Hello my loves, I love us forreal ❤️✊🏾

C H A P T E R
S I X T E E N

Feeling around in the spot next to her where Ahmad usually would be, Cali sat up looking around their dark room to see it was still night out but was confused as to why he was not in bed.

Grabbing her phone off the night stand she checked the time to see  it was three almost four in the morning. Scratchung her head and letting out a low yawn, she slipped out of bed grabbing one of his t-shirts to put on then walked out of their bedroom to find him.

Peeking into each of their kids rooms, she smiled when she saw them all sleeping peacefully but pouted when she saw Marquette's bed was empty since he was at his daddy house for the week. She missed her baby.

Checking in on Amira and Twan she made sure they were good before continuing her journey in search of her husband.

She saw the front area of the house was completely dark, so she knew he couldn't have been in the living room or the kitchen.

Going towards his man cave, she pushed opened the door then descended down the stairs only to see it was empty as well. "Where the hell is he?" She mumbled to herself going back up the stairs. Quietly shutting the door behind her, she stood there for a minute trying to think where he could be especially this early in the morning.

Suddenly a noise from their backyard snapped her out of her thoughts. Walking towards the back doors, she looked out to see him laying out there sparking a blunt. Sliding the door open, she stepped out catching his attention immediately due to him thinking everyone was asleep. "Whatchu doing up?" He questioned lowly.

"I woke up tryna cuddle with you but you weren't there but I should be asking you the samething, are you okay?"

Taking a hit from the blunt, he nodded. "I'm fine baby, just thinking. I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake you so I just came out here instead."

Nodding her head, she walked over to the beach chair that he was laid out on and positioned herself carefully ontop of him. "How long have you been out here?"

He shrugged handing the blunt over to her, "Two hours, its peaceful .. perfect place to unwind and clear ya mind."

Lifting her head up, she blew smoke into his mouth before they engaged into a kiss smiling against each others lips. "Tell me what's on your mind?"

"Everything, its like just when I feel like I have life all figured out and I'm getting comfortable with the ways things are turning out something always comes and throws me off completely. Like it took me forever to finally accept that Amira was gone and then boom here she is alive and well .. I'm just lost I guess and I don't know what to think or say at this point." He mumbled.

"But thats totally understandable as to why you feel that way, I mean none of us expected this. This whole situation threw us all off, hell even I have been waking up in the middle of the night thinking this was all a dream." She chuckled. "But just try and look at this as a blessing baby,"

"How can I when shit seems off? She returned for a reason or they let her go for a reason and she isn't being truthful about the shit Cal, which only makes me worry."

"Well do what you had planned, take her out shopping and out to eat and just bond with her so you can get the truth out of her and so you can finally relax and chill. It's been a week since she came back and I can see it all over your face that this is stressing you out and I just want you happy baby."

"I hear you,"

Like Cali said it had been a week and a few days since the return of Amira and things were slowly falling back into place for everyone else with them adjusting to her beinf around but for Ahmad, he was happy no doubt but the fact that she was still hiding something from them made him worry.

He thought by now she would have opened up about whatever it was but she hasn't and lowkey felt that she wasn't going to so he knew he was gonna have to get the answers out himself.

When Aaron and Ashley got the news that she was here, of course they didn't believe it but the minute they laid eyes on her they literally dropped to their knees. Words couldn't express how happy and blessed they felt at that moment and once she explained what all she had been through they hated that she had to suffer for so long but they were thankful she was able to walk away and come out alive still.

But of course they wasted no time in trying to get that doctor fired and removed from his position for the lies he told and the secrets he held from them. They wanted him and everyone else who was involved to pay for the damage and heartbreak they caused in their family.

But Ahmad just didn't see how they all didn't think none of this was weird. But then he figured that they were letting their excitment and happiness overpower their thoughts so they weren't thinking straight.

"Good, but lets talk about something else to get your mind off of this for a moment and so you can just chill for a moment ..like your birthday that's coming up in a month .. you have anything in particular that you want to do?"

"Besides you, nah." He joked only to earn a hit from Cali.

"I'm serious Ahmad, you're turning thirty that's an exciting birthday and we have to do something special for you."

Sitting up some causing her to rise up as well, he just stared at her. "You know I'm simple, just chilling with you and the kids is enough for me because at the end of day y'all the best gifts a nigga ever recieved."

Looking down at him, she smiled. "Deadass b?"

"I'm deadass son,"

Both busting out laughing after a moment of silence, she leaned forward kissing his lips and grabbing ahold of his face. "We need to go to New York, like I really want to hear a New Yorker just talk. Like them niggas from the Bronx and shit sound so damn fine when they talk. I just be like damn."

Giving her a stank look, he shoved her hard causing her to almost fall over and laugh. "I really don't see shit funny, what's the joke? I wanna laugh." He stated dryly.

"Oh my gosh, I was just playing chill. I think your voice is sexy too."

