Take Me to Razor

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WHEN I ARRIVED AT SHAY’S, she gripped me towards her in a hug that felt more like it was for her than me.

“I’m good,” I reassured her.

“Yeah, yeah.” She backed away and said, “Come on in.”

Shay lived in a nice apartment on the west side of Manor. It really suited her, because she was stylish, and everything in the apartment was very modern. That summed up Shay. A woman’s woman. She had moved out of her parents’ house when she turned twenty because she saved up and always wanted to be independent. Her mom understood, but her dad did not. He would occasionally stop by to check on his only daughter. Mr. Russell was no joke and everyone in town knew it. The crazy part was that neither was Mrs. Russell or their daughter. I think that was the real reason why Shay and I were so close. Individually, our moms and dads were very strong-willed and thus so were we.

“So, I’ve got plenty of ice cream and movies I ordered from Amazon Prime and there are more on Apple TV.”

I smiled as I sat on the couch after I took my light jacket off. “Cool. I think I just want to go to sleep. You have a security system, don’t you?”

“Yeah, girl. My dad wouldn’t let me move in here without one. For the first three months, he called me at eleven at night to make sure I’d set it. The man’s a control freak.”

“He’s smart.” I raised an eyebrow at her. “I need to get a job and get my own place. If I’m going to be here, I don’t want to have to deal with staying at my folk’s home. It was one thing since my mom was sick, but now that my dad has her and he’ll get her the medical help she needs, I feel tons lighter. Does that make me a bad person?”

“Girl, no. That’s a lot on any one person.” She shook her head. “And, you didn’t tell anyone either.”

“Yeah, my mom swore me to secrecy. You know how she is when it comes to her and her pride.”

“I know. My point was, that is a lot. I completely understand why you wouldn’t want to live off them or even with them. All those controlling people in a house – somebody might die.” We laughed. “You see, I had to go.”

“Yeah, I had to as well. Lori’s still with her parents, right?” I asked.

Shay rolled her eyes and then gave me the side eye. “Yes, girl. I keep trying to tell her. But I swear she is waiting on Connor and the way he is ignoring her ass, I don’t know if that will ever happen.”

“It’s that bad?”

“Yes and I’m putting it mildly.”

Damn.

I got up and went towards the kitchen and then asked, “What type of ice-cream do you want?”

“You already know.”

“Okay.”

I grabbed her famous chocolate and my famous strawberry. When I returned, she had the movie, Silver Linings Playbook on.

“This is what we’re watching?” I asked.

“This one is a funny movie. It deals with mental illness and I’m not sure if I can relate because of the doctor’s office that I work at, but I swear I know these folks.” She shrugged and said, “I like it, anyway.”

“Okay, cool.”

“Speaking of silver linings, how did it go with the Guardians? Well, specifically Razor after your dad called?”

“It was fine. I didn’t know how serious the Guardians were. My dad was all about them and their business. I guess I always thought they were only a bunch of bikers, you know? But besides that, I got at least two men on me all of the time and I’ll know who they are. My dad felt safe enough with them watching me, so I feel at ease a little.” I licked the spoon of the ice-cream.

“And...” Shay prompted.

“Oh, they are installing cameras and security footage at my mom’s house and I gave them my schedule, so they can keep tabs on me. I didn’t have much on the schedule, but I’m required to update them every morning.”

“Girl, spill it about Razor,” Shay said impatiently.

“There’s nothing to share. He was there, called me Ms. Mills. Can you believe that shit? Asked me a couple of questions, but besides that, acted like he didn’t even know me. Even after my father left.” I shook my head. “So, that’s that. He musta got my point.”

“Damn, I guess.” She licked her spoon. “I was hoping he’d fight a little harder.”

“Like I said, it really wasn’t that serious.” I was lying to myself again. “It’s cool.”

“It’s not, but I get it.”

Shay took a big scoop of the creamy, icy treat.  Her gaze was focused on the floor and her mind in a faraway place.

“Why won’t you talk about you and Bronx?” I asked. “It’s like you try to block it out or something, like it never existed.”

“Because I wish it didn’t. Talking about it or even acknowledging his presence makes it true. I ain’t saying that shit is right, but Kylie, I really don’t want to remember.”

Alarm bells started to go off.

“Did he do something to you?” I stopped eating and looked at her.

