Page 44

Standing to her full height with wide eyes, Noemi glimpsed at me, and it took everything in me not to burst into laughter.

Grabbing Gi Baby’s hand, she led us to the counter.

After paying for the shoes Noemi had grabbed for her and Gianna, I grabbed their hands and led them back through the mall the same way we came.

“Is everything okay?” Mi asked in a hushed tone. It was a little after noon, and the crowd was piling in. I hate that I had to end my baby’s day so early, but I couldn’t shake the sensation that something was brewing close by.

“I just want to get y’all out of here in case it’s not.” I kissed her cheek as I led them to the valet. This is one of those times I’m glad I opted to come to this particular location. “Let me get y’all home.”

After putting the bags into the trunk and making sure my girls were secure, we headed back to my condo for the evening. Cutting down the music, I eyed Gianna in the back as we approached the red light. She was back there kicking her feet and playing with her iPad without a care in the world.

“Hey, little mama…” I called out, getting her attention instantly. “You want some candy before we head in?”

“Oh my gosh! Yes!” she squealed. “You’re the best daddy ever!”

Smiling, I winked as the light turned green.

Before we could pull off, a red Tahoe rammed into the passenger side of my Escalade.

The glass shattered as the vehicle began to spin, and I was sure the airbags were next to shatter through their compartments.

My heart thudded because, at that moment, all I could think about was my girls.

Groaning, I started to call out to them before the sound of a machine gun filled the air.

Tat! Tat! Tat!

Bullets began to hit the bulletproof panels and windows as Gianna screamed in the backseat.

My head was thumping from the impact of the airbags.

The blood streaming down my face spilled into my eyes, making it hard to see, but that didn’t stop me from reaching into my secret door compartment for my Glock.

Fumbling with the seat belt, pure adrenaline aided me in hopping from my truck in hopes of killing whoever thought it was a good day to fuck with me and mine.

Pow! Pow! Pow!

“Argh!” I heard one of the gunmen say as I shot through his torso. From what I could see, it was two of them in ski masks. Once he was down, I aimed my gun at the next masked gunman right as the screams of my daughter sounded into the air.

“Daddy! Help me!” Spinning on my heels, I felt the dizziness as I ran to where my daughter was taken.

Passing Noemi’s door, I noticed her slumped over her seat onto the driver’s side.

As I sprinted across the road, I wasn’t fast enough as I watched her being thrown into the back of a white van with heavily tinted windows.

Letting my Glock loose, I shot in its direction, not caring who was hit in the process.

“Gianna!” I dropped to my knees and let out a gut-wrenching scream. My breathing was ragged as I heard sirens in the distance. People were walking over, asking me if I was okay, while others mentioned the need for an ambulance. I didn’t give a fuck about any of that. I needed my daughter.

How the fuck did a nice day with my girls turn into my worst nightmare in an instant?

Standing to my feet, I needed to check on Noemi. I was able to stand for two seconds before the spinning came back in full force, knocking me to my knees. As a uniformed officer stood over me, I collapsed and succumbed to the darkness that took over me.

“I don’t give a fuck about none of that shit y’all are talking about! That’s my muthafuckin’ brother back there, and I want the niggas that did this shit dead to-fuckin’-night!”

As I pried my eyes open, the sounds of beeping could be heard over the sounds of Uno’s boisterous voice.

Groaning, I looked around the room, squinting at the bright lights.

My head thudded, and that’s when the day’s events came back to me.

Sitting up in the bed, the monitors began to go crazy as I began snatching wires and IVs from my body.

“Mr. Mills, you have to calm down!” Nurses ran into the room, trying to see what was going on. “You’re going to make matters worse!”

Ignoring their pleas, I stood from the bed, almost losing my footing. Glancing down, I frowned at being dressed in a gown with matching socks. “Where my clothes at so I can fuckin’ leave? I have to find my daughter.”

My voice cracked as I tried my hardest to keep my tears at bay. All I could do was hear my daughter’s screams and see the scared look on her face as she was taken from me.

“I’m not giving you anything!” one of the nurses said in a stern tone, fussing as she walked over to me. “You’re going to lay your ass back down in the bed until we tell you otherwise.” The disdain on her face couldn’t be missed. “Now, lay the fuck down and—ahh!”

“Who the fuck are you talking to?” I gripped her neck, ready to snap it in two.

