Page 5 of War
Several officers escorted Darren and Simone outside while Eli rushed over to his wife. He examined her face and felt a boiling anger inside. Darren had some nerve talking to Faith. If he knew the woman like Eli had known her, Faith was capable of becoming violent when she was pushed. “What happened?”
“What had happened was your fucking ho came in and try to get bold with my black ass!” Faith spat. She removed the cold cloth away from her eye. “She got one good lick in before I fucked her high yellow ass up!”
Eli bit back a smile. “What really happened, Faye?”
“She came waltzing in here, telling me I was the reason why you started denying her child again. I told her you were going to do what you’re going to do. Then we got into it.” Faith let out a deep sigh. “She’s lucky I didn’t kill her.”
“I think we all are,” Eli looked around and surveyed the damage. Out of six stations, four were completely in shambles. Numerous equipment and products were on the floor. Eli looked at his feet; he was standing in hair gel.
He could make a few phone calls, and have the shop running by the end of the week. Money wasn’t the issue but the reputation to Faith’s salon could be hurt. He saw a small crowd of onlookers forming outside; many of them already had their phones out. It was a matter of time before they ended up on WorldStar Hip-Hop. “We need to go through the back. I don’t want anyone seeing you like this.”
“Are you mad at me?” Faith asked. Her voice became small like a child’s. Gone was the big, bad, and bold Faith; replaced was Eli’s girl. She felt the anger from Eli and immediately regretted her actions. “I swear it wasn’t my fault, Eli! She approached me first.”
“No, I’m not mad.” Eli caressed his wife’s cheek and she winced when he came near her swollen eye. “But we need to play pass interference before Simone and Darren go to the press with this.”
“You think they will?” She asked.
The look on Darren’s face spelled he wanted some trouble and was waiting for Eli to give it to him. He had the typical privileged white boy who never had to work hard day in his life look. It was luck he knew how to throw a football.
Eli did his own research on Mr. Darren Matthews. He had a penchant for strippers. He grew up upper middle class. His first car was a Mustang. All of his friends looked exactly like him and did the typical white boy who has a lot of money and a lot of free time type of things.
He’d barely passed college and even former friends and girlfriends could admit, he only passed because of his stellar performance on the football field. He whizzed by in every aspect in life, including with Faith.
However, Darren was smarter than what he’d appeared. Darren wouldn’t use his fists or threats. He would use his influence and money to rain hell on Eli’s parade. It wouldn’t have mattered if Simone threw the first punch; she would have sympathy from the public.
Eli would simply have to beat Darren at his own game. It was clear Darren had the upper hand now and was going to use it to his full advantage. It was time to call in reinforcements. “Chances are, they already have.”
