I woke up in the hospital, again. The doctors still couldn't explain what happened to me, again. Mama Ekuban was wiping olive oil on my forehead and forcing me to drink olive oil and water, again. Kwashie sat at my bed side with red puffy eyes holding my hand while praying. I think their prayers weren't working because I wasn't really religious so I decided to say a small prayer of my own.

Dear Big G, I would say I don't deserve this but I'm not exactly sure what I deserve. I just wish I knew what was happening to me and what I can do to prevent it, amen.

It didn't feel enough though. Kwashie didn't know that I was awake and I honestly didn't feel like making her any wiser. She was the reason I was in this position, I mean Carter Jones might've ran a Chevy van into her car going 100 mph but she was still alive and she didn't break any bones. I, on the other hand, was placed under some life long curse that attacked my abdomen and my mind. I lived my life every day like I was ready to die so yeah.. I would prefer dying than this.

"Zidania?" She called me.

I didn't answer. I was angry at her even though she wasn't the cause of my distress but she was the reason. She was the reason why I was the target of a mad woman. I squeezed my eyes shut knowing that my false sleeping cover was blown.

"Please, answer me." She said.

"What do you want me to say?" I asked.

"Anything. Let me know you're here with me."

"Only physically." I sighed.

"I'm trying .." she trailed off.

"You're not trying hard enough. She's going to kill me one day, Kwashie. Maybe you're just waiting on her to, so that you can finally go be with her." I said.

"Why would you think like that?" She asked.

"How else am I supposed to think?" I was still flat on my back staring at the plain white plaster ceiling.

"I.." she started.

"Take care of this...." I finally moved to look at her.

"Or I will."

**

I was back home now waiting on Kwashie to come back with water so I could take the medication I was prescribed. I didn't even have to drop the temperature in my room, it's like it was used to my fluctuating mood and bad luck these days. I stripped down to nothing and walked to my bathroom to take a cold shower. I got out and tied my durag on my head and jumped into bed pulling the covers over me. I had a habit of not properly drying off, I've been alright so far so I didn't think anything would happen to me now.

I took up the remote and turned on the tv. I felt like playing games, I felt like making some head shots. I turned on my Xbox and stared at the game willing for the Ghost Recon CD to magically insert itself. Why didn't I listen to CJ and buy the games online instead of a physical CD? Kwashie came through the door and I instructed her on what to do. I watched as the game loaded up and she popped pills from its plastic casing and handing them to me, I didn't know what they were or what they were for but I just threw them in my mouth and drank the water. I handed back the glass to her and held tightly onto my controller.

"Do you need anything else?" She asked.

"Yeah.. I need you to take care of that mad bitch that's trying to kill me, my guy." I said.

"Zidania.."

"Don't Zidania me. Take care of her and drop off my sick leave at school, fiancé." My voice was bitter.

She sighed and stripped down to her boxers and binder and got in beside me. I hissed my teeth and moved over to avoid physical contact with her.

"You must be damn hard of hearing of something." I cussed.

"Sometimes I wish you'd just calm down." She sighed.

"How am I supposed to calm down when you have some zealous young woman practicing black magic on me?" I asked.

"What is it that makes you happiest?" I finally asked the question that has been bothering me.

"You..." She said.

"If it's me then she's going to kill me." I pointed out.

"I won't let that happen."

Her words didn't convince me. I was very uptight and rigid about the whole situation that I couldn't even make one shot on target. The assistance was on and my hand was still lean. I huffed in frustration and threw the controller down. Kwashie took up the second controller and changed the game, we were now playing Fifa19 and I decided on using Juventus and she selected Chelsea.

"Not bad.." I said. She always selected some wack German league side.

"I don't see what you have against Germany league." She said.

"Nooooothing.." I dragged out.

We started and as usual I kicked her ass. I was good at all the games I had because I was always cooped up in my room playing games and majority of the time I was playing online with some shitbags who thought I couldn't kick ass because I was a girl.

"You're getting better." I said.

"Only because I want to beat you." She laughed.

"In your dreams, Ekuban." I slapped the controller from her hand. I loved when we were like this, things seemed alright.

"Mr Citronelli?" I answered my ringing phone.

"Zim McGlashan." He said.

"Have you been avoiding me?" He asked.

"Not by a long shot." I said.

"I have a job for you."

"Always straight to the point, huh." I chuckled.

"Yes. Do a drop for me." He explained.

"Right now?"

"Right now."

"Give me 15."

I hung up and looked over at Kwashie. She was staring at me waiting for an explanation.

"What?" I asked.

"Who's Mr Citronelli?"

"Richard's friend. Who I have to go meet right now."

"I'll come with you."

"Nah. He doesn't like surprises." I lied.

"Should I go home or wait here on you?"

