Page 1 of Rah

PROLOGUE

KAHLANI

For the first time in days, I wastrulyhappy. I felt like things were finally getting back to normal. Life wasn’t at all perfect. Nevertheless, I had a lot of hope that everything was going to work out.

I practically ran towards my car that was parked half a block down the street.

Once inside of the car I called Solae back as I started the engine. She had called me at least a dozen times while I was in the meeting. She had also sent me a text message asking that I call her back as soon as possible.

I wasn’t even paying attention when Solae answered. I cut her off with excitement as I whizzed through the traffic downtown. “Hey, Solae. I already know. I’m on my way to the hospital now.”

It was like she didn’t even hear me. She sounded so out of it as she spoke to me. “Can you come by my house?”

“When? I need to get to the hospital right now. What’s wrong?”

“Please, Kahlani? It’s really important.”

When I heard the tears, I knew that Rah had done something. I shook my head in irritation and disappointment. I was so sick of Rah and his bullshit. I couldn’t understand why he just wouldn’t leave that girl alone and let her live.

“Alright,” I reluctantly told her. I didn’t want to go, but she sounded like she really needed me. “I’m on my way.”

She hung up without another word.

“This nigga irks mysoul,” I muttered through gritted teeth as I tossed the phone onto the passenger’s seat.

I drove towards the expressway like a mad woman, with hate for Rah fueling my lead foot. Rah was like a thorn in my side. He was negatively affecting everyone’s life around him. He was even affecting mine, and he wasn’t even my man. He was like a virus; slowly eating away at our lives with his inability to give a fuck about anybody else besides himself.

I thought that Solae was finally done with him after this last major stunt that he pulled, but apparently not.

About fifteen minutes later, I arrived at Solae and Rah’s house, while being completely disgusted that, once again, my life was consumed by Rah or something to do with him. I needed to be at the hospital, not at their house consoling Solae after whatever stunt he pulled this time.

This better be real important,I thought as I rang the bell.

I repeatedly moved my legs back and forth and stuffed my hands in my pockets to cope with the cold.

It was the beginning of winter, but it was already cold as hell in Chicago. January was only two days away. That’s when the real arctic air was going to blow through the city. As I waited for Solae to come to the door, I thought about New Year’s Eve being the next day. Memories of all that I had been through came to mind, especially the events of the last few weeks. The memories were eerie, but I was happy to start this New Year with hopes of a much better tomorrow.

All of those hopes were lost when Solae finally answered the door looking like a walking car accident. Her blonde bang was all over the place and hanging in her face. Her eyes were bloodshot red as they rained tears.

When I realized that the stains on her shirt were blood, I lost it. “Solae! Oh my God! Are you okay?!”

In response, she turned away from the door and began to mope as she walked away. I hurriedly followed her inside, closed the door, and followed closely behind her with a million questions. “What happened?! Did Rah hit you?! What the hell is going on?!”

“He had the nerve to blame me for what happened to Essence!” She fussed in anger while making long, fast strides down the hall.

I was on her heels. I was damn near chasing her, confused as she rambled on and on and walked briskly through the house.

“He didn’t care! I told him what happened to Essence, and he still didn’t care!”

“Didn’t care about what, Solae?”

She didn’t even hear me. “I told him how much I wanted that baby. He just laughed. He dismissed my hurt like it didn’t mean anything. He told me that I was overreacting. He said that this wasmyfault. He told me that if I was the ride or die bitch for my man that I was supposed to be, this wouldn’t have happened to Essence.”

As we entered the kitchen, I still didn’t know what was going on. Yet it was obvious that Rah had finally gone too far. The look in Solae’s eyes was angrier than I had ever seen before.

She was possessed with fury.

Solae was still rambling on and crying, nervously running her fingers through her hair.