by Nia Arthurs
“Who are you?” the man demanded, stepping toward Kelly. He had dark eyes—black and frightening. The fierce tattoo on his neck disappeared into his shirt. The rest of skin that she could see boasted the colorful markings.
“My name is Kelly. Who are you?”
“None of your business,” the man sneered.
“I’m Maria,” the girl cried. “He… Marco.”
Marco scoffed. “This is none of your concern. Just move along, miss.”
“No.” Kelly shook her head as adrenaline coursed through her. She imagined Clayton’s face on Marco’s body and lifted her chin. “You’ve done enough. Let her go before I call the cops.”
Marco stepped closer and a part of her shriveled up in fear. Warnings blared in her head. Still, how could she leave Maria in this evil man’s clutches? Even if he beat her up, she wouldn’t abandon the kid. What if that was Bianca, Jenna, or Courtney? Would she want someone else to walk away from them if they were in need?
“I’m asking you nicely,” Kelly said, hiding her fear. “Let that hand go.”
Marco cursed her out, using every foul word in the book. She took it in without flinching. The more noise he made, the more neighbors would realize something was wrong and call the cops.
Hopefully.
“Ay!” Maria bawled and bent over, clutching her stomach.
“What? What’s going on?” Kelly asked, crouching to see the girl’s face.
“Bebe,” Maria said, pointing to her stomach and grimacing again.
“You beat on a pregnant woman?” Kelly’s eyes widened and she lifted her hand to slap some sense into Marco. He glared at her and the instinct faded. “We have to get her to the hospital.”
“She’s fine.” Marco pushed Kelly back and hauled Maria toward the house. The woman sank to the ground, kicking and screaming. Her protests fell on deaf ears for the neighborhood remained deathly still.
Was no one going to call the police?
Kelly hauled out her phone and started dialing as she chased the couple across the street. Marco was dragging Maria on the grassy lawn of their yard when Kelly caught up to them.
“I said let her go!”
A car engine vroomed in the distance, the sound a perfect backdrop to her fury as she jumped on Marco’s back.
He cursed and flung her off, but at least she’d gotten him to let go of Maria. She scrambled to the ground, her bottom smarting from the fall and her cell phone scattering a few feet away.
Marco’s deadly glare pinned her down and all the bravado that had allowed her to fly at him seeped out.
“You’re really getting on my nerves,” he hissed as he approached, his hand rising in the air and his intent clear as day.
She braced herself for the hit when someone snatched Marco’s wrist. The young man cried out in pain and Kelly slowly opened her eyes to find Benjamin twisting Marco’s arm.
Her boss stood a good three inches taller than the young man and his fierce expression dared Marco to try and take his frustration out on any more women.
“Are you okay?” Benjamin asked without looking at her.
“Do I look okay?” Marco squealed.
“Not you.” Benjamin shook him. “Kel, did you get hurt?”
“I’m fine,” she said, brushing off her back. “But Maria—”
Before she could finish the sentence, Maria yelped and flew at Benjamin. He dropped Marco’s hands in surprise as the pregnant woman pummeled her fists into his side.
“Mi esposo not hurt him!” Maria screamed.
Marco laughed while Kelly scrambled to separate the enraged woman from her boss. When at last she had pried Maria off, the two couples separated and stared each other down.
“She won’t leave me,” Marco said, planting his arms around the woman’s shoulder. “She would never leave her husband.”
“Husband?” Kelly’s jaw dropped. Her gaze bounced to Maria’s face. Flames poured out of the kid’s brown eyes and her chest heaved allowing the droopy blouse to dip further.
Stunned that the girl’s fury was aimed at her rescuer instead of her attacker, Kelly turned speechless.
“Come on,” Benjamin said, bending over to swipe her phone and then taking her hand and pulling her to the car.
Kelly nearly tripped over her own two feet, unable to process this strange turn of events. The girl who had clutched her shirt and begged for help was now defending the man who beat her. It made no sense.
