Nadine imagined the reality she faced now was much like that of her mother's, or at least from what she heard.

Their father had always told them that she was no good, but Nadine remembered faint memories of her. She had a smile that showcased all of her teeth, including the gap that appeared right in the middle. Her skin matched the same deep mocha color as Nadine's. She couldn't remember if she thought her mother tall because she was little, or if her mother was actually tall. Either way, she always remembered that her mama loomed over her, and could never be caught in public without some sort of heel.

Nadine and her younger sister, Nadia, would cling to their mother as if their lives depended on it, and for years the three were inseparable.

Neither of the girls knew what their mother was into or what she did for a living. All that mattered is that they were always well taken care of. It wasn't too hard living in Baton Rouge, anyways.

When Nadine was ten and Nadia was four, they took a trip to see their father. Nadine was old enough to know when something was wrong. They didn't ask to see their dad, and their mother had always raised them to never think of their father. All they needed was her. Upon their arrival, they saw their mama one last time.

The rest of the family assured them that their mother would not be coming back.

Since then, Nadine always wondered why her mom disappeared from her life. It wasn't like she had another family somewhere waiting for her. The mother she knew wasn't on drugs or doing tricks on the streets of downtown.

For some reason, her father's family filled her and her sister's head with lies. Nadine could never tell if they were true or not, but Nadia believed them wholeheartedly. She was little when their mother left them; Nadia just did not remember that much about her mother.

As Nadine tried to adjust to life in a new city, moreover a new state, she felt out of place with the rest of her family. Her father and his stepchildren loved Nadia as if she belonged completely. Nadine, on the other hand, was a different story. It wasn't enough for her father's children to snitch on her at every chance they got.

Her father's wife and their kids together accused Nadine of terrible things. She began to distance herself, act out, and eventually, she dropped out of school. She had a history of running away, and by the last time she left, no one cared to look for her anymore.

Living in projects, selling herself, and doing drugs. Those were all things that her relatives told Nadine her mother was doing. And now, Nadine found herself doing the same things.

Nadine felt the cool metal retreating from her forehead and let out a breath. Tears still streamed down her face as she recounted the horrid scenes from just a few seconds ago. He threw her back down on the seat and retrieved the stool from the ground.

She watched as blood leaked out from the bullet wounds the girl sustained, and she couldn't help but feel guilty. That poor girl would be alive if she just complied with his demands.

Braxton put away the Glock and instead pulled out a revolver. He handed Nadine a bullet.

"You've probably seen this before," he said calmly. "Put one in," he instructed. With a shaking hand, Nadine inserted the bullet into the chamber. He spun it once, then held the gun slackly in his hands. She held her breath.

"Who sent you?" His voice rung in her ears, but she wasn't concerned with his questions. Nadine began to wonder if the young lady on the ground had a family. Maybe someone missed her and was trying to find her right now. Because of Nadine, they'd likely never see her again.

Nadine was preparing herself to meet the same fate. She knew that no one was going to come looking for her after she died. Maybe the landlord, asking for his money, but no one else. If her mother was dead, Nadine would finally be able to see her again once the fatal shot took her life.

Braxton fired the gun at her head, making Nadine shut her eyes tightly and flinch. Within a second, she realized she wasn't dead. Her heart pounded in her ears and she could feel herself beginning to panic. "I'll ask again."

Tears streamed down her face as he raised the gun again. "No," she whispered. Braxton thought he was hearing wrong. "What did you say?"

"I said no," she repeated. "I heard you the first time. If you would just give me some time..." Nadine trailed off. It was taking her a long time to process everything that was going on. Though she has been through a lot in her life, this entire ordeal scared her shitless.

Braxton was angry that he had to put on this big of a show to scare her into talking, but he didn't mind. No, he wasn't one for the theatrics, but it was always good to let out his anger once in a while.

Secretly, he begged Nadine not to make him shoot her. The images of her naked body during their night together ran across his mind. He found her absolutely beautiful, not just in the body but also in the face. Braxton did not want to kill her or harm her any further, but he would if he needed to.

He understood that she needed a second to take in the events of the last fifteen hours, but he was growing impatient. She needed to say whatever she knew so he could handle business accordingly.

She blew out a breath slowly and began to speak. Her voice was deeper than that of any woman he ever met, but it wasn't manly; it was husky. He remembered her low moans as he pumped himself in and out of her.

Part of the reason he didn't up and shoot her, like he would have if it were anyone else, was because of how attractive he found little parts of her.

"Titus told me to stay close to you."

"Why?" He demanded. He could see how annoyed she was getting by his actions, but she covered it with fear. No more tears rolled down her face. Instead, she hardened like clay left out to dry.

