Aaron's Fall (7 page)

Aaron awoke early, and looked at the sleeping form beside him. This had been more then he expected. If he wasn’t careful, Asia would steal his heart, something he wasn’t ready to give. He still couldn’t rationalize how very different the interlude had been, that she, a virgin, had been the one woman in all his years and experience to shatter his control, captivate him, taking him to wherever they had been.

Raising from the bed and smoothing her hair from her face and softly kissed her lips.

Chapter Four

Asia stretched languidly, a smile on her face. Aaron had been gone for about two months, and was due return soon. She missed him. Since he left for camp she lived that night repeatedly in her head. Knowing it was probably wishful thinking but she wanted him to make her feel special, as he did that night.

She rose humming, a song she had written a long time ago. She wanted her keyboard but forgotten it at the old house, and she was going to get it. When Marcus lived there, he didn’t allow her to play it, so she hid it so he wouldn’t destroy it as he did everything she had a fondness for in her house. She hadn’t wanted to write in a long time. With the changes in her life, she felt good again, and knew she could create some beautiful music.

A knock at the door brought her back from her musings. She opened the door. UPS driver at her door.

“Package for Asia Brooks, sign here.” She signed and took the small package. She opened it, inside was a cell phone a note attached.

“Hello beautiful, I’m giving you this phone so you can contact me anytime, I mean anytime you need me. My number is programmed in as well as Tia’s; I’ll be back next month to see that beautiful smile. Call me when you get the phone. Aaron

Asia pressed the button for Aaron’s number.

“Hi beautiful,” he said.

“Hi, stop saying that,” she said shyly.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine,”

“Are you still smiling?” Asia chuckled.

“Good, if you need anything, call me or Tia.

“Okay.”

“See you next month.”

“Aaron why are you doing this?” Asia asked, quietly

“I care about you, and I love your smile, see you next month.”

Asia looked at the phone, and smiled.

Asia got off the bus a block from her house. She wanted her keyboard; she wanted to start composing again. She stopped in front of the house looking up at it. She hadn’t been back since she had moved out. Aaron even helped her put the old dilapidated house up for sale, although she thought it should be demolished.

Asia climbed the steps and with the key opened the door. She frowned. There was someone living here. She walked down the hallway to the living room. She stopped stunned, Bass, Marcus friend, was lounging on the couch.

“Oh, Asia so your back.” he said leering at her, a sinister smile on his unattractive face.

“What are you doing here Bass? She asked irately.

“This is my house now bitch.”

Asia heart banged hard against her chest. She looked around the room, guns lay out in the open on the table, and on another was vials and bags of drugs ready for distribution. How many times had she witness this when Marcus was alive. Soon the runners would be here to pick up the drugs to be sold. Asia shook her head.

“Now that Marcus is gone, I own this block and everything he had, including you.”

Bass was a short stocky overweight man, dark skinned with a huge bulbous nose, dark beady eyes and thick lips. He had been Marcus’s second in command, when he was alive. He was called Bass, because of his deep voice.

“I thought you were in prison.” Asia stated.

“I’m out, and you wasn’t her Girl, come over here,” he said getting up from the couch, “Marcus said I can have you if anything ever happened to him.”

Asia begun to panicked, those old feelings flooding her psyche. She backed up the hallway and turned to run. Just as she reach the door he caught her by her hair, dragging her back into the living room. Asia screamed; he punched her in the face, her head snapped back from the assault.

“Shut up, when I say come, you come,” he said, his putrid breath in her face. He punched her again.

“Do you understand me?” Bass yelled in her face, pushing her against the wall.

Asia tried to get away from him, but he caught her arm, his beefy hand biting into her flesh. He slapped her again. She pulled away. He punched her again, this time she fell to the floor on her face, she remain that way for a minute, memories of abuse flooding her mind. Please God not again, she prayed silently. Bass kicked her in the back. Asia cowered in a ball against the wall, her body tense with fear.

“Get up Bitch!” Bass yelled.

