Friday morning had rolled around and the girls were up bright and early. Well, almost bright.
"Ugh, why do we have to be there so early? Can't they wait until the sun actually relaxes in the sky for a second?" Cindy complained.
"There's no sun today." Jazmine informed her as she had already checked the weather for the day.
"Even worse!"
"I feel you... early mornings in winter are the worse! I hate cold weather." Royalty yawned and rubbed her eyes.
Ming shook her head. "You two are grown ass woman who can't even get up in the morning. I am ashamed."
"Ugh! Shut up Ming. Damn. Not everyone is an early bird like you and Jazmine."
"Yeah, me and Royalty are night owls. We don't do this rise and shine shit."
Jazmine grabbed both of the girl's arms and began to drag them out the house. They tried to push their feet into the ground to stop Jazmine from being able to pull them but Ming was right behind them to push on their backs, helping Jazmine. "Thanks Ming! Lazy girls."
What felt like forever, they finally managed to get into the car and drive away from their house.
"I can't believe we're going their willingly without an escort." Royalty spoke from the backseat.
"I know, it's like a secret location that no one knows about." Jazmine nodded next to her.
Cindy pushed back up the mirror after checking to make sure her two braids were still neat, even though it was about to get messy. This style was always her signature growing up when she wasn't forced to have her hair in 'girly' styles and she actually missed wearing it that way. "I mean it's not really secret if we know about it."
"It still kinda is because not everyone knows about. Only a selected few. We just got lucky." Ming pointed out as she pulled up to the location in question.
Jazmine saw how quickly the area changed as she kept her eyes glued outside. "The way this all just changed is crazy. I never remembered it looking like this."
"Well last time, we were either knocked out sleep or driving away deep in thought about what the fuck we were about to do with our lives since we were leaving Chicago." Royalty said to her.
The group of girls had made their way to the warehouse that belonged to The Panthers in full work out gear in the early morning. Today was the first day of physical training they were going to go through. They had no idea what to expect since this training was really about how to defend themselves in a possible life or death situation which was intense to think about. They didn't want to get kidnapped ever again in their lives, that's a fact. That was the worst thing they had to experience, they never wanted to go through something remotely similar to that ever again.
They knew the training was going to be intense, their respective partners had warned them about it before hand because they wanted their girl to be prepared as much as they could. Of course they were going to do better at protecting their girl this time around, that's for sure but they still wanted them to defend themselves and not rely on a man to help them. The first time they saw who they really were, was when Jazmine came flying in and kicking their old boss off his chair, Royalty throwing him back in his chair as if he weighed nothing, then the cherry on top was when they slammed his head against the desk. The girls were tough, that's for sure. They knew not to underestimate them, they would be stupid for doing so.
"Wait, how we getting in?" Jazmine asked as they stepped out the car. They looked around the area and saw Huey and Caesar's car was there as well as a few others.
"Hiro told me the password to get in." Ming held up her phone on the open messages of her and Hiro's conversation.
"Aww look at all them red hearts." Royalty teased her friend as she looked at the messages on the phone.
Ming snatched her phone away from prying eyes. Her friends could see the light blush that formed on her face. "Nosy." Was all she could say to them.
"Don't be ashamed. It's cute." Jazmine winked at her.
"Whatever." Ming rolled her eyes and did her best to try and recover from the embarrassment. She was in front of the girls as she knew how they were going to get inside and knocked on the door. They heard nothing then a static voice from somewhere they didn't know.
"Password."
"R.E.D.S." Ming answered.
A few seconds later, the door opened and a large man stood there with a blank facial expression. "You may enter." He stepped to the side and let them in.
"Thank you."
Cindy looked at Ming curiously. "What does that stand for?" She asked, referring to the password.
"Ruby, Emerald, Diamond and Sapphire aka R.E.D.S. Hiro said that if we ever needed to come here for whatever reason, that is the password we will use to get inside." Ming explained to them all which they all nodded in understanding. They didn't expect for them to have something like their own password to get into a place like this but it did make them feel special. They really went through the trouble of coming up with something easy for the girls to remember that only they will know and then inform their security of the new password added and what the four girls who can use the word look like. Things seemed to be getting serious.
They made their way inside and there were already a few people in there. They looked at the girls confused, wondering who they were and what they were doing there.
"They are probably so confused right now. I don't blame them." Cindy commented as they stopped in the middle of the main room. It was true, they were whispering and looking over their way. They were wondering if these girls were joining the gang but they also didn't look like they were.
"Ming!"
Hearing her name, Ming and the other girls looked over to Hiro standing by a door with a large grin on his face. He waved them over and they walked towards him. As they got closer, he pulled his girlfriend in a hug and kissed her forehead, making the other gang members have somewhat of an idea of who these new girls were. "I see you made it here alright."
Ming nodded. "Yup, it wasn't hard to get here which I guess should be worrying."
Hiro laughed through his nose. "Trust me, anyone trying to cause trouble here will be dealt with in seconds. That's a guarantee, you're all safe here." He reassured them all. "Now let's get down to business."
He stepped out the way and allowed them to enter the room first and as they did, they were in awe at what they saw. Majority of the room was covered with mats with punching bags and various weapons on the sides, some looking very deadly. In the middle of the room stood Huey, Riley, Caesar, Raven and two other girls.
"Hey, you guys ready for some training?!" Raven asked excitedly.
"Couldn't it have been at a later time?" Royalty moaned as she walked over to where Riley was standing.
"Nope! The earlier the better." She grinned.
"We're going to be so sore after this..." Jazmine mumbled but Huey was the only one to hear.
He leaned down to her ear and whispered softly. "If you do, I know a way to make you feel better."
Jazmine could hear the flirtatious tone in his voice, causing her to blush.
"Huey! Keep your dick in your pants, we got training to do." Raven lectured him. "As a matter of fact, that goes for all of you. Let's start off with some warm up and stretches."
Everyone broke off in their own spaces and started to warm up.
"How did you find the journey?" Huey asked, trying to engage in basic conversation with his girlfriend. Girlfriend. Yeah, he still didn't believe it.
Jazmine shrugged as she stretched her arms. "Fairly easy. Cute little password you made for us."
"That was Hiro actually."
"Either way, it was a good one. We will definitely remember it for next time."
Huey sighed before moving to stretch his legs. "I'm trying to keep you from needing to come back here, only on these special occasions. I don't want to make it a habit."
She shrugged. She understood why he would say that, she felt that way too. Their relationship was new so they had to learn about each other's boundaries even though it was already pushed from the moment they met. He had to understand that she was still going to be a stripper while they were together for however long she was planning on doing so. He couldn't rush her or force her to think about her second option in life because that wasn't his job, at least not yet or as intense. He was there to support her in any decision she made to better herself. He didn't want her to feel as if she needed to change her career to please him, he wanted her to do it because she wants to. When that time came, he will make it aware that she had his full support.
Jazmine had to understand that Huey was a leader of a gang leader that practically ran the streets of Chicago. His name was known, his family was known, he had a reputation to uphold. It was never going to be easy. There was going to be sleepless nights from her sitting up waiting for him and enemies at every turn like she had experienced already. This was his lifestyle and she would have to do her best to adapt around it. They had to learn to adapt and build together if they really wanted the relationship to work and they did. They sacrificed so much already, there was no turning back for them, this was the end game. They knew their friends felt the same way with each other too.
"I understand." Jazmine walked forward and wrapped her arms around Huey's torso. He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder, pulling her closer.
"Ladies, you ready?" Raven asked, causing the two to break out of their little moment.
The four dancers nodded and walked over to Raven.
"This is Mirror and this Lily." Raven pointed to the two girls behind her. They all had workout clothes on, making them realise that they were joining in on their training.
Cindy looked at them strangely. "What kind of fucking name is Mirror?" She couldn't help but to say. It sounded rude but it was just her way of asking.
