Page 57 of Invisible Bars
I tried not to laugh, but her face was dead serious—and that made it funnier.
“Listen, I didn’t hurt her and I don’t have no intentions on doing so.”
“Then whatdidyou do?”
“I just… took her to my crib until I can figure out what to do about this situation… her.”
“So you kidnapped her?”
“Technically,” I admitted dryly. “But it’s not like that.”
She eyed me hard. “Is she really safe?”
“Yeah, Dess. I don’t have her locked up or chained if that’s what you’re curious about.”
“She’s scared, I take it, though?”
“Yeah, she is… at least she was when I first took her. I think she’s calmed down now… a little.”
“What changed?”
“I got her Friday night. Before today, she wouldn’t eat, barely slept, hell, she wouldn’t even get in the shower.”
Dessign let out a long breath, almost as if she were sympathizing with Naji.
“Damn, Imanio. That girl wasn’t scared; she was probably traumatized.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to believe that. But after we had breakfast today, she opened up… a little. Still a lil’ scared, though.”
“I’m sure. You are intimidating… to people who don’t really know you. You could’ve brought her here at least—maybe she would’ve felt more comfortable around me instead of your grumpy ass. Besides, I could use the company.”
“Grumpy?”
“Yes,grumpy. Imanio, youwake upgrumpy. You blink grumpy. You probably eventextgrumpy.”
“Hush. But you really think I’m grumpy?”
“To me?No.I’m immune and built different. But to anybody else? Hell yeah. You’re terrifying with eyebrows. I wouldn’t feel safe either.”
That actually made me think—maybe I needed to be alittlesofter with Naji. I didn’t give a damn how the rest of the world saw me, but with her, she was different—especially considering her condition.
“But I doubt if she would’ve felt any safer here with you than with me. She has Tourette’s.”
Dessign’s mouth fell agape.
“Oh, wow! Now I’mreallylooking at you sideways, bro. You really kidnapped a girl with a neurological condition?”
“It ain’t like I’m preying on the weak. I found out when it flared up in the middle of the shit. Hell, what was I supposed to do? Just let her go?!”
“Uh…yeah. You could’ve.”
“Nah. That was too risky, especially with her vocabulary. The girl be cursing and everything.”
Dessign smirked.
“Besides, I didn’t know much about the condition before then, but since she’s been at the house, I’ve been researching. I’m trying to understand her better.”
Dessign studied me for a moment, with a hint of skepticism in her expression.
