by A'zayler
“Tee, I understand.” Demoto’s voice was hard but still held a softer tone to it. He felt around his pocket for his vibrating phone as they rounded the corner. It was a text message relaying the details for the job he’d taken while standing in the club. He checked it and pushed it back into his pocket.
“Excuse me, Mr. Youngblood,” a voice came from behind them.
They both turned around to find the young Latina girl from the club. Demoto was growing annoyed with her presence. Especially now since he was with Taryn. He gave her a weird look since she’d just called him by his name.
“Is there something wrong?”
“No. I just thought I would speak to you before you left. I looked around for you on the rooftop but you were already gone.” She rushed to get it all out.
“So you chased me out of the club?” Demoto raised an eyebrow.
She smiled and showed her pretty white teeth beneath the red lipstick she was wearing. “I didn’t want you to leave before I had the chance to speak. You move so fast, I’ve lost you a few times already tonight.”
Demoto gave her the once over and nodded. Her name was Theresa Sanchez. She was an undercover assassin for Double O as well, but she worked out of Killeen Texas. This was her first year with the company. He’d trained her for a few weeks in one of her training phases. Theresa was a thick girl, hips and ass for days. Flat stomach and long silky black hair. Her features were full, and she was a lot shorter than him. The brown dress she wore did everything for her body that it possibly could. She was definitely a bad female; he just chose not to dwell on that. He was about to release Taryn’s hand so he could shake Theresa’s, but she held his tighter.
He had to fight the smile that he felt on the inside. She was jealous, and it was obvious. He didn’t even have to look at her to know that she wasn’t feeling this friendly introduction, but he did it anyway. Demoto tried to play it off by introducing the two.
“Taryn, this is Theresa Sanchez, Theresa this is my girlfriend, Taryn.”
Theresa gave a smug smile and extended her hand in Taryn’s direction. “Hello.” Her dry voice caught Demoto off guard because of how nasty it was.
His head turned from Taryn to her then back to Taryn. She still hadn’t spoken, and by the look on her face she didn’t plan on it. One side of her nose was turned up, and she was mean mugging Theresa hard as hell. As much as Demoto wanted to defuse the situation, he didn’t. He purposely made it worse instead. She needed to know how he’d felt earlier watching her with the mystery man.
“Theresa, how long are you in town? We should hang out tomorrow or something.”
“Like hell y’all will. Don’t fuck with me, Demoto.” Taryn had Demoto and Theresa looking at her.
“Tee, come on. Don’t be like that.”
“That’s what I’m saying. It’s not necessary, sweetheart.”
When Demoto heard Theresa’s voice he wished he could have shut her up before anything came out. She was indeed a killer, and a good one at that, but Taryn didn’t know that and even if she did she wouldn’t have given two fucks. She would drag Theresa through the city before she had a chance to do anything about it.
“Bitch die before I kill your ass.” Taryn let Demoto’s hand go. “Moto, send this girl on about her business before I beat her.”
Demoto looked at Taryn and dug into his pocket. “Here, go wait for me in the car.”
The look Taryn gave him was priceless. It was so fucked up he couldn’t even stop himself from laughing this time, which only pissed her off more.
“Go wait for you in the car? Nigga you must be crazy. And leave you out here to get all chummy chummy with this hoe?” Taryn smiled in disbelief. “Moto, you got me all the way fucked up.”
“Tee, come on, baby girl.”
She looked at him again and laughed. Her laugh let him know that she was more than pissed off and he would definitely feel it later. Taryn fixed her purse beneath her arm, threw her hair over her shoulder, and walked away. She made sure to barely miss Theresa’s arm when she passed. Demoto watched her switch away with stars in his eyes.
Taryn was crazy as hell and that was his baby. Her dress rose just a little as she switched quickly down the sidewalk. He was fucking the shit out of her as soon as they got home and that was it. He bit his bottom lip before looking back down at Theresa.
