Betrayed (15 page)

“That's what Nikki told me, but apparently Asia likes what she sees. The girl plays hardball.”

“I'm all for playing hardball with Ms. Asia, but I don't want any drama. Asia or no Asia, I plan to still be on the basketball team when they make it to the Final Four next year.”

“That's it,” Keith said, fist bumping with Zavion. “You've got NBA on the brain.”

“My first priority next to graduating from college,” Zavion said. “But it wouldn't hurt to bring home a good looking sister to grandma—a possible in my future.”

Keith and Zavion laughed.

“Here come the ladies,” Keith whispered. “Man up.”

The guys followed the ladies out of the restaurant. “We'll follow you,” Afrika said to Keith.

“I thought we'd go together,” Keith retorted.

“I'll drive,” Afrika said, “in case I need to leave folks behind because they aren't ready to go home when I am.”

“Who are you talking about?” Asia grinned.

“I haven't a clue,” Afrika said, shaking her head.

“I'm ready to party,” Keith interjected. “I'll drive around to your car in a second.”

“You lead; I'll follow,” Afrika said. The girls laughed and got in the car.

“What are you going to do about your quarterback who's going to be at the party tonight?” Afrika asked, shaking her head at Asia.

“Girl, did you see that fine Zavion? Who's worried about Deon?”

“He's the Eagles quarterback, silly.”

“And Zavion's going to someday be on an NBA team. I'd rather have a b-baller than a big ole gross football player.”

“They both got muscles.”

“But Zavion's are all in the right place. I'm ready to find out a little more about this one. Keith isn't so bad after all, if he's got friends like Zavion.”

“Let me tell you one thing, Miss Asia. I'm not getting caught up in your mess tonight. And don't forget we've got to cheer tomorrow.”

“Have some fun, Nikki. You sure know how to take the buzz out of a high.”

“So you're high now?”

“When Zavion slapped those lips around that pizza, I was imagining it was me. His eyes are hazel, like Trevor's. Can you drive any faster?”

“I can't go any faster than Keith is driving. Hold on. You just met the guy.”

“Zavion is going to be mine. Mark my words, Nikki.” Asia sucked her teeth. “Yeah, I want him.”

S
heila sat in the back of the Know Bookstore restaurant sipping on a Coke. She looked up as Victor walked toward her, offering up a smile to the man who didn't belong to her but for whom she would walk naked through the city to be with. He wore a green trenchcoat and walked with a purpose.

“You got it?” were the first words out of his mouth.

“As you asked,” Sheila said, the smile fading from her face.

“What you having?” the waitress asked, giving Victor one of her best flirtatious smiles.

“Same thing as the young lady,” Victor said, pointing at Sheila's drink.

“All right, one Coke coming up. If you want any food, let me know.”

“Thanks, but I won't be here that long.”

“I thought that since we were out, we could make a night of it,” Sheila said, trying to interject a little more pep in her unhappy demeanor.

“Not tonight, Sheila. Some other time. I've got to take care of this matter first.”

“One Coke for the gentleman,” the waitress said, setting the glass on the table.

Victor slipped the waitress a ten-dollar bill. She smiled and slithered away.

“So, I do you a favor and you toss me out like yesterday's trash.”

“Come on, Sheila. It's not like that. Look, I'm sitting here sipping this Coke with you.”

“You're not funny, Victor.” Sheila sat and stared at him between sips.

“Stop!” Victor said abruptly, wishing he hadn't been so loud. “Put your foot on the floor,” he whispered.

“You've never protested before.”

“I don't know how many ways I can say this, but tonight is not the time. I've got to go.” Victor reached in his pocket and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. “Get yourself another Coke if you like. I'm out.”

“What are you going to do with the gun?”

