Page 49 of And It’s Still You

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. At first, he was down with my plan. Now, he’s taking control.”

“Don’t go, Shea.”

I leaned my head against the headrest. “I have to. Regardless of how I feel ’bout Onyx right now, I can’t leave him hanging. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him, and I wasn’t by his side.”

The thought alone had me feeling some type of way. Onyx got on my last nerves, but that was my father. I loved him and couldn’t imagine life without him.

Moya’s sniffles had me moving my seat back and leaning over to put her in my lap. She snickered in between cries as she adjusted herself until she was comfortable.

“Now, you know we’re too long to be crammed on one side like this, Shea.”

“I don’t care. I just needed you close, Love.”

“Are you okay?”

“To keep it real with you, I don’t know how I feel. I have so many emotions going through me right now. My thoughts are everywhere. I don’t know what needs my focus the most.”

“Can I pray over you?”

“Now you know that’s the last thing you ever have to ask me. Prayer is always desired.”

Moya placed her hand on the side of my face with her head resting against my chest. “Lord, watch over Shea. Cover and protect him in only ways that You can. I know praying about something like this might not be ideal, but I need him to come home to me. I need him to come home to us. I know You didn’t give us another chance for it to be short-lived, so keep Your arms around him and everyone else going. Forgive them for what they think and do. We thank You and love You. Amen.”

“Amen.” I kissed her forehead. “Thank you, Love.”

“I always pray for and over you, Shea.”

“And I do the same for you. It’s a part of my routine.”

She sat up the best she could and kissed me so passionately, as if it would be the last time our lips ever met again. There was no doubt in my mind that Moya felt what I did too. All we could do was hope that God heard her.

“I didn’t think you were going to show up,” Onyx expressed when I walked up to the J warehouse where everyone was waiting for me.

“You should know me better than that. I’m going to ask you one last time, are you sure ’bout this, Onyx?”

“If I wasn’t sure, we wouldn’t be here. Now, let’s recap and get moving. We’re on crunch time.”

Onyx patted my shoulder and went to join the others. We all huddled around him. As he talked, I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that we were being watched. I continued to study our surroundings, but nothing stood out to me. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but I knew it was.

“Someone’s here,” I announced low enough for only us to hear.

“What do you mean, O?” Onyx interrogated.

“Exactly what I said. Someone’s watching us, but I can’t see them.”

Tre chimed in. “I thought I was tripping because I feel that shit too. They knew we were coming for them, so they decided to meet us.”

As soon as the words left Tre’s lips, a red dot appeared on Onyx’s chest. Before anyone could warn him, I heard the bullet leave the gun.

I knew it. I fuckin’ knew it.

15

MOYA COLLIER

Icouldn’t stop pacing the floor and praying. I hadn’t prayed so much in one day, but I knew something was wrong. My soul wouldn’t settle. My mind wouldn’t stop. Whatever it was, I couldn’t shake it.

Then I got the call.