The Arabian girl they guessed was called Lily spoke up first. "Because her dumb ass wouldn't stop staring at one since high school."
Mirror, a Latina, screwed her eyebrows at her long-time friend. "Wow, you make me sound vain."
Lily looked at her in disbelief. "Your name is literally Mirror, that's pretty fucking vain."
"Whatever."
"Ay yo Lily, Mirror, let's get down to business ok?" Raven interrupted the girls.
"Yeah sorry." They apologized. Seeing how quick Raven managed to get them back to being serious made them realise that Raven was a big deal around here. She held authority and the girls seemed to respect her. Raven was definitely not one to play with.
Raven rubbed and then clapped her hands together, grabbing everyone's attention. "Alright, fighting! What you got?"
The group of friends looked at each other while their boyfriends stood to the side and let Raven take lead.
"I mean, slapped a couple hoes here and there." Cindy spoke first.
"When we say slap, we mean more punch because ya know, better impact and damage." Ming added.
"Just depends on the day." Royalty shrugged.
"And the hoe we fighting." Jazmine finished off.
Raven nodded, taking in the information and trying to bring it into training. "Ok, I see. Cindy, I want you to fight Mirror and Ming, I want you to fight Lily."
The boys stepped backwards to allow them to have space to fight, even if the room had enough space further from them. Cindy and Ming looked at each other confused then back at Raven.
"Fight? As in, right now fight?"
"Yup." She pointed at Ming and then Cindy. "The Asian is Ming, blonde is Cindy. Start at 50%." She instructed to Mirror and Lily who nodded in understanding.
Ming and Cindy slowly walked backwards as the two girls walked towards them. "Wait, but I'm not even that angry to be fighting them."
"Doesn't matter, sometimes you just have to fight for the sake of fighting... but for the sake of this, they keep trying it with your man even when he staying faithful and constantly telling her no. They also stole some money from you" Raven quickly set up a scenario, hoping it might help them.
"This should be good." Caesar laughed to himself. He wanted to see what his girl could do.
"Ite..." Cindy looked at her opponent and started to size her up. They were both roughly the same height and build so it shouldn't be that hard, right?
Cindy send a punch to Mirror who dodged effortlessly so she swung again and again but paused when she felt a palm connected with her face. Cindy looked at the girl who had a large smirk on her face. "You did not?"
Mirror smirked. "But I did. I guess all blondes are dumb."
Cindy's eyes turned to slits. She hated being called dumb it was one of her pet peeves. "Bitch!"
From there, Ming decided to try and fight her own opponent while Cindy continued what she was doing. They both were sending pretty powerful swings which some landed but a lot missed. Suddenly, Cindy managed to tackle Mirror to the ground making everyone watch even more intensely.
"Damn." Caesar muttered. He knew Cindy was strong but actually seeing her fight was something.
Cindy managed to punch Mirror twice in the face before Mirror managed to kick her off just seconds later, much to Cindy's shock.
"Royalty, Jazmine, jump in." Raven told the two girls standing on the side.
They looked at her shocked. "Hold on, us? If me and Roy jump in its 4 against 2."
"No fight is ever even in our work. Plus, this should be easier for you then."
Jazmine was nervous as fuck. Out of all her friends, she wasn't the fighter. Yeah, she could smack a bitch and win but this was different. She was going to jump a group of girls she had no business jumping and it was uneven. She was the calmer one of the group who prefer to resolve arguments than sending hands. Don't get it twist, she will still beat someone up if seemed necessary, she just did her best to avoid fights.
Raven saw the underlying look of concern on Huey's face and rolled her eyes. "She'll be fine, I told them to only go 50%." She turned to Royalty and Jazmine. "Well? Let's go girls."
The two sighed but stepped up, Ming now had Jazmine by her side while Cindy had Royalty.
"This girl is kicking my ass at 50%. Shit, I need to do better for myself." Ming breathed out as she looked at Lily who was only a little red in the face from when Ming punched her.
"Let's go." Lily called to her now two, opponents. She was ready to continue even if Ming looked as if she was done.
"Wait... move to 75%." Raven told them, making Huey's eyes go wide.
"Raven-"
"There are people out there that are not going to be holding back. Its training for a reason, they have to learn how to take a punch that has years of experience behind it, at least. Trust in the process Huey."
The fighting started up again and this was more high speed. There were more people involved which meant that Mirror and Lily had to think about what they were doing more. They knew they had to hold back while also put up a fight and their opponents wasn't doing bad. They managed to land a couple of punches and kicks but it was nothing they couldn't handle.
Mirror dropped down low and swiped Cindy's legs who dropped on her back before grabbing Royalty's arm and flipping her onto her back. Once she realised what she did, she instantly felt bad.
"Ay! What the fuck was that?!" Riley shouted at her as he raced over to Royalty who was laying on the floor. Caesar was right behind him to go over to Cindy who was lying on the floor too.
"Bloodclaut..." Royalty muttered as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Raven didn't need to tell the other girls to stop as they already did to make sure Cindy and Royalty were ok. "You girls good?"
"Yeah." They nodded as they sat up.
"You hurt?" Caesar asked Cindy.
She shook her head. "Nah. I mean a little stinging but I'll be good."
"How you feeling Royalty?"
Royalty rubbed her lower back as she looked up at Riley. "My whole life flashed before my eyes."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It was just instinctive." Mirror apologised nervously as she looked at the younger Freeman's face. Riley looked as if he was going to kill her.
"It's cool. No hard feelings." Cindy told her. With the help of her boyfriend, she managed to stand on her two feet.
"Glad to hear that."
Raven took a deep breath. "Alright, you girls did good for ya know, a regular fight. No offence."
"None taken." Jazmine muttered with her hands on her hips. As she said before, fighting was not her strong point.
"But with time and training, you'll be skilled in basic self-defence and fighting. How far you wanna go after the basics, is up to you. Now to the actual training."
"The fact that we just started and I'm already hot." Ming fanned herself.
"I'll put on the air conditioning." Hiro said out loud before walking over to thermostat.
"You got air conditioning in here?!"
"Yup!"
Raven cleared her throat, making the attention fall back on her. She was surprised that Huey hadn't interrupted her teaching to say something or to overtake but he seemed to be trusting her at the moment so she continued.
"Alright, so just a little background on all of us. I have been doing boxing since I was about 12 years old, Riley been doing it since he was 10. Hiro is a black belt in karate. Caesar is brown belt in karate and has a background doing boxing. Now Huey, whew, the boy got a list of things. Kung fu, karate, ninjutsu, boxing, taekwondo, the works. I can't be bothered to remember the rest, he's too much." Everyone laughed while Huey just rolled his eyes.
"Every one of them have been useful."
"Ok Mr Showoff." Raven waved her hands in the air dramatically before going back on subject. "When you fight someone, there are different parts of the body to hit. Some of the most effective body parts to hit is the eyes, nose, neck, groin and knees. The groin being my favourite when I would fight Riley." Raven smirked.
Riley smacked his mouth, annoyed that she brought that up. "That's 'cuz your ass be cheating and not fighting like a real nigga like me."
"Maybe because I'm not a real nigga Riley! Damn, throwing me off... where was I? Oh yeah, dick hits."
The boy's eyes widened when the heard that line.
Caesar put his hands over his groin and looked at his girlfriend with wide eyes. "You better not."
"I mean... I might have to." Cindy smirked before turning to Hiro. "Ay yo Hiro, don't piss off my girl. She did kick ball for a living back in China. Broke people's bones while doing that shit too."
Hiro looked at his girlfriend shocked. "I don't remember hear about this."
"I mean... anyway, continue Raven." Ming turned away from Hiro who face dropped when she looked away. This girl was going to continue to surprise him.
"Yeah so, those are the parts you would want to hit. Now let's get down to the specifics. Huey?"
Raven stepped to the side and allowed Huey to speak. He had been quiet for a long time and it was time for him to actually step in and help. He said he was going to allow Raven to train them but he couldn't help but to be there and help too.
