Page 169 of Rhet

“Fuck you.” I have no come back for him, because he’s telling the truth.

“You don’t get to come in here and act like you’re doing shit for us.”

I pause because I want to slap the shit out of him. “I have been deceiving the man I love. I’m breaking his trust. I’m going against every moral fiber in my body, for you. Why, because I love you.”

“Are you hearing your fucking self? The man you love?” He grasps the side of his chair and screams. “The man you love put me here. In this chair. He took away my life, my chance at the NFL. My chance to be a star, to support my family and you’re riding his dick.”

“Fuck you and your chances. I lost chances too. I lost the chance to go to college, to travel. I lost the chance to live. I lost my life when you fucking lost yours.” I want to throw everything out of his room even him.

“No one asked you to do it,” he mutters.

“You ungrateful son of a bitch. Carson came to you, then you to me. You didn’t ask about my about my dreams, or how my life was going to change. You just volunteered me. You offered me up. You just threw me out there. Here, Carson, use her.”

Tears run down my cheeks. I feel so lost. I did this all for my brother out of love, never once did I ask why he was so hell bent on doing this for Carson. I still don’t know how Dante got involved with Rhet to end up in this wheelchair.

In my gut, I know Dante fucked up somehow. It was those damn friends of his, I know it.

“Up to this day, we don’t know the whole story about your shooting. You kept that close to your chest. But I know you’re not telling me something. I have a feeling you did something wrong along the way. The only person you’re faithful to is Carson. Why?”

He fidgets in his wheelchair “You don’t know shit.”

“But I know Rhet. So, your story doesn’t make any kind of sense.”

The lines on his forehead crunch together. “You just want to continue living the high life. You think you’re better than me?”

“What are you talking about, Dante?”

“I can take everything from you,” he screams.

“You already have.” I shout. “You took my life over. Making sure your ass was all right,” I reply.

“I fucking hate you! I wish you were here instead of me. You slut,” he screams at me.

Before I can stop myself, I slap him across his face, sending his head to the side.

“Have some respect when you’re talking to me. Go wash your ass, I’ve had enough of this conversation.” I throw the contents of the bag out on his bed. “Those are for you.”

I stop as I get close the door. “I’m going to tell Rhet soon.”

“Don’t. Our future is secure now.”

“No, it’s not. Carson is a no good. I already fixed the problem.” My rage builds.

“Zee, no. Carson is going to take care of us.”

“You can’t see it, but we will always be under his thumb. I’m putting an end to all of this,” I say the words out loud to myself more than my brother.

I leave his room, feeling a heaviness on my shoulder I forgot was there earlier. I go down to my mom, and I sit next to her. Taking my phone out I arrange for an uber.

My mom smiles at me and touches my leg as I sit next to her. I don’t bother to see if she knows who I am. Just the fact that she’s touching me is enough for me to settle in my disturbed thoughts. A horn outside blares “Ms. Helen I’m leaving now.”

I kiss my mom on the head, take my bags and I leave the house.

RHET

I stand in my home office and I stare down at my phone seeing the name Dante and a message I haven’t seen before, but I do know this person. It’s all falling into place now. No God please no.

How could I not see it before? I walk to my bar and pour myself a glass of white rum as the whole puzzle of Zeeta is about to be solved.

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