Someone Like You

Chapter 39

Zeniyah

I moan walking up to my alarm, looking at the clock I see it's 7 am making me jump out of bed quickly. I take a quick shower and braid my hair back before putting on a straight bob cut wig. I slip on a white shirt and a black pants suit on top since I wanted to look as professional as possible going to the courthouse. I also put on some lashes and lip gloss. 

All my worries about ruining my relationship with Giovanni are gone after his message last night, they're now replaced with worries about how my brother will feel about me. 

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG *

I freeze hearing the loud banging at the door, I start shaking, tears running down my face, Malik rubs my back trying to calm me down

"What if it's Marco," I whisper

"Nah I have people dealing with him tonight, he should be dead by now," Malik says confidently 

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG *  
"It's the Toronto Police, you have 2 minutes to open the door, or we'll have to use force to enter"

He turns and looks at me with sad eyes

"Niyah go in my room ok, under my bed, there's a loose tile under it you'll find all the money me and Zeb saved up from trapping, take it ok, finish school, go to university and do something great with your life," he says holding my face while I shake my head no crying

"YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE" 

"Niyah I need you to go now ok, go hide under the bed after they leave wait 30 minutes then take the keys on my bed stand and go to Uncle Prince's house," he rushes out

"I love you ok," he says

"I love you too Malik," I say hugging him and running down the hall. I slide under his bed then I hear the door burst open and footsteps. I hear his screaming "I'm not resisting" making me cry harder. 

"You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Dante Romano, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney and if you can't afford one, one will be provided," an officer yells. 

I lay there under the bed for almost an hour letting it all hit me, I have no one now. 

(Flashback over)

That was the last time I ever saw my brother, I moved to online school and barely left Uncle Prince's house after that. Once I graduated, I applied for a university in Buffalo and when I was done I moved to New York, and never looked back. 

I kept telling myself I was alone but never even regarded the fact that Malik had been alone for the past 6 years, not even knowing if I was safe, alive, or healthy. I just hope he won't hate me too much. After I'm ready with all my files and everything just in case, me and Prince (her uncle), hop in his car and begin driving to the court. The whole time I just keep praying, I hope the evidence I presented was enough. "Dante Romano" wasn't a real person meaning those police had also been on his payroll. 

I spoke to the lawyer and he said so far so good the Judge and the jury are now deciding, I pray even harder calling to my mom, Zeb, Allah, and all the prophets. We park in front of the courthouse and Prince goes inside to find out since I said I think I might throw up. Every time the door opens I look up and my armpits begin to sweat more and more. 

Finally, it opens and I see Prince and the lawyer, my heart drops when I don't see Malik, then he steps into the light and smiles at me, that smile that used to calm all my worries. I scream out with tears of joy running down my face as he runs down the stairs to hug me. He lifts me up spinning me around. 

"Look at you, still a crybaby after all these years," he teases, I can't help but notice how much deeper his voice is, and has a goatee now. Even with heels on he's still taller than me. 

"I missed you so much," I say not wanting to pull away from his hold, he felt like home. 

I turn to the lawyer who helped me, "Thank you so much, I don't think I could ever repay you enough," I say hugging him 

"Well I mean you paid pretty well, and the case worked itself so it wasn't a problem," he said making me laugh. 

"Can I change, I feel naked," Malik says in a whiny voice making me laugh, he's in a wife-beater and a too-tight pair of sweat pants. I hand him a Nike bag and a box. 

"I got you a tracksuit, I wasn't sure what your size was but I guessed you'd be bigger and you sized Large when you left so I guessed XXL and your shoe size was 12 before so I guessed 14," I say nervously 

"Thank you, sis," he says kissing my cheek and running back into the courthouse to change in a bathroom. 

"Zeniyah, you don't have to be nervous," Prince says making me look at him

"I know but what if he's mad at me? I left him alone," I say looking down in shame

"What am I chopped liver? You think I didn't visit my nephew?" he asks, making me laugh 

"Oh yeah," I say 

"Niyah I made it my job to make sure I kept tabs on you and kept Malik informed of how you were," he says and I smile thanking him 

Malik comes back down the stairs and everything fits him perfectly, we decide to drive to a Sunset Grill for brunch. 

"So all your charges were dropped?" I ask Malik as we settle into our chairs

"Yup and all the cops and Judges who were involved have been charged," he says smiling 

"Hi my name's Ashleigh and I'll be your server for today can I take your order?" a voice says making my head snap in her direction 

"Ashleigh?!?!" I ask in shock 

"Zeniyah!?!" she says gasping, I stand from the table pulling her into a tight hug which she returns. Malik and Prince look at us in confusion making me laugh. 

"I never really told you guys how I got out of the house where Marco a.k.a Dante was holding me, Ashleigh here, put her life in danger trying to save me, but I never saw her again," I say explaining to Malik and my uncle

"Thank you," Malik says standing up and hugging her 

We order our food and continue catching up on everything before we head back to Prince's place. 

"So now that I'm out you think you'll stay in Toronto?" Malik asks me. 

"Well as much as I'd like to, it's someone who's very important to me's birthday tomorrow and I don't think I'd want to miss that, also New York is my home now," I say hoping he'll understand

"I'm happy you found yourself, crybaby," he says hugging me

"Do you wanna come?" I ask looking up at him

"Hmmm yeah, I think I could use a Break From Toronto," he says.