21. Closer than Kin
Leah
Pulling up outside of the Ellis home, I looked over at PJ as he adjusted his hoodie and shook my head. “What are you doing, PJ? I told you not to come.” “I gotta see what's going on with my family." "They don't even know you're not dead!" "You gotta point. Shit, they'll be okay." He shrugged hopping out as I hastily followed him to the door. Walking in, we heard a bunch of commotion coming from the living room and chased the sound. “And you have no idea who’d wanna hurt you, Tyler?” Anthony, Sr. questioned staring at his son. “Not at all, Pop.” “I think I may know who.” PJ perked standing in the entrance of the house as everyone stared at us in shock.
“Erika!” Mr. Ellis exclaimed as she slumped passing out. Cooling her down, she quickly recovered staring back over at us in disbelief as Peyton slowly approached. "PJ?" "It's me, Ma." He smiled as they all three shared in a tearful hug. Leaning up, she squeezed him close one more time before leaning back and slapping him full on across the cheek. "Damn, Ma!" "DON’T YOU EVER IN YOUR FUCKING LIFE SCARE ME LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN!!! Do you know how much hurt I went through having to bury you and you sitting here in my goddamn face like this shit sweet?!?! Boy, I will fucking end you!!!!" She ranted and raved continuing to smack and pop him all over as he whined in pain. "Owwww, Ma! I'm sorry!" "Don't! You! Neva! Eva! Do! That! Again! You hear me? Neva! A! Gain!" She nagged as Peyton, Sr. watched smirking at their comical reunion. Nodding quickly, he scooped her in the air in yet another tight hug.
"Ok, Mama Ellis. I think he's had enough." I smiled breaking up the lecture. "Can we get back to more important matters here? Jackie's baby is missing. Now when did all this happen?" PJ chastised pointing between Jackie and Tyler as he got into protective mode. "When you 'died'. Now quit fucking playing around and tell me who has my damn baby?" Jackie sneered crying as Tyler held her back. "Quentin." "What? That nigga wouldn't dare try us like that!" "Oh, you really thought he was gonna be cool after losing her to you? He been running game on y'all. He also was apart of cousin Andre's team." "What?! How do you know all this?" "While I was ‘dead’, I did some research of my own. Andre not only had Kolita's bitch ass ex working for him, but Jackie's man Q was also apart. And get this... Lover boy was getting all his intel from his girlfriend. Your little sweetheart, Kaila.” Watching Tyler fume in his spot, he shot up off the couch snatching away from Jackie as he grabbed his Glock and ran out of the house. “You guys stop him! I can’t lose him too!!!” She cried as I sat and comforted her.
Kaila
“Aye, where you want me to put this?” I questioned looking down at the pink clothes as their little girl sat in the corner whimpering and crying. "I don't care, just shut that little bitch up." Quentin sneered as he cleaned his gun. Sighing, I walked over to her as she got scared before picking her up. "Hey, it's ok. You want something to eat?" "Mama." She sniffled wiping her eyes as we walked into the dingy, molded kitchen of the safe house. "It's ok, sweetie. Mama's just going on a little vacation, ok?" I said watching her nod as I passed her a popsicle from the freezer.
You think I want to be involved in this bullshit??? HELL NO!!! I just want this all to be over with so I can get back home to my child. After my last encounter with Anthony's crazy ass, I decided to move. Pick up and start fresh far away from him, you know? Nope. I ended up meeting Quentin on Tinder and everything was good at first until I saw he was dating Jackie as well. I tried leaving him and that's when the abuse started. Every time I threatened to leave or report him, I was hit with death threats, abuse, and plenty of gas lighting. One day I decided I'd had enough and I left him for good or so I thought. I found out I was pregnant with our son shortly after and I decided to try letting him be a dad, but that has quickly turned into more bullshit. That's when he came to me with this scheme about kidnapping and all this other bullshit. Sad thing is, I can't just up and leave again because he's now threatening to take my baby, Micah... But this shit has gone too far.
Jackie
Looking over pictures of my Jeneva, I cried more and more thinking about the dangers she could be facing. "It's gonna be ok, baby, I promise." Mama Tati cooed holding me as Tyler had went out with the second search party. "I just don't know how I could have let this happen, Mama." "Hey, don't say that. There was no way of knowing this could possibly happen, Jackie. We are just going to pray that God makes a way to return her home safe and sound, ok?" Nodding, I hugged her and cried some more before hearing my phone dinging. Looking down at the notification, I swallowed hard before getting up and heading out of the house.