"Yeah whatever,"

When she saw he was really salty, she started kissing him all over his face, but he continued to hold a blank expression the whole time but eventually gave in and kissed her back roughly, just how she liked it. "We bout gay as fuck," He joked pulling away from the kiss.

"We always being gay towards each other cause we're deeply in love with one another."

"Yeah true,"

"And also because I love you, I'm doing it big for your birthday. This is your last days of being in your twenties so get ready baby, its gonna get wild and dirty."

Playfully rolling his eyes, he just shrugged. "I figured that, but long as I get some birthday sex in the end then we cool and you can plan and do whatever you want."

Getting up off his lap, she flipped her hair. "Oh trust me that was gonna happen regardless."

Standing up with her, he followed her back into the house and watched as she walked towards his man cave. "I was thinking about something you should add in here to make this room ten times better." She explained walking down the stairs with him right behind her.

"Like what? I think it looks fine with the way it is now."

Flicking on the light switch, she shook her head. "Nope, whatchu need is a stripper pole right here in the center."

Laughing, he looked down shaking his head. "Why do you want to add a stripper pole in here? You tryna be my personal exotic dancer or something?"

"Nope, but you can be mine." She cheesed playfully smacking on the butt when he walked passed her to grab his remote to the tv.

"Hell nah, you won't catch me on no fucking pole dancing. Fuck dat."

"And why not? I'm tryna see some ass shake too."

He laughed, "Ha. You funny,"

"Plus at our wedding you pretty much showed me you had the moves sorta kinda, not really.. but anyways I feel it would be fun for the both of us babe. I really want one," She whined grabbing on his arm.

Giving in he rolled his eyes, only because he wanted to see her on it. "Fine whatever, we can get one but only in our bedroom. My boys be down here and I do not need them knowing the type of shit we be doing."

"Fine with me, I'm just glad we're getting one."

He couldn't help but shake his head at his wife, she was truly something else and extra but he loved her and everything that came along with her. "Whatever, but I'm finna go back to bed so I can have enough rest for what this day might bring us" Ahmad announced tiredly feeling the sleep sneak up on him.

"Okay, well I'll be up there in a minute .. I'm not sleepy so I'll just do the laundry."

Walking over to her, he kissed her on the lips a few times before mumbling a small, "I love you," and walking back up the stairs.

When he left out of the basement, Cali sighed really hoping that whatever Amira was hiding was something that Ahmad could handle.

       Sitting across from Amira at a restuarant, Ahmad flipped through the menu to see what he wanted but he noticed offness on Amira the minute they got here.

They had been out all day shopping, and he noticed her attitude was off a little earlier but it was real noticeable now. He tried to see when would be the appropriate time to ask what she is lying about but earlier no time felt appropriate especially since they both were enjoying their time together.

But right now seemed like the perfect time since something was clearly bothering her.

Sitting the menu down, he looked over at her. "You alright? Something wrong?"

She went to shake her head no, but instead she ended up nodding. She knew she had to release this secret before it was too late, "I should have said something sooner Ahmad, I heard you this morning when you and Cali were talking and you're right .. I'm not being truthful about everything." She began to cry by now causing Ahmad to grow even more concerned.

"Well tell me what it is Amira, we can't fully help you if you don't open about what is really going on."

Wiping her eyes, she nodded. "The guard thing was a lie, no one helped me escape .. they willingly let me go when I agreed to helping them set up Twan so they could get him. The plan was for me to take him somewhere and they would be there waiting for him and would kill him and in reward I would get to live along with Normani. But I only agreed because I saw it was a chance of freedoom, but I swear I wasn't going to actually do it, but I didn't know how to tell him that."

"So I got her number," Travis explained to Derek who couldn't help but smile at the news.

"That's great, how did that happen?"

"Alright so you know how I told you at the game we spoke, well that following Monday she came up to me at lunch and sat with me and my friends .. so like at first I was confused but I just shrugged it off and we all held a conversation. We talked about sports, upcoming events that were going on at school it was just real cool but weird because like I said before we've never talked and so after lunch I offered to walk with her to her next class and we talked and vibed so then that led to us meeting up after classes and ne walking her to her other classes so by the end of the day we walking to the bus stop area and our conversation was just so good that I didn't want it to end so I just asked for her number and she gave it to me." He cheesed.

Derek just smiled shaking his head, "See, you overcame that fear of rejection and took that first step and now you see where it got you. So have you guys been talking since?"

"Yeah we talk on the phone every night and at school we walk to classes together she even sometimes walks me to mine .. its weird how fast this happened though but I'm happy that it did. I can literally talk to her about anything and it feels good to have someone to talk to like how I talk to you."

"I'm really happy for you Travis, she seems like a very sweet girl. What is her name by the way?"

"Her name is Winter, its unique but it fits her and her sister name is Autumn,"

"Those are pretty names, does Winter know about the lost of your parents and your bipolar depression disorder?"

Travis nodded, "Yeah I told her, and she understood cause I know one day its gonna be a day where I don't wanna be bothered so I just gave her a heads up so she wouldn't think I was being rude to her."

