Page 14 of Only if You Catch Me
“Persia,” authority filled my tone making her pause. “Look me in my face,” I commanded. When she did, I spoke slowly. “That nigga raped you?”
Panic consumed her irises. She knew I’d hurt that nigga. Nah, I didn’t know her, and I didn’t have to know her. Besides being a pedophile, a rapist was one of the worst things a man could be. “It’s okay. You don’t have to fix this. It’s not your job to do anything. I was mad when I blamed my ruined marriage on your actions. David did that all on his own. I’m not going back there. I’m staying with my sister tonight.”
“And the night after that?”
“That doesn’t concern you, Kastian. Thank you for the drinks. Goodnight.”
Persia slid out of the booth, and I watched her saunter away. Her hips swayed effortlessly. They almost had me in a trance. Hearing her refer to her marriage as ruined ignited a flame in me. I was gon’ get that ass.
CHAPTER 7
PERSIA
Mentally,I’d been preparing myself for my mother’s bullshit the entire morning. She had been calling and texting me acting as if it was imperative for me to stop by her house. I knew what she wanted, and I was dreading going over. I was grown and didn’t live for my mother, but I didn’t feel like defending my decisions either. If David had run to her and put her in our business, I was going to be even more pissed at his trifling ass.
Using the spare key my mother had given me in case she lost hers, I let myself in the house and found her sitting on the couch typing on her laptop. Even though my mother spent most of her life digging for gold with various men, she wasn’t dumb by far. For the past ten years, she’d worked in the auditing department at a bank. During the pandemic, she started working from home and was never made to go back in the office. She made good money and got a bonus at least once a year. Bonuses depended on a lot of things like position, years with the bank, salary, etc. Just a few months back, she’d gotten a bonus for $22,000. Between her salary and the bonuses my mother lived pretty good even without a man funding her lifestyle. She went out on dates here and there but to my knowledge, there had been no love connections.
“What’s up?” I asked trying to hide the agitation I was feeling.
“What’s going on with you and David?” she placed her laptop on the couch beside her.
“I assume if you know something is going on it’s because of him. So, why didn’t you ask him?”
“I’m not the enemy, Persia. Have a seat. You’re standing by the door like you’re ready to take off running.”
Inhaling deeply through my nose, I took the seat across from her. I stared at her choosing not to answer her question.
“David has come by twice to see if you were here. I’m sure if he knew where Tina lived, he’d be going by her house. That’s where I assume you’re staying.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose while closing my eyes for a split second. “I really don’t get why it matters. David and I are separated. I’m not going back to him, and I will be filing for divorce.”
My mother sighed and crossed her legs. “Persia, he told me that he ran into some financial issues, and that you pretty much drained your bank account to help him out. I know that must have been concerning, but David has been a great provider all these years. Don’t bail too soon and miss out on the reward. He has a proven track record, and I know he’ll get back on his feet. I’m sure he’ll give you double for your trouble.”
With a slack jaw, I stared at my mother. I wasn’t sure what was more unbelievable. Her or David. “Are you serious right now?” I was completely stunned. So stunned that I laughed. “Are you really serious?”
“What’s the issue?” my mom appeared just as confused as me.
“The issue is, he came over here telling you a fraction of the truth. A very small fraction. I don’t need advice, ma. I’m good. I know everything with you is about money and a come up, but Imake great money on my own. I don’t need a man to take care of me.”
“If that’s not the reason you left then what is? I know you didn’t leave him because he cheated. All men cheat, Persia.”
“Goodbye,” I stood up and laughed sarcastically. Prostitutes were about the only people my mother should give advice to. I was done listening to her.
Every day it seemed as if David did something new to piss me off. I just wanted him to leave me alone. I hadn’t told anyone what he’d done. Not even Tina. Kastian was the only other person that knew. Kastian. I swallowed hard and blinked back tears when I thought about the way his nostrils flared, and his jaw muscles flexed after I told him what David had done. His forcing himself on me was something that I’d never be able to forgive. That man actually fixed his mouth to tell me a man can’t rape his own wife.
David was my husband. We’d had sex countless times but forcing himself inside me while I was saying no, trying to push him off, and not sexually aroused almost made me despise him instantly. What love I had for him was slowly diminishing because he wasn’t acting like the man I married. From agreeing for me to spend twelve hours with Kastian to sexually assaulting me, I didn’t know him anymore. It was like the embarrassment from Kastian playing him had set in, and he had to prove to himself that he was a man by acting all big and bad with me.
When I arrived at my sister’s house, she was in the kitchen cooking spaghetti, drinking wine, and listening to Cardi B. I sat down at the island and watched her cook. Tina turned around and instantly knew something was wrong.
“Did you have to curse her out?” she asked then reached for a wine glass.
“I’m over it, Tina. I’m so over it,” my voice quivered. As she poured me a glass of wine, I decided to tell her what happened. Iappreciated the fact that she hadn’t been pressing me to find out what happened.
I knew Tina would never judge me. I was simply afraid to say out loud to another person what David had did. Maybe because I didn’t want to risk someone telling me that it wasn’t a big deal, and I was tripping.
“David sold Kastian a dirty gun, and one of his runners was charged with double murder.” I started. Picking up the glass, I took a large sip of wine then set the glass back down. “Kastian had purchased a lot of guns from David, and he got rid of all of them after his people got arrested. He also got a lawyer for the guy. Kastian told David that he had two days to give him $60,000. If he didn’t have it in two days, he had seven days to get him $65,000. Or he could take two weeks and give him $60,000 if David let me spend twelve hours with Kastian.”
Tina’s mouth opened so wide it was almost funny. “Excuse me? You said what?”
