Page 37 of Bricked Up
“Well, if that’s the case, Saadiq, we’re even. No more of you ignoring or not talking to me because you need a minute. I’ve been stressed out unnecessarily because of you. That shit ain’t good for the baby or me.”
“I never left you. I just needed to figure some shit out. You’re right, though. I shouldn't have never left you hanging like that. The last thing I wanted to do was bring harm of any kind to you or my baby. But Zia, baby, you leaving me, especially when I knew I didn’t deserve it, really fucked me up. You cut me the fuck out of yo’ life and moved on without even giving me the chance to explain. I do get why you did it, but the way you left fucked me up mentally and left scars on my soul. It felt like it took a lifetime to just learn to live with the pain. So, when you say we’re even, I really hope you mean that shit. “Cause my life would never be the same, my heart would never beat the same without you and my child.”
“Mine either, I meant it. I’m so sorry I hurt you, Saadiq.” Zia stood up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips as a single tear slid down her cheek. “I love you so much, and while I’m nervous as shit about being a mom, I’m over the fucking moon to be having your kid.”
“I love you too, Zia. With every beat of my heart and soul, baby. Let’s go home.”
“Okay, let me go let Britt know we’re about to leave and run to the restroom. Then we can go,” Zia told him as she scannedthe room for her sister. “I’ll be right back.” She said as she spotted Britt over by the bar near the restroom.
“A’ight, I’m ‘bout to go make a call right quick and put ya ride up to the back exit. Gimme ya keys.”
Zia fished her keys from her purse and winked as he made her way over to Brittany. But before she could reach her destination, Zia was snatched up by a man in all black and rushed to the back emergency exit that was down the same hall as the restrooms.
Thankfully, Saadiq hadn’t even taken a full step in the opposite direction before Zia’s and Brittany’s screams caught his immediate attention. Pointing, he took off after them, knowing exactly who’d just snatched Zia’s ass up. As soon as Saadiq bent the corner, his heater was in his hand.
“Jabariiiii! Let her the fuck go, nigga. Right, he fuck now! Saadiq yelled as he rushed toward the parking lot. Don’t make me put a fucking bullet in ya head and send ya dead body to auntie, muthafucka!”
“Do it then nigga,” Jabari whipped around and shoved a gun against Zia’s head. “But I bet you I take ya little bitch right to hell with me. We gon’ be together just like we were supposed to be this whole time. Before you came in and fucked up what we had going on. Right, babe?” Jabari asked as he yanked Zia’s head back and roughly kissed her lips.
A crowd had gathered and looked on in horror and disbelief as Jabari held Zia hostage.
“Jabari, please,” Zia cried as she placed her hand over his to try to loosen the tight grip he had on her hair. “Please let me go.” Tears streamed down her face as she prayed that he would just let her go. “I need to use the bathroom, and I don’t feel good.” She admitted as fear shook her soul.
“Tell Saadiq that you wanted me first. Not him, fucking tell him,” Jabari yelled as he jerked her head back and away from him to make her face him. “Tell that bitch ass nigga that?—”
Saadiq put a bullet in Jabari’s head before he could say shit else. And when he let Zia go and she ran for safety, Saadiq put another in his chest and a third in his neck.
When Jabari’s gun fell from his hand onto the ground, Saadiq quickly ran up on him with his own gun still drawn as he kicked it away from him. Kneeling, Saadiq checked his pulse, and while he wasn't surprised when he found none, it hurt him to his core that he had to kill his cousin. As he stood and walked away from Jabari’s dead body, he said a quick prayer for his soul just as Zia rushed into his arms.
“Saadiq!” Zia screamed and cried so hard as she held onto him for dear life. “He was gonna kill me and the baby.” She sobbed uncontrollably.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Saadiq rubbed her back soothingly as the police and ambulance pulled into the lot. “I’m so fucking sorry that you had to go through that, Zia.”
“Saadiq,” Zia said once she finally stopped crying.
He glanced lovingly into her eyes. “Yes, baby?”
“Do you still wanna marry me?”
“So fucking bad it hurts, Zia.”
Nodding, she smiled as tears bounced down her cheeks. “Then once all this is over tonight, let’s go get married.”
“You sure, what about the big wedding you’ve always wanted, Zia?”
“Saadiq Henderson, we can have a big reception in a few months. Or next year. The only thing that matters to me right now is being your wife.”
“Say less, baby. I got you.”
EPILOGUE
One Month Later
“You ready to do this shit, Mrs. Henderson?” A grin spread across Saadiq’s handsome face as he held out his hand for Zia as they stood in the lobby of their new establishment.
Giggling, Zia rubbed her three-month-old belly as she glanced from the big ass rock on her finger to Saadiq and nodded excitedly as a huge smile curled her full lips. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life, Mr. Henderson. Well, besides meeting our baby. Something tells me that we’re gonna have a daddy’s girl.”
“That’s exactly what I want her to be if we have a mini you.” Saadiq smiled when he rubbed his wife’s belly.
