Between the lines of love

Homebound.

Monique

We were finally home—my new home, with new memories to make. I felt like myself again, though I was a bit more clingy than usual. My wife reassured me constantly, hugging and kissing me as I followed behind her like a puppy.

"How did your conversation with Kendall go?" I asked. "He called me a thousand bitches, told me I'm not getting another chance with you—blah, blah, blah," she replied.

"He called you a bitch?" I asked, my brows furrowing into a now-pissed expression. "Girl, he was talking straight shit to me," she said, unfazed ."I want to talk to him," I said, my anxiety clearly growing.

Before Penda could come and reassure me, the doorbell rang. She glanced at her phone and said, "Well, you have your chance to talk to him now. Him and Terrance are here."

Penda went to open the door, and the three of them walked back to the kitchen. Terrance immediately ran up to me, lifting me off my feet and hugging me. "Sweet Tasia, hey baby!" he said, grinning.

I kissed his head and greeted him warmly. Kendall approached and reached out for a hug. In response, I slapped him with all the power I had in me. He fell to the ground, clutching his face in shock. "If you ever call my wife out of her name again," I said coldly, "I'll do you worse than that." You know how I feel about this woman no matter the occasion! Penda laughed loudly.

Kendall scrambled to his feet, fury replacing the shock in his eyes. He stepped closer, his face mere inches from mine, his breath hot and fast. His eyes, usually a calm ocean, were now a tempest of rage and confusion. "Where was all this strength when that bitch had you tied up, taking her dick he spat. His voice dripping with contempt. No where right, you just sat there and took it. Now you want to be tough with me? Yea right!

I felt a tight pull in my chest at his words, as if my heart had clenched in sudden pain. The memories surged back with brutal clarity—the biting coldness of the ropes against my skin, the profound sense of helplessness that had consumed me. My eyes welled with tears, each one a silent witness to the raw agony rekindled by his cruel words, shattering me completely. The accusation hung in the air like a toxic fog, each word cutting deeper than the last. His fists clenched at his sides, trembling with barely contained anger.

I grabbed my chest it felt like I was having a heart attack. I thought about how she drugged me and I couldn't save myself even if I tried. Trying to not show him how his words broke me. I got prepared to fight him He looked around the dimly lit room, momentarily forgetting where he was and who he was speaking to, as if the rage had clouded his memory. At that moment, I heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked and realized Penda had a gun to Kendall's head.

Penda

I laughed while belligerently hitting him on the back of his head with my gun. "You have lost your fucking mine ? Be fucking for real you really thought it was okay to come to my house, get in my wife's face , and then speak about her trauma?" My laughter grew uncontrollable. "Niggas is losing they fucking minds! I should have taken you out when my wife was in Germany—it had your name written all over it." No one will ever take her away from me.

I cocked my gun, the weight of the weapon making my intent clear. "What's stopping me now? Turn around bitch I screamed. You know I'm the big dog, and you know you could never touch me." Kendall's eyes widened with fear. "I'm sorry," he mouthed. "Tasia, you caught me off guard and I reacted badly. You're my sister; I was just angry," he said, his voice trembling.

Nah don't say shit to her at all, you lost your chance to talk to her. Talk to me, bitch," I said, my voice icy and unyielding as my eyes locked onto his with unwavering intensity. The air between us crackled with tension. "Mama, get behind me," I instructed, and my wife swiftly moved to my side, her face etched with concern.

Terrance, his face a mask of desperation, stepped protectively in front of his boyfriend. "Please, Penda, sis, let me handle this." His voice wavered, but his eyes were earnest. "Tee, I love you, but if you don't move, I'll move you myself."

My tone remained sharp yet calm, never breaking eye contact with Kendall. The atmosphere was thick with unease, each breath coming in tense, measured intervals.

Please don't kill him." I felt my wife's hand tighten around mine as she whispered, "Please, baby, I'm scared. Don't kill him, please." Her plea cut through the tension, and I lowered my gun.

"You owe her your life," I said coldly. "If you ever come near my wife or any place she's at, I will end you. The things you said to her—regardless of your anger—are unforgivable, especially considering how you felt about me not protecting her. Now, GET THE FUCK OUT."

Kendall darted to the door looking back mouthing to my wife I'm sorry he ran to his car, his heart pounding in his chest. As he fumbled with the keys, he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see his boyfriend, Terrance, approaching with a look of intense anger.

"Kendall, what the hell happened in there?" Terrance demanded, his voice edged with urgency as he seized Kendall's arm, his grip firm and unyielding. Kendall's eyes darted around, a mixture of fear and confusion written across his face. "I messed up, babe. I messed up bad," he admitted, his voice cracking with distress.

Terrance's expression tightened with concern as he pulled Kendall into a protective embrace, holding him close as if to shield him from further harm. Kendall began to sob uncontrollably. "I didn't mean to say that," he choked out. "I didn't mean to get in her face. She hit me hard as hell."

Terrance's jaw clenched as he processed Kendall's words. "So you spoke on the worst thing that's ever happened to her? Really?" His voice was sharp, a mix of frustration and worry. "Get in the car before she comes back and shoots you for real."

As they drove away, Kendall glanced back at the house, the image of Penda's fierce, protective gaze burning in his mind. He knew he had narrowly escaped with his life, and he vowed never to cross her path again.

I watched them drive away, anger still consuming me like a wildfire. How could he say that to my wife after knowing the pain she went through? Her own best friend. The look on her face—I saw her heart break in that instant. Her eyes, usually so full of light, dulled as if someone had snuffed out a candle.

I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white. Every fiber of my being wanted to chase after him, to make him feel a fraction of the pain he had inflicted. But then I turned to my wife, pulling her into a tight embrace. Her body trembled against mine, her silent sobs shaking us both.

"I'm so sorry you had to hear that," I whispered, kissing her forehead gently. "Are you okay?" She nodded weakly, but I could see the torment in her eyes. I held her closer, hoping to shield her from the cruelty of the world. Her hands gripped my shirt as if clinging to a lifeline, and I felt her pain as acutely as if it were my own.

"What he said... I couldn't take it. I couldn't stand hearing him speak to you like that," I continued, my voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and anger. "If he ever comes near you again, that's the end, Mrs. Barrino."

She lifted her gaze to meet mine, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. With a nod, she whispered, "I love you. I love you princess. I have to go deliver Isabelle. You're coming with me. We need to confront the anger you've been holding inside about her. Besides, I want to make her suffer one last time before she gets what she truly deserves." Mo's face tightened with apprehension. "Baby, I don't want to hurt her."

I offered a smile, one that carried a glint of dark amusement. "Oh, you're only going to hurt her mentally," I said. My smile only deepened as I noticed the flicker of confusion that crossed her face. I picked my baby up and walked her to the living room so she could calm down and relax before we leave.