California
Tony had gone way past his deadline with D, there was nothing coming forward and he was at the point where he knew the only way out of this was to come clean so that D could find his missing son
Heath had been on the phone to Daniel and they'd worked out that Sam might have gone to visit Mercedes, Heath had called and spoken to her and he was suspicious of her responses, she was a bad liar, a trait she didn't get from him. He'd called Martin who had nothing to report life was as usual there, everyone was in bed.
The following morning Martin's update told Heath she'd gone off to school early, as she'd said, he instructed Martin to collect her and he would call her later, school finished and Martin stood at the car waiting for her to come out, calling Heath when she didn't appear
"Her friends say she didn't get to school this morning" Martin told an angry Heath
"What the fuck..." he lingered off, the only thing saving Martin right now was that he was on the other end of a phone "She's been missing for at the very least 9 fucking hours and I haven't been informed?" he asked "And don't give me any lame fucking excuses, I asked you to watch her"
"We'll look for her Boss" Martin told him waiting for Heath to say something else or close the call
"If she's not found within the hour I want everyone fucking dead, there's no point" Heath threw the phone down, he felt helpless, there was just one precious thing they had in the world and he had no idea where she was, worse, how was he going to explain that to Hazel
"It'll be them running off together to prove a point" Daniel told him, sat in the chair across from Heath's desk, getting his phone out to call Sam, he'd got the gist of Heath's call, he slammed it shut, angry for getting no answer even though it was ringing "They're together" he told him
"Tony's here to see you guys" Hazel popped her head round the door telling them
"This had better be good news" Heath looked at the door waiting for Tony to make an entrance "Where's my package?"
"Uncle" he looked at the two men rolling their eyes for his sob story about to descend on them "I have a confession, it's a big one" he stood shaking telling them
"Big enough for you to come up in here without your Mom?" Daniel laughed
"It's big" his body started to move without his say so, he was so on edge for this "It's about Sam" he looked at the two men as their faces drained of blood
"What about him?" Daniel got up asking "Is he..." he trailed off looking back at Heath as he spoke
"No" Heath walked towards him saying "He's run away"
"Yeah he's run away" Tony told him backing away from the two men coming towards him "With the package, the runner, it was him" his eyes wide with fear
"Get out" Heath shouted at him as he grabbed Daniel to stop him from gabbing his gun, Tony moved quick, but he knew that wasn't the end of it, he'd have to go back in once his Uncle had been talked down a bit, and face the consequences
"What's happening?" Hazel walked towards Tony, asking of the shouting coming through the door "Your not still stressing over that parcel, you know something would have happened already, if they thought anything?" she grabbed hold of his arm
"No, it's not that" he half smiled at her about to elaborate as the door opened
"Tony" Heath called giving Hazel a look that told her something was wrong
"What's wrong?" she asked Heath but got no answer "I'm talking to you" she stepped towards him
"We don't want you worrying" Heath told her
"Worrying, what's wrong with Mercedes, have they found her?" she stepped past Heath and Tony into the study "What's happened to Mercedes?" she looked at Daniel asking, knowing if Ann was here she'd be recovering from the hardest slap right now
"We're sorting it Hazel" Daniel told her looking at Heath, pissed for the women getting involved, before they had anything positive to tell them
"I said nothing" he put his hands up in his defence telling him
"Can you call Ann and Mary please Hazel" his voice level compared to his boiling temper, he knew it was more than worth his marriage to start blocking his wife out of things, he could deny her nothing, she was his absolute weakness
Daniel & Ann's Flashback
They were just 20 when they met at her parents house in Hollywood, he'd been up there doing some security work fitting a system he knew he was going to fix so he could rob the place later. She came out the house just as he was setting the last camera of it up and smiled at him, he couldn't help but stare, Martin, was supposed to be his wing man but he left him to it and went into full on flirt with her, he was working but he was watching her reaction to his friend's little brother at the same time. He knew Martin was playing, he'd got a massive crush on Heath's sister Zina, he was just too scared to do anything about it while Heath was so hot headed about her with those random men she kept bringing to him, he got used to seeing them losing them fingers and toes, but Heath liked Martin and had no problem with him courting Zina, Daniel had just never told Martin that
He could tell Ann was swept, or he'd thought he could until she shouted up at him, he had to double check when he saw she was standing almost under the ladders he was up "Do you want a cold drink?" she asked, smiling up at him like an angel, while Martin stood still talking to her, his words falling on deaf ears
"Please" he'd said wondering where that came from, that wasn't a word he used, Martin even looked at him strange, as he stood still on the ladder watching her ass swing away, she hadn't even asked him what he wanted
By the end of the drink, and the conversation that came with it, he'd decided he was doing a proper job on the house, he'd actually got a number from her and there was something there, he felt it, this woman was his, he believed in all that, the only phrase he ever remembered his Dad saying was God's plan and he'd tested it so many times he knew it to be true.
