Chapter 1 part 3
Facing demons





                 

A text notification startles Gerald. He drops his icepack and reaches for his phone.

From T
(Yo, You good?)
Gerald thinks for a moment then replies
(Yeah. I'm straight)
(Did Crissie get home yet?)
(Nah. She's on her way though.)
(Damn my dude, you figured out what you gonna tell her?)
Gerald pauses again. He wasn't in the mood to talk, He just wanted to think to himself and get past this horrible day.
(I'ma tell her some bullshit. I got it.)
(Ok, cool.....You got it. Did you email Nikko the flicks yet?)
(Hell yeah, them shits gone and off my hard drive!)
(Good, Good. We gonna get that nigga! There's no way he walking away like that!)

         Gerald lays the phone down and leans his head back. The last thing he wanted to think about was seeing Dominic or Phiiah anytime soon.

(Yeah.....Yeah we gonna get him.)
(Nikko got 2 broken ribs! We gotta get this nigga! But we gotta be smart. That bitch text you yet? What you think going down on her side?)

         Gerald pauses again, then looks at the dozens of text messages and missed calls from Phiiah shaking his head.

(Shit...I don't know, but I'm in that bitch head, so I'm not sweating it. Honestly...I really don't wanna talk about that shit right now T, I need to get my mind right.)
(I-ight family, let me know if you need anything. Later.)
(Later.)


             About 20 minutes later Gerald heard keys at the door. He took a deep breath and leaned up, then re-applied the ice pack to the half inch cut under his eye. He didn't really know what to tell her once she saw the wound. He just hoped what ever he decided to tell her was good enough to smooth her over. He really wasn't in the condition to argue all night.

"Well I don't need help with these bags!" She says sarcastically as she goes into the kitchen without taking a good look at Gerald.

"My bad Babe, you got it, or are there more?" He drably responds.
"Yeah, I got it. How was your day? Damn...I don't get a kiss, or a hug? What's up with you tonight?"
She asks from across the kitchen as she puts the groceries away, still not noticing him. He sighs again, not knowing what to say, then slightly mumbles something. She stopped and turned to look at him and knew something was wrong by the dimness in the room, the tone of his voice and the way he greeted her. It wasn't the norm, so she put down what was in her hand and walked out into their living room to see what was wrong with him.

"Oh my god! What happened to your face?" She said kneeling down in front of him, looking at the stitches.
"I got into a fight at the gym over some bullshit"
"What bullshit, What happened now?"

               He sighs again and pauses, breaking eye contact. Shame was written all over his face and she saw it. So she draws back to look him in the eyes. She already had an idea of what the reason was. But she wasn't fully convinced.

"Well...?" She demands

                He removes the ice pack and leans back, then takes a long moment looking in her eyes, thinking of a way to explain the situation to her. Finally he just accepts his final explanation and lets her have it.

"I got into it with some dude at the gym. I was standing outside the locker room and some chic approached me and asked me if I liked the flavor of smoothie I had just bought and the conversation went from there. We was talking for less than five minutes and this dude, I guess was her man or husband or whatever...just started wilding out and before I knew It... we was fighting. He snuck me and caught me in the eye and I didn't even know what was going on. Then Nikko and them came out the bathroom and we started tussling."

                 Crissie looked at Gerald with a look of disbelief but concerned. She wanted to hear more details because it didn't make since.

"So...she and her husband was in the gym working out and she decided to just come talk to you? Do you know her?"

"I...um..I saw her in the gym before... but I don't know her, know her. Like, this was our first encounter on a conversation level."

"That don't make no since Gerald. This man had to be infuriated to try to hurt you like this. Did you call the police? He assaulted you in public for no reason! Did anyone call the police? What happened once Nikko and them stepped in?"

             Her questions was coming too fast. He had to maintain himself. But he couldn't find the right words to say so he just shook his head and shoulders as if he didn't know why this man attacked him, like it all was a blur to him. all he could say was " He broke Nikko ribs..This nigga was crazy on some jealous rage shit. I don't know. He might have been on something. Steroids or some shit! This nigga was buggin' for nothing"

"Whaaat! He broke Nikko ribs!" she says with a look of confusion then asks again if anyone had called the police or made a report.

"Nah, it happened to fast, and by the time we could really get at this nigga, he dipped off into the crowd. Then the medics showed up and we went to the hospital."

Crissie was completely with drawn from Gerald now. He didn't really want to make eye contact with her either. She knew he was lying, she knew it was more to the story. She just looked at him as he further explained his lie until a tear fell from her eyes and he stopped talking.

