36
“Answer me! Who the fuck are you talking to?” Jag yelled. When she didn’t reply fast enough, he ran up and started swinging the belt viciously.
Cameron dropped her cell on the tiled floor as she tried to shield her face from the belt. Jag ruthlessly whipped every part of her body. The metal buckle struck her skin with such force that it left bruises, whelps and tiny cuts.
Roxie heard everything on her end. She even tried to say something in Cam’s defense, but the screaming drowned her out.
“
Ahhhh!
Jag, I’m sorry!” Cameron cried. She still hadn’t fully healed from being tossed down the stairs. Now he was beating her ass like Joe Jackson. Jag was heartless.
“Nah, you ain’t fuckin’ sorry.”
WHAP!
“Tellin’ mothafuckas I’m crazy?! Is that what you think of me? That I’m fucking crazy?!”
WHAP!
“Bitch, I’m gonna show your ass crazy.”
Jag snatched Cameron out of the bathroom by her hair and dragged her to their bedroom. Once inside, he roughly tossed her on the bed like a ragdoll. He then stripped naked and pinned her down.
“Jag, don’t do this—”
Cameron’s voice was muffled after he flipped her onto her stomach, and pushed her face in a pillow. Her screams were suffocated by cotton. She could yell to her throat went dry and hoarse for all he cared.
“I’ma tame ya ass one way or another.” Jag spat in the center of his palm and lathered his hard dick. Cameron writhed beneath him, but he was too strong to battle.
Without warning, he jammed his dick deep inside her dry, tight asshole, tearing open the skin. Cameron screamed and cried in agony; the shit felt like fire. She had never experienced anything more excruciating.
Jag was heartless as he brutally raped her until she bled. He damn near suffocated her as he pressed her face into a pillow. Jag bit her shoulder so hard that he drew blood. He was determined to break her down. He wanted her to become so damaged that she was afraid to leave. He wouldn’t have to handcuff or lock her in a basement. She’d be psychologically scarred — too scared to run.
Jag was determined to break Cameron; one gruesome act at a time.
***
“Have you talked to Jude?” Roxie asked the moment Magyc walked in their apartment.
“Damn. Can I get a hug, a how you doin’ or somethin’? I just walked in this mufucka. You ain’t happy to see ya man?”
“I need to know where Jude is. I need to talk to him right now. It’s important.”
Jealousy resonated in the pit of his stomach, but Magyc quickly shook that shit off. He knew nothing would ever pop off between them. “He’s at The Warehouse. Why?”
Roxie ignored Magyc’s question as she walked around him and left.
“The fuck?”
Roxie ran to her car in the parking garage and quickly sped off in haste. Since she had driven over the speed limit, she arrived at her destination in fifteen minutes tops. Roxie barged in that motherfucker like she was First Lady. Whatever Jude had going on needed to wait. It was vital that he heard what she had to say.
Jude was surprised when Roxie stormed in his office uninvited. He was looking over a new list of orders. “What’s up?”
“What’s up is your wife! Yeah. You remember her?” Roxie asked sarcastically. “While you’re out here pretending to be the man, Jag is over there going slave master on Cameron’s ass! I just got off the phone with her about an hour ago and it sounded like he was hurting her,” she cried. “I had to sit there and listen to that shit, and there wasn’t anything I could do. I would’ve called the police but I don’t know her new address. Jude, you have to do something!”
Jude snorted and looked away. “He ain’t my fuckin’ problem no more. She made her choice. That’s who she wanted to be with. Let her deal with his crazy ass.”
Roxie couldn’t believe him. He was talking that shit now, but she knew he still cared about her. It was only natural.
Roxie propped her hands on her curvy hips and shook her head in disbelief. “He has your son, Jude.”
***
After hearing Roxie out, Jude decided to pack and catch a flight to Ohio. If Cameron really was in trouble, he couldn’t sit back and do nothing. He’d never been that type of nigga. Jag would be dealt with personally if what Roxie said were the truth. Cam wasn’t his woman, but he’d be damned if he let a motherfucker put his hands on her.
On the way to his crib, Jude called up his cousin, Tez. He lived in Cleveland, and Jude tossed him something every now and then to check on Cam.
Tez answered on the fourth ring. “What’s up, cuz?”
“Aye, bruh. My peoples came to see me today sayin’ they were worried about Cam. You been keepin’ an eye on her still, right?”
“Ah, man. I ain’t ‘een gon’ lie. My new bitch been keepin’ a nigga preoccupied. I ain’t checked on Cameron in a few months—”
“A few months?”