Martin and he had argued of course, but in the end they left it up to her, by the time they officially got together Tony, Heath and he had already decided that alarm systems wasn't bringing in the money quick enough, and soon after they hatched a plan to take on the drug world after Heath's drug addicted brother got taken by the poisonous stuff the local dealer was sending out. There was a full on drug war in the middle of California fairly small time compared to stuff they'd heard about since but they controlled that scene after that
Ann wasn't happy when she found out what his new line of business was, but hooking up with Zina, Mary and Hazel helped, they quickly formed a beautiful friendship that weathered every storm they'd ever been through with these men they'd finally decided to allow to be their husbands, just before the end of the war. Daniel was the hardest of the trio always demanding total loyalty from his crew members, even up to vetting their girlfriends, he covered East Side and his recruitment was harsh, many guys got shot, injured or backed out of his squad opting for a location change and going West Side to Tony's patch. But when he was around Ann he was the gentlest lamb you'd ever want to meet, she was the love of his entire life, sealed by the arrival of Sam the absolute apple of both their eyes, he gave up front line work for his family and vowed to Ann, Sam would know nothing about that life, now here he was having broke that promise as well as tell her his life was at risk
End of Flashback
Hazel was on the phone summoning Mary and Ann something was wrong with her baby and she needed answers and then action, serious action, it seemed like seconds before all three ladies were standing in Heath's study waiting for an explanation as to the whereabouts of Sam "We're ready to hear the full story" Daniel who'd been standing nervously all this time said finally sitting down to find that relaxed posture he needed to show Ann right now, the look he gave Tony indicating he needed to speak, now and fast
Atlanta
"What the fuck do you mean she's not there" Zina shouted at Martin, unable to understand what he was telling her
"She left early this morning Boss told me to pick her up and when I got there, as I said, she hadn't been there" he sat heavy on the chair telling her
"So what have you done about it?"
"I've got the guys out asking questions" Martin looked up at her
"So fucking stupid, I remember why I said no to you" she cut her eye at him hissing
"Zina" he looked around the room at the children "Not now" she looked around too and rolled her eyes before walking out the room
"Boss" Danger came to the door calling him out through the mesh, Martin nodded and moved off to see what they had "The informant tells me that the Jackson Brothers gave her a phone a while back" he whispered
"A phone?" he looked up at the man "Take me to them"
Danger didn't ask any questions he turned and headed to the car to take his Boss to see the Brothers "kit up" he nodded at Martin before they got out the car walking towards the rather large house in the suburbs. Martin was on a mission he didn't waste time, he climbed up the steps and knocked the door, smiling as an elderly woman came walking towards him
"Afternoon Mam, could I speak to one of the boys"
"Come in" the elderly lady smiled stepping out the way for them to pass
"Nana, sweetheart what are you doing, we told you not to answer the door" a well built black man ran towards her looking at Martin and Danger walking in, taking the elderly woman into a nearby room, While Martin and Danger watched another well built man come down the stairs and all four men stood in the foyer "What can I do for you?" the biggest guy looked at Danger asking
"One of you guys gave my Bosses niece a phone and now she's missing I need to know where she is?" Danger told them
"Zina's kin?" the taller men stepped forward asking concerned
"Yeah" Martin relaxed at the man's concern
"My name's Marco, she told me who she was, I met her at the telephone exchange, she'd been going there a few times and because I knew who she was, Zina's niece and stuff, I wanted her out of harms way, I gave her a phone"
"And that was it?" Martin asked
"I top it up when she waves to me, that's it, we don't want any trouble with your crew" Marco backed away from them saying "You have my word, I know nothing else other than my number is in her phone because I put it in"
"You have her number?" Martin asked seeing a glimmer of hope
"No Sorry I don't"
"Not good news Marco" Danger shook his head telling him "Anything else you can find out?"
