“Okay,” Begonia said quietly. She wiped her eyes and walked away. “Okay.”
Doreen began to laugh again. “That’s right, baby girl, run along and go play at being momma. Or better yet, why don’t you play at being superman. That way you can fly in and save the day! You hear me, mommy dearest? Fly in and save the fucking day!”
***
The walk to Kyle’s house was short. Begonia’s chest ached, her head hurt, and her high heels were beginning to pinch her toes. She walked up Kyle’s steps and started to bang on the door, but it swung open on the first knock. Begonia arched her eyebrow, and looked up and down the street before walking in.
The place was trashed—chairs were overturned, pictures lay shattered on the floor, and all the pillows were ripped and gutted. She walked from room to room and they all looked the same. For the first time that day Begonia’s heart started to beat cold, and ice slid through her veins. There were no signs of Kyle or his ditzy sister. There was also nothing of value left in the place. The only emotion that penetrated the cold was anger, and Begonia was pissed.
She leaned up against the wall in the upstairs hallway and looked around. “No one with good sense trashes one of Rodney houses no matter who lives there.” She frowned, “at least not without Rodney’s permission.” She walked into the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. She dumped pills, cologne, and toothpaste into the sink. She pulled out a box of razor blades and put one in her bra, one in her hair bun, and one in her mouth. She closed the cabinet and stared at her reflection in the mirror. It’s time to dance with the devil.
She kicked her heels off and walked into the middle bedroom which she assumed was Kisha’s. Her eyes swept across the floor until they rested on an old pair of beat-up Jordans in the corner.
She sat down on the box spring to slip the sneaks on, because someone sliced the mattress and leaned it up against the wall. This wasn’t no crackhead job, she thought as she laced up the shoes. Whoever did this ran through this place with a purpose. Begonia got up, ran down the steps, and through the backdoor to the alleyway. I’m going to find out what happened to my sister and then I’m going to relieve Kyle of his balls.
It didn’t take her long to find a target. She ran up to the corner of 29th and Allegheny Avenue, tripped on a crack in the pavement, and fell into a man leaning on a fire hydrant. Begonia smilled up at him and then played shy. She put her head down so he wouldn’t see the razor in her mouth. Dusting off her clothes she spoke softly. “I’m so sory.”
“It’s aight, shawty. Don’t sweat it.”
Begonia didn’t intend to. She walked swiftly across the street going through his wallet. She found three crisp twenties and a bus pass, so she tucked the wallet in her back pocket and hopped on the buss heading to 29th street.
Begonia picked the lock and walked right into Rodney’s crib like she belonged there.
One of Rodney’s goons, an ex-con named Big Mike jumped up off of the couch and stepped into Begonia’s face. “Yo, what the fuck is wrong with you shawty? You got a death wish or something?”
Begonia kicked him in the nuts, and he fell to his knees in front of her. She pulled a razor blade from her bra and back handed him with it slicing his face open. Big mike screamed and grabbed his face as blood spurted out across Begonia’s blouse. She dropped the razor and put her hands in the air, while three guys came out of the dinning room with their guns drawn and pointed at Begonia’s head.
Begonia recognized Bunky’s twin brother Nate, but the other two dudes weren’t from Strawberry Mansion, so she didn’t have a clue who they were.
“Talk or die, Bee, you have five seconds before I empty this clip in your ass.”
“I want to talk to Rodney.”
“Well this isn’t the best way to go about it, sweetie.”
Begonia looked up at the camera mounted in the corner of the room. “I wanted him to know that I am serious.”
The basement door opened up and a young white boy named tweet motioned for Begonia to follow him. Nate put his gun away and his two friends followed suite.
“I hope you know what your doing, Bee.”
“I always do, Nate. I always do.”
The basement was cold dark and damp. The floor was covered with plastic. Not a good sign, Bee. Not a good sign at all. She stopped when she got to the foot of the steps. She wanted to be as close to the exit as possible, even though she knew if Rodney wanted her dead it wasn’t too much she could do to avoid it. Security monitors lined the back wall of the basement. Tweet walked over to them and took a seat. Rodney sat behind a large oak desk. He was smiling. He motioned for Begonia to take a seat in front of him.
