Thank you's to the greats:
King Kroniiclez, CocoaMoon, N. Risa, LovinHueyFreeman, SuadamPanyuthapum, TheMoonlighter01, taydo-the-potato, NarutoPlug, QuestionyTheQuestionMark, mvsta, IndiaJ, Firegirl19, Chel29, youngagua, TifaEsque, and Winzoxox.
Strap in. Peep the author's note at the end. And don't forget to enjoy.
Go.
Trigger Warning PSA: But before that, I have to let it be known that this chapter does include an area that eludes to some physical/sexual abuse. I've included some asterisks above the section where the circumstances occur. If reading this is too much to handle, PLEASE feel free to skip over it. Honestly. While it may not be much for some, I don't want to cause any upsetting/triggering reactions for ANYone. So please, use precaution and do what's best for you when reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks or any of his characters.
"She probably just needs a little space."
"Yeah, a little other side of the planet space. You better hurry before she gets to the moon!"
~Huey & Riley Freeman; The Lovely Ebony Brown
Huey's POV
This was a joke. It had to be. A sick, ill-timed joke if he ever saw one.
Huey stared at the scene in front of him, feeling his brain spiral in overtime as it tried and failed to make sense of this utter shit show.
Cindy's finger really had a diamond ring on it. She actually said yes to the stranger beside her, who seemed to be wearing the happiness for both of them with his Cheshire smile. Cindy on the other hand just seemed frozen… vacant practically.
And Riley…
"Congrats." He spoke lowly at the same time Huey turned to look at him. His eyes were still fixated on the ring before he cleared his throat, keeping his head down. "I uh, got somewhere to be, I'm sorry. Congratulations." He uttered again before quickly turning to retreat towards the foyer.
"Thanks, Riley! See you later!" Landon rang loudly behind him. To avoid decking him in the jaw, Huey said nothing, abruptly turning to leave the kitchen and follow behind Riley's fast pace.
"Riley." Huey kept his voice quiet as they neared the other end of the hallway.
"I gotta go." He said without looking, already at the door as he pulled it open.
"At least let me drive you home, it's freezing." Huey had to grab the door to avoid it being closed on him as he followed him outside.
"I'm good." Riley was still moving as he marched down the porch stairs.
"Come on." Huey tried again, pulling the door all the way shut behind him. "Riley."
"BRO." Riley's voice was stern as he whipped around to finally make eye contact with him. The look on his face pained him. He was trying so hard to keep a strong demeanor, Huey knew. And his wall was definitely back up… but it was too late. The fractures he'd once concealed well were plainly visible now.
"Look, I feel you and I appreciate you, but I need some space." Riley said seriously. "I'll be fine… I am fine. I just need to walk for a bit… aiight?"
Huey stared at him for several moments before slightly nodding his head in resignment. Riley took off at that, turning to continue down the sidewalk as he flipped his hood up and stuffed his hands in his pocket pouch afterwards. Huey lingered on the porch, watching his figure go as his mind started to race again.
It felt too unbelievable to be real. His brother had finally opened up for once. And seemed like he was actually ready to be honest with himself and her about his feelings. Yet somehow within that short time, this happens.
And to top it off, you still don't have any usable evidence.
That thought alone had Huey heading back inside the house at once. Slamming the door shut behind him, he went to the stairs and began taking them two at a time. Once he made it to his room, he quickly locked the door before heading towards his bed. He wouldn't be going back downstairs anytime soon; not until they, he specifically left. Huey knew there was way too high a chance of following through with his initial violent urge, which wouldn't be good in the long run for anyone. Especially before he had what he needed.
It only took him a moment to locate the box, lugging it out by the handle after he did so. The case unlocked with an audible hiss once the passcode was entered, granting Huey access to the contents inside. He only opted for one item in particular, plucking said device from inside and powering it on. He felt his scowl deepen even more at the sight of… nothing. No messages, no calls, and no updates, which was unacceptable given the circumstances.
And the fucking money I already paid. Huey gritted his teeth at the thought, going to the short list of contacts to select "John Doe" and compose a message.
I needed those files yesterday.
His eyes didn't leave the screen as he started a slow pace, too agitated to sit and relax. He needed to do something. And he also needed answers, tonight.
He paused mid-step when the phone vibrated in his hand, an incoming message appearing on the screen:
Long time, no talk. I'm doing well, thanks.
Huey felt his blood pressure rise as he rapidly typed back, in no mood for games. I mean it.
I know you do. Sadly, I can't give you something I don't have yet.
WHEN? Huey heard himself ask the question aloud in response to the text. It was now going on multiple weeks and he still had nothing to show for it. Was there anything to even show at all? He honestly was starting to question himself. Maybe his overreactive imagination was doing just that… overreacting. Maybe the distrustful side of him was creating a false narrative in his head, making up scenarios that didn't even exist. Maybe he was wrong about it all entirely.
For a moment, he genuinely wanted to be wrong, which was a rare occurrence for Huey. But… his gut told him that he wasn't. There was something there that he just couldn't shake. And unfortunately in all of the times he had that feeling, as of yet, he had never been off about it. He let out a slow breath as he held his phone up again, pausing his pace to read the incoming message.
For you? I suppose I could put a rush on it and have it by midnight. However, expedited services are an additional 35% gratuity of the original price.
25%. Huey texted back instantly.
Nice try. 33%.
You said this wouldn't take more than a few days. Please explain to me what exactly you're expediting.
Initially I didn't think it would take more than a few days. But once you see what I've found, I'm sure you'll understand.
You said you didn't have anything yet.
I can only assume you want hard evidence. I've got several strong leads regarding your target. By tonight, it will be confirmed.
30% is my final offer.
Huey read over the last few messages, recognizing the way his stomach twinged again with that feeling. His fingers moved in response to his silent decision.
Deal.
Wonderful. Drop off the deposit at the usual spot. I'll email you the files tonight.
No later than midnight.
And here I thought you were retired for good. It's always been a pleasure doing business with you.
Huey powered off his burner at that, tucking it back into his case before reaching for another item, this time a manila envelope. He pulled out the sealed bag of separately banded cash and materials, immediately opening the contents to take exactly what he needed. Once counted and put into a smaller money pouch, he placed the deposit into his pocket before putting everything away as it had been before, locking the safe closed again before returning it under his bed. He checked his watch as he stood tall, already heading for the door. It was already a half past nine; he wanted to make the drop now so that there'd be no excuse as to why he wouldn't have his information as promised. Then right after, he was going to make a withdrawal from the ATM to restock his emergency funds.
"Thanks so much for having us Jazmine, I know it was a short notice surprise."