"If she went out of town I guess"
"Do that for us" Martin butted in before Danger could say anything else, they stood waiting while Marco made some calls
"She was picked up by a taxi with a young boy in it and taken to a hotel some 16 miles away, early hours of the morning 3am or there abouts" Marco told them
"Name of the hotel?" Danger asked
" Western Inn" he replied
"Come on" Martin told Danger, shaking hands with their hosts before leaving the house destined for the Western Inn
Ohio
"Yeah talk" Sam sat up in bed giving her his full attention "How pregnant are you?"
"My guess is maybe five months could be more"
"So you haven't been to see a doctor or anything?"
"But I know I'm pregnant Sam I can feel it moving" she looked at him waiting for him to say something negative "I was never getting rid of it, and I guess I'm prepared to do this alone if I have to" she huffed
"Prepared to do this alone with no health care, no money, nowhere to damn well live, nothing?"
"I did it on my own for five months already"
"Cedes I'm sorry but you need to grow the fuck up, this is a life we're talking about, it's a little thing that's going to take over our fucking lives, you've given us no choice about that now, and I'm not saying I don't want it, just that we didn't even get to have the conversation, so don't blow up about my shit now, you've had five months, I've had a few hours"
"So what are you feeling?"
"Truth?" he looked at her asking "I'm fucking angry, you should have told me as soon as you thought it was possible, you told me you were on the pill, was that a lie?"
"Sorry" she gave him her puppy eyes filled with water "I really wasn't even thinking about pregnancy, I was just ..."
"...Concentrating on being 16 and getting broken, I know" his voice holding an air of sarcasm, the room filled with silence as they both reflected "So what are we going to do?"
"Well I wanted to get a boyfriend, finish school, get a job, get engaged, married, buy a fucking house and then have children" she looked at him giving his sarcasm back "But unfortunately we're right at the end of my fucking wish list, and to listen to you I did it all my damn self"
"I'm not saying that"
"Neither am I, not really" she sighed "I've been scared about this for nearly five months Sam, I didn't plan it, I don't want to trap you or anything like that, it really was an accident"
"Don't say that Cedes, I don't want our child to think they were an accident"
"We can't live in a motel for the rest of our lives" she rested her head on her hand fed up
"We can't live on a project, we'll be separated"
"I didn't think past us being together" she sighed
"I didn't either" he crawled up the bed to where she was, hugging her "But I know I love you and we'll do this together no matter what, girlfriend for life remember?"
"I remember" she rested her head back onto his chest, taking in the only feeling she thought she'd ever need to get through this life they'd chosen, his arms around her making her feel safe "I love you too" she smiled as his hand cupped their baby bump, his touch telling her everything was going to be alright
"If this is God's plan for us we have to walk in faith" he told her
"You really sound like my Dad" she laughed
"My Dad says it too" He chuckled squeezing her harder
California
Tony looked around the room, he'd created this mess and he needed to be prepared to take the flack "So" he breathed heavy, looking at his Mom for support "Sam came to me asking me to help him make some money, it took a while but in the end I agreed to cut him in..." he sat telling them the story from how Sam got involved, to their last conversation before he ran off with the drugs
"He went to find Mercedes didn't he?" Daniel asked Heath
"Martin reported back that someone fitting Sam's description went to Zina's in a taxi, he's just checking out the Motel the taxi took them to..." Heath replied
"...Hopefully they're still there" Daniel rolled his eyes telling everyone
"I doubt it, I called her, I hadn't called all the time she'd been there, if he turned up on the same day she'll put two and two together make four and run"
"Wait" Ann shouted halting the room "Are you telling me my son's run away with a shit load of drugs?" she asked everyone but her eyes were on Daniel as she spoke
"Sorry love, but that sounds exactly like what Tony's telling us"
Daniel & Ann
"Sorry Heath, Hazel can I use the study a minute?" Ann looked at her hosts, her face telling them she meant business "Will you guys excuse us please?" she turned to ask everyone, watching as they left the study she looked back at Daniel "I wasn't actually asking you about Tony, you better have something more than that to tell me D, this" she pointed at him hissing "Is a marriage wrecker"
"Its not my fault, this is not my fault Ann you can't..."
