Fatima's POV
The ride home was quiet, Zac occasionally glancing at me like he wanted to say something, but I wasn't ready to talk yet. My head was still throbbing, and the weight of everything that had happened felt suffocating.
All I wanted was a moment to myself, to wash away the day.
When we finally pulled into the driveway, Zac turned off the car and reached for my hand. "Baby, you sure you're okay?" he asked softly.
"I just need to shower," I said, my voice low. "I feel like that's the only thing that'll help me clear my head right now."
He opened his mouth to say something, but then he stopped and nodded. "Alright. Go do what you need to do. I'll be here when you're ready to talk."
I gave him a small, tired smile and stepped out of the car, heading straight for the bathroom the moment we walked inside. I could feel Zac's eyes on me, but I didn't look back. I wasn't trying to shut him out, I just didn't know how to process everything yet.
The hot water hit my skin, and I let out a shaky breath, leaning against the tiled wall. For a moment, the noise of the shower drowned out the chaos in my head. Taj's words, his actions kept replaying like a broken record.
I felt violated, angry, and confused all at once.
I stayed in the shower longer than usual, letting the water soothe the ache in my head and the tension in my body.
When I finally turned off the water and stepped out, I wrapped myself in a towel and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
"You're okay," I whispered to myself. "You're stronger than this."
Taking a deep breath, I got dressed in some sweats and a hoodie and made my way to the living room. Zac was sitting on the couch.
He looked up when he saw me and stood immediately. "Feeling better?" he asked.
"A little," I admitted, sitting down beside him.
Wrapping an arm around me. "You know I'm here, right? Whatever you need. whether it's to talk, or just sit here in silence. I got you."
I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. "I know, Zac. And I love you for that."
We sat there for a while, not saying much. Just being in his arms made me feel a little safer, a little more grounded. I wasn't ready to fully dive into everything that had happened, but I knew I didn't have to face it alone.
Zac's POV
As Fatima rested, curled up on the couch with her head on my lap, I couldn't stop the storm brewing in my head. Seeing her like this so shaken up, lit a fire inside me. This wasn't just about what Taj did today. This was about protecting my woman, making sure she never had to go through anything like this again.
Watching her chest rise and fall with each breath. She deserved peace, and I was going to make sure she would get it.But I couldn't do this alone.
I carefully slid out from under her, laying a blanket over her before grabbing my phone. I stepped into the kitchen and dialed the one person I knew would have my back and handle this the way it needed to be handled.
"Yo, Nico," I said as soon as he picked up.
"What's good, man? How's Tima?" he asked.
"She's sleeping now, but..." I trailed off, gripping the edge of the counter. "This Taj situation? It's gotta be dealt with."
There was silence on the other end for a moment, and then Nico's voice dropped. "Say less. What's the move?"
Nico was heated. "Man, I knew Taj was a clown, but this? Nah. He's gotta feel this."
"I'm calling Tima's cousin too," I said. "You know how they roll. Ain't nobody playing about her, especially not me."
"Alright, bro. Just make sure you keep Tima out of it for now. She doesn't need more stress."
"I got her," I said firmly. "That's why I'm doing this."
After hanging up, I dialed Fatima's cousin Black. I didn't even get through the whole story before she cut me off.
"Wait. Taj did what?!" she said, her filled with anger.
"You heard me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need you on this, We need to make sure he's out permanently."
"Oh, you don't even have to ask," she snapped. "I'm already on it. That dude doesn't know who he just messed with."
I hung up, feeling a little more settled knowing that Nico and Black were on board. But I wasn't done yet. Tomorrow, I'd be talking to the bossman personally. Taj wasn't just losing his job,he was losing any chance of ever working in this industry again.
I walked back to the living room and sat down beside Fatima, watching her sleep peacefully. She didn't need to know all the details of what I was planning. All that mattered was that she'd wake up in a world where Taj wasn't a threat anymore.
"I got you, baby," I whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Always."
With Tima,resting peacefully. I hated leaving her alone, especially after what she'd been through, but I knew I had to handle this now, while the fire in me was still hot.
Kolby was safe with the nanny we'd planned for a long day at the studio, so she didn't expect us home early. That gave me time to move. Quietly, I grabbed my keys and slipped out the door.
I drove through the empty streets of LA, my mind racing as I headed to Nico's spot. This wasn't just about Taj pulling some crazy stunt on set this was about sending a message that no one could mess with my family and think they'd get away with it.
When I pulled up, Nico was already there, leaning against his car, his face serious. Beside him was Black, she was ready to move once I sent her the location
"You're late," Nico said, but his tone wasn't joking. He could see I wasn't in the mood.
"I had to make sure Tima was good before I left," I replied, walking up to them. "Let's get to it."
Black crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "So what's the plan? You just want to scare him, or...?"
I shook my head, my jaw clenching. "This isn't just about scaring him. Taj crossed a line you don't come back from. He put his hands on my girl, tried to mess with her head, and he thinks he's walking away from this? Nah. He's done. I want him out of this city, out of this industry, out of everything."
Nico nodded, his expression dark. "I already called a couple people at the studio. Bossman's pissed, and Taj is definitely not coming back to the set. But if you want him gone for good, we'll need to make sure he gets the message loud and clear."
Black smirked, cracking her knuckles. "I'm good at delivering messages."
"Good," I said. "We start by paying him a visit tonight. Let him know exactly who he's messing with."
The three of us piled into Nico's car, and as we drove toward Taj's apartment, I felt a cold determination settle over me. This wasn't about revenge it was about protecting Fatima and making sure no one ever dared to come for her again.
When we pulled up to Taj's place, Nico cut the engine, and we stepped out. I took a deep breath, steadying myself.
"This is for Tima," I said, more to myself than anyone else.
Nico and Black nodded, and we headed inside. Taj was about to learn the hard way that messing with my family was the biggest mistake of his life.
** Happy thanksgiving family, it's a short chapter but I wanted to put something out plus I wanted the Taj situation to be somewhat over so I can time jump next chapter***