"There are different ways you can take someone down that throws a punch at you. Like so." Huey sent a quick jab to Raven who dodged, grabbed a hold of his shirt, swung her leg behind his and threw him to the ground. As he landed, he decided to just to lie there instead of jumping back up to show how the skill would leave a person on the ground. "And that's just one way of doing it." He looked over at the girls who all looked like they were paying attention which was good to see. He rolled back and got back on his feet. "Or you could do this." Huey turned and sent another punch at Raven but this time with almost like lightning speed. Somehow, she managed to step to the side and punched him straight in the jaw.
Instinctively, Jazmine gasped and ran over to him. "Huey! You alright? That looked like it hurt!"
He shrugged but couldn't take the smirk off his face. "It's fine, I've been hit harder."
"Ohhhhh." The room instigated.
"Nigga called you weak."
"What did you just say?" Raven squinted her eyes at him as she started to threateningly move towards him.
Huey's smirk just grew bigger as he started to step backwards, making sure Jazmine was out the way. "I've been hi-" He dodged when he saw a punch coming his way and stepped around Raven.
He started to bounce on his toes as Raven did the same. "You're such an idiot." She told him but he just shrugged. She ran forward and tried to kick Huey but he grabbed her leg. That didn't stop her. She jumped and turned, kicking him right in the throat before he could react. He dropped her leg and she got back in her stance. "See ladies, the throat is a good spot to hit."
"Fair play." Huey slightly rubbed his neck, not expecting that. "Anyway... When Raven punched me in the jaw, that is something you can do if you manage to dodge a punch successfully since they are left open. You could even knee them in the stomach but I suggest you just punch them somewhere on their upper body or getting behind them, kicking them in the back, making them stumble and running." The girls nodded as they listened. "Try any one I just showed you."
Ming looked at Hiro and barely blinked before seeing his fist coming her way. She just about dodged under it. That's when she decided to run behind him and kick him in the back, making him stumble forward. He turned with a large grin on his face. "Good."
Cindy looked at Caesar as they walked in a circle. She studied his hands and feet, waiting to see what he was going to do. That's when she saw him step forward and throw a punch at her. She moved out the way and kneed him in the stomach, making him bend over in slight pain. Her eyes widened. "Shit, I'm sorry." All she got in return was a thumbs up. She kinda felt bad now.
Jazmine looked up at Huey. Her 5-foot-5 self against his 6 foot 2, muscular build was not something she would think she would ever be able to over power. "Don't overthink it Jazmine, just react the best way you think is possible." She nodded and took a deep breath. Huey took a step forward to punch her. She managed to step to the side and punch him in the same jaw Raven hit. Huey heard her gasp and saw her large eyes stare at him concerningly but he just smirked. "I'm good. You did good. Again."
Riley threw a punch at Royalty who managed to dodge, step behind him while getting a hold of his shirt, hook her legs behind him and threw him on the floor. What she didn't expect was him to pull her on top of him. "You so nasty. Can't do shit right." She laughed at him.
Huey sighed and stopped what he was doing once he saw the youngest of the group laughing together. "I think that's enough of that now and your kind of in the next position I wanted to talk about."
"Oop, Jazzy get your mans, he talking freaky." Royalty teased as she moved off Riley, much to his disappointment.
Huey rolled his eyes while everyone else just laughed. "Not like that. Raven, you wanna take this?"
She nodded and stepped forward as Royalty and Riley stood and got out the way. Riley never let the smile drop from his face as he swung his arm around Royalty's shoulder's as they watched Raven take the next part.
"Ok, Lily, I want you to straddle me." Lily nodded and waited until Raven was laying on her back before straddling her. "What I am about to show you is how to get out of someone being on top of you in two different ways, for whatever reason doesn't matter, whether they are simply attacking you or trying to assault you, you just know you don't want to be there. One thing you can do if they are holding onto your wrist is to stop struggling and when you feel the person loosen their grip, that's when you attack." Raven advised them, making them nod. "So, what you gonna wanna do is thrust your pelvis up, which will make them kind of drop on top of you, then grab on arm, making them lose balance and you quickly flip them onto their back so you're on top. Then you can punch them or get up and run." Raven did step by step slowly so the girls could see and understand what she was talking about. "Try it."
The next five minutes, the dancers tried it out with their partners until they had a basic understanding of the move. At first it was a bit weird because their minds kept drifting off into a very dirty place but once they got their heads wrapped around that idea and imagined it being someone they did not consent to, they managed to get serious.
"Good I like what I'm seeing." Raven praised. "Now I'm going to show you what to do if someone is between your legs." Lily moved so she was between Raven's legs. "When you're like this, the best thing you want to do is kick them away. You can do this by wedging your knee between you and them like so and then getting your other leg to kick them off or in the face. The other thing you can do is grab their forearm, then move your other hand to cross it across to the side of the neck furthest away from you. Put one foot in their pelvis, pivot to the side, the other foot you put it basically deep in their armpit so your foot rest on their shoulder. The leg you put in the pelvis, that is going to come around and hook their neck between your legs. Lock your heels, grab their wrist, then you should be able to push them down and hold onto their wrist tight. To break their arm, all you need to do is lift your hips up and pull and just like that, pop!" Raven explained slowly and as best as she could. She stopped and waited to make sure they were on the same page but it didn't take long because Hiro, Caesar, Riley and Huey were helping when they saw any of them struggling. She was proud of the progress being made already. "Ok, so this is if someone is sitting between your legs. You guys are doing a good job so far. I like what I'm seeing."
She stood and walked around as she watched Ming, Cindy, Royalty and Jazmine try out the different techniques. They seemed to be handling it well which was good to see, it meant they could learn and move on to more technical and difficult things. She could see Huey was pleased with the amount of progress being made today too.
A few more minutes went by and Huey stood, helping up Jazmine at the same time who was grateful for the help. "Alright, we going to take a 20-minute break."
Hearing this made the dancers collapsed on the floor in exhaustion dramatically.
"Finally!" Cindy shouted.
"Why is it so bloodclaut hard fi protect myself?" Royalty cussed.
Riley poked her in the stomach, making her giggle. "Girl stop playing. You and Christina over there being so extra for no reason."
"Extra?! Nigga this shit is hard! You only saying that because you've been doing this for years." Royalty lightly kicked him in the leg before sticking out her tongue, earning her one back.
"Wait Cin, did he just call you Christiana? As in Christina Aguilera?" Ming burst out in laughter.
"I mean... she did dance to her song that one time." Caesar agreed but shut his mouth when he saw Cindy's piercing blue eyes piecing into his soul.
"He calls me Mariah, join the club." Jazmine sighed. She looked up and saw Huey's disappointed facial expression. "Don't look at me like that Huey! No one can be amazingly fit and skilled in fighting like you, you, ninja."
"I feel like that was supposed to replace another word." Hiro mumbled to Caesar who nodded in agreement.
"We've only just started, just to warn you. Anyway, we have something to show you. Well, Royalty, Cindy and Ming."
By now Lily and Mirror were off having their own conversation so the ones that wasn't the top of the gang looked confused.
"What's that?" Cindy asked.
"Yeah, what do we have that Jazmine doesn't?" Ming quested as she walked hand in hand with Hiro.
"Well you gotta come to see." Raven smirked.
"Cindy when you opening up that gym? I think we need it more than ever." Jazmine told her friend with a pout on her friend.
"You wanna open up your own gym?" Hiro asked.
Cindy nodded. "Yeah, that old gym that closed down, I wanna buy and rebuild. Going to have about 4 courts at first then as time goes on I wanna add a gym and swimming pool. As well as hopefully starting up my own basketball team. I just need ya girl here to start her interior designer shit and help a bitch out."
"You know I got you, we starting business soon baby girl. Be ready." Ming pointed at her and the two nodded at each other in understanding.