Huey slowed his pace in the hallway at the sound of Landon's voice, thankfully right before he came into view over the balcony. He moved to lean against the edge of the wall, straining to make out the rest of the conversation below him.
"It was definitely that, but congratulations. Again." He heard Jazmine's faint response. "Text me when you get home, okay?"
"I will. Love you." He barely heard Cindy respond, her voice even quieter than Jazmine's had been.
"Alright, we'll see you soon. Tell Huey we said bye." Landon spoke, prompting a significant eye roll from Huey as he heard the door open and the sound of their footsteps. It was only after he was sure the door had been closed again that Huey continued down the hallway, glancing over the balcony to Jazmine who had just turned from locking the door. It was the first time he'd really looked at her since he'd been home, and she looked about as mentally exhausted as he felt.
Her eyes lifted towards him as he began to make his way down the stairs. "Hey."
He didn't say anything as he reached the bottom, only lifting his arms in response to her approach, allowing her to fall into him in an embrace. They were both silent, both in their own thoughts as they held each other for a few more moments. He allowed her to be the one to pull back slightly first, glancing up at him with those eyes. He met her saddened expression with one that was sterner than intended.
"Your white friend still hasn't found her damn mind."
Her eyes dulled slightly in annoyance at his blunt tone. "Don't call her that."
"Maybe when she stops acting generic."
"Oh Huey." She sighed as she slipped her arms from around him, crossing them across her chest as she slid past him. He glanced back at her, waiting for her to continue with her scolding. But it didn't come as she moved to lean her back against the foyer wall, seeming lost in thought again as she glared at the floor.
"I don't know." Was all she said. Huey raised his brow at that, giving her another once over. There was definitely more to the story that had occurred well before he and Riley showed up. While he wanted to ask, he didn't have time. He needed to get this taken care of now.
"Hey, I'm going to be back in a little." He spoke, causing her to lift her eyes towards him again. "I'm going to go make sure Riley made it home." He gave a quick lie.
"He won't text you?" She asked.
He shook his head. "I just want to make sure he's good."
She seemed to study him for an extra moment before she nodded, leaning off the wall to go towards the coat rack. "Okay."
"You don't have to leave if you don't want to. I shouldn't be too long." Huey told her, watching her shrug on her coat and loop her scarf around her neck.
"I might be back later. I don't wanna wait in the house by myself." She replied as she stepped into her boots.
"What are you going to do then?" Huey asked her, not expecting the sassy look on her face once she stood tall again.
"Go to my white mom's house, I guess."
Cindy's POV
It was a silent ride back to her place… at least on Cindy's end. The radio had been blasting at its normal volume as usual. And Landon was in such a delightful mood, he'd barely stopped for air the entire evening. But to Cindy… it was as if there was no noise at all.
She felt numb. She'd been numb since yesterday. The feeling had lingered with her throughout the day, despite her fight to get over it. But it wasn't until she went there, not until he was suddenly there, that she felt again.
The moment he met her gaze, the look of realization that reflected in his eyes, that look of hurt that flashed across his face… the instant flood of emotions filled her to capacity while taking her breath away at the same time.
How was it possible to feel numb and feel pain simultaneously? It wasn't the first time the question had entered her mind that day as she entered her home, barely uttering the words that she needed to shower. The thought alone seemed as though it bared physical weight as she shed the clothes from her body in the bathroom. It wasn't until the water practically burned her skin while she let it rain on her that she felt it again. The strange mix that was too full and too heavy to contain any longer. She felt it coming as she took in a shaky breath, managing to cup her hands over her mouth in time before she let it all out in an abrupt sob. She tried to conceal the noise as much as possible, but knew it was useless as her entire body shook uncontrollably in response. She could only hope the sound of the shower was enough to drown her out as she allowed her thoughts and emotions the time to be present.
Along with a recent memory that she tried to bury away, even though it was less than 24 hours ago.
When she opened her eyes yesterday morning, she hadn't anticipated that his face would be the first thing she'd see. Literally. While he was all smiles as he hovered over her in bed, she hadn't been able to mask the startled look at the sudden wake-up call.
"Landon!" She gasped, her hand instinctively going to her chest as she felt her heart pound.
"Miss me?" He grinned, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"Yes, I just didn't expect you back so earl-mm," She was interrupted when his mouth covered hers, his hands finding their way onto her skin after he pulled back the covers.
"I wanted to surprise you. I've been dying to see you for days." He murmured, sliding on top of her body.
"I… missed you too." She responded quietly. By then his lips had moved to her neck and she felt him start to tug at her shorts with one hand. But the only thing she could focus on was his other hand, the one that had found her ringless left hand in its tight grip.
And while their time together had been intimate, she couldn't settle the feeling of dread that nestled in the pit of her stomach. She'd known for days that he'd be back on Sunday, and yet she was no closer to a decision than she had been when he'd left. The ring had stayed tucked away in its box since he'd been gone, not even opened again since the first reveal. She hadn't been able to bring herself to, the thought alone just… stressed her.
The stress lingered with her throughout the day, even though Landon was in what seemed like an exceptional mood. Even stranger, he hadn't mentioned anything relating to the proposal. Not after their morning, not when he took her out to a lavish restaurant for brunch, nor when they did a little shopping in the afternoon. While he seemed more talkative and more animated than usual, it slightly unnerved her that he seemed to talking about everything but. Which if she was being honest, was fine with her.
We'll talk about it soon. I just need more time. Cindy told herself, attempting to dismiss the anxiety.
And it did slowly dissipate. For dinner, he'd taken her to another exclusive restaurant in the city and allowed her to get her fill with two abnormally tall glasses of wine. He had about two or three drinks from the cocktail menu that evening, but it was fine since they had Uber'd there. By the time they got home, Cindy felt loose. She was surprised Landon wasn't on her same level, vaguely noticing that he made himself another drink not soon after they were settled. She knew she was too far gone for anymore when he offered her one. All she'd wanted to do at that point was sleep. But Landon was the opposite, wired almost. She didn't know how he still had so much energy when she had just barely managed to change into her pajamas.
"Hey, sexy." He said, sidling up behind her. "Don't tell me you're going to bed already."
"Yes already." She chuckled at the wobbly way he swayed her body. "I'm exhausted."
"Too exhausted to take off your necklace?" He asked, gently tugging the chain until it rested tautly along her throat.
"Apparently."
"Where do you want it?" He asked as he unclasped it.
"The box on the dresser is fine." She told him, itching at her neck once he let her go. With her back turned, she leaned her body in half to flip her hair forward in front of her. "You coming to bed soon or are you gonna stay up longer?" She asked, running her fingers through to detangle before starting to secure her hair band. She hadn't realized until her third loop that he still hadn't responded to her. "Babe?" She asked, standing tall again before turning around.
