Page 56 of Dear Mr. Vampire
No, my ears worked just fine. He was standing inside my bedroom, blocking the doorway.
I felt like I was falling and my fear was all I had to keep me standing on my feet. He was here. Lonzo was standing before me and I wanted to faint. I wanted to yell, but I just couldn’t get my vocal chords to agree. Deep down, I knew this day would come. But something inside me prayed that the next time I saw this monster was in a court of law.
I knew this man would kill me. There was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Everything made sense now. But it didn’tmake sense at all. Why was this happening to me? I didn’t want to die. But my options were limited.
My mind went into overdrive trying to come up with a way to escape. This man was clever, but this time I wanted to be a few steps ahead of him. I wanted to get away. I desperately wanted to live to see another day.
My heart lurched. The panic that invaded my body crashed through my skin and heated my face. He was standing in the doorway of my bedroom. Lonzo was here in the flesh and this time I was sure it wasn’t one of my nightmares.
“Coco, I’m not talking to myself.”
I never hated the name Coco as much as I did in this moment.
“Lonzo.” I whispered just loud enough to be heard.
“Oh, you remember my name.” He smirked in a way that made me feel like this was a game to him, a game that I would lose.
“I’m sorry.” I blurted.
“Chica, what could you be sorry for?”
“Everything.”
“Could it be you talking to the feds? Could it be you turning states’ witness against me?”
“I don’t know anything and I didn’t see anything.”
“Why’d you run to Chicago?”
“I just moved.” My voice was shaky and unstable. “I needed a fresh start.”
“You moved away from me! Your muthafuckin’ man!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do. You were in jail.” My eyes darted around the room. I didn’t know how I was going to escape.
“I’m out now and it took me awhile to track you down. I would’ve come to the hospital to see you, but I figured I should let that pretty face of yours heal up first.”
“It was you?”
“Don’t be mad at me. I sent them to find you not beat theshit outta you.” Lonzo shrugged his broad shoulders. “At least they didn’t kill you.”
I needed to keep him talking. “Why did you send them after me?”
“You know why. Like I said, my sister, and my cousin might have gotten a little carried away. Forget about them. You still fine. Oh baby, I missed you. You didn’t contact me once when I was in county lockup. What’s up with that?” He gestured out with his hands.
“I was advised not to.” I looked over at the sliding balcony door and wondered if that’s how he got in. I was on the second floor. Did he climb up?
“Yeah, and you’re such a good girl. That’s why I love you. You’re my own little goodie two shoes.”
Could I jump off my balcony and escape? Would I break my legs?
“I told the police I didn’t see anything. You didn’t have to come look for me.”
“Baby girl, you are a witness to a triple murder.”
“But I saw nothing.”
“I’m not stupid. I know you’re the star witness.” Lonzo took a few steps in my direction.
