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“You see how I just chose y’all,” he pointed out. “Don't ever in your fucking life say I left y’all behind again. I just gave up something that would’ve been real beneficial for me for our relationship. Dead all that selfish talk y’all be trying to use against me.”

Meco smirked. “Yeah, a’ight.”

Lo looked to Devyn. “You heard me, nigga?”

Devyn lifted his hands. “You got it, my boy.”

Lo headed toward the truck and got inside so they could wait for a location on Luco.

Hours later…

The idle time had become a playground for the devil.

This moment had tested Lo’s patience to the maximum capacity.

After meeting with the chiefs, the brothers retreated back to Devyn’s home along with members from the crew.

The women had been ushered to the backyard.

Everyone sat around, in deep thought, barely speaking a word.

Lo had wanted to be left alone. His thoughts had taken a drastic turn down negative avenue.

He thought about the possibility of Luco gaining retribution by killing Ada.

It would crush him, but Lo couldn’t pinpoint why.

Yes, it was obvious that she was his mother, and he didn’t want her to suffer on behalf of him but there was something deeper in his being, something that held depth that made his heart break for her.

“Why it’s taking so fucking long to get a location?

” Meco complained, rising from his chair.

He had been a wreck while Devyn remained quiet.

Dax had been in the room seated by his nurse.

There was nothing to discuss except for Ada’s location.

When his phone rang, everyone looked at him, hoping it was the chiefs with an update.

Lo was disappointed to learn that it was Maddy.

“It’s just Auntie,” he notified them and got up.

Walking out of the great room, he went to sit in the foyer before he answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Hey, is everything okay? I gotta call from Marcie. She said there’s something going on within the family.”

Lo wondered who’d spread the word but didn’t have time to investigate it.

“Yeah, something is going on with Ada. She’s missing.”

She gasped. “What? Are you sure this ain't a ploy to get attention? You know how your mama is.”

“No, this ain't no fucking ploy!” he snapped. “She’s gone, and we don't know where she is.”

Lo’s intention wasn’t to snap at her, but he was tired of her always second-guessing things when it came to Ada. This wasn’t the time for her pessimistic attitude.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. Well, what are you guys doing about it?”

“Trying to find her.” He sighed.

“Aw, baby, don't be stressed. She’ll show up. How’s your brothers doing? How’s Dax?”

“Worried.

“Yeah, well, I just wanted to see what was going on. You think I should come by? Maybe sit with you all.”

Lo thought about the reaction Dax would give if she were to step a foot on their property. He didn’t want that for Maddy. She had to keep her distance.

“No, that’s not a good idea. I’ll hit you up when we get an update.”

“Listen, I know me and my sister haven’t gotten along in years, but I do love her. I just don't like her. Please let me know what’s going on. I can even pray for her.”

“Yeah, a’ight.”

“And you be safe. We love you so much, Lo. Me and Durand. He’s not mad about the fight either. He actually wants to apologize for what he said. Don't hold it against him.”

His spat with Durand was so far from his mind that he had forgotten all about it.

“I appreciate that, Auntie. I gotta go.”

“Okay, be safe.”

Lo ended the call and walked back to the room where the crew was.

“Aye, we got a location,” Devyn announced, looking at his phone.

Meco hopped up. “Shit, let’s go.”

Everyone in the room stood, ready to go to war but when Lo noticed Devyn shake his head, he figured bullshit would soon follow.

“It’s a catch.”

“What is it?” Dax rolled over to Devyn.

“He only wants Lo to show up.”

Meco kissed his teeth immediately. “Hell nah. Lo ain't going nowhere without us.”

“This is what the chiefs said in the text. Look.” Devyn passed the phone to Lo, who scanned the message.

“Nah, we ain't lettin’ bro go by himself,” Axel declared.

“This nigga don't get to make no fucking demands. Fuck what he talking about,” Meco snarled.

“He actually has the upper hand right now,” Dax disagreed. “He has what we want, which is your mother. We need to follow every demand to make sure she’s back in our care. If they want Lo to go by himself, then that’s what he needs to do.”

There was a realization that had roared into Lo’s psyche.

It was more powerful than a tornado ravaging a rural area.

This could’ve been his ending. His sunset before he stood in front of God and was thrown into the lake of fire.

Niggas like him didn’t have happy endings.

They lived life until the ghosts of their past caught up to them and came to collect.