She immediately wished she hadn't when she saw him, already facing her beside her dresser, now holding the ring box in his hands. The look on his face was blank.
"It was in the same spot that it was before I even left last week." He spoke plainly, his voice devoid of any emotion as well. "Did you even look at it again? Did you really even look at it the first time?"
"Baby, of course I did." Cindy insisted, walking towards him. But before she could even reach her arms out to touch him, he jerked back away from her. And while that motion had stung, it was nothing compared to the dark glare he was now directing at her.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
"I don't think you did." He practically growled, opening up the box to face her. "Because if you really looked at it, you would've already had an answer. Or at least said something. Anything."
"If you would just give me a chance to explain—"
"I GAVE you a chance!" He suddenly bellowed, causing her to jump at his loud and harsh tone. "I gave you over a week! I assumed that would help. I held off even bringing it up since I've been home. And you still haven't said shit about it. Like it didn't even happen and you couldn't give a fuck." He uttered in disgust, tossing the ring box roughly back onto the dresser.
"That's not true!"
"Then explain it to me!" He demanded, throwing his hands up at her as he moved forward. "Let's fucking talk about it."
"Landon, no, I don't want to talk if it's gonna be like this right now." She shook her head immediately, slightly retreating backwards from his looming presence. She didn't make it a full step before his hand was around her wrist, snatching it tightly as he pulled her roughly against his front while holding her in place.
"Cynthia…" His voice was low as he glared down at her. "We are going to talk about this right now. I don't give a fuck what it's like."
"Landon, that hurts." Cindy told him quietly, wincing as he seemed to tighten his grip even more.
"How the fuck do you think I feel? You're playing fucking games with me!" He yelled.
"No the hell I'm not!" Cindy protested avidly, dumbfounded by his reaction. "But do you think this makes it any better? Do you think this shit makes me wanna say yes to you?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it, instantly and significantly more uncomfortable by the chilling look on his face.
"So what, you saying you gonna leave me?" He practically hissed, not even sounding like himself. "You're gonna fucking leave me?"
"I didn't say that—"
"Then what the FUCK are you saying?!" He shouted in her face.
"Landon, you're scaring me." Cindy heard herself admit shakily. "And you're hurting me."
"Oh, oh, so I'm 'scaring' you now. You don't want to be with someone who scares you?" He sneered sarcastically. "You wanna run off with some other nigga? Cuz now you're fucking hurting me. Is that the shit you wanna do?!"
"No!"
"Then put it on."
"Wh-what?"
He didn't take his eyes off hers as he yanked her towards with him, taking a step backwards towards the dresser. He turned his head for a moment to grab the box open, plucking the ring from it before turning back to her. He forcibly raised her right wrist that he had his grip on and shoved it into her hand. "Put on the fucking ring." He ordered, his voice deadly serious. "Now."
Cindy felt her body trembling, her hands especially, as she slowly did as she was told. She was too intoxicated, too unstable, felt too… alone to do otherwise. And the look in his eye as he watched her, his entire presence really, absolutely shook her to her core.
"You gonna marry me?" He demanded in question. She was too ashamed, barely nodding as she placed the ring on her own finger. "Say it."
Cindy's breath hitched in her throat as she forced herself to speak. "I will."
"You'll what."
"Marry you." Her voice slightly quivered, not meeting his eyes.
Landon's palm suddenly moved to the back of her neck, only slightly gentler, but it didn't provide Cindy with any relief by the unwavering way he stared at her. He then slid his hand to bring it around, two fingers brushing her jaw while his thumb rested against her neck.
"Say it again." He told her, directing her face up to look at him.
Cindy swallowed, feeling the slight pressure of his thumb and the tingling sensation behind her eyes that she was trying to fight back. "…I'll marry you." She whispered.
She hadn't been anticipating the kiss that followed, notably more aggressive than usual. She also hadn't expected him to walk her backwards towards her bed, unbuckling his pants as he did so….
Cindy scrubbed at her body roughly, repeatedly, as her mind went there. She still felt as filthy as she had that night. She'd barely slept, completely unable to rest from feeling so dirty. Not to mention the utter shame… about what he did… what she did. She remembered lying in bed long after it was over, staring into the dark and feeling frozen. His arm had remained loafed over her naked body, keeping her close against him, despite everything inside her wanting to get away.
Before it had been even six in the morning, she made her way out of bed, slipping away from his sleeping form to quietly go to her closet. Her gym bag was in its usual spot, always with a set of extra clothes inside, so she grabbed that along with a pair of undergarments before heading towards her adjacent bathroom. She'd barely spent five minutes, not even bothering to touch her hair or make eye contact with herself in the mirror before she emerged again, practically tiptoeing out of the room to leave the house.
She'd headed to the pharmacy first, picking up the Plan B medicine to take right away before even pulling out of the parking lot. As much as she'd wanted to forget, she couldn't, and definitely knew that he hadn't put on a condom. Of all the things to stress about, that was the last thing she wanted to consider.
As soon as Cindy got to work, a full three hours before her shift, she went immediately to the empty locker room to shower. The hot water had stung the more sensitive parts of her body, particularly the purple-ish bruises on her forearms and red marks on her hips. She hadn't been able to cry then, she refused to. If she thought about it, even for a few moments, she knew she would break down, and she just couldn't go there yet.
Cindy had busied herself instead, following her shower. She'd gone on a cleaning rampage before even clocking in, wiping down and thoroughly sanitizing every piece of equipment that wasn't being occupied by a member. Then she had rearranged her sets for all of her clients over the next few days, adding new sequences and adjustments where she could. Usually she almost always worked with her music on speaker, but had chose headphones for the day, blasting the songs directly into her ears to cancel out any stray thoughts. The only time they came was when he texted. The first one had come during her set arrangement, and not even the music could silence the thudding in her chest.
He told her good morning, as if things were normal. He'd also mentioned that she left early and that he'd been concerned. Cindy had responded letting him know that she'd been at work and had a busy schedule for the day; an exaggerated lie but necessary. She thought he would let it go after the extended silence on his end, but felt herself deflate when Landon texted: Send a selfie of you in the gym. With your ring.
It felt as though a rock had landed into the pit of her stomach in response to that. It became harder to shut off her brain as she went back to the locker room, finding her designated stall to dig into her bag. Pulling out the box she'd remembered to pack, she didn't even want to look at it as she slid it blindly onto her finger, her entire hand suddenly seeming heavier with the object. She had no choice but to stare at it, at herself, when she lifted her iPhone's camera to her face. To her, she just looked… dead inside as she snapped the unsmiling and unflattering photo, wasting no time in returning the ring back to its box after she pressed send.