They walked out the training room and walked to another room. They entered the room to see a young boy leaning over a car seat and Baby Shark playing in the background.
"I know you lying, boy you going to get my son addicted." Raven shook her head and walked over to the car seat. The boy sat back to allow Raven to reach in and pick up the baby. "Cairo look who's here?!" She turned so he could face the people she came in with. At first, he looked lost but then showed off his gum smile.
"Aww he so cute." Royalty cooed as she walked up to him. "Hi Cairo!"
"He's just so adoraablleee. We have the same eyes! Green eyes gang." Jazmine giggled from next to Royalty.
"Oh hey Ghost." Pedro smiled nervously.
Huey nodded in acknowledgement. "You done what I need?"
"Yeah of course." He slid his chair over to a draw and pulled out a black tray to hand to his boss.
"Thanks." He cleared his throat, getting the girls attention away from the baby. "So, as you may know now, Jazmine has a tracker on her necklace. Pedro, show them." Pedro turned to the computer and began to type on the keypad. A few seconds later, the males in the room, besides Cairo, name popped up.
"Look my name there." Jazmine pointed to the spot that said 'Emerald'.
"Where is you guys trackers?" Royalty asked.
"In the back of our necks." Riley answered for her.
"Ew."
"Which is why, the choice is yours, we want to give you trackers but in the form of jewellery like Jazmine's. This way, if we happen to part ways, you won't have to cut something out of your skin to get away from us." Huey explained to them.
"Yeah I could go without seeing a knife." Ming shivered.
"It's not that bad with some numbing cream or spray." Raven shrugged before going back to changing Cairo's diaper which no one even noticed.
"So, what do you say?" Caesar held his arms out, waiting for a reply.
Royalty, Cindy and Ming looked at each other then back at the boys. "Ok, what we got?"
Huey handed the box over to Riley first and stepped next to Jazmine.
"Do you know what they got?" Jazmine asked. She knew she was about to see but she wanted to know.
Huey smirked at her and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in close. It was clear to see the two couldn't get enough of each other. "You gotta wait and see baby."
Baby. He knew what he was doing by saying that. She had every right to slap him upside his head for making her body tingly in public like that. It was rude and she couldn't do anything about it now. She might have to take a detour to his house to punish him.
"Ite so look." Riley started, making Royalty roll her eyes. "A nigga got this for you or whatever." He opened the box before pulling out a silver piece of jewellery. "Issa ankle bracelet since I know you like wearing them and I haven't seen you take them hoes off."
"I mean, my grandma said it meant for hoes so there might be a reason I like it so much." She joked, making the room lightly laugh. She too the item and inspected it, reading what was on the plate. "Wait, how you know about 876?"
Riley looked and talked nonchalantly but inside, he was jumping for joy that he could see she liked it. "I remember when you told me that 876 was the area code in Jamaica and that you were gonna get it tatted so I put it on there."
"Aww that's so sweet... I'm still getting it tatted tho."
"Shit, ion mind as long as you like it."
"Yeah I definitely do." Royalty grinned before moving over to put the anklet on with the help of Riley.
Caesar received the box from Riley. "Alright, a real nigga turn."
"Nigga you wish."
"Sure, whatever." Caesar rolled his eyes and then grinned at Cindy. "I got a lil sum sum for you." He reached into the box and pulled out a gold charm bracelet for her. "For you my gurl."
Cindy allowed Caesar to clip the bracelet around her wrist before looking over it. "You love giving me bracelets don't you?"
"I meaann that little blue string was just the beginning." There were two charms already attached to it. One was the letter C and the other was a basketball. "As time goes on, imma buy you more to add to it."
"Thanks Caes." Cindy hugged him before going to watch Ming receive her gift.
"Now, don't freak out, it's not what it looks like." Ming looked at him confused when he warned her but understood when he pulled out a simple, gold, ruby ring. "As I said, not what it looks like. Trust me, when that day comes, it's going to bigger and fancier."
Ming watch Hiro slip it onto her ring finger on the right hand. "Which is why it's on right hand and not left, not yet baby."
"Aww." Jazmine pouted as she leaned into Huey's arms.
"Thanks Hiro, I love it and I'll make sure it stays on." Ming threw her arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a tight hug.
Pedro whipped away his fake tears. "So beautiful."
Raven shook her head at him but she couldn't help but agree. It was a nice thing to witness.
"Show them Pedro." Huey told him, breaking everyone out of their own little bubble.
After a couple of typing later, 'Diamond', 'Ruby' and 'Sapphire' all popped up on the screen in the same location as the others.
"I have never had a tracker before... so cool." Cindy grinned.
"It has its pros and cons." Raven sighed before looking at the time. "He's due for a feed and nap."
"I got it from here." Huey stepped up, knowing she had to take care of her responsibilities, making Raven nod in thanks.
Royalty's eyes grew wide. "Wait, we're actually going to do more?!"
"Yes." The boys all answered at once.
Jazmine's face dropped. "We're going to end up crawling home at this rate ain't we?"
"Pretty much."
"Damn straight."
"Nope!" Ming tried to run away but Hiro managed to catch her. He threw her over his shoulder while she struggled to get down. "Hiro! Put me down!"
"Nope!" He laughed at her struggling.
Cindy looked at Caesar who gave her a 'don't even try it' look. She sighed. "I'll walk..."
With that, they couples and almost couple walked back to the training room to continue their training that was going to drain them. They couldn't believe that they have only just started the day. All they knew was that they were going to sleep good tonight.
It was lunch time and Coco was playing with her cousin, Tay on the swings.
"Tay, I can't wait for our birthday next week!" Coco spoke excitedly.
Tay nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Mommy and daddy said they are getting us a special cake."
In the following week, Tay was turning 5 and Coco was turning 4. The cousins just so happened to be born on the same day but a year apart. Since Coco was now staying with Anthony, they decided to give the girls a joint birthday party which they were both thrilled about. They talked about it every day since they got told they could have the party.
"Mom got our outfits but she's hiding it so we don't see it."
"Aww I wish we could see now."
"Well I know mine is going to be really cool and I get face paint." Tay grinned. When it came to being creative, she couldn't stop talking about it. It was her favourite thing to do.
Coco pouted. "Do you think I can too?"
"Yeah! Mom can do yours too!"
"Ok!"
The two cousins played on the swings talking about random things a 3 and 4 year old would talk about, both off in their own world.
"Psst!"
"Psst!"
Coco and Tay looked around confused.
"What's that?" Tay asked.
Coco shrugged.
"Psst!"
They gasped. "I heard it again!"
"Freeman!"
Hearing their last name, the two searched harder to the source of the noise. Seconds later, Tay locked eyes on an older man dressed in all black.
"Um, Coco... look at that creepy man." Tay pointed to the person in question.
The man saw he had got the attention from the two girls he was looking for. He had no idea what their names were besides their last name and he was glad that the first children he got the attention from was the right ones he was looking for. At least they knew what their last name was, otherwise this plan wouldn't have worked.
He waved the two over to the gate while also looking out for anyone that could catch him out.
"Do you think we should go over there?" Coco asked, as she titled her head to the side.
Tay shook her head. "Daddy says stranger danger. Don't trust grown white men trying to talk to me."
"Freeman!" The man called again, this time more harshly. He needed to get out of there.
Coco pulled her older cousin off the swing. "Come on, he might be friendly. He might know daddy." In Coco's mind, she thought that this man could be her father's friend since he also dressed in black and knew her last name. He had to be friendly right?
"Finally." The man mumbled under his breath but put on a large smile once the girls got closer. "Hey there Freeman's."
He looked at the two girls and could see what people talked about. The family genes were strong which made it easier to find them.
"Do you know our daddy?" Tay asked cautiously.
"Something like that."
"So you know he beat people up."
The man had to lean back in surprise. He didn't expect the child to say something like that but then again, she was a child, their mouths didn't have filters and minds had endless amounts of imagination.
