∞∞∞
Only about fifteen miles from her home, Nivéa sat in the passenger seat, trembling so violently she could barely steady her breathing. Fear wrapped tightly around her more than ever, constricting her thoughts. She felt she’d played the only card she had, and that move had damn near gotten her killed. Whatever fight she had left was slowly leaving, burned out by terror. She hadn’t even dared to hint to her neighbor earlier that something was wrong. Not when Boe had been loading Nyla’s carrier into the car with a gun on him. She wasn’t about to risk her baby’s life or Ms. Barbra’s by pulling her into it. Staying quiet felt like the only way to keep them all safe.
Nivéa stared out the window with heavy, hopeless eyes, watching a few shoppers move in and out of the supermarket parking lot, living their lives normally. None of them had a clue she was trapped just feet away. She shouldn’t be there. At this time, she’d typically have Nyla dropped off at daycare, happily heading to her shop to enjoy her iced coffee while getting her day started. Life was so good without Boe in it.
But now he sat beside her like a dark cloud. One hand gripped the steering wheel while the other rested on the gun low in his lap. It was a cruel reminder of their reality before they headed inside the supermarket to grab money from the ATM and buy a new breast pump. Nivéa claimed the one she’d been using had broken recently and that she needed a replacement before they relocated. But that was a lie. She was merely trying to buy herself time…time to build her courage again and find another way to escape.
“Aye, we gon’ go in, get what we need, and get the fuck out. You saw what happened the last time you tried me. That’s all I’mma say.” Boe said, breaking the silence as his finger curled around the trigger.
Nivéa swallowed hard as her eyes watered. When she didn’t respond, he reached over and gripped her chin, forcing her face toward him. “You hear me talkin’ to you?”
“Yes, I heard you.” She answered quietly, though her insides were screaming.
“Bet.”
Boe leaned back in the seat, scanning the parking lot. He counted faces, ensuring there weren’t too many people around in case she tried him anyway. He needed to know exactly what he was up against if he had to regulate and put her back in her place. Luckily, the traffic had thinned even more. Just a few cars were scattered across the lot. That was perfect for him.
Boe planned to drain her account piece by piece, day by day, until it was emptied. He needed the money in hand in case something went wrong between them. But he wasn’t foolish enough to drag Nivéa inside a bank after what had happened back at the house. Too many eyes, too many variables. Security guards, cameras, and tellers trained to spot fear. And hers would’ve been written all over her face. He had traumatized her.
An ATM wasn’t ideal for Boe. It would take far too long to withdraw all the money due to daily limits. But it was the safest move for him. That’s why he stopped early at the supermarket. He knew once the day got underway, the lots would fill up. More people, more attention. If he waited until they reached their destination, it would be pushing afternoon. Like the typical street nigga, Boe didn’t like moving with eyes on him. He wished he had a bank he could just transfer the money to, but he had never believed in letting another muthafucka have access to his funds.
He glanced back at Nivéa, and for a brief second, guilt tugged at his chest. He hated that things had gone this far. He didn’t want to be this version of himself with her. They used to be in love…crazy in love. And all he wanted was for things to go back to how they were while he figured his shit out.
“Look, I love the fuck outta you. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but I’m tryna do what’s best for us. If forcing you to come with me makes me the villain in your story, then fuck it. I’ll wear that just so nothing happens to you and my baby.” He lied, hoping she bought it. “We gon’ get through this shit like we've gotten through everything else.”
Nivéa didn’t believe a word he’d just said. She knew better. Boe had always been manipulative. Smooth with his mouth and dangerous with his promises. She’d lived through it enough times to recognize it the moment it showed its face. This wasn’t love. It was toxicity dressed up. She was positive he only wanted to use her. Use the money she had put away and use her as company to ride with him through the mayhem. She kept staring straight ahead, tuning him out.
After a moment, Boe sighed, done trying to reason with her. He tucked the gun back into his pants, hopped out of the car, and walked to the passenger side as if it were his vehicle, and they were just a regular couple running errands. He opened the door for her, and Nivéa stepped out without a word, moving to the backseat to retrieve Nyla. By the time she turned around with her, Boe had already grabbed a nearby cart, taking the carrier from her hand and placing it inside.
“Cheer up, baby.” He said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
Nivéa stiffened, her blood boiling so quickly that it made her dizzy. Before she could stop herself, she jerked her head back hard, mushing his face.
“Do not taunt me. You want me to be peaceful? Then do not fuckin’ touch me, nigga. Or I’mma lose it on you.” She snapped, her voice shaking with rage.
Boe chuckled, amused by her defiance. He wasn’t the least bit concerned, knowing he had the upper hand. “Walk,” he said flatly, nodding toward the market doors.
Once inside the store, Nivéa claimed she needed more things for Nyla, things she hadn’t packed enough of. She moved slowly on purpose, drifting down aisles she didn’t need and reaching for items she already had plenty of. Pacifiers, wipes, bottles. Anything to stretch the time and delay walking back out those doors. She was trying to regain her strength and devise another plan. But it was hard to think clearly with Boe pushing the cart that held her baby.
After a while, Boe noticed her stalling. His patience began to wear thin. He’d already withdrawn money from the ATM, and he was ready to leave and set the rest of his plan into motion before the detective caught wind that he was running instead of following orders. Before Preach connected the dots and realized he had snitched. He had a cousin where he was headed, the only person he could truly count on to look out for him.
As they drifted toward the checkout line, Nivéa slowed again. Her fingers tightened around the cart handle, anxiety pulsing through her. “I gotta get some tampons too. My stomach is cramping bad. My period is about to start.” She whispered the lie, effortlessly.
Nivéa’s strategy was that if she couldn’t find a way out of the situation, she needed to plant seeds in Boe’s mind until she could get away from him. She wasn’t naïve. He’d done time, and with that, she feared he would eventually force himself on her. The kiss in the parking lot was only the beginning, she figured. She had to think of a reason to keep him off her, and she prayed it would be good enough.
Boe stopped walking, suspicion etched on his face as his nostrils flared.
“I’m not lying. I need tampons and some pain meds. I just realized it’s close to that time.”
“And you ain’t think to grab none of that shit from your crib?”
Nivéa let out a slow breath. “No, I didn’t think to. My stomach just started hurting on the drive here. Plus, I was scared. You had just put a fuckin’ gun to my head, Boe.”
“Don’t say that shit out loud ever again.” Irritation flickered across his features as he glanced around. “We gon’ get this shit and then we out for real. I’m not about to be fuckin’ around with you in this sto—”
“Nivéa?” A woman called out, interrupting.
Nivéa’s brows knitted in confusion as she turned toward the familiar voice, unable to place it at first. But the moment her eyes met Kerri’s, shock flickered across her face, followed quickly by a wave of relief.
