Читать книгу Friend or Foe - Imani Black - Страница 5

Prologue

“Why did you have to always control everything? Get in the way all the fucking time?”

Desiree Turner blinked rapidly, her heart ramming into her chest like a wrecking ball taking down a skyscraper. She was too shocked to speak and couldn’t help her knees from knocking against one another. The harsh question resonated through her brain like loud clanging.

“Huh? Answer me! You always have to act so perfect, right? You easily forgot where you came from!”

The booming, shrill voice made Desiree shiver. Her lips moved apart, but no sound came out. She would’ve answered the question, but given the circumstances, an answer would probably have made things worse. Was this what they meant when they said the cat got your tongue? Desiree’s mind turned into mush. She saw the faces of her children flash by her. Something in her gut told her it might be the last time she saw those faces.

“Oh, you ain’t got shit to say now, Ms. Goody Goody?”

Desiree flinched as her tormentor waved a gun around, haphazardly dangling it in front of her. This had to be a nightmare. There was no way she could be seeing this correctly. Desiree was too afraid to move her hands to even pinch herself to check. Any sudden movements could be deadly, she reasoned—if reasoning was a thing with the kind of fear she was experiencing at the moment.

“Please.” Desiree finally managed a shaky whisper. Her lips trembled so fiercely she couldn’t even pronounce the L in please. “Can’t we talk about this? I... I can...” she murmured, tears racing down her cheeks in fast streaks.

The shock of seeing the familiar face made the situation even worse for Desiree. She couldn’t think back to what she’d done to deserve this. In fact, she had never harmed a hair on anyone’s head or ever muttered a malicious word about another person. Desiree had practically given up her entire life for everyone around her. It was her nature to take care of others. All she could think of was, why me?

“No! Don’t you understand there is nothing to discuss? This has to be done! Especially now! You think I’m that stupid now that you’ve seen my fuckin’ face?”

The crazed but familiar eyes were scarier for Desiree than the fact that she was staring down the end of a wavering silver handgun. She’d seen guns before, but never had she had one pointed at her.

Desiree started to pray silently. She should’ve seen this coming. But how? Why? A million thoughts played in her head, rewinding, staticky like an old VHS movie. Desiree quickly scolded herself. She had ignored the writing on the wall, all the signs.

“After all I’ve—” she whispered, closing her eyes. Her words were cut short. Someone she knew all too well had just opened fire on her.