Pulling up to address provided in the message, I got out of my car and shivered in the winter chill watching my surroundings. Seeing a white car roll up, I tensed up clenching my gun as I watched her get out of the car. “You have the fucking nerve of the world right now.” “Look, I know how it seems, Jackie.” “YOU KNOW HOW IT SEEMS?!?! You helped take my child! MY BABY!!!!” “He’s threatening to kill me and take my son, Jackie! What else can I do?!” Kaila screamed on the brink of tears as I finally saw a tinge of sincerity and despair in all the years I’ve known her. “What are you talking about?” “Quentin has been abusing me for the past two years. I’ve been trying to get out of his reach for a long time but he’s been threatening mine and our son’s life so until I can come up with the resources to take him out, I’m stuck following his order.” “I don’t fucking believe you. And even if I did, what does that have to do with me?” “He doesn’t fucking want me, Jackie. He loves you. They all love you.” She sighed in anguish as she cried. “When I found out that Quentin was messing with you, I felt so… so low. Like once again, I’m resorted to being the second option to Jackie fucking Wills, so I tried to leave and he decides to start hitting and beating me. When you two broke up, the beatings got worse because he felt like you were the prize and I was the trash. It slowed down when I got pregnant with our son, but now that he’s here his beatings have now come with threats. Threats to take our son away from me and kill me if I try to stop him. Since he can’t have you, he’s not gonna stop until all is right in his head.”
Listening to her tearful speech, I spotted genuineness in her tone, but she still couldn’t be trusted. Raising my gun, I cocked it as she shook her head in exhaustion. “This is a trick. You don’t have sympathy for anyone, Kaila, you never have. I should shoot you where you stand for the way you’ve treated me.” “Jackie, she’s in the backseat.” She rushed out with her hands in the air. “Prove it.” I spat with venom. Backing up slowly, she hesitantly opened the back door and fidgeted with one hand before I saw her grab Jeneva and place her down on her feet. Crying in joy, I watched her waddle over to me and I quickly scooped her up still watching Kaila. “Oh my baby. I missed you so much.” “Mama, nice titi.” She cooed leaning on my shoulder and pointing at Kaila. “Why are you being nice all of a sudden.” “Because I know he’s gonna eventually kill me and I have no more fight left.” “What about your son?” “I have no choice, Jackie. He’s going to take Micah and I can’t stop him.” “You won’t have to…”
Tyler
Riding in the car with Kaiden, PJ, Pops, and Mr. Kassius, we pulled up to ole boy’s house and hopped out surrounding different parts of the house before sneaking in. Checking my areas and also keeping an eye out for my baby girl, I silently cocked my silencer in preparation for any back up before I heard his maniacal laughter. “Give it up, mothafucker. You ain’t never getting your baby back.” Turning the corner, I met face to face with his deranged glare as he smiled on evilly. “Where is she?” “Where is she? God you sound so fucking weak. I don’t know what Jackie sees in your wired ass.” “I could say the same for you. Look at you trotting around here like you big shit. You a clown, Quentin.” “I’m the same clown that was dropping your girl last year too.” He smirked as I clenched my jaw.
“What?” “Oh you ain’t know, playboy? Did you ever think to ask Jackie about what happened that night in the dungeon?” “The fuck are you talking about?” “Oh the big bad wolf is quiet all of a sudden??? You quiet, but Jackie was loud as fuck that night. It felt so good hearing her cries and screams as I did what I did. She didn’t even know it was me.” Closing my eyes for a second, I glared back at him as he chuckled on before raising my gun. “Go ahead, nigga. We already got your bitch ass daughter so if you kill me that’s on yo ass.” Feeling my phone vibrate I looked down and saw the one message I been waiting on.
Wifey💋👅: Baby girl, safe and sound. Green light
“You win.” “What?” “You win, Quentin. I clearly don’t know what the fuck I’m doing and if I don’t bring this baby home, Jackie isn’t going to stay around. So you win.” “I don’t believe yo ass. You would never fucking give up that easy.” He said doubtfully as he stared trying to see if I was genuine. “I’m tired of fighting yo ass, Quentin. I’m done. You fucking win.” I said placing my gun on the ground.” “What you must take me for some kinda fool?!” “Not at all…” “But I do.” PJ said before emptying the clip of his silencer through Quentin. Watching him slump down to the ground, I picked up my gun and checked his dying pulse before popping off two in his head. “You win.”
Pulling back up to the crib, we got out the car and headed up the driveway as the front door opened and Jeneva came sprinting out to me. “Dada!” “Ohhhh, my baby girl!” I cried holding her tight as Jackie walked out in tears joining the hug. “My babies. I never wanna lose you guys ever again.” “Me either, Ty.” Kissing her forehead, I slowly and silently lowered down to one knee as all our family stood in joy and excitement. “Oh my god!” “I’ve been holding this moment in for a long time and I think now more than ever is the perfect time to show you how much I truly love, appreciate, and care for you. I don’t ever wanna part from you. You’re my best friend, my family, so I think it’s about time I made it official. Jacqueline Amelia Monique Wills, will you marry me?” Full on sobbing, she finally noticed everyone recording and smiling before hugging Jenny closer and nodding rapidly. “Yes!”