"What babe, whats wrong? He says trying to hold a look of certainty. But she just put her head down and cried harder. when he went to touch her she pushed his hand away. He couldn't find anything else to say. He just stared at her, kneeling on the floor between his legs crying and shaking her head.

"Tell me the truth Gerald. Tell me why this man attacked you for talking to his wife or girlfriend at a public gym and no one filed a police report. You think I'm stupid!" Then she slaps his advancing arms away from her and gives him a look to warn him not to touch her. He takes a deep breath then looks at her again, preparing to conjure up another lie but realizing the jig is up. She wasn't trying to hear no more bullshit.

                       Across town things were even worst at Phiiah's and Dominic's house. The baby was crying and the house was torn up. They had been arguing since the incident. well he was arguing, she wasn't paying him much mind. All she cared about was packing her things and going to a hotel for the night. Dominic was on fire at the fact that she never answered any of his questions, she just came home and started packing. That only made him madder. He was in a state of violence and heartbreak, he knew she had been fucking Gerald, but she didn't admit it. She only demeaned Dominic and blamed him for the entire situation. Saying he acted like a lunatic and should be jailed for his actions. She walked around the house with ease of mind while Dominic followed behind her every step, demanding answers. Finally she received a text from Gerald, and she walked outside and sat in the car to check it.

(Everything good? Can we meet to talk?)
She smiled and replied with
(Sure, I'm about to get a hotel room because this nigga is trippen. We can meet there if you want.)
(Yeah... sure. Um...what hotel?)
(The hyatt, I'll be there in about 30 minutes. Ill text you the room.)
(Shit...Um...ok..cool. wassup what your nigga though?)
(Fuck that nigga, me and him done. He just don't know it yet! We will talk about all that later.)
(But he not gonna follow you or nothing is he?)
(Nah, this nigga in here crying and breaking shit. I didnt admit to shit! I just told him I need to give him some space to get his mind right. I feel threatened by him and I need some space.)
(Yeah..ok. I hope so, because Ima blast this nigga next time!)
(Do what you do.. shit. Defend yourself, He's the one out here acting the fool.)
(I-Ight... well, I'll see you in a few then.)
(Ok. I'll talk to later.)

                         Phiiah starts her car then goes back into the house to grab a bag and Savannah. As she walks out Dominic walks out into the driveway and says
"Damn, you just gonna take Savannah without letting me even give my baby a kiss!" staring at Phiiah with hatred eyes. He calls Savannah over and gives her a hug. She's lost and confused, the tears had dried up on her face by now but she was still hurting. Dominic gave her a long hug followed by a long kiss on the cheek.
"Daddy loves you ok Vannah...gimme kiss."
"Oh my god Dominic, don't get all melodramatic and try to make me feel all guilty with the baby! Savannah, give your daddy a kiss so we can go, it anit like your not gonna see her again Dom! So stop it with all the theatrics!"
Savannah leans in and kisses Dominic. "I love you." he tells her. "I love you too daddy." she says in her own way. then Phiiah grabs her and put her in her carseat.

"Bye Dominic, get your shit together and maybe....we will talk!"
He doesn't even acknowledge her, he simply turns and walks back into the house.
"Fine! Fuck you then!" She shouts then gets in her car and speeds off.


                     45 minutes later Phiiah had unpacked her things and settled into her suite comfortably. She had already put savannah to bed in the other room and took a shower. She was ready for him. Her black silk robe masked her black lace thong and corset and her make-up was soft and tantalizing. She was wet, anxious to wrap her legs around Gerald. She had been thinking about it all day. She checked her phone every few minutes and finally, she received a text message from him.

(Hey. I'm parked by your car)
(Come up, I'm in room 217)
(Nah, Come down real quick)
(??? Why? Come upstairs)
(Come down real quick, I'll come up later once shit die down. I just wanna talk to you for a moment)
(Tack stop playing. Savannah is laying down about to fall asleep. Can you please come up?)
(I will, but I wanna wait a few. I just wanna talk to you right now.)
(You don't have anything to worry about. Dominic don't even know where I'm at)
(I anit worried about that nigga! Just come down please.)
(Ok, baby. what ever you say. I'll be down in a few. meet me at my car because I'm not leaving Savannah up here by herself.)
(Ok, that's fine)

                      She took off her robe and through some sweats on over her lingerie and carried Savannah out to her car and put her into her car seat. Gerald was already parked by her car and helped her get the baby situated then took a seat on the passenger side.

