Page 94 of Love & Vendettas
This was our chance to get it right. My chance to have the family I always wanted. Parker, the kid, and me.
More people are coming into the park now, and I don’t want to be bothered. My emotions are all over the place, and Idon’t know if it’s the pregnancy or something else. I know my mom has been begging me to get back on my meds lately, but I don’t want that shit either. I hate the way my meds make me feel. Now that I know I’m pregnant, I’m glad I didn’t start taking them again.
I walk up the steps leading from the main trail to a less-traveled walking path.
If I hadn’t been in my emotions when I left home, I would have been paying attention and seen that a car had been following me since I left.
If I hadn’t been on Inflogram Live while walking, I would have noticed that same car following me throughout the park.
If I hadn’t had my head down and been focused on trying to call Parker and so deep into my emotions, I would have noticed someone following me.
But as it stands, I don’t notice anything until it is too late. The snap of a twig, as I walk further down the walking path and away from the street, causes me to turn my head.
The moment that I do, I look up to see a tall white man following me. He’s wearing a running suit, and when I see his hand move around in his jacket pocket, I take off running.
But no sooner than I do, someone steps off the path ahead of me. I slam into a hard body and look up into the cold, menacing black eyes of a dark-skinned Black man wearing a hoodie.
He grasps my shoulders to keep me upright and from falling. I almost thank him, but then he leans down, smiles, and whispers, “Run!”
When he releases my arms and steps out of my path, I take off running.
My feet aren’t fast enough to outrun a bullet. I have no idea if it’s the white man in the tracksuit or the Black man in a hoodie and jeans who shoots me in the back of my head. I just know that I'm going down at an alarming rate, and everything ends before my face slams into the concrete. I never had the chance to get it right. My baby never stood a chance, and Parker will never know that we created a beautiful life together.
43 – NEWS & MORE NEWS
“Police found a body in the southwest corner of Addison Park early this morning. It was discovered just off the south loop entrance of the walking trail by a couple out for their morning jog a little after six-thirty this morning. Police say that the body hasn’t been identified. They’re not releasing any details at this time, and we’re unsure if it’s a male or female, age, description, or how the victim was dressed.
Authorities say the body has been deceased for a few days and may have been up on the hill that looks down on that section of the park. They believe the recent torrential rains shifted the earth, causing the body to slide down with the mud that washed down the hill,” the reporter explains.
I click off the TV.
“It seems that every time I watch the news, there’s more bad news,” I mutter.
“Ms. Bayleigh, it’s going to be okay. They’ll find Riley soon, I’m sure,” Shana reassures me, smiling and patting my hand.
I close my eyes, grip the edge of the island, and squeeze it tightly.
“Come on, Shana, baby. Let’s go watch TV,” Zayn states, pulling Shana away from me.
I count to twenty before I open my eyes and release the edge of the counter.
“Ma, c’mon, give the kid a break. I don’t think she means any harm. She just says all the wrong stuff at the wrong time,” Zechariah inputs.
“She shouldn’t say shit at all. Nobody said anything about that missing person in the park in relation to Riley.”
“You didn’t have to, Ma. Everyone knows how on edge you’ve been since Aunt Riley left.”
“Is Aunt Riley gonna be okay, Mama?” Zaccai asks, looking up from his chicken strips and iPad.
“Yes, baby. Everything is going to be just fine.” I feel like I’m lying through my teeth.
Even if we find Riley and all is well with her, nothing will be just fine. My sister has ruined our bond, our relationship, and my trust in her. I will always love her, and in time, I might even come to forgive her, but trusting won’t come that easily. She damaged me as far as I’m concerned.
The house phone rings, and I quickly answer it, praying for some good news. Riley has been missing for four days, and no one has heard from her. My parents and brothers, like me, are going out of their minds with worry. They were devastated when I told them what had happened and how she’d been lying about her pregnancy.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Bay. It’s me, Alicia.”
