The Vows We Break

by Briana Cole

  “Okay, my love. See you soon.”

  Tyree didn’t give me a chance to think. He snatched the phone from my hand and checked the screen to make sure the call had ended. Satisfied, he shoved it into the back pocket of his black skinny-leg jeans.

  “Good girl,” he said. “Now we wait for our man.”

  Our man? Slowly, confusion began to lend itself to clarity. “You and Leo.” It was more of a statement than a question.

  “You just had to fuck everything up,” Tyree said with a shake of his head. “Pathetic. We had such a good thing going.”

  The realization left me staggered, and I wished for a table, wall, or something to lean on for support. “How long?” I whispered.

  “Boo, I was there before you and Lena.” Tyree’s lips curved into a proud smile. “For the longest it was just me, Tina, and Leo. Then he went and got Lena, and that was cool. She didn’t give me any trouble. It was you that was the problem.”

  “Me? How?”

  “Leo had to cut our time short because he was running after you. Trying to see what you were doing, who you were screwing. That man loves me, but all of a sudden, he was in love with you too. I’ve been living in the shadows for so long, content with him being in his little poly thing, because I knew it was for show. Knew that deep down I really had that man’s heart. But he changed up on me. Said he loved you. Wanted to be with you. Especially after you had his son.”

  “But I don’t want Leo!” I said, desperation causing my voice to elevate. I had thought Tina was the only one I had to worry about. Even when I was married to Leo, both Lena and I had assumed he was away so much because he was recruiting for wife number four. Little did I know how right and how wrong we were.

  “You don’t want him, huh?” Tyree’s voice held the hint of doubt, evident he knew otherwise. “So you didn’t go out of town with him?”

  I pursed my lips. “It wasn’t like that,” I murmured. “I didn’t even know he was going.”

  “So y’all aren’t still having sex?” Again, more doubt in his voice.

  I decided another tactic was better than digging myself further into the dirt. If I kept it up, the man was just crazy enough to put a bullet in me and leave me hanging outside the front door like a wind chime. Surprise, Leo. Here’s your bitch.

  My gaze fell and landed on Tina once more, her paled face frozen in a mix between shock and anger.

  “This whole time,” I said, chiding myself at my own stupidity. “This whole time I thought it was Tina. And it was you.”

  “I know. You really are a stupid one, boo,” he said with a sympathetic chuckle. “You were so busy worried about her, you didn’t even see me right under your nose. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, right?”

  “So the fire? And Jamaal.” I was silently begging none of this was true. That it was indeed Tina, and I wouldn’t feel as bad because she was at least now rotting at my feet.

  “Yeah, that teddy bear shit was genius,” he said. “A little lock picking and I was in there. You know for a minute I just watched you sleep and wondered if it would be so much easier just to smother you right there.”

  So close to death. Right in my own circle. But not everyone had made it out alive. “You poisoned my daddy?”

  My heart cracked and might as well have been bleeding on the floor like Tina’s.

  “I hated to have to do that too,” Tyree went on. “I actually liked the pastor. But hell, he should have known some shit like this would come from having such a hoe for a daughter. Poor man. He was so trusting.”

  That stung. But not nearly as much as his admission about murdering my father. “But why?” I didn’t even stop the sobs. “How could you? He didn’t have shit to do with this.”

  “Collateral damage,” he said with nonchalance. He gestured the gun in Tina’s direction. “Kinda like that one. But I never really liked Tina anyway. That bitch had too much mouth. I know you wanted her dead too, so stop acting like you care.”

  I shook my head. “But she said you worked for her.”

  Tyree chuckled as if my statement was the most amusing thing at that moment. A chill worked its way down my spine. “Enough talking.” He pointed to the back, not bothering to respond to my comment. “Get to the storage closet.”

  It was a risk, I knew. The dude probably wouldn’t hesitate to shoot me in the leg or pistol whip me or some shit. But still, I didn’t budge.

  To my surprise, my stubbornness didn’t appear to faze him. In fact, he seemed amused. “If I were you, I would get back there,” he said with a smirk. “I think there is someone you need to see.”

