by Stacy-Deanne
Sonjay faced him, struggling to breathe.
“My boys got an eye on your folk’s restaurant.” Zayden straightened himself, wearing a sweat-stained wife beater and ripped jeans. “All I got to do is call and they’ll burn that motherfucker to the ground.”
Sonjay glanced around the room looking for something to grab.
“Think I’m playing with you, gal?” His eyebrows raised over his demonic eyes. “Be stupid if you want to.”
Sonjay backed up into the living room.
“Stop moving.” He took out a silver revolver. “You like this gun?” He raised it, nose crinkling. “It’s a Colt Python, a classic. Part of my daddy’s collection. He got all them guns just lying in the cabinet and ain’t doing shit with ‘em.”
Sonjay inched away from him until his eyes warned her to be still. “Why are you here?”
“To teach you and the rest of them uppity niggers a lesson. This is our town, bitch.” His lips shined with spit. “We ain’t letting you have it.”
“Your town?” Sonjay straightened her shoulders, determined to tell this sick motherfucker what she thought of him no matter the danger. “Thompsonville doesn’t belong to you.”
“I see what’s happened in the rest of the country and it’s turning into a shithole because of niggers and them damn illegals. Look at California. It’s a hell hole now. Detroit is a mess. Chicago is full of crime and what do they have in common?” He squinted. “Niggers and fucking Mexicans everywhere.”
“I could try to educate your dumb ass but why? You feel and breathe hate and until you stop doing that, Zayden, you won’t ever have a life.”
“Everywhere I turn, I can’t catch a break. Tried to get a new job, outnumbered by bosses wanting to feel a quota. They got to hire a certain amount of niggers or some cunt that’s not even qualified. Oh yeah.” He nodded. “Women screwing the country up too and need to stay in their place.”
“Wow. I’d laugh if you weren’t so sad.”
“You know what’s sad?” He extended his neck. “Hard-working white people who helped make this country what it is today, can’t put food on the tables because everyone’s hiring illegals. White folks can’t get loans because of government programs telling loaners to target minorities. You think we’ll just sit there, Sonjay? Just sit there while you erase us little by little and take everything?”
“It’s not yours to take.” She ran hot with rage. “You don’t own shit and that’s why you’re mad. Don’t blame minorities or women because you didn’t get your shot.” She scoffed. “It’s not our faults you’re uneducated. Go to college then.”
“How? Blacks get scholarships just for being black. How can I compete with that?”
“You’re only twenty-five, Zayden. You got your entire life ahead of you but you’re too afraid to try so you blame others because you’re a pussy.”
He bared his teeth. “Where you get off looking down at me?”
“I don’t look down on anyone.”
“Liar.” He walked around, pointing the gun to their expensive furniture and antiques. “Klein struts around like he’s the king of Thompsonville just because he’s sucking the mayor’s dick.”
Sonjay swallowed.
“And you.” He gestured the gun toward her. “You wear them fancy dresses with your hair all done up. Fuckin’ perfume costs more than I make in a month and you don’t appreciate how you got.”
“Klein and I went to college and got degrees. If you had instead of walking around acting like the world owes you something, you’d be in a better place.”
“As I said, women forgot their place but I’ll remind you today.” He inched toward her. “Oh, you won’t forget it today, bitch.”
“You can’t teach me anything.” She shivered, focusing on the gun. “What you’ll do is leave before you do something you’ll regret.”
“I won’t regret it.” He curled his tongue with amusement. “I’m gonna enjoy it. You’re my little nigger girl tonight.”
“Go to hell.” She ran around the couch and he caught up, grabbing her blouse.
“You’re mine tonight, Sonjay.” He held her by the curve of her back. “Do what I say, girl.”
“Get off me.”
“I’m in charge here, bitch.” He pushed the tip of the gun into her cheek.
She quivered, tears sneaking to the corner of her eyes. “Zayden, listen.”
“Oh, I listened.” He smiled. “Someone’s shivering now. What happened to all that big talk?”
