Aubrey



Jazmine and I weaved in and out of traffic as I continued chasing Theodore's car down the street. Who ever was in the car was on to us. They knew we were following them and planned on saying something to them before they took off like a bat out of hell. And I'm more than sure this isn't Theodore because he wouldn't be running away from me and Jazmine, so it's gotta be his baby mama or Willie's baby mama. The both of those bitches are crazy, so I know they'd be capable of doing something like this.

Theodore's car blew through a red light, and I was skeptical about going through, but fuck it. I can't let my best friend die, so I tightly closed my eyes and prayed to God before going straight through oncoming traffic.

"Aubrey!" Jaz screamed at the top of their lungs as cars honked at us and swerved away from us. "What the fuck! You could've killed us."

I chuckled as I looked over at a shaken up Jazmine. She always hates it when I do crazy shit. "You scared or something?" I asked her.

She sat in the passengers seat with her chest heaving up and down and her hand gripping on to the lever on the ceiling. I didn't know what that piece on a car was called, but niggas were always gripping on it when ever they felt like somebody was driving crazy. Or you'll get people like Jazmine who are just so afraid of somebody else being behind the wheel, that they hold on to it the entire car ride. That shit aggravates me.

"Yes! We could've died Aubrey."

"We're chasing a car Jazmine," I said as I hit a corner, just like Theodore's car. "There's no rules in a chase. You just pray and go. You see ain't shit happen to us."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. You need to just be careful. I was thinking about something though."

I pressed my foot on the gas more, picking up speed, as Theodore's car got on the freeway. Whoever was driving, was trying to lose us but I was right on these people. If they were to slam on their brakes, I'd go right through them. They aren't getting away from me without having to put up a fight first. "What'chu thinking about?"

"What if Theodore isn't in this car? What if it's somebody else?"

"Like who?"

"Like Nicole or Tee Tee. When we first pulled up at Cashmere's car, I saw the person putting on lipstick so it has to be a girl unless Theodore's wearing makeup now."

I smacked my lips. "Hell no he ain't."

"Well it has to be a girl, and the only two that's got it out for him are Nicole and Tee Tee. And it would make since that it's either one of them since all of this is going down at Cashmere's house. Who ever's involved, knows Theodore's family."

"So, what are you trying to say? Stop following them?"

"No, no," she shook her head. "We need to find somebody to go back into Cashmere's house because if Theodore's missing, he's either in that house or in this car we're chasing. We need to chase this car down but somebody needs to go back in that house to see what the fuck is going on."

I didn't even think about Theodore being trapped in the house. I've been too concerned about chasing this car and finding out who's inside to worry about Theodore actually being inside of the house. "I mean, I don't know. We might be on our own with this one Jaz. You know his family don't rock with us like that."

"I know they don't like us but they love Theodore and they're gonna do anything they can to find him," she said as she grabbed a hold of her phone that was sitting on top of her lap.

I don't know who she plans on calling, or who's number she has besides Miss. McDonald, because that's all I have. I don't fuck with King's old bastard ass, especially after he stabbed me in the face and threw me in the middle of the street. I can't stand that dog ass bitch. Lindsey and I aren't on the best of terms since I cut off all communication with her after our first date. Mr. Reed is too caught up in his own world to be concerned with anybody but himself, so that basically narrows it down to Isaiah and Adonis. Isaiah is really low key and quiet and I wouldn't mind calling him, it's Adonis who I can't stand. That nigga has had it out for me since way back when he came to visit California and him and Theodore set me up. He's a snake, if you ask me. I can't stand that nigga and I think he was only fucking Jaz while I was gone, to get under my skin. Because why else would anybody want Jazmine? She's my girl.

"I know you and Adonis don't get along," Jazmine mumbled as she searched through her list of contacts, as if he was actually supposed to have a saved number in her phone. "But Adonis is aggressive and will get shit done with a quickness."

"What about Isaiah?"

Jazmine shook her head. "Isaiah's for sure gonna come with Adonis but he doesn't do shit like this alone. Isaiah isn't mean and aggressive like the rest of them and he doesn't get involved with shit like this. He leaves it for Theodore and Adonis, mainly Adonis, since this is what he likes to do."

