Real Riders Never Die 3 Page 4

  “Oh, Mommy, look!” Ayo squealed.

  Taryn looked out of the window and saw two ladies walking down the street carrying two large baskets of bananas. Though it wasn’t much to look at, Taryn could see why it would have caught his attention. She didn’t see things like that in Columbus, so she was sure he hadn’t either.

  “I see it, man.”

  “Taryn, do you know where we are?” Ornella turned around and looked at her over the seat.

  Taryn looked at her and rolled her eyes without saying anything. She knew damn well she didn’t know where she was. They hadn’t allowed her to look out of any window since leaving Columbus. All she knew was that they’d taken a plane ride that felt like they’d been flying for days before ending up at a small airport. She tried to look around to see where she was, but Chauncey and Rolande had made that damn near impossible.

  “Taryn, let me tell you something, sweetheart. If you want to make your stay peaceful, speak when spoken to. Now I asked you a question.”

  Taryn continued looking out of the window as if she didn’t hear her. If Ornella thought she was about to punk her and boss her around like she was some kind of child, she was so wrong. She’d already taken her against her will. The fuck made her think they were friends? Ayo sat back and leaned his head against Taryn’s chest. With one hand on his stomach and one in his head rubbing his scalp, Taryn ignored everyone in the car with her.

  Ornella cleared her throat, and before Taryn knew it, Rolande had reached over and tried to grab Ayo from her lap. Taryn’s left hand tightened around him while her right one connected with Rolande’s nose. It started bleeding instantly.

  “Don’t fucking touch him.” She stared at him like he was the most stupid person on earth, and in her mind he was.

  She didn’t know how foreigners did it, but in Georgia, people didn’t fuck around about their kids. Including her. She would fight the world about her baby. The look on his face let her know that he wanted to kill her, but she didn’t care. He had started with her.

  “I don’t know who y’all people think I am, but whoever it is, I’m not that bitch. Y’all may be whoever y’all are, but I don’t give a fuck about that. Don’t think for one second that I won’t defend myself.” She looked at Ornella and Chauncey who were watching her. She stared at them for a minute, shooting Chauncey a bird through the rear view mirror, before looking at Rolande. “And you, if you ever in your life touch my baby or even look like that’s what you’re about to do, I will beat your ass.” Taryn huffed before wrapping her arms tighter around Ayo and looking out of the window.

  Her head was turned, but she could still feel all of their eyes on her. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought about how long it was going to take Demoto to find her. In her heart she already knew that he would come looking for them. All she hoped was that it didn’t take him too long. She was tough and could handle a lot of things, but she wasn’t sure how much of these fucking Africans and their fat ass bodyguard she could take.

  “My girl, you’re a tough act. Like I said before, I like it. However, I will not be disrespected. I would advise you to fix your attitude.”

  Taryn looked at her and sucked her teeth. “Leave me alone, Ornella.”

  She heard Ornella laugh before turning around in her seat. Taryn was thankful for that because she was so tired of her looking at her. She took the scenery in as they drove. She knew she was far away from home and figured more likely than not that she was in Cameroon. Her suspicions were confirmed when they drove past a building with a pole in front of it.

  The Cameroonian flag blew lightly in the wind. Taryn shook her head. These damn people had kidnapped her and her baby and brought them all the way to Cameroon. It was no telling how long they would be there or what Ornella’s plans with them were.

  “Ayo, would you like some food, my dear baby?” Ornella looked over her shoulder again.

  Ayo didn’t say anything, but Taryn felt his head nod against her chest. It pissed her off that he was even responding to Ornella, but he was a child. He didn’t know any better.

  “Very well. Grandma will get you something.” She smiled at him and Taryn turned her nose up.

  Ornella looked up at her and smiled. “You’ve been with Demoto too long. You’re just as mean as he is.”

  “With good reason,” Taryn spoke.

