ADDICTED TO HIM 3 Page 5

  I pulled the knife from behind my back and sliced both hands open. I watched blood leak from her palms and she screamed out in pain. “Oooh shit,” Armani said but I can’t worry myself with her right now.

  “How long?” I asked again.

  “Five or six years Mimi; I don’t know,” she said, as she tried to scoot her body away from me. She flipped over the arm of the couch and hurt her hands more than they already were.

  I swung the knife again, only this time, I sliced her back. She flipped over in pain as she cried and began to scoot away from me again. I took a step closer to her every time she thought she was about to get away. “Don’t do this Mimi. I’m your cousin,” she pleaded. I couldn’t remember the last time she called me Mimi. In fact, I stood in front of her trying to recall the last time she called me that. Eventually, I shrugged my shoulders and took another step towards her.

  “Were you my cousin when you fucked Ray?” I asked, as I swung the knife and sliced her arm. She groaned out in pain as she tried to close the gash with her hand. “Were you my cousin when you were going behind my back to suck his dick?” I asked, as I swung the knife again and sliced her across the chest. “No, I don’t think that fact ever crossed your mind,” I stated, as I stepped down on her stomach. I raised my foot and slammed it down as hard as I could in her stomach over and over until she started throwing blood up.

  I removed my foot and watched her slither towards the door like the snake she has always been. “Kill her already! You’re boring me,” the voice said, then I heard a stifled yawn. I walked over to Tiffany and sat down on her stomach and stabbed her in the mouth. She started gurgling the blood that was spewing from her mouth wound. I smiled brightly as she swung her hands weakly, finally deciding to fight back.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, as she continued to spit blood out of her mouth.

  “It’s too late to apologize. It’s too late,” I sang with a smile on my face as tears streamed down my cheeks. “You never did like my singing, did you?” I asked, as I placed the knife on her throat. She started to get buck like a bull, trying to throw me off of her. I grabbed her shirt and held on with one hand in the air as I rode Tiffany.

  “Ah fuck! 10 seconds,” I said after I fell off.

  “Bitch is fucking looney,” Armani said. I had completely forgot she was there watching.

  “Kill her too,” the voice said. “I am,” I replied as I grabbed Tiffany, who had flipped over and tried to crawl away. I stood up with her hair clenched tightly in my fist as I pulled her head back as far as it would go. “Aaaaaaaaarrrrggghhhh!” I screamed as I slit her throat open. Blood began to gush out as I let her go and she hit the floor as dead as a door knob.

  I looked up at Armani and as much as I hate to kill her at this moment, I know I can’t let her leave here. I stood upright and charged at her without a second thought. I had my knife raised above my head, ready to make it a quick death for her, when I felt a powerful blow to my stomach. As soon as our eyes connected, I realized she had kicked me in my stomach. I doubled over in pain and dropped the knife.

  Wham! She hit me so hard on the top of my head, I saw stars. I wobbled slightly and I could feel my body falling forward until she hit me again. I flipped over the couch and landed on a toy. “Fuck!” I said out loud because the shit hurt like hell. I rubbed my back as I rolled over onto my knees but she kneed me in the chin before I could get up and sent me flying backwards. “You need a gun for this bitch,” the voice said. Armani jumped on top of me and punched me over and over. It felt like I was being jumped because her blows were landing everywhere. I started to feel woozy and I could see black spots, then everything went dark.

  Tamia

  My big day was amazing! It’s official, ya girl has a degree in Healthcare Administration! Now I can be somebody’s boss while they do all of the leg work I’ve been doing all of my life. I’m so proud of myself for not allowing myself to fall victim to society. I’m living proof that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s all about where you’re going. I grew up in the hood, born fatherless, and became motherless before I made it to high school. I was forced to grow up way before my time! The deck of cards was stacked against me from birth but I played my hand the best way I could and came out on top.

  As I looked into the crowd of people here to support the graduation class, tears formed in my eyes because nobody was here for me. I quickly swallowed that self-pity up because it wasn’t going to get me anywhere and I was not about to allow anything to take away from my day, including Rashard.