Lo wasn’t fearful, though. His time would have to come and if he had to sacrifice his life for Ada, he was surprisingly okay with that.

The only worry he possessed was Bria. They had finally turned the same page.

No longer was she in another chapter while he was still in the beginning of their book of love.

They’d been cemented. Bonded for life. Their unconventional love had created a child, and Lo feared she wouldn’t be able to cope if something bad was to happen to him.

“A’ight, fuck it. I’m ready.”

“Bro, come on,” Meco hissed. “We ain't letting you go by yourself.”

“Yes, you are,” Dax declared then looked at Lo. “Go get your mama and both of y’all come back in one piece. You can do this. I raised you for times like this.”

Lo nodded, feeling something stir inside him. He hadn’t faced his father in decades and listening to Dax pour into him was soothing the part of his soul that had been fractured.

“Send me the location.”

Meco walked away, mumbling under his breath.

Lo excused his frustration since he’d probably act the same way.

They were twins who rarely did anything without the other.

Lo was certain Meco was scared. The possibility of him not covering Lo more than likely propelled him to think that he would get taken out.

“Aye, come back, Lo. Don't let them niggas take you away from us. You hear me?” Devyn said.

Lo nodded. “I got you.”

Before he made his exit, he went on a hunt for Bria. Finding her outside on the patio, she sat with Kaylona and Tori. Poor Bria was riddled with anxiety. Her legs bounced while she chewed on her fingernails. The distant look on her face showcased how unsettled she was.

“Bria, come here.”

Immediately, she jumped up and hurried over to him. He grabbed her hand, and they walked around the house so he could gain some privacy.

“Did you find her?” she asked.

He tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“Is she okay?”

“I don't know yet. I’m about to go get her… I just wanted to make sure you're good before I go.”

She gulped and expelled a deep breath. “I’m trying to be.”

“Look.” He held her chin. “You know I love you, right?”

“Yes, but why are you saying this to me right now?”

“Because you need to know that I love you and that if something happens to me, you gotta keep pushing.”

“Lo, please.” Her eyes instantly released tears. “Don't say that.”

“It’s real life, baby. You know what I’m apart of and you know shit can go left real quick.”

Bria’s head hung as she sobbed. It tore Lo up seeing her so broken at the moment, but he needed to be honest. He could’ve walked away and never returned to her.

“But what about us? What about the baby? I can’t raise this child without you.”

Lo kissed her cheek and held her close. He allowed her to cry for a while in his arms. Bria needed this memory just in case he didn’t make it back to her.

Lo pulled back a bit and lifted her face. Her beauty always made his heart skip a beat. He prayed that their child would inherit most of her features. She deserved to have a carbon copy of her breathtaking face.

“You know you're the best thing that’s happened to me? You got me to open up and face demons I had been cool living with. When we first got married, I stayed away from you because I knew you would challenge me. I wasn’t ready for it, but you didn’t care.

” He smirked, making her chuckle. “I needed that. I needed you, and I love the shit outta you.”

“I love you, too,” she mumbled, eyes swollen from crying most of the day.

Lo enveloped her lips, taking note of the softness so he could dwell on it just in case he didn’t make it back.

Their tongues reunited, evoking his yearning for her to become uncharted.

He hoped this wasn’t the end of them. They were just getting started.

Lo had so much more love to give her and his child that he couldn’t fathom not coming home to her.

“I gotta go, baby,” he whispered.

Bria gripped his shirt, gazing into his eyes. “Tell me you're coming back.”

Lo didn’t lie, and he wouldn’t start now. The odds were against him. Luco wanted blood, his specifically. Selling her a dream was something he couldn’t do.

“Just lie to me and tell me you're coming back to me. Please, Lo.”

Lo’s reality wrestled against her fantasy. He didn’t know which one would win. Honesty had been his favorite character trait, but Bria wanted a falsehood. A lie that would’ve soothed the possibility of him not returning.

“Okay.” He went against his nature and told her, “I’m coming back. I promise.”

Her facial features relaxed as she bobbed her head. “Okay.”

They shared one more kiss. “I gotta go.”

Lo headed around the home where one of the soldiers stood next to a black truck.

“Aye, Dev said take this one.” He held out a key.

Lo grabbed it and the two shared a brotherly hug. Getting inside the truck, he exhaled then headed to rescue his mother.