  Chauncey turned the van they were in so hard that Taryn had to hold onto the seat to keep herself from falling over. When she looked up, they were turning into a large pink house. It was large and had statues and bodyguards everywhere. This had to be Ornella’s house. Taryn was amazed at its beauty, but that all went away the moment the car stopped because she realized she was there to stay.

  Rolande sat holding his bleeding nose with the tip of his shirt. He looked at Taryn with a hate so strong she could feel it, but the feeling was mutual so she paid him no attention.

  “Taryn, come on, my girl. Let’s go inside.” Ornella was standing on the side of the van waving for Taryn to get out.

  She sat in her spot for a minute before scooting forward with Ayo in her arms and getting out of the van. When she stood to her full height, she towered over Ornella. She shifted Ayo around so that he was on her hip.

  “Why do you always carry him? He’s a big boy, let him walk.”

  Taryn looked at Ornella with her eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not sure, but are you giving me advice on how to be a mother? Because if you are, I don’t want it.”

  Like she’d been doing since she met her, Ornella smiled at Taryn. “You are one feisty woman. Come on.” She turned and began walking away.

  Taryn hesitantly followed her. She was so tired that she didn’t even have the energy to be nervous anymore. Though she had no idea what was to come, she’d kind of felt Ornella out and clearly she didn’t want to kill them. Not yet at least, so she was good for now. In all honesty, Taryn’s comfort came from knowing Demoto would be on his way. He always came for her.

  Guards moved out of the way as they passed. A few of them stared at Taryn as if she was something they’d never seen before. Little did she know, she was. None of their women looked like her. She was very different from what they were used to. When she walked into the foyer of the home, the cool air instantly made her feel better.

  It had been hot as hell their entire trip. The house was extravagant to say the least, but Taryn would worry about all of that later. All she cared about right now was getting her baby something to eat.

  “Come on, dear, I’ll show you two to the kitchen before I take you to your room.”

  Taryn totally ignored the comment about her room because as far as she was concerned, she didn’t have a room there. She followed Ornella down a long hallway and into a large white kitchen. Everything in there looked expensive. Taryn marveled at the beauty of the view from the kitchen window. It was immaculate and probably the best looking thing she’d seen since she got there.

  “Sit him there.” Ornella pointed to the Turtle booster seat in the corner.

  It was clear that Ornella had been planning their arrival for some time now because from the time they’d gotten with her, she’d had everything Ayo would possibly need; the car seat in her Lincoln, the coloring books and apples on the plane, and now the high chair. Taryn had to admit she was a crazy old bat, but it was clear she wanted to be a grandma.

  Taryn sat Ayo in the chair before buckling him in. “You okay Yo-Yo?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Taryn pulled his hair from his ponytail and watched it fall down around his face. He was so sweet and innocent; Taryn almost teared up. To keep herself from doing so, she turned around to face Ornella. She was leaning on the counter with her arms folded across her chest watching them.

  “You’re a very good mother.”

  “Wish I could say the same.”

  Ornella winked at her before going into the cabinets and pulling things out to cook. “You know I really am a good mother. Different, but good.”

&nbs
p; “Not from what I’ve heard.” Taryn was tired of playing nice.

  Ornella had kidnapped her so they were no longer friends. Anything went at this point.

  “Demoto never took the time to understand why I do what I do. Which is ironic, being that he’s in pretty much the same profession. He gets that from his father. He was the same way. That’s why I don’t blame him. He simply believes what he was taught.”

  “So why are we here?”

  “Because I wanted to meet you two. I knew Demoto would never allow me to, so I had to do it my way.”

  “I have a feeling that you’re lying because that’s way too simple. You’re not going to convince me that you came all the way to Georgia just to get us because you wanted to meet us. That makes no sense.”

