The Vows We Break

by Briana Cole

  “Is this a bad time?”

  I took a seat on the bed. “No it’s good. I was just—Never mind. What’s up?”

  “I wanted to see if you could meet with the investor today. I know it’s last-minute but he just got an emergency and is flying out in the morning. He probably won’t be back for a while.”

  I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. It was already nearing six. Sure, daylight still clearly showed through my window, but my body was already aching to lie down. Funny how the mental exhaustion was wearing on me physically.

  “So he wants to meet now?”

  “Well, in about thirty minutes if that’s okay,” he said. “Mrs. Adria is with me, and we are going now to see this possible location. I don’t mean to rush you but just didn’t want us to miss out on this opportunity. But if you want us to just meet him,” Tyree quickly added, “I understand. It’s last-minute, and I already told him you were dealing with a death in the family.”

  I sighed. As much as I wanted to stay, I couldn’t leave my girl to handle this business meeting on her own. I was surprised she hadn’t called earlier to let me know she had decided to go. But, hell, I could attribute that to the pregnancy brain because my girl, bless her heart, was forgetting her mind left, right, and sideways.

  “Text me the address,” I said.

  “I got Chloe’s number,” he said of the childcare worker from church. “You need me to call her for you, boo?”

  I glanced at Jamaal in his crib. I really didn’t want to take him to a business meeting, but my mother was really in no shape to watch him. In fact, she had taken a few sleeping pills and gone to bed not even thirty minutes earlier. Tyree’s suggestion about Chloe was a good idea, but I hardly wanted to bother the girl at the last minute like this.

  “No, I got it,” I answered, already pulling a fresh onesie and pants from the dresser. I would just feed and change him, and I was sure he wouldn’t be too much trouble. In the meantime, I was getting a little excited to hear what this investor had to say. With everything going on, I was welcoming this little piece of good news. Lord knows I wouldn’t be able to take any more of the bad news without losing my damn mind.

  Chapter 26

  I was already in love.

  Tyree’s text instructions led me to a Buckhead shopping district with a 3,000-square-foot standalone building nestled amidst a clothing boutique and spa. Tyree mentioned the person owned all three properties and was interested in a combined investment.

  This prospect brought much-needed relief to my life. I was tired of being depressed, tired of the headaches and the sorrow. Tired of my heart aching in grief. I could appreciate Tyree’s attempt to put a little hope back into my life. Without a bright spot, it was so easy to see how people could consider suicide.

  I shook the last thought from my mind as I stepped out of the car. I couldn’t bring myself to even let those malicious thoughts linger. For my sake, my mom’s, and most importantly my son.

  I put Jamaal in his stroller, adjusted his straps and pacifier, and wheeled him through the parking lot. The only other vehicle was Tyree’s black Mustang parked close to the front. He had already given me a heads-up that we would probably be the first to arrive and we could just look around. The investor was Robert Quinn. I’d done my homework on this man and saw he’d invested in a number of black-owned start-up companies, all very profitable since he’d become their partner. Mr. Quinn was stuck in traffic but happy that Adria and I had agreed to meet with him on such short notice.

  “What took you so long?” Tyree opened the door just as I pushed Jamaal’s stroller up the walkway past the “For Sale” sign stuck in the grass.

  “I’m not late or anything, am I?”

  “No, you’re good. He’ll be here in about five minutes.”

  I tossed him a small smile. “Well, I’m five minutes early, then.”

  I glanced around the large open space with glistening hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows that opened to the parking lot. “Wow, this place is amazing.”

  “I know. Beautiful, right?” He gestured widely and did a little turn in the middle of the floor. “Can’t you see it here? Much better than the other space.”

  “Definitely.” I craned my neck to a hallway going down the back. “Where is Adria?”

  “She had to pee,” Tyree said with a smirk and shake of his head. “You know how she is.”

  “Yeah, the girl is like a faucet,” I murmured in amusement.

  Tyree pointed out different areas of the room, where the cashiers would go, the makeup stations, even a red carpet running down the middle to an elevated three-way mirror. A Hollywood theme, he suggested, and though it sounded a bit much at first, I absolutely saw the vision coming to life.