I decided not to start shit with Jazmine about that nigga but it sure seemed like she knew a lot about him. Nonetheless, I just nodded my head, agreeing so that she could call this nigga to find Theodore while I continued traveling behind this car. I don't know where they were going, but I put a full tank in this morning so I'm good to go anywhere and I'm prepared to fight if need be. I know I wasn't the best fighter before I got locked up but I had to learn when fights presented themselves in prison. I wasn't gonna bitch out, so I learned by my mistakes and by Bruce's teachings and I value what Bruce taught me about fighting. I mean, this nigga beat his wife and the nigga his wife was cheating with to death, so I'm sure he knows how to fight.

"Hey Donny," Jazmine sang, making me roll my eyes. I know she's not about to kiss this niggas ass with me sitting right beside her. "I-I know. Trust me, I don't even want to be call--yes, it's about your cousin but we think we know where he's at but we're not sure. It could either be two places. We're chasing after a car, where he might be now, but he could also be locked up in a house. We're not sure though," she rambled before pausing and rolling her eyes. "Don't worry about who the hell I'm with. If you're serious about finding your cousin then you need to stop getting distracted by meaningless shit. Get over the past and move on because I'm not thinking about you. We need to find Theodore. So, are you in or out?...Well, I'm glad you could comply. We think he's in Cashmere's house...yeah, Cashmere, Cashmere and I think Nicole and Tee Tee are involved. At least one of them is in this car we're chasing down and the other is still in the house. You need to go over to that house immediately and have back up with you in case some shit goes down...Why do you need to talk to him?...I don't give a damn."

Jazmine sucked her teeth and ended the call. I turned to her. "What the hel--" I was interrupted by the sound of my burner phone ringing. I kept my eyes on the road as I dug around in my pocket for my ringing phone. I snatched it out of my pocket before looking at it. I didn't recognize the number, but by the sound of Jazmine sighing, I knew she did. "What? This Adonis or something?"

I know Theodore told me to save Adonis' number in case of emergencies but I just don't like that nigga and how Theodore bought him in to replace me as soon as shit went bad between us. And I don't like the way Adonis acts like he runs shit around here or how he likes to throw out the fact that him and Theodore are related and I'm not. That shit hurts me. I know me and Theodore went through our shit in the past but that doesn't make us any less brothers than before. Him and Adonis barely got the same blood running through their veins. I gave Theodore my blood, so we're more related and have a closer relationship. Nonetheless, I answered this little bastard's call.

"What?" I answered, causing Adonis to chuckled.

"Damn. Now is that any way to talk to your boss?"

"You ain't my boss nigga and you know that. You're just the pimp that works with the prostitutes and tell them which dicks to suck. You don't do no real shit nigga, so don't gas yourself up. Why you calling my phone? Better yet, how'd your stalker ass even get my number?"

"Nigga," he laughed. "Don't let my cousin be dead, 'cause if he is then I'll be running shit. It ain't nothing to order a hit on you. The only thing stopping me now is Prince, but trust and believe, if something happened to him, I'm gonna take over and I'm gonna handle the business he neglected to finish in California years ago and that's gonna be killing your scrawny ass."

I rolled my eyes, taking a sharp right behind Theodore's car. "Yeah, whatever you say nigga. Why are you calling my phone? 'Cause if you ain't talking shit I wanna hear, I'm gonna hang up."

"Man, you and your bitch are exactly the same. Y'all talk too damn much. Instead of running y'all's mouths all the time, or shall I say you running your mouth and your girl running her mouth along every dick that she passes, y'all little bitches could learn a few things from listening. Me and Isaiah and the crew on our way over to Cashmere's house now but we got some other niggas that are gonna be used as back up for y'all. You know how Prince gave you the burner phone you're using now, well there's a tracking device in each phone. I'm gonna stay on the line with you so my guys can track where y'all at and help y'all out. I'm gonna put my phone on mute and you do the same thing. Do you think your brain has the capacity to handle that?"

I sucked my teeth. "Yeah, I think my brain has the capacity to handle it. I just hope you know, you're a piece of shit. Say what'chu want about me but don't say shit to my girl or about my girl and lose her fucking number. I don't fuck with you but all this stalling you doing, just running your mouth that's been all up in prostitutes p*ssies and asses, is gonna get your cousin killed. And if he dies, it's gonna be on you and I'm gonna be a snitch and make sure King knows that you had a helping hand in killing your cousin."

"Kiss my ass little nigga. I always knew you were a snitch but King wouldn't believe you if his life depended on it. Trust me. I'm now the only person who wants to kill you and yo bitch."

