Page 31 of Cutthroat

“I said it because it’s true. It’s men like you that I can’t stand. You unhealed, broken, bitter, daddy issue having ass niggas. You walk around like you got your shit together the whole time you’re damaged and destroyed. Its men like you that latch on to good women and destroy everything good about her. You didn’t appreciate what you had, so meet the bad side of a good woman,” Eden smiled.

Jermaine could feel his world crashing. After losing his job, the only bright spot in his life was Eden’s pregnancy. The knowledge that she had carried a child for his father, the man that murdered his mother, the man that ruined his life, made him see red.

“You rotten bitch!” Jermaine screamed as he tossed the swaddled newborn like a football towards Eden’s head.

Screams erupted in the small delivery room as Eve and the doctor scrambled to catch the airborne child.

“You son of a dead bitch!” Eden screamed as she tried to get up to catch her child.

It was at this moment that she realized what her mother said was true. To protect your child, you would do anything. The fact that she had just pushed him out and was somewhat weak didn’t register to her when she thought she had to save his life.

“Call Security! Get the police in here now!” The doctor screamed as she cradled the newborn as if he were her son.

Pure pandemonium broke out as Jermaine tried to kick Eden out of the bed. Raising his foot for the second time, Jermaine dropped to the ground when the prongs from the officer’s taser dug into his back.

“You’re being charged with child abuse, harm to a minor under the age of 12 years old, child neglect etc,” Jermaine was in a catatonic state. He didn’t hear what the officer stated.

It had been two days since his arrest, and he still couldn’t believe this was his life. Yes,

he had made a few mistakes within his marriage, but henever thought Eden was capable of this level of brutality.

Jermaine sat in his cell in disbelief. The drab gray walls matched his mood perfectly. In his life, he had never once seen the inside of a jail cell. In addition to calling the police when his mom was murdered, his only other interaction with the police was a speeding ticket he received while in college. He was not his father. He never thought he’d be in jail for assaulting his wife and child.

“Not my child. My brother,”

The word brother played in Jermaine’s head on a loop.

Brother, brother, brother, brother.

Without warning, vomit erupted from Jermaine’s mouth like hot lava. Never had a simple noun made him so sick. For years, he craved the companionship of a sibling. He longed for the day that he could say, “I am my brother’s keeper.” But he never expected to receive a brother like this.

The faux images of his wife on her hands and knees, on her side, on her back, bent over a prison table with his father, the man that murdered his entire family in front of him, made him sick.

The thought of Jerry Shelton releasing his murderous seeds into Eden’s ovulating womb made another round of sickness rush from his mouth. It came so quickly that he had no time to make it to the stainless-steel bowl. He hadn’t eaten in days, yet chunks of the remnants of his days old, digested food coated the front of his stained shirt.

“What is that smell? Let’s go, Shelton. Someone saw fit to post bail for your baby launching ass,” The officer chuckled as if Jermaine’s heartache, embarrassment and family dynamic was the funniest thing in the world. It was as though he was desensitized to human suffering.

“Who posted my bail?”

“It sure wasn’t your wife or little brother,” The Officer advised. That line was so funny to him that he slapped his knee.

“I see I’m the butt of the department’s jokes,”

“Aye man, I’m just yanking your chain. You’re an attorney so you know how we cops get. We joke about everything because nine times out of ten, we’ve experienced whatever it is that you’re going through. The rumor mill says you started this whole family swap. I guess it’s true what they say,”

“Oh yeah. What’s that?”

“It ain’t no fun when the rabbits’ got the gun,”

Jermaine didn’t respond. Instead, he gritted his teeth.

“The young fella wearing the Florida Gators shirt posted your bail,” The officer added. “Be safe out there Mr. Shelton, it’s obvious that you’re not built for this side of the law.”

Jermaine knew he was right. It had only been two days in the county lock up. It felt like he had done a ten-year bid.

Malcolm’s jaw hit the floor when Jermaine rounded the corner. He had spent a few weekends in jail and never had he come out looking or smelling the way Jermaine did.

Malcolm gagged.

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