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  Redemption

  Kenya Wright

  Redemption © 2019

  Cover Design © 2019 Designs by Taria Reed

  Illustrations by WarlockLord

  Interior design and formatting by EbookJob

  Production Team: A. L. Barron and K Killers Beta Team

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means such as electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the authors of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Any characters, names, places, brands, media and incidents are used solely in a fictitious nature based on the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to or mention of persons, places, organizations or other incidents is coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Printing, 2019

  ISBN 0-9000000-0-0

  www.KenyaWrightBooks.com

  Table of Contents

  Kenya Wright

  Prologue: Daddy is Home

  Chapter 1: Ching Chong

  Chapter 2: Right is Right

  Chapter 3: Unexpected Guests

  Chapter 4: Temporary Haven

  Chapter 5: Goals

  Chapter 6: Confessions

  Chapter 7: Guns and Memories

  Chapter 8: A Big Decision

  Chapter 9: Horny

  Chapter 10: Family

  Chapter 11: Breakfast at Ebony’s

  Chapter 12: Off with His Head

  Chapter 13: Death’s Game

  Chapter 14: Life inspires Art

  Chapter 15: A Man on a Mission

  Chapter 16: Breaking In

  Chapter 17: Bullet Kisses

  Chapter 18: Shootout

  Chapter 19: True Sacrifice

  Chapter 20: Love is like a Flower

  Chapter 21: Jillin’ Off.

  Chapter 22: No Stopping

  Chapter 23: VIP

  Chapter 24: I love you, Mommy

  Chapter 25: Fuck That

  Chapter 26: Wet and Wild

  Chapter 27: The Morning After

  Chapter 28: My Everything

  Chapter 29: Holiday Spirit

  Chapter 30: Date Night

  Chapter 31: Christmas Day

  Epilogue: Christmas Eve a year later.

  “Time heals

  some wounds,

  but love

  heals them all.”

  ― Matshona Dhliwayo

  Prologue

  Daddy is Home

  Ebony

  I stared at the picture of my beautiful family. While we were at the mall, we all jumped in a photo booth and took several silly pictures. Just my three kids and me. I had a dark brown complexion, while their caramel skin showed the evidence of my multicultural union. My husband—their father—had blonde hair and blue eyes. While they didn’t get those blue eyes, they all had hazel ones—gold and glowing when they smiled.

  And in this picture, they beamed with happiness.

  Portland is going to be different. He won’t find us here.

  I’d given both the girls dreadlocks like mine. While I had long black locs, my oldest daughter, Kiara had sandy blonde ones, and my youngest’s were light brown.

  My son had begged me to let him grow dreadlocks too, but for now, I’d kept his hair clean cut. It was enough to make sure I twisted the girls and my own hair each month. I would wait for him to get older before adding him to the locking lineup.

  I’m blessed.

  I set the photo down on my bed and grabbed the huge box of stuff we’d bought from the mall.

  It was the first day of December.

  I’d waited long enough to not spread our small apartment in Christmas cheer. It had been a long time since I’d been able to release my madness for this holiday.

  Finally this year, I can go crazy!

  “Okay, guys.” I left my bedroom and dragged the box of Christmas ornaments into our small living room. “Who’s ready to decorate the tree?”

  The kids didn’t respond. All three stood by the curtained window. My oldest, Kiara peeked out of the corner. The middle child, Jalen held his little sister as she shook.

  Please, God. Don’t let it be Wyatt.

  My stomach twisted. “What’s wrong, Kia?”

  Kiara confirmed my fears as she kept her voice low. “Daddy is here.”

  Fear sliced up my spine, but there was no time to be scared. I had to move fast.

  “Let’s go.” I rushed over to the counter, put the ornaments down, and raced back to the closet in the hallway. My kids followed. They all knew the drill. Reaching into the closet, they grabbed their pre-packed book bags out and headed to the back door.

