Chapter 21
It was now Tuesday morning and Miki awakened to a sore and aching body. She went to get out of the bed and was stopped by the rope tied to the railing of the bed. The other end was knotted around her left wrist. Redd had snapped on her Saturday night. He beat on her throughout the whole day on Sunday. He let her rest Monday. She wanted to forget that it happened.
Redd accused her of fucking around with Bebe specifically. He knew Bebe’s name. He knew what type of work he was in. He knew he had a daughter the same age as Téa and she went to the same school as Téa.
“So, all this time you’ve been fucking him, haven’t you, Miki?” Redd had asked.
Miki was already terrified and feared for her life. She had been cornered in between the bed and the nightstand. She was cowered on the floor ready to protect herself by balling up. He had already punched her in the face several times. Her left eye felt like it was scratched, and it ached. She was tasting blood. There was a throbbing pain emitting from her left arm. She had backed up in between the nightstand and the bed to shield herself.
“Bitch, I oughta kick your pussy in,” he snarled kicking her legs.
Miki drew her legs up to protect her stomach. If he knew she was pregnant with Bebe’s child, he would surely make her lose it intentionally.
“Get up!”
“Please Redd!” Miki cried. “Please, please, please! Whatever you think I did, I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s what I know,” Redd said. “You so fucking dumb. I just got tired of letting you get away with the shit. Montiece told me about your stupid ass. Then Raquel told me that you was at that nigga house like you fucking lived there. How long you been fucking him Miki?”
“I haven’t been fucking nobody,” she said.
Redd reached down and jerked Miki out from in between the nightstand and the bed. Miki tore away from his grasp and made a run for the bathroom. She managed to get the door locked. She went straight for the bathroom window. She tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. The locks. She unlocked it as Redd kicked in the bathroom door. She tried to hoist herself up but was stopped by the lashing of his belt against her back. It stung enough to cause her to fall down. Like a runaway slave Redd beat her across the back, arms, and legs with that belt. He shouted, spit, and fumed while throwing out insults at her.
When he got tired and only when he got tired he allowed her to get in the bed where he proceeded to tie her to the bed, so she couldn’t get away. The beating had exhausted her. Even if he hadn’t tied her up Miki wasn’t going anywhere.
“I need to pee,” she said. Her lips felt heavy and they hurt.
There was no response.
She yelled, “Redd!”
Seconds later he appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. Miki said, “I gotta pee.”
“Hold it,” he said and walked away.
He returned several minutes later willing to allow her to relieve herself.
After she was done, he followed her back to the bed. This time he didn’t bother to tie her back up. He sat on the edge of the bed looking at her. There was anger still in his eyes. He pulled out Miki’s phone. “What’s his number?”
Miki didn’t want to tell him.
“I’ma ask you again. Which one is his number?”
“I don’t have his number,” Miki said sticking to her lie.
“Miki, do you need me to do what I did last night?”
Miki started to cry. “No.”
“I had you followed, Miki. I know where this nigga live and everything. He got a house on Kenwood right around the fuckin corner from your sister. So, you might as well come clean about it.”
When Miki still didn’t say anything, Redd balled up his fist and went to strike her. She yelled, “Okay! Please don’t hit me. It’s Ms. Brenda.”
“I had a feeling it was, but I wasn’t sure ‘cause I talked to that lady.”
Miki watched him tap the screen then tapped it again. She heard the ringtone signifying that he had the phone on speaker.
“Hello?” Bebe answered.
Redd motioned to her to speak as he held the phone close to her. Miki said, “Hey.”
“You okay?” Bebe asked.
Redd nodded his head at her. She said, “Yeah.”
“Will I see you today?”
“No.”
“Baby, what’s wrong? Did he do something to you?”
Miki didn’t reply.
Bebe got quiet. Miki knew Bebe wasn’t stupid. He asked, “You didn’t call me, did you?”
Miki didn’t say anything. She just looked at Redd.
Bebe said, “Where that punk ass nigga?”
“I’m right here nigga,” Redd stated. “What’s up?”
“What’s up? You called me.”
“Miki called you. Her number showed up in your phone, not mine.”
This was going to be a disaster, Miki thought. She knew Bebe wasn’t the type that took well to threats. Bebe had been wanting to get to Redd for some time now.
