Chapter 36
Patrick was dead.
His father was dead.
His sister burned down my shop.
When Devin shared that news with me, I was livid all over again. I’d been friendly with that girl at one point. Even though Patrick had what I thought was an “estranged” relationship with his father, he was close with his siblings, especially her. I’d serviced her at my shop several times. When things ended with her brother, the bitch wouldn’t even look at me on the street. Looking at it now, I had thoughts as to whether she knew his motives.
At this point, I was ready to have my man eliminate the rest of that bloodline to ensure nobody else came after me. I didn’t think I could take one more thing happening to me. Devin was doing his best to take care of everything, but I was beginning to feel like even with all the pull his family had, there were limits. I knew he wasn’t untouchable, especially when the threats were coming from so many different angles. Still, I trusted him to take care of what nobody else seemed equipped to handle.
Three weeks had gone by since I lost my business to the fire. Insurance had been filed. Reports were completed. The rubble had been cleared. I couldn’t give any more energy to it. I had to focus on my kids and trying to rebuild in a new space. I was so in love with the building Devin not only bought but put in my name. I’d even taken the time to sketch out the vision I had for the layout.
It was just what I needed to bring me out of the funk I’d been in. With so much extra space, I could offer more services. I decided I wanted to add a spa and massage package. After the amazing massage I had when I first met Devin, I knew it would be the perfect addition.
This morning, I’d gotten myself together and dropped Juri off with Senior, my unofficial babysitter on the compound when Devin needed to go into his shop. After taking Korri to school, I stopped by the building to check on things. Shar’s father had already started on the renovations. That man was so damn funny. I could see where she got it from. Most of the suites were already framed out in the once open space, and I could see my vision slowly coming to life.
Once I left there, I headed to my house. I hadn’t been to the place since staying on the compound, and I was sure there was food that needed to be thrown out and mail to check. Plus, I wanted to pick up a few things for us. I wasn’t sure when we would be able to return, but one thing was for certain: I was tired of muthafuckas running me out of places I paid for.
Pulling into my driveway, I got out of the car and headed inside. My first stop was the kitchen, where I emptied out my fridge. I then headed to the bedrooms to pack some things for the girls and I. Thirty minutes later, I was heading to put our things in the car. When I opened the front door, I got the shock of my life. There stood Dana, looking at me like she could kill me with her bare hands.
I tried to close the door, but she kicked it in. I stumbled backward over the suitcase and hit the floor with a hard thud. She came inside and closed the door. Reaching behind her, she pulled out a gun and aimed it at me.
“You… fucking… bitch,” she said, glaring at me.
“Dana—”
“Shut the fuck up!” she yelled, angrily pointing the gun. “I’m gonna enjoy this. Because of you, my family is ruined. You had my brother killed! Then that fucking animal killed my father!”
“Do you know what they did to me, Dana?”
“Nothing that warranted them being brutally murdered by that Dillinger! You took them from us, and now I’m gonna return the favor.”
She lunged at me but was met with my foot to her gut, causing the gun to fly out of her hand. It threw her off balance long enough for me to scramble to my feet. She grabbed me by my locs and sent a punch to my face.
“You’re gonna pay for what you did!” she declared.
Enough of this shit.
Channeling all my anger, I drew back and slapped the shit out of her. She tried to swing at me, but I kicked her in the stomach again before grabbing her by the collar of her shirt. Repeatedly, I brought my hand down across her pretty face.
“Bitch, fuck you. Fuck your brother and your dead ass daddy!”
Grabbing her by the hair, I kneed her in the face. Instantly, her nose started leaking. She screamed as she charged at me. There was nothing but fists flying as we fought all over my living room.
Lamps shattered as they fell to the floor.
Pictures were knocked off the wall.
Furniture was pushed around.
Viciously, we went blow for blow until we fell into the glass coffee table, causing it to shatter. Pain shot through me as shards of glass embedded themselves into my skin because I took the brunt of the fall. Dana groaned as she climbed to her feet and stumbled away. I could feel blood trickling from various places as I struggled to pull myself from the mess beneath me.
Once I was on my feet, I saw that Dana was going for her gun. Thinking fast, I ran at her, tackling her just as she picked up the gun. We tussled on the floor, fighting over the gun. I couldn’t tell what part of it I had, but I had something. Then… the gun went off.
I froze, eyes wide.
Dana froze, eyes wide as well. She gasped, and her mouth fell open. Blood trickled from her lips and fell on me. I began to panic and pushed her off, causing her to land with a thud. The gun slipped from her hand, and I quickly grabbed it before climbing to my feet. I ran over to the hook on the wall where my purse hung and fished out my phone to call the police.
“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”
“My name is Romi Mitchell. I live at 247 Brentwood Circle. An intruder came into my house with a gun.”
“Do you know this person, ma’am?”
“Yes. Her name is Dana Mathis.”
“Where is she right now? Is she still there?”
I looked over at Dana’s now lifeless body on the floor, soaked in blood from the shot to the chest.
“We were fighting over the gun, and it went off… She’s dead.”
“Are you injured at all?”
“Yes. We fell through a glass table. Some pieces are embedded in my skin…” I choked up as I spoke to her. “Please… send somebody.”
