a little over a week later...
April 25th, 2016
Mo

"Korie, I been calling and texting you for three days straight now with no answer or reply. You not that damn busy to the point you can't answer the phone for yo' pregnant ass girlfriend— nah fuck that! Wife! Answer the phone before I cut that trip real short." I snatched the phone off my ear and pressed the red button, ending the hundredth voicemail I'd left.

I rubbed my stomach, coaching myself by breathing in and out at a steady pace. I was having these sharp pains in my lower back and my side, and they've been paining me on and off for the last three days. That's why I was so bent up about Korie not answering the phone, and I have every right to be because that's no way to treat the woman that's pregnant with, and taking care of, his children.

And I have no problem taking care of Lyric because she is now my daughter, blood or not. I just don't see how he expects me to do all of this alone, being that I'll be eight months pregnant in just a few days.

I swung both legs off the bed, beginning to stand, but I quickly bent over placing my balled up fists firmly into the mattress. I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth and bit on it, trying my best to hold in my groans. I watched as Lyric stirred around in her sleep, and I was hoping she didn't wake up. It's already been hard getting her to sleep at night because she's not used to us staying at a hotel, and especially not for this long, and on top of that, she hasn't seen or spoken to Korie.

Once the pain subsided, I walked over to my cell phone on the nightstand and FaceTimed Khadijah.

The phone rang and rang with no answer, I blew out a breath and rubbed my temples as I ended the call. Sliding into my slippers, I crept to the connecting door right across the room, I gave it a few knocks and waited for an answer.

"Everything alright?" Trinity pulled the door open, stained tears evident on her cheeks.

After everything that transpired last week, everybody was shook. Nobody knew what was coming next, so the guys decided to get us out of dodge, somewhere secluded and out of the mix. We knew what everything was leading to, but we didn't know what the full outcome would be. Dijah, Trinity, the babies, Lyric, and I have been staying at this decked out hotel in Wisconsin for the time being. They wanted us to be somewhere further, but considering the fact that I was way too pregnant to travel anywhere far, we had to go to the closest out of the way spot.

Since finding out that Reem was killed, Trin has been to herself, she doesn't want to talk about how she feels, in fact no one even knows her real feelings about the situation because she shut everyone out. But could you blame her? No, and that's why I won't. I just have to stand by her and be her shoulder to cry on whenever she needs it, because she would do the same for me.

"I need to run and check on Dijah and the boys, would you be able to keep an eye on Lyric until I come back? She's sleeping right now, but she might wake up. If she does, just lay next to her and rub her head for a minute and she'll go right back to sleep." I leaned over and squeezed my eyes shut, because the pain I was feeling was beginning to become unbearable.

"Sure," she furrowed her eyebrows and looked over my posture, "you good there?"

"No, we might have to leave because I think these are contractions." I whispered, hearing Lyric shuffling around. "I'll be back as soon as I see what's up with D."

She nodded her head and walked over to the bed sliding in beside Lyric.

"Are you okay, Trin?" I bit the inside corner of my lip and fidgeted with my fingers.

She propped her head up on her fist as she laid on her side looking through me— not at me, but through me. No words came out as she parted her lips to speak, but the sudden shake of her head and flush of the face let me know.

"I love you, and I'm so sorry this happened to you— to Reem." I knew she wasn't up for talking about it, so I left it at that and grabbed the room key to Dijah's room and quietly left the room.

"What the fuck?" My feet moved faster than my body as I tried to get to the door.

The twins' cries could be heard half-way down the hall. This is the very reason I jumped up to come to this room, something just felt off. I knew it was a reason I had stayed up, something in my spirit just wouldn't allow me to rest.

I waved the plastic card in front of the magnetic lock on the door, once the light switched from red to green, I pushed the door open and flipped the light switch on.

"Khadijah!" I yanked the covers from her body, my blood boiling once I saw her covering her head with a pillow. "What the hell is wrong with you! The babies are crying, their diapers are hanging halfway off, bottles empty!" I picked one of the boys up and laid him on the changing pad attached to their crib.