“Yo, what’s good? You know we don’t do social calls. This shit is so out of line it don’t make no damn sense. We work together and that’s it. We don’t speak and hang out and shit in public like we’re friends.” Demoto cut right to the chase with Theresa.
“Damn, it was just can we hang out and shit, now you cussing me out?”
“I’m not cussing you out, shawty. I’m just straightening your ass. You’re new to this so I’ll let you slide, but make this the last time you address me outside of work. Especially while I’m with my girl. I blew you off in the club hoping you would see this ain’t what I do, but clearly that shit went over your head. Let me put you up on game real quick. In Double O, everyone is low-key. We don’t do social calls, make friends, none of that shit.”
“Sooooo you were putting on for your girl, I’m assuming?”
“And you would be right.”
Theresa rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever.” She looked him up and down as he did her. “But check this out, I would fuck you better than she does no strings attached, and you can put money on that.”
“I highly doubt that shit, shawty. My girl is the fucking truth naturally, but she gets even better when it comes to me.” Demoto smiled because he knew he was annoying her. Theresa had been trying to get with him since the first week he’d met her, but he wasn’t having it. She was sexy as all hell but Taryn had his heart. “She be fucking my ass to sleep, so if I had to bet, my money would be on her.”
“You so fucking petty, but you got it. Just do me a favor and let her know the next time she threatens me I’ll slit her fucking throat.”
All traces of laughter left Demoto’s face. If there had been an ounce of humor anywhere in his body, it was definitely gone then. He stepped closer to her with his face hard as steel and his words cold as ice. He leaned down so that his mouth was near her ear. “I know you kill niggas for a living, but don’t forget that I do too. I’m number one for a reason, lil shawty. I will murder your muthafuckin’ ass if you ever speak on my girl again.” Demoto grabbed the bottom of her dress. “I’ll use this lil thin shit to strangle your ass and hang you from a fucking light pole. Don’t you ever think for one second that you will do anything to her and not lose your own life behind it. So word of advice, lil bitch, if you even step on her toe you had better fucking apologize because it’ll cost you your mama’s life. Now fuck with that shit, baby girl.”
He stepped back, looked her up and down before walking away. The nerve of her. She was a bold bitch to think she was going to threaten the only woman he’d ever loved and the mother of his child. Shit, that was like threatening him. If anything ever happened to Taryn he would surely die right behind her. Demoto looked over his shoulder at Theresa once more before making his way to his Audi.
When he got to it he noticed Taryn wasn’t in it. He looked around frantically in search of her but he didn’t see her. The music from the club was loud so he wouldn’t have heard her if she screamed. Demoto tried his best not to think the worst of her so he counted to ten in his head as he walked further up the sidewalk. He snatched his phone from his pocket to dial her number but he didn’t get an answer. Now he was beginning to worry.
He tried her number again twice with the same outcome. Fed up with that, Demoto walked back into the club. He looked all around for her but saw her nowhere. He’d even checked both bathrooms. The club wasn’t that big, nor had she been gone that long, so he could already tell something wasn’t right. He practically jumped down all the stairs, bumping into people along the way. When he got back outside he walked in the opposite direction from which they’d just come.
Th
e street lights were on and cars were passing but he still didn’t see her. The people walking along the sidewalk were used as nothing more than a distraction. He shuffled through them as fast as he could, barely breathing. When he got to the corner, Demoto stood in the center of the road with his hands on his head. He held his head back toward the sky and rushed out a forceful breath. His chest heaved up and down as he spun around in a circle, searching for her.
He walked back toward the club and was passing by two buildings when he heard voices. He squinted his eyes trying to see through the darkness of the ally. There were two figures at the end of the street. Demoto couldn’t see either of their faces but he would know Taryn anywhere. Before he knew it he was running toward her. When he got close enough to see her and what was going on, it was like he morphed into another person.
Taryn was against the wall with her dress around her waist. The man from the club had shed the tailored fit jacket that he had been wearing earlier and was on his knees in front of her. Taryn was slapping wildly at his head. Punching and slapping anywhere her hands would land. The man was so busy trying to snatch her panties off that he couldn’t even see his life was about to end.
