Chapter||24

Shawty I'm an only tell you this once,

You the illest (bah ba bah bah oh)

And for your lovin', I'm a Die Hard like Bruce Willis (bah ba bah bah oh)

You got spark, you, you got spunk

You, you got something all the girls want

You're like a candy store

And I'm a toddler

You got me wantin' more and mo mo more and

Your love, your love (yeah)

Monday 22nd October

"I wanna show you something," Ryan beamed as he lifted Armani off the couch that she sat in his small 2 bedroom apartment that he owned.

"Uhhh what is it," she groaned not really want to get up from her seat where she sat comfortably watching the love and hip hop with an ice cream tub resting perfectly on her producing stomach. She sat the tub on the glass table he had a

"I know this not my baby by blood but it still is my baby, you get what I mean," He nervously told Armani hoping what he was going to show her was not him stepping over his boundaries.

"What are you trying to hint at," She folded her arms across her chest as she stared at him wondering what he was up to now.

"I can't explain but just look," he opened the door they had stood in front of showcasing the now decorated room with baby stuff plastered on the floor.

Armani stood there in shock not believing what was happening, she was so overwhelmed that she didn't say anything which Ryan took that as a bad thing once tears began to seep out her eyes.

"Baby what's wrong," He went to her side and wrapped his arms around her waist, she laid the back of her head on his chest as she took in the room he had decorated. She couldn't help to admire the ultrasound that hung from the grey wall right above where Ryan placed the white crib with small grey pillows with little white hand and footprints tattooed on them. To match was the white curtains that were linen, the kind of white that is untouched by hands and devoid of dust.

"I love it so much," She revealed causing Ryan to plaster a wide tooth smile on his face.

"Thank you for this, it means a lot to me," she turned to look in his eyes and unfortunately for Ryan who thought he was finally getting a kiss on the lips, instead Armani happily placed a kiss on his cheek.

"This is only the first birthday gift, there's a lot more to come, I just wanted to do something special for you, especially with everything going on around you and what you been through," He guided her around the room and showed her the details that he specially picked out knowing it would mean a lot to Armani.

"I know you said grey was your mothers favourite colour so I thought I should make it grey to represent her," He explained, from that Armani was all sobbed as she stared in admiration. She couldn't thank Ryan enough for what he was doing, she didn't even think he paid that much attention to the little details in her life that she spoke about.

She had never met someone other than her family who had done something special for her. She couldn't contain her sobs as she hugged Ryan and buried her head in his chest, Ryan rubbed her back soothing her and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

"I want to raise the baby as if it was mine Mani," Ryan knew the big step he was taking but he knew what it felt like to be without a father and if he could prevent that he would do that.

"Ryan that is a big step, I can't ask you to do that,"

"But you're not asking, I'm volunteering," He places one hand on Armani's stomach, to her it felt uncomfortable for a while but once Ryan circled her belly she began to like it.

"Thank you for everything you're doing Ryan, can I tell you something," she looked up at him staring into his eyes, he stared back at her admiring her beauty, he couldn't understand how he got so lucky with Armani.

"At first I blamed you," She admitted to him still staring to see his reaction, Ryan held a shocked expression for a second but that was later replaced with a guilty one.

"So do you blame me now,"

"Not really, I mean I still have my doubts sometimes because it's like you knew who those guys were but you didn't say anything but then it wouldn't have made a difference on everything, I blame the people who did it,"

"Can I tell you something,"

"You know you can tell me anything," She trailed her hand across the baby crib staring in awe, just a few weeks ago Armani was having doubt if she wanted this baby, apart of her still didn't want to have a baby by a rapist but the other part of her was blessed to have a baby.

She thought about what Kairo said, her mother was a victim of rape which resulted in Armani and Jakari, she thought about if her mother had gotten an abortion after she had gotten raped she wouldn't be here, that sort of made her come to a decision of keeping the baby.

Yes, she had a doubt but she believed that God wouldn't give her anything she couldn't handle.

"I'm related to some of the guys that kidnapped you," He revealed causing Armani to get out of his arms.

"You mean the people who raped me,"

"Yes," He held his head down in shame, for him and Armani's relationship to go any further he had to tell the truth so from tomorrow everything in their relationship would be truthful.

"Wh-what w-why would they d-do that to you," She couldn't believe what she was hearing, the people that caused all of this pain was related to the man she was starting to fall in love with her.