  Candy told me he was ready for me to meet his family but how could that be when he wasn’t even ready to be mature enough about being in a relationship. I can feel that he was hiding something and I think Candy knows exactly what it is that he’s hiding. That’s why there was so much tension between the two back at Doc’s house. Whatever it is that he’s hiding, I don’t blame Candy for not telling me because for one, she was his friend first and two, it must be extremely hard being in the middle of our bullshit.

  I’ve been seeing the worry lines on Candy’s face but I don’t want to assume why they’re there, so I need her to tell me. If they have anything to do with me, I need her to wash those lines away because the worst thing you can do is beat yourself up over things you can’t change. I don’t know what happened to her after she finished my hair this morning, but she’s been acting paranoid ever since. When I asked her what her problem was, she didn’t answer me.

  “Congratulations Boo, we did it!” Allison said, as she jumped up and down and then gave me a hug.

  “Thanks girl, same to you,” I said, as my eyes landed on Armani.

  “I’m sorry Allycat but I see a familiar face,” I said to her before I made my way through the crowd. I had Allison in two classes during the fall semester and we got close but only at school when it came to school work.

  I walked up to Armani slowly and was shocked that she showed up. Something wasn’t sitting right with me about her presence but I shook it off. When Candy called my name, I had to dip out before she tried to introduce me to Rashard’s family. I don’t think anything is wrong with his family but there’s really no reason for us to meet at this point, considering we still aren’t in an actual relationship; hell, we haven’t even been talking! I tried just running away but Armani shoved her phone in my hands. I looked down at the phone then up at Armani. I looked all over her face and saw bruises that looked like they were healing. I looked at her neck and saw a small bruise on the side and entered my number in her phone. Call me stupid but she looks like she could use a friend.

  I stormed off towards the parking lot before Candy caught up to me. It wasn’t until I reached the parking lot that I realized I rode with her. “Ugh! Shoot, I gotta start driving myself,” I said out loud to myself, as I pulled my phone out to call a cab. I walked aimlessly through the parking lot until I ran into Rebecca, a girl that was in my physics class.

  “Hey Becky, can I get a ride?” I asked, as she unlocked her doors. She looked back at me at and smiled, then gestured for me to hop in on the passenger’s side. Rebecca is a slim, light skinned chick with high cheek bones, smoke grey eyes, and a model like body. She was majoring in nursing and now she just needs to go to nursing school, and she’ll be finished.

  “Are you happy it’s finally over?” she asked, as she maneuvered through the pedestrians heading to their vehicles.

  “Yes! Thank God! We did it!” I said.

  “Want to go out and eat?” Rebecca asked, but I started to feel extremely weird about being around her all of a sudden.

  “Naw, I’m not really feeling good,” I said, as I rubbed my stomach. “Tomorrow definitely, though. Let me put my number in your phone,” I said as I held my hand out.

  “No!” she said, too fast for my liking. I gave her the side eye as she quickly corrected herself. “Just save my number in yours,” she said, attempting to save face. I pulled my phone out and waited for her to recite her number, so I could key i
t in. Once I saved it, I shot Candy a 911 text and told her who I was with so if I didn’t make it home, she knew where to look.

  I gave Rebecca directions to my old place and she headed in that direction. She grabbed a bottle of water and dropped her phone as she did but didn’t realize it. I didn’t pay it much attention as she continued to drive and drink from her bottle. “Want one?” she asked and pointed to the back. I’m not sure what she could have done to an unopened bottle of water but I wasn’t about to take a chance and drink any of it. “I’m ok,” I said, as her blinking phone caught my attention.

  It didn’t ring out loud but it was laying on the floor by my foot, lighting up with Brandon flashing across the screen. I quickly sat my purse on top of it, so she wouldn’t see it. We continued riding with the radio playing softly. I glanced over at her and she looked like she was in deep thought. We pulled up to my old apartment building and climbed out of her car, making sure I grabbed her phone and my purse at the same time.

  “Thanks,” I said and closed the door. I waved at her as she pulled off, then I pulled my phone out and called Candy. She didn’t answer the phone, so I did something I didn’t want to do and called Rashard.

