Ben had no idea what had happened to Victoria. She just disappeared. He had looked for her at her school, but they had informed him that she no longer went there.
His heart was hammering in his chest. Had Raya done something to her sister? Did one of his enemies get to her?
He tried asking Raya about her, but she shut him down. Accusing him of being in love with her. Which he was, but he couldn't confirm it just yet.
He had to find her.
"She's coming", Victoria said.
Ben nodded before taking a sip of his whiskey.
"Are you sure you still want to do this?", she asked.
"Of course not, but its our only option. She can do it, I know she can", Ben mumbled.
"I just, I'm thinking about Rosie and Roman here. I don't want their relationship to fall apart over this", Victoria said.
Ben nodded.
"Neither do I, and it won't. Trust me, he loves her too much. He knows how she is and why she needs to leave", Ben said.
Victoria nodded.
"If you're sure.", she said.
Raya had gotten a message from Ben, telling her that they needed to meet. End this once and for all without involving the girls. She agreed, but wasn't coming alone.
She was going to get him before he gets her.
"You can't meet her alone", Melina said.
She couldn't go with him either, being pregnant. He chuckled.
"You really think I would go alone? I've got your sisters, your husband, and Baron.", he replied with a smile.
Melina sighed.
"Veronica isn't going to like that you're going without her.", she added.
He shrugged.
"She has Rosie to worry about. Her baby needs her right now, and don't say a word to her", Ben said.
Melina nodded. He walked over to his daughter and hugged her.
"I am so proud of you. Proud of the sister you are, the mother, the wife. So proud.", he said softly.
He released her and kissed her cheek.
"I'll see you and your sisters soon.", he said.
She nodded.
Ben didn't like lying to his daughter, but he had no choice. He needed to get Raya.
He had told Melina he was taking Nikki and Brie, which was a lie. Neither Baron or Andrade were going.
He pulled into the huge mansion and got off. She has done well for herself, of course she got all this from selling young girls to human traffickers.
He walked up to the open door and walked in.
"Raya", he called.
"Over here", she called from the living room.
He followed her voice till he found her. She smiled before taking a sip of her drink.
"Look how handsome you still are. No wonder my sister is still stuck on you.", she said, looking him up and down.
"I wish I could say the same about you, but running and hiding could wear anyone down to nothing", he smirked.
Her smile slipped.
"How are my girls? My grandkids", she said.
He chuckled.
"Not yours, not one bit. Mine, they've always been all mine", he replied.
"I never wanted them anyway", she laughed.
Don't ask her why she let herself get pregnant again, it just happened. Even after taking a morning after pill, the stupid brat didn't die inside her.
Now here she was, laying in her crib all bundled up and quiet. I guess she could be happy about this one. She hardly cried. Even when she needed a diaper change or was hungry.
"Mom, dinner is ready", Melina said softly.
Raya pushed away from the crib before walking past Melina. She was growing up nicely, waiting for the opportunity to sell her to the highest bidder.
Once she turned thirteen, that was her plan.
Melina walked over to her baby sister. She smiled down at her.
"Not hungry yet Ronnie?", she whispered softly.
Bayley was still asleep in her bed, she shared the room with Veronica. Melina shared with the twins.
"Mel", she turned to see her dad.
She walked over to him and hugged him tight.
"I wish you didn't have to go away all the time. Mom is scary when you aren't here. I can't watch the twins, Bay, and Ronnie at the same time", she said softly.
He kissed her head.
"You gave her a nickname", he smiled.
Melina nodded and looked up at him. He wasn't happy about Raya getting pregnant again, but loved his daughter as soon as he saw her.
"Mom calls her mean things and I don't want her thinking that's what she is", Melina whispered.
He sighed. He had left them alone too long with her. He just had to find Victoria. It was like she had just disappeared.
"Don't you worry about that. I'm not going Anywhere anymore", he promised.
Melina nodded.
"Bayley should be up from her nap soon", she said.
Ben nodded.
"Go on and eat with the twins, I'll be down in a moment", he said.
Melina nodded before leaving the room.
"Daddy", Bayley said happily before running to him.
He smiled and lifted her into his arms.
"Hi my sweet girl", he said, before kissing her cheek.
"Daddy I missed you so much", Bayley said.
He chuckled.
"You did. Well I missed you just as much my sweet baby", he replied.
She giggled while he tickled her tummy. He saw movement in the crib and watched his newborn stretch before looking around. He smiled.
Veronica was his calmest baby yet. She was so curious.
"Look who's awake", he said softly to Bayley before pointing towards the crib.
"Ronnie", Bayley said excited.
He set her down and watched her approach the crib, sticking her little hand in and grabbing Veronica's tiny one.
He walked over and picked up his baby.
"There's my baby.", he said.
She didn't cry or whine. She just looked at him. He smiled and rocked her.
"I have one last thing I need to do before I am completely yours", he said softly.
Veronica yawned.
Ronnie was getting a bad feeling, one she couldn't shake. Roman watched her as she fed Rosie.
"V", he said softly.
She didn't move or respond.
"V", he said louder, making Rosie flinch.
Rosie whined and Ronnie rocked her.
"Did you have to do that?", she asked.
"You're far away again and its worrying me", he replied.
She looked down at a now calm Rosie.
"Something's wrong, I can feel it", she replied.
"With Rosie?", he asked, his eyes falling on his daughter.
"No. I don't know what, I just, it doesn't go away", she replied.
He nodded. She looked up at him.
"I need to make a round of calls", she said, standing and walking over to him.
She laid Rosie in his arms. He didn't try to stop her. When she put her mind to something, it was hard to convince her against it.
If he was being honest, her worry made him worry too.
"I'll call mama Patricia too", she added, like she knew what he was thinking.
He nodded and watched her walk upstairs.
She went to reach for her phone, noticing missed calls from her sisters, Baron, and Andrade. Her heart just about stopped.
She called Melina back.
"Ron", Melina said.
"Who's hurt?", she asked.
Melina stayed quiet for a minute too long.
"Melina", she said.
"Dad. He went to meet Raya alone and…", she stopped.
Ronnie could hear her sniffling.
"And?", Ronnie asked.
"He's dead Veronica", she cried.