"She's a bitch but you were all up between my bitch's legs though, right? Yeah, 'cause she told me what you were doing," I lied. Jazmine didn't tell me shit about Adonis but for a nigga to be this butt hurt over a girl, they had to be fucking. "Stop running your mouth nigga and put your phone on mute." I'm sure he was still running his mouth but I didn't give a damn, I pulled my phone away from my ear and put him on mute before tossing my phone in my lap. Fuck Adonis and his bitch ass. I'm no snitch but I'm gonna tell Theodore what the fuck he been doing behind his back. Adonis ain't shit and he needs to be exposed.

Jazmine and I continued following behind Theodore's car and within five minutes, Theodore's crew traveled behind us but some even started to corner Theodore's car in. We were right behind the car and Theodore's crew was on each side of the car. One of the guys rolled down the back window and signaled for us to roll ours down, so Jazmine did.

"Fall back!" he yelled to Jazmine and I. "We got it from here!"

I gave them my thumbs up before pressing on the brakes. They continued right alongside Theodore's car, but the car on the right side eased over to the front while other cars completely surrounded the car cornering them in. Jazmine and I stayed back just watching the what was about to happen.

"What do you think they're gonna do?" Jazmine asked as we watched from afar.

I wasn't even able to respond before all of the cars came in on Theodore's car. The car in the back sped up, hitting Theodore's car from the back while the car in the front slammed on their brakes. I could see the person inside of Theodore's car body slam into the steering wheel. Their head slammed into the steering wheel, but their body stood no chance when both of the cars on the side slammed into each side of the car, finally stopping the car and possibly killing whoever was in the car and themselves as well. Theodore's men took a vow to protect him and their family like their life depends on it, and they did just that.

I wanted to see who was in this car, so Jazmine and I quickly jumped out of my car and ran up to the scene hundreds of feet in front of us. We eased our way through the mounds of cars that were crashed and surrounded Theodore's car but we couldn't get tot he driver's door because it was barricaded in by the cars surrounding it.

"Back up boys!" One of Theodore's men yelled.

Soon, the two cars on the side moved out of our way and so did the car in front but the car in the back never moved. Whoever was driving that car must have been killed on impact when he hit the back of the car, nonetheless, the driver of that car stopped whoever was in Theodore's car. Jazmine and I came up on the driver's side of the car and I wasn't shocked to see Nicole's dead body leaking blood and laid up against the steering wheel. I should've known she'd lead us on this high speed chase for twenty minutes.

I didn't give a damn about this bitch, and if she has something to do with Theodore missing, I'm sure Theodore won't care if she's dead. I mean, she wasn't doing shit for Princess no ways, so she's just a burden off of his shoulders. I pulled the back door of the car open and frowned when I didn't see Theodore. I was more than sure he'd be in the back of this car as fast as she was driving. Damn. He must still be in that house. I turned back to Theodore's crew, who were able to pop the trunk open with a crow bar.

"Is Prince in there?" I asked, but they shook their heads.

"Fuck," I mumbled.

If he's not in this car, then he has to be in that house. I just hope Adonis didn't fuck around for too long and miss his chance to save Theodore.

Isaiah



I led the way into the back of Cashmere's house, with Adonis right behind me and ten of the niggas that worked for me following behind us. There were more of my guys standing around the house, scoping the place out in case any shit went down so I wasn't scared to go in this house. I was just nervous about what I'd see going in here because as soon as I walked up to the back door, it smelled like death.

"What the fuck is that smell!" Adonis whispered as we stepped into the house but I quickly took a step back when I saw body parts spattered across the floor, right along side Cashmere's greasy ass body.

"I'm glad somebody killed his fat ass before I had to do it." I kicked Cashmere's body out of my way before we continued going deeper into the house. I really wanted to off this nigga as soon as I found out he cheated on Lindsey but I knew Lindsey would be pissed if I killed him. She was hurt about him cheating, but she'd be even more hurt if me and Theodore killed him and made him suffer like we wanted to months ago. "Y'all go through the rest of the house, me and Donny going upstairs. If y'all see any money, take it. If y'all see any drugs, take them. If y'all see any weapons, take them too."

Half the shit Cashmere had in this house came from us. He wouldn't have money if it wasn't for us and he wouldn't have any drugs to sell or use if it wasn't for us either. But besides us making this nigga everything he is today, I just wanted to degrade him even in death since he degraded and disrespected my sister when he was alive.