"...I can and I am, I've put up with all this shit you've thrown at me, lived in this shitty town because you wanted to and the only thing I asked of you was that my son was never involved in this" she cried "And you couldn't do just that one fucking thing for me?" she asked in disbelief
"I didn't know he was.."
"D you're in the fucking business of knowing, we live here because you need to know, so how the fuck you gonna come at me with that lame shit?"
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak to me like that" he snapped at her
"And I'd appreciate it if you'd stop fucking talking and find my son" he'd never seen her like this before, he was shocked
"Martin's on it" he walked towards her, grabbing her as he spoke "I'm sorry I took my eye off the ball for a second and ..." his eyes filled up as he spoke "He has a good head, he's an Evans this is in his blood, he'll be fine"
"What if he decides to sell that stuff, he has no idea of what that worlds about?" she pulled away from him asking
"Tony showed him some, we just have to hope he got it" he pulled her back to him "Trust me Ann, I'm doing everything to get our boy back, I'll die trying"
"Promise"
"Absolutely promise" he told her as he moved even closer to her kissing her eyelid before pulling her in flush against him, he needed that hug as much as she did, he had everything to lose
Heath & Hazel
"What did Martin say about our girl?" Hazel asked crossing her arms in front of her chest "Actually why is Martin still alive?" she spun round asking Heath, her head leaned to the side, saying she was not in the mood to hear bull shit, Mary looking on in shock at what Hazel was suggesting about her brother-in-law
"Heath looking around saw Mary's face and grabbed Hazel's arm "Come with me" he pulled her into the lounge and closed the door "I've asked you so many times not to speak to me like that, do you know who I am?"
"Do you know who the fuck I am?" she snapped back at him
Heath looked at her, he'd never had this kind of conversation with her before she was always so accommodating "What is wrong with you?" he asked, lost for words
"What the hell is wrong with me?" she rounded on him her hands dropping to her side as her tone went up an octave "My only child is out there alone, with no fucking money and a boy, she's only got one way of surviving, Sam hasn't got a fucking clue about selling drugs, what if they decide to do some fucked up deal and get killed in the process..."
"...She's got more sense than that" Heath butted in not wanting that word attached to his only child
"Really?" she looked at him wide eyed asking, her tone past scream "I walked into out 16 year old girls bedroom and found a boy fucking the life out of her, do you think that's the actions of someone who has sense?" she asked him her voice at hysterical, her hands waving frantically
"Hazel calm down..."
"Don't tell me to calm down, tell me where the hell my daughter is" she spat, tears rolling down her face, her nose snotty she was that mad
"Sam's a good kid we know that" he walked towards his hurting wife "He'll protect her with his life, he loves her" he held her telling her
"At least you know what Sam feels, because right now I don't know what I feel" she pulled away from him and looked into his eyes, angry
"Don't say stuff like that Babe, it hurts my heart"
"You have no idea how much mine is hurting right now"
"I do" he grabbed hold of her, pulling her with force back to him, his action telling her she was going nowhere
Heath & Hazel's Flashback
Hazel was a girl from the projects, she'd grown up with one parent; her Mother, who worked like an animal to make sure her brother and her had food, clothes and went to school, she was super strict and had standards. She didn't get to hang out like many of her peers as a child, the church was her only outlet, one evening on the way from church, when she was 19, her Mother and Brother, who was just 15 years old got killed in a drive by, she got a grazed arm because her brother protected her and suddenly she was alone. She made friends with Mary across the way and found more work to pay the bills, on their way home one evening they met Heath and Tony two wanna be bad boys that were just too slick.
