Page 33 of When You Dance
“Oh.”
I didn’t pressure him to say what he was thinking about, because I didn’t like people doing that shit to me, especially people I wasn’t all that close to. We were just getting to know one another. We really didn’t know much about one another. We didn’t talk about family or anything, and when he would ask questions that I felt were somewhat personal, I wouldn’t reply to him.
We continued to my car, and as I was about to open the door, Jeremiah fell against me, pushing me to the car. I immediately frowned as I turned to him, trying to see what was going on. Before I could say a word, he said, “Shut the fuck up.”
It felt like he had a gun jammed in my side, so I didn’t say a word as his free hand slid in the waistband of my sweats. I couldn’t believe this was happening. How in the fuck did the security assault you? “Jeremiah, please don’t do this.”
“It’s too late now, isn’t it? I’m already in the act. I might as well go all the way.”
He maneuvered his hand between my legs and began fingering me. I laid my head on the car as I let the tears fall from my eyes. Feeling this nigga take me this way was something I’d never wanted to feel. I had never been assaulted this way in all my life… had never even thought something like this would happen to me.
“Mm. Yo’ pussy wet as hell, girl. You like what I’m doing to you?”
“No. No, I don’t. I hate that you think you have a right to what belongs to me.”
“Bitch, the way you poppin’ that pussy for everybody to see, surely you knew that someone would give you what you were asking for. Spread those legs for me.”
He pushed harder in my side, so I did what he said. His chuckle sounded deranged like some shit was off with him. He pulled his hand away from me and brought his fingers to his lips. “Mm, you even taste good. Let me see you though.”
He put his hand to my mask, and I turned my head. If at any time I wanted to remain anonymous, it was now. He mushed me harder against the car where I couldn’t move then yanked my mask from my face. When he saw my face, he backed away with a stunned look on his face. “Sandrene?”
He knew who the fuck I was, but how? Other bouncers burst through the door and immediately jumped him as I yanked my sweatpants up and got in my car. I locked the doors as my body trembled. When I saw Jeff walking toward my door, I got nervous as hell. I thought he wasn’t at work today. He should have been the one escorting me. He knocked on the window as he stared at me with sad eyes.
“Obsession, please talk to me. I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
I shook my head rapidly and turned away from him. My mask was on the ground. All of them would know my identity. I was still confused as to how Jeremiah knew who I was. The only person I wanted to see was Jamel. He was the only man from the club that I trusted now. After what Jeremiah did to me, everyone here was suspect now.
“We called the police. I’m not sure what all he did to you, but I do know that he had a gun. I don’t mind telling the police what I know. Fuck! I got moved to the front door tonight. I should have been with you. I’m so damn sorry.”
I looked over at him as the tears streamed down my face, allowing him to see me. He stared right back, and I could see the sympathy he felt for me and the guilt he was assuming was his. I put my window down slightly so I could hear what he was mumbling. “Desire said Tip wanted me at the front door. I think this was a set up.”
My eyes widened some. It made perfect sense as to why Jeremiah winked at her. She couldn’t stand me, and I couldn’t stand her ass either; plus, I’d embarrassed her in front of everyone. She’d gotten him to do this to me. That still didn’t explain how he knew my real name. I didn’t know a lot of people, and I surely didn’t talk to a lot of people. Maybe he knew me from my old job. I always thought he looked somewhat familiar, but I never figured out why. I just assumed it was from the club. Maybe the bartender, Leilani, was involved.Shit!I didn’t think she knew my real name though.
When I saw the lights from the cop car, I got even more nervous. My phone was ringing, and I knew it was Jamel. I couldn’t answer right now though. When the cop emerged from his car and I saw he was black and had a black woman partner, I breathed out a sigh of relief. I put my window down more, but I didn’t want to get out of the car.
As they approached, the woman had a concerned look on her face. The male cop went over to where the other bouncers had Jeremiah restrained and slapped cuffs on him. When the lady cop got to my window, she gave me a tight smile. “Can you get out of the car, ma’am?”
I shook my head rapidly as she held her hand up. “It’s okay. You don’t have to. Can I get in with you?”
I stared at her for a moment and said, “Okay.”
I put my window up and reached over to unlock the passenger side door. Once she was inside, I locked the doors. “Hello. I’m Officer Ross. What’s your name?”
“Sandrene Jallow. I go by Obsession here, and that’s all they know me by, except the owner. I dance with a masquerade mask on. He took it off when he was assaulting me.”
“Okay. What’s his name?”
“All I know is Jeremiah. I don’t know his last name.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
I nodded and proceeded to tell her everything that happened, from the eye wink at Desire until he called me by my real name. She listened to me intently and took notes. “I’m sure the camera footage will show what happened as well. Are you okay? Do you need to go to a hospital?”
“No. I don’t need to go to a hospital. I’m scared to go home though. What if he knows where I live?”
“We’re taking him in tonight. Do you have any family that can come to see about you?”
I shook my head. “My parents are both deceased, I’m an only child, and our family is from Gambia, Portugal, and Cape Verde. They are still there. I have a boyfriend, but he’s in Beaumont for his brother’s wedding.”