Adonis and I made our way upstairs, guns drawn and ready to attack whoever got in our way. We flipped the lights on in the house, illuminating the halls which showed all of the blood that was splattered against the walls. "Damn." I really hope these bitches didn't do anything to my brother. I know he likes to run his mouth, but I hope that didn't get him hurt.

Adonis and I pushed each door open we passed by but didn't see anything. We walked up to the master bedroom and tried opening the door but it was locked. "He's gotta be in here," I told Adonis as I put my back against the door and began kicking the door in. I kicked and kicked and kicked until the door broke off of it's hinges, revealing a bloody Theodore who was unconscious and strapped to the bed. With as much blood and cuts and bruises that he has on his body, I should've assumed he was dead but I could see his chest moving up and down. So he was breathing, which meant he was alive.

I sighed. I can't even imagine what happened here. He's bloody and naked and it looked like s*men was on his d*ck. I know these girls weren't in here taking advantage of him. I turned to Adonis, who was checking the closets to make sure nobody else was here. "Help me untie him." Adonis and I untied the ropes that held Theodore's arms and legs to the head board and foot of the bed. Theodore's limp body dropped down on the bed and as soon as it did, I grabbed a hold of him. I wrapped the covers he was laying on top of around his naked body before I carried him out of the room.

I can't believe these bitches tortured him. I carried him down the steps with the help of Adonis, and found my boys standing at the bottom of the steps with money, weapons and drugs in their hands waiting on us. Just seeing what these bitches did to my brother got me heated. I know Theodore likes to talk a bunch of shit, and sometimes I wanna sock him in the mouth myself, but he doesn't mean half the shit he talks. He's just a lost kid, trying to raise his daughter the best way he knows how to. He's been through a lot of shit but doesn't deserve half the things he's been through.

"Once we're out of here, light this bitch up and make sure every body is burned," I ordered.

Adonis and I carried Theodore out the house and a couple of my guys helped us put him in the backseat of Adonis' car. I knew my guys could handle this house and what went down here, so Adonis drove off while I sat in the backseat with Theodore.

"Should we take him to the hospital?" Adonis asked me but I quickly shook my head.

"No. We gotta take him to his house and call the doctor over. 'Cause if we take him to the hospital, the police might get involved and he was just there a few days ago. We gotta take him back to his house."

We were at Theodore's house within 20 minutes and Victoria ran out of the house as soon as we pulled up. I really didn't want her seeing Theodore because of the condition he was in. She'd start freaking out. Victoria and Theodore like to put on this act like they can't stand each other, but even though they can't stand each other, I know they love each other. And the two of them are constantly at odds because they're so much alike and their personalities clash.

"Where's my baby at? Is he okay?" she asked as we climbed out of the car but I made sure to stand in front of the back window so she couldn't see Theodore laying in the backseat. "Damn it Isaiah, say something."

"Aunt V, he's fine," Adonis spoke up. "But we need you to do us a favor before we bring him in the house."

"I gotta see my baby first. Is he in the backseat?"

I sighed. "Yes but you don't need to see him right now."

Her eyes widened. "Why? What happened to him? Is he hurt?" she kept questioning us as she tried to get around me but I wasn't budging.

"Look, Victoria, you wasting time. I need you to go inside and get the doctor over here immediately. We think he's fine but we don't know what them bitches did to him or how long he's been unconscious. You gotta go call the doctor now and make sure nobody is downstairs!"

"Okay, okay. I'm gonna call!" she yelled as she ran back into the house and Adonis and I took that as our opportunity to sneak him into the house without anybody seeing him.

I grabbed the upper portion of his body and Adonis grabbed his legs before we hurried into the house with his body. Luckily, nobody was downstairs but I could hear concerned voices upstairs so I knew they'd be down any minute now. Our family just can't seem to follow any rules. Adonis and I took Theodore down to the basement so that the doctor could check him out once he got here. Theodore had an office space set up down here, so we laid him back on the couch just as Grandpa came jogging down the steps.

"Y'all find him?"

"Yeah."

I stepped to the side so he could see Theodore and as soon as he got a glimpse of his body, he shook his head. "Who was it? Was it Mya's folks?" Grandpa asked.

"Nah, it was his baby moms."