"Yeah but I'm a friendly person. Me and your dads are... friends." He saw the girls weren't very convinced and panicked. "Uh, hey! I got a gift for you." He pulled out a small blue box that had a padlock on the front. "Well, for when you bring it home to your dad."
Coco gasped. "Did you know it was our birthday?!"
The man raised an eyebrow, amused at the coincidence. "Yeah, sure, whatever kid. Happy birthday or whenever. Just make sure that you take this straight home and show no one. No teachers. If you do, they will take it away from you and never give it back ok? It's important that you make it home with that."
Tay looked at the man in suspicion. "I don't trust you... you're weird."
"I'm not weird!" He shouted, getting flashback to middle school and people always calling him weird. The girls jumped back scared and the man realised what he done. "Sorry sorry. Look, take this. It's my sorry present now." He found the lifted piece of fence and slipped the box under.
Coco reached down and picked up. The two girls leaned close as she shook the box. They could hear something moving. "I can hear it."
Tay looked at the front of the box. "Why is there a lock?"
"Because I put it on there." The man answered with a large smile on his face. He did what he needed to do, he wanted to leave now.
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to."
"Why?"
"So it can stay a surprise."
She huffed. "Do I have to say why again? I'm not a baby."
The man screwed his eyes at Tay, trying to intimate her but she surprising stood her ground as Coco looked on.
"Well from my position, you look like a baby."
"Well maybe you should get glasses."
He was shocked. She was no more than 5 but talked as if she was 15. Who was raising this child? She shouldn't be able to talk the way she did. "Listen here you little shit- ow!"
"You said a bad word!" Coco managed to reached through the fence when he wasn't looking and pinched his arm.
He began to rub his arm frustratedly. This was supposed to be an easy drop off. "You mothe-"
The bell signally lunch rang through the playground and the younger children started to run inside. Coco and Tay turned to watch their friends run inside.
"We have to- where he go?" Coco looked around confused. The man they were talking to was gone.
"I don't like him." Tay told her cousin truthfully.
"Well, he got us a present."
"So?"
"Tay! Coco! Come to class now!" Their teacher called them over before Tay could reply.
Coco hide the box as best as she could in her pocket. "Put it in your bag." Tay advised her cousin. Coco nodded before the two took off to run back to their lesson, the man long forgotten in their minds.
"I'm home!" Anthony announced as he stepped inside his home.
"Daddy!"
"Uncle Tony!"
He kneeled down to catch them both in a hug before standing up with both in his arms. "Wow, you're both becoming big girls, aren't you?"
"Yeah, 'member it's our birthday uncle Tony!" Coco answered. Ever since she started staying with Anthony, she started to call him uncle despite being her second cousin. He then decided to tell Coco and Tay that they should call his cousins aunt and uncle. They were all close enough to be siblings so it just fit for them to say it. Ever since then, they called everyone auntie and uncle.
He smiled at the girls in his arms. "Not yet Coco. Soon. Now, where is my wife?"
Tay wrapped her arm around her father's neck. "She say she going to make dinner."
"Alright, to the kitchen we go."
He walked to the kitchen with both girls still in his hands to see his wife placing sliced fruits on the table on the highchair where his 1 year old daughter sat.
"Hey baby." Tiana Freeman walked over to her high school sweetheart and gave him a kiss on the lips.
"Eww." Coco and Tay screwed their face in disgust.
"Babies." Anthony stuck his tongue out at them before placing them on the ground. He walked over to other daughter in the highchair and started to smoother her in kisses. The baby giggled while trying to fight off her dad that was attacking her with kisses.
"Dada!" Angel Freeman screamed out.
"Daddy leave sissy!" Tay walked over to try and protect her sister.
Anthony acted hurt. "Wow, my own daughters are against me." He turned to his wife. "What did you do to my babies?!" He asked playfully.
Tiana rolled her light brown eyes that her daughters inherited. "Stop playing... how was work?"
He shrugged. "Still training both teams for their last game of the semester. Nothing crazy. You?"
She sighed. "I got a new case. She's 15 and just found out she's pregnant by a dude that's 18 but she won't say who."
"Damn."
"Same thing I said."
Tiana worked as a social worker for adolescents who were in the foster system. Anthony being a teacher and Tiana being a social worker meant the two could work off each other if they just so happened to know the same child. It made work easier for both of them.
"I'll look into it."
"Thanks."
"Mommy what's for dinner?" Tay asked as she finished up her fruit that she abandoned when she heard the door open.
"We're having tuna pasta." Tiana answered her daughter as she went over to Angel to take her out of the highchair and pass her over to her father.
"Ok."
Anthony took a seat at the table Coco and Tay were sitting at with Angel in his arms. "So, have you thought about what you might for your birthday girls?"
Their birthday was the talk of the month. It was just before Halloween and Huey's birthday that just so happened to fall on the same week so the theme kind of went with the holiday.
"Ummm, a colouring book and some paint and an iPhone?" Tay asked sweetly.
Anthony nearing chocked. "iphoonnneee?"
"Yeah!"
"Hm. When you 15." Tay pouted but Anthony looked away before her puppy dogs' eyes could get him. "What about you Coco?"
"Uh, a bike!"
Anthony nodded, already knowing Dante had brought one for her. "Ok wh-"
Suddenly, Coco gasped making Anthony and Tiana's heart leap in their chest. "What is it Coco?" Tiana asked.
"The present!" Coco shouted before running off. Tay understood what she meant and chased after her.
"What are those girls up to?"
Anthony shook his head before placing Angel back in her highchair as he saw she wanted more fruit. "I have no clue but I'm scared."
The two girls ran back with a small blue box in their hand. "There was a man that gave this to us at school. He told us not to open it until we got home." Coco told them.
Instantly, Anthony snatched it out of Coco's hand. "Daddy, that's ours!"
"Who gave it you? What did he look like?" He asked seriously. He could feel his blood pressure rising.
They shrugged. "He wore all black and had a funny accent."
The adults felt a sick feeling in their stomach. "What else did they say?"
"They said they knew our daddies." Coco nodded as she thought back to the conversation they had.
"And where was this man?" Tiana asked. She had her hand on her phone ready to call whoever she needed to call.
"By the school gate." Tay answer her mother's question. "At lunch time he called us over."
"Did he call you by your first name?"
They shook their head. "No, he said Freeman."
Tiana looked at the box and she felt the colour drain from her brown skin. "Why is there a padlock?"
"Girls, go watch some tv." Anthony instructed the girls. Without hesitation, they walked into the living room to find something to watch. He followed behind, carrying the highchair so he and his wife could talk alone.
"What do you think is in there?" Tiana asked nervously now that they were alone.
"I don't know and I don't really want to find out."
"But we're going to have to open it at some point Tony."
He sighed. "I know I know... you got your phone?" She nodded. "Alright, keep it close just in case we need to call someone. Bobby pin?" Tiana walked over to her bag and reached into the bottom, knowing she always had a random things at the bottom.
"Here you go." She handed the item over and stood nervously behind him.
Anthony began to pick the padlock. It was a questionable skill to have but he grew up in a questionable family. This was a basic skill they all learned when they were preteens. It was skill he was always good at doing.
It only took a minute for Anthony to unlock the padlock. He stood and looked at his wife.
"You ready?"
She nodded with wide eyes. She was scared at what was in the mystery box a stranger gave to her child. The fact that the school failed to address this incident was getting her angry and she didn't even care about what was inside, yet.
Anthony took a deep breath. He moved his hand forward and lifted the top half of the box.
"Ahh-!" Tiana screamed but was cut off by Anthony covering her mouth with his large hand. He pulled her into his arms as he turned her away from the blue box. He didn't want the girls to run back into the kitchen and see what they were seeing if they heard Tiana scream.
Tiana felt as if she was hyperventilating and tried her best to calm down but it was hard to after what she just saw.