She twisted around and caught Maria’s expression. The child beamed as Marco pulled her close and whispered a word of approval in her ear.
Kelly saw a reflection of herself when she looked at the pitiful girl and, as soon as Benjamin stuffed her into the relative privacy of his car, she wept like a baby.
Tangled Web of Love
It was an ugly cry, the kind Kelly had never allowed in public before—especially in front of someone she planned to sleep with. Tears poured down her awkwardly grimacing face. Snot stopped up her nostrils and made it hard to breathe.
Benjamin, to his credit, turned on the radio in order to help cover her sobs, but not even the jazz song could tame the loud moans that erupted from her mouth and shook the frames of the car.
At last, the vehicle slowed down in front of a beautiful promenade bordering the water. They were just in time to catch the sun’s descent into the Caribbean Sea—the striking oranges, reds, and pinks breathtaking in the horizon.
Kelly’s tears dried at the fascinating display. At least something in the world was going right.
When Benjamin sensed her calming, he turned the radio down and looked at her. His blue eyes were a shade darker in the shadows of the cab and worry lines snaked across his forehead.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You?”
He grunted. Kelly detected irritation in the sound and, feeling oddly vulnerable, she asked him about it. Instead of responding with gentleness and putting her worries to rest, Benjamin snapped.
“Kel, what were you thinking?”
Surprised by the anger in his tone, her eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean?”
“Why would you get involved in such a dangerous situation? What if you’d gotten hurt? Did you see what he did to his wife’s face? Why would you sign up for the same? What if he’d delivered?”
“He didn’t,” she stammered, annoyance climbing up her spine. She’d been crying her eyes out a moment ago and his first instinct was to scold her for getting involved when someone was in need of help?
“What if I hadn’t shown up? Huh?” Benjamin ran a hand through his hair and licked his lips. “I know your upset, so I’m trying to be understanding. I really am. But the what if’s—they’re killing me. You should have just called the cops”
“What about you then?” Kelly turned fully toward him, her chin tilted in challenge. “You saw the way Marco looked. He’s obviously a dangerous man—maybe even involved in gangs and drugs. You should have stayed back and called the police before throwing yourself into a fight that wasn’t yours.”
“How could I leave you to handle things on your own?”
“Well that’s exactly how I felt about Maria. I couldn’t leave her in that situation without trying to do something about it.”
“Do you know her personally?”
She bit on her bottom lip. “Not exactly.”
“Then there’s a difference.” He sighed. “Look, I’m all for being there for someone in need, but it was clearly a volatile situation and you had no back up. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I hear you.” She blew out a breath. “And thank you for coming. How did you know where I was?”
He slanted her a look. “I told you to text me when you got home so I knew you reached safely.”
“Oh.” Kelly slapped her forehead. “I forgot. I was… busy.”
“When we came home, we saw you running out of the apartment like a pack of demons were on your tail. I settled Bianca inside and came out to look for you. I figu
red you hadn’t gone too far—though the way you were running I’m surprised you didn’t end up outside the city.”
She chuckled and wiped the tears that stained her cheeks. “Normally, I’d scold you for spying, but I’m grateful you did.”
“It wasn’t spying.” Benjamin’s eyebrows furrowed. “It was concern.”
“Put lipstick on a tapir and it’s still a tapir.”
“What?”
“The tapir’s the Belize national animal.”
“I’m sorry I asked.” Benjamin shook his head and started the car. “Let’s go home. I need some coffee.”
“Actually, I wanted to visit the nearest police station.”
“To report the incident?”
“It’s worth a shot. Even though Maria doesn’t seem like she wants to leave him, they should know what’s going on.”
“Good idea. Can you give me directions? I’m not familiar with the city yet.”