Grandpa sucked his teeth. "See, I told that nigga to off her and her sister months ago, before shit even got too serious with them."

"Nah, he shouldn't have even bought them out here with us. He should've let them rot in California with the rest of the niggas we left there."

"And he should've left that nigga Aubrey and that bitch Jazmine to rot in Cali too," Adonis added.

I didn't say anything to him though. I heard him going back and forth with the both of them on the way to Cashmere's house. Whatever he had going on with Jaz, he needs to let go and just move on like she did. I know he probably has a few feelings for her since they've been messing around the past five years and it's making him jealous seeing her with Aubrey, but damn. He needs to do better. I don't even know why he's still so hung up on that girl. Compared to us, she's just a girl. She's barely 23 while Adonis is almost 10 years older than her, and me and Lindsey aren't too far behind. He needs to start dealing with women around his age if he wants something real.

Part of me feels some type of way about Aubrey and Jazmine being around more but Jazmine has never done anything to intentionally hurt our family. She wouldn't hurt us because she's basically family. And as much shit as Aubrey and Theodore been through, he's basically family. He lost a lot of my respect a few years ago but he earned it back since he's been down here and it's time everybody gave them a break. They're not gonna do anything to hurt us but they still need to be watched.

The doctor was downstairs in no time checking Theodore out to see what happened to him. I took the seat across from where the doctor was working on him and watched as the doctor hooked him up to all kinds of machines, I guess to pump some life back into him. He was alive and breathing but we needed him to be conscious because we had so much more to do like take care of Jayvion for Victoria, capture Banga and his crew but most importantly, we needed to figure out a way to take down Mya's family and steal their cartel away from them and it needs to be more than Adonis and I working on all of that. We need Theodore.

Mya



"You know, I could get in trouble for being down here with you," Precious told me as she tended to my wounds.

Those women working for my Dad beat my ass days ago but they've been back down here to beat my ass every single day. It's like they're timed with the sun or something. Every morning when the sun is coming up, I'm expecting somebody to come down here and unchain me from the wall but it's just those women carrying out my Dad's orders. They beat my ass every single morning when the sun is coming up but after they beat my ass, they leave me chained to the wall, gasping for life.

Other than getting my ass beat on a daily basis, I'm stuck down here in the dark by myself. I haven't even been untied to go to the bathroom. I tried holding it in but I just couldn't anymore so I knew I smelled horrible. Luckily, Precious has been down here a few times a day to clean me up and give me something to eat but that's only when she can come down here. Most days, some of Daddy's guys are guarding the door so nobody can help me. I know this because I see their feet under the basement door and I can hear them talking and laughing. I don't know how Precious is able to sneak down here everyday, but I'm glad she comes.

Well, part of me is glad she comes. The other part of me is pissed at her for actually dragging me down here and helping Imani and Marquis tie me up. I'm pissed at Marquis for going along with Daddy's plan to ruin me too. I know the two of them will do anything to please him and won't ever go against him, that's why I'm so shocked. Marquis isn't a bad guy. He just got caught up in Daddy's madness and it's turned him into somebody he's not. I didn't even recognize him when he fought Theodore or when he beat my ass. I know that's just Daddy getting in his head. The only person I'm not too shocked about is Imani though. She'll do anything she can to get rid of me. She'll probably be glad when I finally die down here, which will probably happen soon since I keep getting my ass beat every day.

My face was swollen and was all busted up, but I managed to open my mouth to respond to her. "You tied me up," I cried with a hoarse voice. "Y-You could've stopped this."

Precious sighed as she dabbed at the dried blood that was covering my sore nose. I don't know if it's broken but it sure feels like it. It's like those girls working for Daddy were purposely aiming at my face. Precious' eyes widened. "Is your nose broken?" she rhetorically asked. She took a step back and examined my nose that hurt to even breath out of it. It had to be broken by the amount of pain I was in.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It feels like it. They were purposely hitting me in the face."

Precious sighed as she stepped back towards me and finished cleaning the blood off of my body. "It's probably because they're jealous of you."

If I could've rolled my eyes, I would have. The only two reasons I didn't were because I needed Precious down here to help clean me up and feed me and because my eyes were too swollen and bruised and in too much pain to roll. I'm so damn tired of Mama and Precious always thinking somebody is jealous of me. That's not the reason. Those bitches just don't like me because of what Daddy's told them about me and because Daddy's paying them to beat my ass. Why would they be jealous of me when I'm tied up getting my ass beat by three big bitches everyday? I'm sure nobody is envious of me.

