Page 14 of Entranced With the Hellhound

It’s a never-ending cycle of abuse that I just don’t want to deal with anymore. This isn’t the first time that he’s put our lives in danger, and if I don’t cut him off, it won’t be the last. This will keep going until one or all of us are dead.

I know one thing for sure: it ain’t gonna be me or my mama. That bitch Chauncey, though, when I get my hands on his ass, he’ll wish he never met us. He’s used and abused this situation for too long.

I know that I’m going to have to suck it up and go to my family for help. I didn’t want to involve them because they’ve done so much for us. But when a guy like Brick comes to warn you, you don’t ignore it. If I don’t have Mama’s debt cleared, both of us will end up missing or dead.

I have to suck up my pride and ask my family for help. I would go to my Aunt Delores, but she doesn’t have the kind of money we need. I also don’t want her worrying about us because she worries enough.

Hey cuz… I need a huge favor…. meet me at Soul @ 8.

BLACK: hey cuzzo… U good?

No.

BLACK: Who I need to kill?

nobody yet.

BLACK: cool. See ya @ 8

After I read Black’s text, I feel the tension rise. I’m not working in the Hounds’ clinic tonight, and I don’t want to show up there otherwise. It’s been a solid month of me actively avoiding hanging out at the clubhouse.

I do my shift, make my money, and take my Black ass home. It’s what I should’ve been doing from the beginning, but we all have to live and learn. I knew catching feelings for Bishop would end with me being heartbroken, but the heart wants what it wants.

Once I finish paying off this debt, maybe I will start dating again. I can at least start going out with friends again. I haven’t had a social life in ages. It will do me a world of good to relax and have some fun for a change.

“Maybe I’ll take a vacation. A trip to an island somewhere,” I say, trying to make myself feel better.

If I have something to look forward to, maybe my present situation won’t feel so endless. I hate this out of control feeling that I have. It took me a long time to get in control of my life after my dad died, and I swore to never feel like that again.

Now, here I am at thirty-four years old, feeling like I did when I was a kid. I hate it, and I will take control again. But first, I have to put my big girl panties on and ask for help.

I don’t know how Black will react, or whether he will want to get my Uncle Tree involved, but I sincerely hope not. Uncle Tree just might kill Chauncey, and even though I don’t give two shits about Mama’s deadbeat husband, I don’t want my uncle to get caught up.

It’s one of the main reasons I didn’t go to my family in the first place. I don’t want them mixed up in any mess. As patched members of the Hounds, they have enough to deal with. They’ve been a huge part of that brotherhood for years, and I know they make moves. But I also know that they have to be careful about how they move.

That’s why I tried to handle this situation myself. But I know when to ask for help, even though I don’t like asking. When there’s a threat of death, I know I’m in over my head.

“So, you need a fifteen-thousand-dollar loan by tomorrow?” Black questions.

The deep brown skin on his forehead is wrinkled, and his brows are pinched together. The snarl on his lips and the way his hands are steepled tell me this won’t be easy. I know my cousin, and he wants more details.

Shit, I was hoping he would just give me the cash.

“Yes, just a loan. I promise I’ll pay you back,” I say, the obvious pleading in my tone.

“Baby cuz, I know you. You don’t ask for shit. So, what’s really goin on?” Black leans forward, studying me closely.

“Do you not want to give me the money? I can ask somebody else.”

My words come out defensively. I don’t mean to snap, but my nerves have been on edge since Brick visited. Hell, they have been on edge since all this shit started.

“Now, don’t go getting all mad and defensive and shit. You know you can ask me for anything, and I’ll give it to you. You also know that I’m not stupid, so stop tryin’ to play in my damn face.”

I sigh because the jig is up. I tried to get over without having to tell Black the details. But it looks like I’ll have to come clean. I just hope he won’t be too hard on me.

“Okay, dang. Chauncey…”

“I know fucking well you ain’t askin’ me for money for that motherfucka!” Black interrupts me, scowling.