"I used to work with them, I know what I'm going to tell you may make you look at me differently but I want to start off on a clean slate baby," He moved towards her and grabbed at her hands squeezing it lightly to try and bring her comfort.

"They run a sex trafficking business, me and some girl a few years back when I was young used to befriend some of these girls and later kidnap them, I was so young and stupid I do everything my family asked me to do, that was until the girl I worked with ran away and I realised how bad their operation was, they let me leave but only if I give them a girl at least once a year, that's the only reason why I'm alive right now," He tried to plead his case but all Armani could think about was those girls he had kidnapped and if she was next.

"So was you going to kidnap me,"

"No, I had already given them a girl for that year, I truly wanted to get to know you A and I'm happy I did,"

"How could you," She shook her head in disappointment as she once again backed away from Ryan. It was like God was trying to play a trick on her because all she was being handed was bad cards after bad cards.

She couldn't catch a break.

"I had no choice, they are my family but they will kill me if I don't,"

"I don't know what to say,"

"Please just say you'll stay with me,"

"How can I stay with you when I know what you do,"

"BECAUSE I HAVE NO CHOICE ARMANI, I have no choice," He couldn't stress it enough as he paces the room. Ryan was just a lost kid who needed to be found, all his life he was pushed into the trafficking lifestyle, he didn't have a say if he wanted to do it or not, that was the only thing he knew up until he went to university. Ryan wanted better for himself but the rest of the family didn't want that, they didn't like how Ryan was trying to be better than him, they felt as if Ryan was trying to forget about them like they didn't mould him into he they wanted him to be.

Which wasn't the case, yes Ryan wanted better for himself but also for everyone else around him, sadly they didn't see it like that. They saw it as Ryan betraying them.

"My brothers can help you, they'll protect you,"

"Protect me, they can't protect me, they can't even protect you what makes you think they'll protect me," He let it slip that they couldn't protect her making Armani have a surprised expression on her face in disbelief.

"You couldn't protect me either Ryan, I was with you when they kidnapped me not them, so if anything I shouldn't even be here,"

"Why are we even arguing," He didn't like them arguing over things they couldn't take back, what's done is done was what he thought.

"Why can't I just be happy Ryan, I haven't done anything to anyone, I got exceptional grades to go to a good university and in the space of months that was all taken away from me because of something I couldn't control, what did I do wrong for this," She softly spoke with tears bursting forth like water, spilling down her face that was bare from makeup and in that moment she was glad she didn't have any on. The muscle on her chin trembled like a small child as she tried to contain her cries. Ryan stares on at her contemplating if he should take the leap and attach himself to her but wasn't sure if that is what she needed right now.

"God does things in mysterious ways, all we know is that better is yet to come, all you gotta do is trust him,"

"I'm just tired, I'm 19 and pregnant but not in school, I've become a statistic Ryan, all everyone will see me is a black girl who not surprisingly got pregnant as a teenager,"

"But you're more than that, we're more than that, so what the outsiders say about you, the people who you love and who love you are the only ones you should care for opinions, we know the true you, we know the Armani who is intelligent and angelic, the Armani who puts everyone before her, who forgives people who don't deserve to be forgiven including me,"

"I just want this to end," Ryan could see the tiredness in her eyes as she spoke, if he could take the pain away Ryan would do it in a heartbeat with no questions asked.

Ryan was in love and he didn't even know it yet.

"And this will soon end, why to stop in hell instead of going through it to go to heaven, I'm with you through everything baby and I'm not going anytime soon,"

"I think our child would love this room," She redirected the subject to something else and Ryan let it happen as he smiled at the mention of her saying 'our child' instead of just hers.

Ryan knew the risk and challenges that he was going to face with raising a baby but he wanted to do this for Armani because he felt as if he owed her for that plus he would do anything for Armani and if that meant raising her child as his as well then that is what he was going to do.

"Even though I shouldn't even be saying this but thank you, thanks for taking this role of my child's father even though you didn't have to, and if at any time you don't want to be the father figure you can leave at any given time,"

"I would never leave you," He opened his arms out in which Armani fell into them wrapping hers around his waist as she laid his head on his chest.

"Promise," she looked up into his eyes as she held her pinky out.

Ryan smiled as he looked down at her, he held out his pink and interlocked it with hers.

"I promise," He kisses her hands before rubbing circles with his thumb.

