WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT WHEN CARMA'S INVOLVED?

CUARENTA Y UNO

The commotion jarred me from purgatory. “YOU CAN'T GO IN THERE.”

“FCKIN’ WATCH ME.” Alixxander entered my private room. Compliments of Román Savage. A nurse was right behind him. “Get out.” He turned and hissed. She backed out and he closed the door.

“Why are you here?” Everyone with the last name Savage was the last person I wanted to see or talk to.

“I love you. And I do care what happens to you.”

“You and your fcked up family have a funny way to show appreciation.”

“Do not compare me to him.” Why not? He compared me to Carma. “I don’t care what you say, I’m not leaving this time, and you can’t make me.” I gave up.

Kneeling on the floor, he gently took my bruised and cut up hand between both of his and rested his forehead on the giant fist created by the joining of our hands. His knuckles were raw too and his face was a little swollen. He fought his brother because I accidentally entered the wrong room. From the moment I met that weasel, I didn't like him. To think he had it in him to be violent and.......

“He's not my brother. Our parents raised us better than that.” Could’ve fooled me. “Our libidos are turned up to the max, but we never..... If it sounded like a no, we stopped.”

“All the doors were closed, except your father’s office. Just a crack. I walked in and interrupted him.”

“I was blind to his s*xual fascination with you. All the comments he made about you....”

What weasel boy did was no one's fault but his. The sedation was wearing thin and giving me a greater headache than what weasel boy had given me. The dizziness could be a side effect or from the skull fracture the doctor informed me of. I knew I had a concussion from the incessant ringing in my ears. The same thing happened when I was thirteen. I slammed my head when my mother's car was demolished by a drunk driver.

“You already know about the skull fracture and concussion. Your right pinky finger is also fractured. A nurse will come in shortly to put a splint on it. I saw scrapes and bruises all over your body. Two of your ribs are cracked.” I winced in pain when Alixxander crushed my hand under his from hearing the doctor rattle off my injuries.

“Other than that, I’m in perfect health.”

“Miss Sanchez, are you sure you don’t remember the attack?”

For the hundredth time, I told him, “The details are fuzzy.”

“Whatever or whoever hit you dealt massive blows. At least five or six. Memory loss is common. I'd like to keep you overnight for observation.”

Ya, no. I clearly remember weasel boy’s fist connecting with my face. I felt my neck snap, crackle, and pop as it was forced to bend unnaturally. I still feel his hand gradually adding pressure to my throat, cutting off my airway before I kneed him in the groin. My fingers grazed the doorknob before he yanked me back by my hair. Pinned against the bookcase, I struggled to get out of his grip to stop his hand from hiking my dress up. The more I struggled, the stronger he got. His thick sausage fingers tried to pry my thighs apart. I wouldn't allow it and that made him angry.

“RICHIE, STOP. YOU DON’T WANT TO DO THIS.” His hand began to sweat, and I got one hand free. I grabbed the first thing I felt and whacked him over the head.

“You’re gonna pay for that fckin’ c*nt dyke.”

He grabbed my panties and tore them off with ease. I tried to gouge his eyes out. That's when he threw me to the floor, grabbed a fist full of hair, picked me up by it, and slammed my face into the desk five times. The last time he did it, I caught the corner and that's what split my head open. Blood and sweat dripped into my eyes, making it difficult to see, but I knew I was on the floor again. I heard nothing but blood flowing through my ear canal and the drumming of my heart. And he was on top of me again, lifting my dress. With no thin piece of cloth in the way, he could jam whatever he wanted into me, and I was helpless to stop it or him. Then he disappeared.

“I'm going home. He is my ride.” Alixxander's head popped up.

“I very much advise against that, Miss Sanchez.”

“So do I. You should stay.”

“I have the right to refuse medical treatment. I am refusing further treatment. Kindly get my discharge papers ready.” I became one of those patients that knows better than the doctor.

“Are you sure you should leave? You sustained a serious head injury. Your missing memory might be the only good to come out of this.” I highly doubt weasel boy told his family what he did to me step by step.

Waiting until we were alone, “I remember the incident very vividly. His smell, his touch, the way he wanted to scare the living sh*t out of me. It's all there, Alixxander.” I didn't want or need to talk about it, especially with Alixxander. All I wanted was to go home, put something comfy on and sit in the dark appreciating the sweet silence of my home.

The ride home was quiet. No talking or music to fill the void between us. My hands were glued to my lap. I kept pushing them down my legs because it felt like weasel boy’s hand was still groping and fondling me. I saw Alixxander’s reflection in my window, he noticed. Every few seconds he would look at me. Stop lights and signs were the worst because he could see me better and for a longer period. There was a sigh of relief to see the building I called home. It didn’t last long. When he approached us, my blood ran cold and turned to ice.

“Sup, bro.” Alixxander stepped out of the car.

“You shouldn't be here. Bro.”

“Look, I get that you like her, but she needs a real man to show her what life's all about.” Alixxander threw the key on his seat, hit the lock button, and closed his door.

“You are out of your mind if you think she's not going to press charges.”

“If she wants to keep her job she won't.” With shaky hands, I searched through my phone for someone to stop the madness.

“Are you okay?” Allie asked with genuine concern for my health.