  “Yea?” he answered.

  “I’m sorry, never mind,” I said because I didn’t like how he answered the phone, like I was bothering him.

  “Tamia? I didn’t look before I answered; what’s up?” he said quickly. I sighed in relief.

  “I’m stranded at my old place. Can you come get me?” I asked, as I began to look around.

  “I’m on my way,” he said, so I disconnected the call and went to sit on my steps.

  Every noise I heard had my heart about to leap out of my chest. About ten minutes later, Rashard pulled up in a red candy paint charger. I walked over to his car slowly and hopped in after I checked my surroundings. “What you got going on?” he asked as he drove.

  “Something weird is going on but I can’t figure out what. Something just doesn’t feel right,” I explained. I hoped like hell he could shed some light on my situation but he couldn’t or if he could, he didn’t.

  “Where are we going?” I asked, once I realized we had already passed the exit to go to the house I share with Candy.

  “Home,” he said, as he continued to drive. I didn’t say anything else until we pulled up to a baby fucking mansion! My mouth hit the floor.

  “Whose house?” I asked because he said we were going home.

  “Listen, I know we haven’t been dating long but shit, a nigga fell for you and fell hard! I’m ready to settle down and I want to settle down with you. This is our house,” he said, causing a lump to form in my throat.

  I got choked up and hopped out of the car and ran up to the door but it was locked. I turned around with a frown on my face until he tossed me a set of keys. I ran inside and felt like a fat kid in the chocolate factory. The flooring all the way through the house was chocolate marble tiled floors. We had six bedrooms and each one of them had a different color scheme.

  When I walked into the master bedroom, I started to cry. It had a chocolate and mint green color scheme. “Ooooh, I’m going to kill Candy!” I said, once I noticed the letters that were etched on the pillowcases. The pillow on the right side had a R on it and the one on the left had a T. I told Candy that whenever I got a man and we moved in together, I was going to steal her idea. She one upped me with this one.

  “Bring your mean, crybaby ass here graduate,” he said from the door. I turned around and raced into his arms. As he held me, nothing else mattered but us and our happiness. The amount of time we’d known each other didn’t matter and neither did the fact that for the last two weeks, we’ve both been too stubborn to call the other one.

  After he let me go, he gave me a real tour of the house, showing me all types of secret passages and making me remember different codes. I was beyond shocked that he would go through all of this to ensure my safety, but I’d never felt more secure in my life.

  I ran back to the living room to get my purse, so I could call Candy again but Brandon’s name started flashing across my screen. I hit talk because it’s about time I let him know Rashard and I are together, so he can’t call me anymore.

  “Good job B. Candy is out!” Brandon said, as soon as I put the phone to my ear. I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at it in confusion, just as a picture of a bloody Candy appeared on the screen.

  Rashard

  “Aaaaahhhh Nooo, Candy!” I heard Tamia scream after I heard something shatter. I took off in the direction of her screams and was led to the living room. She was just standing there shaking and crying as I approached her. I grabbed her by the shoulders as I inspected her body for any injuries. I pulled my .45 out as I looked around the living room, but nobody was there but her. I looked down on the floor and saw a smartphone, but the screen was shattered and had gone dark. I bent over to pick it up but it wasn’t Tamia’s phone, unless she got a new one. I grabbed her arm and lead her to the plush cream colored couch and sat her down.

  “Did you get a new phone?” I asked, as I sat on the table in front of the couch, so I could sit in front of Tamia. She shook her head no. “Whose phone is this?” I asked her because I was trying to work my way up to why she was crying.

  “Rebecca. Rebecca O’Conner,” she said in a shaky tone of voice.

  “Where is Candy?” I asked. I watched the tears cascade down her cheeks faster as she shrugged her shoulders. “Why did you yell out for her?” I asked, trying to remain calm but she was taking too long to tell me what was up. My approach wasn’t working and she still hadn’t answer my question.