She, along with the three other nurses, had lost all of the spunk they had moments ago.

“You want a body in this bed? It will be yours if you don’t do what the fuck I say.

” I squeezed her neck tighter right as my brother and mother burst into the room.

I heard my mother gasp as she ran over to me.

“Bring me my muthafuckin’ clothes, or I’m going to throw you out of the fuckin’ window.

You want your family trying to identify you while you’re nothing but blood and guts splattered all over the sidewalk? ”

“Jordan, baby… let her go,” my mother said softly while trying to pry my fingers from the nurse’s frail neck. The bitch was scratching my hand up something serious, but she was losing her fight as well as her consciousness. “You’re making matters worse, son.”

“She did this to herself—talking all that tough shit like I’m not really like that.

” The nurse’s eyes began to roll to the back of her head, and I decided to drop the bitch before I killed her.

Looking around as the other nurses shook in fear, I stepped over her semi-lifeless body.

“If y’all don’t want to be next, I suggest you find my belongings, as well as my discharge papers. If I have to ask again?—”

They dashed all over the room before leaving to do as I asked.

Holding my side, I stumbled back and sat at the edge of the bed. Squeezing my eyes shut, I took several deep breaths. Opening them slowly, I locked eyes with my mama, and I couldn’t help but let the tears fall.

“I fucked up, Ma,” I croaked as salty water droplets streamed down my face. “I fucked up bad.”

“Come here, baby,” my mother whispered as she took a seat beside me. Wrapping me in her arms, I placed my head on her chest and let my frustration flow from my eye sockets. I let down my girls and didn’t protect them the way I should have. I deserved the misery I was currently living in.

“It’s going to be okay, Jordan.” She kissed my forehead as she rubbed all over my back. “You’re blessed to be alive, baby boy. I know you’re hurting, but God is going to make it all right. Do you believe that?”

“Mama…” I sniffled as I looked up at her, as she had tears in her own eyes. I could tell that she had been crying before I woke up. “I’m the reason—” I shook my head slightly. “Have you heard from Gianna? Noemi? Fuck! Is she okay?”

Noemi left home to be with me, and not even a week later, I had her in some dangerous shit. If she was hurt, or even worse, I don’t know what I was liable to do.

“Noemi is fine. She was discharged already.” She patted my cheek, giving me a small smile.

“You both have concussions, but you have the worst of it since you have a gunshot wound to your side, baby.” Looking down, I noticed the blood saturating the gown.

“You need to allow these people to help you.” She nodded toward the nurse, who was slowly waking from her slumber.

“You can’t be in here choking out the staff, Jordan Mills. ”

Declining to respond, I trailed my eyes over to the noise coming from the corner. I looked on and watched as my oldest brother, hands behind his back, paced in front of the window. Wiping my face, I lifted from my mother. Slowly and carefully, I made my way over.

“Aye, nigga…” I grunted, causing him to snap his head around. “I heard you acting like a fool out there. That’s not a good look for the mayor.”

“This my fuckin’ city, nigga!” He mugged me as if I was the enemy, showing he had reached his limit. “The fuck they gone do to me?”

Smirking, I nodded as his stern expression fell. Gently but firmly, he pulled me into a hug. We weren’t the most affectionate bunch, but we didn’t play about each other. I loved my brothers, and I knew they felt the same about me.

“Had I lost you, I would have blown this entire city up without a second thought,” he mumbled, and I could hear the conviction in his voice. “I love you, Jordan.”

“I love you, too, Ken.” I patted his back as the room door swung open. One of the nurses had come back with fresh joggers, my discharge papers, and to collect her now alert co-worker. “Where’s Adrian?”

“While you’ve been playing Sleeping Beauty for two days?—”

“Two fuckin’ days?!” I bellowed as I made my way over to grab the clothes so I could get dressed. “What the fuck, man? Gianna could be anywhere!”

Palming my chest, I leaned over onto the bed to catch my breath.

What if I never saw my Gi Baby again? I have to get the fuck out of here .

“When I find out who the fuck did this, I’m killing them.” I sighed. “Two fuckin’ days, man.”

“Yeah, two days, bro.” He gave me a sympathetic look. “Wild has been tearing the city apart looking for our niece in your absence. I haven’t been able to get in touch with Noemi. She’s not answering her phone for any of us.”