“Get your ass away from me. You fucking pervert,” Taryn was swinging and kicking all over the place. She got one good punch in before he stumbled backward. She snatched her dress down quickly and turned to run but stopped dead in her tracks for two reasons. The first one being the man had just grabbed her elbow, and the second was because she’d just come face to face with Demoto.
His name was a whisper on her lips as he lunged past her. He went straight for the man. His fist slammed directly into his face. Dropping him to the wet pavement. Demoto followed that punch up with a few more before he replaced his fist with his feet. He kicked the man wildly until blood was spilling from his mouth. A sequence of growls escaped Demoto’s body as he dropped to his knees and grabbed the man by his throat.
“Demoto, stop baby, that’s enough.” Taryn ran to him grabbing at his arms. “I’m fine, Moto, lets go.”
Demoto pushed her away with his elbow and dragged the man to his feet. He was barely conscious, but he was there. Demoto slammed him into the wall hard enough to crack his skull had his head hit the wall. While holding him up by the front of his now bloody dress shirt, Demoto got into his face.
“Who are you? What the fuck do you want with her?”
The man’s lips were so swollen he couldn’t speak, which angered Demoto even more. He pulled him from the wall and slammed him right back into it just as hard. The back of the man’s head connected with the bricks this time. When his eyes rolled in the back of his head Demoto turned to look over his shoulder at Taryn. His eyes were barren, and he looked like a totally different person. Blonde dread locs falling down his back and into his face.
He was breathing hard and a tad bit of spit was running down the side of his mouth. When he spoke, it came out more as a roar than anything. His deep soothing voice was now one of terror and torture. His words were laced with malice and a chill cold enough to freeze the entire city over.
“Taryn-Lee, come over here now.” He growled.
Taryn was a little taken aback by his behavior and even a little nervous but she went anyway. After all, this was Demoto. He wouldn’t hurt her, right? She took slow steps until she was in front of him. When she got close enough he leaned forward and sniffed her. She jumped back because she hadn’t known what he was about to do.
“Get back over here.” His eyes were so low she could barely see them, but from what she could see she could tell they’d turned a dark Auburn color. Which only signaled danger.
When Taryn was back in her original spot he sniffed her again while still holding the man against the wall. He was sighing and sounded as if he was losing oxygen, but Demoto didn’t seem to mind. At that point his sole focus was on Taryn. She stood with her hands clasped together in front of her, waiting for him to do whatever it was he was about to do. He smelled her neck and the exposed part of her breasts.
“Why was he touching you?” Demoto was so angry.
“I don’t know, Demoto. He wanted sex but I wouldn’t do it,” Taryn tried to get him to understand.
“How the fuck did you get back here with him? Huh, Tee? You wanted this shit?” Demoto drew back and punched the man in the face. “Tell me you didn’t want this shit, Taryn.” He punched him again. “I can’t fucking take this! You’re making me lose my mind.” Demoto let the man fall and the moment he was completely on the ground he lost control.
He was punching and kicking the man like a maniac. Taryn was screaming for him to stop. Not loud enough to draw any attention to them just enough to try to calm him down. She grabbed his arms, but he kept pushing her away. She stumbled back on her heels, pausing him for a second. He looked at her feet before looking at her face then he went back to his assault. Demoto was on his knees in a seventy-eight dollar pair of pants with his hands around the man’s throat. He was positioned behind him with the man’s head positioned snuggly in his arms.
He looked up at Taryn from the ground as she stood flustered and tired from wrestling with him. “He can’t have what’s mine, Taryn.” He sounded so weary and exhausted. Taryn’s heart went out to him. Demoto could be so troubled at times. “I won’t let him.”
She slowly kneeled down in front of him. The only barrier between the two of them being the man’s almost lifeless body. His legs were sprawled out on the side of Taryn as she eased closer to Demoto. When she was in a safe enough distance she touched his hand. Although he was holding the man in a choke hold, his eyes were focused on hers.