Heath came at her with his unique chat up line, and Tony quickly joined in singing "I wanna love you for life, cause your love is why I live" walking towards them (Jodeci)
They laughed, she looked at Mary who quickly came back at them with a "Never gonna get never gonna get it, never gonna get" snap making them all laugh as all four stood looking at each other and just like that they clicked (En Vogue)
The seven of them; Daniel, Heath, Tony, Martin, Hazel, Zina and Mary became a force to be reckoned with, convinced they'd been brought together as part of God's ultimate plan, more so when Ann joined the group a few months later. The hustlers life they led was nothing new to Hazel, Zina and Mary they'd grown up around that stuff, it was what men did to survive, they knew a bit about survival. Mary had their first baby Marcus whom everyone doted on then a few years later Heath & Hazel, Daniel & Ann and Tony & Mary got married on the same day one after the other it was a big day, followed less than a year later by a time of uncertainty as the life they'd planned changed suddenly the new business was booming, they'd taken over the smaller groups in the area and formed one large alliance, the three women had talked the men into funding a drug rehabilitation program for those that wanted to change their lives forcing them to take their business further afield. Then Tony was born minutes before his Father passed and five months later Sam came into the world followed three months later by Mercedes named after Hazel's Mom because her crying sounded like an angel, they both agreed that life had to change for them especially because of Tony's passing and life settled into quiet for them once they finally took their baby home.
They hadn't moved far from the projects but the area was more suburbia, didn't scream money but said comfort, when Ann finally agreed to move close by they brought three houses on the same street and started living their separate lives
End of Flashback
"Sam is a good boy" Hazel smiled up at her husband "I hope your right I pray he loves her"
"I'd put my life on the line with that statement" Heath smiled down at her kissing her nose
Sam & Cedes
"We need a plan" Cedes looked round at him
"We're keeping the baby so I guess you need to visit a clinic and get things set up"
"What do you know about it?" she laughed
"That you need to go to classes, get regular checks, and buy clothes and stuff" he smiled "I listened to Mom tell her story about me enough"
"My Mom just told me it was a pain I'd never willingly go through, and said it felt like a damn bus passing between your legs through your body"
"That's horrible" he squirmed
"That's what I said" she laughed "Then she said it was like having a bleeding bum after a stubborn poo"
"We've all had those" he laughed "So first thing tomorrow we'll find a baby clinic?"
"Yeah" she reached up and turned to kiss his chin "We're having a baby" she grinned excitedly
The next morning they took the trip to the clinic found out Cedes was nearly 6 months pregnant, which meant she'd caught their first night together, and they were having a girl. They made plans all the way home, Cedes talking about toys, feeding preferences, nurseries and Sam sat smiling in silence
"Nursery?" Sam looked at her "Cedes we live in a Motel"
"We have three months to change that"
He looked at her as the car came to a halt "I have something to tell you" he told her getting out the car "Don't judge me" he walked round to open her door looking at his pocket at his ringing phone just as he opened the door
"Who's that?"
"It's" he took the phone out to look "It's my Dad"
"They'll be worried at least let them know we're alive"
"I will"
"Answer it then"
"I'll call him back" he held his hand out for her to get out the car
"You're not going to tell them where we are, are you?"
"No, it's just that.. as I said, I have something to tell you"
"This better be good" she smiled walking off into the Motel room
Atlanta
"Martin" Zina shouted over the phone "Where's Mercedes?" she asked "Got me walking all over the damn world to find a phone to call your ass"
"We just got a lead and we're following it up" he told her frustrated for the way she'd spoken to him
"You better get your dumb ass over here and pick me the fuck up" she ordered slamming the phone down before he could replay
"Turn the car round and go pick Zina up" he told the driver pushing the phone in his pocket so hard it nearly ripped through it
"You alright boss?" Danger asked concerned
"Fine"
"Still hooked yeah" he laughed "That's why you let her handle you like that?"
"No" he snapped before laughing "She's a bitch,... on heat"
"And you want her to be all yours, even with all those babies?"
"Even with all those babies" he nodded "She just ain't attracted to safe guys"
"Safe?" Danger laughed "You're in a ride, fitted with guns, drugs and your best shooter what's safe about you?"
"I'd give it all up in a heartbeat"
"All of it?"