  “Get your phones.” I grabbed Poppy’s hand. She shook next to me and kept my pace. No words left her mouth, but none ever did. She’d stopped speaking at five, right after my husband brutally beat me in front of her. Now eight, she still didn’t utter a word.

  I hurried back to the window and peeked out. My heartbeats slammed in my chest. Sure enough, the kids had been right. The monster was outside of the front door, kneeled over with a screwdriver, and messing with the knob.

  It was eight in the evening, but he knew that if he knocked, it would signal us to run.

  You can’t just let us have a few months of peace?

  I backed away from the curtain and glanced down at Poppy. Her eyes watered.

  “It’s going to be okay.” I pulled out my stun gun from the book bag and guided her to the back.

  Kia and Jalen waited at the back door.

  I whispered. “Ready?”

  They all nodded.

  I hate that they have to go through this.

  I held back my tears. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  Let’s hope I’m not lying.

  “You’re right, Mommy.” Kia pulled out her own stunt gun. “If Daddy comes close, I’ll get him.”

  “No. Just run to the car, make sure everyone is in and lock the door.”

  Kia widened her eyes. “But, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Kia’s voice cracked. “No, you won’t.”

  Kia gripped the stun gun harder and raised it in front of her, readying herself to shoot. At thirteen, Kia shouldn’t have had to do this. Neither Jalen who had just turned ten on Thanksgiving. There biggest worries should’ve been about Christmas presents.

  Jalen took Poppy’s hand. “I’ve got her, Mommy.”

  “Thank you, baby.” Slowly, I unlocked the back door and opened it.

  Wyatt stood right there.

  No!

  His next move was sudden, happening without warning.

  Wyatt shoved me back into the apartment. I stumbled into Poppy. Before I could make sure she was okay, Wyatt hit me with a vicious backhand blow. My face exploded in pain.

  Kia raised the stunt gun to him.

  Wyatt caught the movement.

  “No!” I charged for him, but it was too late.

  Wyatt twisted violently and punched Kia her in the face.

  Screaming, Kia fell back against the wall.

  The stunt gun dropped to the floor. Poppy lowered to the ground and clamped both hands over her mouth as if it were vitally important that she didn’t scream.

  You, motherfucker!

  Full of rage, I attacked him, wrestling against those huge arms. Stamping and kicking. With all my energy, Wyatt still had no problem shoving me away.

  My back smashed against the wall.

  Searching the space, I couldn’t find Jalen. Somehow he’d disappeared.

  Did he run out and go to
the car?

  I had no time to think. I attacked Wyatt, punching his head and kicking his leg.

  He pushed me away.

  I slapped him.

  “Bitch!” Wyatt’s hands went to my throat. Squeezing tightly, he screamed, “Fucking bitch!”

  Unable to breath, I clawed at his face. My throat burned.

  Kia hit the back of his head.

  He jerked away, hit her again, and pushed my baby down.

  “No!” Panting, I charged for him.

  Wyatt spun back to me, reached in his jacket, and came out with a gun. I froze. The gun was dark metal gray. He pointed it at my chest.

  All I could do was stare at it and pray in my head.

  God, don’t take me. I’m all they have. I’m all they have. Please!

  Wyatt growled, “Come here.”

  It took everything in me to move toward him. “Please, Wyatt. Please, don’t do this.”

  “You take my kids from me? You talk shit to them about me, and now they hate me.”

  “I-I. . .didn’t.” I slowly raised my hands in the air and stepped forward. “I can—”

  “You can what, Ebony?” Wyatt leaned his head to the side. “You can run? No. Every time you run, I find you.”

  “I-I’ll stop running—”

  “Liar! Fucking liar!” The gun shook in his hand. “Come here.”

  I got right in front of him.

  He punched me in the face.

  I stumbled back.

  A shriek came from Kia. “Please, Daddy. We’re sorry. We’re so sorry.”