Her day had seemed to fly by a lot faster than normal, despite volunteering to work late past her regular shift. Not that there'd been much to do, nor had it slowed down much time. He'd still been texting her. And though he'd seemed relieved once she texted him that she was heading home, after multiple texts of asking, all she felt was dread, and truly didn't know what to expect. If anything, she certainly hadn't expected him to be right at the door when she got home, pulling her into a tight hug and giving her a chaste kiss on her forehead.
"Change out of those work clothes and into something else." He'd told her eagerly. "Let's make a quick stop."
"I've uh, had a really long day, I'm not really up to—"
"You'll be fine." He cut her off, a smile still plastered on his face as he gripped her left hand, feeling the ring she'd slipped back on her finger before leaving her car. "You'll like where we're going."
She wanted to believe him. Honestly. Stupidly. But her dread grew as they drove a very familiar route, coming to full force when they pulled outside of the Freeman residence.
"Why are we here?" She had asked quietly, unable to bring her eyes from the house.
"To celebrate our announcement of course." Landon said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I've got glasses and a bottle of champagne in the trunk, get out."
Thinking back, she truly didn't know how she had done it. Had she even done it? Keeping up with the charade in front of Jazmine felt like a blur. She barely remembered anything she said, she mainly let Landon do majority of the talking. She felt numb when Jazmine hugged her initially in surprise. Tasted nothing as she sipped from her glass, after a very inflated speech from Landon. She just felt… there.
Until he walked in.
Cindy cut off the water suddenly, reaching her arm outside of the curtain for her towel. She brought it to her face immediately, trying to muffle herself as she let out another wave of tears. The reaction he had, the look in his eyes in that moment, gutted her. She had never seen him ever look as hurt as he did in that moment. There was barely any time to even process it, he was out of the house so fast. Her first impulse was to go to him, follow him, somehow make him talk to her. Not that she knew what she would say to him or where to start. The truth was that she didn't have the words, only a giant clusterfuck of feelings she'd repressed, all starting and ending with Riley himself.
And even still, he was the only person she wanted to talk to at the moment.
She felt worn as she stepped out of the shower, tossing the towel on the rack before she retrieved her phone and the night clothes that she brought in with her. Once dressed, she went to her sink to brush her teeth and rinse, still avoiding her mirror as she did so. It wasn't until she leaned down to spit, that she noticed a glimmer of light that reflected from the counter.
She couldn't un-see it after she did, her gaze focused on it as she wiped her face and dried her hands. Then she stared at it, really stared at it, leaving it in its place on the counter as she took in the pear-shape, the overbearing size, and the emphasized gleam of the diamond.
…I hate it.
The thought entered her mind suddenly, faster than even her subconscious could deflect. Present and at the forefront of her mind, she expected the shame and the rejection to follow behind it, but it didn't. Instead she felt… solace. As though she'd finally released a breath she'd been holding in for days. And the longer she looked at it, the more prominent the thought became while simultaneously bringing others to the surface.
She did hate it. Everything about it. The appearance of the ring was the last thing she even considered, though she wasn't even a fan of that. It was about everything it stood for, what it meant for her future, the choice she was making every time she put that ring on her finger….
No.
Cindy felt herself shaking her head, her hands curling into fists as she felt something inside her stir. She caught a glance of herself in the mirror at the movement, directing her eyes to focus on herself. She looked miserable. Her outer appearance seemed like a direct representation of how she felt on the inside, which shook her. Was this what she wanted? Was this the best that it got?
She shook her head again, still looking at herself in the mirror as her brows furrowed. She knew the answer to that. It shouldn't be like this. Not even remotely. Not forced. Yet here she was, doing just that… for what…? If the thought of putting the ring back on her finger was any indicator of what she wanted….
"…Fuck this shit." Cindy muttered out loud, scooping the ring off the counter and holding it by the diamond as she headed to the door. Her legs were on autopilot as she strided down the hallway and towards the living room, coming to a stop once she saw him. He was positioned on the couch with a whiskey glass in his hand, not yet noticing her as he was looking down at his phone. Just seeing him there like that filled her body with discomfort, but not enough to stop herself from what she was about to do.
"Landon." She spoke, forcing herself to remain calm once his eyes fixated onto hers.
"Finally." He chuckled unsmilingly before taking a sip of his drink. "Thought you drowned in there, it's been about an hour. Come over, let's watch a movie or something."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Cindy remained still, watching the way he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh?" He responded neutrally, his eyes skimming briefly down her body. She felt herself take in a breath when they focused on her left hand. "Would you like to tell me why you're holding your ring instead of wearing it?" He asked next, his voice only slightly less neutral than it just had been.
"I can't do this." Cindy blurted, not able to contain it for another second. "We can't do this. I've thought about it and… this isn't something I'm ready for. That being said, I'd like for you to have your ring back and for us to go our separate ways for now…. I'm sorry." She added the apology as an afterthought, knowing she didn't mean it and knowing the for now meant forever.
Landon remained still, his eyes seeming vacant as he continued to stare at her. "I'd like for you to think about it again. And to reconsider."
"I've already thought about it." She said at once, trying not to glare. "And I'm not. My mind's made up."
"Is it?" His voice was detached as his stare turned icy.
"That's what I said." Cindy through gritted teeth. "Do you want me to help you pack or no?"
"Oh, you think I'm packing?" He shot back with false amusement.
"…I think you'd better." She told him, right before giving the ring a half-hearted toss towards him, both of them watching it land on the carpet at his feet. The look in his eye changed as he set down his glass, leaning to pick up the ring before he stood tall. Cindy squared off her shoulders and stood her ground as he slowly started to approach her.
"I think you'd better put this damn ring back on before I get upset."
"Or what? You gonna hit me?"
He let out a humorless noise as he took another step towards her. "Do you want me to hit you, Cynthia?"
She braced herself, feeling both undaunted and uninhibited as she eyed him. "Nigga, try me."
Jazmine's POV
She bit at her thumbnail on her left hand, using the nails on her right to drum on her leg. She sat in bed with her knees pulled up to her chest, trying to distract herself with mindless TV, but it wasn't doing the trick. Neither was the second glass of wine on the nightstand beside her. If anything, it was making her sleepier, but not enough to ease her nerves. The anxiety had come in waves throughout the night, and thankfully hadn't been persistent. But when she did think about it… her stomach churned and her thoughts went south.
Something was off. And she was concerned for her best friend.
She hadn't expected the visit at Granddad's earlier that night. She had only finished cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, putting Huey's leftovers in the fridge for him to reheat once he got back from his time with Riley. She had been planning to head back home and visit later after Huey came back when the doorbell rang. She'd answered in surprise, not having expected to see them so late that evening. But when Landon had come into the house with a basket of champagne and she actually saw the rock on Cindy's finger, she knew it had happened.