  “What do you think?” he asked when he was done.

  “I just hate I couldn’t have found you sooner,” I said, impressed.

  I could feel Tyree watching me, and though I tried my best to look engaged at my surroundings, I knew it was more than obvious I was distracted.

  Without another word, Tyree walked over and hugged me, pulling back to leave his hands resting on my shoulders. “How you holding up, boo?”

  The tenderness almost broke me. Almost. I blinked back tears and feigned a smile. “Not good,” I admitted. “But taking it one day at a time.”

  “You know I’m here for you,” he said. “With whatever you need.”

  “Thanks. But, Tye, you have your own life. Your own man. I’m not trying to—”

  “Boo, if you don’t shut up with that.”

  I laughed as he rolled his eyes. “I’ve been so wrapped up in my shit I haven’t even asked about you and what you got going on.”

  Tyree waved his hand. “Same old drama. Men ain’t shit. Nothing new.”

  The accuracy. I had to laugh. Immediately Jahmad flashed across my mind. According to Keon, he only had a week left before the big move. And according to Adria, his condo was already under contract. She said he had already stayed longer than he originally expected because of the funeral. But now, I guessed it was really happening.

  I stepped from Tyree’s grasp and turned my back to break this little emotional scene. “Let me go check on Adria,” I said quickly. It was a good change of subject. An excuse, but it worked.

  As if on cue, we heard a car engine turning into the parking lot. “I’ll go get Mr. Quinn,” Tyree said.

  I glanced around and pushed Jamaal’s stroller to a side wall out of the way. My baby was asleep again, which I was glad about. At least we would be able to talk business in peace. I passed several doors on the way to what I thought was the restroom. I didn’t realize how big the place was. Four huge offices lined the hallway, with more windows. This was definitely the place for natural sunlight.

  I was already picturing the grand opening. I didn’t know how soon we would even pull everything off. My dad’s death was still fresh, and I didn’t think a party would be on anyone’s mind. But I could absolutely hear my dad scolding me for putting my life on pause for him. “Baby girl, you got to live your life. You only get one. This isn’t a dress rehearsal.” I couldn’t even remember the context in which he had uttered those words, but damn if they weren’t relevant now.

  I had just lifted my hand to knock on the restroom door when I heard the baby’s cry rip through the air. He sounded distraught, and I was in a sheer panic as I ran back down the hall with all kind of images cluttering my head. My God, had he fallen out of his stroller? Hadn’t I secured him? These floors suddenly didn’t seem so beautiful as I pictured my son lying facedown with blood dribbling out of his little body.

  Jamaal, baby—” I froze. My legs suddenly felt like lead and my breath caught in my throat with such force I felt like I was going to strangle on it. He wasn’t on the floor. Nor was he in his stroller. Jamaal was now soothed with his pacifier back in his mouth. I felt a very slight reprieve to see he wasn’t laid out on the floor in pain. But his danger had my fear rising. I couldn’t even
focus on the person whose arm he was cradled in. No, I was too much in a panic that for the second time in my life I was staring down the barrel of a gun. Slowly, so slowly my eyes lifted.

  “Girl, your face is classic, right now.” It was Tina’s voice that snapped me out of my stunned silence. “I wish I could just take a picture.” She appeared beside him with a smug look. I cringed when she dipped her head to brush a kiss across the baby’s forehead.

  Tears blurred my vision, but Tyree’s blank expression remained etched in my brain. His arm was stiff as he held the weapon steady, pointing at me and daring me to move. Even if I could move, I wouldn’t dare chance it. Not when he clutched Jamaal so tight in his other arm.

  “Tye,” I whispered in disbelief. I shook my head, not wanting to admit it to myself. “How? What—why—”

  “Don’t ask him shit,” Tina snapped. “Because I told him to. You should know me better by now, Kimera.”

  I opened my mouth, confusion having me closing it again. Maybe it was better if I didn’t say anything. They had my son. One wrong word . . .

