Page 10 of Ravaged By the Dark (The Righteous 2)
“Alright, kid, let’s blow this popsicle stand.”
“We have popsicles,” J.J. asked, his eyes lighting up.
She laughed a little. “No, but we’ll get some of those today too.”
By lunchtime, they had put away all the groceries, purchased a new door handle she was determined to figure out how to install on the front door, and eaten so many pancakes that they were both groaning. Today was a day for treating themselves and some self-soothing. So instead of going to the sketchy local beach, they were currently sitting on the bus heading to the posh side of the city—the side of the city she planned to live in one day. J.J. stared out the window, his head laying on his arms as they watched the buildings going by.
“This is our stop.” She stood, and he took her hand.
She was very aware of the other passengers watching them leave, and she knew by the raised eyebrows and dirty glances what they were thinking. She was just another statistic, another twenty-one-year-old that got knocked up at sixteen, just another poor black girl on the wrong path. Well, all those judgemental fuckers could suck it.
J.J held her hand and skipped as they walked down the street. He was at the age that things like cracks in the sidewalk still held amusement, and she was at the age that she felt their tax money was going to waste.
They neared the mouth of the beach’s entrance, and she let go of his hand so he could run and play in the warm sand. He grabbed handfuls and threw it in the air, making her squeal as she dodged the raining granules.
“Okay, enough of that. I have sand everywhere,” Renee squealed.
J.J laughed but stopped and ran in front of her kicking off his shoes on the go.
Amused, she picked up the discarded pieces and made a little pile, laying out their towels. They stripped down to their bathing suits, and she tickled his sides, making him giggle and run in circles. It was still a little cool, so the beach was delightfully scarce of people.
“I’ll race ya!” Renee yelled and dashed toward the water.
Of course, it was a pretend race, but J.J. ran hard. So she found a way to “trip” and let him win. He jumped around in the cool water and cheered triumphantly. As much as she loved the beach and the sound of the waves, the water made her nervous. She refused to let either of them wade in any further than her knees. Sharks were definitely on her mind, but the fact that J.J. hadn’t yet learned to swim was her bigger concern. What if something happened and she wasn’t strong enough to save him? She shivered at the horrific thought and pushed it aside.
The day was perfect. It was exactly what they both needed. She sat with her feet in the water and watched as J.J. attempted to build a sandcastle. They’d have to get going soon. There was dinner to make and plans to put into place for what the coming weeks would hold. But she selfishly wanted a few more minutes of this.
What harm would another twenty minutes do?The problem with great days and well-laid plans, though, was that someone always had to go and fuck with it.
“Yo, what do we have here? Is that little miss too good for the rest of us?”
Renee leapt to her feet, spinning to face the voice she knew all too well, Tyson. Goosebumps that had nothing to do with the water’s temperature raced across her body as she fought the urge to grab J.J. and run. To run would’ve done no good. Tyson or one of his men would catch them, and if she ran, Tyson would want her more.
Sick bastard.
He fed on fear like a vampire would feed on blood.
Instead, she straightened her spine and glared at Tyson, the leader of one of the largest gangs in the city. He also happened to be the fucker that convinced her older brother to join the gang and leave her family behind. Renee could barely contain her surprise when she noticed, standing right beside Tyson, her brother Cody. She hadn’t seen him in almost two years, and he’d put on a lot of muscle and gained a nasty scar across his cheek, but it was his eyes that made her shiver. The once soft, silvery-blue eyes that used to fill with laughter were now as hard and cold as granite.
“I never said I was too good for anyone, Tyson.” She could feel J.J. come and stand behind her, one arm wrapping around her leg as he peeked around her to look up at the strange men. J.J. didn’t seem to recognize Cody, and she didn’t remind him who he was.
“Well, it sure seems like that to us, doesn’t it, boys,” Tyson asked the group of guys behind him. There was some mumbling in agreement.
“Just because I have no interest in being part of a gang doesn’t mean I think I’m better, just that I want something different for my life.” She crossed her arms and pointedly stared at her older brother. Just another person to abandon her. What did she expect? It was the fucking theme of her life. “What are you doing here anyway? This isn’t exactly what I’d call your ‘normal’ hangout.”
“What? A guy and his friends can’t have a day to chill at the beach?”
“If you were any other guy with his friends, I’d say yes. You, on the other hand, I would have to guess that you are dealing with dirty business or you’re stalking me. Pathetic either way.”
Tyson approached her, his eyes narrowing into slits, and all she could think of was a snake. He stopped only a few inches away and made a point of looking at her boobs in the bikini top. He flashed a crude smile that showed he had added gold caps to his teeth since she saw him last.
“You know, the thing is, baby, if it weren’t for the fact that I have plans for you to be my queen, I’d teach you a permanent lesson about showing me some respect.” His eyes hardened, the depth of his depravity flashing brighter than any neon sign, and she swallowed the scratchy dread. “Or we could make it a family reunion. You, me, and Cody here. A little taboo incest, what do you think?”
Tyson reached out and ran the ponytail hanging over her shoulder through his hand. “I could make good use of this when I fuck your mouth while he takes your ass.”
Renee pressed her hand over J.J.’s exposed ear.
“Watch your mouth,” she practically growled at Tyson. “And I would rather eat glass than have you or anyone in your group touch me, especially him.” Her eyes flicked to her brother, whose expression hadn’t changed. She might pay later for talking back, but this was a very public area with cameras lining the beach. Tyson was an asshole, but sadly he wasn’t stupid.
