Chapter 86.) Above and Beyond...

                                    

                                          
It's been hours since the incident and Sinclair still hadn't heard anything from Dante. Renae showed up with King to pick up the car and to check on Sinclair but after convincing them that she was fine and had called her parents, they left after taking her home. Sinclair's parents were livid about the situation and were already planning to take legal action right after they got her phone fixed. When Dajon told her that Dante would be fine, she assumed Dante would be popping over an hour later but it was night and there was still no sign from him.
Everything was too quiet for Sinclair, including her thoughts. She just needed to know what happened. It was nearing midnight when Sinclair was ready to give up until there was a knock at her door. She practically flew out of her bed to answer the door and leaped right into Dante's embrace. The pair was silent. Sinclair was certain that he could feel the pounding of her heart but she didn't care, she was terrified and was glad that he was okay.
"I'm good, Sin..." he slowly pulled away and stared down at her, "you okay?"
"I'm fine," she forced a smile before hugging him again, "I'm sorry for talking so much, I should have just kept quiet and told him my name. I di-"
"It's fine," he chuckled softly, "can I come in?"
"Yeah," she laughed nervously, finally releasing him and stepping back.
Picking up his overnight bag, he followed her inside, sure to close and lock the door behind him. Unsure of what to do with herself and her hands, Sinclair stood to the side and just stared at Dante as he seemed to be deep in thought.
"C'mere," his gaze finally met hers.
Sinclair remained in her spot.
Dante recognized her demeanor, he witnessed it too many times in the family. She was trying to keep a brave face but was clearly a wreck on the inside.
"Sin..."
"Just... give me a moment," she smiled weakly.
"You don't need a moment," he walked over and embraced her. "I'm sorry."
That was all she needed to hear to break open the floodgates. No words could be spoken clearly enough through her cries. With so many recordings of police encounters going deathly wrong, Sinclair couldn't get the image of the barrel staring at her out of her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was to blame and Dante and she could have turned into just another hashtag that would later turn into a memory.



"I don't know if your dad told you but I sort of freaked out and made him send your aunt to pick up your car instead of your mom..." Sinclair told Dante as they lay on her living room floor on top of a few blankets staring at the stars glowing on her ceiling.
"I know... they ain't mad about it, they understood," he smiled softly, "what do you think about my aunt and Godfather?"
"Your aunt is gorgeous... your uncle... very intimidating."
Dante chuckled, "My uncle is friendly... he probably didn't want to make you more nervous than you already were."
"I think so," she laid her head on his chest and took a deep breath.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
"I can't believe your cousin's boyfriend was able to steal your freaking identity," she spoke softly.
"Like I told my dad... the only way he could have gotten my information is from Lay..."
"I wish we knew what was going through her mind... that's scary. I'm mad the banks waited until he stole fifty grand before they finally decided to put a red flag on your name."