The Finale by Treasure Hernandez Page A

ago, and we met for lunch downtown. I thought she was my friend, Malek. I would have never told her where we were if I ever thought she would put us in jeopardy.”
    â€œStop talking in circles, Hal. Just tell me,” he stated seriously.
    â€œShe came to town, but she brought Toy with her. They followed me from the restaurant, but I shook them.”
    Malek closed his eyes because he remembered Halleigh had specifically tried to tell him that someone had followed her, but he thought she was paranoid and overreacting.
    â€œThat next night they followed me from my job, and I refused to lead them back to you and the baby, so I just pulled over. I found an abandoned lot and I got out. I had started carrying one of your guns because I was terrified. I’ve been terrified since the day we got here, but I was tired of running, tired of being followed. I was tired of being the victim. They tried to get me to lead them to you. I refused, and Toy hit me. I just reacted and I shot her, Malek. I killed her, and then I killed Tasha for setting me up.”
    â€œAnd the cop saw it,” Malek finished, putting two and two together.
    Halleigh nodded. “She saw everything. She said if I didn’t help her get you, then she would throw me in prison for the rest of my life. I could never bring myself to harm you, but I can’t go to jail either, Malek. So I ran. I just thought if I got as far away from here as possible, it would fix things.”
    â€œCome here, ma,” he said as he pulled her onto the bed he was sitting on. He wiped her tears away. He could only imagine how Halleigh felt. Having taken many lives himself, he knew Halleigh wasn’t built for murder.
    She broke down in his arms. “What am I going to do?” she asked.
    â€œYou’re going to do exactly what they want you to do. You’re going to cooperate with the police,” he said in a low but sure tone.
    â€œWhat?” She looked up at him in confusion. “Malek, they’ll throw you in jail.”
    â€œLook at that little boy over there,” he said, pointing to their son. “He needs you, Halleigh. You’re his mother. You didn’t ask for any of this. You just took on the role of being with me. I would never make you pay for that. I love you too much to ever see something bad happen to you. I can handle whatever the cops have coming my way. You just promise me that you’ll always take care of my son.”
    Halleigh was hysterical crying and snot running down her nose. “I can’t, Malek. I can’t do that to you. This isn’t supposed to be how we end. I need you.”
    â€œAnd I need you, Hal. I need you to be strong, baby girl. You’re my world, and I need you to trust me. This is the only way. I’m a man, and I can stand behind all of the decisions I’ve made in my life, but before I let them take me, I need to know that you can hold things down for me while I’m away.”
    She nodded as he held her face. “I will try for you, Malek. I will do whatever you need me to do.”
    â€œI’ve got some money put up. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough for you and the baby to live for a couple years. Nothing extravagant, but it will pay for rent and food for a while until you can get on your feet.”
    â€œI don’t want to do this, Malek.”
    â€œYou have to, Halleigh.”
    As Malek schooled Halleigh on how to survive without him, she almost tuned him out. She didn’t want to believe this was happening, but this was real and there was no avoiding the inevitable. She was grateful she had a man like Malek, who was willing to take responsibility for the situation, but it didn’t stop the sadness that plagued her.

Chapter Twelve
    So many thoughts went through Malek’s head as he drove down the highway along with Dayvid. They were just getting back from visiting the coke connect, and Dayvid was officially plugged. Malek had