But… based on Cindy's reaction, it was as if they were announcing bad news as opposed to good.
Cindy had barely hugged her back when Jazmine embraced her, just seeming out of it the entire time. She was trying, Jazmine could tell. Trying to seem present, trying to smile… but Jazmine could see through that. The smiles never reached her eyes. And overall, she just looked… sad.
And hurt. In more ways than one.
Jazmine's thoughts went there, distinctly remembering a brief moment in the kitchen when Cindy went to rinse their glasses after they were finished. If she would've blinked, she would've missed it. But she happened to be facing Cindy at the time, catching the glimpse when she turned around to dry her hands, noticing the way the sleeve of the long sweater she was wearing slid up. And the awful bruise that was left beneath.
Jazmine reached for her wine glass, taking a sip while she thought about that moment. It looked painful. And deep. And not just topical. If it had been on just the top or just the bottom of her wrist, it'd be one thing. But the bruise looked to wrap the entire way around… seeming too deliberate to be an accident. Jazmine could tell Cindy noticed that she noticed, judging by how quickly she readjusted her sleeves and the way her face pinkened. Jazmine's mouth had been halfway open, ready to ask what happened to her wrist, when Cindy spoke first and changed the subject. It had been such a spur-of-the-moment comment, it threw Jazmine off and distracted her, not giving her anytime to redirect before Landon was talking again and holding majority of the conversation.
Until the boys had come back not too much later.
Seeing the silent interaction between Cindy and Riley had been hard to watch, and it made Jazmine's heart ache for both of them. It all just… sucked. And seeing how oddly happy the moment seemed to make Landon really rubbed her the wrong way. It was as if he'd been waiting to see Riley's reaction specifically. In fact, it was one of the first questions he'd asked before they'd even announced, whether Riley was at the house as well.
That bothered her. And the bruise. And the fact that Cindy still hadn't texted her back even though Jazmine had sent her multiple messages later after she left. Maybe it was all a big misunderstanding. It probably was most likely. Just her mind going to the worst case scenario as always. Cindy was probably fine.
Jazmine told herself this as convincingly as she could… right before hitting the Contacts button on her phone and finding Cindy's name. She knew there was no chance of sleep until she heard from her, so she clicked the Call button as she finished the last sip of her wine. She drummed her nails some more as she listened to the ring and pause of dial tone, letting out a sigh while she did so. She had been ready to resign until tomorrow when the sound of the ring abruptly ended with a loud clatter on the backend. Jazmine winced at the noise, holding the phone away from her ear.
"Get OFF me!"
Jazmine's eyes widened, having managed to hear Cindy's voice clearly. She brought the phone close to her ear immediately, only hearing more muffled and rattling noises. "Cindy?!" She spoke into her receiver loudly, praying that she'd be able to hear her and at least respond. "Cin—"
"Hang it the fuck up."
Jazmine felt her blood run cold at the male voice, sounding almost unrecognizable. It sounded menacing… and cruel… scary… and nothing like who the voice obviously belonged to.
"I SAID, get the fuck OFF me!" Jazmine's eyes instantly welled, hearing her best friend scream like that. "CINDY!"
Click.
Jazmine felt momentarily frozen as she stared down at her phone, her hands shaking as she pressed the button to dial again.
"You have reached the voicemail box of—"
"Oh my God." She uttered out loud, hanging up immediately as she moved to get out of bed. "Oh my God." She said, trying not to work herself into a panic attack, but felt herself begin to slightly hyperventilate as her brain went into overtime. She needed to get to Cindy. Now. But she was currently screwed. Her father was downstairs taking up the living room area as he prepped for a case the next morning, and there was no way he'd let her take the car this late with the weather outside.
She forced her legs to function, grabbing her phone as she went to her closet. She pressed another number and put her phone on speaker while she slid on a pair of sneakers and grabbed the first sweatshirt she found, beginning to yank it on over her curls. She barely emerged when the dial tone stopped, followed by: "You have reached the voicemail box—"
"Seriously?" Jazmine snatched her phone up, clicking the End button to glare at Huey's contact. It was past 11:30, where the hell was he? She pressed the Call button again while she moved to her bed, quickly rearranging some pillows under her duvet before covering them again. She turned off her bedroom light and ended the unanswered call again before she headed to her window. She assessed the view while unlocking the latch. It had been quite awhile since she'd had to sneak out, but felt she could still manage even in her tipsy state as long as she took her time. She just needed to be careful of slick spots on the roof when she stepped out, but once she made it to the tree, she'd be okay.
What wouldn't be okay is if her boyfriend never answered his phone. Jazmine dialed his number one more time, cursing when she heard the automated voice yet again. She was losing time. Cindy could be losing time. She didn't know what exactly was going on and didn't want to make any rash decisions without seeing her. But someone had to actually get to her first.
She bit her lip as she moved from Huey's contact, scrolling through her others instead. She knew it was a longshot. And she honestly, truly, did not want to have to do this to him, but it was going to take her some time to get down into her yard. And once she started, there'd be no way she'd be able to use or answer her phone until she reached the bottom. Someone needed to know.
She closed her eyes once she pressed the button, holding the phone up to her ear afterwards to listen to the dial tone. She was surprised to hear it ring, but wasn't hopeful. She was mentally already preparing to call Caesar next. He lived the furthest away in proximity, but if anything, he would be willing to help. Or at least talk it thru with her. Or maybe had some insight as to why Huey was MIA and not answering—
Jazmine gasped, hearing the line pick up but silence on the other end. "Riley?" She spoke at once, still hearing nothing in return. "Riley?!"
"Leave. Me. Alone." He sounded so worn. His voice didn't even have the usual amount of bite in it. "Don't call me again."
"Riley please, you have to listen to me—"
"I don't have to do shit, Jazmine." He cut her off evenly. "It's late. Go the fuck to bed and stop calling—"
"Something is wrong!" She pleaded strongly, feeling the tears again as her breathing hitched.
"Aye, what is?" Riley's tone changed immediately in response to hers. "Jazmine talk, what?"
She let out a shaky breath, letting a stray tear escape as she spoke. "…I think Cindy's in trouble."
"The hell you mean she's in trouble, where is she?" He asked her seriously.
"I think she's at home but—"
"You think?"
"-I called and… it sounded bad, Riley." Jazmine's voice cracked, shedding another tear as she thought back. "Like a fight. And Cindy was screaming to get off her and couldn't hear me, and he told her to hang up the phone—"
"He who." Riley demanded lowly.
"Landon." Jazmine told him quietly. "The line cut off and there was no answer when I tried to call back."
"…I'm going." Riley said in response, already sounding like he was outside.
