Cheryl arrived home and quickly showered. Her phone started to vibrate on the nightstand.
Call from 3526867
She ignored it and it immediately started to vibrate again.
Call from 5491823
She walked downstairs and went into the kitchen and got the bottle of Linganore Sparkling Red Wine from the refrigerator. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet and walked into the living room. Instead of drinking the wine, she saw the bottle of Sveka Vodka on the sofa table and decided to drink that. After two glasses of vodka and ruby red grapefruit juice, she heard the phone in the distance, but was a little too tipsy to get up to answer it.
She heard her front door open and then heard his voice.
“Cheryl? Are you here?” Matthew said.
“Yes.” She slurred.
He let out a laugh, “What in the hell? Are you drunk?”
“No.” She said while standing and swaying.
Matthew carried her to bed and her phone vibrated again.
Meet me in an hour the text said.
He wasn’t sure he should answer her text but his gut was telling him something wasn’t right. He typed in a response and waited. The answer came and his stomach tightened.
He kissed Cheryl on the cheek and ran down her stairs. He made sure to set her alarm and when he reached his car he called his friend Bo. He then called his ex-wife and told her not to go anywhere and to make sure Tamia stayed home. Tonight would be the night that he dealt with his past, once and for all.
Kevin finished the bottle of cognac and was about to turn in when his doorbell rang. He opened it and was hit by a wild punch that knocked the wind out of him momentarily.
“I told you! I told you not to put your hands on my sister!” Donnell spit out as his hands connected once again.
Kevin regained his composure, and within seconds had his son pinned to the floor.
Kevin fought as hard as he could until he was pulled from his son and now had to defend himself against not only his son but his son’s lover. The red and blue flashing lights momentarily blinded him as he was being pulled from the floor and his hands twisted behind his back. Kayla stood screaming and crying but her words were clear. She was accusing her father of starting the entire incident and he was being arrested.
The officer asked him if he knew the two victims.
“Victims? They are not victims. I live here, this is my goddamn house and they came in here like they lived here. I have the right to defend my property.”
“Sir, you didn’t answer the question. Do you …”
“That’s my son.” He said as Donnell and Kayla walked out supporting each other.
“Oh, can you tell me what happened?”
“I don’t know. I opened my door and all of a sudden his faggot ass was swinging. I defended myself against him…Look I want to press charges.”
The officer turned him around and released his hands, “Are you sure?”
“Well, do you want to give your statement now, or would you like to do it after you take a ride to the emergency room?”
“What will happen to him?”
“He will be in custody until you give your statement.”
“Good. I’ll go to the emergency room first and then I’ll be down afterwards.
He watched as they handcuffed his son and his lover. His daughter was told to go into the house by the female officer and she walked past him in a huff, slamming the door behind her. He went in behind her, ran up the stairs to her room and slapped her once across the face.
“You ungrateful bitch! Just like your mother, get your shit because I am calling you a fucking cab so you can get the hell out of my house!” he shouted as he walked to his bedroom, called the cab and went to the den to wait. The cab blew its horn about twenty minutes later and he yelled for her to get down there. He walked out, gave the cabbie the address and the money. She stormed past him and slammed the door as she got into the black cab.
He walked back inside and his hand was now throbbing. His eye was swollen shut and his breathing was becoming more of an effort than it should have been. He decided to go to the emergency room where they promptly told him that he had two broken ribs and a bruised lung, which would require him staying overnight for observation.
After telling the third doctor, for about the fifth time, what happened, they finally got him settled in his room. He called Rebecca and left a message for her to come down to the hospital.