I looked up as the brothers circled each other and I heard Alixxander say, “Richie, I’m warning you. There is no one here to pull me off you this time. I suggest you get in your car and go home.”

I began to sob. “Alixxander took me home and he's here. Looking for a fight.”

“Son of a btch. Hang tight, we aren't too far away.”

“MAYBE I DID YOU A SOLID BROTHA. NOW IS YOUR CHANCE. SHE LOOKS A LITTLE BLUE. IT’S A GUARANTEE SHE’LL LET YOU IN THOSE GRANNY PANTIES OF HERS. OH! WAIT. THEY WERE S*XY PANTIES AND I HAVE THEM RIGHT HERE.” Weasel boy pulled my thong from his back pocket. I can’t believe he kept it as a souvenir. Fckin’ nasty skuzzball.

Seeing my thongs was the trigger. I swear Alixxander flew like Superman before tackling his brother. He got up, said something and turned his back. Weasel boy tackled him back, and they landed on the hood of the car. Where was Allie? My heart pounded watching them go head-to-head. Punch for punch, tackle for tackle. Every time Alixxander knocked him down, he’d get right back up. Alixxander’s hits got harder. Blood poured down weasel boy's face.

An SUV sped into the parking lot, screeching tires. Turning their high beams on, they floored it towards the brothers. Both passenger doors opened before the vehicle stopped. Travis and Mitchell jumped out to separate them. I jumped from the rapping on the window. Allie tried coaxing me out of the car. Weasel boy's stare was frigid with flaming daggers. It sent me back in time and petrified me.

“GET HIM THE FCK OUTTA HEA. Harmoney. Sweety. Alixx, where’s the fckin’ key?”

Bent over with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath, he looked back and answered, “In the fcking car with her.”

“Harmoney, he's gone.” I saw three people get into the SUV and drive away. “Come on, unlock the door. Let's get you upstairs.” I could visually see he was gone, but nothing stopped me from feeling him. There was a click and my door opened. “Why didn't you do that to begin with?”

My body tensed from being touched. I clenched my fists and clinched my eyes. The strong muscular arms were familiar and, after seeing the damage they caused, scary. If he hadn't carried me, I would've slept in his car. I am beyond mortified to have something like this happen for the second time in my life.

Carefully, he placed me on a soft surface, and I no longer felt his touch. Peeking through a small slit, I saw my bathrobe. Thank God, I was in my bedroom. The house door slammed, I jumped off the bed and onto the floor. So, I’d rate myself as moderately skittish. Just as I sat back on the bed, Allie entered my room. Following her with my eyes, she floated around my room looking through my dresser and closet, then into my bathroom. She came out with a damp washcloth and lightly wiped my face with a smile. After that, she brushed out the knots and snarls in my hair.

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen Alixx fight like that. If I remember correctly, Travis smeared mashed potatoes in his hair when he was twelve.” Suppressing my laughter, I opted for a grin. “Don't expect me to apologize for Richie's disgusting behavior. It’s not because you don’t deserve an apology, because you absolutely fcking do. It’s because he’s gotten away with so much sh*t since birth. My family is sorry, he's not. I’m sorry he was raised differently than the rest of us. Fck what I just said. I’m sorry he hurt you like this.” I knew what she was trying to say. I appreciated it.

“Where is Alixxander?”

“I sent him home. Wanna change?” I did. The dress needed to be shredded, burned, and any ashes buried to contain the curse. “Can I ask you something personal?” Allie faced the other way, to give me privacy.

“Sure. I guess.”

“How long have you been sleeping with Alixx?” She turned around, and I was like a naked deer caught in a car's headlights. “Don't look so surprised. I figured it out when you called. He never, ever, compromised his composure for a lady. He didn't fight with Evan over Carma. We watched him lose himself going after Richie. At first, I thought his feelings were from working closely with you. His need to protect you was off the charts. That can only mean one thing: he has feelings for you.”

“He doesn’t. What I mean is, he told me he loved me. When it comes to him being in love, Carma is that person. Then and now.” She saw the difficulty I had trying to put a stupid shirt over my head and came over to assist.

“When did it start?” Climbing onto my bed, I sat with my legs crossed, and she sat on the bottom corner.

“Somewhere between seeing Carma and Evan boning, and after he thought he got married. Though I didn't know the reason behind his sudden interest.”

“Did he ask you to do butt stuff?” I wasn't sure if or how I should answer the question. “Girl, please. He messed with some of my friends back in the day and asked them all. My entire family has quirks that we know about and don't speak of.”

“It's been a rollercoaster of emotions and fights with him. In court today, he was pissed I withheld the truth about his marriage. It's bad enough I won't be able to face your family after this scandal with weasel boy.”

“Weasel boy?”

“He doesn’t deserve a name.”

“You did the right thing by not telling Alixx. He would've blabbed the good news to the world. We know Carma, it would've given her time to spin some wild tale.”

How can I face Alixxander after the turmoil? If only I had stuck to my guns and not been beckoned by his physique and mind. Who knows? I could be in a normal relationship with a woman. The first time I saw his perfectly sculpted abs made me freakish. You know what followed. Since then, I haven't been able to get enough. Every time we have a falling out, I let him back in. Catching a glimpse of my latest appearance in the mirror saddened me. I didn't want to be the reason a family falls apart.