Hey guys.

This is the 21st chapter.

What will happen? Let's find out.

Personal Shout Outs: Katrina, Carmen, mikaila1996, foldintothenight, taker-fan91, and Devon. Thank you for the reviews.

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The Cocky One. (Not Really) lol!

Enjoy!

Chapter 21

Roman throws on a black t-shirt and a pair of dark blue basketball shorts. It's been two months since they have heard anything from Will and Langston since Roman killed Greg that night in the room. They thought the police would've came and questioned them by now so they've been laying low for a while hoping that it would blow over. He heads back into his room and stared at Briana still sleeping in their king sized bed. He leans over and kisses her forehead before quietly leaving the room to let her sleep. He heads into the kitchen to get some breakfast before his workout and notices Camille and Leona making breakfast.

"Good morning." He says leaning against the counter watching them.

"Hey big man." Leona said. She turns to him and noticed his clothing. "Working out this morning?"

"Yeah. Figured I'd just take a run down the beach." He says. He takes the rubber band off his wrist and pulls his hair back into a ponytail.

"You want some breakfast?" Camille asked.

"Sure." He said.

"Can I go with you?" Leona asked. It's been a while since she took a run and she needed to run off some pent up stress.

"Sure. Can you keep up with me?" Roman asked jokingly.

"Probably not but I need a good run right now." Leona said being truthful.

"Okay then." Roman said as Camille slid him a plate with a huge omelet on it. He takes a bite of the omelet and wipes the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand. "Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready."

"Okay, I'll be right back." Leona said. She snatches a piece of his egg omelet and smiles at him.

"Why would you do that?" He asked.

"Did it piss you off?" She asked.

"Yes." He said.

"That's why." She said running off to change into her workout clothes.

Roman shakes his head at her before turning his attention to Camille. "She loves pissing me off?"

"It's fun to watch." Camille said making her own plate.

"At least she's smiling again." Roman said.

"Her and Briana both." She said. She hated seeing them hurt, especially Leona. She knows that she's been through so much in life and all she deserves is to smile and she may not have known.

"You think it's just an act?" Roman asked as Camille picks up her plate and heads to the table. He grabs his plate and walks behind her.

She sets down her plate plops into the chair. "I don't know Rome."

He sits in the seat across from her and continues eating. "I know they're both tough."

"Yeah, but that's the thing. They're tough Roman, not invincible." Camille said.

"No one's invincible Milly." Roman said. "Briana cried her eyes out to me, but I haven't seen Leona shed one tear."

Camille pushes her food around a little bit before taking a bite. "And she's not going to. Not now anyway."

"What do you mean?" Roman said.

"Well," Camille pauses for a second and scratches her head. "Leona's emotions take over at the most random times. It could take a day ... maybe even up to a year before it sinks in that something happened. You can only hope that you're there to catch her."

Roman had no idea that Leona was like this. He had to be the only guy that knows the least about her. "Is that why she's always so guarded?"

"In a way yes." She said. "Plus her relationship with her father was never the best."

"Her father?" He asked surprised. "She told me that he wasn't in her life."

"Again ... In a way ... yeah! She wouldn't want you to know this and she might kill me but ... he was abusive to her and her mother." She said and knew Leona would kill her for telling him this but it had to come out sooner or later.

"Why?" Roman asked.

"I don't know Roman. He was a drunk and a drug addict 99 percent of the time. There was no reason." Camille said getting up to go get them some orange juice.

"What about Avery?" Roman said loudly so she could hear. He remembered her brother that he hasn't seen or heard from in four years. They had become really close and they just lost contact.

"Jail. Five years." Camille handed him his glass of fresh orange juice. "Attempted murder and robbery or something along those lines. Aside from her grandfather, he was the only male in her life that protected her."

Before Roman could ask Camille anything else Leona walks into the kitchen. She grabs two large bottles of Smart water and heads over to the table and sits down to join them with a smile on her face. He couldn't help look at her a little different now that he knows a big part of her life. He knew he shouldn't because she grew into a well adjusted adult, but he couldn't believe that someone as selfless as her would have to endure so much pain. Though she was very bitchy at times, it kind of makes sense to him now.

Leona takes her and notices Roman staring at her differently. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Like what?" He asked knowing exactly what she meant.

"Like that I feel sorry for you look." She said trying to study him.

Roman curses to himself as he remembers that Leona is a very observant person that picks up every little thing. He quickly diverts his attention to his plate and sees a little bit of omelet on his plate and in one big bite finishes it off just to avoid answering her question.

Leona rolls her eyes at him. "So ... what were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing." They both said.

"Okay so," She paused for a second. "Why were you talking my childhood?"

