Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
As I stared him down, I heard a siren wail. A police cruiser drove past Octavia’s car and mine, and parked on the opposite side of the street. I glared at the shitty ex in front of me one more time before releasing his shirt.
I was relieved they had shown up. The last thing I needed was an assault charge for blackening this man’s eye. And, trust me, I was very close to doing that. Attacking him any more would have been all over the press, and I did not want that kind of negative attention.
“We received a call about a disturbance,” one of the officers said, looking between us warily. He was male, White with a clean-shaven face. The other was a Latina officer. She walked around the passenger side, looking between me and Octavia’s ex with an inclined brow.
“This man showed up at my property unannounced, and I do not know how long he has been parked here,” I told them. “All I know is that he is a threat to me, my child, and especially to the woman in the car back there. She said that he has hurt her before.”
“He’s tripping. I was just about to leave.” Octavia’s ex started walking toward his car, but the male officer raised a hand.
“Sir, we need you to stay here until we get a grasp of the situation.”
He sighed.
“Do you know who this man is?” the female officer asked me. Her pocket had the name Amara.
“He’s her ex. The woman in the car.”
That seemed to annoy Officer Amara. She frowned at Octavia’s ex before saying “I will speak with her and see what’s going on and confirm if what you’ve told me is true.”
“Sure,” I said.
Officer Amara walked to Octavia’s car. Octavia saw her coming and rolled her window down before she drew near. After the officer said something, Octavia nodded and climbed out of the car.
“Do I have to go over there?” I heard her ask as she cut her eyes our way.
“No, sweetie. We can talk right here.”
Octavia nodded, rubbing her hands up and down both of her arms. I could not hear much of what she was saying to Officer Amara, but she looked frazzled. Almost broken. Never had I seen her like this.
I looked at her ex, who had his arms folded again. His eyes were harder as he zeroed in on Octavia, looking her up and down. I wanted to gouge his fucking eyes out. I stepped to the left, blocking his view.
After Amara said a few words to Octavia and gestured back to the car, she marched toward us. Octavia slunk her way into the driver’s seat again.
“Luther, right?” Amara asked, eyes pointed at Octavia’s ex.
Luther nodded. “Yeah.”
“The young woman back there said you emailed her a few weeks ago saying you moved to Atlanta.”
“Yeah, I did. So?”
“Did she ever respond to you?”
“No.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Probably because she was busy. That’s why I wanted to come here and surprise her.”
“She said she never told you where she worked or that she was in Atlanta at all. She never gave you her email address and hasn’t spoken to you for years. So explain to me how you received her address?” Amara’s tone had a little fire in it.
Luther’s nostrils flared just a little. “I saw her on TV. I knew she was into being a nanny or whatever, and I saw she was working for this man’s kid.” He pointed at me.
“So she never spoke to you personally or invited you here?” the male officer asked. His pocket had the name Graham. “Seems to me you don’t know how to read the room.”
Luther said nothing in response.
“Sir, I’m going to ask you to leave. Right now,” Amara said, taking a step closer to him. “That young woman just explained to me who you are and what you did to her, and in my opinion, you are a threat and a danger to this family. If you don’t leave, I will arrest you for trespassing. Get in your car and go. Now.”
“Man, whatever,” Luther muttered, heading to his car.
We watched him climb into his Mercedes, start the ignition, and drive away. He stopped his car next to Octavia’s and rolled his window down. I started to walk her way—my daughter was in that car—but he yelled “I still love you, O!” Then he peeled off.
Officer Amara scoffed when his vehicle was out of sight. “I can’t stand pieces of shit like that.”
“Neither can I,” I grumbled.
“If he comes back, let us know,” Officer Graham said.
“Yes. And in the meantime, I suggest you and the young woman back there file a restraining order on him.”
“Okay. I will let her know.”
Officer Amara nodded and walked away.
Officer Graham smiled as he took quick steps backward. “Big fan, by the way.”