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“You stand for hate, violence, and cruelty.” Sonjay winced. “You’re proud of that, Zayden?”
“Who said I hate you?” He dipped his head, watching her through his sparse lashes. “Oh, no.” He dragged his hand past her butt and to her thighs. “I don’t hate you at all, Sonjay. I want to be your friend.” He grinned with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. “Would you like that?”
Her stomach cramped from anxiety. “Get out of here, Zayden.”
“I already know you’re a great fuck.” He sucked his bottom lip. “I saw you and Dex in the woods. Got some freak in you, huh? Who would’ve thought the respectable little school teacher could get so hot?”
“Help!” She bounced and shoved but couldn’t get free. “Someone, help.”
“Ain’t nobody helping because this is fate.” He backed her up to the couch, his hold not budging. “You can either fight it or enjoy it.”
“Hold on, listen.” She pushed against him. “Anderson and Klein will be back any minute.” She let out a nervous chuckle. “Zayden, you’re not this stupid.”
He stared at her with half-moon eyes. “I’m not stupid at all.”
“Right.” She thrust against him, the pitch rising in her voice. “You’re smarter than this.”
His chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh. “You’d say anything so I won’t fuck you.”
Those words scared her more than the gun ever could.
“Well, too bad.” He leapt on the couch with her, holding her still.
“Stop!” She tussled as he grabbed her wrists. “Help!” Her throat burned from screaming. “Help!” She kicked, swatted. “Zayden!”
“Shut up, bitch.” He pointed the gun at her. “I’m in control here. Now I caught you so you belong to me.”
“Don’t do this.” She sobbed, disappointed she’d let him see how much he frightened her. “Please, just go. This won’t accomplish nothing.”
“Oh, it’ll accomplish a lot,” he raised his voice. “It’ll show your sister she shouldn’t fuck with Nate Lancaster or his friends.”
“Raping me won’t bring Nate back,” she hollered with tears flowing. “Zayden, you do this and it’s the end of your life. You get that?”
“My life ended a long time ago.” He tried to kiss her, and she turned her head in every direction.
“No!”
He cackled, wrestling with her. “I was wondering which one I’d get, the prissy school teacher or the slut from the woods.”
“Get off!”
“Looks like it’s gonna be the school teacher.” He subdued her flying arms, sweat dripping. “That’s fine with me, sweetie. That’s the one I wanted.”
She screamed as loud as she could.
“Sonjay?” Dex beat on the front door. “You okay?”
“Dex, help!”
Zayden slapped his moist hand over her mouth. “Shut up.”
“Sonny?”
“Dex,” she mumbled. “Help!”
The lock unlatched and Dex flew through the door. “Get the fuck off her!” He hopped on the couch and tossed Zayden to the floor.
As Zayden got on his knees and reached for the gun, Dex grabbed his shirt and flung him across the room.
“Come on!” Dex held him to the wall, punching him in the gut.
“Dex,” Sonjay screamed. “Stop!”
“Motherfucker.” He slugged Zayden who flopped onto the floor, wheezing. “Didn’t I tell your ass to stay away from her?” Dex snatched the lamp off the coffee table and bashed Zayden in the head with it.
“Dex.” Sonjay jumped off the couch and got the gun from the floor. “That’s enough.”
“I’ll kill you.” Dex stood over Zayden and punched until blood covered Zayden’s face. “Come on, fucker. You want more? I got more!”
“Stop.” Sonjay grabbed Dex’s arm as he tried to swing again. “Please, stop. He’s not worth it.”
Dex kicked Zayden in the nose.
Sonjay shoved him. “Stop, Dex.”
He swung around, taking her in his arms. “You okay?”
“Yes.” She sobbed when her face touched his chest. “Thank god you’re here.”
“It’s okay.” He rocked her, kissing her forehead. “I won’t let anything happen to you again.”
****
Dex watched through Klein and Sonjay’s living room window as two deputies escorted a battered Zayden to a police car.
Sonjay sat on the couch sandwiched between her sister and mother who consoled her while Boyd gave the business to Deputy Kagen.
