TWENTY THREE

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Nadine's heart was loud enough to drown everything out around her.

She didn't even notice that the detective had already brought her to the station, and was opening the passenger door for her to exit the police vehicle. Regaining her composure, she ducked her head and stepped out of the car, anxious for what was coming next but trying her best to look brave.

She held her head high and nodded slightly at the detective, as to thank him for being polite. He smiled back and gestured for her to follow him into the newly renovated building.

Uniformed officers walked to and fro, carrying files or marching handcuffed people into cells or interrogation rooms. Detective Brenner noticed her starting and chuckled. "I guess it's a good thing that you don't have those cuffs on you. Let's see how long that lasts," he stepped aside and let her enter the small room. It had a table in the corner and two chairs next to it. Nadine ignored his comment and took a seat, unsure of what he had on her.

"Talked to Cinnamon," he started, pulling out the chair and flipping it around so he could sit straddling it. "I know you two used to work the streets together. How long were you a prostitute, one or two years?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nadine gritted out. She hated only being seen for her body and her line of work. She did what she had to do to survive, as did the other women who she used to work with. None of them should feel shame for working, but Nadine couldn't help but feel disgust with herself. The world had forced shame on her for being a sex worker, and just by the way the detective was speaking, she was starting to understand why.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she addressed his earlier comments. "Don't know nothin' about that, and I ain't kill nobody neither."

"I never said you killed anyone, I just said murder was illegal. Is there something you want to tell me about, Ms. Carter?" His lips curled into a sly smile as he cocked his head to the side.

"Mind telling me why I'm here?"

The detective thumbed through the manilla folder sitting on the table. Nadine hadn't even noticed that he pulled it a picture with a familiar face.

"Braxton Wright. I need to know everything you know about him. You help me, and I make sure your pimp doesn't find out."

Nadine shivered thinking about Titus, glad she got away from him when she did. "I don't have a pimp cause I'on do that. And I've never seen that man before in my life."

"Nadine, this isn't how you wanna go down. Trust me, if you don't get out now, you'll go down with him. And he's going down with everything we have on him."

The detective stood up and flipped the chair around, sitting properly and leaning closer to her in the process. "Look, I asked my superiors to let me bring you in first, see if we could make a deal where you help me and I help you. Truth is, I don't wanna see a pretty girl like you go to jail for that evil bastard. You have so much life left to live. I wanna help you live it, but I can't do that if you don't give me anything on him."

"Told you, I don't know who that is. Never seen that man before in my life."

Brenner sighed, Nadine feeling the annoyance starting to radiate off of him. "Listen," he started. "There's more to this story than you know. There are people at play here, people that want to hurt you, Nadine. I'm trying to protect you. I'm trying to help. But you have to let me."

His words flipped around in her mind. People at play? What did that mean? She grew extremely frustrated that this guy, and every other man in her life, was trying to protect her from some unknown enemy. It wasn't that Braxton or Darius were wrong from trying to shield her from whomever was trying to see her killed; she was grateful that they cared about her enough to keep her safe.

What was bothering her was this person who wanted her dead. She didn't know who they were and what they had already done to put them in danger. Was this the same person who tipped off LAPD about the warehouse drop, resulting in Braxton getting shot and almost dying? Was this the same person who Titus was working for? She had no idea, no clue who would want her dead. And it was starting to piss her off.

"Crazy how you bring me up in here wanting answers and you not being completely honest. Who are these people at play, the ones who supposedly wanna hurt me? Cause I'm dying to know. Shit, they dying to see me dead, too."

"How about a trade? Tell me what I need to know, I tell you what you need to know. Sounds fair?"

It did sound fair, but she didn't trust him. She didn't trust cops or white men, and he happened to check both of those boxes.

"Here's the problem: I don't have no information for you. Nothing you've asked me I can help you with," she shrugged, trying her best to sound like she was telling the truth. "Since you feel like you have my best interest at heart, how about you give me a name, let me walk outta here and go bout my business. I got homework to do."

Detective Brenner glared back at her, sighing. This was going to be a lot harder for him than he originally thought. But even if he didn't get what he needed out of Nadine, Lorena was doing the rest.



Raegan drove around the school two more times before finally accepting the fact that Nadine wasn't there. No one was letting her in the building without a badge, so she couldn't go in there and check. Moreover, it was getting late and she was sure the campus would close soon.

Heeding her brother's advice, she began making her way toward her home. She felt a tinge of worry at his warning, but she focused on the positive. No matter what was going on, both Braxton and Nadine would always find their way back to each other. They would always work things out, because that's just how they worked.

