He was the man from the alley. The one who’d seen me hiding behind that dumpster, who’d looked right at me and saw me run after I watched him kill someone. The man who found my sister and murdered her before we could run.
He was HERE. At MY grand opening. Standing in MY bakery like he belonged there.
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t do anything but stare as Prime noticed him and raised a hand in greeting.
Thad walked over. Prime released me to dap him up, pulling him into a one-armed hug.
“Glad you could make it, man.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Thad’s eyes found mine. Held them for just a second too long. “Congratulations. Both of you.”
I tried to speak. Tried to say something—anything—but my throat had closed up. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
Does he recognize me? It’s been years. Was this a coincidence.
I can’t believe this is Prime’s family. He knows this man. This man took everything from me!
I opened my mouth?—
“DCPD! Everyone stay where you are!”
The shout came from the entrance. Heads turned. The crowd parted.
Six police officers were pushing through, hands on their weapons. Leading them was a detective in a rumpled suit, his badge hanging from a chain around his neck.
“What the hell is going on?” Prime stepped forward, putting himself between me and the officers. “This is a private event.”
“Sir, step aside.” The detective’s voice was flat. Bored, almost. Like he did this every day. “We’re not here for you.”
He looked past Prime.
Directly at me.
“Zainab Ali?”
My whole body went cold. “I… what?”
“You need to come with us.” He pulled handcuffs from his belt. “You’re under arrest.”
“WHAT?” Prime’s voice was a roar. “On what fucking charges?”
The detective ignored him. Stepped around him. Reached for my arm.
“Zainab Ali, you’re under arrest for identity theft and the first-degree murder of Zahara Ali. You have the right to remain silent?—”
“NO!” I jerked away, stumbling backward. “No, I didn’t—I didn’t kill her! I didn’t?—”
“Ma’am, you need to come with us. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
“She’s PREGNANT!” Prime was in the detective’s face now, his whole body vibrating with rage. “You can’t just?—”
“Sir, if you interfere with this arrest, you will be charged with obstruction.” The detective’s hand moved to his weapon. “Step. Back.”
Other officers were closing in. Surrounding me. I looked around wildly—at Serenity, frozen in shock. At Mehar, tears streaming down her face. At the Kings, already moving forward like they were ready to fight.
At Yusef.
He was standing near the back, his security guard’s hand on his shoulder. His face was pale. His eyes were wide. And for the first time in five months, I saw something other than emptiness in them.
