Violation

by Lolah Lace

  “Why?”

  “I just do. You wouldn’t be able to understand.”

  “And why is that, because I sleep around?” He sucked his teeth. “Or is it because you are such a good guy and I’m a big bad black man?”

  “I don’t know. You just wouldn’t get it.”

  “Yeah motherfucka you know. Keep that shit one hundred No-Hart. Tell me.”

  “I love her. I would never ever treat her the way you do. Hurting her is not an option for me.”

  “Why ‘cause you better than me?”

  “No because I can see that she is a prize. Any man would be happy to have her.”

  “You think I’m not happy to have her?”

  “I know you’re not.”

  “Well you should know that I would never let her go.”

  “Why not? You don’t even want her.”

  He smirked. “Maybe I do. Why the fuck do you want her? She’s old as fuck. She pushed two kids out that old pussy. It will be three soon enough. Those titties may be real but they don’t sit up the way they used to. She’s used goods.”

  “What’s old to you is brand spanking new to me.”

  “She was new to me too, twenty years ago. So how do you think this is going to play out? I have Serena’s mind. I can manipulate her.”

  “But you don’t love her.”

  “I do. I love my wife. I always have and I always will. I only have to show her a little love and she will forget all about you.”

  “Impossible, she’s carrying my child.”

  “That’s your little trump card.”

  “I don’t need cards. I’m not going to beg you to divorce her. You should want to walk away from this with some dignity.”

  “Dignity? I will leave that all to you, the man who fucked his teammate’s wife.”

  “We are more than just teammates.”

  “I thought so but apparently some old pussy was more important than eight years of friendship.”

  “As fucked up as it sounds I love Serena and I love you too. Be a friend and let Serena be happy.”

  “I would rather die than let you have my hoe ass wife. What you think is going to happen? You think she’s going to divorce me and marry you? That’s the scenario you cooked up in your perfect White man’s world.”

  “Do not try that race shit with me. You’ve had more other race pussy than I ever could dream of having. In my perfect White man’s world, I’m in love with some undeserving man’s wife. So fuck you for being married to my perfect woman. Fuck you for acting like you give a fuck about her when you don’t.”

  “No fuck you!”

  “Yes fuck me. I made a mistake. I was wrong. I have apologized to you over and over. I fucked up. It’s done. I’m deep in it. The way you loved her enough to marry her above all the other girls I’m sure you were fucking, that’s how I feel. I’m not going to apologize for that. I shouldn’t have to. If you stop being an asshole long enough you can remember what that shit felt like. I know you loved her once. Remember that, I feel it now. Right fucking now! Go fuck Kat or Nia or Larissa or Kayla. You are not in love with Serena. Let her go.”

  “That was deeply profound. My heart bleeds for you. Oh yeah go fuck yourself. Never, will I ever, give Serena to you. I will ruin her before she gets a dime of my money. I will make her fear me before I let her be with you. As soon as I get that trophy in my hand I will run your ass out of this country. Get ready to play overseas, I here Russia is looking for a Power Forward.”

  That was enough for me. It was time to leave. “See you on the court bro.”

  “Send my wife back home per the signed contract Hart!”

  I made my dramatic exit.

  CHAPTER 25

  The drive back to my home was long. I had to break the news to Serena. When I arrived I ran down all the particulars. She listened without saying a word. Then she asked a thousand and one questions. I’m not sure why I thought she would go back to him, but that wasn’t what came to her mind. She even laughed out loud when I mentioned it.

  She told me she was going to a hotel. The contract didn’t say she had to go back to him. Then she added that Kozlowski couldn’t tell her where to live. She was right.

  I think I was thrown by Deshawn’s arrogance. Dee hadn’t canceled her credit cards. I didn’t have a chance to see how iron clad this contract really was. She told me she could lay low if it meant there was the slightest chance I could re-sign with the Cavs.

  She talked and packed. She gave me kisses in between. She was happy for me and sad at the same time.

  “It’s not forever.” She assured me.

  “I know that. It’s just I will miss you.”

  “We will FaceTime. If I can find a way to see you, I will. I just want you to focus on your game, and winning and being great.”

  I followed her to a hotel. There was no way I would let her check in without my help. Her bags were heavy. There was no way she could carry them from the car into a hotel lobby.

  She picked a place close to the airport. It wasn’t that far from the stadium. I talked her into using my agent’s credit card number. One call and he was onboard. I didn’t want Dee to be able to trace her whereabouts. My agent wanted his part of that one million I was promised for behaving and staying away from Serena. I was to reimburse him for the charges and he would get his cut of the contract money. He wasn’t in a position to turn down my offer. He was eager to help Serena and me.

  I reluctantly left her at the hotel alone. We made love like it was the last time we would see each other. I knew it wasn’t. Dee could kill me but he signed his contract so I believed I was safe. Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to stand on a hotel balcony next to him anytime soon. I wasn’t going to a shooting range with him. I wasn’t going to stand close to him in the presence of knives, swords or machetes.

