𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

Chapter Fifty-One

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Imani couldn't make eye contact with either of the two men. They intimidated her. Their height—the strength exuded from both made her want to hide in a corner, but she didn't because she had a mission; to see Matt.

"Yes, I did," Imani admitted, holding Jamie closer. He was getting heavy each day, but holding onto him at that moment gave her something else to focus on other than the mem who stood between her and the man she loved.

Yes, she loved him. She had known it when she agreed to sleep with him.

"It was an agreement between him and me." Bruno's green gaze seemed to stare her down. When she'd first heard of Matthew's shooting, she had tried calling him, but his phone was off, and Pete's had either blocked her or engaged the do not disturb option.

"Yes. But he told you he wanted more, yet you still walked away from him. Why should we let you see him now?"

Rom was more uncompromising than Bruno, Imani thought, running her eyes between both. She would have liked to have met them in better circumstances, but the universe had chosen this moment.

"I just need to see him, please," she begged.

"And then what, leave again?" She didn't know how to answer that. Fatigue was beginning to catch up with him, and Rom noticed because he moved closer, taking Jamie from her arms. Her hands shook, and her stomach groaned, reminding her she hadn't eaten since she heard Matthew had been shot.

"Is he okay?"

Rom narrowed his eyes at her as if he was trying to gauge her motives. Everyone around Matt was a suspect, including her.

"He is alright. Where were you yesterday at around 08:45 pm?" Nothing would have prepared Imani for the shock and hurt that accompanied that question.

"You think I shot him?"

"Did you?"

Rom's face became an expressionless mask, with twisted lips and eyes narrowing into slits. It was the first time in her life when she felt the most helpless.
Nothing in her life had prepared her for being a murder suspect.

She stared at Rom in incredulity, her gaze filling with unshed tears, knowing she could have protected Matt with her body if she'd had the chance.

"No. I didn't shoot him." Imani enunciated, angrily fighting to keep tears from falling.

"Well, someone did."

"Well, that someone ain't me!"

It took a bit of effort for Rom to suppress a smile. This girl had spunk, it was a shame she didn't know it.

"You can see him after you answer a few of our questions."

"I've already told you, I didn't shoot him." Imani insisted, her eyes blazing fire at Rom. They believed that she wasn't the shooter. It was the fear in her voice, the panic in her posture, and the love she couldn't hide.

"We believe you. Follow me." Imani followed Rom out, trotting to keep up with his giant strides. Jamie seemed snug in his arms, his chin comfortably on his shoulder.

Once they got out of the hospital, Rom turned a corner to take a shortcut to the parking lot. Imani yawned loudly, and he threw her an amused look, she averted her eyes to hide the embarrassment. She wished for food, and a bed, but first, she needed to ensure Matt was doing well.

Her heart couldn't take it if anything happened to him. She should never have left; she should have stayed with him, told him the whole truth about who she was instead of giving him the flimsiest excuse why they couldn't be together.