"Take me with you." Jazmine told him, using one hand to pull up her window. "I'm sneaking out of my house now, if you pick me up we can—"
"No." Riley's voice was firm. "I'm going alone."
"Riley, please, I can't get ahold of Huey and I want to—"
"This isn't about what you want." Riley interrupted her. "Stay home. Both of you and I mean it."
"…What are you going to do?" Jazmine whispered, hearing the sound of a car door slam on the other end. "…Riley, I'm scared."
"Don't follow me." Riley said again into the phone, the loud noise of his car starting, almost drowning him out. "I'm going to handle it."
That was the last thing Jazmine heard before the line went dead.
Riley's POV
Answering his phone had been an accident. He had tried to decline the call, but swiped the wrong way by mistake. He'd only been seconds from clicking off on Jazmine, powering down his phone, and drowning his thoughts out with vodka.
But the thought of her being in trouble changed everything. The thought of her being threatened, by a nigga he hated anyway, was on a whole different level.
Riley gripped the steering wheel tighter as his mind replayed Jazmine's words, looking briefly both ways before speeding through another stop sign. He was almost there, in record time from breaking more than a few traffic laws. Right as he was pulling into the lot, his phone vibrated from his pocket. He took it out, hoping it was Cindy returning his missed calls, but it was Huey. Riley declined and silenced his phone immediately before sliding it back into his pocket. He didn't have the time. And his only focus was getting to her.
Well, that and the item inside his glovebox.
After his haphazard park job, he did a quick check around him before pulling his piece out and stuffing it in his waistband, immediately pulling his shirt down to conceal it before taking off. He had to force himself not to run in the lobby of her building to avoid attracting attention. But once he made it into the elevator, he could barely contain himself as he stalked around the space as it slowly rose.
"It sounded bad… Cindy was screaming…."
The Glock felt more prominent against his hip while he paced, feeling the rage inside him continue to brew. Obtaining it had been easy, all he'd had to do was call in a favor. And while he'd never fired one at someone, he was sure that was going to be easy too. He'd occasionally thought about the idea, but never like this. He wanted to do it. The longer it took and the closer he got, the more he was ready to pull that trigger. Especially if Cindy was anything less than fine.
For his sake, she'd better be.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Riley was storming down the empty hall, already lifting up his shirt to uncover his gun. He had paused for only a moment once he reached the door, fully ready to kick it down, when he realized he didn't have to. The door had been left slightly ajar with a huge crack on the side panel, as if the reverb from slamming the door had splintered it.
"Oh hell no." Riley muttered, swinging the door all the way open with a bang. The living room and kitchen were dark with the lights out, the only light cast came from the hallway leading to her bedrooms. His boots thundered loudly through the room and down the hall as he marched quickly. The silence had him even more tense, his hand having moved to rest on the grip of the pistol as he walked.
What if she's not even here? The thought came into his mind while he peeked into the open guest room door, seeing no movement inside. He headed down to the bathroom, feeling his heart pound more at finding the room empty as well. Or worse, what if she's here and it's too late?
That thought had him bolting towards the last room, down to Cindy's closed door. Had he not been so on edge, he wouldn't have been able to duck in time, just seconds after he barreled into the room. Riley dropped to his knees on instinct, reaching for his pistol instantly at the loud sound of glass shattering against the doorframe behind him. He'd been moments away from pulling it out and aiming it in front of him when his eyes focused onto the ones across the room at eye-level.
"Riley…?"
"Cindy…" His mouth went dry as he removed his hand from the grip, immediately moving to crawl towards her. She was seated on the floor while she stared at him, tears filling her eyes as she let go of the large glass candle jar she was holding, allowing it to roll onto the ground. He pulled her into him at once, brushing her hair as she sobbed into his shoulder. "I got you. I'm here. I'm right here with you." He told her, his mind back to racing, this time with images. The bruises littering her arms. The fingerprint marks around her neck. The red welt against her cheek.
After some time, Riley pulled back a bit, prompting her to look up at him. "Where. Is. He."
Cindy shook her head, the tears still in her eyes as her voice wavered. "I don't know. But he said he'd be back."
"I'm getting you out of here." Riley said seriously. "Can you walk?"
"I can, I'm just… hurting." She winced a bit while she tried to shift. "I took a Vicodin."
"We'll bring the bottle with us. Here, put your arms around me." He instructed, gently positioning his around her to lift. She let out a small noise of discomfort until she was securely up in his arms as he held her. "Where's your phone?"
"Broken." Cindy avoided eye contact, reaching out her arm to grab the pill bottle from her desk. Riley bit his tongue as he started to walk with her, carrying her out of the bedroom and back towards the living room. He put her down carefully as they neared the door, allowing her to lean against the wall as he grabbed her coat and helped her slide on her boots. He handed over her keys before he scooped her up again, exiting the house and pulling the door closed behind them.
It was a quiet ride down the elevator. Riley set her down again before they reached the ground floor, wrapping an arm gently around her waist to help steady her. She leaned against his side for support as they walked through the lobby, going at her gradual pace while Riley kept his arm around her. Once they made it outside, Riley guided her to his car, trying to be as gentle as he could to help slide her into the passenger seat. He pretended not to notice the look on her face when he had to reach across her to put his pistol back in the glovebox. He knew the silence wouldn't last long as he pulled off, feeling her eyes on him as they made it back onto the main road.
"Why do you have a gun?" She asked plainly, her voice calm.
"Why do you think?" Riley responded, keeping his eyes on the road.
He heard her take in a breath tiredly. "You can't, Reez."
"Watch me."
"Riley." Her voice was sharp in response to his inadvertent tone.
"How do you expect me to react?"
"I expect you to think." She told him. "Do you even have a permit for that gun? Cuz I doubt it. And it's not like you don't already have shit on your record. It would be courtesy for you to NOT get jail time just for having that."
"I don't fucking care, Cindy!" He told her honestly.
"I care!" She shot back.
"Well if you think I'm gonna let him get away with this shit, you're buggin'. He put his fucking hands on you." He looked at her, feeling his blood pressure rise just seeing the mark on her face.
She stared back at him, her eyes looking slightly glassy. "I don't care what he did to me, I care about you. You need to let this go."
"Respectfully C, I'm not." He told her matter-of-factly, turning back to the road as he dug into his pocket. He barely saw how many missed calls he had from both Jazmine and Huey before the phone displayed another incoming call, from Huey this time. He glanced at Cindy briefly before accepting the call. "I've got her." He said into the receiver.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" He held the phone away from his ear, not expecting to hear Huey and Jazmine both yell at him.
"Yo, we're in the car, on the way back to my house!" He raised his voice back, looking over again at Cindy in confusion.