“I’m serious, Waylon.” Boyd poked the deputy’s scrawny chest. “If Zayden’s ass is released on bail there will be hell to pay.”
“That’s up to the judge.”
“He assaulted my pregnant daughter.” Boyd pointed at Sonjay. “I want his ass locked up until a trial because we’re damn sure pressing charges.”
Dex sat on the ottoman and smiled at Sonjay whose gaze dropped to the floor.
“You guys don’t get it.” Boyd shrugged. “Zayden is more than a racist. He’s crazy and needs to be off the streets for good or no telling what he might do.”
“He assaulted Sonjay at gunpoint.” Channing patted her sister’s back. “What if he’d killed her? What about burning a cross in my yard?”
“I’m sick and tired of Zayden and those thugs getting away with everything,” Boyd said. “If they were niggas you’d have them in prison by now.”
“Boyd.”
“It’s true, Odelia.” He glanced at his wife over his shoulder. “We all know it. Shit, the police didn’t hesitate to lock me up at the march but Zayden gets all these chances.”
“I feel the same way you do,” Kagen said. “I think Zayden is a despicable person and needs to be in prison for life but you gotta trust in the law.”
“The law.” Boyd scoffed. “The same law that incarcerates innocent black people every day?”
Dex lowered his head, stroking his fingernails.
“See this is what Khadija is talking about.” Boyd faced his family. “Inequality and justice only for one group of people. I tell you...” He pointed at Kagen. “I won’t rest one second until Zayden gets what he deserves whether that’s prison or something else.”
“Daddy,” Sonjay said.
“Boyd.” Dex gestured to him. “Throwing around threats isn’t smart.”
“Oh, it ain’t no threat.” He snickered. “That’s a damn promise. If he comes anywhere near my children again, he’ll get sentenced to a graveyard because I’m not playing.”
“Daddy, be quiet,” Sonjay said. “You running off at the mouth isn’t helping anything.”
“I don’t give a damn, and where the hell is Klein’s behind at? Got his head up Mayor Bordeaux’s ass as always?”
“Daddy,” Sonjay snapped. “Is there anything else you need, Waylon?”
Kagen read over his notes. “I got what I need for now. I’m glad you’re okay, Sonjay.”
“Yeah, thanks to Dex here.” Boyd swatted Dex’s shoulder. “That’s a real man. There when you need him.”
“I’m so grateful, Dex,” Odelia said. “If you hadn’t gotten here when you did—”
“You never have to thank me for that.” He stared at Sonjay, wishing she’d look at him. “Just glad Klein never asked for the spare key back.”
“Why didn’t the alarm work though?” Sonjay scratched her shoulder. “Zayden got in through the back patio and usually the alarm goes off when a leaf blows in the backyard.”
“I would say Zayden did something to the alarm but with his stupid ass I’m sure that’s not true,” Channing said.
“Promise me you get that thing looked at or replaced first thing tomorrow, Sonny,” Boyd said. “You need something to keep you safe since Klein’s black ass ain’t never here.”
“You’re a good man, Mr. Reinhardt.” Kagen put his notepad away. “Unless you guys need anything else I’m going.”
“No, that’s fine.” Sonjay cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through this, Sonjay.” He left.
“God.” Sonjay leaned forward, breathing into her hands. “What a day, huh?”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Odelia asked. “Can we get you anything?”
“Can I have a moment with Dex?”
His heart fluttered.
“Sure.” Odelia kissed Sonjay’s cheek and followed Channing and Boyd out the room.
“I owe you so much.” Sonjay hugged a pillow. “What made you stop by anyway?”
“Heard you’re marrying Klein Saturday. You can’t.”
“We’ve been over this. Klein is what I need.”
“I’m what you want. Sonjay, I’m begging you. Please don’t marry Klein. Give us a chance to raise our child.”
“Dex.” She turned her head away. “We can’t go down this road again.”
“I still have the ring.” He headed for the door. “If that means something to you, you know where to find me.”