“Just leave!”
“Boy, Sonjay if I didn’t know better I’d think you didn’t care for white men.” He fondled her buttocks, and she tightened up, a scream stuck in her throat. “But we know that’s not true, don’t we? Dex can attest to that.”
“Please.” She pressed her fists against his solid chest muscles. “You can make this right before things go too far.”
“Thought you was a teacher.” He sniffed her neck. “Not a counselor.”
“You want to go to prison?” Her voice trembled. “Huh? Is that what you want?”
He switched his eyes left and right. “I ain’t scared of prison. Been to jail lots of times it don’t scare me none.”
“Prison’s different.” His funk turned her stomach, but she fought to get through it. “The last thing you want is to be in some overcrowded, smelly piss trap with the blacks and the browns.” She scoffed. “What do you think they’d do to a pretty little white boy like you?”
A vein pulsed in his temple. “Probably the same thing I’m about to do to you.”
“It ain’t happening.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna teach you a lesson, Sonjay.” He stroked the gun against her cheek, eyes narrowing as if he were in a haze. “This is for Nate, my people, and everything I stand for.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“You stand for hate, violence, and cruelty.” Sonjay winced. “You’re proud of that, Zayden?”
“Who said I hate you?” He dipped his head, watching her through his sparse lashes. “Oh, no.” He dragged his hand past her butt and to her thighs. “I don’t hate you at all, Sonjay. I want to be your friend.” He grinned with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. “Would you like that?”
Her stomach cramped from anxiety. “Get out of here, Zayden.”
“I already know you’re a great fuck.” He sucked his bottom lip. “I saw you and Dex in the woods. Got some freak in you, huh? Who would’ve thought the respectable little school teacher could get so hot?”
“Help!” She bounced and shoved but couldn’t get free. “Someone, help.”
“Ain’t nobody helping because this is fate.” He backed her up to the couch, his hold not budging. “You can either fight it or enjoy it.”
“Hold on, listen.” She pushed against him. “Anderson and Klein will be back any minute.” She let out a nervous chuckle. “Zayden, you’re not this stupid.”
He stared at her with half-moon eyes. “I’m not stupid at all.”
“Right.” She thrust against him, the pitch rising in her voice. “You’re smarter than this.”
His chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh. “You’d say anything so I won’t fuck you.”
Those words scared her more than the gun ever could.
“Well, too bad.” He leapt on the couch with her, holding her still.
“Stop!” She tussled as he grabbed her wrists. “Help!” Her throat burned from screaming. “Help!” She kicked, swatted. “Zayden!”
“Shut up, bitch.” He pointed the gun at her. “I’m in control here. Now I caught you so you belong to me.”
“Don’t do this.” She sobbed, disappointed she’d let him see how much he frightened her. “Please, just go. This won’t accomplish nothing.”
“Oh, it’ll accomplish a lot,” he raised his voice. “It’ll show your sister she shouldn’t fuck with Nate Lancaster or his friends.”
“Raping me won’t bring Nate back,” she hollered with tears flowing. “Zayden,
you do this and it’s the end of your life. You get that?”
“My life ended a long time ago.” He tried to kiss her, and she turned her head in every direction.
“No!”
He cackled, wrestling with her. “I was wondering which one I’d get, the prissy school teacher or the slut from the woods.”
“Get off!”
“Looks like it’s gonna be the school teacher.” He subdued her flying arms, sweat dripping. “That’s fine with me, sweetie. That’s the one I wanted.”
She screamed as loud as she could.
“Sonjay?” Dex beat on the front door. “You okay?”
“Dex, help!”
Zayden slapped his moist hand over her mouth. “Shut up.”
“Sonny?”
“Dex,” she mumbled. “Help!”
The lock unlatched and Dex flew through the door. “Get the fuck off her!” He hopped on the couch and tossed Zayden to the floor.
As Zayden got on his knees and reached for the gun, Dex grabbed his shirt and flung him across the room.
