As Zane and the rest of Elijah's homeboys stood in a line dressed in all-black suits and ties Zane patted King's back as he seen a tear drop fall from King's face and shook his head in disbelief.
"Wipe them tears King. It's gone be Ight." Zane said.
Holding his head low as he held back his scattered emotions Zane looked back up with his head held high and walked over to Elijah's casket and placed a Rose onto his casket along with the rest of them.
"I swear Ima get justice fah you E and when I find out who did this shit they momma gone be eating they muthafuckin' flesh fah dinner!" Zane promised as he looked at the closed Brown casket.
Turning back around and walking over to Elijah's mom Zane gave her a tight hug and rubbed her back as she cried into his chest. "I'm sorry for your loss momma P. Just know Ima be here for you and the rest of y'all family and I'll help you with anything you need. All you gotta do is call me. Ight?"
Feeling her shake her head in agreement Zane blew out a breath of air as he couldn't wait to get his hands on the person who did this to her son. "Here. Take this." Zane said as he pulled out a roll of cash from both of his pockets and handed at least ten racks to his mom.
Seeing her shoot her head up and look at him in shock she nodded her head no and handed Zane back the money. "No Zane you really don't have to do this for us. You serious boy?"
"You don't gotta worry about the expenses 'cause it's already paid for. And remember you got my number." Zane said before giving her one more hug and walking back over to King.
"You staying or you comin'.. I can't see no more of this shit without wanting to blow a nigga shit back." Zane said as he stood by the exit of the church.
Seeing King pull himself together and follow behind him Zane hopped inside of the black Cadillac and drove off as he went for a drive around the city to help cool King off.
"Then tell me why I get a call from Zane and he asking me on a date girl!" Sierra said to Dreka on Facetime as she walked up the step recliners at 'LA Fitness'.
"A date? Oh, baby you done got him on his knees trying his hardest for some you back!" Dreka sarcastically joked.
"Shit I mean I would too if I was him. Look at me baby." Cockily tracing her hands down the outline of her curvy-shaped body and wiggling her shoulders they both busted out laughing.
"But in all seriousness though, how do you feel about all of this? Are you excited?" Dreka asked.
Sierra smiled, her focus deep on the question. "I'm happy that he even wants to sit down and talk, especially knowing how nonchalant Zane is. I would've thought I was gonna have to force us to sit down and talk to see where he was at in his head about all of this. So, it makes me delighted."
"Aww, this makes me happy for you, fren," Dreka said.
"I'm finna get ready to go to my check-up appointment. Si, call me back before you leave tonight, mkay?" Dreka requested.
Nodding in agreement, Sierra hung up and paused the stair climber. Grabbing her keys and water bottle, she checked out of the gym and headed to her car. Unlocking it and getting inside, Sierra hooked up her music and drove to her wax appointment, which conveniently had a shower for her, eliminating another worry from her list.
Pulling into King's black gated driveway, Zane parked beside the tall, imposing front doors. Glancing over at King, Zane blew out a breath of air.
Zane wasn't really affectionate towards his homeboys but knowing King needed someone there for him right now Zane couldn't help but to show some type of comfort.
"Lift ya head up nigga. You got a whole family to protect King you can't afford to walk around this bitch crying all day, Ight? And I ain't even tryna come off disrespectful when I say that I'm just keeping It a hunnid." Zane reassured.
Nodding his head and sniffing back his tears King brushed his waves with his hand and opened the passenger door before walking over to Zane's window and dapping him up.
"You know my number if you need some shit." Zane said.
"Ight bro Ima hit you when I settle in and shit." King said before walking inside the house.
Shaking his head and seeing the time being 5 o'clock and knowing he had somewhere to be tonight Zane turned up the mo3 that played on low and sped back to his house.
7:01 pm
Placing her dress on her bed and setting her heels down onto the cream carpet Sierra held her black silk robe together as she walked into the bathroom and started unclipping her pinned curls.
Humming to the H.E.R—focus that was playing on the TV Sierra plumped up her curls and finger combed through them as she started doing small poses in the mirror. "Mkay! It's giving I'm a bomb ass hairstylist!" She said to herself.
Pleased with the fluffiness of her curls, Sierra grabbed her outfit, untied her robe, and threw it onto the bed. She took off her bra, slipped into the dress, and admired how it hugged her slim-thick shape. Strapping on her heels, she reveled in the tight fit that accentuated her curves.
With her makeup already done, she added a touch of red matte lipstick and sprayed her favorite 'Kilian A Kiss From A Rose' perfume. Seeing a text from Zane saying he was on his way in 20 Sierra hurried up and started cleaning up her makeup and clothes.
