13. It’s What She Deserves
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It’s What She Deserves
Caleb had a process.
A system that he implemented the day he entered this small town and claimed it.
It was a process unlike the Society's. But then, that was one of many reasons why he originally disassociated with them.
While the Society was quick to remove humans like a stain, Caleb found them useful.
He sought humanity in people where the Society had not.
Where the Society established death, Caleb found… opportunity . He had worked to instill this process. To gain the trust of the townspeople. To make a name for himself. Caleb's contributions directly impacted their quality of life.
But all it took was one mishap: deliberate sabotage, to completely knock his process out of whack.
Sitting in his truck, Caleb stared at his phone, waiting for one of his cousins to respond. But of course, this was all a game to them. It was always just a game. Only, Caleb wasn't laughing.
He knew his cousins were possessive of Deja. They had warned him to keep his distance and his hands off of her. Caleb snorted. There was a higher chance of him rejoining the Society than there was of him keeping his hands off of Deja.
That was one forbidden fruit worth the risk of indulgence.
He looked down as a text came in. But it was Deja.
Deja
Thanks for being so accommodating of my friends. Shawna is giving me goddess locs, so we'll be at the salon a little late.
Caleb googled 'goddess locs,' and his lips parted in awe before responding.
Caleb
The name is fitting. I can't wait to see it on you.
He smiled at her response.
Deja
...I miss you...
Caleb bit his lip, hesitating to respond. They almost sounded like a real couple.
Caleb
Don't worry, babe. I'll see you soon.
"Lookit that big-ass smile on her face!" Shawna playfully teased, working on Deja's hair.
"She's texting her man, ain't she?" Diamond grinned, braiding Ari's hair. "You giving him that kitty-kat ain't you, Deja boo?"
"Oh my god, girls..." Deja groaned with embarrassment
"Ooh! Deja!" Ari squealed with excitement. "I don't blame you. He is so damn hot. I swear your taste in men-"
"Um, her last man was a jerk. So, let's stop right there," Kristin interrupted. "Deja, babe, I hope you're being careful with this one."
"Not Mama Kristin throwing shade! She's a grown-ass woman," Diamond said, sucking her teeth.
"I know that! I'm just trying to look out for her. Deja is my girl, and every time I think about that jackass, I swear I just-Ugh!" Kristin muttered, annoyed.
"Well, you don't have to cause homey's dead," Diamond shrugged as Ari gasped.
"D, you goin' to hell," Shawna laughed, shaking her head.
"Nah, cause I'mma see his ass there," Diamond cackled as Ari dry-heaved from laughing so hard.
"Going from ruling a multi-billion-dollar company to ruling the underworld," Kristin smirked. "I'm sure that fire gave him all the solar energy he needs."
"No, she didn't! Damn, Kristin!" Diamond cackled.
"Y'all ain't right," Shawna chuckled.
Deja tried to laugh, but she couldn't. She didn't find anything they were saying funny. But why? She hated Jax. Why would she care?
"All I know is, Mr. Lumberjack is one hell of an upgrade," Diamond said.
"Yeah, he seems really down-to-earth," Ari added. "I mean, the way he looks at you? Ugh! My freaking heart!"
"Ari, sit your skinny ass down before I have to start over," Diamond scolded.
"Sorry!" Ari squeaked.
"Anyone's better than Jax, though, right?" Shawna said. "I mean, you deserve to have someone who will protect you and make you happy."
Deja stared at herself in the mirror. "...he did protect me and make me happy..." she said quietly. The women suddenly looked at her, and Deja shook her head. "I mean… in the beginning..."
"Yeah. And then he turned into an asshole," Kristin muttered.
"Were his brothers the same?" Ari asked.
"Hold on-This motherfucker had brothers ? Don't tell me the whole family trash," Diamond said.
"Guys, can we-can we stop talking about this?" Deja asked, slightly panicked.
Shawna looked at her, concerned. "Yeah. Of course, boo. We didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't! I'm just..." Deja trailed off, trying to temper her emotions.
"You don't have to explain yourself, hun," Kristin said.
"I'm heading home," the salon owner said, approaching Kristin. "You guys can stay. Can't let the mom-to-be go without."
Deja smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much!"
The owner nodded with a smile. "Any friend of Caleb is a friend of mine." She turned to Kristin. "The door self-locks. So, when you're out, there's no getting back in."
"Got it," Kristin nodded. "Thank you again! Have a good night!"
Deja watched the owner leave into the night and felt her stomach tighten. She felt uneasy. Like they were being watched. Her eyes darted to the windows. "Sit still, boo. I'm almost done deep-conditioning so that we can wash your hair," Shawna said.
