“Okay, don’t be gone too long, and please drive like you have some sense. Love you.” I reached into my purse and handed her my credit card.
“I will sissy. Love you too. Thank you!”
Once Journey left, I put Sage in her playpen and started cooking dinner. An incoming call halted the music I had playing throughout the kitchen.
“What the fuck do you want?” I hissed into the phone.
“Bitch you know what the fuck I want!” Rell yelled into the phone.
“I’m not giving you shit! I already paid you for the job. You won’t see another fucking penny for me.”
“Oh yeah? How you think yo brother gone feel when he finds out you set his right-hand man up? Then you out here runnin’around with that football player. You better get my money, or you gone be right in the dirt along with your baby daddy.”
I laughed, pacing the kitchen, “Nigga, my brother and the police have both been looking for you. One phone call will end all this shit. So take the money I’ve given you and get the fuck on before YOU end up in the dirt next to that bitch ass nigga.” I spat before ending the call.
He didn’t call back after I hung up. I was so zoned out that I didn’t hear Saint come into the house. “Everything okay?” Saint asked as he stepped into the kitchen, holding a bouquet of roses wrapped in money and a gift bag. “I called your name when I walked in the house, and you didn’t respond.”
My hands shook as I took the roses from him. “Everything’s fine, baby. I was just zoned out. Thank you.” I stood on my tiptoes, repeatedly pecking his soft, plump lips. “I need to get another vase.”
FLASHBACK—
I threwa few stacks of money into my purse before slamming the safe shut. My eye was already starting to swell shut, making my vision blurry. The sting in my split lip had worsened, and I could still taste blood in my mouth.
“It’s okay, princess,” I whispered as I lifted Sage from her crib. She had been crying for the last few minutes, but I couldn’t stop what I was doing to get to her. I rubbed her back, soothing her. Her cries stopped as soon as she was in my arms. I hated that I had her in this situation, but shit was about to change—quickly.
After securing Sage in her car seat, I climbed into the driver’s seat. I headed to the location I was sent and prayed that everything went as planned. I know I shouldn’t have had my daughter with me, but I was pressed for time and didn’tneed anyone asking questions. I couldn’t take it anymore. This had to be the last time this nigga beat my ass like this. Fighting back wasn’t working anymore.
I glanced at a sleeping Sage through my rear-view mirror as I drove down the dirt road. I parked next to the only other vehicle and climbed out of the car with my purse on my shoulder. I needed to make this shit quick.
Rell winced, looking at my battered face. Shit, our faces shared similar bruises. “How long that nigga been laying hands on you?” He asked, clenching his jaw.
“Look, can you do it or not? I have my daughter in the car, and I need to get back home before he does.”
“I can do it. My nigga Rock will tail him. Just drop this tracker in his car so we can keep tabs on him. When you’re ready for it to be done, say the word, and it’s done.” He reached into his pocket and passed me a small metal tracker. “I won’t charge you full price for this shit, so just give me 50 bands.”
I nodded, slipped the tracker into my purse, and handed him the ten thousand dollars I had in my purse. “Here’s the down payment. You’ll be hearing from me soon.”
“Wait Bless.. Why didn’t you tell your brother? You know he would’ve laid that nigga down without hesitation.”
“Because I didn’t need him involved. What if shit went left?”
He sighed, tugging at his goatee. “Aye, I’m not gone lie, I heard that nigga been tryna back door Siah. Tried to hire Rickey to light him up, but he’s so respected in the city, he turned him down, but said he wasn’t going to say shit. Rickey might’ve turned it down, but there are other young niggas out here hungry as hell.”
I shook my head in disbelief. Seven had really lost his fucking mind. I knew Rell wasn’t lying because Seven had threatened to kill my brother if he told him what washappening in our household. This new bit of information solidified my decision.
Three Weeks Later
I scrubbed the club from my skin in a steaming hot shower. My body relaxed as I slid underneath the comforter in the bed. It was well after 2 a.m., and Seven had yet to walk through the front door. That uneasy feeling returned. I shook my head, knowing I just needed to sleep it off.
I sent Seven a few texts questioning his whereabouts, but they all went unanswered. I knew this was his way of punishing me. Before I could lock my phone, a text message notification popped up on my screen. I clicked the notification, opening my messages. I frowned, looking at the attachments from the unsaved number. Professional photos of Seven and a very pregnant woman were attached. My stomach sank at the photo of Seven and a little boy who had his entire face.
“I know you fuckin’ lyin’.” I scoffed, shaking my head. Not only was he cheating again, but he hid an entire family from me. This nigga was going to feel my wrath.
I woke up every morning fearing for my fucking life. I was so used to the beating, I stopped fighting back. Every time I thought things were getting better, he showed me there was no change in the future. I was tired of ghosting my family and drowning my face in healing cream. My life was never supposed to be like this. Messiah warned me—BEGGED me, to leave Seven alone, but I was so “in love” I couldn’t see past the bullshit. All the cheating, lies, and abuse were taking a toll on my mental health on top of battling postpartum depression.
Sage needed me. I couldn’t leave my daughter in the world with her demented ass father. I tried to keep us together, to make sure my daughter had a two-parent household, but this shit wasn’t worth it anymore. He wasn’t going to stop until he had me in a body bag. It’s either him or me, and I can’t afford tolose my life. I got out of bed and went into my office. I grabbed a book from my bookshelf and opened it to reveal the burner phone I had kept hidden. I sent a single airplane emoji before powering the phone off and destroying it. I slept peacefully knowing my freedom was near.
The Funeral