Jude repeated. “Fuck nigga, what am I payin’ you for? And you fam on top of that. That’s fucked up, dawg—”
“Cuz, that’s
yo’
bitch,” Tez reminded him. “
You
should’ve been doing that shit. Not me.”
Jude wanted to be pissed with his cousin, but he was absolutely right. Jude should’ve been checking on her. Now she may’ve been in harm’s way. “Aye, you still got that connect? The one who works at the DMV? I need to get Cam’s new address.”
“Yeah, I still fuck with her. Once we hang up, I’ll hit her line, fam.”
“Good lookin’.”
“You got it, man. And my fault.”
“Nah, you good. You right, fam. It’s my responsibility. And I’ma deal with it.” He couldn’t wait to land at Hopkins and get at that nigga, Jag.
I should’ve killed that mothafucka a long time ago.
***
The sun was just beginning to set when Jude brought his rental to a slow stop in front of Cameron’s home. Before stepping out of his ride, he grabbed a loaded automatic. Tez had pulled up on him after he landed and blessed him with some protection.
Jude carefully made his way to the front door. He was surprised to discover it open. Letting himself in, he quietly walked through the home. It was decorated elegantly, definitely Cameron’s touch. That made Jude a little jealous.
So she really was trying to build a home with this cat? Playing house and shit.
Jude temporarily pushed his resentment to the back of his mind. Cameron’s safety was top priority at the moment. Armed and cautious, Jude explored the premises. He expected to see Jag walk out at any second, but he had already left. He had to run to Canton for a quick work assignment.
As soon as Jude ascended the stairs, he heard the sound of soft cries. He slowly headed towards the source. Opening the door with the barrel of his pistol, Jude walked inside…
The heart-rending sight before him was enough to bring tears to his eyes. Seeing Cameron lying bloodied and battered in the bed crushed him.
I let this shit happen,
he told himself repeatedly.
I let this fucking shit happen.
Jude tucked his gun in his pants and rushed over to Cameron. For a second, she believed she had died and gone to heaven. Was Jude really there or was she seeing things?
Cameron tried to lift her head, but was too sore to move. “Jude…?” she said weakly.
“Damn. Cameron. What the fuck?” Tears slipped from his eyes as he took in the damage. Jag had really done a number on her. He could clearly see that she had also been raped. “This is my fault. I’m gonna kill him. I put that shit on everything, Cam.”
“Jude… we have to… get out of here… before he comes back,” she struggled to say. “You have to get the kids.”
It killed Jude inside to see the fear in Cameron’s eyes. She was terrified of Jag.
What the hell did he do to my girl?
Jude attempted to lift her up, but Cam stopped him. “No. Get the kids first,” she told him. “I wanna make sure they’re safe—”
“No. I’m gonna put you in the car first and then I promise I will get them.”
Cameron didn’t argue with her husband. Jude quickly grabbed a few of her clothes, her phone, and wrapped her in a blanket. Ever so gently, he lifted her in his muscular arms and carried her outside. After carefully placing Cameron in the passenger seat, he reclined the chair so that she was comfortable, and rushed back inside.
Justin’s room was the first bedroom Jude entered. When he saw his son, he practically froze in place. It had been too long. The toddler cracked a smile as soon as he saw his dad. He hadn’t forgotten and that was a relief to Jude. He worried about Justin remembering who he was.
“Hey, lil’ man.”
When Jude reached his son, he kissed and hugged him tightly. Now that he had Justin, he needed to get his sister. Jude paused in front of Journee’s crib. This was his first time seeing the infant.
There was no real resemblance between them. The test results were still collecting dust on his desk, but Jude doubted she was his. He carefully lifted the baby out of the crib and left the home.
Cameron breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Jude bring the kids to his car. Her heart hadn’t stopped beating erratically. Every so often she thought Jag would magically pop up. He had her shook.
“We have to go… now,” Cameron stressed after he climbed inside. Flashbacks of the incident with Cole came to mind. It’d only be a matter of time before Jag realized she was gone.
“Don’t worry, bay,” Jude said. “I got you. And I will
never
let that nigga touch you again. That’s on my brother.”
37
Rock me real slowly…
Put a bib on me…
I’m just like a baby, droolin’ over you…
The things you do…
Drake’s
“Jungle”
played softly on Pandora as Jude took his time bathing Cameron in their hotel. Her knees were drawn to her chest as she stared off into space. She hadn’t spoken since they checked into the
Sheraton.
