"Toni, hey what are you doing?" Sabrina asked grabbing Toni's attention as she came out of the kitchen with a bottle of water. Her morning jog left her more tired than usual. This baby was taking her energy already.
"Nothing really." She said taking her headphones out.
"Do you mind going to the store for me? I just need a few things on this list and I should really tend to Niko." Sabrina said.
Toni nodded with a smile, "Of course."
"Thanks, you're an angel." She said handing her the list.
After taking a quick shower, Toni grabbed her car keys and headed for the store. As she drove down the rode she noticed a black pickup truck that seemed to be following her. She frowned and sped up a little.
The truck sped up also getting extremely close to the car. Suddenly the truck hit her car only hard enough to make the car jerk.
"What the hell?" She said before it got on the side of her attempting to hit her again, "Oh my God!" She yelled realizing they were doing this on purpose.
Taking a deep breath she hit her breaks bringing her car to a screeching halt. The truck kept going as she quickly made a U-turn and sped off in the opposite direction.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
Kenny sat in his office reading some emails from his students. He sent a response just as his door opened. He got up seeing Toni come in.
"Hey. What are you doing here?" He said before noticing how nervous she looked.
"Ken, something isn't right. I feel like bad things keep happening to me."
Grabbing her shaky hands, "Slow down, what happened?" He asked.
"A car tried to run me off the road today."
"What?! Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"Come here." He said pulling her into a tight hug. He kissed her forehead, "I'm glad you're okay, but you don't have to be afraid. I'm not going to let anything happen to you...neither of you." He said running his hand over her little bump.
"It's really not in your control." She said pushing his hands away.
"Relax-"
"I can't relax, I'm being targeted! The shooting, and now this?"
"Listen to me, I know you're shaken up and you're brain is probably coming up with a million things. You have to relax and let me do the worrying. I'm always going to protect you."
She let out a breath, "You're right, maybe I'm just paranoid. I don't know."
"Let me take you to lunch."
"I can't. I have to go grocery shopping for Sabrina."
He frowned, she had just made groceries last week. Before he could respond, his door opened again. This time his good friend Sam came in.
"Hey Kenny- oh my goodness. Toni, what a pleasant surprise." Sam said with a smile.
"Hi Professor Gordon." She said giving the man a friendly hug.
"I want you two to meet someone." He said waving a girl over. "This is Olivia, she's becoming one of our top pianists. She competing in a national competition soon."
"Hi." Toni said remembering her own competition days.
"It is an honor to meet you. I was only a freshman when you were traveling the world competing now I get to do it. I only hope I can fill your shoes." Olivia said excitedly.
"Thanks, but don't try to fill my shoes. Just be you and do your best."
"Kenny I was hoping you could take her under your wing like you did with Toni." Sam suggested.
"Sure. Let's meet tomorrow. I have some material I think you'll like." Kenny said to Olivia.
She eagerly nodded, "Thank you so much. You won't regret it."
Sam looked at Kenny, "Can I speak with you for a second?"
"Sure." Kenny said before turning to Toni.
"I was just leaving, have a good day." She stated before walking away.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Hello? You what? How did you- you know what? You're fired." Brenda spat into the phone as she and Sabrina snooped through Toni's room.
"Is she dead?" Sabrina asked glaring at Toni's Jimmy Choo stilettos Kenny obviously bought. He never did things like this for her.
"No, he lost her." Brenda said hanging up. She looked up seeing Sabrina on her phone, "What are you doing? Did you hear what I said?" She asked getting frustrated.
"Yeah, watch Niko for me." Sabrina said finding what she needed.
"Where are you going?"
Brenda rolled her eyes as Sabrina walked out without a word. She walked towards the door before coming to a stop. She picked up a pill bottle and pulled out her phone. Googling the name her eyebrows raised at the results that popped up.
••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Toni!" The bubbly college student yelled stopping Toni from getting in her car.
She smiled, "Hey, Olivia right?"
"Yeah...Wow. Sorry, I just can't believe I'm talking to you."
"You act like I'm some celebrity or something." Toni chuckled.
"You kinda are I mean, you brought Juilliard so many trophies."
"Well Ken- Professor Edmonds was a great mentor."
"I know and I'm next in line after you and Jennifer...it's so cool." She said excited the school's greatest musician would be coaching her.
"Jennifer?" Toni asked. She knew the girl was a student but not one of his protégées too.
"Yeah, it's a shame what happened to her. People were even start to question Professor Edmonds. First Sidney goes missing then Jen ends up dead. I never believed that stuff." Olivia rambled.
"Who's Sidney?"
"You don't know Sidney?" Olivia asked in utter disbelief. Toni shook her head as Olivia started talking again, "She was his protège before Jennifer. She was like...amazing! She's the reason I wanted to come to Juilliard."
Olivia continued to ramble as Toni's thoughts went elsewhere. He always made her feel special, like she was the only one. Now there's two other girls. One missing, one dead, and she herself was having way too many close calls.
