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“We have to get to Florida, baby,” I pleaded with him as I dragged him out the door. “I will explain it in the car. We have to get on a plane right now!”

Running to the car, I couldn’t help but drop to my knees and cry. Chandler was ruining my life. Not only mine but the ones around me. If I had just stayed with him, maybe all of this wouldn’t be happening. Feeling arms around me, I was lifted from the ground. I dropped my head into Jordan’s chest and cried as he pried the phone from my fingers.

“What the fuck!” he bellowed into the night. “How the fuck did that nigga get my daughter?”

Handing the phone to Dre, I heard him curse under his breath as he dialed my brothers. Not only did Chandler have his daughter, but he’d kidnapped my mother as well.

“I’m so sorry!” I cried as I peered up at him. “If I had never left him?—”

“This ain’t on you, Mi,” he cut me off, kissing my forehead. “Now we know where Lew and Gia got the money to pull off the bullshit they did.” Looking down at me, the anger in his eyes scared me. “We’re going to get your mother and my daughter back, and we’re going to make them all pay for fucking with us.”

Holding the back door open for me to get inside the bulletproof Escalade, I wiped my tears and slid into the back seat. Once in, I could hear Rosier’s voice booming through the speaker. He was pissed and barking orders, wanting to know how our mother was taken. Thinking back to the woman getting slapped when he called, the tears fell faster. I knew he was hurting her. This psychotic nigga was harming our mother.

Pop! Pop! Boom!

Looking out of the window, Jordan let off shots at the gas tank near the mobile home, causing it to go up in flames. I wanted to say something—to feel sorry for the possible innocent lives lost—but I couldn’t. They didn’t give a damn about what was happening to his child, so he didn’t give a damn about what happened to theirs.

“Get me to the airstrip,” he said into the quietness of the car. “I’m about to show y’all Florida niggas how we handle business in the Grove.”

“Mommy,can I please go back with Daddy now? I don’t want to stay here with you.”

Rolling my eyes, I scrolled through social media on my phone as I listened to Gianna cry and plead to go back to Skip. It’s been over a week since we snatched her, and every day with her is one I wish they would have either left the brat where she was or killed her.

I glared over at her and snapped. “Gianna, I’m not going to tell you again to shut the hell up with all of that damn crying! If I have to tell you again, I’m going to beat you worse than you’ve ever seen.”

Standing from the folding chair, I yawned loudly as I stretched and walked out of the room. Looking around, the basement alone in this small family home was nicer than anything Lew and I had ever stayed in. When we were propositioned with the plan to hit Skip where it hurt, we were all in. Had I known I would be stuck with babysitter duty, I would have definitely declined.

“It’s going to be all right, sweetheart. Your father will find us soon.” Rosalyn scooted over on the bed and coddled Gianna the best way she could. “I’m sure it won’t be too much longer.”

“I wouldn’t count on that…” I smirked, crossing my arms. “When the fellas call Skip and meet with him to get the money, I’m sure they’re going to kill him.” Gianna placed her face in the woman’s chest and cried. “Not only him but your whore of a daughter too. She’s lucky they’re going to get to her before I do.”

After running up in the houses that Lew thought belonged to Skip, we thought we’d reached a dead end. There weren’t any drugs or money in sight, so Lew decided to torch them. He’d linked up with a few members of Skip’s team and promised them more money and more power if they would help him get Skip out of the way. He was beginning to think the guys had fucked him over because all of the information given to him had fallen through.

When Chandler pulled up at the house we were renting, we were shocked that he had been able to find us. If he could, Skip could as well, and that shit scared me. If he knew we were behind the chaos happening to his drug empire, he wouldn’t care that I was Gianna’s mother. Chandler, who I now know is married to Skip’s makeshift girlfriend, offered us half a million to help himmake them pay for betraying him. I didn’t even know Skip was seeing someone, and it bothered me. He wasn’t mine, but he wasmychild’s father. No one deserved his heart or dick but me.

“Young lady, you have some nerve to talk to your child like this.” Rosalyn frowned at me. “When this is over, I hope I’m around to see what my daughter has planned for you. You two have no idea what family you’re messing with.”

Nibbling my bottom lip, I stared at her and couldn’t help but think she was right. I didn’t have the first clue about any of them. When I overheard Chandler telling Lew that he’d snatch Noemi’s mother from her spa appointment, I thought it would be impossible to do. Seeing footage of her being snatched from her massage table and out the back door let me know we weren’t dealing with a rookie. Once he brought her here, he’d hit her so hard I thought he was going to kill her. For her to be his mother-in-law, his hatred for her ran deep.

“Lady, if I were you, I would just shut the hell up. From where I’m standing, you’re not in a position to really speak on much of anything.” Hearing the door behind me unlock, I locked eyes with a pissed-off Chandler. I hoped he wasn’t staying long because every minute I was near this man, I felt uneasy. “Talk to me nice, and I might let you guys eat lunch.”

“You’re not calling any shots here, baby girl,” Chandler chimed in as he placed a few bags of food and clothes on the small metal table. “What do you think will happen if you starve them to death?” He shook his head, speaking to me as if I were slow. “I’m starting to question your purpose here.”

Dressed in a button-down and slacks, I admitted to myself that the man was fine. His bald head and goatee gave him a rugged look. Although I didn’t know much about him personally, I was aware of what I’d read about him online. He was a very successful businessman from Haiti and seemed to do a lot for his community. I thought it was crazy for us to leave Milly Groveand come to Florida with a stranger, but I guess he felt safer here.

“Since it seems you have it all figured out and under control, I’m going to get out of here.” I grabbed my phone, giving our guests one last look. Gianna was looking at me with sad eyes, but that shit didn’t move me one way or another. “Be nice, or the next time I see you will be in a ditch.”

Throwing my purse over my shoulder, I made my way to the door. Once I reached it, I was thrown off balance when I was grabbed from behind.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Chandler mugged me. “Who the fuck you think is going to watch these two while we’re not here?”

“I didn’t know I was being held hostage too.” I tried to snatch away, only for him to grip my arm tighter. “I’m not here to be a babysitter.”

He chuckled in a sinister manner, and I felt my heart sink. He let my arm go, only for him to take a few steps toward me, backing me into the door. My chest caved as he hovered over me with a menacing glare. His eyes roamed my face before he reached out and gripped my neck. Squeezing tightly, my eyeballs expanded as I clawed at his hand.

“Listen here, you little bitch. I don’t know what type of men you’re used to, but I’m not one of them.” He choked me tighter, and I was scared he would crush my windpipe. “Know that I’m not Lew’s fat, funky ass. I will kill you, bitch. You contribute nothing but holes for niggas to stick their dicks into. In my presence, you will sit the fuck down, and you will shut the fuck up. Do I make myself clear?”

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I nodded as best as I could. He scowled at me for seconds more before he pushed me away, letting my neck go. Dropping to my knees, I wrapped my hands around my neck and grasped for air. Feeling the doorpush at my back, I moved out of the way so Lew could come in. Looking from Chandler to me on the floor, he continued eating away at the drumstick in his hand.