Page 37

There are very few things that I remember from the past few weeks. But as I sit in the courtroom and hear the judge give Jake 45 years in jail, I feel exhilarated. I feel free. Mama squeezes my hand tightly and gives me a faint smile.

I feel like I can finally breathe. It wouldn't have been possible without the support of my family. Jake is dragged away and he gives me the stink eye as he is dragged away.

I feel like I can finally breathe.

I turn around to see Justine sitting on the last bench. She is the first to leave. And James is sitting right behind me, he smiles at me and nods. Bian, and Jamilah and the boys are next to them. I run towards Bian and hug her tightly.

Among all the women in here, I spot one in a black pencil skirt and a white shirt and black blazer. Wearing sunglasses and a dark nude lipstick. She picks up her diamond studded white alligator birkin and makes her way out. I excuse myself from everyone and run to chase her. She’s also wearing white Louboutins, matching the black ones that I’m wearing.

“Wait.” I holler.

She stops and pushes her sunglasses down and looks at me.

“You are a mighty soul.” she says as I approach her. I smile at her and she smiles back. “How’d you know that it was me?” she asks me.

I shrug, stating the obvious truth. “You are the only one who is dressed up like the badass mafia bitch!” She scoffs and laughs. So elegant and tall. She’s so beautiful! She brushes her shiny red hair back.

She raises her brows, as if challenging me. “In normal circumstances, people would run away from me. I also spot a badass bitch.” she pushes her sunglass back up and offers me her hand. “Querida.” she says. “Pleasure to meet you, Riya.”

I shake her hand firmly. “Thank you for your help.” I tell her.

“Rest assured. Giovanni is dead. So, you all should be fine. His…” she pauses. Rethinking “…organisation is also taken down.” It sends chills down my spine. Her aura is so cold yet so powerful. Yet some sense of relief washes over me. Some relief to my unconscious that there won’t be a constant fear looming over my head. But what if Jake gets out? What if he does something from inside?

I have watched enough shows and movies to know that criminals can have their contacts outside hurt people. People who cross them. I am one of the reasons why Jake is going to jail. What if he asks someone to kill me? Or worse yet…finish what he started with me? Do I stay locked inside my house fearing that one day I might be violated again?

I know I shouldn’t butt in because that is a dangerous world to be associated with, but I ask her anyway. “Did you…Are you the one?”

“No.” she says sternly. “But don’t worry…I will find him. And when I do, I am going to send him to the deepest pits of hell.” her jaw tightens and I think just for a second. Wasn’t Giovanni the bad guy? So, wouldn’t anyone who killed him and destroyed his operation be a nice person? Perhaps that is not my story to tell.

“Thank you for your help.” I tell her.

“Thank you for believing in me.” she tells me with a smile. It’s weird how she’s so hot and cold. But all this wouldn’t be possible without her help.

“I hope to meet you again someday, Querida.” I actually like her. Perhaps, it’s the way she carries herself. But it’s just so…respectable. She seems like the woman who you would see on TedTalk and be inspired by.

She laughs. Not giggle or the feminine laugh. She laughs and even though it's very loud, it’s still so graceful. I could never! “Nobody has ever said that to me before. I like you. Thank you for your time, Riya.”

“Hey…if you ever need my help…” I wink at her.

She smiles sheepishly. “I’ll keep that in mind. But I think you already did help me. In more ways than you can imagine.” she shakes my hand with both her hands and smiles. “Thank you.” And she disappears into thin air. Just kidding, I see her walk out the front door. Mom, dad, Maura and Keith are waiting for me when I turn around. I rush towards them and we do a group hug.

“You were so strong.” Dad tells me and I almost feel myself tear up.

“You really are strong, Riya.” Maura chimes in. “I’m sorry you had to go through it alone.” she sobs.

“You were there when I needed you the most.” I assure her.

“I’m sorry too.” Keith says softly and I smile through my tears.

◆◆◆

When we’d reached that party, James and I had rushed inside to find Jake and Justine. He didn’t let go of my hand, not for a second.

I’d called Justine multiple times before that, but her phone was switched off and it scared me even more. I just prayed that I wouldn’t find her here. But I still kept looking.

“Riya?” I turn around to find Dan standing behind me. Are Sid and George here too?

“What are you doing here?” James and I ask him together.

“I…I…I’m here…with…” he stutters. “With a…friend.” his eyes keep wandering as if he’s too distracted. He’s here to bang someone. Noted. “What are you doing here?” he asks us. Right. James pulls me towards the kitchen and rushes towards the stairs leading upstairs. Did he spot Jake? Why is the layout of this house so weird?

James pulls me closer to him and whispers in my ear. “He’s with some girl. Black hair. That’s all I saw.” He quickly informs me. That could be Justine. I take in a deep breath as we stand outside the door and James knocks. No answer. I knock louder and impatiently this time.