Anthony looked into his wife's water eyes. "Baby, please don't scream, I don't want the girls coming in." She nodded quickly and he slowly removed his hand.
She took a deep breath, trying to get her breathing back to normal. "Tony what the fuck?!" She whispered yelled, being cautious of her volume. "Why is this happening to us?!"
"I got to call Dante..."
"I don't care which fucking cousin you call, just call them. Who gives a 3 and 4 year old a box of three different shades of fingers?!"
"Shhh." Anthony tried to shush his wife. He made sure the tv was at a good level but he still wanted to be quiet.
"Don't you sh me motherfucker." She pointed her finger at him. "This is some serious shit Anthony! This is our daughters we're talking about."
"I know, I'm pissed too."
"It doesn't seem like it."
"I ain't going to achieve shit by fucking screaming am I?" He asked her sarcastically.
She crossed her arms angrily. "I am going to get them kids ready and we're going to go down to that school to find out what fucking man came up to our kids while you tell your fucking cousins the shit that is going on." Tiana stomped out the kitchen but came back a second later. "And put that shit in a plastic bag, I don't wanna see it and I don't want the girls to either!" She stomped back out the room.
Anthony sighed and pulled out his phone. He was pissed too and knew this was not going to be a relaxing Friday evening.
Raven dodged to the side as she watched an incoming punch. "Nice jab Cindy. If that connected, I know that shit would've hurt."
Hours later and the group were wrapping up their session. It had been a long day of training and the girls could feel their body becoming sore.
Cindy stood up straight with her hands on her hips, breathing heavily. "Damn. I have never been so fucking tired from training before."
"Well actually training to fight pushes your body to new limits. You try to learn so many skills at one time it can be hard." Hiro told her.
"I know that's right." Royalty said from her spot. She was laid out on the mat as if she was a star fish with her eyes closed. "A quick little fight because a bitch disrespected me or my girls, cool, I got that. A full-length fight that is a matter of life and death as if I am in the Equaliser? I'll catch you later."
"Girl stop being dramatic." Riley lightly kicked her foot as he walked over to her.
Royalty looked up at him annoyed. "Nigga as I said before, you've been fighting for years, I play fought for years. Don't chat shit to me."
"Ok Rihanna." He held his arms up in defence.
"Am I the only one that doesn't have a nickname?" Ming asked.
"Nah your ass is Lucy as in Lucy Liu from Charlie's Angel and shit."
Jazmine shook her head and laughed. "So you finally have a name for all of us?"
"Yup!"
"I still don't know how he comes up with them." Caesar shook his head at his long-time friend.
"Neither do I." Hiro agreed.
"Let's get this straight. Ming is Lucy, Cindy is Christiana, Jazmine is Mariah and Royalty is Rihanna. Oh right, and Raven is Gabriella but you've been calling her that for years."
"But Raven actually looks like her, none of us look like the person he compared us to." Jazmine pointed out.
Before they could all argue, Dante stormed into the room with Demetrius and Faith running behind up, catching the group off guard.
Huey instantly turned his attention to his angry cousin who went straight to the punch bag and throwing punches at it. "Dante. What's up with you?"
"I'm going to kill them niggas!"
"What niggas cuz?" Riley asked seriously too. He was ready to kill anyone that was troubling his cousin.
"Them Russian fucks! They came to my fucking daughters' school! They came to Tay and Coco's school and talked to them!"
The room was full of shock. "Shit, they good?"
"Yeah but that doesn't fucking matter. They gave them a motherfucking box with fucking fingers inside but they didn't see, only Tony and Tiana saw. I'm pissed!" Dante shouted as he punched the bag again.
Raven's eyes squinted together. "Who the fuck do they have? We always on a rescue mission but I think it's time we just start offing them all quickly."
Huey shook his head but paid attention to his angry cousin. "Do they know what the guy looks like?"
Dante was too angry to hear the question so Faith answered for him. "Tiana and Anthony are going down to the school now to get them to check the cameras. They have the box with them."
"Good. We're going. Then we can leave and sort some shit out."
"Fine by me. I don't care who comes, just know I'm killing somebody today." Dante stormed out the room without giving anyone a second to fully take in what he said.
Faith sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Take care of him please, I know he's extra stressed now."
"Yeah you know we got him." Riley reassured her.
Huey turned to Jazmine. "Sor-"
"No need to apologise. This is more family than business. Go do what you need to do. Text me when you can." Jazmine walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. If the situation wasn't so serious, his cousin would've teased him but it wasn't the time. They had to be serious. "We're going to go home and take the day off to relax."
"Ok. Text me when you guys get home." They all said goodbye to each other before racing out the room to go where they needed to go, leaving the girls behind.
Raven sighed. "This shit is never easy. I'm just tired of all these rescue missions we've been going on lately. Something needs to pop off again."
"It makes my job easier because none of you have had too bad of injuries." Faith told her.
"Baby don't jinx that."
"Sorry, I'm just a little worried."
Jazmine walked up to Faith and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure they'll be fine. They're too stubborn to get themselves hurt."
Faith sighed. "Sometimes I wish that was enough."
"Well, I guess we have to get used to this. Them going away so suddenly and all." Cindy stretched.
The women began to slowly walk outside just as Pedro came to hand over Cairo who was comfy in his car seat.
"Here. Take me and Faith number. If you need anything even to check up on any of your boyfriends, text us. Or to just chill, whatever female friends do together." Raven offered.
"Sure, send it to Jazzy first and she can share it with us." Ming suggested, which they then did.
An idea popped into Royalty's head. "You know what we should do? Go to a club and I mean not Empire or the Blue Moon. A different club. Girls night. Dress up all fine that our mans will wanna come and follow us."
"I'm the only one here that's single." Raven rolled her eyes.
"Technically I am too." Royalty mumbled to herself.
Faith started to tease Raven. "No wonder your ass is so uptight. Maybe you can find some dick there and loosing you up."
"I mean that's one way you could put it but it works too." Cindy smirked next to them.
"Wow. I'm not that bad. Plus, I am a single mother who happens to be in a gang and running two clubs. I ain't got time for a nigga."
"Well maybe you will have time for one when we find you one." Royalty grinned.
Raven could see Cairo starting to fuss and sighed. She turned to the girls waiting for an answer with anticipated smiles. "Fine. Fine. But I don't do one-night stands or sleep with someone the first time I meet them."
"I mean maybe the second time you could. Worked for Royalty and Riley." Ming pointed over to her.
"Did it really?"
"Heyyy. We're getting there." Royalty tried to defend themselves.
"Just try and relax Raven." Jazmine smiled at the taller woman.
"Oh my gosh, bbyyeeee! All this peer pressure right now. See you ladies later. Faith, you not doing anything. Come join me out to eat." Raven started to speed walk as best as she could holding a car seat.
"Don't have to tell me twice. Bye girls."
The Gems walked over to their own car and stared at it.
"I'm not driving. I can't feel my legs." Ming told them as she made her way straight to the back seat.
"I nominate Jazmine."
"Agreed." Royalty nodded at Cindy's suggestion as she made her way to the other side of the car to get in the back too.
"Here's the keys Jazzy." Ming handed the keys over to Jazmine who looked at it in disbelief.
"Wow. Where's the love?"
"At home, where you're gonna drive us to." Cindy replied, making Jazmine want to slap her hand over her face.
"I can't stand you hoes sometimes."
The Freeman's, Hiro and Caesar all rolled up to the school, ignoring the questioning looks they were receiving. They knew none of them had children in the school so it was a bit weird that they were here.
"Hi, I'm here to talk to the principle." Dante walked up to the front desk and asked. "My cousin is already in there with my daughter, Cori Freeman."
The receptionist instantly recognising him. "Yes, go through."
"Me and Caes are gonna hang back out here."
Huey nodded at his friends before follow Dante as he expertly navigated through the school.
