Chapter Three

Jamal kicked off his husky dog slippers and snuggled into his bed, adjusting the covers until he was comfy. He was slowly getting used to sleeping without his stuffed bear, though he reached for him in the night, only to wake up and remember he was gone. Declan sent him tons of pictures of Yogi doing all kinds of fun things like sitting beside him in his truck and running on a treadmill and one where he was strapped to the back of a big black dog, riding him like a horse. Jamal laughed so hard he fell out of his desk chair. His favorite was the one of Declan holding Yogi with Peyton, Noah, and Ethan around him. He’d cried when that picture came through. He missed them so much. When he showed it to LaLa, she took his phone and printed it out. Now it was framed on the table beside his bed, where he could see it each night before he went to sleep.

He wished he could’ve ridden with Declan to visit Peyton and the others. Declan might even move to where they lived so he could work with Noah and Ethan. He’d get to see them every day. Peyton too. Maybe LaLa would take him to visit them soon. She said she would, and she’d kept every promise she’d made to him.

Jamal couldn’t believe how much his life had changed in a month. After the shopping trip that resulted in the bike plus a new television, iPhone, computer, and a closet full of clothes and shoes, LaLa took him to a furniture store and let him pick out whatever he wanted. His bedroom was the one he’d always dreamed about but never thought he’d have. His closet held more stuff than a mall, and they were all brand new. Except for the things Peyton gave him from her swimwear company and the items Lala sent for his birthday and Christmas, he’d never had new clothes before. He wore Jamarcus’ hand-me-downs or things his mom picked up from a thrift store. Nothing ever fit, and he was embarrassed to go to school with holes in his clothes and sneakers. He didn’t have to worry about that now. He did have to remember to cut off the price tags, which he’d forgotten several times already.

LaLa had given him so much. He didn’t want to ask her for a dog too. She would probably run out and get him one, but he’d wait until the summer after he’d been with her for a few months. He wanted her to know how much he appreciated all she’d done for him, so he asked Declan how he could show her. Declan recommended he help around the house with chores like taking out the trash and making his bed every morning. He even suggested sweeping the floor, but LaLa’s super-cool round robot took care of the job. For now, his slippers decorated with gray and white pups were his pets. He’d even named them Semper and Fi. Declan helped him with that too. He said the words were Latin, and they meant always faithful. It was the motto of the Marines. Jamal didn’t know what Latin was, but he thought Semper Fi sounded sick—in a good way.

Declan had been his first phone call with his new phone. Declan had still been groggy in the hospital, but they talked for thirty minutes. Jamal told him all about his new room and the things LaLa picked out for him. He’d have talked all night, but Declan’s brother took the phone from him and promised Jamal that Declan would call him back in the next few days when he felt better, which he did. Peyton was his second call. He thanked her for the bike and even sent a picture that LaLa took of him riding. Peyton loved the photo and set it as the background on her phone.

Despite the change in situations, he had trouble sleeping the first week. He’d wake from nightmares where Jamarcus was shooting at him again, or his mom was hitting Declan. Jamal had taken to sleeping in the bean bag chair in his hidden room, not caring that it was small. It was his favorite place to be. He felt guilty that LaLa had spent so much money on his new bed, so he’d been determined to use it, and after a few days, the nightmares started going away.

One of the most difficult changes was starting school with only a few months left in the year. LaLa didn’t want him to repeat the second grade. She’d enrolled him in a private school, so there were fewer students, and he had to wear a uniform. That sucked when he had so many new clothes he wanted to show off, but the teachers were friendly, and he was adjusting. He didn’t have friends yet, but they weren’t mean to him, either.

Since LaLa worked past the time the bus dropped him off in the afternoon, she hired a woman who stayed with him until she got off work. Her name was Rosie, and she cooked them dinner too. He liked her food, and she was kind, but she didn’t play with him. Kenzie came over instead, and they had a great time together. She played games with him and took him to the park to ride his bike. He liked her a lot.

His lids fluttered closed, and he’d just drifted off to sleep when he was jarred awake by LaLa’s panicked voice.

“Jamal, wake up. Get inside your hideaway and promise me you’ll stay there until I come to get you. Do not come out.”

He shot straight up. There was loud banging, and the doorbell rang continuously like someone was holding down the button. Then glass shattered. “What’s happening?”

“I’m not sure. I’m going to find out. Promise you’ll stay inside.”

“I promise.”

“Good. Now go.”

He threw off the covers, grabbed his cell phone, the framed picture from the bedside table, and dove for the closet. He ripped a pair of jeans and a shirt from hangers and scooped up his sneakers before activating the hidden latch that opened his safe place. He dressed quickly and listened for any sounds. His heart beat so fast that it felt like a horse galloped inside his chest. He was afraid he’d throw up. He gasped when he heard raised voices. LaLa was yelling for whoever it was to leave. Then she screamed. More glass shattered, and she cried out again. Jamal had to help her. He was about to leave when he heard someone enter his room.

“Jamal, come out, come out wherever you are,” the voice sing-songed.

The man knew his name! Jamal started to shake. He didn’t recognize the voice. It sounded like the man was ripping drawers out of his dresser and tossing them on the floor. Something big smashed into the floor, and tears flooded his eyes. His new computer or his television? Another gigantic crash. Both. The man made so much noise he had to be tearing his room apart.

“Where are you, you little shit?” The voice was close now, as if the man were standing inside the closet with him. Jamal shrank back and held his breath. “Do you want to see your aunt alive again?” Jamal nodded, even though the man couldn’t see him. “If you do, you’d better get your punk ass out here right now.”

Jamal’s fingers shook in front of the latch. He promised LaLa he wouldn’t come out, but he didn’t want her hurt. He didn’t think the man was lying.

Heavy footsteps sounded as the man stomped out of the closet, but he was still in the room, cursing loudly. LaLa was crying again, but a sharp bang sounded, making Jamal jump. LaLa’s screams abruptly stopped.

Jamal couldn’t take it any longer. He punched a number into his phone.

“Hey, Jamal. How’s it going, buddy?”

He wrapped his hand around the phone and whispered, “Please come quick. I need you. They’re hurting LaLa.”