Jude wouldn’t dare force her to talk about it. All he wanted to do was take care of her, protect her, and be there for her. He would catch a body for Cameron.
Still findin' myself, let alone a soulmate, I'm just sayin'…
Feel like we one and the same, our relationship changed…
That or it never existed…
Whenever they say somethin' bout us, you listen…
As long as Jude lived, he would make sure this shit never happened again. He blamed himself for her downfall. He had spared her once. He wouldn’t do it twice. He loved Cam, and it hurt him to know that she was hurting. If he could, Jude would’ve gladly taken her pain. Putting a hollow point in Jag’s brain was the only thing that could offer him solace right then.
“I’m gonna kill him,” Jude muttered. “I swear I’ma kill the mothafucka…”
Cameron finally looked up at Jude.
“Sorry,” he quickly said. “I’m sorry for all of this. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me. I’m sorry I stayed away. I should’ve been there for you.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Cameron told him. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have left and kept Justin away from you—”
“Nah, don’t be sorry, bay. You did what you had to. You hear me? You did what you had to do.”
After bathing her, Jude dried off her body, and kissed every bruise on her skin. Wrapping her in a soft, terrycloth towel, he carried her to the bed and gently laid her down.
Cameron was hoping he lay with her, but he went to get his phone instead.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“’Bout to make a few phone calls.” He didn’t want to tell her he was going to hit up a couple hittas. Jag would have a price on his head before the night ended.
“Can you do that later? Right now I just wanna be next to you.”
Jude placed his phone down and went to Cameron. She was right. That fuck nigga could wait.
“Of course, bay.”
Jude climbed in the bed and pulled her body close to his. He knew then that he would never let her slip away again.
***
Jag was surprised when he came home to an empty house later on that night. Evidently, he hadn’t quite put the fear in Cameron’s heart. She was still underestimating what he was capable of.
Jag chuckled to himself and shook his head.
When is she gonna learn?
He headed to the kitchen and poured himself a shot of scotch. After tossing back two, he turned on the kitchen television. The station was already on
CNN
. Reporters were giving details about a decomposing body found in a Georgia lake. It was Lark.
Jag laughed to himself before tossing back another shot. A normal person wouldn’t have found the situation comical. Jag was a far cry from normal.
Suddenly, he heard Alessia’s voice in the back of his mind.
“It’s her fault, Jag! Everything is her fault!”
She was right. Everything was Cameron and Jude’s fault — and it was about time, they suffered.
An evil grin spread across Jag’s face. He had a plan. He would fly to Atlanta, and wipe out Jude’s entire organization before taking his girl and kids back. By the time Jag finished with Jude, he’d be putting a gun in his own mouth and pulling the trigger.
***
It was a quarter after midnight when Jude’s cellphone rang. He didn’t even realize he’d slept for so long. Jude would never understand how Cameron was able to rest so peacefully after everything she’d endured. Apparently, his presence offered a sense of security for her.
As quietly as he could, Jude reached over and grabbed his phone off the nightstand. He was surprised that Magyc’s brother, Michael was calling so late. That was definitely out of his character. He knew off rip that something had to be wrong.
“Yo’,” Jude answered.
Michael didn’t beat around the bush. “I got some fucked up news man,” he said. “The Warehouse was torched — a few of our men have been gunned down too.”
Jude quickly sat up in bed. “The fuck you mean torched?”
“The mufucka’s on fire. I’m staring at the shit as we speak. I got a couple of our boys trying to get rid of as much as they can before the legal thugs pull up.”
“Shit. Are you kiddin’ me,” Jude hissed. Everything he worked so hard for was in that place. Someone was definitely fucking with him. “Damn, I’m in Ohio now but I’m on the first thing back. Hold it down for me, bruh.”
“You got it, boss.”
Jude disconnected the call. Just then, Cameron’s iPhone buzzed. He started not to answer it, but his curiosity eventually got the best of him. Reaching over Cam, Jude pressed the lime button and placed the phone against his ear.
Jag’s cynical voice filled the receiver. “You fucked up, bitch. Now I’m gonna destroy you and that nigga’s world. Everybody and everything you ever loved… you can kiss goodbye. I warned you, Cameron. I told you not to underestimate me.”
Right before Jude could tell him about himself, Jag disconnected the call.
This bitch ass nigga doesn’t know who he’s fucking with. I’ma have to remind him though.
Jude had no choice but to wake Cameron, pack up, and head to Hopkins-International. He didn’t tell her about her deranged lover. Jude felt like he could handle it, and he didn’t want to alarm her. Jag would be dealt with, and then buried quietly.