"Daddy!" Coco ran over to her father that she hadn't seen in 4 days. She just so happened to be coming back from the bathroom when she saw him walking to the same place she was going.
"Hey baby." He squatted down so he could give his daughter a hug and kiss.
"Hi uncle Dem, uncle Huey and uncle Riley." Coco waved behind him.
"Hey Coco."
She turned back to her father with a frown. "Daddy, am I in trouble?"
"No baby. Nothing like that."
"Ok... auntie Tia and uncle Tony are really mad."
Dante took a deep breath, trying not to get angry himself. His cousin and wife had every right to be mad, he was too. "Daddy is too baby but everything is going to be fine. Don't you worry."
"I still get birthday?"
"Of course."
"Yay!" Coco looked behind Dante again and looked at Huey. "Your birthday is coming too! You having party?"
'Just one step closer to death.' Huey thought but he knew he couldn't tell a 3-year-old that. He still struggled on how to talk to children sometimes and he wasn't around his baby cousins enough to learn how to. Dante and Anthony already told Huey that he couldn't say that to the girls, it would traumatise the poor girls and so far, he was doing a good job at not breaking their dreams.
"No I am not." Was all he decided to say.
Coco frowned. "Well, next time."
Demetrius stepped forwards. "Let's do what we gotta do."
They silently agreed and walked into the office. They could hear the sound of a muffled voice of a female shouting behind the next door they were about to walk through.
"Damn." Riley cursed under his breath.
Tay was sitting on the chair outside the office door on her tablet and looked up. "Hi." She waved.
They greeted her back. "Coco, go sit next to your cousin while we talk to your teacher."
"Ok daddy."
The little girls went back into their own conversation as they men walked into the office.
"Mrs Freeman-" The principle started but stopped when she saw the additional people who entered the room. "Oh, um hello Mr Freeman. I see you brought the family along but I don't see the need."
"Well I saw the need for the school to be paying attention to a strange man hanging around my daughters' school who then happened to communicate and give something to her and her cousin. As we both know, you failed to inform me and my cousin about that." Dante replied.
Riley had to supress his snicker as he saw the womans smile drop. "He gotchu there huh?"
She cleared her throat. "Yes, an unfortunate event that we are looking into. We will be contacting the police-"
This time Huey cut her off. "No need. You'll be wasting their time."
"But it is the school's policy to get the police involved in such incidents."
"It doesn't matter. The school and police are going to do little about it." Anthony told her. It was sad truth that they all knew. As a teacher himself, he sadly has witnessed cases that needed to go further fall flat on deaf ears.
"I want a report from all the staff present on today's lunch time to understand why they were unable to supervise all children in their care." Tiana looked the woman dead in the eyes as she said it seriously. Her professionalism was kicking back in after screaming for a whole minute.
The principle took a deep breath. The Freeman's were nice people when she first met them at the enrolling of their daughters but now, they just seemed scary. She did not want to have them come to her office again, especially in this mood.
"I want to see the security cameras." Huey added to the list of demands.
"I'm sorry Mr Freeman but as you do not have a child that goes to this school, I cannot provide you with such evidence. By right, you shouldn't even be in the room as well as the other two at this moment in time."
Anthony leaned forward in his chair. "Listen. We're already not happy about how a someone was talking to our daughter while on school grounds, a place where these types of events should not happen, I suggest you give my cousin what he needs so he can find that man. I know he will actually get the job done. No one messes with a Freeman, that's for sure."
"Unless you want the other parents to hear about your failed safeguarding. They won't be too happy knowing that could've been their own child." Tiana added.
"I understand your frustration..." She trailed off. She looked around at the family all glaring at her. At first, she wasn't going to give in but she knew they were going to find a way to get it anyway. She grabbed the phone and began pressing some buttons. "Hi, can you have security pull up the video footage of today, around the end of lunch time, on the north side of the playground by the gate please?"
The Freeman's smirked. Huey was just happy he didn't have to rough up no security guard. Even if the principle said no, he was still going to find the security to get what he needed. He was going to find out who wanted to mess with his baby cousins and whether a person decided to co-operate or not was his problem. He was going to get what he needed.
It took another 30 minutes for the Freeman's to get what they needed before leaving the school, much to the principles relief.
"You didn't need to come you know." Anthony said, directing it to Huey, Riley and Demetrius.
"That's my niece, I'm always going to come through every time."
"Yeah and plus, that shit is 'coz of our shit anyway." Riley told him.
Huey slightly nodded. "Don't worry. I got something for that bitch anyway."
"Ok." Anthony remembered what he needed to hand over and quickly went to his car to pull out the plastic bag that he was glad the girls didn't see. "This for you. The lock already picked."
"Still picking locks I see." Huey smirked.
"Nigga you just mad that I was better at doing it."
"Was being the key word."
Before they could go back and forth as always, Tiana honking the horn got their attention. "The kids are hungry! Let's go Tony."
Anthony sighed. "The wife called... make sure you get that dickhead that wanted to try and fuck with my kids." There was time when Anthony fully agreed with what they did. He wouldn't be able to do it himself and as sick as it sounded, he was glad that he had people to do certain things for him in a heartbeat.
"Trust me. That nigga ain't gonna see another day once we find him. That's a promise cuz." Riley said seriously.
"Good. Hit me up when you got something."
"Will do." Demetrius told his older cousin.
The little family drove off as Dante came back over to them after waving to his daughter goodbye. "You got the box?"
Huey lifted the plastic bag to show he had it in his hands. He took it out and opened it, showing the same fingers that Anthony and Tiana saw and the what Coco and Tay could've seen. "Any of you recognise the hand?"
"Yeah, that one is that nigga uh, Carl, yeah. He does corner shit. He's had that finger tat for years." Dante answered.
Just then, a female ran up to Huey and slapped him across the face. "Who the fuck-!"
"Where is my brother?!" She shouted at him.
"Who the fuck is your brother?" Huey asked, pissed that a random woman decided to slap him across the face.
She sarcastically laughed. "Wow, nigga doesn't even keep track of his own people. What a shit leader you are."
"Tell me who the fuck your brother is and maybe I can help your dumb ass." He never liked cussing at women but sometimes, they deserved it. He just never put hands on them.
"Carl nigga!" She answered, fighting the tears that wanted to run down her cheeks.
"Well shit, the timing was not good." Demetrius scratched his neck before slowly taking the box from Huey hand.
She saw this and squinted her eyes. "You know something... what's in the box?"
"None of your concern hoe."
"My name is Mary, not hoe. I'm not like them girls you be fucking."
Riley's mind instantly went to Royalty. "Ay, listen bi-"
"Give me the box." Mary turned away from Riley and turned to Demetrius and snatched the box out his hand.
"Oi!" He shouted as he tried to pull it back but it was too late.
The box opened and everything dropped on the floor.
Mary slowly bent down and inspected one of the fingers. Her blood went cold then hot in a split second, she didn't even have time to scream in fear. "What did you do?! I knew I should've told his ass to leave you alone! You ain't shit Ghost! You think you the shit but you just a bummy ass nigga that uses people's addiction for gain. You killed my brother!" She screamed at him.
As she went to slap him, he grabbed her wrist and stared at her right in the eyes. "I never killed your brother so get that shit right. Your dumb ass is actually holding us up from finding him so why don't you turn your loud ass somewhere else while we sort this shit out. Be grateful that we're going to look for him whereas another fucker would've left his ass." He knew she was upset but again, he didn't take disrespect lightly no matter how angry you were. People seemed to have be reminded their place again and he didn't mind putting them right back where it was.
"You have 24 hours to bring my brother home. If not, I'm calling the cops." She threatened.
"Bitch they not gonna do shit. You wasting your fucking time."
"Try me nigga. 24 hours. That's it!" Mary turned and stormed away. She left with more questions than answers which just made her angrier. She wanted her brother back and she wanted him now.
