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“Ah fuck!” he bellowed as his foot bled out quickly. “What the fuck, man?”

“While I wish I were able to sit around and torture you both, I need to go check on my daughter and mother-in-law.” Gia paused her wailing and frowned in disgust at my words. “Before I go… I just want to say… you both are getting off easy. What I really wanted to do was hang you both upside down until you died from the blood rushing to your head, but my boy here has other plans.” Just then, Luca reentered the basement with two big cages. “I wish I could stick around for the action, but hopefully, your suffering will be as great as I imagine.”

Setting the cages on the floor, Luca stepped back and opened them, releasing two of the deadliest rodents known to men: theAfrican crested rat. We watched as they scoured the floor. Rosier told me the lethal rats typically did not attack humans, but they were big eaters and were extremely poisonous. As soon as the two maned rats realized the only food source down here was Lew and Gia, it was a wrap for them.

“They’re just here to do the legwork,” Rosier stated with pride as we began to leave the room. “By the time they’ve done their job, the timer on the other cage will go off, releasing their cousins to feast on the dead corpses. Trust me, I wanted you two to suffer more, but I have to go check on my mother and niece.”

“Your death won’t be nearly as quick as your family's.” I smiled and winked at Gia as she hopped all over the floor with her bleeding foot, trying to avoid the rats as they circled around. “When you get to Hell, tell them I said, “Hello.”

Closing the basement door behind us, we listened as they squealed below. To me, their death was too easy, but that is something I can live with as long as the job is done. I was hoping Chandler would come back and find their bodies. It would be the proof he needed to know his time was coming sooner than he thought.

“You good, man?” Rosier asked as we stepped outside the house and headed to the truck. “She’s your child's mother?—”

“Do you miss Ariana?” I asked, granting me the most sour look. “Exactly.”

Getting into the back of Noemi’s Porsche, I pulled my daughter into my lap and held her close. I could have lost my girl, but God saw fit for me to have a little more time with her. While I’m blessed and thankful to have her back, my job wasn’t done. Until I watch Chandler take his last breath, I won’t be satisfied.

My havoc in this city has yet to begin.

“Hey, Big Bri. I’m Princess Gi or Gi Baby.” We all sat and laughed as Gianna introduced herself to Dre’s daughter, Briley. “You can be my cousin if you want. My daddy has tea parties with me, but it would be nice to have it with girls sometimes too.”

“Yeah, I know…” Bri chimed in as she combed her doll’s hair. “My daddy plays with me, too, when Mommy doesn’t. He draws the line at letting me paint his nails.” Looking over at Dre, she frowned in confusion. “Daddy, why don’t you let me paint your nails like Unctie Jerome?”

“Because Jerome is a sis?—”

“Okay, girls!” Denim placed her hand over Dre’s mouth as she came in from the kitchen. “I just made some fresh ice cream. Would you like to try it out?”

Jumping from the floor and abandoning their toys, they ran into the kitchen with RJ doing the same. We decided to let the kids get to know each other because it was evident that we would be family soon. From this simple interaction, I could tell they were going to be thick as thieves. We’ve been staying on the compound with Noemi before going back to the Grove. I did let Gianna FaceTime my family because they’ve been dying to lay eyes on her, especially her Uncle Wild. I wasn’t in a rush to leave since Ma Ros had told us about Gianna being doped up, but the doctors had cleared her more than once, stating she was fine and would continue to be fine. She’d been asking to sleep in the bed with Noemi and me for the past few nights, and I had no objections. I would do anything to assure my baby that she was safe.

“Baby, lunch is ready if you’re hungry.” Mi came from the kitchen, looking as beautiful as ever. She had been quiet these past few days, and I didn’t like it. “You want me to fix you something?”

“Come here.” I waved her over, patting my lap, as her brothers looked on. Hesitantly, she looked from me to her brothers. “Noemi…”

Dropping her head, she complied. Confusion spread across her brothers’ faces as she timidly sat in my lap. Placing my finger under her chin, I lifted her gaze to meet mine. Tears pooled in her eyes, and as soon as one fell, Jules was on his feet in an instant.

“Man, what the hell is wrong with you, Noemi?” He came stomping over like he was ready to cast a spell. “Tell me right now, or I swear to you?—”

“You all hate me…” She covered her face and began to bawl. “All of this is my fault! Had I just stayed with Chandler, none of this would have happened. Mama was beaten… beaten! I’m so sorry!”

Wrapping my arms around her, I placed kisses all over her face, allowing her to get it all out. By now, all of the ladies, including her mother and the kids, had come running back into the living room. Her sobs were becoming unbearable, and I needed her to stop.

“Noemi, I need you to chill, baby,” I said, pleading with her. Pushing her back slightly, I waited until she moved her hands from her face to look at me. “No one is mad at you. Why would you think that?”

“Look at my mother’s face…” She stood and pointed. Ma Ros bruises were healing, but they were still visible. “He put his hands on her as if she were filth! He should never have been able to do that! He wouldn’t have done that if it weren’t for me. Rosier won’t even talk to me?—”

“Hey, hey!” His eyes bulged as he walked over and pulled his sister into his arms. “I’ve been in my head, Mimi, but I promise you… it has nothing to do with you. I’m the leader of this family, so all of this falls on me. I should have never offered you to that nigga. I should have killed him the day I saw the love you had in your eyes for Skip. I knew then that you were never supposed to marry Chandler’s bitch ass.” He kissed her forehead before looking into her eyes. “You are my baby sister—my heart. I love you more than life, Noemi. That nigga shouldn’t have ever been able to get that close to my mama in the first place, and that’s on me.”

“I made sure to off everyone who had a hand in helping him,” Dre chimed in. “I didn’t care if they were grocery shopping, picking their kids up from school, or leaving church. All them bitch-ass niggas and shiesty-ass hoes fell like flies.”

“Oh my gosh!” Denim groaned as she rounded up the kids. “I’m a federal agent; I don’t need to hear this. Come on, kids.”

“My daddy don’t play,” Bri spoke proudly, causing us all to laugh. “Come on, Gi Baby… let’s go beat RJ in a bike race.”

Grabbing her hand, they took off running to the side patio door. Upon reaching it, Gianna let her hand go and ran back to Noemi. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she looked up and gave her the brightest smile.

“I love you, Noemi, and I don’t want you to be sad. You and my Jordie saved me, and I want us to be together forever.”

Running back off, fresh tears ran down her face. “I almost made you loseher.”