  “Girl, please.” Tina waved her hand as if reading my thoughts. “Ain’t nobody about to do nothing to this child.”

  I wanted to mention how I didn’t trust that, considering she had tried to harm him before. But I kept quiet.

  Tina took the gun from Tyree’s hand while keeping it aimed on me. “Sit down. Let’s wait a minute. We have a little time.”

  Tyree turned and carried Jamaal through the front door, and instinctively I took a step in that direction.

  “Uh uh.” The cock of the gun had me freezing again. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

  “Tina, please.” I didn’t give a damn what it looked like. Tyree had now disappeared with my baby. Where the hell was he going? What had she told him to do with Jamaal?

  “Sit down,” Tina instructed firmly, gesturing to the floor with the gun. “I’m not asking again.”

  I sank to the floor, my heart sinking just as fast.

  Tina towered over me, a triumphant smile still touching her lips. “Déjà vu, huh? It was about this time, what, six or so months ago, we were in this same situation? Only this time, Leo won’t be able to save you.” She glanced at her watch. That made me uneasy. It was clear she was waiting for something. But what? How much time did I have left? And Jamaal? Where was Adria?

  “Tina, why are you doing this?” I asked, nearly sobbing. “You have Leo. I don’t want him. I’m trying to go on with my life.”

  “Yeah, well, it doesn’t quite work like that,” Tina said. “For some reason, Leo is in love with you. He broke every single vow to me to be with you. Ain’t that some shit?”

  “But I haven’t been with Leo. I swear.”

  I screamed when a bullet shattered the wall behind me. It was so close that bits of the plaster sprinkled my back. My hesitant eyes lifted back to the gun where the after-smoke billowed up from the barrel.

  “Stop the lies, Kimera,” Tina said. “I know you’ve been with him. He swore he wasn’t seeing you, but he was always with you.”

  “No, he wasn’t.”

  “So you haven’t been with him at all?”

  I was crying now, torn between the truth and the lies. I thought back to our time in Punta Cana. Did she know? All this shit for that one time?

  “I’m sorry.” The words fell from my lips, because that seemed to be what she was waiting for. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I’ll take my son and leave. You won’t hear from me again.”

  “Your son?” she echoed with a frown. “Word on the street is that’s Leo’s son too.” I didn’t answer, and she nodded at my silence. “He’s really adorable.” A mischievous smile spread. “Looks just like Leo. You’ve given him the son I never could.” Another look to her watch. I could almost hear the ticking, which only heightened my anxiety. Keep her talking, keep her talking.

  “Leo Junior—”

  “I know he told you about him, so don’t even try that shit,” she snapped.

  “So it was all you this time?” I spoke the obvious. “The fire? The teddy bear? My daddy?”

  Tina shrugged and glanced at her watch again. I could tell she was getting impatient.

  “What is it that you want, Tina?” I couldn’t keep calm anymore. This waiting, not knowing, was eating at me. Where was Jamaal?

  “You,” she said. “Just you.”

  The shot was so fast I didn’t even have time to react. It tore through Tina’s shoulder, blood and tissue spewing on me and causing a swell of nausea to bubble up in my throat.

  Tina turned weakly, her eyes rounding at the sight of Tyree standing in the doorway, the smoke from his own gun billowing up from his hand.

  “You son of a—”

  Another shot ripped through her chest, causing Tina to stagger backward before collapsing to the floor in a pool of blood. Her head lolled to the side, and the gun went skidding across the slick hardwood.

  I climbed to all fours as best as I could, half crawling, half dragging my body out of the way of the blood slithering toward me. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Tina’s corpse.

  “It’s okay.” Tyree’s voice was quiet with relief.

  I couldn’t stop the trembling as I buried my face into my hands. “Oh, thank God, Tyree. She—she . . .” I felt faint and didn’t even have the energy to keep talking. I was just so glad this was over. “Jamaal.” I mustered strength to climb to limp legs. “Where is he?”

  “He’s safe.”

  “I have to—”

  “Kimera. I think you should calm down, boo.”