Kelly guided him through the abandoned streets and, fifteen minutes later, they parked in front of the large grey building. A Belizean flag fluttered at the top of a flagpole. Shiny white police cruisers waited in a neat row to the left of the building. The light cast from the tall lampposts broke up the darkness.
Kelly gripped the hem of the shirt Benjamin had given her. “I’ve never been to a police station before.”
“Never?” Benjamin asked, his fingers on the small of her back as they walked up the stairs to the front door. “It’s nothing to be afraid of.”
She eyed him. “It sounds like you’ve been to a station more than once.”
He did not respond. Instead, Benjamin rested his arm on the counter and smiled at the female officer on duty. When the woman saw him, the lollipop rolling around in her mouth clattered to her desk.
“Good night, ma’am.”
Benjamin’s velvety voice nestled against the woman’s ear and she pressed forward as if to lean into his every word.
“I’d like to make a witness report.”
“Right at the back there,” she said, pointing to the corner without taking her eyes off him.
“Thank you.” He sent her a devastating smile and turned to take Kelly’s arm. She could feel the officer’s laser-eyed gaze on her back as Benjamin escorted her to a tiny alcove where a thick, old man sat behind an equally ancient PC computer.
“Good evening,” Benjamin allowed Kelly to take the only seat available and stood behind her. “We’d like to report a domestic disturbance.”
“Where?” the man asked, his eyes fixed on the computer and his mouth loudly chewing gum.
“Uh, 145 Marine Street.”
He started laughing. Kelly and Benjamin exchanged glances. Had she said something funny?
The officer calmed and held his protruding stomach. “Ma’am, that’s Maria and Marco Fuentes. I can make the report, but trust me, you’re better off saving your breath.”
“What do you mean?”’
“We used to get called out to that place twice a month. Now, the neighbors don’t even bother to do anything when they hear the noises.”
“Sir, the young lady is being abused,” Benjamin said.
“She goes back to him every time and refuses to press charges. When someone steps forward and becomes a witness to the violence, she terrorizes their house, their family, even their dog. It’s crazy! She’s crazy.”
“What about social services?” Benjamin insisted.
“We worked closely with the Department of Human Services for several months to see if we could convince her. She used to be an illegal immigrant who got her papers when she married that gangbanger. Now she thinks she owes him her life. I worked personally on that case. Breaks my heart, but what can I do?”
“I’d still like to have a public record of what I saw,” Kelly said. “Even if it doesn’t result in his arrest.”
“Very well.” The man’s chair creaked as he straightened and pulled out a form.
Kelly filled in the slots and gave her account. The officer grudgingly typed her information into the computer and then stamped the sheet with a seal.
“Don’t worry, ma’am. You and your husband can sleep well knowing you did the best that you could.”
“He’s not my husband,” Kelly said quickly.
“Thank you officer.” Benjamin breezed by the comment without batting an eye. He steered her out of the station as Kelly laughed nervously and peered at him through the corner of her eyes.
“Do we look like a couple? I don’t think so.”
He made a sound at the back of his throat and opened her car door. She held out her hand to keep him from closing it.
“Benjamin, what if Maria really believes she owes Marco her life? How do I convince her she’s wrong?”
“Kel, you heard the man. You’ve done all you could.”
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t pry in other people’s business.”
“Why? Because I might get hurt?” She released the door handle and folded her arms across her chest. “There’s more to life than worrying about your own safety, you know.”
Benjamin sighed and closed her door. When he rounded the hood and got in beside her, he stared straight ahead, making no moves to start the vehicle.
“What are you waiting for?” Kelly asked.
“With Maria… don’t do anything stupid.”
“Hey!”
“That’s an order.”
“What if I disobey it?”
He sent her a stern look and started the car. “Then I guess I’ll have to punish you.”
Goosebumps danced over her skin. Benjamin probably hadn’t meant the comment to be anything sexual and yet it had the very same effect.
Get your mind out of the gutter, Kel
It was still the weekend. Benjamin was off-limits until Monday. She closed her eyes. Just ten more hours. She could hold out until then.
