by Sienna Mynx
“That’s awful,” I say.
“Awful is right. She came to me to kill the baby in her belly. To help her hide the assault from her husband who is one of Pops illegitimate sons. Instead I told Pops about what happened. Sheila and I watched as her rapist kin was skinned alive and hung out on one of those swamp trees for the buzzards to eat at his guts. Took him five days to die. Sheila thought she could pass the child off as her husbands. But she had a debt to pay to me, for my help. I’m barren now. Can’t make no babies. But I love the smell of them,” She held Moonstar closer and inhaled her. She kissed the little girl on the cheek. “I love the way they cling to you, want to be protected by you. I wanted me another one, bad. Now Moonstar is all mine. Because I make it so. Sheila wanted her baby the night she gave birth. Named her, and wept. Her husband wouldn’t let it in the front door. Sheila can’t take her back even if she wanted too. She hates me for it. And that’s too bad. Now you know who I am. Still curious about me?”
I shake my head no.
“Good, keep an eye on things while I go change my baby.”
I watch Evangeline walk out in stunned silence. The moment she’s gone I run from her kitchen and the main house. I don’t stop running until I’m in my cabin with the door locked.
“Tu m'as tellement manqué!” I kiss her shoulder. She doesn’t respond. “I said I missed you, bae-bee,” I repeat. Still no response.
“Hey? Coco? You okay?” I ask.
I looked all over the main house for her. I found her back at the cabin lying in bed. I’m in the bed with her and put my arm around her waist. She sniffs and it’s the first response I’ve gotten thus far.
“Coco? What is it?”
“I want to go home Brick,” she says and turns over into my arms. I hold her to my chest and comfort her.
“Okay? I can call your parents. Explain everything,” I say.
“You don’t have too. She wiped her tears with the ball of tissue in her hand. I called Georgie. She told me my mom’s blood pressure is up. They had to take her to the doctor. Everybody is really upset about me running off. My grand-mère isn’t well either. My brothers know about you. They’ve been to the club. Did you know that?”
I don’t know how to answer. Pops had just told me about the Larue men busting into the club and getting all worked up about me and Coco. I was still debating on whether I was going to tell her about the fight that broke out and the retaliation planned. I didn’t tell her about the many times I deleted their calls and text messages from her phone. It’s just as Smoke said. The more I do the worse it gets.
“Did you know?” she asks.
“I just found out, an hour ago. I was looking for you to tell you.”
She sighs, as if grateful that I wasn’t keeping anything from her.
“I’m sorry babe. Did you call home?”
Coco cried against my chest. I hold her and don’t say anything. I can’t say anything. Not when I hear her in such pain. It’s like a knife to my gut.
“I don’t want to speak to my family over the phone. I have to go home. But we have to talk Brick. Really talk.”
“Okay?”
“I told you, I love you. And I do. If I go home I’m going to have to spend some time dealing with my family, making them accept my decisions. It might mean that we can’t see each other the rest of the summer. So Georgie and I figured you can take me to her place. I’ll have her take me home.”
“Let me talk to your folks. I have a way with people who don’t like me.”
“It won’t work! My brothers are violent. Your family is violent. I got a real bad feeling Brick. The worse feeling I ever had. Somebody could get killed.”
“Hey? Calm down. Look at me?” I lift her chin. “I know you are the one born with the veil over your face, but I’m the one born with steel in my gut. I can face your father and brothers. Trust me. They need to know that I love you. I need to show them some respect if I want to gain it in return. And when I see your father I’m going to tell him that I want you to be my wife. Didn’t you say I proposed the other night to you?”
“You were drunk.” She laughed and more tears slipped down her cheeks. I wiped them away. .
“They say when you’re drunk you say what you mean.”
“Brick…” She pushes away from me. She sits up. “There’s a reason why my father never had a son he could groom to be the next Senator, or business man. Because they pretend at civility. I know my dad is a bully. He’s bullied all of us all our lives. My brothers are all just mean, country, backwards. Money ain’t changed it. He’s spent years buying them out of one mess to another. They older now, and some of them are married. But Nathan, Keith, Matt and Bobby are going to be waiting for me. And if they see you they’ll kill you. I just know it.”