“What’s up with you and my lady? What she need to see you today for? Y’all fucking?”
“Miki is my friend. You can think whatever you wanna think about what we do. That’s on you my nigga.”
“What the fuck that mean?”
“It means what the fuck I said. You can think whatever you wanna think.”
“You needa stay away from mine. Ya feel me?”
“Naw my nigga. I don’t feel nothing ‘bout whatchu sayin’.”
“So whatchu tryna say?”
“You can’t tell me what the fuck I need to do. Whatchu needa do is keep yo mothafuckin hands off Miki. You wanna lay hands on somebody then fight me nigga.”
“Well what then nigga? Bring your ass over here! Cause after I kick your ass I’ma beat this bitch’s ass. Both of y’all will be some busted up muhfuckas fucking with me.”
“My nigga…you shouldn’t have invited me over. And when I get there, and she look like she’s been touched by you, I’ma fuck you up.”
Miki’s mind floated somewhere else as the two men went back and forward. Miki knew that when Redd got off that phone, he would take everything out on her. She wanted to run. She hoped someone, anyone would come by to prevent him from killing her. Knowing him he probably wouldn’t let anybody in the house to see her bruised.
Redd ended the call on Bebe. He had enough of Bebe’s arrogance and his threats. “So, you think this nigga give a shit about you? I guess you in love and shit. You wanna leave me for him, Miki? Fuck that nigga! Fuck a Bebe! You want his ass?”
Miki shook her head. “We just friends. It ain’t nothing between us like that.”
Redd backhanded her. “Bitch, stop lying!”
Miki started crying again. She could taste fresh blood. She drew her knees up into her chest preparing for him to beat on her. He glared at her. “You out here fucking around got me looking stupid and shit. Bitch, I oughta slice your damn throat.”
Miki’s pitiful expression seemed to anger Redd even more. He drew his arm back as if he was about to hit her. Miki cowered ready to block the blow.
Instead of hitting her, a crazed expression covered Redd’s face. He hopped up from the bed abruptly and said venomously, “Bitch, I’m just gonna kill yo’ ass.”
Miki believed that he actually would this time. Frightened, her eyes followed him until he disappeared in the walk-in closet. He was going for his gun. He wouldn’t find it because Miki had moved it which would only anger him even more. Miki’s heart began thumping profoundly in her chest. Why hadn’t she listened? Why did she have to be so hard headed?
A shine caught her eye and she looked down on the bed before her. It was her set of keys that apparently had fallen from Redd’s pockets. This was it. It was an opportunity she knew she had to take. While he was cursing and searching in the closet, Miki reached over and covered the keys with her hand. Carefully she closed her fingers around them, so they wouldn’t make any noises.
Terrified, knowing that her chances of getting away were slim and her suffering a harsher punishment, Miki stood to her feet. Quietly she eased toward the bedroom door. She had to take this chance.
Once she felt sure, she quickly stepped into the hallway and pulled the door closed to provide some difficulties for him when he came for her.
Miki bolted down the stairs despite the pain her body had endured. When she made it to the bottom of the stairs she could hear his angry footsteps. With no time to look back she made a dash for the front door. In her plight to flee she didn’t bother shutting the door behind her. With just socks on her feet, pajama shorts and the matching top Miki ran for her car.
By the time she jumped in the driver’s seat, Redd was jumping from the front porch, just a few feet away from the driveway and her vehicle.
Instinct made her lock the doors right away. Redd came up to the driver side immediately going for the door handle.
“Open up this mothafuckin door!” he ordered. Fire seemed to dance in his eyes and his mouth was wet like a rabid animal.
Crying hysterically and shaking, Miki managed to ignite the car to life.
Redd beating on the car window with his gun, shook her up even more.
“Bitch, if you don’t open up this goddamn door!”
Miki put the car in reverse and like a mad woman backed out of the driveway. Redd was still yelling and fuming. She quickly put the car in drive and took off.
Looking in the rearview mirror, she could see Redd run back into the house. He’s coming after me, she thought.
Driving as cautious as possible without putting herself in danger, Miki sped through the neighborhood. Sure enough, Redd had jumped in his car and was closing the distance between them.