  “You’re right. I have ulterior motives, but my main focus was Ayo. I had to know him. When I first saw pictures of him, I fell completely in love. He’s gorgeous and looks just like my son. How could I not love something that came from me? I know Demoto told you a lot of stuff about me, which I’m sure was all bad, but I love my kids. Ayo’s birth just continues the Youngblood legacy, and since it’s clear that his father doesn’t want it, he will inherit it all.”

  “I don’t even know what to say to that.” Taryn looked away.

  “Just say you’ll let me know him. I promise that’s all I want. When Demoto comes, because I know my son and he’s coming, then you two can go home.”

  Taryn didn’t really believe her, but she nodded anyway. It was something about Ornella that just wasn’t sitting right with her. She was being entirely too nice for one, and her flying all the way back to Georgia was too much for something as simple as wanting to be a grandma. She had something up her sleeve, and Taryn was going to watch her until she revealed it.

  They sat in the kitchen for another few hours, cooking and eating, before Taryn and Ayo were shown to their room. Ornella said she had some business to handle and for them to get some rest. After letting Taryn know she would be back to check on them later, she left. Taryn looked around the large room that once again alerted her that this trip was planned and sighed.

  The toddler Ninja Turtle bed in the corner with the toy box full of toys entertained Ayo, but not Taryn. She had other stuff on her mind, such as the closet full of clothing in her and Ayo’s size. Ornella might have been a mass murderer, a horrible mother and wife, but she was one hell of a host. She had cooked for them and given them everything they would need for their stay.

  As much as Taryn wanted to stay up and look around, she was dog tired, and judging by the way Ayo was sitting on the side of the small bed looking at her, so was he. She stretched out her arms for him to walk to her and he did. With the clothes she’d gathered them from the closet, she walked into the bathroom and ran them a bath.

  Before undressing either of them and getting in, she made sure the doors were locked to her room and the bathroom. She didn’t trust any of Ornella’s people. They had been ogling her since she’d gotten there. When she was satisfied enough to gain a little piece of mind, she undressed Ayo first, then herself, before picking him up and sliding into the bubble bath filled tub.

  “You okay, Yo-Yo?”

  “Yes. I want to go to my room.”

  Taryn leaned her head to the side and poked her bottom lip out. She wanted to go to her own room too, but for now, they didn’t have that option. Taryn played with him for a little while, trying to make him feel better, before washing them both and getting out. Once they were dressed, she laid him in the massive sized bed and climbed in behind him.

  It was still light outside but they were both dog tired. Taryn looked around the room as she hummed to Ayo. He fell asleep almost instantly with her right behind him.

  Taryn didn’t know how long it had been since she’d fallen asleep, but it was now dark outside and she couldn’t really see anything. There were no street lights and no lights on in her room. Had she not seen light seeping from beneath the door, it would have been completely dark in her room. She looked over at Ayo who was still soundly asleep and slid out of the bed.

  Dressed in a pair of teal yoga pants and a white tank top, Taryn padded across the floor. Her hair was up in a wild ponytail on the top of her head, flowing down her back and around her shoulders. The footie socks she was wearing protected her feet from the bare floor as she made it to the door. Even though she didn’t want to leave her baby, she needed to try to find a phone.

  If she could get in contact with someone from home, then she would be good. She pulled the large door open as quietly as she could and looked both ways to make sure no one was coming. When she didn’t see anyone, she tiptoed out of the room and walked down the hall. She looked at the pictures along the way. There were some beautiful paintings hanging around.

  At the end of the hall, she noticed there was another hallway. She followed that one, quietly passing other bedrooms. She wanted to try the doors, but didn’t want to walk in on anyone, so she continued her search for the living room. It had to be one in there. The closer she got, the more nervous she was. She was almost positive there had to be some guards lurking around somewhere.

  Once she finally made it to the living room, she looked around to make sure no one was in there, before walking as softly as her 6’0” tall frame would allow her. She looked around the tables and odd end cabinets that were in there, but saw nothing. She was about to give up until she noticed a pearly white phone lodged between two structures in the wall.

