Chapter 15
It was the day of the fundraiser, and at the last minute, we decided to close the flower shop. The day would undoubtedly be a slow one for customers because everyone would be at the fundraiser. Briar was feeling down because I’d told him we couldn’t attend, so his day was made when I shared our change of plans.
“It’s gonna be fun, Mommy. Way better than working in the shop all day.”
I gasped, pretending to be hurt. “You don’t like helping me in the shop?”
“Sometimes, but this is gonna be a lot more fun. Mr. Rocky said there are gonna be a lot of games and prizes. You don’t have that at the shop.”
I shook my head at his honesty. Briar came to work with me at least twice a week. I wanted him to be exposed to the work we did in the shop because it would one day be his. He seemed to enjoy it, but I realized it didn’t compare to going to a block party fundraiser.
“No, I don’t have games and prizes at the shop. Today should be fun for all of us.”
Rocky didn’t know we’d closed the shop for the day, and I planned to surprise him. However, as I neared the block where the youth center was located, the streets were already blocked off. I turned onto a side street and called him.
“Hey, baby. You good?”
I turned around to see if Briar was listening, but thankfully, he’d put his headphones on. Rocky and I hadn’t told him about our relationship yet, but the cat was almost let out of the bag.
“Yeah, I’m good. We decided to close shop for the day and attend the block party. I’m a few blocks from the youth center, but the roads are already blocked off.”
“Oh shit, baby. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but Briar really wanted to come, and I figured it would be slow since the whole town would be at the block party. Is there any way I can get through these barricades?”
“Where are you?”
“On the corner of Central and Highland.”
“Can you leave your car parked there?”
I looked around and didn’t see any signs saying otherwise. “Yes.”
“Stay put. I’ll have one of the officers come and get you.”
“Okay.” I ended the call and turned around to see Briar staring me in the face with a curious look. “The roads are blocked, so we’re going to leave the car here. Mr. Rocky sent a police officer to come and pick us up.”
“Yay! Mommy, is Mr. Rocky your boyfriend?”
“Huh?”
“Is Mr. Rocky your boyfriend?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because I saw him drop you off in the morning two times, and you let him kiss you.”
“You what?”
“I saw him?—”
“I heard you, Briar. Umm…How would you feel if Mr. Rocky was my boyfriend?”
“I like him. I wish my dad was like him.”
“Why do you wish your dad was like Mr. Rocky?”
“My dad is mean to you, and he doesn’t like to play with me. Mr. Rocky is nice to you, and he plays with me all the time at the center.”
“Do you remember the last time your father was at our house?”
“Yes. I called Mr. Rocky because Dad was being mean to you. Mr. Rocky told me to hide in the closet.”
“Was that the first time you saw your father being mean to me?”
“No. He’s mean to you all the time, Mommy. You tell me to go to my room, but I can hear him being mean.”
“Is he ever mean to you?”
“He yells a lot.”
“Does he hit you?”
“Sometimes he pushes me, or he squeezes my arm really hard. My daddy isn’t a nice person, Mommy. I would like it if Mr. Rocky was your boyfriend.”
I was at a loss for words and on the verge of tears. Before I could process all my son had told me, a knock on my window startled me. It was a police officer, so I let my window down halfway.
“Are you Rue Abrams?” I nodded. “Mr. Rush sent me to get you.”
“Okay. Let me get our things.”
The officer walked away, and I took a moment to compose myself. I thought I’d protected Briar from Deacon’s wrath all this time. Rocky told me Briar probably knew more than I thought, and he was right.
A few minutes later, Briar and I were in the back of an unmarked police car. He took us directly to Rocky, and I couldn’t get to him fast enough. Although he didn’t know what was racing through my mind, he received me with open arms.
However, something must have felt off because he walked us to a less populated area to ensure we were okay. I could see the concern on his face, but I didn’t want to tell him what Briar had shared with me because it would ruin his mood. He had enough on his plate today.
“I can tell something is wrong, Rue. I won’t be able to focus on everything I need to do today if I’m worried about you. Tell me.”