"They're not."

"They are. I always hear them talking to Dad about how you think you're so cute and how they wish they could just fuck up your face and your body, just to knock you off of your high horse. That's why they come down here every single morning because they're jealous of you and taking out their anger on you. The sad part is, Daddy gave them to OK to do it."

When she said that, more tears started streaming down my cheeks. I know my Dad is a bad person and will stoop low just to get his way but I didn't think he'd go this far and let a trio of hood rats get out their hatred for me by bashing my face in. He's horrible and I wish I would've just cut ties with my family when I had the chance to when I first moved into that new house with Theodore. They didn't know where we moved until I told them. I should've just burned my car, pretended like I got burned up in it and just started a new life with Theodore without them in it. I hate my family.

"P-Precious, I need your help."

She sighed. "Goldie, you know I can't. Daddy would kill me."

"But what about me?" I cried. "Am I just supposed to stay in this basement and get my ass beat for the rest of my life? I wanna leave Precious, please! I need your help."

"You know I can't help you Goldie. You're the only person that can help yourself."

I cried even harder because I was just so frustrated. I felt like I was stuck in between a rock and a hard place. I knew the only way to free myself from the basement would be to join the family business, which meant eventually having to take over Prince's business. And Daddy's so ruthless, he'll make me kill Prince and Princess and I can't do that. I love the two of them, and they've shown me more love and respect that my whole family has my entire life. But then if I don't join the family business, then I'm really screwed. I'll be forced to stay down here for the rest of my life, malnourished and getting beaten on a daily basis. I'm screwed either way.

My heart rate sped up when I heard the basement door opening. Precious wasn't supposed to be down here, so she took off running to a dark corner of the basement to hide. I watched as the door opened and Daddy's guys walked down the steps with a huge garbage bag but it was moving. I was scared. I know Daddy is known to do some pretty crazy things, and if he can let people take advantage of me with him knowing, then he'll be able to do something crazy to me. What if he brings some dogs down here to maul me to convince me to join the family business.

I watched on in terror as the guys stopped at the middle of the steps, but I don't know why. I figured they'd just walk down here with the bag but they didn't. Instead, they tossed the bag down the remainder of the steps and let what was in it crash into the concrete wall right beside me.

"Well, well, well," Clyde, one of Daddy's workers, walked up to me with a grin on his face. "Looks like you don't be alone anymore little girl. You've got company now."

I turned away from him and looked down at the garbage bag that wasn't moving as quickly as it was before. I know it can't be a dog because it would've been barking so it has to be a person. The other guy untied the bag, making my heart stopped. Banga rolled out of the bag, weak, covered in blood and still wearing his hospital gown. They must have ripped him from his hospital bed. Clyde and the other guy left Banga laying in the ground in a pool of his own blood just as I saw Precious creeping up the steps while their backs were turned. Wow. So much for her helping me.

"You two have fun down here," they laughed as they walked upstairs and locked the door, leaving Banga and I alone.

I thought Banga was weak, too weak to pull himself up off of the ground, and he was. He struggled to get off of the ground and used the wall for support as he limped over to me. Banga walked up to me and leaned against the wall to hold his limp body up as he looked me up and down.

"I really can't believe they left me down here with you," he smirked as he limped over in front of me. He used one hand to hold himself against the wall and the other to begin ripping the clothes away from my body but I wanted him to stop. "Look, don't be scared. It'll be just like old times when you were being too sadity to give it up to me. I'mma just have to get some p*ssy my own way."

I wanted to defend myself but I just couldn't fight him back. My arms and legs were tied to the wall so I was useless. And it's not like I could scream to get somebody's attention. The basement is soundproof, and even if it wasn't, I've been screaming for days. Nobody would come down here because nobody cares, not even my own family. They set me up. They knew Banga would do this to me.

"Banga, please stop. Don't do this," I protested as Banga took advantage of my clothes that were already ripped and hanging off of my body. He didn't even have to use any force to rip off my clothes but it still hurt as the cool air of the basement brushed against my open wounds as soon as he ripped my clothes off, leaving me completely naked and vulnerable. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched him turn his hospital gown around so the open part was on the front of his body. "Please stop," I cried but he didn't care.