***
Roxie was polishing her toenails and watching reruns of
Martin
when someone started knocking on her front door. She could tell by how loud they were, that whoever it was had beef.
“Who the fuck is this?” she asked, screwing the top on. Roxie placed a pink toe-separator on her left foot before going to see whom it was. A dramatic sigh escaped her lips when she saw Briana standing on the opposite side. “How the hell this bitch even know where I live?” Roxie couldn’t wait to check Magyc’s ass.
Boldly unlocking the front door, she swung it open welcoming a confrontation.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“Bitch, first of all, get your got damn finger out my face.” Briana slapped Roxie’s hand away.
“Don’t touch me!” Roxie shoved Briana, who in turn shoved her back.
“I’m so tired of your ass, you disrespectful bitch—”
“How the hell am I disrespectful when you’re the one fucking my man?”
“Me and Magyc had history, then you came, got all in his head, and fucked up what we had.”
“Had, bitch! Keyword!
Had!
”
“Yo’ ass need to crawl back to whatever strip club you came from—”
“Bitch, don’t make laugh. Are you for real serious right now? Do you hear yourself? You’re over here at my house at one something in the morning and for what? You’re ridiculous — laughable. It’s fucking sad and pathetic. That’s why Magyc’s with me. He got tired of a little girl and wanted a woman.” Roxie chuckled and shook her head. “Hoes like you never get the title or respect. So keep spitting that nigga’s seeds out. That’s all you’ll ever be worth.”
“Bitch, you must’ve forgotten about that ass whooping in the restaurant.”
Both women were too busy arguing to notice or hear the uninvited visitor walking down the hallway towards them. Jag was dressed in all black; a pump-action shotgun slung casually over his shoulder. Unfortunately, neither woman noticed their fate eminent.
“Hoe, you’ll never be enough for a nigga like Magyc. When you go to sleep at night, I hope you remember that shit,” Briana said.
“Fuck you!”
“FUCK YOU!”
POW!
Jag blew Briana’s head clean off her shoulders. Brain matter and DNA sprayed the walls and splattered all over Roxie. Shells dropped at his feet. He didn’t know or give a fuck about who Briana was. The only thing that mattered was shedding blood, no matter whose it belonged to.
Roxie screamed and took off running towards the back of her apartment. She wanted to believe it was all a nightmare, but she knew better. Jag was her reality — her end.
“Where you goin’, Rox? You ain’t happy to see me? I thought we were family.”
Jag stepped inside like he had a personal invite. Roxie quickly locked herself inside Rain’s bedroom and said a silent prayer. “Shit,” she cursed after noticing she’d left her phone in the living room. Now how the hell was she going to call for help?
Roxie knew then that everything Cameron had said about Jag was true. He had snapped.
Oh my God, please don’t let this man kill me,
she prayed.
Where’s Magyc,
she asked herself. He should’ve been there to protect her, but instead he was fucking off at
Wet Willies
with his homeboys.
Meanwhile, outside the bedroom, Jag placed the shotgun down against the wall. He felt like being a little creative instead of killing her rapidly. He wanted to make the moment last; make it memorable. Cameron would feel his pain after today.
Jag entered Roxie’s kitchen, stopped at the counter and gazed at the wooden knife holder. There was a deranged look in his eyes as he extracted a butcher. It was sharpened and shiny. “Roxie, Roxie, Roxie, where are you?” he teased, walking through the apartment.
“Jag, what are you doing?” she cried. “It’s me. I loved your brother. Why are you doing this? He wouldn’t want this!”
Roxie’s words went in one ear and out the other. Jag didn’t give a damn. As far as he was concerned, Joaquin was dead. His opinions held no weight. Roxie opened her big mouth and now she was going to pay.
“Jag, you know the police will be coming. You need to just go! Just leave!”
He stopped right outside of her door and tapped the knife against it. “You were on the phone that day. You told Cam she should leave. You should’ve stayed out of our fucking business.”
“Jag, I’m sorry.” Roxie bawled her eyes out as she stood next to her daughter’s crib.
“You’re right. You are sorry. NOW OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR!”
“Go away!”
Roxie screamed.
Jag rammed his shoulder against the door twice. It finally flew off the hinges on the third try.
“No, no, no, no.” She tried to back away but there was nowhere to run or hide.
Jag smiled, satisfied at the sight of fear in her eyes.
“Jag, wait.” Roxie held her hands up. “I’m pregn—”
Her sentence was cut short after Jaguar brutally stabbed her repeatedly.