Living with the Enemy

It’s been said that family is one of the most important treasures in your life. They’re the ones who love you, support you, and most importantly, keep you safe. From the outside looking in, people would kill to live the life I live; living in the lap of luxury. For my sixteenth birthday, my parents bought me a Porsche, and now at 21, I drive a black on black, customized Bentley Continental GT. We live in the prestigious hills of Atlanta’s Elite. My family is wealthy and they are not afraid to flaunt it.
However, it is that wealth that makes my life a living hell day in and day out. My “father,” Alfred Reynolds is a prominent politician as his father and grandfather before him were. My “mother” Dorothea Rice Reynolds, is a socialite and a diva in her own right. After 28 years of marriage, they managed to have my brother, Chris who is a wannabe thug and my sister Desiree and myself Naomi. The reason my parents have quotes around their names is because they wouldn’t know how to be a real parent if it bit them in the butt and said hello. They would put me and my siblings in harm’s way just to keep up their reputations and their cash flow.
But nothing could ever be as bad as living under the same roof as Dustin Breeding and his brothers. They are some of the most notorious crime lords in Atlanta. But no one’s been able to take them down for a lack of proof. But it’s right in front of everyone. As I sit here writing these words, I can feel a cold chill run down my spine. If Dustin ever found out what I’m doing and what I’m about to tell you, he would kill me.

From the Beginning…
“Naomi, wake up. We have too much to do,” my “mother” said as her voice flooded my room.

I shifted around and tried to avoid the beaming sunlight as she opened the curtains. Lying there helplessly, I tried not to think about the events ahead.
“Young lady, I will not tell you again. Get up right this moment. Time is of the essence,” she said as she browsed through my closet.
I managed to get out of the bed and head to the bathroom that was connected to my room. I took a good look in the mirror and felt that something was going to happen. I didn’t know if it was good or bad, but something was going to change my life in a drastic way. I did my hygiene thing and returned to my room where my clothes were laid out on the bed for me. After doing my hair and makeup, I got dressed and went downstairs to await my fate.

“Finally she emerges,” my “mother” said as she sat down at the dining room table.

“Yeah, well we all can’t be as punctual as you, mother” I said rolling my eyes.

“You better watch it. Your attitude needs to be stellar, especially as a debutante,”

“Speaking of which, why do I have to be in this debutante thing. Why not let Desiree do it?”

“Oh no, dear. Please don’t drag me into that mess,” Desiree said as she joined us.
“You’re the oldest girl and therefore must follow tradition,”
“Tradition? So, if tradition holds, I’ll marry a rich man and get Botox and be a miserable phony witch, right?”
“How dare you speak to me like that? I am your mother. Your father and I determine how well off you will be in this life. That means you play by our rules. You are going to be a debutante and you will not complain about it,” she said as her face reddened.
“Calm down, mother. You know Naomi and her mouth always get the best of her. Why don’t I talk to her?” Desiree intervened.
“Somebody better or else,” my “mother” said as she left the room.

Desiree sat next to me and looked me dead in the eye. I could tell she was feeling the same way that I was. She had a nervous feeling emitting from her.
“Look, they have something planned. I don’t know what it is but you’re involved,”

“How do you know?”

“I heard dad talking this morning, but I couldn’t make it out. All I heard was that he made a deal and you are on his end of it,”

“What?” I shouted.

“Shut up for a second. Look, just play along with them and don’t say anything else to ruffle their feathers. I’ll try and let you know any new developments,” she said grasping my hands.

After hearing her words, everything went by like a blur. My day was filled with people poking and prodding me every possible way. But nothing agitated me worse than the fact that I was about to be put on display like some prized trophy. When all was said and done, I whisked away to the Hilton where the ball was going to be held. As I got out of the car, I saw my “father’s” limo pulled up beside a Cadillac Escalade. I kept the scene tucked in the back of my mind as I entered the hotel lobby.
The place was swarming with people, some faces were familiar and others were absolutely new. A woman I had never met in my life approached me.

“Ms. Reynolds, over here please,” she said taking my arm.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Rachel, Mr. Breeding’s personal assistant” she said as we entered a small conference room where three other girls were sitting.

“What’s going on here? Who is this Breeding guy that you’re talking about?”