Raegan said a quick prayer for both of their safety and pulled out of the lot. Out of all the things she had planned for today, searching for a missing Nadine was not one of them.

"Mama?'

"Hm, Zy?"

"Where Naytee?"

"I don't know baby," Raegan sighed.

"I miss TT," Zyaire matched her mother's sigh and held her hands on her forehead, showing distress just like her mother did.

"Mcht, you just seen her a few days ago. Calm down, acting stressed like you pay bills." Zyaire giggled a bit, almost lightening Raegan's dark mood.

She really hoped her friend was okay and out of danger. The sooner her or Braxton could tell her what was going on, the sooner she could feel a bit of relief.





Darius scarfed down all the food on his plate until none was left. He absolutely loved when Lorena cooked for him, but lately the two found it hard to make time for each other.

He was busy with all the things that were picking up at work, and she... Well, he didn't know why she was acting so distant with him. Anytime he asked what was up, Lorena always denied there was an issue. At least she couldn't say he was holding out on her, cause he gave her everything she wanted. Everything.

Earlier that day she texted him to come over, said she had something to tell him. He hated those types of messages; they never resulted in anything good. And judging by this nice meal of oxtail with red beans and rice, bad news was coming.

"Lo," he said between bites.

"Mm?"

"Why you looking like that, mane?"

"Like what?"

"Like you guilty." Darius placed the last bone down on the plate and wiped his hands.

"Did you like it, the meal?" She asked, changing the subject.

"I did. Thank you, baby. But what you call me over here for? You been moving like you don't like me, so wassup? Talk to me, Lo."

She sighed, her hands visibly shaking. Darius stood up and put his plate in the sink, washed his hands, then turned back around and gently led Lorena to the couch. He sat first and made space in between his legs for her to sit. She accepted, curling up right into him like they normally did.

He missed this, he missed her. But something was on her mind, and he couldn't deny how anxious he was to know what was bothering her.

"I don't wanna get her in trouble, D. She's my friend, I--" Lorena's eyes began to water, and she stopped midsentence. He could feel her holding back tears, making him rub her back in an attempt to soothe her.

"Who, baby? Tell me," he spoke softly, still rubbing her shoulders as she cried.

"It's... it's Nadine."

"Dina? What happened?"

"I heard her talking t-to someone on-on the phone," Lorena said between hiccups. "I think she's w-working with the... the police. To hurt Braxton. To hurt you."

Darius' heart sunk to the ground. For a moment, he heard nothing but the ringing in his ears. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. After Detective Landry brought up Nadine, he refused to believe the accusations were true. Not until he talked to her himself and got her side of the story.

"She wouldn't," he said, barely a whisper.

Lorena wiped her face and tried to control her breathing, though a few hiccups got the best of her. "She was talking about meeting someone at the precinct. She said she had information she was willing to share. About y'all, and how y'all move. She sounded so... angry. Like she was doing it for revenge."

"When was this?"

"She's been secretive, sneaky around me. She'll leave the room to take calls, guard her phone with her life, shit like that. But I never picked up on it, till just yesterday when I saw her last. I had to go to work right after and this was the only time I could find to tell you. I'm sorry I took so long--"

"No, baby. It's okay. I'm glad you told me. Anything else she said?"

Lorena shook her head, staring into his blank eyes. "I'm sorry. I know how close y'all were," she shook her head. Darius nodded, ignoring the pain in his heart.

He couldn't ignore it any longer. He couldn't give his best friend the benefit of the doubt anymore. He couldn't defend her name. He had to take back everything he said to Braxton about giving her the benefit of the doubt. He didn't want to talk to her anymore, to hear her side of things.

Because in his eyes, Nadine was a dead woman walking.

Braxton hadn't moved in hours.

He was in the same position: a seat right in front of the front door. He had been glued to the spot, waiting for the second Nadine would walk through the door. Everything in him told him that she would come back, because that's how she was. Snitch or not, she'd return to him. Or he'd find her.

Either way, she was going to have to look him in the eyes and tell the truth about what she did.

The weight of the gun he held felt like nothing, a feather. He became numb to it like it was an extension of his hand, sometimes even forgetting it was there.

After he had got off the phone with Raegan and told her to get Zyaire and go home, he remembered something important, something he forgot while in his panicked state of trying to find her.

He had Nadine's location. They both decided to share it after Braxton got shot at the warehouse bust.

Braxton pulled his phone out and clicked on her contact. The map right up under her name showed her location pin at the police station.