  Time away from Serena wasn’t ideal. Some of our games were away so I wasn’t in town anyway. Her daily cell phone pep talks kept me focused. The rare time I could sneak and see her was more than worth it. Pregnancy agreed with her. She was glowing, beautiful and well worth all the agony I faced with Dee and a few of my disapproving teammates.

  I was good, especially if Serena and our baby were good. She loved me. She made that clear and she clearly wanted to be my wife as soon as she was free of Deshawn. Pretending to be cool with Dee wasn’t that hard for me. It was harder for him. Sometimes he would slip up and treat me like his brother. Then he would remember my betrayal and reignite his cold shoulder.

  ***

  The road to excellence was always grueling. We won. We did it. We snatched up a three-peat. It took six games to beat Houston, but we did it. Dee and I were on fire throughout the series. We worked together as a team. We were brothers on the court. Strangers as soon as we walked off the court. We were able to fake it until we made it. We were even able to film a commercial together. I was just happy the season was over and I got to be back with Serena.

  ***

  Serena had moved back to my place. Having her in my life was a great comfort when I wasn’t quite sure what my future held. Was I going to be a Cav next season? I didn’t know. It was up to the owners but Dee had input and he was M.I.A.

  My cell phone woke me up one sunny day in the off-season.

  I answered the phone. “Hello.”

  “Noah I’ve been calling you.” Lance’s voice was anxious.

  “What time is it?”

  “Turn on the news.”

  “What?”

  “Turn on the news.”

  “Okay, okay.” I wiped my eyes and reached for the remote control. I turned the power on. I felt Serena moving beside me.

  “We have a breaking news story to report this morning. The top story this morning is beloved NBA player of the Chicago Cavaliers Deshawn Jones was rushed to the hospital. He is currently in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital following a car accident on Lake Shore Drive that occurred at approximately 2 A.M. this morning. Witnesses say the Porsche registe
red to Deshawn was going at a high rate of speed when it suddenly lost control and struck a tree. Deshawn and his unidentified female passenger had to be removed from the wreckage by Fire and Rescue and airlifted to the hospital. The unidentified female was pronounced dead at the shortly after she arrived at the hospital. Our prayers go out to the Jones family at this time. Since the news broke fans of Deshawn Jones have arrived and held a peaceful vigil in the parking lot of Mount Sinai Hospital.”

  I turned to see Serena sitting up in bed beside me. Her eyes were glued to the TV screen.

  “Noah are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here.”

  “You tell Serena. She needs to hear it from you. Is she there?”

  “Yes, she’s here.”

  “I will see you at the hospital.”

  “Yeah, we’re on the way.”

  “It sounds bad.” He muttered.

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.” He hung up the phone.

  This was unreal. Deshawn had resurfaced after a few weeks. I heard he went to Brazil. I didn’t know he was back in Chicago.

  We dressed while phone calls were being made and received. Our phones had to be completely silenced or they would never stop ringing and vibrating.

  ***

  The drive to the hospital was quiet. We first went to pick up DJ and Tenisha. At this early hour, they were at home asleep. They were completely oblivious to what was going on with Dee.

  I drove with the radio off so the kids couldn’t hear any news about their father. It was more for our benefit than theirs. I didn’t want to hear anything bad and I’m sure Serena felt the same way.

  The radio silence didn’t matter much. The kids were both on their cell phones. Social media was filling them in on their father’s accident. It was my hope that the information was, at least, accurate. I could see Tenisha silently crying in the rearview mirror. I wanted to offer her a tissue, but I didn’t want to upset Serena. She was pregnant. I also didn’t want to draw attention to Tenisha’s sorrow.

  When we arrived at the hospital things became a blur. There were numerous camera crews and Deshawn’s fans that were up early in the morning. The fans were in their Cavalier gear. I tried not to look at them. We were ushered into the hospital by police and directed to a waiting room area where Lance, Jaden, and a few of the other Cav staff were seated. We greeted as many people as we could.

  Coach Tucker was off in the corner on his cell phone. He nodded to me when he noticed me.

  A team of doctors approached Serena within seconds. They ushered Serena, the kids and me off into a different, quieter room. I feared it was bad news. They talked about different injuries and my mind went blank. Tenisha’s tears distracted me. I heard the part about the chances not being good. I heard the part about life-saving measures and DNR forms. I couldn’t believe we were at the Do Not Resuscitate stage.

  “Mrs. Jones. You can go in and see him alone.” The female doctor plainly stated. “He’s awake and can speak.”

  Serena reached back and grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. “Stay with the kids. I’ll be back.” She left me standing there with DJ and Tenisha.

  I watched her walk away with the three doctors.

  SERENA

  I walked into the room all by myself. There he was. Deshawn was hooked up to so many machines I couldn’t count them. The machines were constant and loud. My heart was beating out of my chest, but the roar of the equipment drowned it out. Deshawn was only slightly propped up. He looked terrible and not like the man I had been married to, the man I was technically still married to. His face wasn’t really recognizable. The glass must have shattered in his face. His head was wrapped up with bandages.

