“Yeah,” I whispered. “I got somebody.”
“Then hold onto that. It’s the only thing that’s gonna get you through.”
They came for me an hour later.
“Ali. You got your phone call.”
I followed the guard down a long hallway that smelled like bleach and bad decisions. My hands were shaking. I already knew who I was calling. There was only one person I needed to hear right now.
The phone was cold against my ear. I dialed the number I knew by heart, turned away from the guard like that would give me some privacy.
One ring.
He picked up before the second one even started. Like he’d been staring at his phone. Waiting.
“Goddess.”
Prime’s voice hit me like a wave. Deep. Steady. That controlled calm he got when he was trying not to lose his mind.
“Prime.” His name came out broken. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t—I swear I didn’t?—”
“Girl, go ’head with that bullshit. I know you didn’t kill your sister.”
How could I have been so silly to think he could ever think something like that of me?
The tears were back. I pressed my hand over my mouth to keep the sob in.
“Where are you?” I managed.
“Parking lot. Been here all night.”
All night. He’d been sitting in that parking lot all night. Waiting. Not sleeping. Not leaving.
“You didn’t have to?—”
“Yeah I did. I ain’t leavin’ your side. ” His voice left no room for argument. “Listen to me. I already hired a lawyer. Camille. Quest’s girl. She’s licensed in DC and California. She’s on her way here right now. She’ll see you this morning.”
Camille. I did know her. Sophisticated, smart, always put together. She’d been at family dinners, holidays. I’d never imagined I’d need her services.
“Okay,” I breathed. “Okay.”
“I need you to breathe for me, Goddess.” His voice dropped lower. Softer. Just for me. “Breathe for our baby. Can you do that?”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. Forced air into my lungs. Let it out slow.
“Good. That’s good.” A pause. “Zainab, they’re saying you can’t get bail right now. They’re going to extradite you to California and then we can try for bail.”
“No.” I shook my head. “No, Prime, I can’t—I can’t go back there?—”
“I know. I know, baby, I’m sorry. But Camille is going to fight. We’re going to do everything we can. And I’m going to be right there with you. You hear me? I’m not leaving you.”
“But Yusef?—”
“He’swith Justice right now. Mehar will be there. We got a village. He’s okay. Scared, but okay. We got him.”
I pressed my forehead against the cold wall. Tried to hold myself together.
“I’m going to find out who did this to you,” Prime said, and now his voice had that edge. That dangerous, quiet edge that reminded me who I was dealing with. Not just my fiancé. Not just my baby’s father. A man who had done terrible things to terrible people. A man who was capable of violence most people couldn’t imagine.