  Taryn looked behind her before hopping across the floor to where it was. She picked it up and heard the dial tone. The only thing she could think to do was press the number one to call. She had no idea how to make an international call. She was disappointed to find out that pressing one didn’t work. She nearly threw a tantrum right there. She tried a few more times unsuccessfully before giving up and taking the long walk back to her room.

  She looked at her feet and pouted the whole way back. When she recognized the hallway that her room was on she raised her head and sped up a little. She didn’t want to get caught out there. Finally reaching her room, Taryn went in and closed the door behind her. She didn’t even pay attention to the fact that the small lamp in her room was on, until she turned around.

  “Oh my God!” She shrieked and grabbed her chest.

  There was a young man sitting in the chair near her bed. He looked to be no older than she was. He was shirtless and had Ayo sitting on his lap. The small lamp illuminated the corner of the room where they sat.

  “I found him in the hallway.”

  Taryn stood flabbergasted with nothing to say. Her words had been caught in her mouth. They’d come up her throat, but she was unable to push them out any further. The long brown dreads hanging down around his shoulders, the light skin, and the hazel eyes had Taryn frozen in place. Her chest felt tight as she stood in the door with her hand over her chest.

  The thick African accent mixed with the manly baritone was like music to her ears. Ayo lay sideways, asleep in his lap. His head was thrown back over his arm with his hair falling backward. The glow in the dark Ninja Turtles pajamas on his small body lit up in certain places. Taryn’s eyes scanned over her baby before going back to the boy in the chair.

  “Are you okay?” He was looking straight at her.

  Taryn nodded. “Who are you?”

  “Uzoma.”

  “You look just like my husband.” Taryn’s voice wasn’t loud because she was talking more to herself than anything.

  “You and Demoto are married?” He looked confused.

  Taryn’s gaze came up from the floor quickly. “You know him?”

  Uzoma laughed softly. “He’s my cousin.”

  Taryn felt dizzy. She tried to focus her eyes, but the room began to spin. Before she knew it, she had fallen and hit the floor. She didn’t know how long she had been out, but when she woke up she was in the bed beneath the covers. Ayo was beside her. Taryn looked around the room and rubbed her eyes. She scooted back slowly
in the bed and grabbed her stomach with one of her hands.

  “Another baby?” Taryn looked to the corner where the lamp was and there was Uzoma.

  He was sitting still as a statue with his legs stretched straight out and his hands resting across his abs. His hair was still down, but it was now pushed back off of his face. She looked at him for a minute without saying anything because she wasn’t sure whether she was ready to tell anybody in Cameroon about the new addition to her and Demoto’s family.

  “You scared?”

  “Of what?”

  He waved his hand around the room in reference to her current situation.

  “Yes and no.”

  “Why not? You’re a stranger here. You should be.”

  Taryn rolled her eyes to the sky trying to think of a way she wanted to word what she was going to say next. There really was no way to put it other than to just say it, so she did.

  “There’s no reason to be. Demoto will be here soon.” Her words were soft and reassuring like she believed them with every fiber of her being- because she did.

  Uzoma didn’t say anything. He just continued looking at her. The same way Demoto did, the same way Ayo did, and the same way Ornella had been doing all day. Clearly, it was a Youngblood thing. The way they looked at people was crazy and it almost made her feel uncomfortable.

  “You sure about that?”

  Taryn nodded.

  “Very well. I can’t wait to see him.”

  “You and him close?”

  “Not so much anymore. I’ve been back in Cameroon for a while, so we don’t talk much. When I lived in Florida we spoke every day.”

  The perfectly arched brows on Taryn’s face raised in surprise, “You lived in the United States before?”

  A small smile tugged at his lips as he nodded. “Yes. From age five to age fourteen. My father sent me away, but after his death, I returned home.”

  “Why though? You didn’t like it?”

  He shrugged. “It was fine, but I love my home. I learned English and went to school, but my heart was here in Cameroon.”