"So, salon to ourselves. Tell us more about Caleb ," Ari grinned.
From the other side of the salon, three shadows slipped inside from a cracked door leading into the mall. Lena quietly crouched down, watching Deja and her friends on the other side.
"I was supposed to meet with Joe hours ago. Why are we doing this again?" her friend Mindy asked, annoyed.
"Shut up!" Lena whispered back. "I told you. I'm just gonna fuck with them a little, and then you can go let STD Joe rail you or whatever."
"He does not have STDs!" Mindy snapped.
"He's slept with practically every girl in our year, Mindy. Just make sure you're using protection," Carla snorted.
"You sound jealous," Mindy sucked her teeth.
"Jealous of what? Gonorrhea?" Carla asked.
"Both of you, shut up!" Lena snapped. "We have a job to do." Both girls rolled their eyes while Lena pulled several items out of her bag. "Mindy, put this in the shampoo on the counter. And Carla, drop this into her cup. It'll dissolve quickly."
Carla looked at her, confused. "Umm. I thought you said she was pregnant. Won't this, like, harm her baby?"
"It'll just make her throw up, if anything," Lena shrugged.
"No offense, Lena, but this seems really childish. All this over a guy who doesn't even like you?" Mindy asked.
"Oh, get off your fucking high horse, Mindy, when you're sleeping with the community cock," Lena snorted.
"Wow," Carla laughed.
"Fuck you, Lena," Mindy snapped.
"Shut up!" Lena hushed again. "Look. Just do this for me, and I'll let you borrow that black dress for your date."
Mindy's eyes lit up. "Deal!"
Lena handed them the items. "Meet back here when you're done."
"What are you gonna do?" Carla asked.
"Make sure Caleb knows what kind of shit person he's fucking," Lena said, grabbing her phone.
"He looks like he could bench-press a tractor-trailer," Ari mused. "Shit, he can bench-press me-"
"It's kinda nice to see you dating a working-class man," Shawna interrupted. Deja bit her lip, thinking about the large sums of money she discovered Caleb was donating to the Cancer Fund. She contemplated how to ask him about it without giving away that she was snooping.
"Yeah, those rich-white-man types are the worst. Narcissistic as shit," Kristin said.
"Jax was actually extremely generous," Deja spilled before she could stop herself. The women looked at her strangely, and she tried to change the subject. "But honestly, I can't think about either Jax or Caleb when my life globes are finally taking off."
"Black girl magic, baby! Can I get an amen?!" Diamond waved her hand.
"Amen!" the girls cheered.
"Alright, babes. I'm gonna start the water," Shawna said, draping a towel over Deja’s shoulders. Deja watched Shawna through the mirror when she saw something move in the corner of her eye. Standing to her feet, she looked around the salon. While the girls chatted, Deja walked to the other side.
Sitting in the dark closet, Mindy unscrewed the shampoo bottle, preparing to pour Nair into it while keeping an eye on Shawna at the sink. She heard a door creak behind her and quickly turned around.
But she didn't see anyone.
She noticed Shawna looking for the shampoo and hurried up when the door creaked again.
Mindy looked over her shoulder, further into the closet, when she saw a pair of boots beneath one of the salon's robes.
It seemed strange to have in the closet.
Shrugging, she started pouring the Nair when she heard the creak again and looked over her shoulder.
The boots were gone.
Mindy slowly stood to her feet, walking further into the closet. "Hello?" she whispered, moving the robes aside. She looked past a few shelves but didn't see anything.
Turning back around, Mindy's eyes widened at the hooded figure leering over her. She opened her mouth to scream when a blade went through her mouth and out the back of her head.
"Dude. Where the hell is this shampoo?" Shawna asked, annoyed. "I swear it was just here."
"Girl, it's a salon. Just go get another one from the closet," Diamond said dismissively. Sighing, Shawna headed for the closet.
Deja continued searching, and her stomach tightened. Something didn't feel right.
Shawna pushed the closet door, but it only slightly opened.
Looking down, she saw the open shampoo bottle on the floor.
"Seriously?" she muttered. She tried opening the door, but it wouldn't budge as if something was blocking it.
She picked up the bottle and saw a few drops of red liquid on it.
"Okay… I appreciate them letting us borrow this salon, but they need to clean better ‘cause… Ew !"
Closing the door, she headed back to the sink as blood seeped out from underneath.
Hiding in the office, Lena listened to the audio she had recorded so far of Deja's conversation, splitting it to sound different. She glanced out the window where the women were talking and spotted Carla crawling on her hands and knees near the darkened storage room.