Kevin

 

 

I sit here on Eve's front porch ready to bust the door down. My ex-coach has her tied to a chair in her kitchen. All the lights are off inside except the kitchen where he is holding her. I can only see her hands tied behind her from this view. He has the blinds closed in every window except for the one next to where I sit. It's her living room window, the same one she had her Christmas tree in.

I haven't called the cops yet. I'm holding out hope he'll come to his senses and let her go. It's me he's angry at. He has no real reason to be upset at Eve. The reality is he has no reason to be pissed at anyone except for himself. When I get my hands on him he's going to wish he never met me. I just need to figure out a way to get into the house. I'm guessing he put chairs or something heavy in front of the doors because I tried my key as soon as I got here.

My phone rings, and Coach says, “I see you are doing as you were told and waiting. I hope you are ready for a long night Kevin.

“Coach, let Eve go. It's me you’re angry with.”

“See, Lightning, that is where you are wrong. We were doing great before your little fling here came long. Now you sit there and think about this longer. Make yourself cozy, Boy. It's going to be a long night.”

I get up from the wicker chair, and start pacing the porch. My fighter instincts are kicking in and I'm tempted to break the front window. I need to get her out of there. He comes to the front window and looks out. He's been doing this about every twenty minutes. I don't sit back down. I keep pacing with my mind going a million miles a minute. I need a plan.

Another twenty minutes pass and just like clockwork he checks the front porch making sure I'm still here. The longer this goes on the more my blood boils. When he goes back to the kitchen I check the time and step away. I start checking all the ground level windows. All of them are locked. I look up to the second level, I'm going to need a ladder. I check the time and run back to the porch just in time for him to come and check on me. I sit back in the wicker chair. When he leaves I send a text to my dad.

Kevin: Dad I need help. Come over to Eve's so I can explain. You’ve got to be quiet.

Bob: What's going on?

Kevin: Dad just come over here I'm on the porch.

Bob: I'll be there in a minute.

When my dad gets here I tell him to duck down. I know Coach is going to check on me. After he does, I fill my dad in. He goes back home to get a ladder, hat and a jacket. When he gets back, I put the hat and coat on waiting for Coach to look out. When he does he gets his phone out and calls.

“You broke the rules, Boy. I told you to stay put. You need more discipline. You think you’re above me? I trained you and now you disrespect me again? You keep breaking rules we will do this all night.”

He hangs up before I can say anything. I move the chair so my dad's face will be shadowed. I give him the hat and jacket. He sits there pretending to be me. He tries to talk me into calling the cops. Fuck that; Coach is mine. The asshole is gonna meet my fists before I knock his ass out flat. I pick up the ladder from the front lawn that my dad just brought over and carry it around to the side of the house. I lean it on the side of Eve's house, under her bedroom window. I'm thankful she has a window fan so I know I can get in.

I climb the ladder and remove the fan. I toss it to the ground and watch as it breaks. I sit on the window’s ledge and get my feet inside. Once inside, I remove my shoes and check the time. I have about ten minutes before he will check the window, so I walk softly out of Eve’s bedroom and into her bathroom. I shut the door and turn the light on. I look through Eve’s vanity for her make-up bag and when I find it I get the lighter she uses for her eyeliner pencil. I shut the light off and open the door then walk down the hallway to the stairs. When I get to the top of staircase I flick the lighter, and start my way downstairs. When I reach the last step, I sit and wait for Coach to come check on me from the window.

I wait and wait for him to come into the living room, but he doesn’t come. I don’t hear any noise from the kitchen either. I stand and take the last step and flick the lighter to get a good look around so that I don’t stumble over anything. I pocket the lighter and then start going to the kitchen. I stop to listen for movement and don’t hear any. I peek my head into the kitchen and Coach’s head is resting on the table and I believe he is passed out. Now what do I do first? Untie my girl or find something to tie him up with? If I untie Eve I can use that rope but if he wakes up I have nothing. I can see he’s holding a gun and it points towards Eve. Any sudden movement could cause him to do something rash. I ball up my fists, I want to hurt this asshat, but I know, I need to keep my cool. I can’t risk Eve getting hurt.

Even though every cell in my body wants to hurt him, the only option I see is to get the gun away from him first. I walk softly into the kitchen and freeze when his head falls off his arm and to the table. He doesn’t wake so I continue to make my move. Eve notices me here and she keeps her mouth closed. I reach for the gun and he wakes. Thinking faster than him, I elbow him in the face with my left arm and get the gun with my right hand.

“You little prick. I think you broke my nose.” He cries out.

I point his gun at him and say, “You make a move out of the chair and I will shoot you, right here and right now.”

“You won’t do that. I know you better than that. Besides it’s not even loaded.”

I do the only thing I know, and haul off and punch him. His nose is never going to be right again after that hit. Blood drips from his nose and he covers it with both his hands. He’s so drunk he doesn’t feel the pain.

“Nice swing, Lightning, just like I taught you.”

I get down to his face and say, “You move from this chair and I’ll make you hurt so bad you will spend weeks in a hospital.”

He doesn’t say another word. I go over to Eve and start to untie her hands. She stands and hugs me when she is untied. I keep my eye on Coach as he sits there and bleeds.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No. I’m okay, I’m just glad you are here.”

I let go of Eve and get the rope. I step over to Coach and proceed to tie his bloody hands. Eve calls the cops while I go to the front door to let my dad in and I was right he had a kitchen chair shoved under the door knob. It doesn’t take long for the cops to show up. Officer Judy Halloran takes Eve into the other room for her statement while another officer takes mine.

They take Coach out in cuff’s and he says, “He broke my nose.”

“Be glad it wasn’t your jaw where you had to eat out of a straw for months; asshole. Don’t come near me or Eve ever again.”

My mother ran over as soon as she saw the cop cars and once the cops have taken their statements and leave, my dad and mom leave shortly after. I lock up the house and join Eve on the sofa. I hold her tightly in my arms.

“You sure you’re alright, Sweetheart? He didn’t touch you, did he?”

“No, I’m alright. Once I realized he was half drunk and only wanted your attention I stayed calm. That and I told him where the alcohol was.”

“I was so worried that he would hurt you. I would have killed him if he harmed you in any way. I love you, Eve and I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

“It’s not your fault, Kevin. He’s an alcoholic and needs help. He’s a rundown lonely man. I feel kinda sorry for him. I’m going to go shower. I’m tired and ready for bed.”

Eve showers while I wait for her in the bedroom. I think about the night and if he tries anything again the outcome won’t be the same. I’m not going to have the woman I love living in fear.