“Come on!” Dex held him to the wall, punching him in the gut.
“Dex,” Sonjay screamed. “Stop!”
“Motherfucker.” He slugged Zayden who flopped onto the floor, wheezing. “Didn’t I tell your ass to stay away from her?” Dex snatched the lamp off the coffee table and bashed Zayden in the head with it.
“Dex.” Sonjay jumped off the couch and got the gun from the floor. “That’s enough.”
“I’ll kill you.” Dex stood over Zayden and punched until blood covered Zayden’s face. “Come on, fucker. You want more? I got more!”
“Stop.” Sonjay grabbed Dex’s arm as he tried to swing again. “Please, stop. He’s not worth it.”
Dex kicked Zayden in the nose.
Sonjay shoved him. “Stop, Dex.”
He swung around, taking her in his arms. “You okay?”
“Yes.” She sobbed when her face touched his chest. “Thank god you’re here.”
“It’s okay.” He rocked her, kissing her forehead. “I won’t let anything happen to you again.”
****
Dex watched through Klein and Sonjay’s living room window as two deputies escorted a battered Zayden to a police car.
Sonjay sat on the couch sandwiched between her sister and mother who consoled her while Boyd gave the business to Deputy Kagen.
“I’m serious, Waylon.” Boyd poked the deputy’s scrawny chest. “If Zayden’s ass is released on bail there will be hell to pay.”
“That’s up to the judge.”
“He assaulted my pregnant daughter.” Boyd pointed at Sonjay. “I want his ass locked up until a trial because we’re damn sure pressing charges.”
Dex sat on the ottoman and smiled at Sonjay whose gaze dropped to the floor.
“You guys don’t get it.” Boyd shrugged. “Zayden is more than a racist. He’s crazy and needs to be off the streets for good or no telling what he might do.”
“He assaulted Sonjay at gunpoint.” Channing patted her sister’s back. “What if he’d killed her? What about burning a cross in my yard?”
“I’m sick and tired of Zayden and those thugs getting away with everything,” Boyd said. “If they were niggas you’d have them in prison by now.”
“Boyd.”
“It’s true, Odelia.” He glanced at his wife over his shoulder. “We all know it. Shit, the police didn’t hesitate to lock me up at the march but Zayden gets all these chances.”
“I feel the same way you do,” Kagen said. “I think Zayden is a despicable person and needs to be in prison for life but you gotta trust in the law.”
“The law.” Boyd scoffed. “The same law that incarcerates innocent black people every day?”
Dex lowered his head, stroking his fingernails.
“See this is what Khadija is talking about.” Boyd faced his family. “Inequality and justice only for one group of people. I tell you...” He pointed at Kagen. “I won’t rest one second until Zayden gets what he deserves whether that’s prison or something else.”
“Daddy,” Sonjay said.
“Boyd.” Dex gestured to him. “Throwing around threats isn’t smart.”
“Oh, it ain’t no threat.” He snickered. “That’s a damn promise. If he comes anywhere near my children again, he’ll get sentenced to a graveyard because I’m not playing.”
“Daddy, be quiet,” Sonjay said. “You running off at the mouth isn’t helping anything.”
“I don’t give a damn, and where the hell is Klein’s behind at? Got his head up Mayor Bordeaux’s ass as always?”
“Daddy,” Sonjay snapped. “Is there anything else you need, Waylon?”
Kagen read over his notes. “I got what I need for now. I’m glad you’re okay, Sonjay.”
“Yeah, thanks to Dex here.” Boyd swatted Dex’s shoulder. “That’s a real man. There when you need him.”
“I’m so grateful, Dex,” Odelia said. “If you hadn’t gotten here when you did—”
“You never have to thank me for that.” He stared at Sonjay, wishing she’d look at him. “Just glad Klein never asked for the spare key back.”
“Why didn’t the alarm work though?” Sonjay scratched her shoulder. “Zayden got in through the back patio and usually the alarm goes off when a leaf blows in the backyard.”