"Every last bit" he smiled as they pulled up at the house, looking back at Danger as Zina marched out the house with her three children in tow "Your carriage" he bowed as she walked past
"Stop fucking around" she pushed him in the chest saying before she stepped into the car, her children following
Martin & Zina's Flashback
Martin and Zina had been childhood sweethearts in secret, she acted like a bitch whenever they were in company and he hated the fact that she made him keep their shit a secret but if that was the only way he was going to be with her he was taking it, he loved her. It wasn't the usual kind of clumsy love that you have as a child it was deep, his heart skipped a beat, fluttered, he sweat all over and for the life of him he couldn't stop his face from smiling when she walked into the room. She'd been forbidden fruit to all of them, but her Brother spent a lot of time out with his boys so they stole time at school and on the very rare occasions when she didn't have to report to her brother because he was busy with his own love life.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked one of those rare evenings when the house was empty and they'd taken to trying again to get this deed done
"Stop it, just do it" she rolled her eyes telling him
He wanted to rush and get it done before anyone threatened to walk in on them because he knew he'd be dead for sure, but his hands moved around her body like they were touching the finest crystal. He didn't know anything about love making at 15 he was an actual sex virgin himself, but her body was his finely tuned piece of perfection, they sung out at the same time in perfect harmony and they both lay there crying at the beauty they'd created in that room.
"Are you alright?" he finally wiped the water off his face to ask her
"I'm fine" she looked at him as tears bubbled out of her eyes "But we can't do that again"
"What?" he jumped up asking
"That was too much emotion, it scared me, I don't ever want to be that vulnerable again"
"I can change..."
"...Martin" she'd put her hand over his mouth stopping him from talking "It's never going to happen again" she told him kissing his lips lightly before telling him to get up and get out. They never really spoke the same again and she ran away not long after with some no good jackass. He was happy when H delegated this job to him he hadn't seen her for nearly 20 years, she'd changed, he guessed they both had, but he knew when their eyes met as she answered the door that first day he'd arrived, there was a sparkle that lit him up and something was still there.
End of Flashback
"So where are we heading?" Zina asked as the car moved off
"The Western Motel" Danger replied
"Thanks but I wasn't actually talking to you" Zina looked him up and down telling him before she looked back at Martin
"Zee" he rolled his eyes at her "Be nice, this guys helping"
"Sorry" she flipped her head round for a second to say "Where?" she asked Martin again
"He told you The Western Motel" he looked back at her, Danger's eyes smiling at the electric passing between these two people
"Apology accepted Miss Jones" Danger smiled openly at the two of them, everyone finally sitting back to watch the road as they made the journey to the Motel hopefully to find good news
Zina jumped out the car as soon as it reached it's destination, Martin knew that was bad news straight away "Zee" he shouted after her but she was marching across the court and pushing the reception door before he could add anything else
"Tell me which room Mercedes Jones is in?" she asked the elderly man sitting in a chair behind the desk
"Mam?" he looked up his face shocked
"Sorry" her face changed to pleasant "Could you please tell me which room a Mercedes Jones or Sam Evans occupies?"
"Oh" he looked down at his book "Mr Evans booked a room for two weeks fully paid but he left the key in the room that night and he hasn't been back"
"What did he look like?"
"Mouse blond hair, green eyes, thick lips"
"Yeah that's Sam" she smiled "Thank you" she turned to smile at Martin coming through the door "He's not here and since that way is back to town my guess is that we carry on driving that way" she pointed down the highway
"What... what about the children?" he asked looking back at the car
"You got a problem with the children?"
"No" he smiled "But they've got no clothes nothing"
"So you can be Daddy for a while" she smiled tapping his chest lightly looking into his eyes for a bit longer than she needed to "And buy them some mother fucking clothes" she snapped
"Are you flirting with me?" he smiled, she looked back over her shoulder at him as she walked swinging her hips in the biggest way with a smile on her face
Ohio
"Do you want a drink before we start?" Cedes asked rushing towards the kettle
"No I just need to get this out" he sat on the bed telling her
"Okay just let me do this drink and then I'm all yours" she turned smiling at him, making her drink and finding a seat on the bed next to him "So?" she looked at him cupping her hot drink waiting for it to cool so she could drink it
"Can we just ..." he said taking the drink out of her hand and putting it on the side table next to the bed "Okay"
"Okay" she climbed on the bed and crossed her legs waiting for him to start
"You know I had to make some money to get to Atlanta and I was working at the café and stuff?" he asked watching as she nodded "Well that wasn't going fast enough for me, I was getting teased by the girls at school, they were chasing me actually and it was getting real hard and I ..."