"Do what you want."

I got up and went to my drawers for underwear. I got dressed in black loose slacks, black button down and a black blazer. I tied up my oxfords then pulled the durag from my head. I sprayed my hair with water before shaking my head and pulling on my watch. Kwashie was watching my every move trying to assume my plans.

"Where are you really going?" She asked.

"I told you. Richard's friend wants me to meet him about a modeling proposal that I was given."

"How comes I didn't know about this?"

"You were too busy being stalked." I took up my phone as I said this and stepped towards the door.

"You can stay if you'd like. I won't be long." I blew a kiss at her and left my room.

I got in my Jeep and made my way downtown to Mr Citronelli's office. Once I got there the flirty receptionist blew me a kiss as she always does and instead of leading me to his office, she took me to the back room where I'd be getting the information on the drop. I took up the keys to the darkly tinted black Acura that I drove when doing jobs like this, I couldn't drive my Jeep because Richard kept a tracker on it and I didn't want to be easily identified.

I took up the black duffel bag and the Smith and Wesson hand gun that I was given after I'd passed my shooting and combat lessons. It wasn't hard since I loved guns anyways. I got into the car and made my way to the location, it wasn't drugs that I was dropping off so if I was pulled over for a search the most I'd get charged with was illegal possession of a firearm.

I parked in the spot just as I was told earlier, this whole transaction had to go to the T. I was paying for services. I got out and leaned on the trunk of the car with my aviator shades blocking out the evening sun. They should be here in 5 minutes and if not they get a 5 minutes Grace period before I pull out.

I watched as a silver car pulled up at my foot and a tall man stepped out. I nodded my greeting and he did the same.

"Citronelli's guy?" He asked.

I nodded and he took out a receipt. I scribbled paid on it and handed it back while keeping the top paper. I popped the trunk and headed him the duffel bag.

"50k?" He asked.

"Counted twice." I said lowly.

"Any problems encountered, take it up with the boss." I shrugged.

I watched him nod and got back into his car then drove off. I got into the Acura and started it up pulling out of the spot I was parked in and made my way back downtown to the office. I was listening to the hum of the tires when my phone rang, it was already connected to the Bluetooth in the car so I clicked the button and heard Mr Citronelli's voice.

"Zim.." he called out.

"Mr Citronelli?" I said.

"Tell me, when you first came to me you had your priorities straight and you were focused, right?." He said.

"Yes sir." I agreed.

"What is it about your fiancé that solicited such loyalty from you?" He asked.

"He's a good person and also my fiancé." I wasn't so confident about my answer.

"Ah. I see, now tell me Zim." He started.

"I ran some background checks on you and I know about the crashed wedding last month and I know you're fiancés name, Ekuban?" I gripped the steering wheel wondering where this conversation was heading.

"Yes." I said through gritted teeth.

"Now tell me." He said again. It was his favorite thing to say.

"Tell me, why did an African woman just leave my office?" He couldn't be talking about...

"African woman?" I swallowed loudly.

"Yes and she gave me the name of your fiancé. It's not a hit, young one." He chuckled.

"Well.." he started. I had just released a long breath but drew it back in as he said that.

"I took the job because I consider you a little daughter to me." He said.

"And I couldn't afford this to fall into anyone else's hands."

"This woman, she's different. She's driven but she doesn't have the loyalty and stability that I saw in you the first time you stepped foot into my office and that's why I had to recruit you."

"So I need to know one thing, young one."

"I just need to know... Why does this woman want to put a price on your head?" He asked.

"A 50K one at that."

"The platinum package?" I was shocked.

"Yes, my child. I didn't know you were that much of a threat." He chuckled. I wasn't.

This girl just put me, a simple 19 year old, in the ranks of drug lords and detectives. The platinum package was the last one but the higher the price, the more vigilant the hitman was. I would be an easy kill and an easy 50K for them.

"Keep the gun. Your license should be processed by the end of this week." He said to me.

"Thank you." I sighed.

"Don't thank me yet, Zim. I have a feeling she went to someone else as well." I heard his office chair creak.

"Fuck.."

"I'll get some more information on this girl, are we going to take her out?" He asked.

"She's not my problem, she's my fiancé's problem." I huffed.

"Let's have lunch and discuss the details."

"Sure thing, sir."

"And Zim? Please, watch your back." He sighed.

He disconnected the call and I was left in silence again. She couldn't possibly be serious about this but what I was stuck on was how keen Mr Citronelli was in helping me out, others would've thrown me under the bus for that kind of money without a second thought. Kacely didn't know who she was messing with, I was a dangerous woman with money and loyalty on her side. Kwashie wasn't doing anything to tame the shrew which meant I'd have to take matters into my own hands and play her game.

**

Who out here giving wahala??