When she did not move, he kicked her again

Asia managed to get to her hands and knees slowly. Bass reached down and snatched her up by her hair. Asia grabbed the hair his hand, to take some of the pressure off her scalp. He backed her to the wall pinning her there, trying to kiss her. Asia turned her head. Bass grasped her face, his pudgy fingers biting into her jaws, forcing her face to his. He pressed his thick lips to hers, his tongue trying to go into her mouth. She kept her lips tightly shut, gagging feeling that nauseous sickness raise her throat, with his wet sloppy tongue trying to pry her mouth open. He released her. Instinctively Asia spit in his face, trying to get his taste from her mouth. He slapped her so hard her head snapped back hitting the wall. He grabbed her by her arms his finger bruising her upper arms. He punched her, again knocking her to the floor. Tucking her body into a tight ball waiting for the kick she knew would follow. When it landed she swallowed the scream that wanted to escape.
Why God
? She thought.

“You bitch,” Bass cursed wiping the wetness from his face. He grabbed her by her hair pulling her to her feet. Her head jerked to the side from the force of his fist connecting on the side of her head.

When he made an attempt to hit her again she raised her arms to block the next blow. He snatched her arm down holding it in a tight grip preventing her from raising it. He threw another punch directly to her eyes. She dropped to the floor black spots before her eyes.

Bass chuckled sinisterly. “Marcus said he had to beat your ass regularly to keep you loyal. You gonna be loyal to me Asia?

The tears flowed from her now swelling eyes. She had been through this so many times with Marcus, and she would rather die than go through this again.

His beady eyes stared down at her, as she whimpered and cowered on the floor. “Marcus always told me you was easy to control, just kick your ass and you come crawling, he sure trained you well.”

“Go clean yourself up and go get me some beer,” he demanded throwing money down at her.

Asia nodded tears streaming down her face; she could feel the swelling in face right away. She lifted her sore body from the floor. Bass smirked down at her. When you get back, I want some ass!” he demanded. She nodded docilely, turning she left the house. Once outside she ran, and didn’t stop until she was at the loft. She bolted the door and closed all the blinds. She sat on the bed her knees in her chest sobbing. The phone Aaron gave her rang causing her to jump. She ignored it.

Tia had just finished rehearsal in the studio, and thought to go visit with Asia. She knocked but no answer. In the two months, that Asia had move to the loft, she was a completely different person. She seemed more relaxed, even happy. The first time she ever saw a smile on Asia’s face it stunned her. Aaron was right Asia is a beautiful woman.

Tia shrugged, maybe she was out.

Aaron had been calling Asia, but she wasn’t answering, he started to worry. He called Tia.

“Hey Tia, you heard from Asia?”

“No, why?

“I’ve been calling, no answer.”

“I went to the loft, she wasn’t there. I thought she was just out.”

“When?”

“Two days ago.”

“We’re on our way back; we should be there in less then an hour, meet me at Asia’s.”

“What Aaron, what’s wrong?” Tia asked concerned.

“I don’t know, something doesn’t feel right,” Aaron said hanging up.

Tia went up to the loft, and knocked. Still no answer. A little while later Aaron and Martin arrived. Aaron looked up at the windows, the blinds were closed. Asia never closed the blinds, during the day. They tried the door.

“She’s there, I know it,” he looked worriedly at Tia. “You don’t have a key?”

“No, I gave her the only key.”

Martin looked at Aaron; he has never seen Aaron so disturbed.

“Break the door open, Aaron,” Martin suggested. Aaron looked at Tia.

“Do it Aaron,” Tia said.

Aaron took his foot and kicked the door open; the door swung open hitting the wall with a bang. They heard something fall, then whimpering. Tia turned on the lights. They found Asia, in the corner of the room holding her knees to her chest rocking, her face on her knees. Aaron rushed to her and bent down beside her.

“Asia,” he said softly.

She remained huddled in the corner. Aaron touched her and she tensed pulling away from him trying to bury herself deeper in the corner. Aaron gently turned her head to him and lifted her head.

“Damn it!” he cursed, gazing at her battered face.

“What!” Tia and Martin said together.

Asia right eye was swollen shut, her lip split, dried blood in the corner of her mouth.

“Move Aaron,” Tia said, pushing him out the way.

When Tia saw Asia’s face she gasped. “Come on Asia we have to get you cleaned up.” Tia said and held her hand out to her. Asia looked at Tia.