Roman and Camille look at each other shocked not knowing what to say to say. Technically there was nothing to say because they were talking about her childhood and they couldn't tell her otherwise.

"Listen Lion." Roman said thinking she wouldn't get mad if he used her nickname. "Don't be mad at Camille."

"I'm not." Leona said quietly.

"I told her to tell me. Please don't be mad." He continued obviously not hearing her.

"I'm not." Leona said louder.

"He just wanted ... Oh ... you're not mad?" Camille said.

"No." Leona said playing with the label on the bottle. "I think I should let you guys in a little bit more ... sometimes."

Roman laughed at that last word. "Typical Leona. Says something and adds that little something to cover her ass."

"All day every day." Leona says standing up. "Now let's go." She quickly walks out the door and starts to make her way down to the beach.

Roman grabs his water off the table before making his way over to the sun door. He looks back at Camille who shrugs her shoulders and gets up to leave. Sighing to himself he pushes through the door thinking if he should bring up the issue of Greg. He knew she would try to avoid the subject but it was worth a shot to see where her head was at. He makes his way down the old wooden stairs and notices Leona already stretching. He could tell by her expression that a lot was bothering her and by that vein bulging on her forehead that she was thinking really hard about it too.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine." She said avoiding looking at him.

"You know when a woman says fine that means one thing?" He says.

Leona lets out a hard breath. "I'll just run it out."

"You're just running from your problems Lion." He said stretching his arms out in front of him.

"Yeah well I don't want to face them yet." She stretching her hamstrings.

Roman grabs her and makes her look at him. "You need to tell me what's going on because right now I'm in the same shit as you. I was there."

"I'm glad you were but," Leona wiggles out of his grasp and starts running down the beach. "Let's run Rome."

He sighs and runs after her. All he wanted to know is what is going on in her head. He just had to be patient and wait until their run was over and see if he slowly pry his way into her head.

"You're moving slow Roman." Leona yells sprinting in front of him.

Roman quickly speeds up to catch up to her. "I'm slow?" He asked boastfully obviously teasing her as he trotting a little in front of her. He turns around and starts running backwards. "You're falling behind Lion."

Leona speeds up to catch him and lightly pushes him. "Okay seriously let's get serious." She says putting all the joking aside as he runs by her side. They had two and a half miles of beach to run and she was ready. Running was another way to clear her head besides just standing on the beach and watching the waves crash to shore. It was a non violent release that helped her from losing her mind sometimes. When she was in the prime shape of her life she could run three and jog two and not even be out of breath.

The sun was still rising over the horizon and she knew that it had to be about eight or nine o'clock in the morning as they finished their first mile.

"Pick it up." Roman says through short breaths.

Leona speeds up her pace to try and keep up with him. It was at that moment that she realized how rusty she was with her cardio. She had to get her stamina back up to where it was, but she was going to push through this workout even if it killed her.

"You okay." Roman glanced over at her.

"I'm good. I just want to do two miles." She said almost dropping her water when she tried to unscrew it. She pours it over her face before taking a sip of it and refocusing on her workout. She hoped Roman wouldn't ask about her thoughts about Greg being dead because she really didn't want to say what she thinks. She didn't know how he would take it.

"Can I ask you a question?" Roman asked continuing his pace.

Leona dreaded what he wanted to ask her. "Sure."

"What's been bothering you?" Roman asked.

"Nothing." Leona said continuing to run.

"Is it Greg?" He asked not realizing that Leona stopped running beside him. He looks to his side and noticed him running by himself. Stopping and turning he sees Leona a few yards back standing with her arms folded. He could see that she was uneasy about what was on her mind.

"I don't feel like running today. I'll see you at the house." She said turning on her heels and starts running back to the house.

Roman starts to run after her. He'll be damned is she avoids him with this issue. He sprints to catch up with her wraps his arms around her. He could feel her struggle in his arms trying to get away but he only held her tighter. "Calm down and quit fighting me before the neighbors get the wrong idea."

Leona stops struggling looks at him like he's crazy. Honestly, if she wanted to she could easily get the best of him without trying. He may be a big man but she know how to take down people three times his size. When it came to Greg that night, she just froze and didn't know what to do. It was like she forgot everything she was taught and the only option she had when he attacked her was to pull out her gun and shoot him.

"Get off of me Rome." She said.

"Are you going to run?" Roman asked.

"No." She said rolling her eyes.

He studies her face. "Promise?"

"Roman!" She yelled. He lets her go and she fixes her shorts and tank top. "Thank you."

"Seriously. What are you thinking?" Roman said unscrewing his water for the first time.