  I grabbed her by her shoulders and stood her to her feet. “Suck that shit up, Tamia! If Candy is hurt, you know every second we right here talking is a second she’s losing! Crying ain’t gone help her so cut that shit out right now! What did you see and where is Candy?” I snapped and let go of her shoulders. She closed her eyes and I couldn’t tell what she was doing but when she reopened them, I saw a whole nother person standing before me.

  She wiped her eyes, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door. “Let’s go,” she turned around and said, because I was still standing in the same spot that she left me in. “Go to Candy’s house,” she said, once we were in the car. I pulled off and drove like a bat out of hell.

  “What happened?” I asked because I needed to know what I was walking into before I got there. Candy’s family so I was going regardless, but I rather be prepared.

  “While you were in a coma, I was dating Brandon, Deuce’s cousin. He has something to do with this but I don’t know what he’s doing or why he’s doing it. That was Rebecca’s phone. I stole it after she dropped me off because she was acting strange, and he called her. I was fina call Candy to fuss about those pillowcases but I grabbed Rebecca’s phone and Brandon called. When I hit talk, he said he had killed Candy,” she said, giving me a quick rundown.

  I didn’t respond to her. I gripped the steering wheel so tight, my knuckles had turned white. When I pulled on Candy’s street, Tamia shocked me again when she asked me for a gun. I hit a few buttons on my radio and a secret compartment came out, and she grabbed the gun out of there. I watched her take the safety off and cock the gun, allowing a bullet to drop into the chamber.

  When we pulled up to Candy’s house, the front door was wide open. Tamia hopped out the car before I had a chance to put it in park. I hopped out behind her and ran into the house. I searched the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and Tamia’s old room and didn’t see anyone. What caught my attention was a flashing tiny red light that was blinking inside of Tamia’s room light. I climbed on her bed and removed the globe and found a small camera that was pointing directly over her bed.

  My blood began to boil as I thought of all the things Brandon’s perverted ass had seen. I snatched the camera out and threw it on the floor. I jumped down and stomped on it over and over until my phone started to ring.

  “Make it quick,” I said into t
he phone because I didn’t have time for small talk.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” a male voice said on the other end of the phone.

  “Done what? Who is this?” I asked into the receiver.

  “C’mon Shard man, you’re smarter than that,” he replied.

  “Brandon. Nigga, I’m-”

  “Ah, ah, ah. No threats Mr. Peterson,” he said, as he cut me off me. “All I want is Tamia. Please don’t make me kill Myra before you understand I mean business. I already killed Candy,” he said and hung the phone up.

  I looked at my phone and dialed Myra’s number. It rang over and over and with each ring, my heart thumped harder in my chest. “What, you didn’t believe me?” Brandon asked, as he answered my baby sister’s phone.

  “If you lay-”

  “Now, what did I tell you about threats?” he asked and then I heard Myra began to scream in the background.

  “Ok man, ok, I’m sorry. Let me talk to her,” I pleaded but it was of no use because he already hung the phone up.

  I slid my phone in my pocket and punched a hole in the wall. “Rashard, come help me!” Tamia screamed. I took off towards Candy’s room and saw her laying in Tamia’s arms. Tamia had blood all over her. “Carry her to your car,” Tamia instructed. I felt like I was having an outer body experience, as I carried a girl I grew up with to my car with thoughts of my sister weighing heavy on my mind.

  Once I got her in the car, I headed to the hospital. “I gave her CPR and brought her back but her pulse is still weak,” Tamia explained to me. “What else is wrong?” she asked, as she looked at me.

  “Brandon has Myra,” I said, without taking my eyes off the road.

  “What does he want?” she asked with a look of uneasiness written on her face.

  “You,” I said, as I glanced over at her. She didn’t respond. She just turned her body completely to the front.

  We pulled up to the ER parking lot and Tamia hopped out the same way she did when we pulled up at Candy’s house. She returned shortly with a doctor and a wheelchair. I watched helplessly as they pulled her from the backseat and Tamia told them what she had done when she found her. I parked my car and ran into the ER waiting area looking for Tamia but didn’t see her. Being as though she works here, she’s probably in the back helping them. I took a seat as I waited for some type of news.