His Work Wife (13 page)

              “Well, you wanted to know…there it is.” Carl shrugged.

              I was looking forward to seeing the look on Chase’s face when he sees his precious Presley right beside him in the warehouse. He wanted them to be together and he needed my help to do it. Well, I was doing it. I was keeping up my end of the bargain just like he had paid me to do. He just had no clue as to how I was implementing it all.

              “Sis, whatchu you gon do with Ty?”

              “Huh? Oh, leave him here. He can’t go anywhere with those zip ties on. Grab the rest of those and come on. We’ll need them for Presley and one more loose end I need to tie up!”

Chapter Twenty-three: Chase

              My memory was hazy. I received a text from Kadeema telling me she wanted to talk. I knew I should have avoided her ass. Mama always told us to follow our first minds, but when she showed up wearing a trench coat and some badass stilettos, she knew she had me.

              The last thing I remember was Kadeema pouring a glass of wine for us both. After that, the entire room went black. I felt my body being lifted but didn’t know by who. I knew it couldn’t have been Kadeema; she didn’t exude that kind of strength… mentally or physically.

              As I felt the motion of the vehicle, I tried to pay attention to the turns being made as she drove, but whatever she drugged me with had me gone. My body felt like dead weight and my head was pounding. All I could do was lay still.

              As Kadeema took a sharp turn, another body rolled into me. A much smaller frame. A female body. Oh no! Presley! I could recognize her scent anywhere. She often had rendered me intoxicated with her Victoria’s Secrets Heavenly from the Dream Angels collection. The light floral scent permeated the entire trunk we were in. I desperately wanted to call out to her, but my mouth was taped shut. I nudged her to see if she was okay, but there was no movement.

              Finally, we came to a complete stop. I decided to keep my eyes shut because I wasn’t sure of what Kadeema’s accomplice would do if I actually saw his face. One thing was for sure though, I knew it was a man by the sound of his voice.

              “Whatchu wanna do now, sis?” he asked.

              Sis? What the fuck? This broad had gotten her fam involved with her scheme?

              “Take both of their asses into the old abandoned warehouse. We out here by the airport, so no one will hear their screams,” she pointed out.

              The fucking airport! There were two damn airports in Houston. How was I supposed to know which one I was being held near?

              Once inside the warehouse, Presley and I were placed on the floor with our backs against the wall. It was musty and damp inside of there and every window was covered.

              Without warning, Kadeema poured a gallon of water on Presley’s head.

              “Wake up, bitch!” she yelled as she slapped her in the face.

              “Aye!” I barked. “C’mon, Kadeema, you ain’t gotta do that shit!”

              “Oh-oh oh! He speaks,” her brother teased, licking his lips.

              “Yeah, I speak, muthafucka! Who the hell are you?”

              “Oh, don’t worry. You will get the answer to your question soon enough.”

              Presley sat there, choking and trying to catch her breath from Kadeema’s half-assed attempt at water boarding.

              “Aww, what’s wrong, Mrs. Chambers? Mad because you can’t get up and fight back?” She poked her lips out.             

              “Fuck you, Kadeema,” Presley countered. “Okay, so fucking what? Am I supposed to afraid because you call yourself kidnapping me? Bitch, please! You better kill me, because if you don’t, that’s your ass!” She spat out droplets of her own blood from the slap Kadeema had given her.

              Damn! Presley had heart! This shit was a turn on. Even in uncontrollable circumstances, she still held her own.

              “Oh, make no mistake; I do plan on killing your ass, but first I want you to know about the scheme your dear brother-in-law was planning.”

              “No! Kadeema, please don’t do this,” I begged. “If it’s more money you want, I can get that for you. Besides, if you do this Ty, will never be yours.”

              “I have news for you, Chase,” she chuckled. “He was never going to be mine. He done bought this bitch a house and I can only imagine what else!”

              Oh, that had to be it. She found out Ty was buying Presley a house. She must have snapped after she discovered that shit.

              “Ha! Is that what you’re mad about? Honey, please! The house, the BMWX5, my build-a-bears…they were all guilt gifts for messing with your ugly ass. I mean he had to do something to make up for all the bullshit!”

              Kadeema looked like she had switched personalities. “Did you know about this?”

              “Hell no! You know I don’t mess with Ty like that. I guess The Pressure Washing People was doing better than he expected, huh?”

              “Aye sis, when we gon’ get to the good shit? Y’all boring me with all of this jaw-jacking,” the Kadeema look-a-like interrupted.

              “Shut up, Carl,” she growled. “I’m paying for your time. So shut the fuck up and be patient until I give you the green light.”

              “Oh, so Carl is your name,” I spoke.

              “Yeah, I be that nigga named Carl,” he repeated while grabbing his crotch.

             
What the hell did this big suga-bear looking nigga want?
I wondered.

              “You know what, Presley, before I tell you everything Chase did, I just want you to know I genuinely love Ty.”

