Page 78 of Tarek

Tarek looks down at him in disgust. “Nah that would be animal abuse.”

I couldn’t hold it in. I laugh, and Tarek chuckles right along with me.

“She is my fucking woman. I prayed for her. God gave her to me,” Melvin howls and stomps. His fists are clenched.

Prayed for me? What bullshit is this man spewing?

Tarek pulls me to the back of him and leans down to Melvin. “She was your woman, and God decided to give her to me. Who am I to block a blessing.”

Without a second thought, Tarek pulls our arms over Melvin head then he spins me around and brings me closer. Leaving Melvin behind.

“She is nothing but a fat, barren, whore,” Melvin shouts, his voice is dripping with venom.

Tarek stops in his tracks and looks at me. For the first time I can see the rage bubbling in his eyes.

“Don’t fight him. This is my brother’s event. Think of the headlines.” I press my hand onto the lapels of his jacket.

Slowly Tarek pries my hand from his jacket and walks toward Melvin. He steps closer positioning himself so that Melvin is completely blocked from my view. Tarek’s head dips low and I see the subtle movement of his arm. A moment later a low agonizing moan cuts through the air.

“Shh, shh. Let’s not make a scene,” Tarek murmurs to Melvin as he calmly escorts him to a wall. Melvin collapses, sliding down the wall until his head slumps to his chest lifeless.

“Oh my god did you kill him?” I ask as Tarek wipes his hand in a handkerchief as he walks up to me.

Tarek glances back at Melvin’s crumpled figure. “He is alive.”

“Is he?” I put my hand to my mouth. Melvin looks like he is in the deepest sleep propped up against a wall.

Tarek places a firm but gentle hand on my lower back, turning me toward the exit. “He is.”

How can he be so confident? It serves Melvin right but still…

“Until we meet again Melvin, and I promise we will,” Tarek shouts with a nonchalant salute at Melvin.

With a small squeeze, Tarek turns his silver stare back to me. “Let’s go, Treasure.”

“Your place or mine?” I ask.

“You choose,” he replies.

ChapterSeven

Dereck

“Is he here yet? I don’t want to push without him,” I can hear Ilyana asking someone.

“No, he is not,” I press my head onto the wall letting peace settle over me.

Bracing myself, I open the door and enter the hospital room. Chaos ensued.

The bright lights in the delivery room blur as I force my eyes to focus.

“He’s here,” the nurse shouts. My wife’s legs are spread opened by a pair of stirrups; she is reclining on the bed. The hair on her head is plastered to her body.

The doctor is at the end of the bed is reaching under Ilyana’s hospital gown. The surrounding machines were beeping, nurses were murmuring. It all seems to be so much, I am overwhelmed.

Ilyana’s trembling fingers reach out to me. I grab them, feeling her pull me to her side.

“I’m frightened, Dereck.” Ilyana shuts her eyes, and her grip tightens on my hands as another contraction grabs hold of her body.

---