  His appearance scared me. I never wanted this to happen. This was bad. It just occurred to me the actress Nia Pillar was dead. This accident was not a fender bender. Someone died. She was too young to go like this. This was life changing. The doctors said it didn’t look good for him. Deshawn couldn’t die. He was really a superman, superhuman. I mean nothing could kill him. Could it? He was invincible. He would die inside if he couldn’t play ball anymore. He loves the game more than anything on this earth.

  “Deshawn.” I whispered his name and watched his eyes flutter open.

  “I’m alive Rena,” He muttered.

  “Of course you are.”

  “They won’t tell me about Nia. I knew you would.”

  I waited a few seconds debating if I should tell him the truth or not. “She didn’t make it.”

  “Damn, I wasn’t drinking this time. You believe me?”

  “Yeah. I believe you.”

  “My kids?”

  “They’re here. I called your other kids too.”

  “You did?”

  “I have your kid’s mother’s numbers. They’re on the way to the hospital.”

  “You are a good person. You were a good wife.”

  “I was okay in the beginning.”

  “Funny.”

  “Is Noah here?”

  “Yeah. He’s here. Lance is here. Most of the team is here. Your mother and your brother are flying up here.”

  “Good. I hope they make it. The doctors say it’s not looking good.”

  “Well you’re awake and talking so that’s good.”

  “I want to see Noah and Lance first.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah. You look nice.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m dying. Can I get one last kiss?”

  “You’re not dying.”

  “I am. One kiss.”

  “Okay. One kiss.” I walked closer to the bed. I stood over him. I tried to avoid all the cords. He didn’t look good at all. One of his eyes was swollen shut. The lacerations on his face were deep.

  “Why are you crying?”

  “I’m not crying.”

  “I haven’t made you cry in a long time.”

  “Bullshit. You always made me cry. I just didn’t do it in front of you.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I know.” I bent over him. My pregnant stomach pressed into the guardrail on the side of the bed. I gave him a soft kiss on the lips.

  “Can I see your tits?”

  “Seriously?”

  “Please,” He begged. I pulled down my shirt and bra. I flashed what he asked for. I covered back up right away. “Thanks.”

  “Tenisha is really upset. DJ is being really strong.”

  “I don’t know how long I can hold on. I’m really tired.”

  “You’ll be okay. Think positive. Everybody is praying for you. There are fans outside this hospital and all around the country praying for you.”

  “If I survive I will give you a divorce. I’m sorry I treated you so bad.” He blew out a long aspirated breath. “I don’t know why. I just did it.”

  “That’s all old news. Focus on getting better.”

  “Send in Noah and Lance.”

  “Okay.” I wiped the tear that ran from the corner of my eye. I turned and headed for the door. I couldn’t let my kids see me cry.

  I mumbled to Noah and Lance. They were right outside the door sitting in two of the three chairs that were out there in the hall against the wall. I hadn’t noticed them before.

  I looked down on them. “He wants to see you.”

  “Me?” Noah asked as he stood.

  “Both of you.”

  “How does he look?” Lance hesitantly asked.

  “Not good.”

  “Stay here.” Noah directed me to sit and I did. I needed to sit there alone. Noah and Lance walked inside the room. I looked over at the nurses at the station. One older Black woman looked over at me. She knew what was to come and her eyes conveyed that much to me.

  NOAH

  I walked inside the hospital room behind Lance. I noticed the room number was 3-22. It meant something to me. Deshawn’s number was 22. This was his third Championship. That number was good luck. Maybe he would pull through. I couldn’t imagine him dying
of anything but old age. He was the best and the strongest player in the league. He survived injuries and another car crash earlier in the year. It just seemed surreal. Of course he was going to make it.

  “Dee.” Lance called out to him. Dee’s eye’s slightly opened.

  “Y’all really here?” Deshawn’s voice sounded foreign to me, maybe because I hadn’t heard it in awhile.

  “Yeah where else we gonna be.” Lance tried to sound upbeat.

  “No-Hart.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You happy to see me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “No bullshit. I’m glad you still here.”

  “Well not for long.”

  Lance faked a chuckle. “Bro’h, you gonna outlive us all.”

  “Maybe but if I don’t, I’ll need my kids to be taken care of.”

  “They will.” I quickly said.

  “Not money. Like father shit. Can you handle that Noah?”

  “Yeah whatever you want me to do. I got you.”

  “Yeah you always stepped up. Being an uncle is not like being a father. It’s better. You got a kid on the way.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Now I can’t fuck up the divorce. Rena is going to be a widow.”

  “No one is thinking about that right now.”

  “I can’t believe this shit.”

  “What’s that Dee?” Lance asked.

  “I’m going to miss y’all. What we built, The Magic Oreo.”

  “No matter what. Our shit is forever.” I found myself getting emotional. No matter how Dee treated me in the end he was my family.

  “Lance, you got to watch No-Hart. He’s real emotional and shit.”

  “Yeah, he is.” Lance chuckled.

  “And watch your wife.”

  Lance looked back at me. “I will.”

  “Noah, I forgive you. My wife is fuckin’ fine. Everybody thinks it, but nobody had the heart to cross me up.”

  “I’m sorry Dee. I didn’t ever set out to go after her.”

  “Yeah you said that shit. I believed you the first time. I just wanted to make you suffer.”