He had no more energy to break things and throw bottles like he did after the meeting with Detective Landry. He didn't want to curse or shoot someone or smoke or drink or destroy. He just wanted the truth, from her.

As if his thoughts were reality, he heard a car pull into his driveway. A voice, hers. Then a key unlocked the front door, and there she was.

Braxton watched as she set her bookbag down at the door and kicked her shoes off. She did a double take once she realized he was sitting only a few feet from where she had just entered. Her face scrunched up, seeing the gun in his hand.

"Where you been?"

"I went to school--"

"Do not fucking lie to me Nadine or I swear to God I will blow your fucking brains out," his tone came out calm and even, putting fear rightfully in her heart. He noticed her flinch, but did his best to ignore it. He hated himself for going back to being this way with her but he needed answers, he needed the truth.

This whole time Braxton felt like he was chasing his tail trying to keep her safe because of her connection to him. But the thought that she was involved in something before him that made her a target was starting to seem more plausible. There had to be a reason she was so important to someone that they'd take him down to get to her. And she had to know why.

"I'm not lying to you, Braxton. I was at school. And I was bout to find Rae in the parking lot, a cop approached me."

"And then?"

"And then he was in my face talmbout some damn prostitution and murder charges. Said he wanted to talk, so I went."

Braxton let out a dry laugh, "You went."

Nadine knew where he was trying to take it. "Yes, I went. Because if I didn't, I'd look guilty as fuck. And I wanted to know if he had anything on me-- or any of us-- or if he was just fucking around to see if he could find something."

"And?"

"He got some against you, like he's fighting to take you down. But I don't think he has enough evidence to make any charges."

"You sure you and him not on the same page?"

Nadine shook her head in disbelief. "What? Fuck is you tryna say, Braxton?"

"Nah, don't do that shit. You know how this looks. You keeping secrets already, then you disappear for a whole fucking day without a word. And I'm seein' your location posted up wit' them fucking pigs. Ain't no nigga on my team that would ever think about betraying me. See, they in it for the long run. But you?"

Braxton looked away from her, but her gaze burned a whole through him. His eyes flicked down to the ring he had given her that night he asked her to be his girlfriend. The memory of the kiss they shared on the carousel almost made him waver, but he stood firmly in his anger.

"What about me? Say it. I wanna hear it come outta your mouth."

"They wouldn't rat me out, but you would. You'd run your mouth for the right price, if they gave you what you wanted?" He knew he hit a soft spot with that one, but the words just started flying out of his mouth. "If they let you shoot shit up, you'd talk, wouldn't you? So tell me Nadine, you're the one who snitching? You told 'em about our drops, our moves, hm?" He held the gun up, aiming at her head. "Let me know if I'm looking at a fucking traitor right now. I'll unload this clip and not think twice."

"That's what you spent yo day doing, huh? Snitching to that white ass detective, tellin' him everything you know? And what he promise you in return? Needles?"

At this point, Nadine's face was covered in tears. They flowed down her face silently, as she held her jaw clenched. He saw how everything he said ate at her until she was holding back choked sobs, trying her best to stand tall despite how much he had degraded her.

His heart ached seeing her like that. But he was confused, so confused, and nothing was adding up.

"I was stupid to think things changed between us. That you could see me for more than what I did, that you could pull me outta that shit and help me heal. This is what you thought of me all along. And I'm fuckin' glad you said it, so we could stop wasting our time." She reached down for the panther ring on her finger and ripped it off, flinging it at him.

"I wouldn't do that to you. I wouldn't do that to Lorena, Darius, Raegan, or Zy. I'd rather go to jail than to see any of y'all hurt and I-" she choked back a cry, tears streaming down her face, "I don't know what the hell goin' through your mind that would make you think that I'd put any of your lives in danger. That I would be anything but loyal after all we been through together."

"I'm so fucking stupid," she mumbled, just barely loud enough that he caught it. "To think that anyone could ever love me again."

Those were her last words before snatching her bag back up and disappearing out the door, just as she had come. Braxton sat back down, feeling hollow and disgusted at himself for what he had just done.

















a/n: sooooo sorry for the wait! i just wanted to give y'all a good chapter. it's a lot of lies and deceit going on😳👀 how y'all felt about it? vote + comment for me

& since this might be (prolly, knowing me) the last update of the year, happy holidays yall 🥳2021 coming to an end and i'm thankful to y'all who read my books and interact w me! cheers to all the blessings to come 🥂

-ColeWoorld


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