Chapter 22 Eris
On the other side of the world back in the A.
Iignored another vibration from my phone. It had been going off since Rayzor’s win hours ago. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy for him, but we weren’t together. He understood and what he didn’t, that’s on him.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” Trevon asked, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.
This was my second date in less than twenty-four hours.
I smiled. “I can always hear it again.”
“I know I’ve been talking your ear off all night.”
I exhaled with a smile. “No. You’re not. It’s okay.”
“I feel like I’m saying the same things repeatedly.”
I reached across the table, placing my hand on his. “You’re fine.”
“And your last relationship wasn’t that long ago to heavyweight champ, Rayzor.” I hadn’t told him who I was with, just that I was newly single.
“I never told you with whom.”
“Oh, I know. It’s everywhere though.”
“Oh wow. Okay.”
I was turned off by the conversation now.
“Bro’s record is tough. That shits hard to do.”
I was too stunned to speak. In fact, I was almost flushed with color.
“Are you a fan of boxing?”
“Hell yeah. Remember how I told you I go to the gym on the weekends?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s the boxing gym. I’m trying to get into it myself.”
“Oh wow,” I replied.
“I’ve tried to catch up with bro a few times at the gym, but he’s in and out. His guards don’t let people too close to him.”
“You go to the same gym as him?” I asked, stunned.
“Joined a few months ago. You think you can lock in with him for me?”
I couldn’t hide the disgust on my face. “Why if you already go to the same gym?”
“Damn, I need to piss.” He pushed back from the table. “I’ll be right back. Order us some dessert or whatever else you want.”
I glanced up from my plate.
He smiled. “I’m not ditching the bill.” He went into his pocket. “Here’s my wallet.” He laid it on the table then caressed my cheek and hiked down the hall to the bathroom.
“I gotta get the hell out of here.” I held up my hand. “Check please.”
Back home
I pulled up exhausted into my driveway. I threw the car in park and checked my phone.
ThickVixen29: Home is where the heart is.
Rayzor was fucking the woman, Naya from the boutique in Vegas tonight. I knew it was current because of the background. I mean deep stroking her.
My hands shook and my heart vibrated.
Then I opened the other messages.
brEAKING NEWS:
MAN CHARGED WITH THIRD-DEGREE MURDER OF SOUTHWEST MAN.
The news article was big as daylight and underneath it was a mugshot of Rayzor and another man, the victim. My heart leaped from my chest. Mouth flooded with saliva. My legs got weak as my hands grew too weak to hold the phone anymore.
“What the fuck…” I whispered while the article circled my brain.
It was from years ago, but it was new to me. Rayzor choked, shot and killed a man in cold blood. His eyes in his mugshot were the same as the day he knocked out Michael. He looked empty.
ThickVixen29: Will you love him if he killed for you? Will you accept his flaws and all? Release that man to be with the one he truly loves.
I was having an out-of-body experience reading message after message. Pictures and articles of Rayzor and the girl from the boutique. Some pictures they were hugged up, looking like a loving couple, others they were on dates. He looked in love– almost like he did with me.
I felt sick.
ThickVixen29: Two-time baby mama. Courtland won’t ever take you seriously.
A murderer?
I had to get the kids and relive the babysitter. That’s the only thing I could think of. I’ve let a monster into our lives. I felt ashamed, embarrassed and scared.
Rushing towards the house, I barely let myself in as my hands trembled uncontrollably.
“How were the kids?” I asked the babysitter Clarissa trying to sound okay, when all I wanted to do was hold them close.
“They’re sleep,” Rayzor’s voice cut through the dark.
I froze.
Reaching inside my purse, I pulled my cold .380, gripping the butt.
“How… How did you get in?” I stuttered. “Where’s the babysitter?”
“I came to see about my family,” he said coolly like I wasn’t holding a picture of his past in my hands.
With shaken hands, I turned on the light. “Okay, but where’s Clarissa?”
He was covered in blood. Not splatter. Covered.
“I sent her home.”
I froze.
My nose stung as tears swelled in my eyes.
“Home where?”
He didn’t respond.
My stomach tossed.
I tried to run, but he took one giant step, blocking me from getting by.
“Rayzor. Where… are… the… kids?” I asked him, praying he didn’t hurt them.
I dropped my phone.
A silence crept through the air.
“Clarissa?” I called out, hoping she answered.
His eyes glared down at the screen.
Time ticked.
No answer.
I raced for the phone.
He got to it first.
“You think I’d hurt my kids or a fuckin’ babysitter?”
I wanted to say no but couldn’t.
“Rayzor. I just want to go check on them,” I replied, playing calm.
“For what? My word ain’t good now?” He shook his head.
His voice sounded different. He felt different. Like he wasn’t all the way there upstairs. His eyes were vague. Lost. Darker than usual.
“You’re supposed to be in Vegas.”
“I’m supposed to be wherever you are, baby.”
He tried to touch me, and I flinched.
His eyes grew darker.
“You scared of me now?”
I glanced up into his eyes.
“Rayzor. What happened?” I referred to the blood and article.
He reached out, caressing my cheek.
“If I show you my scars, will you still ride?”
…to be continued