"Are you both alright?!" Jazmine asked, her voice still sounding thick. "What happened?!"
"And where the fuck is he?" Huey demanded.
"Calm down, we're good." Riley told them. "Landon wasn't there when I got here but when I see that nigga—"
"That's not Landon."
"What?" Riley scrunched up his face, pressing the phone closer to his ear. "What you mean? And are y'all driving?"
"His name is NOT Landon." Huey repeated himself. "He's a felon with a stolen identity."
"WHAT?!"
"Huey, pull over in this lot." Riley heard Jazmine say over the line, but he took her advice, suddenly whipping his own car into a gas station lot they almost passed.
"What the hell is going on?" Cindy asked, staring at Riley's reaction. He didn't have an answer for her, responding by putting his phone on speaker after he put the car in park.
"Yo… repeat what the fuck you just said." Riley said slowly. "I got y'all on speaker now with Cindy."
"Cindy, are you okay?" Jazmine asked right away, causing her to take a deep breath.
"I'm alright. I will be." She told her quietly. "What's happening?"
There was a pause on the other end before they heard Huey clear his throat. "So... recently I've been looking into some things—"
"Without telling anybody, including me." Jazmine cut in, clear irritation in her voice.
"I know, I know, and I already apologized." Huey snipped. "And Cindy, I'm sorry to you too, but the truth is… 'Landon Rivers' doesn't exist."
"Wait… what?" She said incredulously, unable to take her eyes away from the phone. "I don't… what are you saying, Huey?"
"His real name is Dolan Reynolds." Huey continued, prompting Riley and Cindy to look at each other at the sound of the name. "He's a wanted fugitive originally from Nevada. I'm not sure how long he's been going under the moniker of Landon, but it's nothing more than an alias."
"Isn't that…?" Cindy muttered, staring at Riley.
"The same fuckin' bitch the cops suspected of breaking into Tish's place weeks back." Riley nodded, in complete disbelief.
"That's probably the least of his stints." Huey said lowly on the other line. "This person, Dolan, has a serious record along with some psychosis stuff. Apparently, he was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. There's also counts of aggravated assault, drug trafficking, domestic violence… manslaughter… the list goes on."
"We were literally on our way up to make sure you guys were okay." Jazmine spoke again. "We only left a few minutes ago."
"And I just found this information out." Huey added. "Again… I'm sorry, Cindy."
"I just… don't even know what to say." She uttered.
"I do." Riley glared. "That nigga is done."
"No one's doing anything right now, especially you." Huey warned.
"Thank you." Cindy muttered, giving Riley the side-eye.
"I didn't say that I was!"
"You didn't have to, I can hear it in your voice." Huey countered. "You need to cool it. And we all need to think of an actual plan before we do anything reckless. Everything we thought we knew about this guy is wrong. If he's capable of manslaughter, who knows what else he'd be willing to do."
"And all I'm saying," Riley intercepted, his tone eerily calm. "Is that the motherfucker's not gonna touch any of us ever again." He said, purposely avoiding Cindy's questioning gaze on him.
Or anyone else.
He didn't just want to kill him. He wanted to hurt him.
It wasn't the first time the thought had passed through his mind that night, but it was now constant as he observed her bruises close-up and firsthand. The consequences didn't matter to him, regardless of what they were… at all. It would all be worth it.
"Need that reheated?" Riley asked, watching Cindy shift more against the heat pack lining the back of the chair. He sat on the edge of his bed in front of her, feeling a strange sense of reverse déjà vu as he tended to her.
Cindy shook her head, her eyes looking heavy. "It feels nice." Riley nodded, focusing down on her left hand again. The fact that she had even more injuries than he'd initially noticed had him ready to explode. The bruises on her arms and neck were bad on their own, but the kick to her side? The fact that her ring finger was almost guaranteed to be broken?
It would all be so worth it.
"How long?" He asked the question out loud as he started to wrap her bare ring finger with her pinky finger to keep it in place.
Cindy looked at him for a moment, seeming to know exactly what he was referring to. "This was the first time it was like this."
"And what was it like before?" He eyed her.
Her eyes glanced down to watch his hands moving about her own. "He's… grabbed me before but not…." She seemed to trail off, shaking her head at the thought. "Not like this, Riley."
"Why wouldn't you tell anybody?" He asked her seriously, pausing his movements. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't have an excuse that's good enough." She answered him quietly. "I… didn't want to accept it I guess."
"He's gotta die." He muttered under his breath.
"Riley." She scolded him half-heartedly.
"My bad, didn't mean to say that out loud."
"But you meant it."
He only blinked at her, giving her his silent answer while he resumed wrapping her fingers. "Keep that ice on your side." He told her, noticing her hand starting to droop from her waist.
"It's cold. And I'm getting tired." She said, moving the bag of frozen vegetables away. Riley glared at the spot on her skin again, hating how discolored it looked near her ribcage. "It doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it did earlier. I just wanna lay down." She told him, pulling down the tank she had borrowed to re-cover her stomach.
"Alright." Riley took the bag from her and tossed it on his nightstand. "Lemme just finish this then you can get comfortable." He said, using his teeth to make a small tear in the gauze so he could secure the bandage. "That feel okay?"
"I can't feel much, so I guess."
"I'm taking you to the hospital tomorrow to get it looked at."
"My finger's the last thing on my mind." She mumbled, missing the look he gave her as she stared down at her hand. Riley cleared his throat as he rose from his spot on the bed, leaning forward slightly to position his arms around her.
"Lemme know when you're ready." He said, waiting for her to nod after she looped her arms around his neck. He found himself wincing in reaction to hers, trying to be as gentle as he could as he slowly pulled her up into a stand. Cindy pressed her face into his chest, emitting a tiny groan while they remained in a slight embrace.
"I'm sorry, C." Riley apologized, bringing a hand to the crown of her head as he held her.
"Mm-mm, you're okay." She lightly shook her head, her face still pressed against him. "I appreciate you so much right now." She told him, moving her own palm to lightly caress the back of his neck. "Thank you."
"Don't." He murmured, planting a light kiss on the top of her head before pulling back a bit. He slowly guided her to his side of the bed, being careful not to rush as he helped ease her onto the mattress. "I'll bring you more water in case you wake up and need another pill. I can reheat the pack for you too if you want. Is there anything else you can think of that'd you need while you're in here?"
Cindy gave him a look as he adjusted the pillows behind her. "Aren't you staying?"
"I mean, I was going to give you the whole bed so you can have space and just sleep on the couch."
"I don't want space." She shook her head right away. "I want…" Her face changed a bit as she trailed off, a bit of color rising to her cheeks. "Nevermind."
"What is it?"