“Oh, no. Girl, nothing like that. But you know how Lori is all over Apollo and shit. That’s how I was about Bronx. I swear to God, I loved that man. In love. Well, at least infatuated with him. He acted like he was interested, we fucked, and then he got a call, turned over and was like, ‘Oh, I gotta run’. The bastard got up and left.”

Shay put her ice cream down. “Girl, you know I ain’t new to this, so don’t try to run game on me. I told him, well, fuck you very much. Glad you got what you came for. Then I rolled over, grabbed his clothes and threw them at him. He was trying to explain and tried for a month or so, but I ignored his ass so bad, now we just keep to our own. That was three years ago.”

“Damn, Shay!” I exclaimed. “Y’all haven’t talked since then?”

“Hell no! Blair Wilson, aka Bronx, can kiss my brown ass again.” She shook her head and took another mouthful of ice cream.

Damn. I thought I had some shit with me.

“O-kay. Well, I get you now. Why not share?”

“Kylie, that’s embarrassing. You see how Lori is. That’s fucking humiliating. I keep telling her to leave Apollo’s ass alone and just move on, but she’s stuck. I refuse to be like that again over any guy. It never ends well. I’d rather not remember the time I was dumb as shit. I’d like to move on from that.”

That made sense. I still felt slighted a bit, but it made sense.

“I get it, Shay.” I nodded my head. “I get that.”

We ate our ice-cream and laughed hysterically at the Silver Linings Playbook. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper were fantastic together.

The next morning, Shay did go to work and I went back home to begin my plan. Apollo and Bronx were already in the house when I arrived. There were two guys on bikes behind me, but I forgot their names that fast.

As promised, a new security system was in place that Apollo showed me how to use. He also showed me the pictures of the guys who were on duty at the time. Bronx let me know that my house had been bugged and there were cameras on the inside and the outside perimeter. He said that the feed was monitored at the compound.

I felt fine when they were there but after they left is when I became a little scared. After going to the window a few times and not seeing anyone, I texted Apollo.

Me: Am I still being watched, because I don’t see anyone?

Apollo: Yeah, ur good.

Me: Shouldn’t I see them?

Apollo: Babe, if u see em, then the stalker will 2

Me: Ok, good pt.

Apollo: Relax

He was right because I did need to relax. This whole ordeal shook me more than I’d care to admit. Every little noise or creak kept freaking me out. Every time, I looked in the mirror I felt like I saw something; the words, a shadow, etc.

Shay was no longer responding to my texts and Lori couldn’t because they weren’t allowed to have phones on the job. She went to school for engineering and worked on some secret projects or so Shay and I liked to believe. I was working their nerves anyway with my incessant calling and talking about absolutely nothing. 

Included in my daily routine, was going to see Mom and the crazy part was that she looked ten times better than the last time I’d seen her. Dad said she was doing the chemo, had a live-in nurse and was on some better medications. He even had brownies on the table for her. She must have had a sweet tooth.

Every night, something kept me up. The creaking of the old house settling or the crickets outside as I was convinced they were warning me. I tried to rationalize it and every night I texted Apollo just to be sure there was someone out there, until he started to ignore my texts as well. I started to reconsider moving in with my parents, just so there would be someone else in the house. I did not scare easily, but the thought of someone being in my space, my house, shook me to the core. Shit, my own bathroom was a bit much when I actually thought about it further.

By Thursday, I was freaked out completely and operating off of no sleep. On this day, I had to go grocery shopping as my yogurt and turkey sandwiches were reminding me of being on tour. Nothing substantial or nourishing, just food for survival.

I was walking down the aisle and I saw a guy approaching me from the other end of the store. He had on a hoodie and it was pulled tight. It reminded me of the guy in Razor’s store that was being weird. The closer he came, I started turning around to see if any of the guys were with me. I knew who was supposed to be with me, but I hadn’t seen them yet.

I stopped near the condiments sections and so did he. Facing the ketchup, I went to grab a bottle and he came towards me with his hands reaching out. I screamed and pulled my hand back with my fingers curled into each other and uppercut him with the heel of my hand in his nose. He grunted and then I pulled his shoulders down towards me and kicked him in the groin.

The man grunted, went down and then I connected my knee to his face. When I went to kick him in the face again, someone grabbed me causing me to turn and I brought the heel of my hand to the other assailant’s nose. He groaned and took a step back.

“Fuck, Kylie! It’s us,” a familiar voice called.

I turned around and saw Apollo picking up the guy because he was on the ground. While the guy I hit was holding his nose up as blood spurted out.

“Man, what the fuck?” he sniffled.

