Page 21 of Own It

Once he rose to his feet, I licked my dry lips and inquired, “So you won’t kill me then, right?”

“Long as you listen and yo’ pops cooperates and saves my cousin.” Rakim talked as he put together what appeared to be a phone, but I couldn’t see well due to its dark color.

After a minute or so, he flipped over the tiny device that he’d just assembled, and I was able to confirm that it was a phone. Walking back over, he extended it to me.

“For what?” I quizzed, taking it. He smelled good, and up close like this, I could definitely validate my attraction to him. The onyx skin, warm, brown eyes, thick lips, broad nose, tall stature, full beard, and the artwork that was embedded in his arms was something serious.

He’d done away with the hoodie and was now in a wife beater, black joggers, socks, and the corduroy slippers. He looked nothing like Ayan except for the shape of his eyes.

“Call yo’ pops.”

“W-what do I say?” I was nervous because I was scared but also because Rakim was sexy.

If I wasn’t under such pressure, I would shake my damn head at myself for finding this crazy ass nigga to be attractive, but I cut myself some slack since I’d actually found him to be sexy before all of this and couldn’t just turn it off.

“Just that you been kidnapped and if he wants you alive, he needs to do whatever the fuck I tell him. You say anything more than that, I will kill you and do this whole thing over again but with big sis.” He gave me that penetrating stare again, and I nodded this time, catching on to its meaning. “I know you know who the fuck I am. I can see it in ya eyes. Don’t think telling ya pops my name is gon’ change things. Only thing it’s gon’ do is piss me off.” His forbidding eyes lasered in on me, terrifying me deeply, which I was sure was his intention.

Dialing my father’s phone number that I only knew by heart because he’d had the same one since I was a sophomore in college, I put the old flip phone to my ear and did my best to stave off the tears, but it was useless.

As soon as my father’s skeptical greeting poured through, I broke down, causing Rakim to tug on my wrist in order to pull the phone from my face and press a button to publicize the call.

“Daylin?” My father shrieked somewhat, and I was surprised he recognized me just by the sound of my crying.

“Yes, hi, Daddy.” I pulled it together once I noticed Rakim watching me, unmoved by my sobbing.

“Day, what’s wrong? What happened?” His voice kept heightening the more he spoke, and I was so caught off guard by his concern for me that I didn’t speak right away.

I realized Rakim was right—my father didn’t respect me, but he did care.

Running my hand across my nose to stop it from running, I pulled it together as much as I could.

“Daddy, I’ve been taken⁠—”

“Taken? Taken where?” He shouted, unable to let me finish my statement.

“I don’t even know.” I looked around the large room and out of one of the windows to see nothing but land and what appeared to be an abandoned shed in the distance.

Rakim caught my eyes, making me focus back on the task at hand.

“Day—”

“I’ve been kidnapped, and I need you to listen to whatever he says to be sure I live and can come home.” I got right to it, unsure of how to even hold a conversation such as this one.

I could feel Rakim’s eyes damn near penetrating my skin, and it brought about a queasiness in my stomach. I felt like shit for having found entertainment in this happening to other people and it being turned into TV shows and documentaries. Nothing about this right here felt like something someone should watch for enjoyment.

My father was quiet except for a few sighs and attempts at asking questions he obviously couldn’t form. Judging by the light rustling in the background, I could tell that he was moving around whatever hotel suite he and my mother had been staying in.

“I don’t understand, Daylin. If this is one of those pranks, I am demanding you end the shit right now.” His voice trembled, and I found solace in the fact that he was afraid.

As morbid as it was, it felt good to know my father loved me enough to be scared right now.

“It’s not a prank, Daddy.” I whimpered, sniffling heavily.

“Oh my gosh.” I heard the bed springs squeak as he plopped down onto the bed he’d gotten out of. Just then, I could faintly hear my mother awaken. “Are you okay?”

“I—”

Rakim snatched the phone from me before I could speak, making my mouth fall ajar. I watched him closely as he stood before me, looking eight feet tall while clutching the phone that looked comical in his big hands.