Chapter 7
Juniper Weaver
No, no, no… this can’t be happening.
This was supposed to be my escape out of here, not me becoming a witness to a fucking muder.
I had no idea where I was going; all I knew was I had to get the fuck out of dodge.
Faheem wasn’t about to kill me like he just did that other nigga.
I’d be damned if I did and damned if I didn’t.
I almost cried seeing the downstairs patio doors had a code on them preventing me from getting out of them.
I started to get discouraged, then I got my second wind, seeing the basement door ajar.
I just knew that was gonna be my way out.
“Come ‘mere, Juniper. Let me talk to you!” Faheem’s stupid ass yelled behind me like that shit was going to make me stop fucking running from him.
Did he think a bitch was slow? Hell nah, I knew what happened to witnesses. Dashing up a flight of stairs, I flew down the hallway turning the corner, almost losing my footing.
“Fuck!” I heard Faheem yell. Briefly looking back, I saw his slender frame on the floor.
Not giving a fuck that he’d busted his ass, I continued my journey down the long hallway down another flight of stairs.
Darting inside the second door on my left, I entered a room that resembled a private room in a strip club.
A bar in the back, a suede couch in the center of the room with a stripper pole a few feet from the couch, with another pole on a stage in the far corner of the room.
“Don’t make this shit harder than it has to be. A nigga just want to talk to you.” Faheem's voice rattled through the walls. He sounded like he was right outside the door.
Thinking quickly, I ran and slid underneath the stage that was covered by a black curtain, holding my breath when I heard the door open.
“I promise I won’t hurt you, just come talk to me!” Faheem continued yelling as he walked into the room.
I wanted to yell back ‘fuck you’, but I thought better than to let my intrusive thoughts take over.
“Did you find her?” Another person with a deep voice yelled, walking into the room. There was a silence, and I held my breath hoping they’d think I was somewhere else.
“Nah, she probably got to the back doors. Let’s go look outside.” That was Faheem. My heart skipped a beat with excitement hearing them leave the room.
I was no fool though. I waited a good forty-five minutes before I came out of my hiding spot.
My heart still racing, I tried to figure out the safest way for me to get out of here.
I dropped my phone running from Faheem. There was no way for me to call anyone for help.
Walking over to the large window in the room, I looked out the window, and of course, it was over a pond.
I would have admired the view any other day.
Right now, it was an obstacle standing in my way of freedom.
I really didn’t want to go back out in the main house with no other options.
I hesitantly creeped over to the door, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves and steadying my shaking hands.
Placing my hand on the door knob, I opened it.
Peeking out into the hallway, I didn’t see anyone.
Thank God. Stepping out, I went in the opposite direction I came from.
As soon as I hit the corner, I could see the glass doors leading outside to a set of steps, speeding up, fueled by thoughts of getting out of here alive.
Making it to the doors, I wasted no time wrapping my hands around the golden door handle.
No! No! No!
My body went stiff when I felt an arm wrap around my waist. Feeling a warm breath tickle my neck, tears threatened to fall. I was so fucking close.
“Going somewhere, Juni?” Faheem calmly asked me as he lifted me off my feet, throwing me over his shoulder, slapping my ass. “I should fuck you up for making me run like that.” Faheem chuckled as he made his way back down the hallway we came from.
“How’d you find me?” I asked halfway out of breath, my heart still racing.
“If I got cameras in the room you stayin’ in, why wouldn’t I have them in the rest of my house?”
Duh! I could have kicked myself for not thinking about the cameras.
Faheem took me inside of a room close by the room I was hiding in.
This one looked more like a man cave than anything else.
He tossed me onto an oversized chair, then took a seat on the arm of the chair.
The man I saw on the ground earlier was sitting across from us on a big tan couch with a cigar hanging from his mouth.
The man across from us looked mean as shit.
I didn’t want to look at him for too long.
“Juniper, is it?” the man asked me in an un-ethusastic tone.
“Y-Y-Yeah,” I answered in a shaky voice looking back at Faheem who wasn’t even paying attention. He was scrolling through his phone.
“Nice meeting you. I’m Big Frank, or Frank is fine. You know my son, Faheem. I know your dad, Clive. I’m sure you aren’t too fond of him right now.”
All I could do was nod in agreement with him.