"Who?" she asked, rolling her eyes
"Who?" he looked at her his face blank
"Who was she, who did you sleep with?"
"Nobody, it's not that, Cedes just listen"
"Okay" she sassed
"I did some work for Tony" he looked at her unable to say the words
"Work?" she asked puzzled "What you sold drugs?"
"Sort of, I did some running for him just picking stuff up and delivering and stuff"
"Sam" she gasped, tears springing to her eyes at the thought of it "I made you do that" she cried
"No I did it because I needed to see you, to be with you, if anyone's to blame it's your parents for sending you away"
"Did you get caught?"
"No I didn't" he just about got out before she pulled him to her and hugged him "Sorry"
"It's fine" he grabbed hold of her not wanting to say anymore right now, but his conscience wouldn't allow it "There's more Cedes" he let go of her and got off the bed, walking over to the cupboard where their bags were stored "I stole this" he took the parcel out the bag and showed it to her "It's worth a lot Tony told me"
"What is it?" she asked as he walked over to her with the parcel in his hand
"It's snow, and I guess I thought we could live off it, for a while anyway, a long while, but now we have this baby, no home, no family and I guess I need to do something big to get us some money to at least find somewhere to live" he sat looking at her "Tony told me this was worth around $400k the average house in Ohio costs around $175K with fixing that up, buying stuff for the house, the baby I reckon we could maybe, with me working scratch through" he sat back down on seeing she wasn't getting mad about what he was telling her
"We don't know anything about drugs Sam, we could get killed"
"We? what's all this we stuff I don't want you out there"
"It's not happening if I'm not there, no way are you doing that alone" she rested her hand on his knee
"Cedes the baby" he pushed her off him, not happy she wasn't thinking about her
"Sam the Daddy" she sassed back at him "If I'm not there it's not happening" her huff telling him that was the last word on it
"I need to find out how to do this, I want to speak to Tony but I think he wants to kill me" he got up walking up and down the length of the room
"You should call him"
"I threw his phone away"
"You know your parents could be dead right now?" her tone changed as she spewed her fact
"What?" he stopped walking his voice at shout level
"Tony knows were you live, he knows where we both live, you've run off with his stuff the first place he's going to look is your parents house"
"My Dad's been calling me, he's fine"
"What if he's calling you because Tony's telling him to get in touch or die?"
"Comforting Cedes, very comforting" he cut his eye at her and sat down running his fingers through his hair pulling it back, securing it with the band round his wrist "Okay I'll call Mom" he finally gave in "Later"
"Better not pass me by, cause if you do you'll, lose a good thing (oh baby), cause what I got to say is seal with a kiss" she climbed onto his lap singing
"Now that makes me feel good" he smiled, at her "My mind is blind at times I can't see anyone but you, those other girls don't matter no, they can't spoil my view"
"And you know how that makes me feel" she smiled back at him nose kissing, the rest of the song humming in their heads as they took time to pay attention to each other, it was evening by the time they woke up for something to eat
"I don't remember some of those notes I heard you singing in our song" he smirked at her
"Call your Mom" Cedes reminded him jumping to her knees on the bed grabbing his phone for him to make the call, ignoring his jibe, he rolled his eyes and took the phone there was no point avoiding it, she wasn't going to stop until it was done, he made the call
California
Mary & Tony
"What the hell were you thinking?" Mary spun round asking Tony when Hazel and Heath left the foyer
"I wasn't really thinking he was begging me to help him make some damn money and I broke and helped him, he was doing fine, learning the ropes from the bottom up, how long is Uncle D actually going to keep him out the loop?"
"That really isn't for us to determine, you were wrong Tony you should have come to me or even D and let us know what was going on in Sam's head"
"I sort of get that now Mom, but I was just trying to be a damn leader I guess"
"And when did 18 year old boys start swearing at their Mom's around here?"