It was silent for a few seconds before Caesar and Hiro walked over to the group of Freeman's watching the angry woman speed away in her car they didn't even notice pull up. She must've just found them by chance.
"You got what you need?" Caesar asked. The two had heard the shouting match before they even went over so he didn't even need to ask anything about it.
"Yeah. We got the video. Just gotta get Pedro to do his shit." Dante answered him. He was more relaxed knowing his daughter was ok but he was still ready to break some necks at the same time.
"And there's just fingers on the floor..."
"Which we found out one is Carl's."
"Damn, he was a good dealer." Caesar shook his head sadly.
Hiro turned to Huey. "So, we doing this?"
Huey looked at them all and slightly nodded. "We're doing this."
"You know, you are really putting up a fight for a nigga that is nearly dead."
"Because I know Ghost is going to find me."
"Ghost doesn't give a fuck about you! You're still here aren't you? Where's your knight in shiny armour at huh? Huh?!"
"Urghh!"
Cheetah threw her brass knuckles off her blood-soaked hands after punching her victim across the face one last time and looked at him in the chair. "Pathetic." She spat in his barely recognisable face from how bloody and broken his face looked. She wiped her hands on a cloth she had near her. "Do you not see how serious I am?! I already killed your fucking friend." She pointed over to the body on the floor. She was long gone dead. Within the first hour of her being there, she was already had her intestines in her lap.
"I didn't know her."
"Stop lying! I know you know something more than her you bitch!" Cheetah grabbed a knife and frustratedly threw it his way, narrowly missing his face.
"You missed." He just about smirked at her.
She squinted her red eyes at him. "Ok smart ass." She ran forward with speed he has only seen from one other person and kicked him in the chest, making the whole chair flip over. She took deep breathes before walking over to him. He wasn't moving. "Whoops. He dead?" She checked his pulse. "Nah, he good." She stepped outside to the two men and one woman standing outside. "Take their bodies and dump them somewhere. He ain't dead just out cold." The men nodded and walked inside to collect the bodies while the women strolled back inside.
"You're messy."
Cheetah looked over at the other woman. "Excuse me?"
"I said you're messy. Look at all the mess you made. I bet you didn't even get what Vladimir needed."
"Unless you wanna join your twin sister in an unmarked grave, I suggest you watch your mouth." Cheetah threatened.
Natasha rolled her eyes. The comment stung but she didn't want to show that it got to her. "You only get to do this because we know you fucked Vladimir."
Cheetah squinted her eyes at her. "Your fast ass did too, don't try and lie. At least the times I did fuck him was years before you even crossed his mind so don't get it twisted whore. I was there before he led this gang."
People had heard rumours about the two having a romantic relationship. Some thought it was true while others thought it was just lies. Natasha smirked, she just admitted to sleeping with her boss, she didn't even care that the question was flipped onto her.
"Doesn't matter. At least he respects me."
Cheetah snorted before stepping out the way as the two men dragged out the bodies. "He just keeping you. Ain't shit to respect about your ass."
"Whatever. What kind of name is Cheetah anyway?"
"The name I was born with."
"Right because anyone with a brain cell would name their child Cheetah."
In a blink of an eye, Cheetah had Natasha pushed up against the wall and a silver blade pressed against her neck.
"You talk too much and if you must know, it was the ones who raised me ever since my parents were killed. One that saw how fast I was compared to anyone my age."
"So, your parents were killed... what did they call you before?" Natasha asked, much to Cheetah's distaste. She didn't like people in her personal life. The least they knew about each other, the better.
"None of your business bitch."
Natasha smirked. "Aww did I-ow!"
Cheetah blade dug into the girl's shoulder. She didn't care that Vladimir was going to lecture her for harming one of his toys but she didn't care. The girl needed to be put in her place and she didn't mind doing it physically. "Listen here Natasha." She said her name in disgust as she looked the girl deep in her eyes. "I don't take disrespect lightly, especially from a whore like you. Giving your pussy up doesn't mean shit around here, you're just another one of his play things."
"I have a feeling you just mad because your parents are dead or that you're not Vladimir's favourite anymore." Natasha said through gritted teeth.
Cheetah dug the blade in deeper before pulling it out. She made sure Natasha saw her own blood dripping off the blade. "You know... I've always had a thing for knives. I just loved them so much. Now think about how fast I can catch your dumb ass slipping if you try some slick shit again. I'm sure we can get another bitch to replace you. Remember, you are replaceable whereas there is only one Cheetah, skank."
As much as she wanted to say something witty back, she chose not to. She knew even if she said something and then ran, Cheetah would catch her. Whether it being her knife or hands first, she just knew it was almost impossible to outrun her. The woman was just so fast.
"Get the fuck out my face." Cheetah threw the girl to the side, who stumbled at first. Once she regained her footing, she made her way straight out the room and to find the person who could fix her up. Her dislike for Cheetah had now grown even larger. She really wishes she could kill her... maybe that's what she needed to do, then Vladimir could see how good she was. Maybe one day, she will get what she wished for.
Cheetah took a deep breath to calm herself down before looking around the room. It was a standard torture room, a place she usually found herself. The smell of blood was still flooding her senses but she was so used to it by now, she didn't even notice it. She couldn't help but to think... what was her real parents like? She was a grown woman but it was still a question that was always at the back of her mind. She was told they were killed in a car accident which she was involved in also, that's why she can't remember anything from before. She just remembers waking up in a room and a woman watching over her. The woman that soon became a mother to her.
The woman and her husband that became her father to her never discussed her past with her, it was weird but she never thought too much into it. They just said they tried finding distant relatives but never could. Since then, she didn't care. She had them and Vladimir. That was all she needed. Well, thought she needed.
She sighed and whipped the blood of her knife. 'I need to get my head straight. If something was wrong with my past, it would've come to light already. Nothing has changed. I need to accept it. Now all I need to focus on is taking down the Panthers... starting with the head.'
Cheetah walked out of the torture room with her head held high. She had a couple more plans up her sleeve, agreeing with Vladimir to send the fingers to their house were just the beginning. She had a lot of things in store and with help with her little torture dummy's friend, she got what she needed. She was about to knock the Panthers down one by one and she was going to enjoy doing so.
Well, I hope you like this chapter. The self defence part, I don't think you should take into account what I said lool. I had to quick search some things to at least sound realist as much as I could. I know there wasn't much " main characters interaction" in this if you get what I mean but next chapter is going to be more focused on each relationship so that's a little sneak peak. I've already started to write it.
Bulmas Ego: BLM all day everyday and I liked how Raven has now changed too, her character is much better now than in the beginning and I'm glad you like her and Jazmine relationship which is just going to grow as time goes on.
GREENPEACE1990: You will see more of the couples next chapter so look out for that.
BoondocksFever234: Cheetah is one to look out for, that's all I'm saying. Raven, of course, has to be a badass. Royalty and Riley are still young so they got a lot to work out. Now I want to put out the chapter asap because you all want to see more couple-y stuff. Don't worry, I already got that shit planned.
melevolentedge: Thank you and if you did reread it, how was it the second time around?
Chel29: Girrlll you just gotta wait for all the tea to see if your theory is right haha.
RuffinNoRelation: Well to this crazy ass journey, can't wait to hear more reviews from you.
Finally to the Guest:... tf? I mean the first one, I understand, I spent a whole week trying to go back through the old chapter to reread everything and change what I needed, I still have like 5 chapters left. For some reason, I can read something a lot of time and I don't register mistakes. I'm trying to get better at that, my bad I guess. But the rest of that shit was lowkey annoying I'm not even going to lie. Whatever, I'm still going to try my best to make sure they are no mistakes as best as I can even if that means I miss it the first time. I read over everything multiple times but as I said before, I miss things, it has been one of my problems since I was at least 10. (Shit used to kick my ass all the time and still does years later).
Anyway, I'm going to go start writing the next chapter.
Until next time
-TBG