Imani's POV
I pulled up in front of the restaurant determined to get somethings together for my graduation party. Brandon's been planning our small wedding, my graduation party, and Photoshoot and our maternity pictures by himself which was great, but left me with nothing to do. So, now, I'm here to see what exactly is going on and any little bit of information will help.
"Hey sis." Ant said as I came through the doors of the restaurant.
"Hey." I smiled. "What's up?"
"Nothing. I see you and my lil niece picking up some weight." He mentioned.
I grabbed his hand, at first, rolling my eyes allowing him to rub my belly.
Some women don't like for people to touch their bellies, but it doesn't bother me at all, well at least from the people I know. Ain't no random that can just come and just be rubbing me. That's a no go.
"Aww." He said. "Your belly hard." He said and I laughed.
"Um yes, I'm pregnant as fuck." I laughed.
"We doing a baby shower?" He asked.
"Mm, probably not." I told him.
The baby shower planning is tedious and I don't have time. I know my sister would help but it wouldn't make that much of a difference. Besides, all my old friends, I don't have contact with so it doesn't make sense to have one.
"Why? Too busy planning the wedding?" He asked and I looked at him suspiciously.
"How the hell do you know?" I asked.
Brandon can never keep a damn thing to himself.
"I'm the eyes baby girl, I watch everything." He said.
"Except for what you supposed to watch nigga." Someone said and I quickly turned my head to see a man with a gun in his hand. I heard three shots rang out. I felt something, not understanding if it was the impact of a bullet or Ant's hand wrapping around me and bringing me to the ground first, me on the top of him and then him sliding me off of him pulling me onto my side.
"Oh fuck." He said lowly grabbing the gun on his side and shooting.
"Tell that nigga we looking for em' he know who it is." The voice said and slowly but surely everything stated to get slower.
I began to pace my breathing, panicking in my mind. I began to think about everything; my life, not being married yet, Brandon, my baby. I began to cry slowly at what had quickly turned from a normal moment to the worst in my life.
"Stay with me. Please Imani." Ant said himself coughing up blood. "My brother." He wheezed. "Would never fo-forgive me if-" He said slowing down and I shook my head.
"Don't say it. We okay, we good." I said slowly pacing myself as I spoke feeling myself slowly drift. "H-hold my hand. We got th-this." I said and I nodded keeping eye contact and he began to cry a little, I missed a breath in my breathing feeling my lungs move slower and I closed my eyes only to feel him tap my legs trying to keep me up.
I felt myself slipping slowly but surely. I began to think of all the wrong I'd done. Pushing weight and ruining people's lives. All I could think of was I deserved this but not my baby. But then again, their babies didn't deserve it either. Maybe my baby and I's death is God punishing me for my crimes. The hell I'd caused in people's lives coming to me. I slowly began to stop feeling the taps to my thigh although I could see Anthony's hand moving rapidly I couldn't hear it either. I kept my eyes focused on that until I suddenly could no longer see.
Brandon's POV
"Good Morning." I said a little off this morning.
"Morning Mr. Knight." The receptionist said smiling at me. I nodded at her, remembering that I'd specifically had someone named Zion in my office yesterday. Although I didn't see the person I assumed it was a man.
I continued to walk past, deciding not to bother with it. When I came into my office, sitting down I opened my computer which was completely powered off, something I never do. I shook my head and looked around my office, quickly, I got my cell out trying to call Ant but his cell was busy. After calling him, I sent my pops a message and shook my head. Something was off and my blinds were wide open.
"Excuse me." I said calling for the receptionist.
"Yes sir?" She asked.
"Why are the blinds open?" I asked her.
"Uh, I thought you'd appreciate fresh air." She smiled.
I shook my head. "My blinds are closed before I come in. That was in your briefing." I told her.
"Oh." She said puzzled. "I must have over looked that." She said.
"What's your name?" I asked her. "I didn't catch it earlier."I told her uncrossing my arms to seem at ease.
"It's Stephanie." She smiled.
"I thought it was Zion." I said to her and her smile suddenly didn't meet her eyes as much.
"I-uh- that's my last name." She said and I nodded.
I shrugged already catching onto her. "Okay well, Stephanie, do I have any meetings?" I asked her.
"Yes, one in fifteen in room 350." She said and I nodded.
"Perfect." I said. "I'll head over in twenty." I told her and she nodded.
"Very well, I'll let them know?" She asked.
"They know I don't usually come in on time." I said. "This is for a week's briefing right?" I asked her
She nodded and then walked away.
I waited a minute, before walking out of the side door of my office and calling my father.
"Pops." I said driving away from the building.
"Brandon, I was just about to call you." He said.
"Yeah, well it's some shit going on. These niggas whoever they are fucking with me." I told him.
"Calm down. Have you heard from your brother?"
"Nah, I haven't. I called and no answer" I explained.
"Well we on it. Stay aware of your surroundings and call mani. Have her get far away. I'll have everybody else put up. We really don't know how these niggas moving." My father said and I nodded.
"Alright. I'm gonna call her now." I told him and hung up.
Her phone rung a few times and then went to voicemail. I sighed, putting my tech guys on tracking her.
"Hey Baby, I need you to call me as soon as possible. I need you to lay low. Get somewhere and take the cat. Don't pack. Lock up everything and stay aware. I'm gonna explain everything the first chance I get baby. I love you so so much and- if you don't hear from me don't be mad. I'm gonna reach out soon. I love you Imani, and I baby girl Nina. That's gonna be her name." I said and hung up my phone.
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