"It's okay, fat-man." I cooed as Reign continued to cry, his little face was even turning red from screaming so much.

I turned my head to get a glimpse at Khadijah, expecting her to be getting herself together to grab Symere. But that's the opposite of what she was doing, she had her knees balled up to her stomach and the pillow still over her head.

Once getting the boys all cleaned up, fed, and burped I laid them down and quietly watched as they drifted to sleep, snuggled close to each other.

"Get up!" I forcefully pulled the pillow from her grip as she jumped up looking crazy. "What is going on with you! This is the second time I've come to your room and the twins have been crying."

She blew out a breath and ran her hand through her hair, glancing over at the sleeping boys. I could see the guilt in her eyes as she tried to avoid looking at me, she knew I was pissed.

"Hello? Why are you tuning them out?You are putting them in danger by not tending to them, you keep this room dark, and you're not yourself! You have not one, but two babies that need you so it's time to put on your big girl panties and tighten up!" My nostrils flared as the words flew from my tongue like daggers.

It might've sounded harsh, but it's what she needed to hear, I couldn't sugarcoat a situation as serious as this one. When it comes to the safety of these helpless children, I have to be ten toes behind them because they can't help themselves, and they didn't ask to be here.

"I can't do this all alone, Monique! I'm not the only one responsible for them, it feels like I'm alone. I don't have anyone, I have two brand new babies and no one is here to support me! I can't sleep, and when I do it's a deep sleep for maybe an hour or two, you think I want to ignore my babies!"

"I'm not about to throw you a pity party because no matter what the situation is you have to be there for them as long as you live. It's the unwritten code of motherhood, those," I pointed to the crib, "are your creations, you stuck for life."

"I'm a horrible mom already," she shook her head and placed her fist on her head, "I'm not good enough."

She began to breathe heavily, as her hands shook. She was having a panic attack. And while I was trying to keep her calm and make sure the babies didn't wake, I had to push through these painful ass sharp pains.

It took a minute for me to calm her down and get her to explain to me how she was feeling. Once she began exposing what she was experiencing, it was no doubt in my mind that she was going through postpartum depression. Inability to sleep, no appetite, fear of not being a good mother, creating anxiety and panic attacks.

"I'll help, anytime you need me to. All you have to do is ask D."

"Girl you could go into labor any minute now, I can't put that type of responsibility on you. I need the father of my kids to be here, like he's supposed to." She kicked her sandals around as we sat on the edge of the bed talking.

"I've actually been having— these sharp pains in my side and my back." I winced mid-sentence, due to a sudden sharp pain.

"When did they start?"

"Few days ago, I just thought i was stressed after all that crazy shit went down. Speaking of, have you talked to Korie or Trey?" I yawned and wrapped the throw blanket around my body tighter.

"I talked to Trey, he keeps saying they'll be back soon, and they're just handling business. But I'm far from a fool, I know exactly what they're doin', and if he does anything that jeopardizes his kids' future with him I'll never forgive him." She propped the bottle up in Reign's mouth, blinking away her tears.

Looking over her children that they made together, I couldn't even fathom them living a life without their father, I couldn't imagine Dijah without Trey.

"Don't even think like that," I leaned back in the bed getting comfortable, "you know Trey puts his family before this street shit."

"Does he?" She retorted.

"Yes." I tilted my head and forcefully shut my eyes. "Oooooh, I am in so much pain right now." I threw the cover from around my shoulders and stood up.

"Is it contractions?"

"I don't know, its— a piercing pain in my right side and lower back. I'm hot as hell right now." I began to fan myself as I paced the floor.

"We gotta get you back home, I gotta call Korie." She rushed for her cellphone.

"I've been calling him, he hasn't been answering I'll just have to go without him because I think this baby is coming. I'm getting dizzy, and it's getting hotter by the minute, my pelvic area is throbbing in pain. But my water hasn't even broke yet." I panted.

"He needs to be here!" She tried calling him again.