V
ICTOR FLEW OUT OF THE BOOKSTORE AND FLED INTO THE NIGHT
. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with the gun. He had bought the small, twenty-two-caliber handgun for Sheila some time ago because she said she needed protection, but now he needed protection from his past. The images he saw in his head made him crazy. He'd never given a thought to killing anyone before and wasn't sure he could do it now, although the voices in his head tossed out commands and implored him to take action immediately to rid himself of the stress that had ravaged his body.

He jumped in his Mercedes and drove around, contemplating his next move. If he killed Mimi, he would be the obvious suspect and Brenda would do the accusing. If something happened to Afrika, he'd still be the suspect because Mimi would do the accusing. Besides, all that he'd work for would go up in smoke because he'd be behind steel bars before the first forty-eight
hours passed after committing this premeditated crime. God, he had to stop watching so much television.

Victor felt the gun in the depths of his coat pocket. Perspiration formed on his forehead as he battled with the voices in his head. Maybe he needed to sleep on it…get a clear vision about what he should do. That was it. He'd go home, although he was not up to listening to Brenda's rants about her need to see Mimi.

Mimi, Mimi, Mimi. She bore a daughter, and he was the father. It was so long ago. Surely Brenda would forgive him. Maybe he would tell her that Mimi had forced herself on him, and he had only taken advantage of her because Mimi wanted him to. Yes, that's what he'd tell Brenda. She would forgive him, and embarrassment would send Mimi and Afrika packing. But no, Mimi would tell Brenda that he had raped her.…that he had acted like an animal and wouldn't take no for an answer. He couldn't risk it. Could he? No, Mimi had to be eliminated.

The car moved smoothly through the night. Maybe it wasn't a bad idea to kick it with Sheila tonight, but she probably was in a bad funk because he left her alone nursing her drink. Victor saw an ABC Liquor Store ahead and pulled into the parking lot upon approach. He'd let Jack Daniels help him out. Yeah, he was a coward, but he was a coward that needed a little help. He dialed Sheila's cell number anyway, and she answered on the first ring.

“Sheila,” he whispered. “Sorry for running out on you like that. I was a little uptight, but now I seem to be rational.”

“What did you do, Victor? You…you didn't use…you know?”

“No, I didn't use it; at least not yet.”

“You need some company?”

“Why don't I meet you at your place?”

“You mean our place?”

“Your place, our place. Yes, our place.”

“Come on by, baby. I'm halfway there. Let Momma give you what you need.”

“Sheila, I need the works. Don't skimp. And pull out a bottle of Dom Perignon.”

“Okay, baby. I'll be waiting. Smooches.”

Victor felt the gun in his pocket. He decided against getting a bottle of Jack Daniel's and headed to the other side of town. Sheila would smooth all the ruffled spots on his body and give him the best massage money could buy, allowing him time to come up with a foolproof plan.

October 10, 2008

I had lunch today with John Carroll. It's hard to believe that he walked back into my life just when I needed someone to lean on. Listening to him as he talked about his life then and now made me, for a fleeting moment, wonder what life would've been like if we had stayed connected. It probably wouldn't have worked. He did say he was divorced twice.

Life with John is not even a question…not even an option. Raphael is my life, and I will love and cherish that man until the day I die. I'm not sure how I was so fortunate to meet the most wonderful man that God created on this earth, but for all the women out there, I've got him. He's my sunshine and my rain. He's my everything.

Today I shared a bit of myself with John—some of my thoughts and feelings. However, I had not meant to tell him about Afrika…about the rape—that Victor is the father of my child. But it seemed to make sense to do so after I plunged ahead and told him about Victor coming to my house and stalking me. I was at peace with it then, but now I'm having second thoughts and regrets, but it's way too late.

What if John tells someone else and they tell someone? What if Brenda finds out without me telling her first? How can I tell Brenda after all these years that her husband raped me when I tried to intercede on her behalf? She won't believe me because I ran. I ran faster than Raphael's granddaddy did when he tried to dodge a bullet after he was caught in bed with a woman he was putting the moves on who happened to be some other old man's girlfriend. Now that was funny.

