The Preachers Daughter

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Zoie, can you straighten up the dressing room for me?"

"Yes ma'am".

I  watched Zoie as she skipped into the back rooms to tame the mess that had accumulated. I made a few calls and was able to get Donnie a way better lawyer than his sadditty ex girlfriend. They were hired by my mother to get the members of the crew off if anything happened. She was right when she said she was the brains of the operation. She covered every base to make sure everybody would be good. Donnie kept asking me where did I find the lawyer at, but I never told him. That was one thing I subconsciously took from my parents. I wanted to keep my domestic life and my street life far away from each other. The thicker the line the better. 

The crew needed a way to launder out the money we were getting from selling through the church. It had a better outcome than what I could've ever calculated. A few of the boys sit in the congregation as ploys to the rest of the members. I even saw Donnie's father copping a bag or two. I told him I'd keep his secret from his son as long as he kept mine. He's been one of my most loyal customers ever since. 

I took some cash aside and opened up my own clothing boutique to assist with the laundering. Most of the designs are done by me but I sometimes accept outside designers. With Donnie having Zoie twenty-four-seven now, she gives as much help as she possibly can when she's not busy with school. She's starting to catch up on a thing or two with design which makes me wish I had a daughter of my own. But after that disappointment penis a few months back, kids are going to be on hold for a while. I don't know how many more times I can fake the funk. I think I need to reconsider marrying Donnie as a whole. Marriage isn't all about sex, but if you can't make me climax how can we ever say we've connected on every level to spend the rest of our lives with each other? I feel like if a man can't stimulate you sexually, then you shouldn't be with him.

I looked at my watch and realized it was taking Zoie longer than she usually takes. It was getting dark and I needed to close up soon. And I hate closing the shop for the night and still ending up here late at night doing other work. 

"Zoie?", I called out to her.

I went towards the back to see if she needed more help to speed up the process. What I found had my heart beating so rapidly, I knew I was close to a heart attack.

"Zoyanna, help me!"

"Shut the fuck up bitch!"

Earole cocked the gun and held it to her head. I put my hands up in surrender. 

"Earole ... I know I'm the one you want. Please ... let her go".

"Get on your raasclaat knees!"

I did as he was told, still holding my hands in the air. 

"Yuh dought mi ena du? You thought I was through with you?", he asked.

I shook my head. I could feel the tears welling up and my chest began to get heavy. I was going to die, and I had no idea why. I should've never went to bed with him. Should've never got involved. Because here I am now, scared out of my mind with Zoie's life on the line. I will nevr forgive myself if something was to happen to her. 

"Bag har", he said to someone behind me.  I took one look at Zoie before it became dark from them putting something over my face. I tried to scream for help but then I was hit over the head.

                                                **************************************

"Get up!", I heard Earole yell. Some type of liquid was thrown onto my face making my eyes open. I looked around at my surroundings and the fear I once had crept back up. I was in a dark room, clearly bonded to a chair. I felt pain in my stomach, making me look damn. My dress shirt was stained with blood letting me know that had stabbed me.

"Don't worry, you won't bleed out yet", Earole said with a wicked smile.

"Wh-where is Zoie?"

"You mean the dutty gyal from the shop? Mi didn't hurt har. Mi only wanted yuh".

"For fucking what!"

He dashed over to me and hit me across the face with a gun he was holding.

"Cah mi can! Yuh a loosaz. Tried to tek mi fi mi money".

"I don't want your money", I said, spitting the blood out of my mouth.

"You did! June's empire is supposed to be mine! I was next in line, but you took it from me".

"I don't know what you're talking about".

He cocked the gun and pointed it at me.

"Don't ramp wid mi. I waited years for this chance. Eva since mi ena ah likle bwoy. All I had to do was kill June, and the rest would be mine".

I slowly looked up at him, feeling rage within myself that I had never felt before. Had I not been zip-tied to this chair, I'm sure I would've launched at him. Not giving a damn about the consequences. 

"You killed my mother?", I asked him.

"Shot har rite inna har rhaatid face. Killed me to do it".

Earole hung his head as if he was sad then broke into malicious laugh.

"But the bitch had to die for me to get what I wanted. Now you have to die, 'cause you're in my way".

He pointed the gun at me once again.

"Tell your father to go fuck himself when he gets to hell".

I closed my eyes and accepted my fate. Shots rang through the air like it did that night I tussled with Latisha but just like before, I didn't feel any pain. Other than the pain I was already feeling in my side. I opened my eyes and looked at a man I somewhat recognized but wasn't completely familiar.

"Zy'Air?", I asked.

"Now tell me what a goodie girl like you done got yourself into?"

He tucked his gun away and pulled out a pocket knife. He went behind me and cut my wrists free of the ties and attempted to help me up. I fell weak from the wound in my side and fell myself passing out.