smell of liquor.”

  “Oh, the woman who can drink an entire bottle of wine in one sitting is lecturing me.” He took another swig from the bottle and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “How did you find me?”

  “The pictures from your night of fun gave me a clue,” she said, sarcastically.

  “What pictures?”

  “Let's not air our dirty laundry in the hall. Let me in.” Josh stepped aside allowing Tami into his room. She nervously sat in one of the two chairs near the window while Josh used the bathroom. She rehearsed the right words to say to him in her mind. Her goal was to prevent upsetting him further and to explain why she made such selfish decisions. That’s her focus, not those awful pictures. She believed Alexis' theory but there’s a small place in the back of her mind that thinks it’s possible he was with someone else. And it all falls on her for setting the ball in motion.

  Josh emerged from the bathroom and sat in the chair across from her. “I have nothing to say to you. I’m sorry you wasted a trip over here,” he said.

  “I'm not leaving until you hear me out.”

  “You can't sweet talk your way out of this. Our marriage is over. It was never important to you, anyway.”

  “How can you say that? I love you and our marriage.”

  “Bullshit! You only care about yourself and your damn job. I have loved and supported you with everything in me. I had one request. One! I asked you for a child, and you denied me every time! The secrets and all your lies…”

  “You’re right. At the time I thought I was doing what was right. All the decisions I made stem from that one horrible day and it was a secret I had to keep. I couldn’t tell anyone.”

  “That was a unilateral decision you made! You never gave me a chance to comfort you, hold you, let you cry on my shoulder. If I had known, I would never allow that piece of shit to get away with hurting you. If I ever come face to face with him, I can’t say I wouldn’t kill him.”

  “Josh, I…”

  “No, let me finish,” he said, interrupting her. “There’s been too much deception. We can’t come back from this. Not only has my life been shattered, you’ve shattered my soul. Those words on that screen took every hope and dream I had for us. That night changed us forever.”

  Tami had no words to speak in her defense. He was right about everything.

  “I should have listened to you,” he continued. “You said several times you didn't want a family. Yet, I stayed with you. Not anymore. I'll find someone else who is honest and capable of giving me what I want.”

  To hear Josh speak of being with someone else, she didn’t know if he was serious or if it was the booze talking. Either way, it hurt. “Someone like the girl from last night,” she sniped.

  “What girl?”

  “The one in the pictures. Were you that drunk you don't remember having sex with her?” She hoped he would deny it.

  “I don't know what you’re talking about.”

  Tami showed Josh the pictures.

  “I had a lot to drink last night, but I know I didn't sleep with her.”

  “Are you denying that is you in the pictures?”

  “No, it's me but I don't know who she is. Last night, I met a woman at the bar, she helped me to my room and left. I know how that sounds, but it's true.”

  “Is she the one in the pictures?”

  “Tami, I didn't sleep with anyone and you have no right to question me after all the lies you’ve told.”

  “How can we solve anything apart? Will you please come home?”

  “No. Are we done? Because I would like to finish this bottle alone.”

  Her soul was crushed to hear him speak with such finality in his voice. She was wrong. Love was not enough to save what they’ve built. “I’ll leave. I will give you all the time and space to deal with my betrayal in your own way. I love you and when you’re ready to talk, call me.” Tami grabbed her purse, got up from the chair, and walked towards the door. She wished Josh would stop her from leaving but that didn't happen. He allowed her to walk out without another word spoken between them. Her heart broke as she closed the door behind her. He's drunk and full of anger. This was worse than she imagined. She cried the whole way to the Tavern to meet Alexis. When she arrived she didn't see her car, so she got out to wait for her near the front ent
rance. As she walked, she heard fast-paced footsteps approaching from behind. She tightened the grip on her purse and walked faster. The footsteps became closer, and she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to a familiar face. “Hello, Tami.”

  CHAPTER FORTY

  “Ramona, what are you doing here?” asked Tami, startled by her presence.

  “I'm here with a friend.” Ramona scanned the parking lot for anyone who could be watching. Except for of a couple who was too busy making out, they were alone. “Can you help me with something?”

  “I can't. I'm meeting Alexis.”

  Ramona inched closer to her. “It’ll only take a minute.”

  Tami backed away. “It’s been a long stressful day. I’m only here to meet Alexis.”

  Ramona tightened her jaw and exhaled sharply. Her patience was wearing thin by Tami’s resistance. “I'm not requesting.” Ramona lifted her sweatshirt to reveal her gun tucked into her pants waistband. “Let me explain to you what's about to happen,” she said to Tami, who wore a stunned expression on her face. “We will walk calmly to my car, and you will get in without a fight.”

  “You stay away from me!” yelled Tami, backing away. “Alexis told me everything. I know Michael is your father and you have this crazy vendetta against me.” She retrieved her phone from her purse. “If you lay one hand on me, I’ll call the police!”

  Ramona snatched the cell phone from her hand. “You’re not calling anyone!” She placed a firm grip on Tami’s arm and dragged her to the car. “You better not speak another word.” Ramona opened the back door pushing her inside. Rhonda sat next to Tami, to keep an eye on her.

  “Where are you taking me? Alexis will realize something is wrong if I’m not here!”

  Ramona twisted her upper body towards the backseat. She grabbed Tami by her shirt, pulling her towards her. “I thought I told you not to speak! Just sit back and shut up!” She removed her grip and pushed Tami backward in her seat.