              “You’re funny.” Presley grinned.

              “Oh, am I? Well, what about the times he left you at home to come make love to me? What about the many times his lips tasted mine? And I do mean
both
sets!”

              “Okay, well, obviously Ty’s a dog, and we all know dogs will eat any damn thing. Even shit that isn’t good for them. Actually, dogs eat shit as well. You know that, right? So I’mma call a spade a spade… Ty was eating shit when he was with you!”

              “Bitch, if he is such a dog why you still with him? What does make you?” she retorted.

              “I’m glad you asked me that. It only means that I am his master! Every dog has one. You know, a dog will do anything for its master, even lay down his life for their master.”

              I guessed Kadeema couldn’t deal with the truth Presley was hitting her with because she bent down and punched her in the face. I wasn’t sure of the outcome for today, but I would die for Presley if it meant making things right.

              Kadeema turned to face me and asked, “You ready for me to blow your shit up?”

              “What is she talking about, Chase?” Presley asked me.

              “What? Oh, you didn’t know? Brother-in-law is so in love with you, it’s scary. Nah, bump that! He’s actually obsessed with you. He concocted this elaborate plan to prove Ty’s infidelity so that you come running to him.”

              “Presley, don’t listen to her. She’s crazy. I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to be with you, but you wouldn’t give me the time of day and one day you will see I’m the better choice for you. I love you.” I spilled my guts to her. There was no turning back now.

              “Oh my God! Wait. What?
YOU
are the reason for all of this?” she whimpered.

              I didn’t have the heart to answer any other questions. I had already said too much. What else was there for me to say?

              “Oh, you not gonna say anything else, Chase?” Kadeema taunted me. “Carl, make his ass say sum’n!”

              Without hesitation, Carl hit me with the butt of his gun. Damn, that shit hurt like hell. My head was already pounding from the drug she had slipped into my drink. This definitely wasn’t going to make it any better.

              “Okay, okay. Presley, I approached you first, remember? However, you showed interest in Ty. Every time I was around you, it was like you hated me when I all I tried to do was show you that I love you.”

              Presley refused to look at that moment. It was over. I’d lost her for good. The love of my life sat and cried because of my need to be wanted.

              “Good! Now that everything is all out in the open, let’s have some fun!” Kadeema exclaimed. “You ready, Carl?”

              “Oh, I
stay
ready.” He winked. “How bad you want me to do him?”

              “Umm…” she hummed, grabbing her iPhone. “Fuck his ass dry with no Vaseline.”

              What the fuck?! This couldn’t be happening and the worst part was Presley would see this. Now I knew why his punk ass kept grabbing his dick and licking them crusty ass lips. Before I could beg for mercy, Carl picked me up like I was a rag doll and threw me across a dusty workbench.

              “Wait! Please don’t do this. I’m not what you want, mane. I’m all man!” I begged.

              “Shhh, the more you fight it, the more it will hurt. Just relax baby boy and let me take care of this sweet, tight ass,” he coaxed.

              I struggled. I screamed. I cried. I continued to beg, but to no avail, he wasn’t tryna hear anything I was spitting at him.

              “Ahhhhh!” I screamed as he ripped into my asshole. I was helpless. All I could do was lie there and take it.

              While Kadeema taped the entire rape, I noticed Presley was quietly bursting out of the zip ties. How she did it, I didn’t know, but I gave no indication that she was about to handle Kadeema’s ass one last time.

              “Say cheese, muthafucka! Now I bet you won’t videotape nobody else!”

              Not that I had anything else to say since I was bent over a damn workbench, Presley tiptoed behind Kadeema and swept her feet from underneath her before I could respond.

              With no time to waste, I managed to head butt Carl, causing him to back the hell up off me. By the time he realized what had just happened, I was pointing his gun at his head. Smoke blew from the gun as I pulled the trigger six times. His body was so wide there was no way I could miss. After today, my life would never be the same.

              I turned around to find Presley still hitting Kadeema’s head against the concrete slab. She was unconscious and Presley had that same killer instinct I had just displayed. But I had to stop her. I refused to be the reason why she ended up behind bars.

              “Presley, stop it. She’s out cold,” I said, pulling her off her.

              “Don’t you fucking touch me! This is all your fault! How could you? He’s your brother. Your own flesh and blood!” she spewed as her tiny hand pounded my face.

              All of a sudden, sirens were blasting the area, police lights were flashing everywhere and a tactical team came rushing in.

              We were all escorted out. Presley ran into Ty’s arms, Kadeema was on a gurney and I was in handcuffs. Presley was covered with a blanket and taken to Ty, still refusing to look at me. If I could’ve just gotten her to look at me, I would’ve known if I still had a chance.

Chapter Twenty-four: Presley

              Words couldn’t express how elated I was to see my husband. Even though, he was the reason I was involved in all of this mess; I wasn’t sure I would ever get to see him again. By the grace of God, I was able to break myself out of the zip ties. Never in a million years, did I think the tactical self-defense class Ty and I took would come in handy.