“Did you not hear me say I want to marry you?” I ask her.
She rolls her eyes away in disgust.
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
“I don’t want to get married,” she mumbles. “I told you that. It’s why I ran off from them in the first place.”
“You won’t have to marry Xavier…”
“I’m not ready to marry anyone, Brick.” She glances at me. “I don’t want to be married.”
“Oh? Okay… what do you want?”
“To move to New York. To live in the city and write. I want to be an author. A real one. Wait. Let me show you,” she says and gets out of bed. She goes over to the dresser and opens it and removes her laptop. She sits down and opens the lid. “Here, read it. I’ve written almost twelve thousand words so far. This place inspires me. I can’t stop writing. And Evangeline? Her life story? It’s banana’s. I’ve never met anyone like her. Brick, I have so many ideas… they are just flowing like honey into my keyboard.”
“So you want to leave N’awlins to go to New York to write about people like Evangeline? That makes no sense.”
She looks at her laptop and frowns.
“What about Paris?”
She glances to me.
“Think about it Coco, you need to be free to create. Away from all of this. We don’t have to get married. But I can take you with me to Paris. I’ll have the money. I already spoke to Pops. I do a few jobs for him this summer and he’ll support me. We go to Paris and you can be my muse, my poet, and write that screen play.”
She leaps on to me knocking the laptop closed. I hug her and kiss her face. “Yes! Brick yes! It’s the perfect idea! Screw New York! Let’s do Paris!”
I have to smile. It sounds like a dream. And I know I can make it come true. I just want her. Married or not. I want her. We playfully wrestle until I end up on top with her beneath me. These past few days have been torture with her on her period. Even the blow jobs aren’t good enough. I want her so bad.
“We still bleeding?” I ask.
She shakes her head no.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I tickle her.
“I wanted you to find out on your own, if you weren’t so scared to touch me you would have known,” she laughs and squirms. It’s good to see her laugh. I hate to see her cry. I feel all her sweet curves underneath her clothes and I want her free of them. So I start to undress her. I unbutton her shirt, I unsnap, unzip her jeans. I’m pulling them off. She handles her bra and I take down her panties. There is nothing in the bayou more bewitching than Coco’s naked form.
When she’s completely bare I run my hands over her skin. Coco is soft and her small breasts so warm I love the way they respond to my to kiss, my touch. In her pushup bra, and under her shirts, they draw no one’s attention. Only I know how beautiful her dark ripe nipples are. I love to feel them brush my chest. Everything is natural about her and I love that too. I love her. I’d leave my family and travel to the moon with her. I’m ready. I don’t need marriage, or to tame her. I need a soulmate to keep me warm at night, to feel my music the way I do, and share in my triumphs and failures. And I want a life from under the shadow of violence I was raised within. A life out of
Pops reach. I want her to be free. I want her to be with me.
“Je veux te lécher des hanches jusqu’aux pieds—I want to lick you from your hips to your toes,” he says in that raspy accent of his. I melt. Oh sweet mercy. Brick. You are the only healthy drug there is. The salve that soothes my fears from one kiss. Your mouth, the one that makes such beautiful, soulful music, is my pleasure. You stop to suck my nipples, because you love them so.
To my delight you continue your descent. That mouth of yours, those lips, that tongue, a sensuous trail to my navel. After a flick and a curl of your tongue you go south and I scoot north to welcome you. The first lick at my entrance rocks my head back into my pillow as you delve in deep. I come alive under the wicked lashes of your tongue, and gyrate against your face as I plead for more. You give me more and more. I’m clawing at the bed and my thighs are trembling. Between my thighs with your mouth is loving me, your eyes peek up and over the line of my body. You’re watching me. My eyes shut and my body goes tight everywhere. That rumble of emotion turns me inside out as my body climaxes for you and only you.
