“Sure,” Tahanee said and followed Barbara up to her room. When they got to the room, Barbara stretched out across her bed and Tahanee sat down in the chair across from her. Barbara didn’t talk and Tahanee didn’t force it. She understood that Barbara had just gone through a major traumatic event and her presence may make Barbara feel secure.
As Barbara laid across her bed, the events of the day replayed in her mind like a movie, but she was unable to change the channel. At first there was her shock and then the fear when the men grabbed her. Barbara felt the sting and pain of Ram’s betrayal and then revulsion when he turned his back on her and walked away. Then came the feelings of being scared and helpless while she was being assaulted. That fueled her anger and it was that anger welling up inside her that allowed Barbara to kill a man when it became necessary.
She felt stupid and naïve for trusting Ram. It caused her to question whether he was really ever interested in her at all or was his interest all just a game so he could set her up to be kidnapped. She didn’t know.
There were a lot of things that Barbara didn’t know, but she was learning fast. She would have to. Now Barbara was left to wonder if this was what her life would be like from this point forward. Then she thought about how this would likely not be the last time something like this would happen. And if that were to be the case, Barbara knew that she needed to know how to protect herself.
The fact was that someone had tried to get at her father through her. And they would have succeeded had Tahanee not been there to protect her. It was only recently that she had the type of freedom that would allow her to get snatched up. Barbara made the decision that she would no longer rely upon those people hidden in the shadows to protect her.
Barbara sat up quickly and looked at Tahanee; she reacted to her movement by standing up.
“What’s wrong, Barbara?”
“Nothing. I mean it’s something, but you can sit back down. I doubt we’d be in danger in this house anyway.”
Tahanee said nothing because she knew all too well that there was no such thing as a safe place.
Not even a fortress like this one.
“Okay, so what’s up?” she said and reclaimed her seat.
“Well, it’s just that I realized how unprepared I was for what happened today.”
“That’s to be expected. You only just found out who your father is. You can’t beat yourself up about it.”
“Yeah, I get that. But still, … it’s not just that. It’s that even though I knew who my family is, I wasn’t prepared to defend myself and I need to be. So …”
“You want me to show you how to protect yourself?”
“Yes. Will you? I mean are you even allowed?”
Tahanee laughed. “I should be, but I’ll get in touch with my boss, to make sure.”
“You’ll be able to do it,” Barbara smiled. “Your boss works for my Uncle Mike,” she said confidently, but instead of relaxing because he would do anything for her, Barbara still look bothered.
“Got another question?”
“I just wondered if everyone is going to think it’s my fault. I mean I know Daddy will be upset when he finds out I left the school.”
Tahanee just nodded; what could she say? It was the truth.
“Did I do this?”
Tahanee knew this was all part of the shock wearing off. Instead of feeling the emotion of the situation, now she had questions.
“I think once you explain what happened, everyone will understand and remember what it was like being a teenager. Teenagers do stupid things; I know I did.”
“How old are you anyway?”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
“You don’t look it, but I guess that’s why you got the job.” Barbara nodded her head. “You needed to blend in with the rest of us kids at Forten.”
“But now that you know who you are, you can be smarter about what you do and be more aware of your environment and the people around you.
“I guess you’ve watched me do a lot of stupid things?”
“Yes,” Tahanee paused. “I’ve