  “Oh, my God.” My hand trembled as it flew to my mouth. All I could see in my mind was the bullet bursting through Tina’s body. Now here she was lying dead at my feet. “She wanted revenge,” I said. “All this because she wanted revenge.”

  Slowly, the gun that Tyree had still angled at Tina’s corpse was now pointed at me. His face remained calm. “She wasn’t the one that wanted revenge,” he said. “It was me.”

  The shock paralyzed me, this time even stronger. “Tyree? What the hell is going on? Tina—”

  “If I were you I would sit back down and let me explain,” he said, mimicking Tina’s earlier gestures with the gun. I was wrong. It wasn’t over. Apparently we were just getting started.

  Chapter 27

  “Tyree.” I spoke carefully, holding my hands up palms out as if in surrender. “What’s going on? She’s dead, but I won’t tell. You did us both a favor.”

  His laugh was almost cynical. “Did I?”

  “Please just put the gun down and let’s talk,” I pleaded, not removing my eyes from the weapon. “I’m not mad at you. I hate that she’s pulled you into her lies, but it’s over, Tye.”

  “Pulled me? No, no, no, boo, you’ve got it all wrong. She was in on my little plan. This shit was above her.”

  I was confused, and I’m sure it was written all over my face. Tyree walked closer and placed the barrel of the gun in my chest. “Call Leo,” he said, snatching my cell phone from my back pocket. Damn, I hadn’t even thought about it being there. How had he known?

  My hands shook as I took the phone from him, staring blindly down at my screensaver. The picture of a sleeping Jahmad and Jamaal shone back at me, and I wanted to cry. “Where is—”

  My question was cut short. The steel butt of the gun rammed into my temple with such force I saw stars. I stumbled in pain, the phone falling from my limp fingers.

  “Now let’s try this again,” he said calmly. “I’ll explain later, but you need to get Leo on the phone and get his ass here. Now.”

  My vision wavered, but I managed to pick up my cell phone. I briefly contemplated dialing the police but knew I would be dead on arrival.

  “Put it on speaker,” Tyree demanded, erasing all possibility of a sneak police call. Obediently, I dialed Leo’s number. The ringing echoed in the empty room, and I silently prayed like hell he wouldn’t answer. Of course he did. Almost too quickly
. I could see a flash of anger darken Tyree’s eyes.

  “My love,” Leo greeted as customary. “I’m so glad you called. I wanted to apologize.”

  My mind drew a blank. What the hell was he talking about? I struggled to ignore the feeling of the gun boring a hole into my chest and instead focus on something else. Anything else. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks. “Apologize? For what?” My voice cracked.

  “For earlier. With what happened at the park. I know I was being a little evasive with you about Tina. I promise it’s not what you think, my love.”

  I caught Tina’s dead body in my peripheral vision, the bullet wounds in both her shoulder and chest continuing to pool blood underneath her limp body and stain her navy blouse a deep crimson.

  “I just want to protect you, my love. You have to believe that,” he went on. Funny. If my life hadn’t been in danger I would have had to laugh at the irony.

  “Okay,” was my quiet response.

  “What’s wrong, my love?” His voice automatically filled with concern.

  “I just . . .” I trailed off, looking to Tyree as I chose each word carefully. “Need you. Can you meet me?”

  “Of course.”

  His answer was too eager. Why did I expect any kind of hesitancy? I tasted the disgust on my tongue as I led this man into a death trap.

  “You sure it’s not too late for you to come?” I asked before I even realized it. Tyree’s jaw clenched, and he lifted the gun from my chest to my forehead. The metal felt like ice on my skin, but any minute, any second I knew he would warm it up by tearing a hole through my skull. Then, oh, God, what would he do to my baby?

  “It’s not too late,” Leo said. “You know I’ll come any time for you, my love. Is my son with you?”

  I paused, unsure how to answer. Tyree nodded his head, coaching my response.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Where are you?”

  I pulled the phone from my ear and rattled off the same address Tyree had texted me, luring me in.

  “Why are you there?”

  “I . . . was looking at the property.”