Omniscient
Trey, Korie, Mark, and Antoine.
12:39 a.m.

"I think that's them right there loading up that van." Antoine spoke as the four of them watched from afar in their truck.

"It very well may be them, but we don't move until we get the green light." Trey flicked his hand, ashing the blunt that was being rotated between them.

"I say we take out the workers before they even go to hit their corners." Antoine insisted.

"I say we don't," Trey took another pull from the blunt, "we do that, that will give him time to run or get one up on us, we wait until we see the nigga we came for, that's the plan." Trey ended it there, ceasing all conversation.

Forty minutes had passed by, they were beginning to think the man they were looking for, wasn't showing himself tonight.

The constant vibrating of a phone had caught Trey's attention, he looked around the car wondering who had their phone on them.

"Who the fuck brought they cellphone?"

"Shit, that's mine it's in the back in one of the duffles."

"Silence that shit Twan." Trey passed the blunt over to Korie. "You know not to bring yo' phone, so nobody could track it."

"It's Mo, you should probably answer this." Twan slid the phone across the armrest.

Korie grabbed the cellphone, guilt building up in his stomach. He knew he was wrong for continuously ducking Mo's calls and texts, but he was in his work zone, and Korie was always one for keeping his family out of the street drama. But he also thought about it this way, he told her before they got too deep that this was what his job called for, he needed a rider, and that's what Mo stood by his side to be.

"I'll hit her up after we get this job done once and for all, let's just get this shit over with so we can get back to our lives, and finally leave this shit to the lil niggas around the hood. This ain't the life I want no more, I got a perfect girl waitin' for me, a beautiful daughter, and a son on the way. I got too much to live for, this is it for me." Korie pulled his mask down over his head, repositioning the Glock47 that sat in his lap.

"I just got the text, he coming down the street as we speak." Mark held up the burner phone used to have one of our workers to send information.

"Guns ready, we end this nigga here and leave it in the streets."

As they all prepared for what could've been their last move, they all sat back and reflected. Knowing that this could either be the end, or the start of a fresh new beginning, they were all focused on one thing. Getting the revenge they wanted, and tying all the loose ends that would end this constant battle putting their families in danger.

They had gotten word off the street that some low profile drug lord from the opposing side of town where they do business, wanted in on their profit. He either wanted to take over some of their corners, or get a percentage of their earnings every month. But once he saw the weight Trey and his team held, he knew that wouldn't work. That's where all of the threats, near death accidents, and pop ups come in.

This unknown man had this much pull, that he could dig into Trey's social life and turn people against him, just like that. He figured the only way to beat the competition was to get rid of it.

"Visuals on him, he turning on the street, everybody strapped and ready?" Korie tightened the grip he held on his gun.

"Actually," Trey smirked, "this one is personal, I can handle one nigga."

"Nah, we all go. That was the plan." Antoine affirmed, shaking his head at the ridiculous idea.

"I got it, if I need backup y'all know to hop out."

Trey observed like a hawk as the truck's engine shut off in the driveway. The door wasn't immediately opened, but once it was, out walked a short Mexican looking man, with all black clothes on. He walked around to the back of his truck and opened it, shuffling around for something.

Trey took that as the perfect opportunity to sneak up on him from behind, exiting the vehicle without making a sound. He even left the door open so no noise would be heard. As he crept across the street, he clutched his gun and aimed it directly at the back of his head.

Watching everything unfold, Korie and Mark had their trigger fingers ready, if anything popped off they would be ready to air shit out. Twan kept his eyes on the street, and on the house, making sure no one was trying to snipe or slide on Trey on the slick.

"Mr. unknown, in the fuckin' flesh." Trey gave a bitter chuckle.

The man tensed up and slowly turned around, revealing his features. His face wasn't familiar to Trey, so he didn't see the reason behind him troubling his life.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" He looked over Trey's appearance. He twirled a toothpick around in his mouth, showing no fear to the barrel in front of him.

