Page 85 of Defect
I looked down at Malachi instead of at Vince’s face because too many painful memories flooded my senses at once. “Hey, Tyke. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at school.”
“I didn’t want him in school today,” Vince growled, stepping closer. His cologne set off alarms in my head. I vividly remembered smelling it on his skin when he forced himself on me at night after beating me until I was bloody.
“He needs his education, Vince.” I tried to keep my voice steady so that the fear pumping through my veins wouldn’t show.
“I’m tired of your fucking sister medaling in my business. She’s making things difficult for me. Did you know she had CPS open a case against me?” He sneered at me and moved closer. I wrapped my arm around Malachi and held him close. I was determined to protect him no matter what. No matter how weak my joints felt or how hard my heart rapped against my chest. “Of course you did. She’s your fucking sister. You probably told her to do it.”
“Solo, can I please come with you?” Malachi whispered against my waist.
“Aww, you wanna go with Solana? I wish you could go with her and fucking vanish from my life.”
“Then give him to me, Vince. I swear to god, you’ll never have to see him again. Let me petition the court to terminate your rights.” I smoothed Malachi’s tangled curls back with my hand while I held on to him with my other arm. Vince seemed to mull the thought over in his head and I prayed that he came to the right decision.
“I tried that once with his grandmother and she died.”
“She didn’t ask the court to terminate your rights though.”
“Terminate my rights,” He said slowly, rubbing his chin. “I’ll consider what you’re talking about if you come to lunch with me and the boy right now.” I blinked in disbelief.
“Lunch? Vince, I’m at work right now I can’t…”
“I’ll let him stay the night with you,” he blurted. Malachi squeezed my middle so tight it was hard for me to breathe.
“Please, Solo. I want to go home with you.” I could hear the tears in his tiny voice and it twisted my insides.
“Okay. Fine.” I couldn’t pass up the chance to take Malachi home with me even if it was for one night. So I agreed to go out to lunch with my ex-abuser even though I was in the middle of cleaning up the wreckage of my studio and trying to file insurance claims. Vince never did care about what I had going on in my life. If it didn’t involve him, it wasn’t serious enough to warrant his consideration.
“Good. Then maybe I can get a good night’s sleep without having to hear that fucking cry baby whining all night.”
“Don’t talk about him like that,” I warned through clenched teeth. Vince lifted one side of his mouth and smirked at me.
“Let’s go, Solana. Now.” I followed him to the front of the store, paid for my tea with Malachi still anchored to me, then walked outside. “Where’s your little yellow piece of shit?” He chuckled looking around the parking lot.
“My boyfriend has it right now.”
“Boyfriend? What kind of bum-ass man are you fucking with that doesn’t have his own car? I knew you’d never do better than me. You need to reevaluate your choice in men.” His fingers wrapped around my bicep and dug into the muscle making my arm burn. “You can ride with me.” When he put his toxic hands on me, I saw flashes of him beating me the moment we were in the car. My mind spun wildly in circles powered by fear but I kept my cool on the outside. Malachi didn’t need to see me freaking out. Neither did Vince. I didn’t want him to know how shaken up I was.
“I’m sitting in the back with Malachi,” I told him, standing firm on shaky legs.
“You’ll sit up front with me.” He unlocked his car and I stood near the backdoor. “Solana, I don’t know if you remember this or not but I call the fucking shots. Now get in the front or else you’re not taking the boy tonight.”
“It’s okay, Solo. You can sit up front. I’ll be okay,” Malachi said, finally letting go of my waist. I nodded reluctantly and got in the passenger seat. Once Vince was beside me and the doors of the car were closed, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. He looked at me and I saw desire in his eyes. It made bile creep up the back of my throat.
“You look so good right now. If I didn’t have that little asshole in the backseat I would fuck the shit out of you.” I cringed on the inside and crossed my legs, angling my body toward the door.
“I’m not here for you. You know that right?” I said in a surprisingly calm voice for someone who was shaking like a leaf on the inside.
“Doesn’t matter. That pussy will always belong to me. Whoever your man is doesn’t know what to do with you.” I bit my tongue at his words because the last thing I needed to do while I was in the car with an abuser was to spew out love for Ezra. I sat in silence for the entire drive.
Vince pulled up at some expensive ass restaurant and got out. I took the opportunity to text Ezra the address and to tell him to meet me there when he was done testing.
Ezra: What’s wrong, Solo? The whole vibe of this shit doesn’t feel right.
Me: You still taking your test?
Ezra: We’re taking a break. What the fuck is going on? I feel uneasy.
Me: Please just come when you’re done, okay?
