Thug Love

7 - The Calm Before the Storm

The days following Ayanna's visit to the police station felt like an uneasy truce. She tried to convince herself that filing the report had been the right choice, but the nagging feeling that Damon would retaliate kept her up at night. Despite the fear, a part of her also felt relief. She wasn't alone anymore. She had Troy, and for the first time in a long while, that was enough. But the peace was fragile, hanging by the thinnest of threads.

It was an unusually warm afternoon when everything began to unravel.

Ayanna was at home, tidying up their small apartment. The faint sound of a rap song played softly in the background as she swept the floor, her thoughts preoccupied with the future. Troy had gone out to handle some business, leaving her to the quiet of their shared space. Her fingers twitched as she felt the weight of her past pressing in on her, but she pushed it away. She didn't want to live in fear anymore. Damon wasn't going to control her any longer.

She paused for a moment to wipe her forehead, looking out the window at the bustling city below. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and pink, a stark contrast to the cold, bleak reality she had lived for so long.

Suddenly, the sound of a knock at the door broke the silence. Her heart skipped a beat. It was too early for Troy to be back, and it was too late for any other visitors. She hesitated for a moment before walking cautiously to the door, her hand hovering near the doorknob.

"Who is it?" she called out, her voice shaky despite her best effort to sound calm.

There was no response at first, only the sound of footsteps shuffling on the other side. Ayanna's grip tightened on the door handle. She knew that sound too well. It was familiar. It was the sound of Damon.

A wave of panic washed over her, and before she could stop herself, she reached for her phone. Her fingers shook as she dialed Troy's number, the call ringing once, twice, three times before it went to voicemail. Her heart sank.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up," she muttered under her breath.

She didn't have time to wait for him to call back. Damon's knock came again, this time more forceful, his voice low and menacing. "I know you're in there, Ayanna. Open the door."

She froze. His tone was the same as it had been when he'd threatened her before—cold, full of authority, and demanding obedience. But now, there was an edge of desperation to it, as though he knew his grip was slipping, and he'd do anything to regain control.

Ayanna knew she couldn't open the door, not now. She wasn't the same girl who had allowed him to walk all over her. She wasn't his to command. But the fear still clawed at her chest, tightening with every second that passed.

Her mind raced as she backed away from the door, trying to think of an escape plan. She thought about jumping out of the window, but she wasn't sure how far down the ground was, and she didn't want to risk injury. Her only option was to hide—hide until Troy came back or until Damon left.

She grabbed her purse and rushed into the small bedroom, locking the door behind her. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She pressed her back against the wall, eyes darting around the room as she searched for a place to hide. The closet. It was the only place where she might be safe.

Just as she was about to slip into the closet, she heard the sound of the front door crashing open, followed by Damon's angry voice. "I told you, Ayanna. You can't run from me."

Terror shot through her as she crouched down, her body trembling, every muscle tense with fear. She could hear Damon's footsteps echoing through the apartment, getting closer. He was searching for her. His desperation was palpable, and it only made him more dangerous.

Ayanna pressed her hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. She couldn't let him find her. Not now. Not after everything she had done to get away from him.

Minutes passed, or maybe it was hours—she couldn't tell. Her whole world had narrowed to the sound of Damon's movements, his voice calling her name in that haunting way. He wasn't going to leave until he had her. Ayanna squeezed her eyes shut, wishing for this nightmare to end, wishing for Troy to walk through that door and save her.

But Troy didn't come.

Suddenly, the bedroom door crashed open, and Damon's silhouette filled the doorway. Ayanna's blood ran cold as she looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. His eyes were wild, his hair unkempt, and his face twisted with fury.

"You really thought you could just leave me?" Damon spat, his words dripping with venom. "You thought you could get away from me? I'll never let you go."

Ayanna scrambled backward, the corner of the closet pressing into her back. She had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

Damon's hand shot out, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her to her feet. Her body collided with his, and for a split second, she thought she might collapse under the weight of his touch. It felt like it always did—too forceful, too controlling.

"Let me go," she cried out, struggling in his grip. "You can't keep doing this to me."

He chuckled darkly, his breath hot against her ear. "I can do whatever I want, Ayanna. You're mine. You always were."

Her heart raced in her chest as panic rose like a tide. She kicked out, her foot connecting with his shin, but Damon didn't even flinch. Instead, he shoved her back, sending her crashing into the wall. Pain shot through her body, but it was nothing compared to the fear that squeezed her chest.

Ayanna's world spun as Damon advanced toward her, his anger making him unpredictable. She knew she had to act fast before he lost control entirely. She reached for the nearby lamp, gripping it tightly in her hands.

When Damon lunged for her again, she swung it at him, catching him across the face. The force of the blow stunned him for a moment, and Ayanna seized the opportunity to break free. She bolted toward the door, but Damon recovered quickly, grabbing her by the wrist just before she could escape.

"You think you can run from me?" he growled. "I'll show you how wrong you are."

Her pulse thundered in her ears as she tried to pull away, but his grip was unyielding. "No," she gasped, trying to steady her breath. "Please, Damon. Please."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her weak. She had to fight. She had to be strong.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Troy's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Get the hell away from her!"

Ayanna turned just as Troy stormed into the room, his eyes blazing with fury. Without hesitation, he charged at Damon, shoving him backward with all his strength. The impact sent Damon stumbling, but he quickly regained his footing.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Damon?" Troy snarled, his voice low and threatening.

Damon glared at him, his lip curling into a sneer. "She's mine. You think you can just swoop in and take her from me?"

Troy didn't flinch. His gaze locked onto Damon's, unflinching, unwavering. "No, Damon. She's not yours. Not anymore."

The two men squared off, the tension thick in the room. Ayanna stood frozen, her chest heaving as she watched the standoff unfold. She didn't want them to fight, didn't want anyone to get hurt, but the air crackled with danger. She knew Damon wouldn't back down easily.

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of Ayanna's breathing as she watched, her heart torn between the two men. Would it end with a fight? Would it end with her free?

Troy moved first, lunging at Damon, the clash of their bodies filling the room. The sound of fists meeting flesh was sickening. Ayanna's heart skipped a beat as she rushed toward them, shouting for them to stop.

"Troy, please!" she cried out, grabbing his arm. "Stop! Don't do this."

Troy paused, his chest heaving, his face flushed with anger. He looked back at Ayanna, and in his eyes, she saw the conflict, the desperation to protect her.