Begonia swallowed hard and walked over to the chair. She was surprised to see Kyle on his knees bound, gagged and bleeding all over his t-shirt. What the fuck is going on. She sat down in the chair slowly. Be cool Bee. You wanted to know, so now you are about to find out.
Amir walked over to Kisha and ripped the gag from her mouth. She let out a hollow moan; while Amir pulled a wicked looking knife out of a holster strapped to his ankle and sliced the duck tape on her wrist.
She tore her gaze away from Kyle and Kisha and locked eye with Rodney.
Rodney’ smile fell away a he leaned back in his chair. “What make you so serious, Begonia?”
“I want to know what happened to my sister.”
“Well, your sister took 250k worth of work from my boy Kyle here and got caught with it.” He gestured to Kyle. “My boys found 25k on Kyle and are willing to pay me 25k for Kisha.”
As if on cue Kisha started to scream. “No please anything but with them.” She tried to run to Rodney, but Bunky punched her in the back of her head and she fell to her knees sobbing with snot pouring from her nose.
Begonia rolled her eyes. “I don’t give a fuck about Ren and Stempy over there all I care about is my sister. I’m sorry about your work and I give you my word that I’ll pay off what I owed to you but I need help to get my sister home.”
Rodney started to laugh uncontrollably and a sliver of fear worked its way up Begonia’s spine. He’s not going to help you, Bee.
Kisha crawled up to Rodney’s desk. “Please, Rodney, I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything just don’t let them have me please. I’ll do anything.”
“Get the fuck up, Bitch.” Bunky hauled Kisha to her feet and started dragging her back over to her brother. Kyle broke out of his restraints and grabbed Bunky’s leg.
“Get the fuck off of me, yo. Are you insane?”
Kisha elbowed Bunky in the gut. She punched him in the face and grabbed his gun. She swung the gun around the room trembling and backing up against the wall.
Amir placed hi gun at Kyle’s temple. “You’re about to be a memory, nigga. Make a move.”
Bunky touched his broken nose and spit out blood. “You little fucking bitch.”
“You stay back or I swear I’ll shoot your fucking head off.”
Rodney stood up and leaned over his desk. “Don’t hurt yourself with that big gun little girl.”
Kisha looked at Begonia. “I was there when, wh-when they raped Violet. I heard her scream all n-night. I saw the look in her eyes afterwards. They were dead. They stayed dead. I’m not going through that shit. You hear me.” She swung the gun back and forth around the room. She was shaking violently now. She wiped her eyes and stood up straight. “I’d rather die first.” She put the gun in her mouth and pulled the trigger.
Kyle lunged for his sister and Rodney walked around his desk grabbed the gun from Amir. He put two bullets in Kyle’s back and one in his dome. Blood splattered against Begonia’s sneakers and her cold shield slid off of her like water. She didn’t know she was screaming until Rodney slapped the shit out of her.
“Shut the fuck up, Begonia, and listen to me carefully.” He hauled her up out of the chair. “I’m going to give you one month to get me my money or you and your little sisters are dead. Do you understand me? Can you tell that I’m serious?”<
br />
Begonia nodded.
“Good, now get the fuck out of my house and don’t come back unless you have my money.”
Chapter 7
Violet kept her eyes on the woman in front of her as they walked to the bus that would ship them off to the county jail. She had to resist the urge to look over her shoulder for Begonia. She’d dreamed of her last night, and a false kernel of hope remained that Begonia was going to show up and make everything all right.
They stood off to the side as the men were loaded on first. After they were seated Violet was cuffed again. She looked down at her wrist and cried. Her stomach fluttered and she clamped her mouth shut so she wouldn’t throw up all over herself. Thoughts flew through her mind to fast for her to hold onto. Dear, God, I don’t really know how to pray, and I don’t know if you’re listening but I don’t want to be here anymore. Please just let it come to an end.
Violet looked at the building as they pulled up and in every bad prison movie she’d ever seen sprung into her head. Oh my God, she thought. They were separated from the men and led into a hallway with large windows and empty holding cells.
