Kev didn’t move. He didn’t change his expression or body language. He just sat there.
“I’m sorry, Kev. I am. I just—”
“Where is it, Reese?”
“It’s in a safety deposit box.”
“Where?” Kev asked anxiously.
“It’s in Ohio,” I explained.
Kev grabbed his head and swiftly put his head down, then jumped up off the bench. “Ohio? So you tellin’ me I gotta send you back to Ohio?” Kev turned away.
I remembered that I had forgotten the key at my place back in Columbus. I didn’t say anything to Kev though; I knew he was upset and he had thought we could leave from Vegas and never return to the city. Now, because of me, we would have to make a pit stop back to Ohio.
I watched Kev and could tell he was flaming mad at me, but I also worried he would do something to Jason because of Shy. I wanted him to walk away from it all. I was even willing to leave the money if need be.
Kev didn’t say anything else. He walked back toward the hotel.
I stayed on the bench and cried. I thought I had lost him because of my lies. I held my head down and stared at the concrete, wondering what to do.
“Hey, you comin’, baby?”
When I looked up Kev was standing there. He reached out and grabbed my hand. He kissed my hand, then he said, “Babe, we in this together.”
I loved that man. I realized I had never felt this way before nor had I ever felt someone love me with the type of intensity that Kev did.
I whispered, “Thank you, Jesus, I love you. You are a great big loving God.”
“What you say? I heard you talkin’. Were you talking to me?”
I smiled, then responded, “No, I was talking about you.” Kev and I headed back to the hotel. We now had to come up with a plan B.
Chapter 25
Movin’ Backward
“Reese, Reese.” Kev shook me, trying to wake me. “You’re havin’ a bad dream, honey, wake up!”
I opened my eyes. I was still breathing fast, panting, and holding my heart with my hand. I sat up in bed and took a deep breath and turned to Kev. I stared at him a few more seconds before I spoke.
“I had a nightmare!” I proclaimed. “Jason is crazy!” I said while I held on to Kev’s cheeks softly with both of my hands.
“Babe, I got him under control.”
“The dream was so real, besides, God don’t like ugly and I’m tired of living like this. If we walk away from it all and dedicate our lives back to Christ, He will fix it. I know it’s true, Kev. I’ve seen Him do it before.”
“Look, Reese, I hear you. I don’t even care if we take the money and give it away. I just know Jason isn’t going to stop looking for us if I just disappear. He will suspect something; he’s tricky, baby. I just want you and the boys to be safe. Let me handle Jason, okay?”
He hugged me and held on real tight. “Reese, we been here for almost a week and tomorrow we’re goin’ back to Ohio. That wasn’t the plan for you to go back to Ohio, but now that you came clean about the cash . . .” He looked at me. “When we get back you go clean out the safety deposit box and I’ll go to Toya’s and get the boys. So when you go in, hurry and grab what you need. I’ll get you and the boys on the first plane out of Ohio.” Kev was serious. I listened as he orchestrated the plan.
“Well at least you get your money back you gave Jason.” I laughed.
“Reese, now is not the time for jokes, baby, this is serious. Jay is dangerous,” Kev explained.
I knew better than anyone how dangerous Jason was. I watched him murder Shy. I experienced him beating me and leaving bruises, black eyes, busted lips, broken fingers, and so on and so on. “I’m sorry, baby, really I am. Okay, where we going?” I asked.
“I’m not telling you that until you’re on the way to the airport. The less you know the better this plan will work, besides, I know you, woman. You’ll tell the women you met here, call Toya and God knows who else.” Kev was so tense. “Plus, Jason been blowing my cell up. He says he needs me to find you, so I’ll play into his wishes until you and the boys are safe.”
“I wish he would stop looking for me and just leave me alone.”
Kev held my hands together and used one to softly rub the other; I was nervous.
“What time we leaving in the morning?” I asked.
“Nine-thirty.”
“Okay,” I agreed. However, I was afraid. I had seen Jason in action when he felt betrayed.
“Good night, honey, we need to try to go back to sleep. See you in the morning.” Kev yawned.
“Night,” I said and then, immediately, I started praying. “Lord, we need you. We are ready to end this life and serve you, just one more day, Jesus, I promise.” I closed my eyes and fell back to sleep.
Kev had gotten back up out of the bed. My eyes were closed but I wasn’t asleep. I guessed he couldn’t sleep either. I could feel him look at me; then he kissed me on the lips softly. He took me out of his arms and laid me on my pillows. I never moved as he thought I was sound asleep.
I definitely couldn’t sleep with him out the bed ’cause I knew he was worrying. I started to think and wonder if all of this was worth the chance we were taking to get away. One thing I knew was the crew would definitely side with Jay because they would feel we, me and Kev, had betrayed him. That was a whole other can of worms we opened. My stomach was sick. I was so scared and I was feeling that this was gonna end real bad; for us, that was.