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"I'm sorry for not telling you," Odell apologised to Robyn as they both sat at Odell's kitchen island trying to avoid each other. Since the therapist session yesterday none of them had spoken to each other since this very moment I'm the kitchen. Odell was pissed at Robyn for telling her therapist everything about him and their relationship when he felt like it was none of the therapist business, while Robyn was pissed at Odell for keeping the secret of him still getting in touch with Nahlia. She felt as though he was hiding something from her but she wasn't going to press the issue until he says something.

"No you're not, you are just sorry you got caught, you haven't stopped talking to her, what does that even mean Odell," She stressed as she rubbed circle on her growing stomach to try and calm her nerves and snap on him.

"It means I'm trying to keep Nahlia at arm's length to protect us, she is dangerous Robyn what part of that don't you understand," He couldn't even count on his fingers how many times he had told Robyn this but everyone he said it, it was like his first time ever saying it to her.

"Don't talk to me like I'm some child, you're only saying she's dangerous now when before you never even mentioned her name let alone that she's dangerous to us," Apart of her wanted to believe Odell when he said she was dangerous but she just couldn't. If he had told her about him still messaging Nahlia then maybe she would've believed him but the fact that he kept it a secret from her made her doubt him and his words.

"BECAUSE IM TRYING TO PROTECT YOU," He roared because Robyn simply wasn't getting what he was saying. He slammed his hand on the counter hoping that would let out some of his frustration but it only scared Robyn, her breath got caught in her throat as she stared at him waiting to see what would happen next.

"I don't need protection Odell, I can handle myself thank you very much," She found her voice after a while as she stood up to grab some water out of the fridge along with her prenatal pill.

"You don't know Nahlia like I do Robyn, she tricked me into taking steroids, what don't you understand, she can end my career and life with her saying a sentence Robyn, and that's the least she can do, what's she's capable of is underestimated." He tried to tell Robyn but all she heard was him trying to defend her.

"Alright, I hear you she dangerous blah blah blah," She dismisses him with a wave of the hand as she exited the kitchen heading to one of the many guest rooms he had in his house.

Odell shook his head at how stubborn Robyn was, he couldn't believe how childish she was being and downplaying everything that he said regards to Nahlia. He simply blamed it on her pregnancy hormones and hoped it would all be gone before Nahlia decided to make a move against them or at least after the birth of their child.

The ringing of his phone drove him out of his thoughts, he contemplated if he should even answer it once he saw who's the name it was.

Nahlia

He sighed knowing he had to answer it because if he didn't it would just cause more chaos than there already is. She would blow up his phone until he answered and Odell couldn't deal with all of that, so he answered.

"What do you want Nahlia," he spoke before she even had a chance to say anything.

"Oh why you gotta be like that, I don't get no greeting," She smirked as she knew what to do to push his buttons.

"What do you want," He repeated it again for her not in the mood for a chit chat with her. Every time he interacted with Nahlia made him regret ever getting with her even more.

"You know I want you but since I'm not getting that I just want some money, for now,"

"I just gave you money two days ago,"

"Exactly, that was two days ago I need more money and I need it now," She demanded with a sinister smile on her face because she knew Odell wouldn't resist if he wanted his little secret kept.

"How much you want," As soon as he said that a wider smile graced her face thinking about how much money she was about to receive from him.

"I want $25,000," She exclaimed causing Odell to vigorously cough when he heard the amount she was demanding.

"You know damn well I ain't giving you that much money,"

"Oh, but you will unless you want my mouth to accidentally pour out your secret to the press,"

"Give me a few days to take out the money then I'll tell you where to meet me," He felt defeated as he told her the instructions.

"That's what I like to hear, have a good day baby," She ended the call right after feeling satisfied with the conversation that had just occurred.

"This girl gone make me kill her," He whispered to himself running a hand down his face.

He got up out the chair and headed to his room in hopes of finding Robyn in his bed. Unfortunately for him, he entered the room to find an empty bed and a silent room upon entering.

"Baby where you at," Odell shouted heading out his room into the hallway. Robyn ignored him as she slightly sniffled cuddled up in the bed. She held the sheets close to her face and a pillow in between her legs as she ignored Odells calls for her.

Odell searches all his rooms and it was long before he found Robyn in one of them. He sighed as he entered the room bracing himself for what he was going to say.

"Babe," He softly spoke walking towards the bed.

