Five years had passed since Dennis' birth, and now the young boy was thriving. After a day at Prominars, the elite school on Starz Street renowned for its academic and extracurricular excellence, Dennis returned home in the afternoon.
Dennis stepped out of the sleek black Bentley Mulsanne, waving at Mr. Demir, one of Kelly's trusted drivers. As he entered the apartment building, a mix of excitement and unease swirled within him.
"Thanks, Uncle," Dennis said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Mr. Demir's warm smile reassured him. "No need to thank me, kid. Just doing my job. Give your mom a nod from me, okay? See you tomorrow. Don't forget, the early bird gets the worm."
Dennis shouted after him, "Tell Aunty Kelly I'll visit the hotel on weekends!" but the car was already gone.
As he climbed the stairs, Dennis' thoughts drifted to his mother. Why did she always seem so worried? And where was his father? The questions lingered, unanswered.
A young woman in her 20s caught his attention. She was dressed in a revealing red spandex outfit, complete with a luxury watch and high heels, and held a child in her hand. Her gaze met Dennis', and she scowled.
"Tell that your mother bitch and her husband to keep the noise down. I'm sick of it," she snapped.
Dennis' face flushed with anger. "My mom's not the bitch, you are! You're the slut!" he retorted, before turning and running up the stairs.
He reached his apartment, unlocked the door, and entered, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. Dennis dropped his bag and went to the freezer, searching for something to eat.
That's when he saw the note on the dining table.
"Dennis, If you're reading this, you're home safe. Thanks to Aunty Kelly for arranging the ride. I've left your favorite sweet jollof spaghetti with egg in the fridge. Enjoy it, but remember: no TV, games, or distractions. Focus on your assignments and school books. When I get back, I'll expect a full report on your activities. Don't open the door for anyone - I mean it. Stay sharp. Yours, Delina"
Dennis folded the paper, feeling a surge of love for his mother. He heated his dinner and sat down to eat, savoring each bite.
As he ate, Dennis' thoughts returned to his father. Why did his mother always seem so scared when Frankie was around?
After finishing his meal, Dennis cleaned up and headed to his room to freshen up. He changed into a white shirt and red shorts, ready to tackle his assignments.
However, exhaustion soon caught up with him, and he fell into a deep slumber.
Hours later, Dennis woke up to the darkness of night, peeking through the curtains to confirm the time.
He stretched, feeling invigorated after his nap, and smiled mischievously.
"Time for some real fun, now that the night has fallen."
Dennis swiftly organized his books, gathered the necessary ones for the next school day, and packed them into his bag.
Next, he headed to the sitting room, settling into a cushion to watch his favorite kid's channel on the flat-screen TV.
As he became engrossed in the cartoon, his stomach growled with hunger, and he worried that his mom was running late.
Just as he was losing hope, he heard a knock on the door at precisely 9:00 pm.
Relieved, he jumped up and rushed to the door but suddenly stopped halfway, his curiosity piqued.
He peeked through the peephole, and what he saw left him bewildered.
His mother stood there, her face radiating joy, like a son who has been reunited with his mother for a long time.
But Dennis' expression quickly turned from excitement to dismay as he saw his father, Frankie, standing behind her.
He slows his pace, opening the door with a mix of emotions.
Behind the door, Delina stands wearing a stunning work outfit: a black suit with a fitted skirt, a formal long-sleeve slim black blazer, and a crisp white shirt. Her attire exudes confidence and professionalism, fitting for a club manager. However, her emotions betray her, revealing fear and trauma. This is likely due to her husband, a tall, athletic man with a menacing air, who is often involved in fights, thievery, and assaults. He wears black jeans, a white singlet, and a silver necklace with a military-style pendant. His left ear sports two piercings, and his forearm features a green rattlesnake tattoo, while an eagle tattoo adorns his left neck. His demeanor reeks of recent indulgence in alcohol, gambling, and violence, as he displays signs of impatience, waiting for his son to open the door. Dennis's excitement to see his mother is dampened by the sight of his father, whose presence spoils his joyful mood.
Frankie, growing impatient, whispers sternly to his wife, his words laced with malice. "Persuade your fucking son to open the door, I'm running out of patience." Delina, fearful, nods silently and attempts to calm her son, hiding her own emotions. "Dennis, please open the door. Dad just needs to collect the car key he left inside. Don't worry, I'm fine." Frankie smirks, his smile devilish.
Reassured by his mother's words, Dennis opens the door, allowing Delina to enter. However, as Frankie tries to follow, Dennis stands his ground, spreading his arms and legs to block the way. Delina, sensing the escalating situation, rushes to intervene, but Frankie's quick reflexes allow him to grip Dennis by the throat, lifting him off the ground. As he carries Dennis, Frankie kicks Delina aside, sending her crashing to the floor. Despite his small stature, Dennis struggles against his father's grasp, his fear and determination evident.
Frankie carries Dennis to a single sofa in the sitting room, slamming him onto it. But Dennis refuses to back down, fighting back with all his might. As Frankie reaches for his belt to whip him, Dennis quickly bites one of Frankie's fingers, enraging him further. Frankie slaps Dennis's right cheek, but before he can strike again, Delina intervenes, placing herself between them. The third slap lands on her face instead of Dennis's.
Undeterred by the slap, Delina shields Dennis, holding him back as he tries to escape and lunge at Frankie. Despite the tears and red marks on his face, Dennis's adrenaline fuels his determination to protect his mother. Delina begs Frankie to stop, pleading with him as she tries to restrain Dennis.
Delina pleads with Frankie, her voice shaking with pain and desperation. "Frankie, please! He's your son, your own flesh and blood! Don't do this!" She tries to endure the physical and emotional agony, her heart heavy with dread as she watches her son and herself being beaten by her husband.
In a desperate attempt to placate Frankie, Delina offers him her purse and savings. "Okay, fine! If it's money you want, take my purse! There's some cash in it. If that's not enough, you can take my savings from my room!"
Despite Delina's pleas, Frankie remains unrelenting, his anger and violence unabated due to the influence of the alcohol he indulged in and his gambling debt. He continues to flog her with his belt, cursing and barking at her as she shields her son with her body. Delina absorbs the blows, her words of pleading still directed at Frankie, her love and protection for her son unwavering.
Frankie's anger boiled over as he lashed out at his wife, his words dripping with venom. "You bitch, you and your rat of a son. Can't even follow simple orders. You're useless, a waste of my time and strength." He punctuated his tirade with a final, vicious flog, leaving his wife reeling in pain.
Seizing her chin with a brutal grip, he snarled, "Where's your purse?" Delina, despite her agony, managed to point out the purse's location. Frankie's response was five swift slaps to her left cheek, each one accompanied by a vicious reprimand. "You damn cunt, wasting my time... Next time, it won't be just a beating".