"You really want to know?" She said looking out into the ocean as if it would magically give her the answer.

"Yeah." He said sipping his water.

"You're a cop so you could answer this right?" She asked.

"I can try." He said trying to even out his breathing.

"How important is it to get a lead on a murder?" She asked stretching out her leg.

"It's pretty significant. They try to get a lead in 48 hours." He answered. "After that most of the evidence could fade."

"Well ... if that's the case then why wouldn't they have found us by now?" She asked concerned. "I mean think about it. There's got to be hair on him somewhere all three of us, they know where we live, saliva from when I bit him and our fingerprints are all over him. Mine I know for a fact are on his phone and I-"

"Why would your fingerprints be on his phone?" Roman asked cutting her off.

Leona grinds her foot into the sand regretting saying anything. "Because he showed me a video."

"Of what?" Roman asked. He could see how awkward this was getting for her. "Lion talk to me. We got this far. I need to know."

"Need or want to know?" Leona asked. She really didn't want to tell him what was on the video.

"Both." He said stepping closer towards her.

"This is embarrassing." She said before raking her hand through her head. "Okay. Greg showed me a video of me and Jimmy ... in bed." She felt so embarrassed for saying it but she felt so much better.

Roman didn't know whether to be mad or relieved that she told him, but he only had one thing on his mind. "Where's the camera?"

"Gone. I found them all within a month and destroyed them." Leona said. Once she got home that night she found the one in her room and ripped it down. She found out that they had cameras all over the house and made it her mission to find them all within a month. Lion even brought a camera to her when she was watching television with Jimmy one night. He just drops it into her lap and waits for a treat. Thankfully, Jimmy was sleeping and she could destroy it without questions from him.

"Good." Roman said. Leona was always keen and sneaky and sometimes it was bad and other times it was just brilliant. "Why are you so worried about this Lion?"

Leona stares at him like he should be worried about what she was about to say. She was even scared of the words she wanted to spill out, but if he truly wanted to know then here it is. "Joe." She said letting him know she was serious.

"Lion you have to relax and stop worrying. We're fine. I promise." He tried to offer her some comfort words. "Now come on. Let's just run, have fun, and forget abo-"

"I DON'T THINK GREG'S DEAD!" Leona yelled to him.

"What?" Roman asked not knowing what to think.

She didn't want to say it but he wasn't putting it together like she was. "I don't think Greg's dead."

"Holgess!" The guard said walking up to his cell. "Let's go!"

The name he hated. The name that brought back all those horrible memories of his life. The name of an innocent man that got caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. Avery raises himself off his bed and over to his door where the guard was waiting for him. This was a new guard that he didn't notice before. This guy was Caucasian, around mid 30's, and slightly overweight. He had a little red cut under his chin which could mean a shaving accident from the morning.

The guard unlocks his cell. "You have a special visitor." He says.

Avery turns his lip up at him. He hated everyone and everything here in this place. He's been here for two years and had three left to go. He would never get used to this place and not because he grew up in a well off family, but because he wasn't a criminal and he didn't have the mindset. He took the fall for someone and now he was paying the consequences for being a stand up guy, but he was going to figure out who wronged him and make them pay for fucking up his already screwed up life. Every day he's in here, the closer he is to losing his sanity.

"Let's go." The guard said grabbing him by the arm and pulling him down the corridor.

Avery thought this was strange because no one has visited him in the last year besides his mother. Leona would send him letters every couple of months telling him that she loves him and wished she could visit him, but she's got a lot going on recently. He had a feeling that it might be her, but she told him that she was in Los Angeles to relax. So if it was her then it would be a pleasant surprise. "Who is it?" He asked as he was lead down the concrete stairs. He was waiting for an answer to see who was visiting him but he didn't answer him. "Did you hear me?" He was now pissed off.

"You'll see when you get there." He finally said making sure his grip was firm.

Avery could hear the rough voices as he passed the other cells. They hated him and he didn't give on shit or fuck because he could take care of all of them if he really wanted to. Standing at 6'5 and 269 lbs. all muscle, he didn't have to fear anyone in this place or in the world and it helps when he's a black belt in karate and judo. Despite his size he was surprisingly agile and flexible. He and Leona would take classes together but when he got locked up he didn't know if she continued training. It was something that she wanted to do with him and only him and it was a way for them to stay close. He started to wonder if she lost interest since he left a couple of years ago.

"Move it." The said slightly pushing Avery on the shoulder.

Avery had half a mind to break this guys arm but he didn't because his skills were only to be used in defense and he wasn't feeling threatened at this time. He watches as the guard opens the heavy steel door and brings him into the room.

"Your father decided to visit you." The guard said.