The forceful punch Banga sent to the side of my mouth proved useless to the multiple beatings I've already gotten. It still hurt though, but not as badly as it hurt when he wedged himself between me and the wall and forcefully pushed himself inside of me, making me scream out.

"Shut the fuck up!" he barked, covering my mouth with his hand.

He was concealing my screams and pleas for him to stop like he'd normally do when he'd take advantage of me but that didn't stop the tears from pouring out of my eyes. I felt useless and I was hopeless at this point. There's no way I'll be able to get around my father's wrath, so I might just have to go against my morals and join the business in order to save myself.

I just hope Theodore forgives me.

Lindsey



It had been three days since Adonis and Isaiah bought Theodore's body back to his house. Three days since Jazmine and Aubrey helped kill off Nicole. Three days since we got news of Tee Tee, Dylan and Cashmere being dead. And three days of me and the rest of the family sitting around Theodore's house, waiting on him to wake up. I don't know why he hasn't woken up yet. The doctor doesn't tell me anything and since everybody is so tense, I haven't been able to ask what's going on. All I know is that the doctor keeps saying he's going to wake up soon and that he isn't in a coma. But if that's the case, he should've woken up days ago.

"You think Daddy's gonna get up today?" Princess asked me as I placed the band aid on her leg since I had just given her, her shot. I had been giving her, her shot for the past few days since me and Theodore are the only ones that know how to do it and since we're the only ones Princess trusts enough to do it. "Because I really wanna see him."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know baby. Nobody tells me anything."

"Me either," she mumbled. "Hey! Do you think we could sneak downstairs?"

"You know Grandma is always down there. She won't let us sneak in," I told her. Ever since Adonis and Isaiah bought Theodore back a few days ago, Mama's spent all of her days in the basement with him. She sleeps down there, eats down there, uses the bathroom down there, everything. She hasn't left his side since he's been back, which is a shocker since the two of them don't have the best relationship.

"Grandma sees everything and she'll catch us," Princess replied.

"You're right. You know what, I'm gonna go down there and see what's going on."

"Can I come?"

"No, but I'll come back for you though. I promise. Just stay up here."

I walked out of Princess' room and decided to go downstairs and see what's going on with Theodore myself since nobody will tell me what's going on. I passed through the hallways and went down the basement steps. The door to the room Theodore was in was slightly open, so I knew Mama had to be sitting in there with them. Once my feet hit the last step, I was just about to push the door open but stopped when I noticed something strange.

Theodore was sitting up on the couch talking to Mama, as if he hasn't been unconscious the past few days. If he's able to talk and communicate, why can't he come upstairs? Why hasn't anybody said anything about him being awake? Or better yet, why hasn't he seen his daughter if he's up and able to talk to Mama? I didn't bother going in. I stood at the door so I could hear what they're talking about since they're clearly keeping secrets from everybody.

"Baby, I know you wanna leave and you're tired of being down here everyday but I just want you to heal and get better and based on what you've been up to lately, you can't do that. Within a weeks' time, you've been shot, got into a big fight and then you got kidnapped and got the life choked out of you by Cashmere. I really think you need to slow down, and the only way you can do that is by staying down here and laying low until you're ready to go out."

Theodore sucked his teeth. "So I'm just supposed to be hiding in my basement like a little bitch? That's not me Mama."

"Look, watch your mouth. I know it's not like you but what you've been doing lately isn't helping you, so you have to change up your ways. You know, do something new so protect your life because Princess can't grow up without a father. She needs you."

"I know my baby needs me but how am I supposed to be in her life if I'm locked down here all day everyday? And ain't even like I'm out chasing danger or nothing. My stupid ass friends took my daughter and didn't say shit, therefore, I had to go out looking for her and Cashmere snuck me. That's all."

"I get that, but you should've told somebody you were going to his house so you could've had backup. You went in there alone and you weren't protected. That's why you got snuck, because you were being irresponsible and careless."

"I was protected," he corrected her.

"But you didn't use your protection. You let Cashmere's fat ass take control of you. He could've killed you."

Theodore shrugged his shoulders. "Then he would've killed me. If he killed me, then it was clearly my time to go."

"And Princess?"

"She would've been set for the future."

Mama shook her head. "Yeah, that sounds so smart," she sarcastically replied. "Look, I really don't care what happened in the past. I want you to recover and stop being so damn careless because you're not only risking your life, but everybody in this family too."