“He… Nobody,” Demoto took a deep breath. “Nobody can have what’s mine. Never again.” He shook his head as sweat dripped down his face. His locs were dangling in his line of vison as he looked around them to see Taryn. “You’re mine, Tee. Why can’t they understand that?” He spoke as if there was something deeper bothering him.
Taryn moved his hair from his face and stroked his face lovingly. “It’s not for them to understand. Only us.” She leaned closer so she could see his eyes better. “Just me and you, Demoto. We’re the only two that know what we have.”
“Well why did you let him touch you?” Demoto began squeezing the man’s throat.
“I was fighting him off the best I could, Demoto.”
Demoto stared at her as his eyes got glossy. He didn’t say anything else as the tears fell. On his knees in a dark wet alley Demoto’s heart and mind was filled with so much stuff he could hardly think straight. The only thing on his mind was Taryn and having her taken away from him. He began to get angry all over again as he observed her face, her skin, the softness of her hand as it rubbed the top of his.
Her scent flowed to his nostrils almost weakening the tiny hold that he had on his life. What was it about this girl that drove him insane? Why did he feel like he was on the verge of losing his mind every time he thought about losing her? The thought alone drove him mad. Which was why the swift movement of his wrists brought about the loud popping sound. Taryn gasped and jumped backward, falling on her butt. Her mouth was open as she stared at Demoto.
She was wide eyed and appeared to be fearful. Her hands went to her mouth as her eyes went to the now limp body of the man with the broken neck. Demoto scooted back and allowed the man’s body to fall to the ground. Taryn yelped again when his head hit the ground.
Demoto looked down at him as he stood to his full height. His breathing was returning to normal but he could still feel his heart racing. His clothes were soaked from perspiration and his brows were creased. His hair was hanging around his face and he resembled that of a lion who had just released its prey. His hands were bloody and scratched up as they fell to his sides. His mouth was slightly ajar as his tongue slid out over his lips.
It took him a moment to move, but when he did Taryn scooted back further. Demoto felt like all the air in his lungs had just been sucked out in that instant. His face turned from one of anger
to a deep searing pain. He took another step forward, and she did the same thing, this time fumbling as she tried to get to her feet.
“Tee,” Demoto sounded as breathless as he felt. “Baby girl. Come here.” He reached for her but she shook her head rapidly from side to side.
“Stay right there, Demoto. Just please stay right there.”
Demoto willed himself not to cry, though the urge was far too strong for him to fight. He swallowed the large lump in his throat as he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. His body was jittery, and he was starting to get hot. He watched Taryn with concern as she slowly rose to her feet. She looked so scared, and it made him feel horrible.
“What have you done, Demoto?” She tore her eyes away from him momentarily to look at the man. “Why did you do that?”
“Taryn.”
She shook her head. “No. I can’t.”
Demoto was teetering on the edge of his sanity. What did she mean she couldn’t? Couldn’t do what? He took another step forward, unable to keep himself still. When she stepped back it only drove him more. She waved her hands out in front of her, trying to keep him from coming any closer until her back bumped against the bricks of the wall. He didn’t stop until he was right in front of her.
“What do you mean you can’t?” He leaned down so that he could see her. “You can’t what, baby girl?” He was losing his mind. This wasn’t happening.
“You killed him.” She turned her head to the side to avoid making eye contact with him.
With his arms stretched out on both sides, Demoto looked around the alley for emphasis. “This is me, Taryn-Lee. This is what I do. You know this, baby.” He sounded so weak he could hardly recognize his own voice.
She continued to cry and shake in front of him as he stepped closer to her. He pressed his body flat against hers and wrapped his hands around her neck. He’d never felt his heart break before but the moment she screamed, that was it. He let his hands fall, and she covered her face. Demoto walked backward until he was a few feet away from her. He looked down at the ground for a minute before looking back at her.
