all of the crying. I was in the chapel inside the hospital, hiding from everyone. It had only been a couple of hours since I identified my child’s body, and now the hospital wanted me to identify my brother Wali, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength. So I gave them Mike’s number. I felt as if I was living in hell. My son and my brother? I was overwhelmed with grief. I couldn’t understand why my son was taken from me while he was so young. My only child. I began to cry again.
I got on my knees and prayed for an hour straight, asking God to turn back the hands of time so that I could do things differently. I prayed that Faheem would be okay and that he could find it in his heart to forgive me instead of hating me and condemning me to hellfire. But no matter how long I prayed, I noticed that I didn’t feel at peace. I’m sure it was because of my guilt, my greed, and my lust. Calling them deadly sins is an understatement.
I had no business taking that package from Steele. We had no business robbing him in our own hotel. That was stupid. And two deaths was confirmation that my brothers and I hadn’t planned things out thoroughly. It only became personal to Steele because I would sleep with him on occasion. For me, it was convenience, but he obviously thought differently. And because of that, he felt that he could hurt me by kidnapping my son. Someone I loved more than life itself. When I ran into Faheem, I saw the hurt in his eyes that told me that I was the one who needed to die. When he choked me, I was wishing that he would have killed me. Now I wish I could stay in this chapel forever.
JAZ
Well, well, well. Look at this bitch! Lord forgive me for that thought in your house. My jaws tightened at the sight of Oni as Kaeerah and I entered the chapel. I thought it would be a good idea for myself and Kaeerah to say a prayer for her father and her brother. We had to thank God that Faheem was alive and that losing his son wouldn’t be too big of a burden that he couldn’t bear. I was also praying that they would release him and not charge him with some bullshit. After all, it was Oni and her brothers who caused all of this drama. But as I entered the chapel the hairs on my neck stood seeing Oni kneeling. I came in peace but now I felt like warring. This bitch is the reason my husband is in pain both physically and mentally. I told Kareerah to take a seat.
“Mommy, there goes Miss Oni!” she yelled out, causing Oni to turn around.
“I see her,” I mumbled. Oni looked like hell, for lack of a better word. She looked as if she had aged ten years. The sadness on her face almost softened my heart. She had dark rings under her red eyes, and her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. Even her clothes were crumpled and dusty-looking. Her cream blouse was ruined from the makeup all down the front of the shirt and on the sleeve. She looked as if she hadn’t been home to change or bathe in days. If it had been any other day, I would have gloated that I was my usual fly self.
“Hi, Miss Oni,” Kaeerah called out cheerfully. Despite my hate for her, I raised my child better.
“Hello, Kaeerah,” she said, and then burst out crying. The type of gut-wrenching cry that comes from your soul. I took that as my cue to leave, because chill bumps were popping up on my arms. I know she didn’t think I was coming over to console her.
I went over and grabbed Kaeerah’s hand. “C’mon, baby, we will come back later.”
“No, wait!” Oni got up off of her knees and rushed over to us. “You don’t have to leave.” She grabbed my arm and just as quickly as she did, I snatched it away from her, moving Kaeerah behind me.
“Jaz, please,” she said with a crazed look in her eyes. “I need your help.” She pleaded with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“There is nothing I can do for you,” I said through clenched teeth. I was struggling really hard, trying not to tap that ass right there in