Page 2 of Out to Find Freedom

“Emerson, just let me.”

“Okay,” I whispered, and suddenly felt bad for not being attracted to him. He’d been nice to pick me up at Harriet’s, opened doors for me, made sure I was happy with the place we ate at. But I didn’t feel a connection.

Maybe I was broken.

I didn’t want to put all the blame on Donny because he talked and talked about a sport he was obviously into. I was at fault as well. I’d let myself be pressured into a date with him when I wasn’t in the right frame of mind.

When he walked around the car, I quickly opened my door and got out before he reached it. “I’m sorry about tonight.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I…” I shrugged. “I know it’s been a while since my father died, but it still hurts, and I can’t see past the pain just yet. Maybe when I can, we could revisit this?”

Finally, he was back to smiling. “I’d like that.”

In the meantime, I would hope someone else caught his attention. At least we weren’t leaving the night on a sour feeling. We walked slowly to the front door, Donny’s hand on my lower back. He was such an old-school gentleman, and I was kicking myself for not liking football. Maybe then we’d have a better connection.

However, I wasn’t in the mood to force anything between us. Thankfully he wasn’t forcing the subject.

Turning at the door on the front porch, I smiled. “Thank you for dinner.”

“You’re welcome. I hope you feel better soon.”

I gave him a thin-lipped grin and nodded. “So do I.”

“Do you mind if I kiss your cheek?”

See, he was such a sweetheart.

“I don’t mind.” His smile was bright. Gently, his hands landed on my shoulders. He leaned in and softly laid his lips against my cheek.

When my body didn’t react in any type of way, I wanted to punch myself.

He shifted back, still smiling. I reached out for the door handle and twisted, checking it wasn’t locked. “Well, thanks again.”

“Thanks for coming.”

I pushed the door open, ready to step through backwards to stop feeling awkward. Only a scream ripped from my mouth when my neck was gripped hard. My body got yanked backwards. I saw Donny’s eyes widen, and he yelled, “Hey!” and came my way.

Only once he was through the door, it got slammed closed.

Silence.

For all but a beat, until I cried out when I was forcefully pushed to the floor, landing on my knees.

“What the fuck? What the fuck?” Gloria, my aunt, ranted in front of me.

It was then that I took in the room. In all of a second, I saw a younger teen lying on the couch half-naked. She seemed out of it. A man stood before her doing up his pants. There was a camera, extra lights, and two other men in the room. One was Lenny, my aunt’s boyfriend.

“Get to your knees” was growled out. I looked back to Donny and the man behind him.

No. No, no, no.A gun was pointed at Donny’s head. He sank to his knees. His eyes, brimming with tears, were on me.

“Please, please, just let him go,” I begged.

My hair was gripped, my head jerked back. Gloria got in my face. “You weren’t supposed to be here.” She shook my head roughly using my hair.

“Please, let him go,” I pleaded. Bringing my arms up, I used my shaking hands to hold her tee. “Please. He won’t say anything.”

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