“Who are you?” Apollo asked the man.

“What do you mean?” he looked confused. “I’m sick as a fucking dog and Xena the warrior princess starts hitting me when I tried to get some goddamn olives.”

His voice was nasally and his nose was bright red.

Oh shit.

“Dash, get her out of here. I’ll talk to him.”

“Come on,” he growled.

“I’m so sorry, Dash.” I felt horrible. “I didn’t see it was you. I just don’t know what to do. I’m not sleeping and I’m fucking paranoid. I...”

There was nothing else to say. I was a hot mess and more importantly, I was making my own self crazy.

Dash took my keys and brought me to this dirt road that had three different warehouses on each side similar to a cul-de-sac. There was no exit, except for the way you entered. Bikes were everywhere, at least forty of them were parked along various parts of the dirt road. We went in the center warehouse and he instructed me to have a seat. As I looked around, there was an open space and rooms down the south side of the place. A small refrigerator was near the kitchen area along with industrial size ovens. Behind where I was sitting was a wall decorated with pictures, surrounding the huge painted Guardian’s patch along with the creed. Sort of like the wall of fame.

Dash disappeared and came back with a lady in a white jacket. He had two cotton balls in his nose that were peeking out.

“You must be Kylie,” the older lady said as she walked toward me with an outstretched hand.

“Hello.” I put my hand out to shake hers.

“You’re a little thing to have almost broken Dash’s nose over there.”

“Shut up,” he snapped as she erupted into laughter. “She caught me off guard.”

A door burst open and the next words sent chills down my spine, “Kylie! Kylie!”

It was Razor.

I turned toward the voice and saw him frantically searching the area. When he laid eyes on me, he charged toward me and pulled me up into him. He encased me in his arms. Dammit if I didn’t feel safe and secure for the first time in four days. I did not even care what it meant, but as he was hugging me, I wrapped my arms around him just as tightly.

Yes, I know what I’d told him, but boy was I glad that he was here.

“You alright?” he whispered in my ear.

I simply nodded my head as it was buried in his chest. We stayed like that for what seemed like a lifetime until he pulled back.

“Heard you gave the guy and Dash a run for their money.”

His hands were still on my waist and my body was pressed against him. There was no answer to give him, except to ask, “Was he the guy?”

“No. His story checked out.” One side of his mouth turned up.

“Oh, okay.”

“Do you guys need some alone time?” I heard from behind me.

Turning around, it was Apollo and Bronx standing there. Razor let me go and said, “Thanks guys.”

“Yeah, looks like Xena here can defend herself,” Apollo joked.

Bronx laughed, but Razor and I didn’t.

“You ready to go back home or you want to try shopping again?” Apollo asked.

“I think I really need to get some rest,” I answered.

“So, you haven’t been sleeping?” Razor looked at me. “It’s been like this all week?”

What? How did he know that? He must have read my mind because he said, “The monitors.”

“Oh, okay.” That still didn’t explain how he knew I wasn’t sleeping at night.

I turned towards Apollo and said, “Yeah, I’d like to go home.”

“Where’s your grocery list?” Bronx asked. “We can get someone to drop them by for you.”

“That would be perfect. Thanks so much.” I knew I was delirious to even agree to that.

My head was hurting and my body was aching. Nothing was happening the way I thought it should.

Friday evening had come and contrary to what Shay and Lori had wanted, I was not going outside. I still was not able to get any sleep and even though my groceries were delivered, the only thing I was craving was something sweet. There were bags under my eyes and my skin looked pale and unhealthy. There was nothing attractive about me in this state.

After being on a Netflix documentary binge, I finally fell asleep on the sofa.

A loud noise woke me up but I could not pinpoint where it came from. I searched the house with my pepper spray and texted Apollo. He simply texted back to get some sleep. At three in the morning, I’d had enough.

Dressed in my pajamas, I went outside and started walking down the street. This was the very thing I was afraid of; being held prisoner at my parents’ or someone else’s home. I had enough. I’m sure my head was not on straight, but after Apollo got out of a random car on the street and asked, “Where the fuck are you going?”

I answered, “Take me to Razor. Now!”

Without waiting for an answer, I got in his car and put on my seatbelt. There was an open laptop with different views of my house on the screen.

Apollo got in, closed the laptop and said, “Girl, you got balls of steel. He could be with someone. You prepared for that?”

I turned towards him and said, “I’ve seen worse, plus I don’t give a fuck. Take me to him.”