“Most parents usually do whatever they have to do to protect their children. Your dad is doing everything he can to get you out of this situation. He came up with about $10,000 of what he owed us. He’s really working to get you free.”
Hearing my dad was trying to get me out of here made me smile. It was quickly wiped from my face hearing Big Frank continue talking.
“Unfortunately, you saw something that we can’t risk getting out. Ya know my son’s freedom would be at risk.”
“I won’t tell,” I hurriedly told him. “I promise. I’ll never speak of anything.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t. However, your words aren't good enough for me. I’m sure you can understand I don’t know you that well.
” Big Frank cut his eyes over to Faheem then back to me.
“I can’t put the safety of my son’s freedom in a stranger's hand. I do, however, believe my son has a soft spot for you and would be willing to help you keep your life.”
“How you figure I have a soft spot for her?” Faheem grumbled as if his dad insulted him by implying he’d cared about me.
Whipping my head in Faheem’s direction, I gave him the dirtiest look I could muster up because shut the fuck up. Stupid ass nigga.
“ ‘Cause she’s here and not in The Red Room,” Big Frank stated in a matter of fact type of tone.
“You got it,” Faheen replied with his signature cocky smirk.
“As I was saying. Family is very important to me, and the only way for you not to be considered a stranger, and I would be sure you can’t testify against Faheem? Was if you became a part of our family. Do you know how that would be possible?”
I shook my head no.
“Marriage. A wife can’t testify against her husband, and what better way for you to be a part of our family than having our last name?” Big Frank dropped the biggest bomb on us.
He wanted me to marry Faheem. What the hell. I couldn’t do that. Could I?
“I-I-I… we can’t he has, a-a-a, girlfriend,” I stuttered, sounding like a fool, looking to Faheem to help me protest against this idea.
“Is his girlfriend more important than your life?” Big Frank calmly asked me, while he leaned back in his seat.
“No,” I quickly answered.
“Mixie gon’ have a fit.” Faheem sounded amused more than he was upset.
Was I the only one freaking out about this crazy ass shit? There had to be another way.
“She’ll be fine. I’m sure she can understand saving another young lady's life. Besides, it will only be as real as you two make it. Tomorrow we can go down town and get the marriage license for the two of you. You can move her into your condo. You got a few extra rooms,” Big Frank oddly said looking at Faheem.
“Yeah, you want a nigga to lose his life. But you know yo son likes crazy shit like this, so I’m with it.” Faheem folded his arms across his chest grinning.
“For how long? Forever?” This wasn’t how I wanted to get married. Hell, I didn’t even want to ever get married.
“Do you want it to be forever?” Big Frank asked mischievously, cracking a small smile on his face, making him look less intimidating than before.
“No.”
“Don’t say that shit like it’s gonna be a problem to be married to a nigga. I’ma be a dope ass husband.” Faheem playfully mugged me in the back of my head. I didn’t see shit funny about none of this. Swatting Faheem’s hand away from my head, I flipped him off.
“Then three years will do. After that, you will be able to divorce Faheem and go on about your life.” Big Frank shrugged.
“How do you know I won’t go to the police after the three years are over?” I skeptically questioned him, I didn’t quite understand his angle. It would be so easy for me to report Faheem and him for kidnapping me after it was all said and done.
“Smart girl.” Big Frank smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile, more like he was sending me a warning.
“You know, I wanted to be a lawyer growing up. But going to school didn’t pay enough to keep my attention.
I did learn a few things during my time in school.
In Beaumont, If a crime isn’t reported in six months, any person who knows about the crime becomes an accomplice, and a wife who doesn’t report a crime her husband commits, she receives the same charges as her husband.
So, you see, Juniper, if you try to tell on Faheem, you’ll be in jail right with him.
Unlike you, Faheem has money for a good lawyer, and I have connections.
So, the real question is how would you like to do this, Juniper? ”
Big Frank was a smart man, and I didn’t have any other options but to go along with this. “And my father’s debt will be fully paid off too?” I figured what else did I have to lose? If I had to be married to Faheem, I might as well make the most of it.
Big Frank and Faheem locked eyes for a moment before Big Frank finally nodded as he said, “Yes. That can be arranged.”
Sighing, I looked back at Faheem. He smiled at me, and I rolled my eyes. I guess that I was about to be someone’s wife.