"It's inappropriate." She shook her head again.
"Well now I really wanna know." Riley cracked a grin down at her. "Talk to me."
Cindy gave him a hesitant look, the blush still coloring her face as she let out a short breath. "I was going to say… that I kinda wanted you to stay in the room with me. I don't really want to be alone right now."
"I'll stay with you." He told her easily. "If that's what you want."
"I can't ask that of you, Reez."
"Why not?"
"Because you have a girlfriend. I shouldn't have even asked."
"Yes you should've because we ain't even together no more." He let out a light scoff.
"Since when?" She seemed surprised.
"Since recently." He shrugged. "Does that make it any less inappropriate for you?"
"I guess we'll see." She shot back with a light smirk.
"Yeah okay." He snickered, starting to gather up some of his things. "I'll be right back."
"Okay." Riley left the room with his things in hand as his mind wandered. In just a few hours, everything changed. The entire night felt surreal for him, especially considering how he felt just earlier that evening after finding out the news of their engagement.
And now she's here.
After putting away his items, he filled up a tall glass of water and microwaved the heat pack again for Cindy. He re-entered the room quietly, noticing that her eyes were already closed with the covers up around her neck. Not wanting to disturb her, Riley set the glass and the heating pad on the end table for her before turning out the light. He then removed the hoodie he was wearing, leaving him in his undershirt and sweats, as he came around to the other side of the bed.
He kept his eyes on her while he gradually shifted weight on his side of the mattress as he slid in, silently cursing himself when her eyes started to flutter open to look at him.
"Sorry." He told her quietly.
"You're fine." She replied softly.
"You need anything?"
Cindy offered him a tiny grin, slightly shaking her head. "Just you."
Riley's chest felt different at that, not being able to resist the urge to brush the hair back from her face. "You always got me." He told her, gently brushing his thumb against her cheek. Cindy seemed to nuzzle into his caress, so he kept his hand there and continued. "Outside of fam, you're the only person on this planet that I'd go to war over."
"That scares me a little honestly." She told him, watching him lift a casual shoulder.
"It's facts."
"Jazmine doesn't count?"
"She's basically my sister." He negated. "Family."
"And what am I?" She asked him, not knowing just how much his stomach stirred at the question and the way she gazed at him.
"…You're everything." He told her truthfully, feeling even more undone at the way she smiled at him. He paused as she moved her hand to rest against his cheek.
"You are." She told him sweetly. "And you've gotta stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" He asked her with a slight grin.
"The way you do." She said as if that was an explanation in itself. He brought his own hand up to gently rest along the back of her hand, enjoying the feeling too much for her to pull away yet.
"I can't help the way I look at you." He murmured, feeling warm at the way she bit her lip slightly. "If anything, it's you who needs to stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" Cindy challenged, her face seeming blushed even in the darkened room.
"That." Riley said pointedly, rotating his head to gently kiss the inside of her wrist.
"…Reez." Cindy's voice was different, the air in the room felt different, and Riley couldn't take his eyes off her as they gazed at each other.
"Yeah?" He asked, feeling like he was holding his breath as he watched her. The look on her face was killing him, and all he wanted to do was read her thoughts. But before she could even open her mouth, the silence in the room was broken at the sound of Riley's phone ringing.
Riley's brow furrowed immediately, releasing Cindy's hand as he rolled over and sat up to look at his phone buzzing on the nightstand. The warm feeling he had instantly went cold at the sight of Unknown Caller across his screen at almost two in the morning.
"Who is it…?" Cindy's voice sounded tense from behind him, and Riley immediately knew he was not about to do this in front of her.
"I'll be right back. Do not try to get out of bed." He said without turning, taking his phone out of the room with him quickly and closing the door behind him. He answered the phone as the door clicked, saying nothing as he walked down his hallway. There was silence on the other end, though someone was clearly there at the sound of background noise. Riley didn't stop walking until he reached his kitchen, turning on the light and clearing his throat while he waited for the person on the line to say something.
"…Where's my fiancée?" The familiar voice spoke after a pause, as if things were perfectly normal. Riley gripped his refrigerator handle as if it were a stress ball, willing himself not to completely lose it for Cindy's sake. He had to take in a deep breath before even attempting to respond.
"…Let me tell you what's going to happen, Dolan." He began in a forcibly calm tone. "I know who the fuck you are. I know what the fuck you did. What you are going to do now is pack up your shit, leave the key in the apartment, and get the hell out of Cindy's place. You do that, and you don't have to have any more run-ins with the police regarding your little warrant. This can be over and done and we can all move on and stay out of each other's lives." He lied, knowing fully well it wasn't going to be over until it was over.
The derisive laugh on the other end made him grit his teeth and clamp down on the handle even harder. "You've always been funny, Riley." He replied patronizingly. "Let me tell you what's actually about to happen. I'm going to be coming to pick my fiancée up tomorrow so we can go about our merry lives. I may not know where you live, but I do know where your grandfather lives."
Riley's blood felt cold. "Is that a fucking threat?"
"As a matter of fact, I know where all the people closest to you live." He continued as if Riley hadn't even spoken. "Your grandfather, Jazmine across the street, Caesar and his huge family down on Maple Drive, Hiro over in Lakeside, even Tish a few blocks down from Cindy's. But I'm sure you already knew that." He added with another chuckle.
"I'm gonna ask again." Riley's voice was low. "Are you… fucking… threatening me?"
"Take it however the fuck you want." Dolan's voice was suddenly dark, the same way he remembered all those weeks ago when they stood in Cindy's hallway. "All I'm telling you is that Cynthia better be ready and outside your old man's house by early this morning. Otherwise you, and all the people you care about, are going to have to face the consequences."
It was Riley's turn to let out the darkest of chuckles as he stared ahead, too many images running through his mind as he answered.
"Over your dead body, nigga."
…So that happened (: Thoughts? Opinions? Concerns?
Just as a heads-up, this story is quickly reaching it's end. As in, at the very most, there may be two chapters left. But it is very possible that there may be enough for just one. So don't be surprised and too thrown off if next chapter ends up being the final chapter. I've had a great time writing this story and will certainly miss it, but as they say, all good things must end and all that. Besides, I've really gotta finish the epilogue to From Uncle Reezy, To Daddy Reezy still (:
Big ole frickin shoutout to the bests that ever were: LovinHueyFreeman, taydo-the-potato, and TheMoonlighter01. One, if you don't know them and read their stories, you should and you must. Two, their support and their friendship is thru the roof. Eternally grateful.
I appreciate the heck out of all of you that continue to read, review, and support. I'm not going to have too much longer to tell y'all that, but honestly… thank you.
Let me know your thoughts on this one and I'll catch you on the flip side!
~Schweetie