“You’ll find out soon, but for now sit here and wait patiently,” she said leaving the room.

I looked at the other girls and around the room. They all looked as confused as I did.

“Do y’all have a clue what’s going on?” I asked them.

“Nope, as soon as I got here, she told me to sit and wait,” one girl said.

The looks on the other girls faces confirmed the same experience. I sat down and placed my head in my hands.

“You’re Naomi Reynolds aren’t you?’ the same girl asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“I overheard that Rachel girl talking on the phone about you. Something about you being the important part of the plan,” she said.

My stomach sank to a low place that I couldn’t even tell you. All I knew was that this was not going to be good. I couldn’t help but think about Desiree and what she told me.

“What are your names?”

“I’m Kandi,” the girl said “and that’s Asia and that’s Jahkeil,” she said as she texted on her phone.

I called Desiree to tell her about me being a part of a plan that I still had no details about.

“Did you hear anything?” I asked her.

“No, not yet. Did you?”

“Sort of the same stuff you told me this morning. I did see Alfred’s limo next to an unknown person’s vehicle, and that I’m in Breeding custody,”

“Breeding? That’s not a good look, sis” Desiree said as the door opened.

“Where are you?”

“I’m almost there, meet me—“ “I gotta go. Text me later,” I told her as I ended our call.

I looked at the door to find Dustin, Kelly, Patrick, and Carnell standing there looking at us. I felt a shiver go down my spine. I looked over at Kandi to see if I could read her, but nothing. The other girls just sat quietly.
“Dustin, whenever you’re ready,” Rachel said looking at him.

“Where’s Naomi?” he asked looking at his watch.

“Naomi, come over here,” Rachel summoned me.

I followed Desiree’s advice and did as I was told without commenting. Dustin looked me up and down and an evil grin spread across his face.

“I think we’re ready to go,” he said taking my hand in his. “Good, Reynolds is in place and once he calls her, it will seal the deal,” Rachel said smirking.

“What deal?” I blurted out without thinking.

“The deal that you don’t need to worry about. Just know that once you ladies leave here tonight, you belong to me,” he smirked and led me out of the room.


Before I knew it, Rachel was taking me backstage to where my “mother” and Chris were.

“You look wonderful darling,” my mother said as my brother and Dustin exchanged knowing looks.
“What the heck is going on here?” I asked her before I could properly choose my words.

“What do you mean?” she said looking from me to Dustin.
“I mean I practiced this debutante crap with some preppy rich guy and then all of a sudden I’m abducted by some girl who’s connected to Dustin Breeding. Any of this ring a bell?” I snapped.

Apparently I struck a cord because the look she gave me was unnerving. I felt Dustin’s hand grasp my arm tightly.

“So, you’re in on this plan too, huh?” I said in disbelief.

“Look, there are some things that don’t concern you. Just do as you’re told for the sake of your family,” my mother said as she walked away from me.

“So, I’m supposed to sacrifice for you and your husband’s comfortable life while you endanger my life right?” I said.

“Naomi, watch yourself. Look, just be cool and do this for me,” Chris said.

With that I knew that this was all about Chris. He did something illegal, his life was on the line and Dustin was bailing him out by taking me captive.

“What the hell did you do now, Chris? You always trying to be a thug and getting into deep ish that you can’t get out of. Now, it’s at my expense,” I yelled at him.

“Yo, you didn’t tell me your sister was this stubborn,” Dustin commented as he pulled me closer to him.
“My bad, man” Chris smiled nervously.

Dustin brought his face close to mine and looked me in the eyes, “I don’t like to repeat myself. I told you once before that you don’t need to concern yourself with such business and do what I tell you to do,”

After that close encounter with him, it was time for me and the others to head on stage and be introduced. The lights almost blinded me as I looked at the crowd and my father who was announcing names. It took everything in me not to scream and punch him dead in the face. Instead, I did as I was told and stayed calm.

“Naomi Reynolds, being escorted by Dustin Breeding,” my “father’s” voice trailed off after that as Dustin took my hand and led me to the other side of the stage.

“That wasn’t so hard was it?” he asked.

“I guess not,” I lied. I felt my stomach sink, my head began to spin and everyone and everything was a big blur. I got light headed and blanked out.

“Naomi, Naomi,” I heard voices say. I tried to respond but everything went black.