A male guard entered the room. He was about 5’10, brown skinned, with a small mustache and dark brown eyes. He paced up and down the room like a drill sergeant, looking everyone in the eyes before speaking.
“Listen up, ladies; my name is Officer Mike Davis. You will now be processed into this facility. It will take up to three days. The process can run as smooth or as rough as you want it. The choice is yours. You will stand here until your name is called, and then you will be escorted into the med office. After you’re examined you will be assigned rooms in D-block for quarantine.”
Whatever, Violet thought. Let’s just hurry up and get this over with so I can lay down. Violet watched as the women where led into the room one by one. Oh this really fucking blows. She leaned against the wall and stared straight ahead. A few people tried to talk to her but she ignored them. Officer Mike stuck his head out the door.
“Violet Brown.”
About fucking time, she pushed off of the wall and made her way to the door. She entered a small office and was greeted by a light-skinned black woman wearing a white lab coat. She picked a manila folder up off of the desk and offered Violet a seat.
“Hello, Violet, my name is Wanda Mintz. I am the intake nurse here.”
Violet nodded her head and rolled her eyes. Let’s get this the fuck over with, Lady. She thought as she sat down and fidgeted with the strings of her gown.
Wanda smiled. “This file says that you’re approximately 7 weeks pregnant.” She looked over the file again. “I will not be able to administer a tetanus shot.” She looked up at Violet. “That wouldn’t be safe for the baby. I will still have to test you for tuberculosis. It’s a very simple test that I will explain to you later. First, I need to ask you a few questions.”
Violet suppressed the urge to be sick. She crossed her arms tightly underneath her breast. Locking her knees, she took a deep breath and forced herself to look the nurse in the eye. “Well,” Violet said, “shoot.”
Wand pulled a pen out of her lab coat. “Do you have any police related injuries?”
“Nope.”
“Are you having any suicidal thoughts?”
Violet cracked up laughing. Bitch, I flipped a Lexus over three times on the expressway, on purpose, she thought. What do you think? She was laughing so hard that tears came to her eyes. It took Violet a moment to regain her composure. “No ma’am, I do not have suicidal thoughts.”
Wanda looked at Violet like she was a nut case. She wrote furiously on her note pad. “Do you think you will be a danger to people around you?”
Violet smiled and wiped her eyes. “No ma’am.”
Wanda frowned at her tone but continued to ask questions.
Violet sat up straight in the chair. The moment of humor had passed and the weight of her situation fell back on her like a ton of bricks. She stopped talking and just nodded her head yes or no, refusing to elaborate.
Wanda grew tired of her attitude and the syrupy sweet tone of her voice fell away. She put her little pad down and walked over to the sink to wash her hands. She pulled out a little kit from the med cart in the corner. “Please extend your arm. I am going to give you a small shot that will let us know if you’ve been exposed to Tuberculosis.”
Violet stuck her arm out. “Are we done after this?”
“Yes we’re done for now.” She swabbed her arm with alcohol. “I will see you in three days to check your arm for a reaction.”
A female officer knocked on the door and stepped inside the room.
“This is CO Brandi Lyons, She will conduct your search and then you can shower and get changed.”
“Just call me Brandi,” the officer said. She handed Violet papers. “This is a receipt for your personal items, and this is a call sheet. I will put all of your belongings in this bag and this is a jumpsuit you will wear until you get your blues.”
Violet stood up and rolled her shoulders. Her stomach fluttered and she brought her hand up to her belly to fight off a wave of nausea.
“Are you all right?” Brandi asked, handing her soap, washrag and a towel.
Violet ignored her. She took the carrot suit off the nurse’s desk and stepped into the hallway.
Brandi led her to a large shower room. “Okay, Ms Brown, I need you to strip.” Brandi closed the door and put on plastic gloves.
“Are you going to stand there and watch me?”
“I sure am, darling; I have to make sure your not smuggling any contraband into our fine facility.”