  He wagged the gun at me. “Come back over here.”

  Blood dripped from my nose. I could feel my top lip swelling. I sniffed, stood up straight, and prepared myself for the next hit. Tears left my eyes. “I. . .don’t want the kids to see this.”

  “They should.”

  One day. . .one day, I’m going to kill you. I’m going to find that part of me. . .and I’m going to use it to kill you.

  I stared into his cold face. Long ago, our friends called us Ebony and Ivory. Wyatt had pale skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair. Now scars marred some of his chin. One eye was hooded under an eyelid as thick and coarse as a thumb. The other was cold and unblinking. He’d gotten the injuries from his time in the military.

  I stared at the gun. It was a foot away from my chest. Terrified, I took a quarter step forward.

  “You can’t run from me, Ebony.” His good eye was webbed with lines. The right eye blinked. He moved toward me and pressed the gun pressed between my breasts. “Are you scared?”

  “Yes.” I shuddered.

  “Good.” The metal was pushed harder into the softness of my flesh, crushing the side of my breast and pulling my nipple sideways. “I should shoot you right here.”

  A strained cry came from Kia and then she went silent.

  “Please, don’t,” I begged.

  “I should.”

  I stood immobile within horror.

  Wyatt moved the gun a little.

  I swore he was close to pulling the trigger. For a second, I turned my face an inch and stared at Kia and Poppy, fixing their faces in my mind before I died.

  Wyatt growled, “What should I do?”

  I gritted my teeth through the pain. “Let’s go in the back.”

  He gazed down at my breasts. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  “Last one down the hallway.”

  He turned his attention to the girls. “Y’all go in the living room. Daddy brought presents too. They are in the car. I’m not mad at you two. It’s just your mama.”

  Kia kept a straight face. Poppy had gotten into her big sister’s arms.

  I nodded. “Go ahead.”

  Kia widened her eyes.

  I knew she wanted to dispute it. I shook my head.

  Wyatt looked around. “Where’s my boy?”

  Kia kept her mouth shut.

  “I think he ran into his room.” I hoped Jalen had rushed off to the car to wait. Somehow, I’d get out of Wyatt’s grips. Kia knew that as soon as I went into the bedroom with her daddy, she should take Poppy out to the car too.

  The girls left the hallway but kept their bags with them. Seconds later, the sound of the television never came on.

  They would be waiting for a time to run.

  Escape was always the plan, when it came to their Daddy. Survival would be the only thing on their minds. There would be no family time. No reunion. Three years ago, I’d had enough of the abuse. And although I couldn’t figure out how to properly hide from him, I would never accept defeat. We would always run. Always hide. Always fight back when we could.

  As if he heard my thoughts, Wyatt brought the gun to my face. “Don’t even think about it.”

  I remained silent.

  “Where’s Jalen?”

  I swallowed. “I don’t know. I think he went—”

  He pressed the tip in the center of my forehead and then dragged the cold metal along the arch of one of my eyebrows.

  I didn’t move, not an inch, too afraid to even breathe.

  Wyatt glared. “Where is he?”

  “I swear. I don’t know.”

  “I don’t trust you. Did he go get help from someone?”

  “We don’t know anyone here.”

  He slipped the gun down my forehead and traced the curve of my nose. “I know. I’ve been watching. You keep to yourself. You better.”

  “How long have you been watching?”

  “Two days.”

  I shivered.

  He moved the gun’s tip under my nose and then pressed it against my top lip. “Open your mouth.”

  I did.

  He pushed the gun between my lips. “I missed you.”

  I kept my mouth wide, not even letting my teeth clamp onto the metal. Screams rose inside my head. I did my best to not gag on the bitter taste of the gun. For now, he held the power. One pull of the trigger and my head would explode into bits and pieces.

  Wyatt stared into my eyes. “Did you miss me?”

  I couldn’t speak so I tried to make a sound that resembled a yes.

