I’m huddled on the floor in the kitchen hiding behind one of the cook stations. My knees are pressed to my chest and I have my arms wrapped around them as though through sheer will, holding myself tight will keep me from falling apart.
My phone chimes and I lift it to glance at the illuminated screen.
Dom: I’m here.
“Thank God.”
I squeeze my eyes shut once before forcing them open. Dominique is here. I’m safe. He’s a big strong football player and whoever the man is outside won’t want to mess with him. He’s probably gone by now anyway. I’m okay. Everything is okay.
Me: Be right out.
I push myself up from the ground, my legs still shaking as I shove my phone in my back pocket and try and catch my bearings.
I take several deep breaths and press my hand over my chest. My heart is racing but there isn’t anything I can do about it. I force myself to move toward the front of the diner. My steps are slow and I keep checking my surroundings to make sure I’m still alone. I know the man couldn’t have gotten inside. The doors are all locked. But I still feel the urge to double and triple check.
I spot Dominique’s Escalade parked right out front and a small sigh of relief escapes me. I’m almost to the door when a police cruiser pulls up behind it. I stop. Did he call the cops? I look around and don’t spot the man outside any longer. Inwardly, I groan. I’m going to have to explain the false alarm to an officer. He’s going to think I’m an idiot for getting all worked up over nothing.
Dominique is sitting in the front seat of his car seemingly not paying attention. His eyes are on his phone, the screen casting light on his face in the darkened vehicle.
I watch as the officer gets out of his car. He draws his gun from his holder and moves around the vehicle until he’s facing Dom’s driver-side window.
What the—
The officer starts shouting. Dominique raises his hand in the air and then steps out of his car. I move to the corner of the diner to get a better look and notice another police cruiser pull up. This one follows suit and two men exit that car, both with weapons drawn.
Dominique is shaking his head vigorously, hands still lifted in the air.
He turns around to face me and I see stark fear in his eyes. No. No. No.
I pull my phone out of my back pocket and rush outside just as Dom lowers himself to his knees, his hands coming to rest behind his head. I look up and down the street but aside from Dominique and the police, the street is empty.
“Ma’am, I need you to step back inside the restaurant.”
What? No. I shake my head. “What’s going on, officer?” I ask, my feet rooted in place.
Dom is on his knees, but the police have three guns drawn and trained on my friend. My phone is still clutched in my hand so as discreetly as possible I dial Roman’s number. His dad is the chief of police. I remember him telling me that. Instinctively, I know I have to call him. I know he can help.
I don’t bother waiting to see if he answers, I put the phone on speaker and turn all my attention to the officer closest to Dominique.
“Ma’am. Get back inside the diner.” His voice is hard, his eyes narrowed as he looks me over.
“I…I can’t. It’s locked now. Why are you pointing your gun at him? He didn’t do anything wrong.” As I’m talking I hear the call connect and Roman swears on the other line quietly enough that only I can hear him.
“This man is suspected of auto theft.” The officer tells me. ‘We got a tip and he fits the description.’
I frown at that. No way would Dom steal a car. His family is loaded. He has no reason to.
“Officer, I know him. Dominique Price is not a thief. He’s here to give me a ride home. I called him at the end of my shift here at the Sun Valley Station.” I say all of this, hoping Roman will hear and call his dad. Maybe he can show up and help defuse the situation, or make a call so these guys back off.
Dominique isn’t saying anything but his normally dark complexion has taken on an ashen quality. His eyes are wide and he’s not looking at me. I’m not even sure he’s aware of what’s going on anymore.
I take a step toward Dom when another officer shouts, “Ma’am we need you to stay away from the suspect.”
Suspect? Dom isn’t a suspect. He’s a kid. He’s seventeen. He’s just a kid like me.
“But I … I know him.” My voice wobbles. “Why are your guns drawn? He’s not dangerous. He’s not…”
“Ma’am. Please step back. It’s for your own safety.”
“Put your guns away and I will. He isn’t doing anything to justify this type of force.”
At my words, Dominique flinches and all three officers start shouting.
“Get back.”
“Get on the ground.”
“Keep your hands in the air.”
They’re not talking to me. They’re shouting at Dominique, but he barely moved.
Dom’s eyes flick to mine.
“I’m not leaving you,” I mouth.
His lower lip trembles. My eyes prick with tears. Dom, strong, quiet Dom is on the verge of tears. This cannot be happening.
Then one of the officers gets angry when Dominique doesn’t move to comply but he’s already on his knees. What more do they want? “Get on the ground. Get on the fucking ground,” he shouts, stepping forward. “I said, get on the fucking ground.” His hands shake and I can see hatred burning in his gaze.
No. No!
I drop my phone, purse, and sweater so there’s no way any of them can think I’m hiding anything. Then I move closer.
“Ma’am!”
“Miss!”
I keep my arms raised as I walk toward Dominique, my steps measured. I don’t look at the officers. I don’t look at the guns. I keep my gaze locked on Dom and watch as he tracks my movements with his eyes but he doesn’t move. He’s still as a statue.