Violet shrugged. What the fuck does it matter, she thought as she pulled off her gown. She started to toss it on the floor, but Brandi stepped forward to grab it. Violet backed up against the wall holding her breast. “Don’t touch me.”
Brand stuffed her gown in the bag and sighed. “I told you I wasn’t going to touch you.”
The cold tiles sent shockwaves through Violet’s system, but she didn’t move.
“You need to calm down.”
“I am calm. I just don’t want to be touched.”
Brandi cocked her head to the side and gave Violet a look that said you are making this harder than it has to be. Violet gave Brandi a look of her own and stepped away from the wall. She took deep breaths to calm herself as she unfastened her jeans. She kicked off of her sneaks and pushed her jeans down her hips. When she stepped out of them, Brandi picked them up and put them in the bag along with her hospital gown. Violet took off her socks and then did a very poor job of covering herself with her hands.
“What now?”
“Now I need you to place your hands straight out from your side and spin around slowly. Tears came to her eyes as she spun around. Visions of Kyle jerking off while Bunky held her down and Amir stuck a broomstick up her ass floated through her mind.
“I need you to stand with your legs apart, squat, and cough.”
Violet squatted down slowly. The room tilted and she became dizzy and started tipping backwards.
“Oh, my God,” Brandi said, she leapt forward and grabbed Violets shoulders before she fell over.
“Get off of me,” Violet screamed. She didn’t see Brandi; all she saw was Bunky’s evil eyes as he pressed her to the table and forced himself inside of her. “Get off of me!”
“Look, girl, I’m trying to help you.” Brandi tightened her grip and Violet went wild, screaming and kicking. She fell on her butt with a thump.
“Help me,” Brandi screamed
Three female guards rushed inside the room. They had to fight hard to restrain Violet, as she punched, kicked, and scratched to free herself.
“Please get off of me. Kyle, get him off of me please. Don’t let them hurt me.” Violet brought her knees up and kicked out as hard as she could, but the guards maintained their hold. “I love you, Kyle. I swear I love you. Why are you doing this, why?”
Officer Brandi held violet’s head up so sh
e couldn’t knock it on the floor again. Wanda ran into the bathroom with two other nurses in toe. Violet wrenched one leg free and kicked one of the nurses in the face. The nurse hollered out as she fell backwards.
“Get the fuck off of me,” Violet screamed at the guards who now had her pinned securely to the shower room floor. Her sobs rocked her body violently. “I love you, Kyle. Don’t hurt me. Please, don’t let them hurt me.”
“No one’s going to hurt you,” Wanda said while she stuck a needle in Violet’s arm.
Violet’s eyes drooped instantly. “I’m sorry, Begonia. They hurt me so bad.” Violet mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.
Wanda motioned for the guards to back away then turned to Brandi, “Go get me something to cover her up with.” She looked Violet over for injuries. There were jagged scars between her legs and various bite marks on her breast and cigarette burns covered her stomach. Jesus, Marry, and Joseph, Wanda thought. What happened to this little girl?
Chapter 8
Begonia sat on the park bench with a fifth of vodka. She took a swig and held her hand up in front of her. She couldn’t seem to stop shaking. She had a hard time coming up with 200 bucks so the thought of squeezing out two hundred thousand was unbelievable. I’m gonna get it though. I’m gonna get it or I’m gonna die trying, she thought as she looked down at her clothes. Although it’s been days since she saw Kyle and Kisha die she still expected to see their blood on her jeans and sneaks. I think you’re going to have to change first, Bee. Getting up from the bench she stretched and threw the empty bottle into the street. She walked down three blocks to the house that Child Protective Services took her from two years ago. She stood there watching it for a long time while the Vodka simmered in her system. “It’s all on you, Begonia. Now what the fuck are you gonna do?” No answer came from the boarded up house she was staring at or the heavens up above, so Begonia kept it moving. She walked down to the payphone at the corner store. A young woman was walking down the street pushing a stroller and Begonia’s eyes were immediately drawn to her pocketbook which exposed a fresh box of Newports. Begonia picked up the receiver and fished a quarter out of her pocket. “Can I buy a cigarette off of you, Ms?”
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