“Briar, do you see RJ over there?” I pointed to RJ playing basketball with some other boys.
“Can I go, Mommy?”
“Yes, but don’t go anywhere else without letting me know.”
“Okay.” He ran off, and I watched him until he made it safely to the other boys.
“Briar knows about us,” I told him.
“Is that why you’re upset?”
“No.” I shared the conversation I had with Briar with him.
“I wish I could say I’m surprised, but kids are way more observant than adults give them credit for. I knew my father was an asshole who abused my mother well before he took her life. She tried to hide it, but it was impossible.”
“He said Deacon pushes him and squeezes his arm really hard sometimes. I can’t believe I allowed him to be alone with my son. What if?—”
“He didn’t, so don’t go there. You and Briar are safe, and I won’t let him hurt either of you anymore.”
He pulled me into another hug and kissed the top of my head.
“Thank you. I should let you get back to work. Are your grandparents here?”
“Nah. Remember I told you they were going out of town to attend a wedding?”
“Oh, yeah. It slipped my mind. Do you need help with anything?”
“Hell yeah. Are your sisters coming? The more volunteers the merrier.”
“Yeah, they should be here soon.”
“Tell them to park where you’re parked, and I’ll have someone come and get them. If not, they will have to walk several blocks.”
I texted my sisters with the information, and they confirmed they weren’t far from where I parked. Rocky sent the same officer to get them, and they arrived about fifteen minutes later.
Rocky wanted me somewhere he could easily find me and didn’t want me in the mix of things, so he put me in charge of handing out water. My sisters were eager to help, so they were split up and given various duties.
There were motorcycles lined up along the sidewalks and the Mayhem club members were letting children and adults pose on them to take pictures. Later that day, the members would perform bike tricks to entertain the crowd. There were hundreds of people there to support, and I was sure they’d enjoy the show.
“Rocky, it’s always good to see you.”
The man’s voice sounded familiar, so I looked up and saw the mayor of Onyx City, Aziel Harris. He was accompanied by his beautiful wife, Desire, and their three children.
“Mayor Harris, wassup? I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to stop by,” Rocky responded.
The men exchanged a fist bump before Rocky greeted his wife.
“I told you I’d be here. This is a great way to raise money, and it looks like a lot of people agree.”
“I appreciate that. I couldn’t do it without your approval, so thank you. Baby, come meet the mayor and his wife.”
I was a few feet away, pretending to be busy, so I scurried to my man’s side. He introduced us, and I couldn’t help but compliment the beautiful family. The mayor was fine as wine, and his wife and children were equally gorgeous.
After they left, I returned to my station while Rocky made his rounds, checking on everyone to see if they needed anything and were getting proper breaks. Just as he circled back to my area, I heard the roar of several motorcycles.
“Fuck!” Rocky muttered before I could decipher what was going on. Based on his reaction, it wasn’t good.
“Get Briar and stay here.”
I watched him move toward the bikes as he barked orders into his radio. When I realized the men on the bikes were members of Westside Riders, I became worried. Those men started so much shit that “Shit Starters” would’ve been a more appropriate name for the club.
The inside of the center was open for parents to register their children for the summer and fall programs. Briar had just gone inside the center to use the bathroom. Briar had just gone inside the center to use the bathroom. The inside of the center was open for parents to register their children for the summer and fall programs. He was more familiar with the place and the people than I was, so I felt comfortable allowing him to go to the bathroom alone.
I asked someone to cover my station so I could go inside to check on Briar. He’d been in there long enough to use the bathroom and find trouble. Once inside, I looked around to see if my son had gotten distracted doing something else, but I didn’t see him.
After spotting the sign for the bathroom, I headed in that direction. That hallway was empty and dim, and I didn’t see anyone until I got closer to the men’s room.
“Briar! What are you doing?”
“No, Mommy! Stay over there.”
“Baby, what are you talking about? What’s wrong?” Of course, I ignored him and continued in his direction.
Suddenly, Deacon and another man appeared out of nowhere. The man snatched Briar up and dragged him by one arm. I ran toward him but was hit on the back of the head before collapsing. Everything went black.