"That was nice and smart of you to do that. So alright, you got the girl of your dreams now what's next on your list of things you were scared to do before but now want to accomplish?"

"Well the training with Ahmad is going good, so I guess it would be to make the team but I won't know that verdict until next school year but what I really want to do is build a better relationship with my brother Tristian .. like yeah we may fight all the time but I know at the end of the day he's still my brother and we shouldn't be beefin' or be at odds like this cause we're really all that we got left."

Travis indeed did love his brother, and just wanted better for him. But in Travis and Tremaines case they truly didn't know who their brother actually was.

They had no clue he was in a gang and was now like the head nigga. They had no clue about the secret double life he lived, and that he was just a bad person and nothing could help him. Not therapy, not love, nothing he was just the bad apple of the family and would continue to be that and would continue to ruin lives until someone killed him.

"When was the last time you talked to your brother?"

"I can't even really remember to be honest, its been a few months .. I know that."

"Well have you talked to Tremaine about this? Maybe he could help get in touch with him."

"I haven't been able to talk to Tremaine either, he said he was busy helping this girl he knew that had gotten gang raped and he was tryna help build her case so she could get the guys who raped her locked away so I didn't want to bother him since its clear he already has a lot on his plate."

"I would really like to meet your brother Tremaine, he's seems like a great loving guy, you said he was a black activist, a womanist who supports rights for black women and stans the LGBT community correct?

Travis smiled, "Yeah, he's really amazing .. He marches, he hosts protests .. he even goes to Gay Pride Protests helping people fight for their rights and get their message out. I wish I was more like him to be honest. Like he helps so many people, and changes so many lives with his words and advice .. and even though with what he does come with alot of negativity he never lets what they say about him get him down, he's proud of what he stands for and believes in and I love that about him."

"That is really amazing, especially with him being straight .. most men especially in todays age are so ignorant and act as if they can't even be friends with someone who is gay, or even support women struggles so it is really amazing that he steps out of that box and does whatever he feels is right."

Travis laughed a little, "You do know Tremaine is a Transgender right? I mean thats one of the main reasons he supports all of that."

Derek eyes went wide in shock, "Really now? Wow that's even more amazing and shocking."

"I thought I told this,"

"No no, I would have remembered that."

Travis nodded, "Oh my bad, but yeah he's a Trans .. before he made the change her name was Tiffany. Our parents literally had an obsession with names that started with the letter T but yeah anyways she made the change when she was in middle school alittle bit after our parents died. I was honestly shocked that she wanted to be a man but I didn't love her any less and we all supported her even Tristian did. And shockingly she isn't bad looking as a guy, a lot of girls actually liked her and wanted to date her.. but I just admire her strength, she well he went through so much during that time and he had to face a lot of it alone on his own but not once did he let the bullying and rude words break him down and one day I aspire to be like him.. I really do."

Walking around the park that was near the facility she was staying in, she took small sips from her lemonade as she held a small conversation with Tremaine who had came to visit her today. "It's really beautiful out here today, the sky is clear the birds are chirping .. life just feels good right?" He asked her and she nodded with a small smile on her face.

"It does, I mean this has been a struggle but everyday gets easier and I honestly have to thank you for that."

"Don't thank me, I was just here for support .. you did all of this on your own."

She nodded, "That's true but if it weren't for you I would have never wanted to take this to court .. and with you being a witness it helps out a lot. And all those times I had to repeat the story of my rape to each detective and how I would break down and cry you were always there holding me up and just being there for me when you didn't even have to be. Like none of this would have been possible or would have even happened if it weren't for you encouraging me to seek justice and being an amazing friend so yes I have to give credit where it is due."

"Well you're welcome."

Smiling, she looked over at him for a second then looked back at her feet before he caught her staring. "I just hate he's missing now, like everything is working in our favor .. they found his DNA in me, they have a witness and the cops were ready to get him and it was like boom he fell off the face of the Earth."

Tremaine nodded, "Yeah, I usually know where he hangs out at and its like he knew this would have happened and sometimes when I think about it .. I just be like I really didn't or don't know my brother. I didn't think he would be a rapist, I mean he knows I'm all for women rights and standing up for what is right and I just don't understand why he felt that the shit he did was cool especially under my roof."

"Yeah, I thought Tristian was so loving and sweet and it was like overnight he just switched .. but I should have left as soon as he started to put his hands on me,"

Noticing her change in mood, he wrapped his arm over her shoulder. "Yeah but you're good now and that's all that matters .. he'll get his karma one day trust me."

Imani thought he would have moved his arm from around her but when he didn't and they continued to walk the trail together, she started to feel herself leaning more into him. Tremaine noticed her actions but said or did nothing.

It was clear, he liked Imani but he knew she would probably never like him espescially once she found out about his secret.

"I know but anyways .. I have one more month left then I'm back to my old life."

"Have you talked to any of your people?"

She shook her head no, "No, I was going to reach out but decided against it .. I know they miss me and I miss them. But I just want to return as