John stood up to Victor today on my behalf. He didn't flinch or offer any excuses. I was leery about him talking to Victor about his coming to my house, stalking me, and possibly interfering with Afrika's student account. John went to Victor's office like Rambo, at least that's what he told me. John said that Victor played the role of the ultimate professional in his cocky, ‘I'm better than you' voice. However, when John finished telling Victor that he should think long and hard about approaching me again, John said Victor looked like a steam engine that had been rolled over by a Mack truck. Why am I blushing?

I don't trust Victor for one second. He's mean-spirited, and he's going to make an attempt to get at Afrika and me again. I feel it in my bones, and I've got to be ready in case I'm right. First thing tomorrow, I'm going to purchase a gun. Setrina (Mimi) Bailey isn't going to take any more of that man's abuse. Victor has only one time to put his hands on me again.

Whew. I need to put my pen down because my hand is still shaking after writing that last paragraph. But I've got to write this down. I'm not afraid of Victor, and I'm not going to tolerate his crap anymore. I'm going to protect my family, so if I have to spill Victor's blood, so be it. He wouldn't want Raphael to come home and do the deed. That man's been through Desert Storm, the second war in Iraq, and Afghanistan to protect the United States and the American people, and it wouldn't take much…in fact, if I tell Raphael the whole truth, Victor's guts would already be blown all over Durham in the name of defending his family. Okay, I'm through. Good night.

Mimi Bailey

Mimi looked at her journal and read over what she had written. The words were raw, but should something happen to her, she wanted the reader to understand that she bared her soul…that her fear was real, and nothing and no one was going to hurt her or her family anymore.

Getting up from the table, Mimi picked up her journal and put it back in its resting place. Her nerves were still on edge and she went to the fridge and pulled out a half-filled bottle of wine. She poured herself a glass and sipped it, letting the liquid roll to the back of her tongue before finally allowing it to slide down her throat.

Savoring the flavor, Mimi's mind began to click. She took another sip of her drink, although she didn't allow it to linger on her tongue as long as the first. She took another sip, put the glass down, and grabbed her BlackBerry.

Mimi leaned on the sink and dialed the numbers fast, as if the call was an emergency. She put the phone to ear and listened while it rang…then she stood up straight as the voice at the other end said, “Hello.”

“Brenda, this is Mimi. We need to talk.”

Brenda stuttered. “When would you like to get together?”

“As soon as you can get away.”

“Well, Victor isn't here right now. I can meet you wherever you like.”

“How about my house? I'll give you directions.”

“You know Victor has been trying to keep us apart.”

“Tonight, you're going to know why.”

Silence replaced the voices. Then Brenda spoke. “I'll only need your address.”

Mimi gave Brenda her address. “Be careful. I wouldn't want Victor getting wind of this.”

“He's probably out with his whore.”

It was Mimi's turn to be silent. There was more to Brenda's statement that was left unsaid, and maybe laying her burden on Brenda might not be as hard a chore as she thought.

“I'll see you when you get here. Park in the space marked for visitors.”

“I'll see you in a few.”

Mimi closed the lid on her cell and stared in space. Backing down was not an option. She had already committed to the deed she had to do. Her hands began to tremble and instead of picking up her glass, she picked up the wine bottle and emptied the contents directly into her mouth.

T
he music was jumping and could be heard down the street. Keith and Afrika parked their cars around the corner from the home that had seen many Alpha parties. Keith caught up with Afrika and led her toward the house, leaving Zavion and Asia alone. They didn't seem too anxious about joining the festivities and slowed to a crawl to get reacquainted.

“I bet all the guys tell you that you're beautiful,” Zavion said, lifting Asia's chin to get a better look at her.

“No, not all. You haven't told me that I'm beautiful,” Asia said, confidence dripping all over her, narrowing the space between Zavion and her.

“What's the point if you already know it?”

“Really, I'm not stuck on myself. I'm blessed to have reasonably good looks, but I don't go around flaunting it. I'm really down to earth and a lot of fun to be with.”