              “How did you know where we were? Ty, what the hell is going on? Did you know this bitch was crazy?” I quizzed.

              “Babe, I don’t even know where to begin. I just remembered she mentioned something about living near Hobby Airport when she was a girl and that she and her brother often played in an abandoned warehouse on Aviation Parkway,” Ty explained.             

              I shook my head in disbelief. This entire situation seemed so surreal. How had he allowed this shit to happen? Ugh!

              As Ty and I continued to talk, the escorting officer sauntered to where we were standing.

              “Excuse me, Mrs. Chambers,” he acknowledged. “I know this is a terrible time given what you’ve been through, but we will need you to come to downtown so we can take a formal statement.”

              Ty shook his head at the officer’s request with a frown on his face.

              “Officer… I’m sorry, what is your name?” he asked.

              “Oh, excuse my manners. I’m Officer McRay.”

              “No problem. Do you think we can do this tomorrow? As you can see, she has had a very long day filled with a myriad of emotions. I just want to get her home so she can get some rest. I’m sure you understand that.”

              Look at him! Really? Right now? He was finally trying to do what was best for me? When the best thing would have been for me to not be in this situation in the
first
damn place! I wasn’t the least bit moved by his efforts. I was, however, moved by this fine ass officer standing before me! Damn! His uniform hugged his bulging muscles perfectly.

              I found myself wondering how his perfect lips would feel against my skin. What the hell was going with me? I had just spent the latter part of my evening with this psycho bitch and her brother, and here I stood fantasizing about another man right in front of my husband. I couldn’t help it. There was something about Officer McRay that had me wanting to know more about him outside of this situation.

              It took Ty some time to convince Officer McRay, but he finally agreed to let me go home, only because the forensics team had confirmed the details of how Carl ended up shot and why.

              “Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, please be at the station by eight o’clock in the morning. Here’s my card. If you need me before then, please don’t hesitate to call me.” He winked and walked away.

              Officer C. McRay… I liked the way his name rolled off my tongue in my head. Presley McRay sounded even better! Not that I would go there, but damn it, a girl could dream! Besides, I didn’t see a ring or a visible tan line on his finger, which meant I could allow myself some playtime if I chose.

              Ty and I were at the precinct by eight A.M. as promised. When I walked into the station, Officer McRay stared at me from the time I walked in the door until I made it to his desk. Of course, I looked completely different from how I did a few hours before. I wore my Seven Jeans, a hot pink Marilyn Monroe tank top and dressed it up with my beige ankle strap Steve Madden heels. Yeah, I was cute, honey!

              After I had given my statement in the cold interrogation room, Officer McRay stared at me for a moment. As fine as he was, I was somewhat uncomfortable. I shifted in my seat to maintain composure.

              “Why are you looking at me like that?” I cleared my throat.

              “I’m sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable. You’re just so damn beautiful,” he complimented. “I’m sitting here trying to figure out why any man would feel the need to look for something else when he has a gem such as yourself at home waiting for him.”             

              “Officer McRay, your guess is as good as mine.” I shrugged. “I ask myself that on a daily basis and come up with the same answer… nothing.”

“Please, call me Certain.”

“Certain!” I cackled. “Your parents named you Certain? Why?”

“Funny and cute. I like that,” he laughed. “I don’t know. I ask my mom that same question all of the time and she continues to tell me she was certain she didn’t want to push out any more babies! She said she only needed to experience that type of pain once in her life.”

              I laughed until I had tears in my eyes. Unexpectedly, my laughter turned into mild sobs. I began to cry because I honestly, couldn’t remember the last time I laughed like that. Ty and his mess had consumed me so much, that I was no longer my jovial self.

              “I’m so sorry.”

              “Please, don’t apologize,” he said, handing me a tissue. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’ve been through so much and it’s not good to keep all of these emotions inside. I hope I’m not overstepping my boundaries here, but you deserve so much better than what you are settling for.”

              “I know,” I agreed.

              He was right. That was exactly what I had been doing… settling! I did deserve better. I had given my husband all of me. Even in the midst of his indiscretions, I stood by his side. I lost myself in the madness and allowed him to do whatever he wanted with Kadeema. I convinced myself that as long as he came home to me and bought me nice gifts that I was the most important one. When the truth was, I should have been the only one and those were things that he should have wanted to do for me anyway because I was his wife… not because he felt guilty about what he had done the night before.

              “Well, I have another statement to take, but do you still have my card?” he asked.

              I nodded my head yes.

              “Okay, well, if you ever need to talk or just get out and grab some coffee, I’m here.”

              “Thank you so much.”

              As I stood to leave, I felt different. Self-evolution was taking place right where I stood. Ty was completely unaware, but this was my time to shine, and I was about to explore the world without him. The first task on my to-do list was to leave Ty’s ass. Yep, brand new me.