“Its okay,” Tia said softly. Asia let Tia help her up and lead her to the bathroom.

Aaron was pacing the floor like a caged animal; expletives fell from his mouth, his face a glowing mask of rage. Martin watched as Aaron held a tight rein on his volatile temper his large body tense and seething with rage.

“Aaron, man you can’t let her see you in a rage, she’s already scared, you need to find out what happened to her.” Martin said logically, because he knew Aaron was not going to be logical.

Aaron stilled, looking at Martin. Aaron stopped pacing to glance at his friend, his dark eyes like to blackened coals.

“This happen to my Mother,” Aaron admitted his voice cold and exact. He shut his eyes tightly, as the memories came flooding back to him. He could see Tyrone beating his mother as she lay on the floor, her body jerking from every blow he dealt her. The rage in his heart was consuming him; he had to calm down. Aaron went bedroom, to the corner where Asia sat, his head pressed on the wall, as large tears dropped from his eyes. He knew he had to control the building rage; he had to take care of Asia. She was what’s important now. His eyes squeezed shut, and he took a deep breath.

Martin felt for Aaron, he knew what had happen to his mother when he was a boy when his biological father had adducted them and then beat his mother in front of him.

Tia came out of the shower a few minute later.

“Aaron, she was beaten,” Tia said in a choked voice, “she has bruises on her arms and her knees are raw, like she had been dragged.”

Aaron turned to look at Tia, swiping at the angry tears that coursed down his face. Aaron didn’t wait to hear more, he rushed pass Tia to the bathroom.

Quietly Aaron eased the door open. Her back was to him. His eyes surveyed her body, her light brown skin showing the vivid bruises that marred her body. She had handprint on her arms, as if someone grabbed her, her back was scrapped and several purplish bruises formed on her back. The water ran down her body, her wet hair hung down her back. She stood there not moving. Aaron could feel rage invading him; he took in a shuddered breath.

“Asia,” Aaron called softly.

She turned and looked at him, she cast her eyes downward, her head lowered, but not before, he saw the fear and despondence in her eyes. He reached in and turned off the shower. Grabbing a towel, Aaron wrapped it around her, drying her. He helped her into her robe, took her hand, leading her from the bathroom. She held onto him tightly, as he set her on the side of the bed. Tia handed him a small towel with ice. Aaron sat beside her, and placed it gently on her face. Asia took the ice pack, her hand touching his. She looked over at him, her gaze clouded with tears.

“Aaron I’m sorry,” she said, tears blinding her eyes, choking her voice.

“Baby, this is not your fault.”

Asia stared at him through pained eyes; she swallowed hard, hot tears slipping down her cheeks. Slowly her head fell against his shoulder, Aaron arms went around her protectively, as she sobbed, her face pressed into his chest. Aaron looked back at Martin and Tia, seeing the distress on their faces.

“She not going to talk with you here, I’ll call you later.” Aaron told them, his face a mask of fury. They agreed, leaving them.

Aaron held her until her tears subsided. She sat silently, while he made her a cup of tea, neither spoke each with their own thoughts.

Asia knew she had to get away from Atlanta and Aaron. Aaron would want to find out who did this.

As she sipped her tea, Aaron took a comb and combed through her dampened hair. She sat quietly.

Placing the tea down, she reached up and took the comb from his hand, and rose from the bed. Asia looked at him. She couldn’t see him anymore; she didn’t want to involve him in her dysfunctional life.

“I want you to go Aaron,” she stated softly.

“Why Asia? He asked her, looking at her frowning. “What happened?”

Her back was to him. “You and your friends have been so good to me; you don’t know how I appreciate...”

“Asia!” Aaron yelled interrupting her, coming to his feet, towering over her.

She jumped, and backed away, cowering.

Aaron pulled her into his arms and held her.

“Sh…,” I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Aaron said rubbing her back.

Her arms went around her waist, and she held on to him.

“Come on, we’ll talk later,” he said leading her to the bed helping her to lie down. He lay down beside her. He looked at her bruised face, and his anger returned suffocating him. She lay on her back looking at the ceiling. He looked at her face intently. She had dark circles under her eyes. When was the last time she slept?