"For your phone," Braxton remembered seeing her attempt to leave with it. "They told me if I got it, I'd be done."

He wondered what she wanted to be done with. He assumed she meant she would be paid enough to never have to work anymore. But Braxton knew how girls like her are. No matter how much money they got, the life was always better than any high they could pay for.

"I'on know anything else," she said nonchalantly. That woman was killed simply for her to utter two sentences. At that moment, Nadine hated herself more than she ever had before.

She was dying for a fix. A hit of something- anything at all- would make her pain go away. When she was high she didn't have to feel anything. Thinking about the drug made shiver, and she clung to the hotel robe for warmth.

"Who he working with?" Braxton asked. He used the barrel of the gun to lift her chin and made her face him. Nadine snatched away, saying, "I thought I told you that was all I knew."

She could feel herself getting irritated, and tried her best to keep her temper down. Her inner fiend was coming out and she needed to get some soon.

When you have been in this business as long as Braxton had, you noticed certain things. He knew she had an addiction, and in his mind, he applauded her for hiding it so well. At the party, he couldn't even tell that she had any issues of that nature. Today, however, it was apparent.

"Since you haven't offered me shit else, arrange to meet with him." Braxton figured that she had some form of contact with the man who wanted him dead. Whatever this was, it needed to be contained as soon as possible. As long as Diego was stuck in his prison cell, there would be opps swarming in from all directions. Of course, nothing is guaranteed in this game, but when Diego was running the streets with Braxton's help, no one dared to step in their way. This, however, would make people think that everything they built was up for grabs.

And that was far from the truth.

"No," Nadine replied. If she thought she was irritated, she couldn't imagine what the man sitting across from her was going through.

"Watch that fucking 'no' word. I let you say it once but know I don't play that shit. At least act like you want your life," he spat.

"You'll find a way to make it happen."

She wished he knew how her relationship with Titus worked. There was no way she could call him because he always went to her. He didn't have a business card that he just gave out to anyone who asked for it.

"You're gonna let me go?" She asked. She knew if he wanted any more information that it would have to be on her own terms. If she had to draw Titus out, it couldn't be done if she wasn't allowed to leave. This was her territory and only she knew how to run it.

Braxton was now in thought and did not reply to her question. As much as he hated to admit it, he would have to let her go do her thing. He needed her to report to him but would not give her the satisfaction of knowing she was going to be hired.

He used the barrel of the gun to lift her chin once more. "You work for me now."

Nadine felt a surge of anger. She did not want to be held under his thumb for much longer. She had never worked for anyone in her life and definitely was not trying to start now. In the future when she had gotten her life together, maybe then. But this wasn't the kind of occupation you could list on your resume.

She remembered what he said about that 'no' word and suppressed her urge to say it again.

He left the room for multiple reasons. Firstly, he felt his rage about to get the best of him. He could not believe that someone tried to threaten his business, that someone attempted to kick him when they thought he was down. If something happened to his operation, he would find his way out of it. But if something happened to his family, then it was all over for him.

Secondly, Braxton went to consult the rest of his team, which consisted of one person's opinion who actually mattered: Darius.

After walking down the corridor and peering into rooms with various people doing different jobs, he took a sharp left and walked into the only meeting room in the facility. On the very back corner sat a tray with different drinks and three glass cups. He poured himself a cup of Remy Martin and walked over to a nearby window.

"Any news," he asked Darius after taking a sip. Across the room, Darius clicked off his phone to engage in the conversation with his boss. "Not much. Whoever tried to hit is not laying low or actin' scary. If she told you it was Titus, I'a believe her. The streets talk fast, and they sayin' he's ready to go all out."

"I haven't heard anything about her involvement about what happened last night, though."

"So it's her word that we're going on," Braxton nodded and sipped his drink. Luckily for Nadine, no one was speaking on her name right now. Otherwise, there'd probably be a hit on her head.

"Let her go. But make sure she has a phone and take her ass right to where she live and nowhere else. Scope her place out for a little, then come back," He said. Darius stood up and got ready to roll out. He hated to wait to do things, and if he was given any instructions he would do them immediately. He felt like there was no time to waste and he was absolutely correct. The world waited for no one.

"She know what to do?" He asked.

"I'll let her know." He downed the glass of Remy and set it down on a nearby table.

Braxton left the room and turned down the corridor again, this time not bothering to look inside the different rooms. Inside, he watched as Nadine's walnut eyes struggled to stay open.

Mentally he laughed at her struggle to get comfortable on that raggedy couch he hated so much, but he kept the laughter to himself and sheltered it with his hard exterior. "You leaving," he started. Her eyes were low but she was awake now.