“This room is occupied. Fuck off.” Jake screams from inside. I try to take in deep breaths as I feel my hands and feet sweat profusely.

“Step back” James lets go of my hand and prepares himself. He’s going to kick the door down. He kicks the door down in one kick! Just how strong is this man? Now is not the time!

We rush inside and find Jake kissing a half naked girl. Her clothes are gone and she is just in her bra and panties. And from the looks of it, she is neither Justine nor conscious. Sick bastard. James pulls him off the girl and I quickly rush to check her. She’s either passed out or drugged.

“You sick piece of shit.” James punches him hard and Jake falls to the ground.

“You bitch! You ruin everything, don’t you?” he says, looking at me. James picks him up by his collar and spits foul words at him. “First Justine and now this. You will pay for it!” he swears.

I carefully put the girl’s clothes back on and try to wake her up, but she doesn’t respond at all.

“What is going on here?” Dan walks in. He takes one look at the girl I’m dressing and Jake and James and fuels up. “Piece of shit!” he strikes Jake and he falls to the ground with a thud. I’m guessing Dan probably knows this girl?

Now is not the time for those questions. I run to the bathroom and return with a glass of water and spray some water on her.

“Is Bian okay?” Dan asks me. Her name is Bian.

“She’s unconscious.” Dan grunts. I have never seen Dan this angry. It is so unlike him. By the time he reaches to throw another punch at Jake, he is knocked out cold by James. There is blood on the floor, coming from Jake’s nose which looks disturbingly broken. But he deserves it.

The girl in my arms…Bian flickers her eyes open and mumbles something.

“Are you okay? Do you know where you are?” I ask her. She is forcing herself to keep her eyes open. This fucker drugged her! The party has barely started and unless she poured an entire bottle of whiskey down her throat at 3pm, she shouldn’t be this drowsy.

God knows how many women he has done this to!

All the commotion draws more attention and more people walk in the bedroom. Until finally Beck makes his way through and flops on his bed, holding his head in his hands.

This could be Justine! I shiver. Nonetheless, this is still a woman! I’m glad that James broke down the door at the right time. God knows what would’ve happened and this woman wouldn’t even know what happened to her.

◆◆◆

Jake was all over the news and social media in the next two days. Bian had filed a police report against him. And after her 7 other girls filed rape charges against him.

I wanted to check up on Justine after everything that happened. She remained unreachable.

But if she still couldn’t see the true face of Jake, then she was blind and a disgrace to being a woman if she sided with him again.

“I can’t tell you how thankful I am!” Bian holds my hands. “If it weren’t for you and Marcus…I don’t know what would’ve happened.” I smile at her and pull her in for a hug. Bian is so sweet that anyone who troubles her is a criminal. She is so calm and so nurturing.

“If only we’d gotten there before…we could’ve avoided it altogether.” She puts her hand on my shoulder and smiles.

“You did avoid the worst! And for that I will always be thankful!” She is too sweet! And her voice is so calming that it sounds like a melody.

My eyes tear up and I pull her in for a hug. “I’m just glad that you are fine!” she squeezes me tighter. And we go our separate ways for our classes.

Jake had raped 8 women. 9 including me. I should come forward too, right? I shouldn’t be ashamed. He is the one who should suffer. But I’m scared of how my family will react. I want them to hear it from me first. I have to woman up and tell them. I can’t hide it from them for the rest of my life, especially if I want to be one of the reasons that Jake goes to jail.

I attend my classes and make my way to my car and find Justine standing by my car. In a hoodie and sweatpants. She looks like she has been through hell. A few women make nasty eyes at her and pass some snarky diss comments. But she doesn’t say anything. Which is so unlike her. Justine never takes shit from anyone.

“Hey…” I drag along and she spots me.

“Hi.” she says quietly and quickly lowers her gaze.

“How are you?” I ask her. Stupid question, I realise.

She scoffs. I have never seen Justine like this before.

“I came here to apologise to you.” That was the last thing I was expecting from her. “I’m sorry Riya.” She looks up and meets my eyes.

“I see…” I don’t know what to say. I can’t just forgive her that easily. She did leave me when I needed her and on top of that she made things worse for me. She dug this hole for herself, now she has to marinate in her own choices.

I walk towards the door and she holds my hand. A little too tightly. A soft gasp escapes her throat and she lowers her head even more. “I really really am sorry, Riya. I…I…”

I pull my arm out of her grip and get in the car. “I don’t want to hear it. But thank you for the apology Justine." She keeps staring at the ground. I will not forgive her until she looks me in the eye and apologises.

I get in the car drive off and see Justine standing there. Crying. It hurts me to do this, but she hurt me more. I roll down my window and let the air blow away my hair. April has started nice and warm. It feels good to feel the warm breeze and to breathe freely. I just want to close my eyes and soak this moment in, but I also don’t want to die.

My phone pings with a notification and it pops up on my console.

It’s James.