𝐎𝗺𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭
Deion fled the horrific murder scene, jumping into her car and speeding home at a reckless pace. The usual 10-minute drive was reduced to just four minutes.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Deion wept uncontrollably throughout the drive, struggling to process the traumatic event she had just escaped.
It was only God who got her out of that house alive.
Deion pulled into her driveway, slamming on the brakes before coming to a stop. She clutched her bruised ribcage, wincing in pain from the brutal punch.
As she stepped out of the car, a groan escaped her lips, and she collapsed to her feet, overcome with agony and emotion.
Tears streamed down her face as she cried out for her dad, struggling to process the traumatic events.
"Daddy!" she wailed, using the car door handle to pull herself up. Leaning against the car for support, she looked up to see Armani emerging from her front door.
Deion didn't even care to ask why Armani was there; she just needed someone to hold her. She was so scared.
Deion limped towards Armani, tears streaming down her face. He met her halfway, and she collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably against his chest. "Ar-Armani, I...I saw Rocco, and they tried to kill me," she stammered, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush.
Armani's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he struggled to decipher her words. He initially had questions for Deion but her distress was heavy – she was crying, sweating, barefoot, and unkempt.
"Deion, slow down, calm down," Armani urged, his primary concern to alleviate her anxiety before he got to interrogating her. "Breathe, bro, breathe."
As Deion's weight shifted, Armani wrapped her arm around his neck, supporting her on her side. He essentially carried her, taking on her full weight, as he guided her towards the house.
"Is my dad here?" Deion asked, her eyes scanning Armani's face for a response. But Armani remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Deion's anxiety spiked, and her mind racing with questions. "Why are you acting like that? Why won't you talk to me?" she pressed, her voice tinged with desperation.
She had already just escaped something extremely traumatic so she could only think the worst right now.
Armani guided her to the living room, where her dad was engaged in a hushed, serious conversation with Kane.
Deion tried to plead with Armani, but her dad's concerned voice interrupted her. "What the hell happened to you?" he exclaimed, eyeing her battered state.
Deion rushed to her dad, seeking comfort. "They set me up! Rocco called me, askin' for help, and when I got there, they—they tried to kill me!" she sobbed. "He punched me in my ribs, Daddy, and it hurts so much!"
Armani and Kane listened intently, their minds racing with questions.
They had been led to believe that Deion and Dane were involved in Rocco's kidnapping, courtesy of Georgia's information.
This new revelation raised several concerns and contradictions.
Dane's gaze shifted between Armani and Kane, his voice laced with accusation. "Y'all done let this bright yellow bitch, Georgia get in y'all head about this big ass lie and it nearly cost my daughter her life."
Deion's brow furrowed, confusion etched on her face. She had forgotten the mention of Georgia's name during the attack.
Kane defended himself, "We didn't have shit to do with whatever she just said! That sound like a lie. Rocco would never try to kill Deion, that's Emani mama!"
Deion corrected him, "I didn't say Rocco tried to kill me. He saved me, but he's also the one who set me up." She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.
Armani's expression reflected his puzzlement. "Now you just contradicting yourself, Deion. Did Rocco set you up or save you?"
Deion's face contorted in defense. "Are y'all really tryna' say i'm lying about being kidnapped and nearly killed? Did Georgia put this in y'all head?" Deion asked, looking between Kane and Armani.
"Y'all heard her. Are y'all? Y'all done came to my house to ask me 'bout the shit." Dane added and silence filled the room.
Armani stared down at his feet. At this point, he didn't know if he should believe Georgia or Deion.
"You." Deion said, grabbing Armani's attention and Armani looked up from the floor. "You supposed to be my best friend, you really believing a hoe over me?"
"Deion, don't pull that best friend shit on me right now." Armani leaned against the wall after letting out a brief sigh.
"Oh, so you believe the bitch." Dane said.
"You weird as hell bro. I gave you a whole baby, the least you can do is owe me some loyalty." Deion expressed. "I should've fuckin' knew not to keep you around in the first place."
The conversation had reached a breaking point, with Deion's emotions raw and exposed. Her voice cracked, and tears threatened to spill as she struggled to process the rift growing between her and Armani.
Their once-unbreakable bond was now unraveling, leaving Deion wondering if she had held on too long, especially after Armani started dating following the birth of their child.
"I didn't say shit 'bout believing Georgia. I'm still confused on your behalf. You just said Rocco set you up and saved you all in the same breath. How you expect me to make fuckin' sense of that?" Armani began spazzing.
Deion swallowed hard, composing herself as she recounted her traumatic experience. "Rocco called me, okay? He told me to come pick him up from somewhere. I called both you and Kane multiple times before I went over there, and neither one of y'all niggas answered!" Deion shouted at Kane, her finger pointed accusingly.
"I got there, I told Rocco to get in the car, but he told me to get out instead. I got out, with no protection, nothing! They dragged me inside, I fell. Three men tried to force Rocco to kill me, telling him they had a deal and wanted him to kill me in exchange for something."
"I fought for my life in there." Deion's eyes welled up with tears again as Dane extended his arm out to rub Deion's back.
"I went through the same shit as a baby, bro. My daddy saved me, you know this Armani! My daddy wasn't there this time. I had to fight for myself!"
"Rocco did tackle one of the men to help me, but I stood on my own! At the end of the day, all of them wanted me dead and I got out alive."
"So, if you want to believe that bitch who clearly got a couple loose screws, that's your choice. Just don't ever speak to me again. I'm done with you." Deion sniffled, her voice cracking, before limping out of the room.
As Deion limped out of the room, she crossed paths with Georgia, who had just stepped out of the guest bathroom.
Deion let out a disdainful scoff before brushing past Georgia, deliberately choosing to ignore her for the time being.
Given her current physical and emotional state, Deion didn't have the energy to beat Georgia up, and instead decided to spare her – for now.
Armani's heart sank as he gazed at his phone, seeing the numerous missed calls from Deion. He was torn between comforting Deion or leaving to save his friend who could still be alive right now.
Georgia's voice cut through the tension, "Is everything okay?" She glanced around the room, sensing the heavy atmosphere.
Dane's response was immediate and menacing, "Bitch, get the fuck out my house before I smoke you right now." He gripped the gun in his waistband, his eyes blazing with anger.
Georgia turned to Armani, seeking his defense, but he dismissed her, "Gone, Georgia, bro. Just go. You already started enough, just go."
With a scornful laugh, Georgia stormed out of the house, leaving the three men to an awkward silence.
The room fell silent until Dane spoke up, addressing Armani, "I don't know you well, but I've seen you to be different from this. You still have time to make things right."
"Oh, and them niggas who tried to kill my daughter, I want 'em dead."