  “Liar.” He pushed the gun an inch deeper into my mouth. The tip sat on my tongue.

  Whimpering, I rose on my toes, trying to take the weight off my throat.

  He pulled the gun out and wiped off my saliva with his shirt. “Show me your bedroom.”

  Panting, I hurried off and counted my blessings that he’d forgotten about Jalen’s whereabouts. For now, Wyatt would be ready to stick his dick inside of me. I didn’t know if I could go through with it.

  If he puts the gun down, then I can do something. Bite him. Scratch his damn eyeballs out. Anything.

  An eagerness laced Wyatt’s voice. “Hurry.”

  I increased my pace, got to my bedroom, and opened the door.

  He followed, slammed the door behind him, and closed it. “Take off your clothes.”

  Remember. You know what to do. You’ve practiced over and over. You can do it.

  Not undressing, I inched back to my bed and lowered to my knees. “I’m sorry for everything.”

  He beamed. His whole face brightened as if I’d given him a present. Long ago, that expression had warmed my heart. Now it brought disgust, twisting my stomach and making me want to vomit.

  “Please, let me make it up to you.” I held my hands into a praying position. “I’m so sorry. I won’t run again.”

  “No?” He walked over, set the gun on the nightstand next to the bed, and unbuckled his pants. “You said that before.”

  “I run when I’m scared.”

  “Not true. If you were really scared of me, you wouldn’t run.”

  “I’m sorry.” I looked down at the floor as he came closer and finished undoing his pants.

  “How are you going to make it up to me?” He pulled his dick out. “Huh? How are you going to say sorry?”

  Cold fear filled me. I raised my head and opened my mouth.

  “That’s right, Ebony.” He grabb
ed the back of my head hard.

  I widened my eyes and looked up at him.

  “You bite me, and I’ll fucking knock out all of your teeth.”

  “I won’t bite.”

  He licked his lips. “You better not.”

  Don’t throw up. It’ll only be a little bit.

  My body went numb as he slipped his hard dick between my lips. As soon as he groaned, I slid my right hand under my bed and grabbed the knife.

  “There you go, Ebony.” He pushed deeper between my lips and then slipped his dick back, slowly fucking my mouth.

  Don’t throw up. You can do it. You can do it.

  “Oh, Ebony,” Wyatt groaned. “I missed you.”

  Mouth full of his cock, I watched him. He fell into ecstasy, rocking his hips and pumping his disgusting dick into my mouth,. As soon as he closed his eyes, I raised the knife up, quickly pulled my mouth away, and slammed it into his dick.

  Blood sprayed on my face.

  “Ah!” He roared in pain.

  The knife remained lodged at the center of his crotch. Not exactly splitting his dick, but definitely piercing the top of where his length met his body. He screamed in horror, staring at it with shaking hands.

  “You bitch! What did you do!?” He staggered and whirled around, appearing unsure of how to fix it.

  I ran for the gun, picked it up, and pointed.

  And then my bedroom door opened.

  Jalen entered with a bat. I didn’t think my little boy even seen what was going on. All he did was swing at his dad.

  Jalen struck him in the back.

  With his pants half down, Wyatt fell to his knees.

  Kia rushed in next with the stun gun, pulled the trigger, and shocked Wyatt in his temple.

  “Okay! Okay!” I yelled at them and pointed the gun at Wyatt. “Get in the car, guys. Hurry!”

  They didn’t move as Wyatt groaned in pain.

  Kia glanced at my gun, and then Jalen.

  What was going through their minds.? Did they think I should shoot him? Could I?

  Poppy entered the now silent room, holding her teddy bear.

  “Get your stuff.” I trembled.

  “I’m going to die here!” Wyatt’s hands shook as he tried to decide pull at the knife. “Call 911! Kids, you see what she’s doing to Daddy? Help me!”

  Kia grabbed Poppy and they raced away.

  Jalen continued to stare at the gun in my hand.