“I would say Zayden did something to the alarm but with his stupid ass I’m sure that’s not true,” Channing said.
“Promise me you get that thing looked at or replaced first thing tomorrow, Sonny,” Boyd said. “You need something to keep you safe since Klein’s black ass ain’t never here.”
“You’re a good man, Mr. Reinhardt.” Kagen put his notepad away. “Unless you guys need anything else I’m going.”
“No, that’s fine.” Sonjay cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through this, Sonjay.” He left.
“God.” Sonjay leaned forward, breathing into her hands. “What a day, huh?”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Odelia asked. “Can we get you anything?”
“Can I have a moment with Dex?”
His heart fluttered.
“Sure.” Odelia kissed Sonjay’s cheek and followed Channing and Boyd out the room.
“I owe you so much.” Sonjay hugged a pillow. “What made you stop by anyway?”
“Heard you’re marrying Klein Saturday. You can’t.”
“We’ve been over this. Klein is what I need.”
“I’m what you want. Sonjay, I’m begging you. Please don’t marry Klein. Give us a chance to raise our child.”
“Dex.” She turned her head away. “We can’t go down this road again.”
“I still have the ring.” He headed for the door. “If that means something to you, you know where to find me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“You can’t be serious.” Three evenings later, Channing sliced apple streusel cake in her kitchen. “You want to go to Khadija’s march Saturday?”
“It’s not just a march.” Anderson sat, clasping the lavender table cloth. “They’re holding a prayer ceremony for Presley at your family church.”
She sucked glaze from her fingers. “And?”
“Khadija wants you to be the guest of honor and say a few words.”
“Do I look like I care?” She got plates out of the cabinet above her head.
“She’s gotten a lot of money and resources for this thing. She’s invited media outlets from across the country, big ones. Reverend Sharston’s supposed to speak.”
Channing jerked her head around. “Reverend Sharston?”
“And other famous activists.”
“The answer is no.” She set a saucer of cake in front of Anderson. “You want juice or milk?”
“Water.” He rolled his eyes.
“Did you roll your eyes at me?”
“You’re being petty and selfish. You just won’t go because you don’t like K
hadija.”
Channing poured him a cup of water, pouting.
“Look at the bigger picture.” Anderson tasted the cake, grimacing. “Damn, this is sweet.”
She got herself a cup of apple juice and sat at the table.
“Do you trust me, Channing?”
She chewed cake, nodding.
“Then what harm would it be for you to show up a few minutes? You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want.”
“You forgot about Sonjay’s secret wedding?” Channing crossed her legs, the tart apples stinging her jaw. “It’s at five. Doesn’t the church thing start then?”
“So? We don’t have to go right when it begins.”
She squirmed, amazed at how he could convince her to do anything he wanted. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”
Anderson smiled. “It’ll be good for you.”
“I’ll go to the ceremony, but I ain’t marching no damn where.” She licked glaze from her fork. “How is Sonjay doing? She claims she’s fine when I call but I’m not so sure.”
“She’s okay.” He drank water. “Zayden shook her up, that’s for sure.”
“That damn Zayden. I swear if he tries anything else I’ll kill him.”
“Dex almost did.” Anderson chuckled. “He seems to care about her.”
“We’ve all known each other as kids. Course he cares.”
The glint in his eyes told her Anderson already knew plenty about Sonjay and Dex. “Is it more than that?”
Channing sighed, laying her fork on the plate. “You damn reporters.”
He laughed. “I knew it. You can’t hide anything from me.”
“You promise you won’t tell Klein?”
“I promise.”
“Sonjay and Dex have been having an affair for about a year.”
“What?”
“Dex has always liked her. I remember in school how he used to just stare at her in the hall. His feelings became more obvious the older we got.”
Anderson ate more cake. “Poor Klein.”
“You promised you wouldn’t tell.”
“But Klein’s my boy. We’ve always had each other’s backs, and he’d tell me if the shoe were on the other foot.”