When I’m right beside him I finally look up and meet the gaze of the closest officer. Then I step in front of Dom, protecting him with my body.
My voice shakes as I say, “His name is Dominique Price. He’s seventeen years old. He goes to Sun Valley High.” My heart is pounding in my chest. I can barely hear myself, but I push more words past my lips, determined to make them understand. “He’s here to pick me up from work. He was giving me a ride.”
The officer closest to me, an older white man with dark brown hair shot through with streaks of silver, eyes me warily.
“He’s driving a brand-new Escalade. We have reason to believe the vehicle is stolen.”
“It’s not!” I shout the words. I don’t know why I’m not scared anymore. But I’m not, all I’m feeling is anger. Cold and visceral. They have no right to do this. To make Dom feel a certain way when he didn’t do anything wrong.
“Miss. I understand you know this man but—”
“He’s a kid. A seventeen-year-old kid. The car is his. His family has money. Why are you doing this?” I can hear the hysteria in my voice but can do nothing to quash it.
“We have reason to believe—”
“How? Why? Because he’s black?”
His eyes narrow. “This has nothing to do with race. We received a call—”
I cut him off. “Do you know the chief of police?” I ask him. “Do any of you know Police Chief Valdez?” I shout.
One of the men nods so I push on. “His son, Roman, goes to Sun Valley High. He’s best friends with Dominique Price. This is Dominique Price. Chief Valdez has known Dominique forever. Please, just put the guns down and call the chief. He’ll clear this up. He’ll tell you—”
Another cruiser pulls in. Two more officers exit and add two more guns raised in our direction.
I can’t catch my breath. Panic rises in my gut.
My voice is frantic now. “Call the chief. I’m not letting you shoot my friend. This is not happening.” The last part I say to myself.
It takes every shred of courage in me to turn my back on them but I do. I turn around and the crouch down behind Dominique. I take in his broad back and raised hands. I look at his hands. Always hands. This is Dom. I tell myself. He’s my friend. I can do this. I have to do this. Wrapping my arms around his waist I use my body as a human shield. Panic floods through me at the contact but I close my eyes and shove it away. It’s just Dominique. Dominique is safe. He would never hurt me. I’m touching him. He’s not touching me. I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.
To him I say, “Don’t move. I’ve got you. I won’t let them shoot you for being black. I’ve got you.”
He trembles beneath me. Seconds stretch into minutes, but I don’t move. Neither of us do. I can hear the officers in the background arguing amongst themselves, but I block out their voices.
My legs begin to shake but I hold on tighter, refusing to move away and abandon my friend. Then a familiar voice calls out from the crowd. “Allie?”
I turn my head but still don’t release Dom.
“Roman?” My word is a whisper and I feel Dominique’s shoulders slump in relief.
Roman shoves through the cluster of officers, a severe-looking older man right behind him. A man I recognize. Oh shit! The man who found me that night. That’s Roman’s father? I can see the resemblance now.
“Drop your weapons and stand down. Now,” he orders the men.
A breath whooshes out of me as one by one the officers holster their weapons.
“Everyone but the first officer on the scene, get the hell out of here. Beat it.”
No one argues, and once I can see that they’re clearing out and there aren’t any more guns trained our way, I loosen my hold on Dominique and stand. My heart pounds in my chest now for an entirely different reason.
Police Chief Valdez meets my gaze. There’s concern there but it’s fleeting. Then he turns and starts in on the officer forced to stay behind.
Roman is there, yanking me into his arms. “What the hell were you thinking? Fuck. Were you trying to give me a heart attack? Seeing you like that just shaved ten years off my life.”
I freeze in his arms and close my eyes. Silent tears track down my face. I… I can’t… I can’t breathe.
He releases me and turns toward Dom, completely unaware of the meltdown taking place inside of me.
“What the hell happened?” Roman asks.
No answer. I swallow several times trying to force the lump in my throat down.
“Dom?”
He’s not getting up. Roman sends me a worried look and I force my feet to move. I step around him until I’m standing in front of him and I bend down to catch his gaze. “Dom?”
His jaw is locked. His eyes glassy and far away. I send a worried gaze toward Roman but he shrugs, unsure of what to do. I bite my bottom lip. Words aren’t getting through to him.
I take a deep shuddering breath and swipe the tears from my face with the backs of my hands before turning my attention to his. They’re still held above his head.
I shove past my fear and with shaking fingers, reach out and cup Dom’s cheeks in my palms. “Dominique?” His gaze flickers to mine. “It’s okay. You’re okay. They’re gone. It’s okay.”
His hands slowly lower but his arms are trembling. He sucks in a shuddering breath. “I need…”
I know and I force myself to give it to him. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him close. His strong arms wrap around me in an almost painful embrace. I bear it and when my limbs lock up and my breath becomes erratic, I just squeeze him tighter.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
