Page 35 of Our Mother's Sons

“Fuuuuuuck!”

“Ahhhhhh! Waaaaahhh! Waaaahhhhh!”

Girl's scream pierced my ears as glass shattered all around us. Gunshots erupted and I felt so fucking helpless. Had I not had her, I would have tried to overpower the driver for his gun. I didn’t even know what the fuck was going on but I wasn’t letting my daughter go.

The car jerked and then slowed.

“Jovani,” Melissa’s voice was shaky. Lifting my head, I saw that her clothing was disheveled, but she appeared okay. All of the windows were shut out, and the driver was slumped over the steering wheel with his Brain blown out.

“I don’t know why he did that. Montez has been loyal to me for many years. I would have rather him try and kill me alone, but…not with you two in the truck,” Melissa’s voice held regret, and she looked not only scared but exhausted.

“He did that because I was the target. Not you.”

Girl was still screaming, so I pulled her out of the car seat, and my heart broke as fat tears slid out of her eyes. My girl didn’t even cry. Bringing her to my chest, I hooked my arm around my mama. Her tears came out as well. Looking down at the car seat, I could see a bullet hole a few inches above where Girl’s head had been. Just that quick, her life would have ended if Melissa hadn’t pushed her out of the way.

I tried calming them both by placing a kiss on top of Girl’s curly head and then Melissa’s silky black hair.

“It’s okay. We good. We gone figure this shit out and kill everybody involved. I got you.”

I’d never in my fucking life had to put anyone above myself before. My grams was tough as nails and my brother handled his shit. I always made decisions that best suited me, unless it was business. But I knew I had to do the right fucking thing. We got into a fucking shootout with Girl in the car and I couldn’t even protect her. That shit was killing me as if I’d been the one touched with a bullet. Sitting there on the side of the road with a bullet ridden truck and a dead driver that had tried to end my life, I hugged my mama and my daughter - two things I didn’t have a few years ago and made a vow that we were ending this shit now, fuck later.

Chapter10

Voyage Ridley

I’d awaken with puffy eyes, a stiff neck from sleeping on the couch, and a scratchy throat. It had been a full day and I hadn’t left the sofa besides to pee and throw up two more times. I’d called Dutton’s line so much that he had ended up getting it disconnected. I’d also used Baela’s fake page to send him messages, but he blocked that page, too. I didn’t want to sleep, but I’d cried so much that sleep overcame me. I was sitting on the couch after showering, washing my face, and brushing and flossing my teeth. The smell of bacon and eggs made my stomach growl, although I was sure I couldn’t keep anything down. I’d watched Amanda’s videos more times than I could count. I’d even tried calling her from Facebook Messenger and sent her a message to contact me. I hadn’t heard back yet.

“Here is breakfast.”

My cousin came into view holding a tray that was meant to house decorative towels. Instead, two plates of food and two cups of orange juice were being carried on it. I hadn’t had many words for Baela. All I’ve been doing is crying since we discovered Amanda’s videos. Now that I’d had time to sleep and cry it all out, I was ready for the explanation I owed her. I tried getting it out yesterday, but I just couldn’t find the words.

Baela set the tray on the coffee table and handed me my plate. A fork was already stuck inside the syrupy pancakes with melted butter pooling on top. My cousin was so thoughtful that she’d even cut the pancakes up. When she sat beside me, creating a comfortable distance, I forked a pancake that probably would have tasted a lot better if my taste buds weren’t bitter, and then I chewed down on a piece of bacon. Taking a sip of orange juice, I washed down the small portion of food I’d eaten and set my plate and cup back on the tray. Baela was eyeing me as she ate from the plate of food on her lap.

“Baela-”

“If you’re not ready to talk about it, you don’t have to. But know, whatever you tell me, I have a feeling it’s going to land me in jail alongside my man. But instead of a trafficking charge, I’ll be in for murder.” She spat without blinking.

Swallowing hard, my chest swelled as I closed my eyes, taking a walk down memory lane.

“Oh my God, it’s positive Dutton!”

Holding the test in my hand, the sight of the positive sign made me want to toss the piece of plastic across the bathroom. I could feel the tears in my eyes as my heart dropped to the sole of my shoes. We didn’t need a baby. My job was barely paying the bills on our apartment. I’d only been here for two months and regretted letting Dutton talk me into the overpriced one-bedroom. Then, to make matters worse, I had a car that I could easily afford the payments on if I didn’t have to pay so much in rent.

Tears fell from my eyes as I looked at him, who was eerily quiet. When my eyes met his, a wide grin spread across his face. That instantly pissed me off. I knew other girls would have been elated that their man was excited about a pregnancy, but I was not. We barely had money to feed ourselves daily, and now a baby was thrown into the mix.

“Baby, this is a good thing.”

Tossing the test in the small white trashcan that was full of nothing but paper towels I wanted to pull my fucking hair out.

“How in the hell is this a good thing? I barely make enough money for the bills, and you aren’t exactly pulling your weight. Fuuuuck!” I slapped my forehead. “Baela told me this shit would happen.” I cried.

The smile on Dutton’s handsome face fell, and he stood straight as he’d been leaning in the door frame.

“Man fuck Baela.”

My eyes shot daggers at Dutton. He knew I didn’t play about my cousin and every time he bad mouthed her and her incarcerated boyfriend Riker, I got on his ass. Baela was all I had and had been there for me more times than I could count. She begged me to move in with her and I was about to right before I fell for Dutton’s ass and let him talk me into signing a lease because he knew damn well Baela wouldn’t allow him in her home. He didn’t even know their address. My cousin made it clear that she did not want Dutton knowing where she stayed, and I respected her to the fullest.

“Baby,”

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