Avery looked at him shocked. Why would his father want to visit him? He did put him on the list of people that could visit him, but as a joke. He didn't think he would actually show up to see him. He hasn't been in his life for the past twelve years. What's with his sudden change of heart?

"Third cubicle." The guard says.

"Thanks." Avery says walking over to the cubicle with the guard making sure to stay close to him. Every step he took felt harder and harder to take. All the anger and resentment he had for his father came flooding back as he came face to face with the man that basically abandoned him and became a stranger. He studied him for a second and took in his new appearance. The image of him being the same black haired, drunk, and evil man was no where to be found. Instead he saw a peaceful, sober, gray haired older man with a genuine smile on his face. He looked like he was actually happy to see him, but the feeling wasn't mutual. If there wasn't four inch glass between them then he would probably attack him. Slumping down in the metal chair he roughly grabs the phone and puts it to his ear. "Why are you here?"

"To see my son." He said. The teenage boy that he remembered was long gone. Now a tall, tattooed, muscular, and hurt man stood in front of him. He never expected his son to end up in here in prison, but he blamed himself for everything. "I wish I could hug you."

Avery raises an eyebrow at his father actually being ... a loving father, but he wasn't convinced. "Cut the shit. Why are you here?"

"To be your father." He said.

"To be a father?" Avery asked loudly. It took everything in him not to yell and try to break the glass and charge for his father. He knew that if he snapped then the guard will take him away before he could say what is on his mind. He looks at the guard behind him who shoots him a look. Avery takes a deep breath and looks at his father. "I'm almost thirty. You haven't been in my life when I really needed you. What is the real reason you came here? If you want something it's not like I can give it to you? You need drugs to feed your habit Cornell?"

Cornell knew that his son calling him by his first name would get to him. It was to show him that he didn't respect him as his father or as a man. He wasn't even upset because he didn't deserve to get respect from his son. "I'm clean. I've kicked the habits. I'm trying to mend our relationship."

"What relationship?" Avery said with spite in his voice as he gritted his teeth. "I can't even remember a time when you weren't hitting my mom, Leona, and me. The only happy memory I have is when I was 12 and you took us to Atlantis in the Bahamas. Then I found out that it was just an I'm sorry present for mom when you beat the shit out of her when you were drunk. I'm glad Leona convinced her to divorce your ass. You didn't deserve her you piece of shit!"

Cornell Holgess takes in everything his son said and he felt worse every second. "Listen son." He looks his son dead in his hazel eyes. "I'm sorry. For everything. You don't have to forgive me and I would never blame you if you didn't but I'm sorry and I love you."

"I don't forgive you ... but I love you too Dad. Even after everything." Avery said having a change of heart. "You used to be my hero. Then I found out what you really were."

Cornell breaths a sigh of relief when he hears his son say those three words. It let him know that he still had a chance to try and fix things. "Listen .. I can get you out of here."

Avery raises his eyebrow. "What. Dad I know you have money, but there's not enough to get me out of here and get my record clean."

"Even if you know who you took the fall for two years ago?" Mr. Holgess said offering his son a way out.

Avery's interests elevated. "What are you talking about?"

"I know who did it." He revealed. "You were actually set up."

"By who?" Avery asked looking back at the guard who said that he had two minutes left. "You got two minutes."

"Okay. You know the name Valenton right?" He asked.

"Yeah. The name of the man who always tried to ruin you because you were richer than him. I remember he had a son or a daughter or something like that." Avery said quickly.

"Two sons actually." He said. "His son was there at the store the same time you were. It was a plan. Do you remember what he looked liked?"

Avery remembered it like it was yesterday. "Yeah. Scruffy, green eyes, light skin, shaved head. Who was he?"

Cornell nods. "That's him."

"Who?" Avery asked getting impatient.

"Okay! It was Valenton's second son from another woman. He was the one that actually did the crime. He fled the scene just in time to make it look like it was you."

Avery was a little taken aback by what his father had told him. He had no idea Valenton had two sons."What's his name?" He asked as the guard stood behind him letting him know that visiting was over. Avery looks at his father wanting a quick answer.

"His name is Will." He says as he watches the guard take the phone out of Avery's hand and prepares him for the return to his cell. "I'm gonna get you out of here ... I promise." He yells to him before hanging up his phone and leaving his son in the hands of the guard.

There it is. The 21st chapter!

What do you think?

We have a new character ... Leona's older brother Avery. What do you guys think of him? Let me know. Keep him or let him go?

Where will it go from here? Stay tuned.

Review and tell me what you think. I always give personal shout-outs to my reviewers so you want a shout-out ... REVIEW PEOPLES.