Repeat Offenders Read online

  “NO, baby please. Please stop,” I pleaded and it was now me punching Omari’s back, hoping that would make him stop. Kellen was now losing consciousness, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. I quickly made my way so that I was facing Omari and I grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me, “No, you can’t do this. You can’t. Look at me.”

  Omari paused and looked up at me, I stared and saw the tears streaming, mixed with the perspiration on his face. I had never felt so much love for one person in my life. This man had been through so much, and there was no way I was going to allow him to make another mistake, all in the name of trying to protect me.

  “Leah,” he said.

  “He’s not worth it, Omari. I swear to God, he’s not worth it. Stop, he’s had enough.”

  “He…he…”

  “He’s not worth all this,” I smiled. “He’s not. Get off him.”

  I reached for Omari’s hand and helped him to his feet. Kellen lay motionless on the ground, and I feared that Omari had indeed killed him. I put my arms around Omari and held on for dear life. I was so afraid that once I let go, he would be gone. The sound of sirens came closer and closer, and I held on tighter. I knew what was coming next. If Kellen died, Omari would be faced with another murder sentence; if he lived, Omari would be no doubt have an assault charge. Either way, he was a repeat offender with two strikes already, and this would put him back in jail. It was the same thing over and over again for us both.

  Epilogue

  The Pardon

  Somehow, some way, God heard my prayer. There’s a song I once heard on a country music station titled “Bless the Broken Road” that I thought was crazy when I heard it. In the song, they actually are happy about all of the past heartaches and failures that happened, because had they not, they wouldn’t have found their way to true love. At the time, I couldn’t imagine being grateful for all the hell that I was going through. Now, as I look back, I wouldn’t change a thing; because had it not happened, Omari and I would have never found one another. God had a purpose the entire time.

  It wasn’t Kellen who filed charges against Omari; it was I who filed the charges against Kellen. The security tape from the day care had captured Kellen sitting outside, watching and waiting for me. He was charged with felonious assault and stalking. After the charges were filed, he had no problem granting me a quick divorce along with a hefty settlement, which was more than I ever expected. I made a huge donation to the battered women’s shelter and the day care. Omari and I purchased the duplex from the Gordon’s and are in the process of renovating it into a four-bedroom house. It took a whole lotta hell and a long time coming, but I finally broke the curse and got my happily ever after.

  Omari

  Life sure has a funny way of turning around. Here I am, a two-time felon, who has spent over half my life in jail, now a manager at a Fortune 500 company and preparing to marry the woman of my dreams. A dream that I didn’t even know I had until I met her. I still couldn’t believe that Leah thought that Shaunie was my skank girlfriend. Had it not been for Kellen showing up, she probably would still be giving me the cold shoulder and the evil eye. So, I guess I kinda owe it to that brother for giving me the opportunity to shine like I did. The truth is, I really would have killed him. Leah was right about one thing, Kellen wasn’t worth it, but it wasn’t about him. It was about her. And she deserved to see him get every punch I gave him, for every time he put his hands on her. In that moment, not once did I think about the fact that I was jeopardizing my freedom. It didn’t even matter. Not then, and not now. I would do it all over again if I had to. So, I guess Mama, Shaunie, and Coach Gordon were all right. I finally got what I deserved. A woman who loved me, despite of all that I had been through. True Love. In all that I had been through, not once did I ever question God as to why it was happening. I knew that He had a plan for me. It took him a long time to reveal it, but I’m satisfied.

  “Every long lost dream, led me to where you are.

  Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern Stars,

  Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms.

  This much is true, God bless the broken road,

  That led me straight to you.”

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  Table of Contents

  Repeat Offenders

  Copyright © 2011 by Urban Lifestyle Press

  Contents

  First Offense

  Leah

  First Offense

  Omari

  Second Offense

  Leah

  Second Offense

  Omari

  Early Release

  Leah

  Early Release

  Omari

  Good Behavior

  Leah

  Good Behavior

  Omari

  Life Sentence

  Leah

  Omari

  Leah

  Epilogue

  The Pardon

  Omari

  Table of Contents

  Repeat Offenders

  Copyright © 2011 by Urban Lifestyle Press

  Contents

  First Offense

  Leah

  First Offense

  Omari

  Second Offense

  Leah

  Second Offense

  Omari

  Early Release

  Leah

  Early Release

  Omari

  Good Behavior

  Leah

  Good Behavior

  Omari

  Life Sentence

  Leah

  Omari

  Leah

  Epilogue

  The Pardon

  Omari