The Queen of Dysfunction
Rene barreled into Kelly’s office on Monday morning and perched on the desk. Her stocking-clad legs swung like a little girl in a musical. Bright hazel eyes fixed on Kelly and she curled her manicured fingers against the desk.
“I tried calling you back last night, but you didn’t pick up. What happened yesterday?”
“It’s a long story,” Kelly said, her eyes on her computer. “I’ll tell you during lunch.”
“Did somebody say ‘story’?” A new voice joined their conversation. Harley poked her head through the door and grinned. “I want to hear too.”
“Nobody’s talking to you,” Rene snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. Since the prissy Harley Williams had suggested that Rene wear her hair ‘more professionally’ for work, the two hadn’t seen eye to eye.
“Actually, I am the person you should be talking to.” Harley sashayed into the office and slammed the door shut with her hip.
“And why is that?” Kelly asked, tilting her head. Why did Harley always seem to bother her when she had a pile of work to catch up on? Did the girl have an internal Worst-Possible-Time-To-Bother-Kelly radar?
“Baam!” Harley lifted her cell phone and shoved the screen right under Kelly’s nose. Rene scrambled around her chair to get a better view.
“Oh my gosh!” Her friend bawled. “Is that you and Benjamin Levy?”
In the picture, Benjamin—devilishly handsome in his swim shirt, trunks, and hair mussed from the Caribbean Sea—held Kelly’s hand as he helped her up the ladder of a boat. They were staring into each other’s eyes and grinning like they were having the time of their lives.
“The caption said: ‘Aren’t they cute?’” Harley made a disgusted face. “I need answers, Kelly!”
“W-where did you get this?” she asked as the blood drained from her cheeks.
Rene spun her chair around and glowered. “You did it? You actually slept with him?”
“Slept with him!” Harley cried.
“What? No!” Kelly waved her arms. “It wasn’t like that.”
&n
bsp; “Tell me you didn’t!” Tears came to Harley’s eyes. “This doesn’t make sense! Why would he sleep with a girl like you?”
“Kel, I told you not to mess with this guy,” Rene scolded as Harley’s weeping lapped against their ears. “Didn’t I tell you to find someone normal?”
“I’m… so upset!” Harley yelled between sobs.
“Would everybody calm down?” Kelly sprang out of her chair. “Rene, I haven’t slept with him… yet.”
“What do you mean ‘yet’!” she demanded.
“And Harley,” Kelly turned to the bawling architect, “where did you get that picture?”
“His sister posted it on MiniChat—this site where you upload pictures that only stay on your page for a minute. I took a snapshot as soon as I saw it.”
“You need to delete that. Now!”
“No!” Harley held her phone to her chest. “I refuse.”
Kelly glanced at Rene. The woman nodded. Together, they sprung into action. Rene hugged Harley and held her arms down while Kelly plucked the phone from her hands.
Harley squirmed. “You thugs! Give that back!”
Kelly ignored her and deleted the picture. She then flipped through the gallery to make sure that no other incriminating evidence of her trip with Benjamin remained. At last, she tossed the phone back to Harley.
The woman caught it between her elbow and chest. “What is wrong with you people? This isn’t the street corner, you know!”
“If you tell anyone about those pictures, I’ll show you how we really do it on the street corner,” Kelly said, narrowing her eyes.
Harley tugged the hem of her jacket. Her nose flared and her face turned a mottled pink, but she seemed to rethink her strategy. At last, she turned on her heels and stalked out of the office.
“Good riddance.” Rene waved her off and whirled on Kelly. “You!”
“Me?”
“When were you going to tell me that you went on a romantic getaway with our boss?”
“It wasn’t romantic and I was planning on letting you in during lunch.”
“I wondered why you didn’t text me once to go out this weekend. I thought it was because you were making a love nest with Clayton.”