“Help is on the way, ma’am. Can you go outside and wait for me? I’m gonna stay on the phone with you until the police and ambulance arrive.”
“Okay…”
With a trembling and bloody hand, I opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch. My next-door neighbor was making her way across the lawn to me. Tears streamed down my face as I eased down onto the front step.
“Romi? Are you okay, honey? I heard—” Her eyes widened as she got closer. “Is that—is that blood?”
I nodded. “Someone broke in.”
“Again? Oh my God.” She carefully slid into the space beside me and grabbed my hand. Gently, she guided my head to her shoulder and wrapped her arm around me.
“The police are on the way,” I whispered.
“I’ll wait here with you.”
“Can I use your phone? I need to call my boyfriend.”
“Sure.”
She pulled out her phone and unlocked it before handing it to me. With my clean hand, I took it from her and dialed Devin’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Who is this?”
“Devin…”
“Baby? What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Dana… she broke in the house with a gun. We started fighting, and the gun went off… Devin, she’s dead.”
“Fuck!” he yelled. I could hear his tires screeching. “I’m on my way. Have you called the police?”
I sniffled. “They’re coming. My neighbor is here with me.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
“I love you, Romi.”
“I love you too.”
We sat there for a moment before disconnecting the call. In the distance, I could hear the sirens. Burying my head in my hands, I cried my eyes out, praying to God that this was finally over.
Hours Later
After having the glass removed from various places and being checked out, I had to go to the police station to give my statement. Devin made sure to call his cousin, the lawyer, to ensure the police didn’t try to fuck with me. I had to have told the story three different times.
The last time they asked me to go over it again, Devin’s cousin put his gun on the table and told them we were done. Clearly, they feared him because the officers were quick to retreat and let me go.
When I walked out of that police station, I was shocked to see my parents, Renay, and Devin’s family all waiting outside for me. Since the hospital had taken my clothes for evidence, I was allowed to shower, and they gave me scrubs to wear. I was glad I didn’t have to worry about getting Dana’s blood on them when they surrounded me for hugs.
My walls crumbled all over again.
Currently, we were back at the compound. Korri was with her other grandmother, and Juri was still with Senior. I wanted to see my babies, but I desperately needed time to process everything that transpired.
I took a life.
Me… a woman who didn’t even like fighting unless it was a last resort. I killed someone. And while it was self-defense, I didn’t know how to feel about that.
“Baby?” Devin said, breaking me from my thoughts.
I blinked and realized I was still sitting in the car while he was standing at my door, waiting for me to get out.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
I took his hand and slid out of the truck. He closed the door and led me inside, then upstairs to his bedroom. Immediately, I went to take another shower. Although I was clean, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Dana’s blood dripping on me. Devin said he would get me something comfortable to wear and something to help me relax.
In the shower, the familiar feeling of the water masking my tears wasn’t enough. I slid down the shower wall to the floor and pulled my knees into my chest, crying my eyes out. I sat there until the water ran cold before finally standing and taking a cold shower to shock my system.
By the time I turned the water off, I was trembling. The bathroom door opened, and Devin stepped in with a towel. I opened the door and stepped out into the warmth of it, courtesy of the towel warmer he bought just for me.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
He simply nodded as he led me out of the bathroom and guided me to the chaise in front of the bed. On the floor were my post-shower items. He took a seat in front of me and commenced to massaging and moisturizing my skin.
There was nothing but silence as he worked his way from my toes to my neck. When he got to my face, he cupped it and kissed me slowly. As our lips parted, he pressed his forehead to mine.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there… I should have gone with you.”
I shook my head. “It’s not your fault.”
“It is. I shouldn’t have let you drive alone, knowing she was out there. I thought… I thought she would have stayed in hiding.”
“She was watching me. You didn’t see the look in her eyes. She would have made the same move, no matter if you were with me or not. She blamed me for her father and brother’s death. I was always the one who was going to pay for it. I’m just glad it’s over.” I looked at him with hopeful eyes. “Please tell me it’s over.”
He nodded. “Pops is handling everything. The chief, the officers that responded to your calls… Derrick’s wife.”
“The other kids?”
“They’re estranged. The other daughter hasn’t spoken to him in years, and the son lives out of state. I don’t think they are a threat.”
I nodded. “What am I gonna do about the house? I can’t go back there, Devin. I just know I’m gonna see nothing but blood or her body in the spot where she died. And my girls… I don’t want her spirit haunting them. After all we’ve been through, we deserve peace.”
“Then stay here. The girls already have their rooms. If you don’t wanna go back, you don’t have to. I can get our moms and your sister to help pack up what you need, and you and our girls can be here where you belong.”
I stared at him for a moment before nodding. I didn’t have it in me to fight him on this… not this time.
“Okay,” I said softly. “We’ll stay.”
He kissed me again, then stood to his feet and put my items away. I dressed in the pajamas he’d laid out for me and climbed into bed.
“Are you hungry?” he asked when he was done.
“No. I just wanna lay here for a bit.”
“Do you want to be alone?”
I shook my head. “No.”
He didn’t say anything as he kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed with me. I snuggled close to him, wrapping my arm around his waist and resting my head against his chest. A deep, relaxed sigh expelled from my lips, knowing that my girls and I were the safest place… with him.