  Now it was horror that had me turning and damn near running to the room at the end of the hall.

  I swung open the door, squinting in the dark room. I felt Tyree reach above my head and pull a dangling string, clicking on a single light bulb that shone dimly, illuminating the room in a yellow hue.

  My eyes were drawn down, and I gasped when I saw Adria unconscious on the cement floor. One of her wrists was handcuffed to an exposed pipe, and her face was peppered with black-and-blue bruises peeking out from underneath a blindfold and a gag stuffed in her mouth. If it hadn’t been for the slight rise of her chest, I would’ve sworn she was dead.

  “Oh, God, no,” I cried, running to kneel beside her. I put a gentle hand to her pregnant belly, then her battered face. “Why did you do this?” I was nearly yelling as I stroked her discolored cheek. “What did she do? She’s pregnant.”

  “You needed a little extra incentive,” Tyree said, tossing a pair of handcuffs at me. They landed on the floor with a sickening clank. “Handcuff yourself to that pipe over there.” He nodded to another exposed pipe directly across from Adria.

  “Fuck you.” I was near hysteria now. “Fuck you, fuck you, you sick bastard!”

  “Boo, let’s not go there.” Tyree pointed the gun directly at Adria’s stomach, and I sucked in a sharp breath.

  “Okay, okay, please, I’m sorry.” I slid my body into his line of fire, shielding my friend as best I could. “I’ll do anything. Please just don’t hurt anyone else.”

  Tyree gestured again to the cuffs, and I grabbed them and did as I was told, clamping the tight metal onto my wrist. “Please,” I said again, looking on in fear as he still kept the gun angled toward Adria even after I was cuffed to the pipe. “I did what you said. Please just let her go.”

  “I think I’ll keep her,” he said. “And don’t forget I have your precious Jamaal. Leo will be here soon. We’ll see once and for all who really has his heart. I hope for your sake he has the right answer.”

  And with that, he slammed the door shut and clicked the lock into place.

  Chapter 28

  The longer I sat in the shadows of the closet with the rank smell of must and mothballs cloaking the thick air, the more I knew with everything in me that there was no right answer.

  I looked at the situation from both sides, and the conclusion was the same no matter what happened. If Leo confessed he was in love with me, Tyree would probably be so pissed, I was dead. If Leo admitted to loving him, well, he wouldn’t need me anymore. And I was dead. What the hell was the point?

  I looked at Adria still lying motionless in the middle of the floor. She still hadn’t stirred, and I prayed like hell she wasn’t dying right there in front of me. And my baby. What had he done with Jamaal?

  Thoughts continued to swirl in my head until the beginnings of a migraine carried such force I had to lay my head back on the wall and brace against the pain. Or maybe it was an aftershock from when Tyree had hit me with the gun earlier. I lifted my fingers to the tender area and felt the knot, hard and sore.

  The whole confession was enough to make me sick. Leo was gay? No, bisexual, since he loved men and women? I couldn’t even digest that news. How had I not seen it before?

  Because I hadn’t cared to. As I had said over and over, my relationship with Leo was a business arrangement. Sure, it had resulted in a child, my littl
e oopsie, but a miracle nonetheless. And Punta Cana? That shit had been a mistake fueled by a broken heart if there ever was one. And now what? Tina was dead. Lena was dead. And it looked like I was next.

  I heard a door open, and I knew Leo had come. Now what? Would he be mad at everything Tyree had done all in the name of love? Would he fight for me?

  Holding my breath, I craned my ear to listen. An argument. Low and muffled, but it definitely sounded like they were arguing.

  My arm’s elevated angle had my wrist growing numb, and the handcuff rattled against the pipe as I repositioned myself. “Please, God, let us all make it out of here alive. Please.”

  A groan. I looked over as Adria struggled to sit up against the restraint of her handcuff.

  “Adria, thank God,” I whispered.

  My voice obviously scared her, and she tried to scream, the sound muffled by the gag forcing the noise back down her throat.