Theodore scrunched up his face. "My family doesn't give a damn."

"Your family spent the entire night looking for Princess and then the very next day looking for your dumb ass. If nobody cared, they would've stayed up in this house and continued on with their lives."

"Like you and Pops? I know y'all ain't leave."

"Actually he did leave."

"And you?"

"I stayed here in case you or Princess came back. Look, don't try to turn this back on me like I'm in the wrong. I'm just trying to protect you, that's why I have a friend of mine coming over to talk to you later today."

"You don't even have any friends Mama."

Mama sighed. "Actually, I do."

Theodore scrunched up his face. "No offense Mama but I really don't want to be around none of your boujee friends. If anything, you need to be calling Milan looking for her because I haven't seen or heard from her in months. And I know for a fact that she would've been over here if she knew I was hurt. So, that's what you can do for me. You can call up my woman."

I scrunched up my face. His woman? What the hell is he talking about? I knew he and Milan had a close relationship and started spending a lot of time together over the years, but I just assumed that was because they were extremely close in age. I'd always check him for starring at her titties and ass for too long, but he's a man, so I can't expect anymore from him since Isaiah was doing the exact same thing. But he is right in one sense though. I haven't seen or heard from Milan in months. She's normally at all of our family get together or she's just around in general, but I haven't seen her and I know Mama and Daddy have something to do with her disappearance.

Mama reached over and smacked him upside the head, something that caught me off guard. "I sent that bitch away."

Theodore frowned. "Why? I didn't tell you to."

"You didn't have to. That little bitch corrupted my family and she corrupted you. I run this family and I didn't want her stepping in trying to ruin what I created, so it was her time to go."

"You're really jealous of Milan and it's sad," Theodore chuckled. "Ion know why you so jealous of a chick that's younger than your daughter. You know Pops didn't want her, that's why I took her off of his hands and I did it for you, so Pops can crawl back to you. Why don't you just busy yourself with Pops while I busy myself with Milan?"

"Oh, I'm sure you've already done that. I can't believe what you've been doing behind your father's back."

Theodore shrugged his shoulders. "It wasn't behind his back. It was in front of his face, in his bathroom, in his kitchen, in his cars and my favorite spot was in his bed. He should've known what was going on between us because it was obvious. He was just oblivious to it all because his head was shoved so far up y--"

"Don't even say it," Mama cut him off, rolling her eyes. "You were screwing that hooker in your father's bed?"

"Milan isn't a hooker and I wish you wouldn't say that about her. I know she came around at a bad time but Milan isn't a bad person, and you'd know that if you got to know her. She didn't know about you and the family and Milan has done nothing but try to get to know you and the rest of the family."

"She's gotten to know you pretty well though."

"Well, I had a helping hand with that," he smirked.

I jumped a little when I saw Mama smack him upside the head again. "Shut up. I don't want to hear about you sleeping with her anymore. Better yet, I want you to stop reaching out to her because she's going to be gone for a very long time. You won't be hearing or seeing from Milan ever again, so you can just get her out of your head. I don't even know why you'd go behind your father's back with her. I mean, look at her! She's a slut and she has nothing else to offer besides opening her legs and laying on her back for a father and his son. Milan has had ill intentions since she got involved with our family. If it was up to me, I would've killed that bitch my damn self."

"Why would you wanna do that? Milan went to school and had a legit job until she got caught up with the likes of you and Pops, but that's all gonna change in a few months. You're gonna have to get used to Milan and having her around because she's pregnant with your grandchild."

~~~

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How do you guys feel about this chapter? Should Aubrey and Jaz be trusted or has Aubrey earned his loyalty? How do you guys feel about Aubrey and Jazmine chasing after Nicole? How do you guys feel about Nicole being killed? Were they wrong to kill her? Is Adonis jealous of Aubrey? How do you guys feel about Isaiah and Adonis finding Theodore and burning down Cashmere's house? How do you guys feel about what Goldie's family is doing to her? Did they purposely put Banga in the basement with her to take advantage of her? What is Mya's family going to do with Banga or is he going to be apart of their plan to convince Mya to join the family business? How do you guys feel about Victoria making Theodore stay downstairs to heal? Should he be hiding out? How do you guys feel about Lindsey knowing about Milan and Theodore's relationship? How do you guys feel about Milan being pregnant? Is it Teddy or Prince's baby she's pregnant with? Where is Milan?