We make such sweet music together.
Brick, you know what this does to me. You know and you show me no mercy. As I turn over to my belly and rise on my hands and knees I brace for what is next. And again my emotions are in control. One thrust and that steely thick dick of yours rips through me. I’m forced forward but your hands on my hips bring me back. You’re pumping that dick into me with precision and I feel you, baby. I feel all of you.
You’re cursing, and so am I. There is such raw energy consuming us neither can dare to stop. Brick, you take it too far, but I can handle it. Can you? Before long we’re collapsing on the bed. You’re forcing my legs shut as you continue to fuck me. Your thighs on the outside of mine, your chest crushing mine. I can barely catch a breath. And you like that, don’t you? Me, powerless, you in control. Part of me, the part that is yours, likes it too.
Thankfully, you know when to stop. You pull out and I breathe in. I turn over to my back and part my thighs. You go in once more. Dick thrusts, hips thrusts, ass clenching, pussy tightening thrusts. Our mouths connect. I’m holding your face while you’re squeezing my ass. We kiss and fuck with the headboard banging into the wall and the mattress squeaking. I’m ready for distance baby, I can handle the speed. You’re loving me your way, and I never want to feel like this with anyone else but you.
I feel you stiffening, your strikes are coming fast and furious and I know to brace myself for the end. Your mouth leaves mine and kisses lashes across my neck until you suck the skin so tight that I know the hickey I’ll have after this will brand me for life. When it’s your turn to let go, to release, you do with such thunderous strength, I cry out again and cling to you for mercy. We’re not done. We’ve just begun. This is my love song to you, Brick.
Chapter Seventeen
“You sure you want to take your luggage? If they reject you we can come back here? My family wants you to stay.”
“I doubt that. I think Evangeline doesn’t like me.”
“Oh, she likes you. Who do you think convinced Pops to let me take off to Paris with you? I guess I owe her a thank you.”
“He really does love her? Huh?”
Brick pauses at the question. I see he’s uncomfortable with the truth. “Pops and Evangeline have a bond none of us will ever understand. I don’t know if that’s love or not. I do know he’d gut a man clean if he got more than ten feet close to her.”
“What would you call it?”
“Bayou crazy,” Brick winks. I smile and take one stroll around the cabin as if I will be seeing it for the last time. Part of me knows it will be the last time. This strange place with these complicated people are Brick’s world. Not mine.
“Bring my luggage. If things go bad I can always stay at Georgie’s. Your father has been generous, but if he doesn’t like my family it will send the wrong message to my father don’t you think?”
“I guess you got a point,” he says and I can tell he’s disappointed. I get my purse and my carry bag and follow him to the door. It’s been a week since I’ve seen or spoken to my family. I called Nathan this morning to tell him that I was coming home to talk. He shouted so much at me I had to hang up on him. I’m not sure what waits for me in English Turn, but I trust Brick and ignore my gut feelings when he says we can handle it, together.
As we leave I see Sheila on her porch with three small children. She gives me a small smile and then turns and takes her children inside. There aren’t as many people gathered around the main house as before. The clouds are thick in the sky and most are inside their rooms or cabins because rain his imminent. Brick carries and pulls my bags as if they weigh nothing. We go through the main house. Evangeline appears with little Moonstar on her hip sucking on a chicken bone. Since she gave me the cold hard facts of her life I’ve been unable to look at her the same way. It doesn’t matter. She approaches me with the sweetest smile. I hug her and kiss the baby with the blue eyes that clings to her black mother.
“You take care, cher, we’ll see each other again, trust,” Evangeline says with a sly smile and turns and walks away. Brick glances at us and shakes his head. He takes me out the front door. There are at least twelve men gathered with more guns than I’ve ever seen. A few look up but most don’t as they load the weapons with bullets.
Brick ignores them. No one says goodbye to me. We head out to the pier and the boat where his brother waits. He comes off the boat and takes the luggage while Brick helps me inside.