  “It’s me, Kimmy,” I said. “It’s me, it’s all right.” But I lied. It sure as hell wasn’t all right, and if I knew it would make a difference, I would scream myself. I remembered the isolation of the buildings and the empty parking lot when I had driven up. Shit was useless.

  The blindfold blocked her view, but Adria angled her head in the direction of my voice. Even with the blindfold, I could see the fear etched on her face. Guilt raked my conscience.

  “I’m sorry I got you in this mess,” I said, feeling her pain. “It’s all my fault. Tyree, it was Tyree this whole time, and I didn’t even know.”

  She mumbled something and put her hand to her belly.

  “What is it?” I asked in alarm. Damn, at this distance I couldn’t even get to her to help. “Is it the baby?”

  Adria nodded.

  “Shit,” I hissed. “Don’t worry. I’m going to get you out of here.” My head whipped around for something, anything. A weapon, a stick, tools, anything. But with the exception of an overturned box in the far corner of the room and some shelving lining the walls, the closet was completely empty.

  Without thinking, I climbed to my knees. “Leo!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “Leo, help us, please! Leo!”

  Silence. For a moment, I wondered if they had left. Then, single footsteps approaching. I held my breath as the lock clicked out of place and the door swung open.

  Leo’s face registered first shock, then sadness as he looked from me to Adria. I reached for him.

  “Leo, please.” I was in tears. “Help us. She needs a doctor. She’s pregnant.”

  Leo’s eyes slid to Adria, who lifted her head, the light deepening the coloration of the bruises against the skin on her face. He didn’t move from the doorway. “My love, I’m sorry. This is not how I wanted you to find out.”

  What? My arm fell limply by my side. “Leo, please. Don’t let him hurt us. Jamaal?”

  “Is safe,” he quickly assured me. “I saw him myself.”

  That was at least a good thing for now. But what about Adria? And me?

  “I just need to sort out some things,” Leo said as if speaking to himself.

  “You said you loved me,” I whispered the reminder. No telling where Tyree was. “You said you would protect me.”

  Leo lifted his hands to his head and massaged his temples. “I know.” He tossed a quick look over his shoulder. Without another word, he closed the door and locked it again.

  I looked to Adria. Her face was now crinkled in pain.

  “Just hold on,” I said. “I’ll get us out of here.”

  * * *

  I counted two days, at least I think it was two days that passed before Leo came back. I couldn’t be sure. The only measure of time I had was the number of meals, and since we had been in the closet, I had counted two times Tyree brought a paper plate of biscuits, two times a paper plate of Pop Tarts, and two times a paper plate with a slice of bread and a string of cheese. All served with lukewarm tap water in a plastic cup. About twice, Tyree came, gun in hand, and escorted us one at a time to the restroom and stood watching while we handled our business. The third time, frustration had me blurting out, “Do you fucking mind?”

  “Trust me. You’re not my type, boo.” And he continued making me pee and shit at gunpoint. It was degrading.

  He had yet to remove the blindfold and gag from Adria. Why? I didn’t know. But we continued the hostage situation in extreme silence. What else could I say anyway?

  Finally, the door opened, and while I expected Tyree with some more stale food I couldn’t bring myself to eat, it was Leo who entered with a bucket and a hand towel. He started with Adria, dipping the towel in the bucket of soapy water and using it to dab on her face and neck.

  He then moved to me, and I kicked the bucket, spilling the water on the floor. “Don’t fucking touch me,” I yelled.

  “Let me explain,” Leo said wearily. “I know I owe you an explanation.”

  “Oh, Tyree already made it all perfectly clear,” I snapped. “Told me all about y’all’s little dirty secret. You’re gay, Leo. I don’t give a fuck. Why don’t you let us go so you can go be with that boy?”

  He winced. “It’s not that easy,” he said.

  “What’s not? Why the hell are you making this so complicated?”

  Leo turned over the empty bucket and took a seat on the overturned bottom. “First off, I love you,” he said, his eyes level with mine. “Ain’t shit easy about that. Second . . .” He took a heavy sigh. “My father wouldn’t approve. If he knew that I . . . he would completely disown me. I wouldn’t have anything.” He waited as if he expected my sympathy, and I could only look on in disgust.

  “At least you still have a father,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Your boyfriend killed mine. And for what? All of this?” I gestured first toward Adria, then me. “Because you’re trying to keep it on the down-low? Really, dude?” Leo remained quiet. “Now what, Leo?” I asked, anger icing my tone. “What’s the end game? Tyree made it clear he’s not giving you up. So ain’t no loving me. I’m as good as dead.”

  Leo’s eyes ballooned in horror. “No, don’t say that. I won’t let him.”

  “Then help us,” I pleaded. I touched his arm, hoping to appeal to his soft side. “You love me, right? Show me, Leo.”

  He nodded. “I have an idea,” he said, rising. “Just give me some time.”

  “No, Leo.” I attempted to stand, pulled back to my knees by the cuffs. “We don’t have any more time. Adria is pregnant. She needs a doctor. And Jamaal. Where is he? We haven’t eaten. Leo, he killed Tina. Please just go get the police and bring them here. They’ll arrest him and—”

  “No, no, no.” Leo shook his head vehemently. “No, I love him too. My love, you have to let me handle this. I know how to handle Tyree.”

  “Apparently not,” I snapped. “Because my father is dead and we’re here.”

  Leo didn’t respond, only walked back to the door. “I’ll take care of this,” he said before trapping us again.

  I had to think. Come up with some kind of plan. I knew we wouldn’t last another day being held hostage.

  Chapter 29

  For the first time since we got here, I saw Adria’s face, and I felt even sicker to my stomach.

  Both of her eyes contained dark rings, evidence of the aging black eyes. The gag had created raw skin around her mouth that had rubbed to a bold red tint. Her face looked sunken from the obvious lack of edible food. I know I hadn’t eaten, and because she had been gagged, I know she hadn’t either. I don’t even think Tyree had expected either one of us to eat. I don’t think he gave a damn. Just biding his time until whatever master plan Leo had spoken about popped off.

  Tyree cuffed Adria again, and she sat, legs outstretched in front of her, her hand on the underside of her belly. I don’t even think pain was a factor anymore. After days, hell, I had lost count by now; I think we both had become numb.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked once Tyree let us alone.

  She didn’t bother looking at me. “How the fuck
do you think?” she said, not bothering to hide her anger. But it wasn’t as strong as she probably meant it to be. Instead she sounded exhausted.

  I watched her use her free hand to pick up a slice of bread from the nearby paper plate. She bit into it weakly. It was clear hunger overrode the taste. I had tried my own bread earlier, and the little bit of mold I had seen on the crust had me gagging and throwing it back down. It was obvious this shit had been sitting here for days, hell, maybe even weeks before Tyree brought us here.

  “Don’t eat that,” I said as she continued to chew and force herself to swallow.

  “What am I supposed to eat, Kimera?” Now her voice did have more strength behind the words. “They’re not giving us shit, and I have my baby to think about. If she’s even still alive.” She cracked and dissolved under a fitful of tears. “Kimmy, they’re going to just kill us.”

  “No, they’re not,” I stated, masking my own fear.

  “Why not? We know too much. We know who they are. They’re not going to let us get away.” She lowered her head, her hair falling like a curtain around her face.

  “Keon,” I said, lowering my voice. “Does he know you went with Tyree?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Why didn’t you tell him where you were going?”

  “Well, shit, because I didn’t know I was being kidnapped,” she snapped. She took a breath. “Keon was out getting me something to eat. Tyree just showed up at the house. Said he was meeting up with you. I was confused and said I was going to call you to see what was up. I told him you wouldn’t be making these kind of plans without calling me. I knew something was up when he kept being so pushy. So then I said I was going to call my husband to let him know I was running out for a little bit. That’s when he stuck me with a needle and I blacked out. Woke up in this closet. I wasn’t handcuffed at first, so when he came back here, I tried to beat his ass. Tried.”

  I didn’t want to admit my hope was starting to diminish. My mom didn’t know where I was either. Neither did Jahmad. Like my father, we had trusted too easily. And look where it got him. Look where it got us.