"Hey sexy!" She says leaning over and greeting him with a kiss. But he was ashamed of his eye and he greeted her back but he wasn't himself. She places her hands on his cheeks to hold his face still then she gently kisses his wound.
"You ok? She asks
"Yeah, I'm good"
"So what's up, why you couldn't come up? whats wrong?
He pauses again then shakes his head and breathes deeply as he avoids eye contact.
"Tack... whats wrong?"
He breaths deep again and stares out the window. Then he turns to her and says
"Look.... This shit got way out of control. My wife is involved and I can't have that. So we gotta chill."
                   Phiiah was speechless. With a confused look on her face she looked him deep in his eyes followed by an attempt to see if he was serious. So she asked

"So that's it? Tack stop playing." She laughed and leaned in to kiss him. But he wasn't laughing. He wasn't even looking at her. He pulled away and continued to stare out the window.

                   Phiiah paused and thought of something to say...or something to do. Her world was crashing around her and she was going into panic mode. She decides to seduce him by showing him what she was wearing. She pulls off her sweat shirt and wiggles around the steering wheel out of her sweat pants

"Look baby, see...I got all sexy for you. Can we go upstairs and finish talking."
He took one look at her and closed his eyes. "Stop...Don't do this."

             She drew in closer. close enough for him to feel her breath on his neck "Stop what, I'm not doing anything." She says as she places a kiss below his ear. Followed by a series of seductive soft kisses across his neck and up to his chin. He breathes heavy, then grabs her by her hair and says.

"You gonna make me fuck you in this car in front of your child huh? He rips open her corset and grips her exposed breast. "Huh? is that what you want!" He whispers in her ear. She bends to his will. letting out a submissive purr. She had him where she wanted him.

         Unexpectedly...the passenger side window shatters and Dominic lands a savage blow onto Gerald's face, tearing the stitches open again and splattering blood onto Phiiah's face. The magazine of the Walther p99 40 caliber pistol split the wound open and extended the tear on multiple sides. Phiiah could barely see what was going on, the blood had blurred her vision. She panicked and started the car.

"Pull off! Pull off!" Gerald shouted while he tried to block some of the head cracking blows coming from the extremely volatile man gripping his shirt through the car window. Phiiah was traumatized, Savannah was screaming at the top of her lungs and Gerald was fighting for his life. So she put the car in reverse and pulled off frantically.

                  Dominic wouldn't let go, he held on swinging at full power, striking Gerald with the butt of the gun until his face erupted in a pool of blood. Phiiah put the transmission in drive and peeled out and Dominic lost his grip and tumbled over. He quickly sprung to his feet and jumped into his car. He wasn't finished, He was going to kill him. Phiiah maneuvered through the hotel parking lot, desperately trying to get out into the street before Dominic could get situated. But Dominic had been sitting there watching them close and left his car running. He was on her tail before she could leave the hotel grounds.

"OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD GERALD, ARE YOU OK?" She screamed trying to clear some of the blood from his face
"DRIVE BITCH, DRIVE! RUN THIS LIGHT! GET US THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!" He yelled back, holding his face with both hands. The blood was coming through his fingers like a faucet. He could barely speak clearly, His jaw bone was shattered, and he bit his tongue.

                  Phiiah pulled around the car in front of her and sped onto the side road. Dominic was right behind her, waving his pistol out the window and shouting. She sped up, flowing through traffic and dodging other vehicles. She had tunnel vision, her emotions was taking over, between the baby screaming, and Gerald leaking uncontrollably out his face, and the father of her child chasing her across the city sent her mind on a roller coaster. She was having a slight panic attack. She couldn't think, it was all happening too fast. Blood was everywhere and she was caught half naked with her baby in the back seat. The embarrassment was overwhelming. Her heart rate accelerated as she whipped across boulevards and down side streets.

         It all happened in slow motion. Another vehicle was coming across the bridge. A woman driver who was also having a moment in her life was franticly texting and not paying attention. Phiiah tried to swerve around the car in front of her to put some distance between her and Dominic when they crossed paths. She wasn't in the right state of mind to attempt this feat, and before she realized it, she didn't have time to correct her mistake. It sounded like two cars fell off of the sears tower and hit the ground at the same time. It was almost harmonic, perfect enough to say it was fate.....a head on collision at 65 miles per hour.... followed by a five car pile up.

To be continued....


This song is the emotional link to this entry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGeIWtDXFmI