Conflicted Heart (Completed)

Seven

Zane

Three Weeks Later

It's Friday evening and I am sitting in my car watching my target's every move. This nigga is as sick as they come. I've seen him try to make countless moves on unsuspecting females. It angers me to my core. I have caught him once trying to take a female that looked completely wasted home, but luckily her friends wouldn't let her leave with him. It's a little past 10 p.m. and I am in a bar watching my target. My baby girl is spending the night with my mom this evening. I'm sipping on a rum and coke as I look around the packed bar. It's pretty crowded here tonight. I watch as my target eyes females as he walks past them. I see him come up behind a female and he says something in her ear and she turns around to face him. My heart nearly stopped in my chest when I saw who it was. It's her. It's Yani. Shit. She smiles a bit at the man and then he leans in and whispers something in her ear. What the hell should I do? I mean I don't know Yani at all, but I know the sick shit this man is capable of. I quickly finish my drink and then I stand up from my barstool. I slowly make my way through the bar and I see Yani and the man sit down on a couch. I take a seat near them, so I can see them, but they can't see me. I see them engage in a conversation. I notice the outfit  she is wearing, a crop top and fitted jeans with heels. I look her body up and down slowly. Mmm. She has a really unique style. I also notice her belly button is pierced. I wonder how many piercings she has? She seems to be pretty interested in the conversation with the man. Something then distracts her from him and she goes digging around in her purse on her left side. She is turned away from her drink and I see the man look around. He takes something from his pocket and I see him put a small pill that dissolves into her drink. Oh hell no. I can't let her touch that drink. Yani pulls out her phone and looks it and then looks at the man. I see her say "excuse me" and she puts her phone to her ear. After a minute conversation, she puts her phone back in her purse. She takes the drink in her hand and then she looks at the man and smiles and they continue talking. I can tell he is waiting for her to take a sip of the drink. I don't want to blow my cover, but this is serious. Yani could end up seriously hurt if something isn't done. I stand up from my seat with my drink in my hand. I see Yani and the man stand up and I make my way closer to them. I run right into the man, purposely spilling my drink all over his shirt.

"Aww man I'm sorry I wasn't watching where I was going," I said in a fake tone. The man looks down at his shirt and then back at me. I can feel Yani's eyes on me.

"It's fine. I'm going to clean this up," the man said to Yani. She nods her head while staring at me. The man walks off and I look at Yani awkwardly.

"Hi Zane," Yani said.

"Hey," I said.

"...How are you?," Yani asked cautiously.

"Fine.....you should really be careful who you leave your drink around," I said bluntly. Yani looks at me and then down at her drink. She notices a bit of powder on the bottom. She then looks up at me in shock. I turn around and I make my way through the crowd of people. I hear her call out to me, but I ignore her. Once I am outside I take a deep breath. I hope I didn't just ruin my assignment. I stand against the brick wall of the bar as I try to collect my thoughts. Yani then comes walking out of the bar and looks both ways. Once she spots me, she walks over to me and stands in front of me.

"Thank you Zane. I....I have no idea what would have happened if you didn't say anything.....did you spill that drink on him on purpose?," Yani asked.

"It's fine and don't worry about it," I said.

"Well thanks again.....can I buy you a drink to show my appreciation?"

"No but thanks. I should go. Have a good night."

"...I don't bite you know," Yani said softly. I just look at her as she looks at me. She is a stunning woman. Zane snap out of it!

"I..uh....one drink," I said. What the hell Zane?! I don't even know where that came from. Yani's eyes widen and then her lips curl into a smile.

"Great....let's go to another bar though. I don't want to run into that guy again," Yani suggested. I nod my head and Yani and I start to walk. What the hell am I doing? I wish I knew.

"You're tattoo looks good," Yani said while smiling.

"I can only thank you for that. You're real talented," I said. Shit now I'm complimenting her? Fuck.

"Thank you....you know I was so nervous to open my own shop. Especially in this field, it's definitely male dominated, and I was scared that I wouldn't be able to compete, but I haven't done too bad for myself," Yani said. Her Texan accent is real thick and I like that. This is some bullshit. I don't even know this woman and I am having all of these crazy thoughts about her already.

"So what do you do Zane?," Yani asked. I swallow hard as I contemplate what to say.

"Public relations," I lied.

"Really? Could have fooled me," Yani said.

"What?," I asked nervously.

"I thought for sure your work had something to do with art. The tattoo you designed is so amazing. You have real talent Zane." I sigh in relief; I thought she knew about my real job.

"Thanks....art is just what I like to do in my spare time that's all," I said. Yani nods her head as we walk a few blocks to another bar. Once we are inside, we take a seat and we order our drinks. I start to pay for my drink once it arrives, but Yani stops me and pays for both of our drinks.

"You didn't have to do that," I said.

"I wanted to," Yani said.

"Thanks."

"...So where're Nia tonight?"

"She's staying with my mom tonight. She loves spending time with her grandma," I said while smiling a bit.

"You two seem very close....you smile whenever you talk about her."

"We are incredibly close. We're all the other has." Yani smiles a bit and nods her head.

"That's really sweet.....thank you again for saving me earlier. I don't know how I could ever repay you....how did you know he put something in my drink?," Yani asked.

"....I saw him do it," I said.

"Really? So you were watching me?," Yani asked while raising her left eyebrow.

"No I wasn't," I said defensively.

"I'm only joking with you Zane," Yani said while laughing a bit. I take a sip of my drink. She makes me nervous as hell. Yani and I have a bit of small talk as we drink our drinks. She's easy to talk to. As we are talking, a tall, model- looking nigga comes up to Yani.

"What's up Yani? You said you were busy so this is what you're doing huh?," the man said while looking at me. I narrow my eyes as he looks at me.

"Brandon....why is that you appear everywhere I go?," Yani said.

"Don't worry about it what are you doing?," Brandon said.

"I'm out enjoying myself what does it look like?," Yani said with an attitude.

"Hey I'm Brandon, Yani's boyfriend," Brandon said putting the emphasis on the word boyfriend.

"EX-boyfriend," Yani said while putting emphasis on the word ex.

"I'm going to go. Thanks for the drink Yani," I said while standing up.

"Zane you don't have to go," Yani said.

"I think its best he leaves," Brandon said boldly. I laugh a bit and I shake my head.

"What's so funny?," Brandon asked in an aggravated tone.

"You. You're getting bold and shit and you don't know a damn thing about me," I said while getting in Brandon's face. I don't back down to any nigga. Yani gathers her things and grabs my wrist and pulls me to leave. Brandon sucked his teeth as the scene unfolded before him. Once we are outside, Yani lets go of my wrist and looks at me and sighs.

"I'm sorry about him. He doesn't know when to quit. We have been broken up for months, but he just can't accept it," Yani said through sighs.

"It's fine. I'll see you around," I said. I turn around and I walk back towards my car. The last thing I need is to deal with some woman's jealous ex. I don't need that type of drama right now. So Yani and I had a drink and that's it. There can't be any more encounters between us. There can't be an us.