Free Dirtiest Revenge by Cha'Bella Don

while huffing and puffing. Tears poured down her face as she tried to explain what was going on in the house. Her father looked at her and then, he told his friend he would catch up with him later. He picked up Kendra and ran into the house. Once inside, he yelled, “Bernice! Bernice!”
    When Nia heard her father’s voice, she came from under the bed and ran to the living room.
    “ Hey, baby girl! Where is your mother and Uncle Chuck?”
    Tears filled her eyes as she pointed to the bathroom. He told the kids to walk next door and wait for their mom to come and get them, but they ignored their father and stayed behind. Amir walked into his bedroom and grabbed his sawed off shotgun. He walked to the bathroom door and kicked it open. He saw his wife laying on the floor with a swollen eye. Chuck looked up and saw the barrel pointing in his face.
    “ Man, I’m sorry. Amir, I…I,” Chuck stuttered hard, getting up off the floor and walking toward the entrance of the doorway.
    “ How could you, Chuck? How could you betray me like this, huh?”
    Amir was heated and had tears in his eyes. The next thing that came out of Chuck’s mouth was so shocking that he couldn’t believe that he even spoke the words himself.
    “ I really wanted Nia, but this bitch jumped in the way.”
    Those were the last words he spoke as the bullets rippled through his chest. The cries of his two little girls broke Amir’s heart. He laid the shotgun on the floor and ran to his babies, hugging them close.
    “ I’m sorry you guys had to witness this. Murder is never an option, but I will die and go to hell before I let someone harm my babies.”
    One of the neighbors who’d heard the shots called the police. The paramedics, police, and fire department all pulled up at once. They asked the neighbors and the kids a series of questions. One of the lead detectives informed Amir that they were going to take him in for questioning.
    “ We’re going to have to take you down to the precinct, Mr. LaSalle.”
    When they cuffed him, Bernice went crazy, screaming, “Let him go!” She clung to her husband’s leg and was dragged behind him as they walked him to the squad car. Amir let her know everything would be okay. An officer approached and asked, “Do you guys have a place to go for the next couple of nights?”
    The officer assured Bernice that she and the kids would be okay. Mrs. LaSalle packed herself and her children some clothes. Then, they were driven to a nearby hotel, where they resided for the next two days.
    On the day of sentencing, Mrs. LaSalle made sure she was front and center at her husband’s hearing. The judge gave leniency because of the circumstances provided by the lawyer and sentenced Amir to twenty-five years. Mrs. LaSalle was heartbroken. There was no way she could stay away from her husband that long. Every weekend, Kendra, her sister, and mother took the Greyhound to visit their father. Seeing him every weekend helped to ease the pain in their mother’s heart.
     
    *****
     
    Kendra set the picture on the mantel and continued cleaning. After everything was boxed up, she put the boxes in the garage. Kendra knew that all of these events had happened for a reason. She felt it was God that had led her to leave her house that night. She thought about calling Trent, but the thought went away. Kendra went outside to get the mail. As she opened the door, she found Trent standing in the doorway. He startled her. Why is it that, every time I think about him, he shows up? Kendra wondered.
    “ Hey, shawty. Are you gonna let me in?” Trent asked, standing there with some tulips, a box of chocolate, and a puppy dog look on his face.
    Reluctantly, Kendra stepped aside to let him pass. Trent set everything on the counter and took a seat at the bar.
    “ Ma, I can’t sleep one more night without you. Baby, I know you have every right to be upset. I know I fucked up, but I’m here to right my wrong. You are my foundation, my rock, my