Picking up her phone and calling Dreka Sierra smiled as she answered the Facetime call and panned her outfit from head to toe giving Dreka full insight on her outfit.
"You look good bitch!!" Dreka encouraged.
"Thank you, bestie! I was kinda iffy about it being a bit revealing, but I actually look fine as hell!" Sierra shared.
Seeing a text pop up from Zane telling her to come outside Sierra grabbed her purse and keys, and focused back on Dreka. "Ok, girl, he's outside. I'll call you when I can!" Sierra said.
"Ok bye babes! Hope everything goes well!" Hanging up Sierra took in a deep breath and opened the front door.
Seeing Zane standing by the passenger door of his black Cadillac with a bouquet of red roses and dressed in a red Gucci jacquard sweater and black Amiri's with the white and lust red Alexander McQueens to match whilst his shining jewelry and freshly done cornrows topped the whole outfit off Sierra blushed as he maintained eye contact, and slowly licked his lips. "You look beautiful, Ma," he complimented as he hugged her.
"Thank you. You look handsome yourself." Sierra said as she grabbed the flowers from him and carefully got into the car.
Watching as he entered the driver's seat and buckled up Sierra caught a whiff of the familiar strong scent he seemed to have on the same day they met that Sierra specifically told him she loved smelling on him and smiled.
"You smell good. You put that on just for me?" Sierra playfully teased.
Seeing him smile Sierra started laughing. "Yeah, I did Ma."
Placing her arm near his on the armrest, Sierra intertwined her fingers with his, enjoying the beautiful city lights as they headed to the fancy restaurant in the affluent part of Harlem.
Lying on the bed, fully immersed in the unfolding TV drama, Zane's grandmother's hands trembled slightly as she meticulously placed the steaming bowl of her chicken noodle soup on the small table beside her. The room was saturated with the rich aroma, a fragrant symphony that blended seamlessly with the soft glow emanating from the television.
Furrowing her brows, she shifted on the bed, her hand instinctively reaching to her chest, and her fingers tracing the contours as if reading the tales etched in the beats of her heart. Settling back into the array of pillows, her eyes, windows to a lifetime of wisdom, scanned the room in silent contemplation.
While the show 'Martin' unfolded its scripted scenes, her gaze seemed to transcend the boundaries of the room, lost in the tapestry of her memories. Unbeknownst to the casual observers, beneath the surface of her routine, her heartbeat quickened, as she began to silently panic as to what was happening to her right now.
The room, once pulsating with the comforting murmur of everyday life, now held its breath as her aging lungs embarked on a slow ballet of contraction. Each heartbeat, slowing down with a dark cadence, created an atmosphere charged with the anticipation of an unspoken farewell.
Her kidneys, Like silent heroes in the battle against the insidious grip of her stage four cancer, were reaching the end of their valiant struggle. The disease, a clandestine invader, had waged its war unnoticed, ultimately leading to the inevitable shutdown of all living — functioning things in her body.
As oxygen, the life force that sustained the vibrant rhythm of existence, fought a losing battle to reach the far corners of her brain, the room bore witness to a poignant stillness. Her body, a vessel that had navigated the tapestry of existence, gradually succumbed to the gentle pull of an approaching tranquility.
The only thing she could think of was Zane and her daughter and all of the memories she had shared during her graceful time on this earth. In that profound moment, a small breath escaped her lips, her brain shutting down leaving her fragile body still.
A solitary tear, crystalline and heavy with the weight of a lifetime's stories, traced a silent path down the side of her face. The room, now as silent as can be with only the background noise of the TV filling the room.
As they arrived at the bustling fancy restaurant, Sierra's eyes widened in awe of the glass-made establishment with an open ceiling that allowed a view of the stars and sparkling chandeliers.
"Wow, Zane, this is beautiful!" Sierra exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine admiration for the enchanting scenery that unfolded before her.
Zane, with a warm smile, shut off the car and moved swiftly to assist Sierra out, his actions demonstrating a newfound attentiveness. He took her hands in his, a small but meaningful gesture that spoke volumes about the evening he had planned. And together, they made their way towards the entrance.
"Hello Sir, do you have a reservation? If so can I get a name?" The woman at the front desk inquired, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Zane Evans." The woman, nodding in acknowledgment, printed the table receipt and guided them to a secluded spot on the rooftop.
The rooftop table, adorned with delicate rose petals and flickering candles, set the stage for a romantic rendezvous. A Polaroid photograph of the couple, capturing a moment of shared happiness, added a personal touch to the carefully arranged tableau.