"Yeah you know me real well from what I hear, you my biggest fan."

"So this is the big baller shot caller, Trey, everyone was raving about." He chuckled and removed the toothpick flicking it near Trey's feet. "I'm disappointed."

Trey smirked, knowing he was only trying to get under his skin, but it wasn't working.

"Cut the talkin', you was looking for me, well here I am. Whatchu gon' do? Besides eat this bullet."

"You ain't do ya' homework on me did you son?" He ran his tongue over his teeth. "Mr. Wade, THE kingpin. Meaning, I take orders from no one, I work under no one, and I fear NO ONE."

"Well, Mr. Wade, you must not have done your homework on me then, huh? You come for me, and I come for you ten times harder, it's room for one boss around here and that's me. You can't take me out, too many failed attempts and now look where we at. In front of yo' house, I got a gun to yo' head and I'm about to blow ya' fuckin' brains out all over this pretty ass Escalade. I move all the weight around this bitch and that's how it's gone stay. Spit on all the dead goofies for me, pussy!"

'Pow, pow'

"Ahhh, shit!"

"Nice confession Mr. Thompson." Three officers emerged from the back of the house, and two from the inside, all aiming their guns at Trey.

"Now we can finally throw you behind bars like we've been trying to." One of them laughed watching Trey hold his shoulder in pain.

From the car, the men watched in disbelief as the scene unfolded. As they tried coming up with something quick to help the situation, Korie noticed the officers getting rough with Trey.

He tucked his gun in the back of his waistband before exiting the car, "Get the fuck off of him!"

"Sir, get back in your car!" One officer pointed at Korie while the others pinned him down.

"Y'all already shot him! Get him some help! It don't call for three people to be on him like that!" Korie tried running up to pull the officers off, but stopped once a gun was aimed at him.

"Move back and let us do our job!"

"He struggling, he bleeding out his shoulder can y'all have some decency!"

"We have to detain him, last warning! Get back in your car!"

"Call Khadijah first! Tell her to call my lawyer," Trey yelled as the cops smashed his face into the ground.

"Tell ya' people to get off of him before they kill him!" Korie lunged at the officer, making him assume his shooting stance.

Before Korie could become a shooting target for the officer, he pulled his gun, and shot the officer in the chest, making his body collapse to the ground. Seconds after shooting, Korie was rushed to the ground, somehow a whole swarm of cops were emerging and taking full force.

"Ahh!" Korie yelled, trying his best to cover his head from the blows coming from every direction.

It felt as if the wind was being knocked out of him, knees in his back, fists being thrown at him. All for one man. As the cops forcefully tried folding Korie's hands behind his back to get him in the handcuffs, Korie pulled away trying to again, cover his head from the incoming blows.

"I'm cooperating man!" He strained. "Just get off me!"

"Stop resisting!" Another blow to the head, as his arms are being tugged behind him.

"How you expect me to just lay here and take punches, all while motherfuckers pulling on me in every way!?" He jolted his body trying to get loose. "Just cuff me!" He tried his best to speak as an officer pressed his knee into his back, while another held his head against the ground.

"Holmes! Brentwood! Are you fucking serious! Get the hell off that boy, now, my orders!" The short, white, full-figured, head chief stormed over to the scene.

She bent down and checked Korie for any physical damage. His face was bruised up, lip busted, and his clothes were torn.

"It took this much to cuff a man!" She threw her arms up, "and he still isn't cuffed! A bunch of idiots." She pulled Korie up slowly, turning him around and locking the cuffs around his wrists.

Once Korie was assisted into the back of the car and Trey put into the other, Donna, the head chief who had in fact been watching Trey for a while now, had gotten Twan and Mark as well. Before they could even get out the truck good enough to have a full on shoot out with the cops, they were roughly searched and cuffed.

"Wade is dead," Donna whipped her head, flipping her hair out of her face as she folded her arms across her chest, studying him.

She let out a short chuckle with a hunch of her shoulders, as if she was at a lost for words, in disbelief. She put her hand on her