"Please just leave me alone," Odell could hear the pain in her voice as she spoke and that pained his heart even more. Yes, Odell felt guilty about hiding his secret but he thought he was doing what's best for them both, clearly, he was mistaken because even though Nahlia didn't know it she was slowly still breaking him and Robyns relationship down.

"I'm sorry, I just want to protect you,"

"I'm a grown woman Odell, I can handle myself if we're supposed to be working on building this relationship you can't shut me out," She sat now fully up as he back rested against the headboard.

"I understand that baby but please just trust me, the less you know the less the media can talk shut about you,"

"I don't give a damn about what the media has to say about me Odell, I'm your woman I'll stick by you throughout everything and you know this stop trying this bullshit with me, Odell,"

"She wants money," He closed his eyes with a tight fist just at the thought of her holding the information she knew over his head, Robyn knitted her eyebrows in confusion as to what he was talking about and who wanted money from him.

"Who wants money,"

"Nahlia, She wants $25,000, The mention of her name and the amount she wanted raged Robyn, she was ready to beat that bitches ass like yesterday, she was done playing nice with Nahlia and needed to show her who's in control.

"We're not giving that bitch a dime," She spat with disgust, what shocked her was that Odell looked like he was considering to give her that amount of money as well, in which he was.

"What do you mean we not, yes I am Robyn, that girl gone go to the press and spill that shit about me, that could end my career, Robyn,"

"Tell Kairo and Deshawn let them handle her bitch ass, but we're not giving her money Odell,"

"Yeah, I know we not but I am," He smartly replied pointing to himself as if that made her solution go away.

"Don't fucking play smart with me Odell I'm not in the mood,"

"I'll speak with Deshawn and Kairo," He finally said but if she didn't get the message he was just going to give her the money she asked for and would continue to for as long as he wanted to.

"I mean it Odell, don't make this bitch be the reason our relationship fails because you want to hide shit about her from me,"

"I hear you, baby," He kisses her and made his way to the opposite side of the bed and decided to make himself comfortable. He placed one of his hands on her belly while he laid his head on her lap facing her.

"I want to see her,"

"No, definitely not," He rejected the thought of Nahlia ever seeing Robyn again because he knew what she was capable of plus Robyn was pregnant.

"I just want to speak to her that's it, tell her where she stands," She truthfully said, all she wanted was to set Nahlia in her place and tell her where she stands I'm Odell's life, nowhere.

"I'm not sure about that,"

"I just want to speak to her, whether you help me or not,"

"Fine, give me a few days and I'll see,"

"That's all I ask for," She smirked thinking about how she was going to approach Nahlia and the situation at hand.

"I'm sorry Robyn, you know I never meant any of this to happen,"

"Odell," She sighed knowing where all this was going, she couldn't stand when Odell apologised because it didn't change anything that had happened to her or their relationship but she would never tell Odell that.

"I know I've said this a million times but I truly am sorry, I would've never imagined my life like this when we were in college, I had a good thing and I threw it away for some useless fucks, I was a young stupid boy back then and now my past actions deter my adult life and I hate it, I'm so different now Robyn and I want you forever, I want to wake up to you every day with you in my arms and our children ruining our peacefulness by knocking on our bedroom door and jumping on our bed, I want our children to witness the love we share Robyn, I want to give you this," He went into his shorts and grabbed the little box he got from the top of the dresser. Robyn gasped from seeing the box, she hoped that it wasn't a wedding ring because she was nowhere near ready to marry Odell, yes she loved him but this still had so much to work in before that happens.

"I've wanted to give you this ever since we were in college I never did because I was scared of you rejecting my marriage proposal, no it's not a wedding ring now but in due time that will come, it's a promise ring baby, I promise to love and cherish you, I promise to protect you from any and everything, I promise to always be by your side through thick and thin, I promise to never intentionally hurt you or my children that you will produce in the near future, I promise to be your shoulder to cry on when in need, I promise to love you with every bone in my body," While speaking he slowly placed the ring on her left ring finger while she cried her eyes out on how beautiful it looked and the speech Odell and just recited. She laughed as she blamed the hormones to why she was crying so much and on the verged snot coming out her nose.

"I love you too baby," She snuffed and brought his face up to her with her hand on either side of his face. They shared a passionate kiss putting all their emotions into it, the love was definitely there in the kiss and they could both feel it.

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Ya'll want a book for Robyn and Odell or just continue to write about them here?

Appreciate if yall could check out my other book called Lost Soul❤️

35 likes and comments I'll update again!!