When the Bough Breaks

Chapter 11

BRITTNEY POV.

Moments after Dontrell walks outside, I hear aggressive voices.

"Where in the hell is my wife and what in the hell she doing in your apartment!?", questioned Carter.

"Oh my gosh", I said softly to myself. As he walked to the door to hear the conversation better.

"You know what I'm glad you came here so I don't have to waste my gas. I'm Dontrell, nice to you. I'm your wife's attorney and usually I like to do this professionally with papers and all that but it's in the car so—"

"Woah Woah Woah...attorney?", asked Carter. "Attorney for what?"

"A divorce. She's leaving you", said Dontrell.

"She's here right?", asked Carter. "How about I talk to her. I wanna hear her say that shit to me."

"I don't think that'll be necessary. You will see her when the time comes to propose your settlements.", said Dontrell. "And if you touch my door or anywhere near my apartment again, I'll call the police"

"Thats alright...she'll be back.", said Carter.

Suddenly his voice became more clear as if he was talking right in front of the door like he knew she was there.

"Ain't that right, baby?", asked Carter.

I back up from the door.

"You're wasting your time man. Love is a powerful thing and well we love each other... she's just in one of her mood. Maybe it's the one that sad or maybe it's the mood that's jittery and panicky. No I think it's the one that's triggered easily by loud voices.", said Carter.

I got so upset that he was joking about my mental state that I opened the door.

"My mental health is a joke to you? It's your fault I'm dealing with the things that I deal with and then you got the nerve to take my damn medicine when you know I need it", I said.

Carter looks at Dontrell.

"You sure you want her staying with you? She's unpredictable", said Carter.

"Because you took my medicine you crazy son of a bitch!", I shouted.

Carter looks at me. "Ay cut that out sweetheart", said Carter. "That's not nice."

"Brittney, how about you go in the house", said Dontrell.

"You better not even listen to this nigga. Because last time I checked I was your husband", said Carter.

"Sir, she wants a divorce. She doesn't feel safe", said Dontrell.

"Safe?", asked Carter before he looks at me. "What he talking about? You lying on me now? What have I done to you for you to feel unsafe?"

I didn't say anything. I just looked at him.

"Exactly", said Carter. "Now get in the car and take your behind home. Don't waste this man time. You don't even have money to give him."

I look at Dontrell and Dontrell looks at me and shakes his head. His eyes were telling me don't go back.

I look at Carter.

"I don't want you anymore", I said.

Carter chuckles to himself but really he was upset.

"Yea okay", said Carter.

Carter grabs my arm and Dontrell pushes Carter against the wall.

"That push felt a little personal. You fucking her too?", asked Carter.

"No", I said quickly.

Carter throws a punch at Dontrell but Dontrell dodges it and tackles Carter to the ground.

I gasped as I cover my mouth.

Dontrell is on top of Carter and punching him repeatedly. My view was so satisfying because I was seeing Carter get his ass beat for a change.

As I watch I see Carter reach for something. It was a gun.

My first instinct was to protect Dontrell because at the end of the day I shouldn't have gotten him involved. I shouldn't have continued to talk to him. I quickly push Dontrell off of Carter and I heard the gun go off. Next thing I know my leg feels like it's on fire.

"Baby?", said Carter as his face read panic as he touched me.

I started shaking because I was in so much pain.

Dontrell sat up and crawled to me.

"You're going to be okay", said Carter. "It was an accident."

"Stop...touching me", I said.

Dontrell begins talking to 911.

"I didn't mean to shoot you", said Carter.

"I don't wanna see you again", I said. "I- ..."

Dontrell uses his shirt that he took off to apply pressure on leg.

I start taking deep breathes because I was in so much pain.

"I'm sorry. I have to do it", said Dontrell.

"Carter leave", I said. "You've ruined my life enough."

"I'm not leaving you alright", Carter shouted.

"Listen, I don't think now is the time to go back and forth about this. You need to preserve your energy Brittney. Calm down  and relax until the ambulance get here. You're losing a lot of blood.", said Dontrell.

Carter looks at Dontrell then he looks at me. I begin to try to calm myself down.

"You've been seeing him behind my back huh?", asked Carter.

"For the last time, she is my client", said Dontrell with annoyance in his voice. "And for the last time I'm going to need y'all to pick this conversation up at another time. I pushed you earlier because I don't play with that man handling shit. I don't give a damn if you're her husband or not. Shit ain't cool."

"Man don't talk to me like that because at the end of the day—"

💭DONTRELL POV.

I wasn't even playing attention to this fool. I was too busy observing Brittney. I see her eyes closing.

"Talk to me Brittney", I said.

Brittney's eyes quickly open.

"Don't go to sleep alright?", I said

On the end inside I was going crazy. But on the outside I remained calm. I didn't want Brittney to lose too much blood.

I look at Carter for a quick second and he look scared as I don't know what. I think a part of him did have a soft spot for Brittney. But he was crazy as hell so he treated her like shit. At the end of the day, he married her. I could tell that love he had for her is still there. But it didn't make up for the way he treated her.

"Britt, look...I know we have our issues and I know I'm the cause of that...and I know you're tired of it...I'm trying to work on my anger. You know I am but it's hard.", said Carter. "You don't need a lawyer, we don't need a divorce. We need to go get counseling. I am ready to get counseling. Just please...please baby...please stay awake."

And here I am...the monkey in the middle. The nigga who was falling for a married woman in a toxic relationship. I'm not saying that she's going to get back with him but it's a chance. She has done it before. I mean like at the end of the day, I'm not ready to be the one to piece somebody together. I'm not ready to be the one that has to go through making sure that she knows I'm not like him. Brittney is a beautiful girl, and I know she has a beautiful soul, but I can't be the to throw away all of her baggage. I'm trying to start my career off and i can't be Superman too.