"Yours, mine, ours-" Muni Long started to sing but I cut that shit off. The song was becoming overrated and it was giving me a headache.

The day had been a bad day and I couldn't wait to go home and lay in my bed. These shifts with just two people and security was not for the weak.

I was still worried about Alex but couldn't do anything because they would lock my ass up. Everything that I had proved to them judges was going down right now and they still didn't care.

My phone started to ring and I picked it up to see that it was my mom. Conflicted? I was because how did she even get my number?

"Hello?" I answered walking to the back.

"Malika? How are you?" she said on the other end.

"I'm not good. What's up?" I asked. I didn't know what she was calling me for. When I would call her, she was still shrugging me off.

"I just wanted to talk to you. I know we didn't end on the best of terms but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for putting you out like that. Seriously. And I know that I'm probably the last person that you would want to hear from but I just wanted to let you know that." she said and I nodded like she could see me.

"Yeah.. you're right. What's making you call now? Let me guess, you know about Kendrick and them too and now you feel bad for me?" I asked. This is really the only reason that I can see for her calling my phone.

"I do. I don't know what's going on but I know that you and Alex don't deserve none of this that is happening. You were always the fit parent for him." she said and I kind of chuckled.

"We all know that. But you .. you never backed me up. You know I would go to court and his whole family would be there and help be in his defense and then there was just me. Just Malika by herself trying to defend herself every time. I can count on my fingers how many times you were actually there to comfort me and that's only one hand. So, again, why are you calling me?"

"Jesus Malika! This is your problem just let me talk. Kendrick has a hit on his head. You need to get your son out of there. You know that the streets don't play it fair. We don't know if Alex can be next or not! That's what I'm calling you for." she said and my heart dropped into my ass basically.

I knew Kendrick was into some shit but I didn't know that it was that deep. This is something that we possibly couldn't come back from.

"Thank you." was all I said before I hung up on her. I was definitely taking the plan into consideration now.

Going into the bathroom, I broke down crying. I couldn't believe that this was my life right now. I started to pray because I knew God wouldn't just keep sending me blow after blow.

It was like my life was a game and the person controlling me was having the time of their life making me suffer when I felt a bit of happiness.

----

The door buzzed and before I could get up from my chair, there was pounding on the door. Scared, I looked at the camera before I went out there to see who it was.

Kendrick.

I couldn't believe it. He was all beat up and bloody and I was scared. I didn't know what was going on.

"Why are you here?" I asked over the intercom causing him to look up at the camera. His face was even more bruised than his body.

"Lika.. Lika come on! Buzz me in." he said beating on the door again.

"I don't known what you have gotten yourself in but I can't help you." I said and I guess that made him mad. "Do you need me to call the police for you?"

"I need you to open the fucking door!" he yelled kicking the door this time. "They are trying to fucking kill me."

"I can't let you in here. I can't risk my safety or the safety of my other workers." I shook my head but I knew that he couldn't see me.

"COME ON! I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT HOME TO MY SON MALIKA!"

"I've been trying to do that for the longest time. You wouldn't allow me to do that though. I can't let you in. What good would it be to our son if both of us are dead. I'm sorry. I can't help you." I said before walking away.

BOW BOW BOW BOW

Shots rang off and a car tries could be heard screeching off causing me to take cover as the windows of the store were shot out. I crouched under the table brining my knees to my head. I knew that he was gone and that caused me to hurt a little bit more.

"I'm going to call the police." Aaliyah said. She was right next to me.

I couldn't say anything though. I was feeling so many emotions at the moment. I couldn't help but to bust out in a cry. The sirens could be heard as the police cars flew down the street. This was really happening right now and part of me was happy because I finally felt like I was going to be able to get my son back.

I hated that it had to go down this way though. This was actually hurting me more than I expected.

"Everybody out the back door." A police officer said coming into the office and helping me and Aaliyah out. I looked down the hallway and saw as they put the white sheet over Kendrick's body.

----

- my girl malika ain't wrong and that's on that !
- comment vote and share for the biggest blessings💞
-still the non editing qween🫠