Book Two: Adaptation

•11•

•Nina•
Pulling into Abel's drive way, I park and cut the engine to my Maserati. Grabbing my purse I get out closing the door behind me and I walk up to the front door to ring the doorbell.

Waiting a few seconds I see Lamar come around a corner to let me in.

"You came"

"You said it was urgent" I step over the threshold when he steps aside and that's when I hear a huge crash.

"It is. Come on, everyone is in the living room" Lamar says like he didn't hear that just now.

Trailng behind him, I look around kindly surprised Abel bought a home like this. He's truly changed from the Abel I used to know.

"What's that sound?" I ask hearing another crash.

"Abel" Lamar answers simply.

Now entering the living room everyone turns making me pause. Lamar was right, everyone is here.

Sal, Rima, Cash, Belly, Hawk, and that girl who's been glued to Lamar's hip everytime I've seen him. Abel must be really going through it.

"Hello." I push some hair over my shoulder and there's an awkward silence as Abel rages on upstairs. Peering around at everyone, I cross my arms, "So... what's going on?"

"Something horrible has happened" Rima starts.

"And Abel needs you" Sal adds.

"He needs me?" I glance up when I hear glass shatter. "For what? What happened?"

"His fiancée has been kidnapped and as you can see he's pissed off" Cash explains.

"Okay.... what am I supposed to do about that?" I turn to him.

"Help him" Rima frowns. "Calm him down, he's not listening to any of us"

"And what makes you think he'll listen to me?" I peer around the room again.

"Because he always listens to you when he's loosing it" Belly speaks up.

"Come on, Joliene-" Lamar starts.

"It's Nina now" I correct him.

"Okay..., Nina, just go talk to him. He can't go on like this or he might hurt himself or worse. You know how he can get"

Staring at him for a second, I roll my eyes. "Where is his room?"

"I'll show you" Lamar turns.

Following behind him, he takes me upstairs to Abel's bedroom door. In front of it we hear him cursing and throwing things around. Something even hits the door making the frame shake.

"Are you sure I'll be enough?"

"You have to be. He won't be able to find her if he doesn't pull himself together"

"Lets hope you're right" I sigh taking the handle. Pushing it down I open the door to peer inside and I find the room is totally destroyed.

Abel is on the floor in front of his bed with his head between his knees as he mutters inaudibly to himself. Stepping in the room I close the door which makes his head jerk up and he gives me a look I never thought I'd be on the receiving end of. This look is only meant for the people he truly hates.

"What the fuck are you doing here? I told you I never wanted to see you again" he spits bitterly.

His words kindly stinging, I look around his room taking in the destruction. There are holes in the walls, couches and end tables are turned over. There are broken lamps and shattered windows, his dresser is in the floor, and clothes are scattered all around.