Sierra, overcome with emotion, covered her mouth in shock, her eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "Zane!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with appreciation.
Zane, displaying a rare vulnerability, wrapped his arms around Sierra's waist, placing a tender kiss on her forehead. The sincerity in his actions, coupled with the thoughtfulness evident in the details around them.
"C'mon, Ma, go sit down," Zane gently urged, pulling out a chair for Sierra. The rooftop ambiance, with its scattering of rose petals, soft candlelight, and a Polaroid capturing their shared joy, continued to evoke a sense of wonder in Sierra.
Pulling up her chair and swinging back her hair Sierra examined the table to see more rose petals and candles and a polaroid of them. Looking back up at Zane to see him making eye contact with her Sierra smiled.
"Zane, this is so beautiful. I'm genuinely amazed by all of this!" Sierra expressed her admiration, her eyes shimmering with the reflection of the carefully curated setting.
Zane, while maintaining his composed demeanor, conveyed a profound apology. "It's all for you, Ma. I don't want you to think I need nothing in return because, at the end of the day, I fucked up and hurt you. I just want to start off by saying I'm sorry for putting my hands on you."
"I ain't ever mean to play with yo feelings or use you for yo body if you ever felt like that. Ight? Cause I actually got mad feelings for you, Sierra. I never thought I'd find someone like you, someone who'd be by my side for me and not for the shit I got."
"But I did.. And me not thinking straight about yo feelings and how you really feel I ran over you which led me to not think twice about my decisions and how it would affect you when I should have."
"And I can't promise you that I fully changed and I'm a whole different man 'cause I'd be lying if I said I am. I want to grow with you, go through challenges and mistakes together, and move onto better things in life with you wit me Ma." Zane sincerely said.
A silence lingered briefly before Zane concluded, "So, I'm sorry, and I want us to put this behind us and move forward because I love you and I care about you."
Running his thumb under Sierra's eye and wiping away her tears Sierra looked at him and nodded in acknowledgment, "I love you too baby, and I don't wanna rush you 'cause change takes time, and I appreciate you owning up to your mistakes. And I want to move forward too." Sierra said, touched by his sincerity.
As Sierra stood, she sealed their moment with a tight hug before resuming her seat. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as the waitress arrived, adding the final touch to their night. The silver-covered plates were unveiled to contain a delectable feast of shrimp chicken Alfredo and garlic bread.
Already checked out of the restaurant and now arriving at Sierra's house she watched as Zane pulled into her driveway and parked the car. Unbuckling her seat belt and turning her head towards Zane's direction she looked into his brown eyes and smiled.
"You gon finally let me get a kiss.. Or you still wanna act mad at a nigga?" Zane said as he smiled at her.
Playfully Rolling her eyes and leaning over the armrest Sierra softly grabbed his chin and placed her plump lips against his giving him a few soft pecks before fully pulling back and sitting in her seat.
"And before you ask no you can't come in 'cause knowing you I already know where that's gonna lead to. And right now we starting off slow." Sierra said.
Smacking his teeth his he let out a small laugh and shook his head. "That's coo fah now Ma. Just make sure you call me when you get settled in Ight?"
Nodding her head she let go of his hand and opened her door before carefully hopping out and closing the door. Watching as she stepped up the stairs and unlocked her front door before walking in Zane pulled out of the driveway and drove back home.
Finally settling in and getting ready to go to bed, Zane's phone rang, causing him to sit up and look at the unknown number that showed up. Answering the call, Zane furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he heard a female's voice.
"Hello, is this Janet Bailey's grandson Zane Evens?" The woman asked.
"It is... And you are?" Fully sitting up and turning on his lamp, Zane heard the news about his grandma, and everything in him shattered.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing right now was actually real, and as much as he hoped and prayed this was a dream, it wasn't. The woman on the other end explained that she was calling from the hospital and provided details that felt like punches to the gut – his grandma was currently on life support after experiencing kidney failure from End-stage kidney disease and battling Stage 4 cancer.
Zane felt like his world was slowly starting to crash down. The weight of the news pressed against his chest, making it hard to breathe. He couldn't even think straight; the reality of losing his grandma, the only family he had left, hit him like a tidal wave, leaving his heart shattered into a thousand pieces. It was just a few days ago She had just reassured him not to worry about her, and assured him that everything would be okay. Yet, in that moment, nothing felt okay.
"What?" He shouted, his voice cracking, as a tear fell down his face. Zane knew that after hearing this news, he would never be the same. The harsh reality of the impending loss lingered in the air, leaving him with a profound sense of emptiness and grief.
NI-