“Is there trouble?”
“Huh?” Brick asks and kisses my lips. He turns to take the luggage that his brother hands him. Once we are all on board we are backing away out into the murky swamp water.
“Is there trouble Brick? The guns?”
“There’s always trouble with Pops,” Brick smiles. “Don’t worry. I’m not involved.”
I hold my tongue for the rest of the ride to the other side of the bayou. Lightening rips through the sky and thunder follows. The air is heavy with the smell of rain. I know we’ll be under the storm in a few minutes and dread getting wet. But thankfully we arrive to the pier where the cars are parked. And I’m in the car before the storm. I watch Brick say goodbye to his brother. The conversation seems tense. Brick throws up his hands in defeat and comes to the car and gets in.
“Something wrong?” I ask.
“My brother thinks I’m a coward. Nothing new, he’s always a dick about it.”
“Coward? Why?”
Brick drives us through the rain and trees in silence. I wait awhile before speaking.
“I’ve met your family. I know their reputation. I’ve seen the guns. I’ve seen you after they’re done with you. What is wrong now?”
“Pops found out who gave us up to the Vietnamese. He’s starting his own war. My brothers think I should be part of it. I don’t. Same story, same ending. Like you, Coco I just want to be free of my family.”
I nod in agreement. I reach over and take his hand. “We are a lot alike.”
“I’m meeting your folks today. Explaining myself. It’s the respectful thing to do. I’m kind of excited.”
“Don’t be. My brothers, Brick. They are alot like yours. Not forgiving. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
He takes my hand and kisses it. I look over and he smiles. “I’m not a coward. And I’m not going to give up. I think your parents and brothers should know that.”
I try to smile but it’s hard. My gut is so tight with dread I want to hurl my breakfast. He lets go my hand to shift gears as we drive out of the Bayou over rickety bridges and muddy terrain. I close my eyes and let the storm outside push against my fears inside. I pray. Maybe if I pray all the way to English Turn my fears won’t materialize.
When we arrive at the gate to the house we find it already open. When I drive up I can see six men waiting. One has a shotgun. This will be interesting.
“Brick! Stop the car. Let me out and I…”
>
Ignoring her pleas I drive right up to the front. The man with the shotgun levels it at my car. A very distinguished black man comes down the steps. He’s same age as my father so it’s clear who he is.
“Let me do the talking…” she opens the door. It’s evident my baby doesn’t understand this kind of danger. She should let me get out of the car first. But she moves too fast and I can’t stop her. It’s the moment of weakness Heathcliff Larue seizes. He gabs her by the hair and yanks her out of the doorway. I get out and the moment I come around the front of the car to defend her the man with the shotgun fires into my car and blows out the passenger window. He then comes down the step with the gun aimed at me. I take several steps back with my hands up. Coco is screaming. I’m calm. I’ve had many guns pointed at me in my life. The brother then fires again and blows out my front windshield. He fires into my head headlights.
“Take another step mutherfucka and I’ll drop you dead.”
“No! Don’t hurt him! Daddy, please! I’m begging you! Please!” Coco is crying. Her father drags her and half carries her up the steps. Another one of her brothers opens the front door to the house and she’s taken inside.
“It’s not her fault. I did this.” I shout at her father. “Blame me!”
It was the words I should have never spoken. Three of her brothers run from the porch. The first to take a swing at me gets a counter punch in his jaw. And we go at it. But the other two pounce with fists as hard a sledgehammers. I’ve taken many beatings in my life. More than I can count. It seems all of it was to prepare me for this fight. Focusing on one man at a time, preferably, the one closest to me. I go in for crippling moves. Everything is groin and kneecap shots. It’s my only true defense. Because instead of going down, I’m taking licks and kicking out knees to deliver some ass kicking of my own. When two of her brothers drop holding their nuts and dragging their legs, I got my hands on the throat of the third. It’s then that I feel the cold steel end of a shotgun pressed to the back of my head.
