A tear fell down Ada’s cheek before she reached for a tissue. “I can’t believe he told you. He won’t even tell his brothers what happened. I don’t even know the full story because he refused to open up.”
Their entire family had been damaged by Lo’s attempted sexual assault. More than anything, Bria wished healing for them all.
“I never meant to put my baby in harm’s way. I know he believes otherwise but I would never do that to him.” She sniffled.
“I know you didn’t.” She rubbed her hand.
“No, I’m serious.” Ada whimpered. “If I could go back, I would change everything. My boy would be with me, and he wouldn’t have to live with all those painful memories.”
Bria rubbed her lips together. “What happened from your point of view? How did your actions make him cut you and his father off?”
Ada’s eyes descended to her lap as she swallowed deep. “The way I found out was the most horrible experience of my life. I was ambushed. Comforting my son had been snatched away from me. When I tell you I was blindsided, I mean just that. This is how I learned of his attack…”
Heavy pants gushed from Lo’s mouth. He couldn’t catch his breath no matter how fast he ran after it. His legs burned while branches from the trees cut into his skin. Despite his physical fatigue, Lo couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when dangerlurked behind him. He had been running for what felt like an eternity. His feet were so cramped that his sprint had turned into a limp. Dehydration bullied its way into his body, making his muscles spasm uncontrollably.
Lo couldn’t calculate how long he had been running. His mind was far beyond the point of comprehension. His body no longer allowed him to jog so he walked a slow stride with his hands resting on his hips. His face showcased the agony coursing through his limbs. Lo walked and walked and walked until he spotted familiar territory. This neighborhood was the one that his Aunt Maddy lived in. He would come over every so often to play with her son, Durand. The closer he got to her home, the more the pain increase. Lo was halfway down the walkway before he stopped and kneeled down. The soles of his shoes had worn down so badly that the front flapped.
“Come on,” he whispered to himself.
Standing up, he made his way to the door and knocked hard. When he spotted the doorbell, he pressed on it until the porch light came on. Soon after, the door opened. Maddy appeared wearing a silk scarf over her head and a silky robe. Her brows were knitted when she opened the screen door and realized Lo was standing on the porch.
“Oh, my Lord. Lo, what are you doing here at this time of night?”
“Auntie, he tried to get me.” He huffed, barely having the breath to get the words out.
Right away, Maddy pulled him inside, inspecting his body from head to toe before holding his arms and peering deeply into his eyes.
“Who tried to hurt you, baby? Tell me.”
He gulped, trying to soothe his throat that felt like sandpaper. “That counselor at the camp. He tried to kiss me. Hemade me touch him. He tried to pull my pants down, but I got away.”
“What the fuck!” Maddy boomed, standing up straight. “I told your simple-ass mama not to send you to that fucking camp. It’s a pedophile ring.”
Lo’s eyes widened as his head reared slowly. Processing that information almost made him gag. He had to be hearing her wrong. There was no possibility that Maddy had revealed that the summer camp was a pedophile ring and his parents had sent him.
“It’s what?” he asked before the information fully processed in his brain.
“A pedo ring,” she repeated, pacing back and forth while shaking her head.
“And you told my mama about it?”
“Yes, and she was so fixated on you potentially being a genius that she ignored me. You know what? I’m about to go over there and tear her a new ass. Come on.”
Maddy grabbed her purse and keys off the dresser before snatching Lo’s hand and walking out the door.
“Where’s Durand?” Even in the midst of chaos, Lo was concerned about his cousin.
“He’s at Big Mama’s house,” she hissed, getting inside the car.
Lo hopped into the passenger side and Maddy pulled off so fast, his back hit the seat.
“Your fucking parents, man.” She huffed. “They don’t fucking listen. They want this storybook life by any means necessary. What the fuck would provoke them to send you there? Did you wanna go?”
“No, I told them I didn’t, and they made me.”
“Now look what the fuck happened.” She flailed her arm. “You done got touched behind their fucking bullshit.”
Maddy continued screaming obscenities while Lo sat in complete silence. He didn’t know what to make of everything. His mind felt like it had been put in a blender. Everything was mush. His thoughts weren’t complete, and his throat ached with his eyes ready to release liquid pain.
