Page 76 of Unexpected Pass

“Kellon!” Dr. Baites shouted in confusion.

“Ma, we gotta go.” My voice was dry and broken.

“What’s wrong?”

“Phileigh’s in the hospital. Someone attacked her.”

Her eyes went wide, but she didn’t ask questions. She stood from her seat and followed me out to my car. I didn’t even remember pulling off or speeding through traffic. All I knew was a nigga’s heart was thumping like it was trying to break out of my chest. Every worst-case scenario played in my head as I rushed to her. I didn’t know what I was walking into, but I knewthey had to be okay. The universe couldn’t leave me without my soulmate.

“That hot stone massage was everything!”I sighed as we made our way through the parking garage. “Hands down, one of the best experiences of my life.”

“I could tell, baby. You were over there snoring.” Lolo laughed, looping her arm through mine.

We were just now leaving the spa after four hours of relaxation and girl talk with my bestie. I even got to sneak a little pep talk to my man in there. The day had been perfect, and now, we were heading to lunch.

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes. “Pregnancy sleep just hits different.”

“Obviously. That poor lady was scared to wake you. You slept so good. You kept swatting at her,” Lolo joked. We were stillgiggling, walking toward the black SUV Kellon had sent for us on our way to lunch.

“Give me the bag!”

We turned to see a tall, masked man in a black hoodie, and my heart immediately started pounding with fear.

“Give me the got damn bag!” he shouted again, and I wasted no time handing it to him. I could get back everything in that bag ten times over.

“Here. Just don’t hurt us!” I held my purse out in front of me for the robber to grab, but instead, he pushed Lolo out of the way and slung me to the ground before I could even process what was happening. I could hear Lolo’s screams mixing with mine as the attacker came toward me.

“Get off of her!” Lolo screamed, landing a few punches on him before he pushed her into the door of an SUV.

“Lolo!” I screamed to the top of my lungs as the masked man rammed his fist to the side of my head. All I could think about was protecting my baby. I rolled over on my back and proceeded to kick, trying to keep him away from my belly.

“Bitch!” His feet came down, just barely missing my stomach.

“Help me!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as he reached into his pants and retrieved a gun.

“Don’t shoot me! I’m pregnant!” I pleaded, but he cocked the gun back and aimed it at my stomach. I closed my eyes just as the gun went off and prayed that God would somehow save me and my baby.

“Back the hell up!”

I heard Monte yell, making me open my eyes. I was still alive. I blinked a few times, watching Monte repeatedly slam the man against the concrete. The man tried to crawl away, but Monte grabbed him again, pinning him down with a rage I had never seen in real life.

“Phileigh! Phileigh! Are you okay? Are you—Oh my God. You’re bleeding! The baby—” She gasped, making me look down. There was blood on my legs. My stomach twisted.

“My baby!” I cried just as Monte ran over with his chest still heaving and picked me up.

“Y’all gotta pull through this. You gotta fight, little man, for KB. He needs y’all,” he said as he placed me in the back seat of the car.

“Get in. We gotta get her to the hospital!” It was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.

My eyes fluttered open slowly,and the beeping of hospital machines greeted me followed by the harsh, bright lights and my head throbbing. I was at the hospital, and my mind immediately went to my baby.Had I given birth?I sat up, trying to look at my belly, and saw Kellon sitting beside me with his head down and hands clasped together like he was praying.

“Kellon…” I whispered. My voice was barely audible.

His head snapped up, and in two steps, he was at my side, gently grabbing my hand like he thought he’d never see me again.

“Phee baby.” He exhaled, kissing my knuckles with tears in his puffy eyes. He’d been crying. “You’re up. Do you remember what happened?”

“I was attacked,” I whispered.

---