Miki ran through stop signs and traffic lights. She wasn’t surprised to see that Redd didn’t allow the rules of the road to stop him either. Hoping that she could lose him, she waited until the last minute to change lanes and enter the interstate heading North on I-65.
Redd was right behind her. She hoped the people witnessing this car chase would have enough sense to call into the authorities and report them. Where were the police that always hid out of view to trap people with speeding tickets? Miki would be glad to pass by one of them at that moment.
Miki headed straight for her sister’s house. Still weaving in and out of traffic, Miki somehow made it to her sister’s house in one piece. Barely putting the car in park, Miki jumped out and ran for the front door. She began pounding on the door while ringing the doorbell simultaneously.
“Open up the door!” she cried out. She looked over her shoulders and saw Redd coming down the street. Frantically, she started banging on the door. “Hurry up! Please!”
Redd threw his car in park. As soon as he jumped out of his vehicle, he aimed his gun at Miki’s back. In that very second, Gary was opening the door. Miki fell into the house just as a bullet made contact with the door’s trim.
“What the fuck!” Gary exclaimed with alarm.
“Shut the door! It’s Redd!” Miki cried hysterically. Without questioning Gary slammed the door shut.
Maddie asked, “What the hell is going on?”
“Call the police!” Miki demanded.
It was then Maddie observed her sister’s condition. “Oh my God Miki! What happened to you?”
Gary got on the phone. When the dispatcher answered he said, “Uh yeah, we need a car out here as soon as possible…Uhm, yeah 545 Brookwood Drive…Yeah, there’s a man outside my home who just fired a gun at my door…”
Téa came running toward the front, “Mommy!”
Miki was delighted to see her daughter. She went to Téa and embraced her tightly as tears streamed down her face.
Maddie explained, “I got her from Mama’s since she wanted to come—”
She was interrupted by the pounding on the door immediately followed by Redd’s booming voice, “Miki! Bring your stupid ass out here, you dumb bitch!”
Maddie grabbed Téa up in her arms, “Come on baby. Let’s see if we can make your mommy something to eat.”
The pounding on the door never stopped; nor did the shouting. Miki shouted back, “Get away from the door! The police are coming. I’m done Redd.”
“Come out this fuckin house!” he responded with one hard bang.
Miki broke down into heavy sobbing.
“Stop playing bitch! You gon make me fuck every mothafuckin body up in this goddamn house, you stupid hoe!”
Gary stepped up and said, “I think you should get away from my door and leave my property.”
“Fuck you, you four-eyed bitch!” Redd barked.
Ten minutes later the police finally showed up. Redd’s defiance and his delusional invincibility wouldn’t let him leave like a sensible person would have. He didn’t make his arrest easy.
After Redd was read his rights and was escorted to the back seat of the patrol car, officers came over to question Miki. Gary and Maddie were right there consoling her and encouraging her to do the right thing and tell the complete truth. Afterwards, Miki had to be taken to the hospital for examination and to receive medical attention for her injuries.
Bebe had shown up at the hospital ready to kill Redd. When he saw Miki, his heart dropped. Redd banged her up pretty bad. Her top lip had doubled in size and she had broken blood vessels in her left eye and she had a right ulnar fracture. Not to mention the several purple and red bruises that decorated her body and a concussion she suffered from Redd punching her in her head.
Redd was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm as a felon, interference with a 911 call, two counts of aggravated kidnapping with one being especially aggravated, and aggravated domestic assault. His bond was set at $120,000 and because it was domestic violence he was required to be held for twelve hours before he could be released. He had the money to bond out. Besides his uncle was a bondsman. And although the house was in Miki’s name, staying there wasn’t safe. She went back to the house and got as much as she could for her and Téa.
Later that night at Bebe’s place, when the house was still, and everyone was asleep Miki eased into bed with Bebe.
“You okay?” Bebe asked.
She nodded. She laid directly under his arm resting her head on his chest. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good. I wanted to beat Redd’s ass today but I’m over it now.”
Miki chuckled. “I’m so glad it didn’t get to that point because you would be in jail right now too.”
“Well he’s gone now,” Bebe commented. He began rubbing her arm. He asked, “Are you going back this time?”
“Nah…I don’t think so.”
“Good,” he said. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”
“What is that?”
“Marriage.”