"Sorry" he cut his eye at her saying
"Yeah that looked sorry alright, don't let me tell your Uncle's about your shit"
"Ma" he moaned "Sam's going to be alright" he changed his mind for what he was going to say "Did you get a permit from Marcus?"
"Yeah, we'll talk about it after thi..." their conversation stopped by the study door opening
"Heath" Daniel shouted across the foyer, looking at Mary when he didn't see him
"He's in the lounge" she answered his unsaid question
"In a minute" Heath shouted back holding onto his wife giving her all the time she needed before they faced everyone else "You gonna be alright?" he asked her wiping her eyes and frowning for a smile before he grabbed her hand and walked across the foyer back into the study
"So" Daniel looked around the room "We need a plan"
"Well it's obvious Sam's with Mercedes" Ann told everyone "This isn't him, that's the only reason I can think he'd need money for, to get to her"
"Why would he want to get to her?" Tony looked around the room asking
"They're an item apparently" his Mom replied
"Oh" Tony gulped before carrying on "So it's not alright for me to ask permission to date Mercedes but it's alright for Sam to run off with her?"
"It wasn't even like that" Daniel told him frustrated with the attitude he was giving
"Oh no, it was different because Hazel caught them in bed together" Mary told him looking back at her friends "I didn't see why he shouldn't know" she cut her eyes telling them
Tony's Flashback
"They were in bed?" Tony asked too upset to say anything else, he'd approached his Uncle and Aunt Jones just before his 17th birthday telling them he'd got feelings for Mercedes, he'd of course told them he was aware she was way too young for relationships but he wanted permission to take her out, get to know each other in a different way.
She'd only ever known him as the guy from down the road whose brother was selling drugs, and that his Dad was missing. They'd said no, maybe they knew what was going to happen because Marcus got sent down for a 10 year stretch weeks later, and he became the front man of the business. Shortly after that he'd found out why his request was frowned on, his family were working for hers.
He'd came back upset from his rejection conversation with her parents and told his Mom about the whole thing, she'd sat and listened and then made a call, before sitting him down to tell him the story of Tony, Heath and Daniel. He too started to see the situation as his birth right, quickly got serious about it and went to his Uncles; as he started calling them from that day, for guidance and instruction, because for all intents and purposes his family had equal shares in the business, D and H had taken a back seat for good and with his brother gone it was his time to keep the business afloat, so just like that all thoughts of Mercedes and him took a back burner.
End of Flashback
"Tony" he heard pulling him out of his thoughts
"Uncle D" he looked at him his face blank
"I said call the whole thing off with the package, I don't want Sam hurt"
"I never called it" he told him 'but I might now, she was mine' he thought looking at the people around the room, his family a flash going through his mind of each of them hurting beyond description at the death of one more of their own
"Good, thank you" he smiled at him "So a plan, what are your thoughts?"
"America's a big place, we need to pray they contact us" Ann offered
"I don't think Mercedes will be contacting us, I knew it was a stupid idea to freeze her out" Hazel looked at Heath apologetically, that had been her idea
"I don't think Sam has the phone that I gave him anymore" Tony smiled "I didn't even know he'd turned the tracker off" he sat thinking how damn cute his cousin really was "He'll be fine"
"Is everyone praying on that?" Mary asked to nods around the room
"You always have the best ideas" Hazel grabbed her hand and pulling Heath who was already holding her hand with her "Prayer circle" she announced smiling as Tony rolled his eyes but joined in anyway
"What?" his Aunt Hazel asked him
"Nothing" he smiled, he couldn't tell her that he's out there jacking people on a regular basis, selling crack to anyone that will use it, killing people and was feeling like a hypocrite for asking God to save his family from whoever and not everybody else's from him
"Amen" he heard and smiled for missing it all
"We just have to have faith in God's plan for ..." Heath told everyone, freezing as Ann's phone rang
Daniel looked at Ann as they both made a grab for it "Hi Family" the sassy voice came over loud speaker "I know that fat ass brother of mine has you all there with all this drama" she laughed "D?" she stopped to ask when she heard nothing
"This is your fat ass brother talking to his fatter ass sister" Heath said with attitude
"My ass is not fat" she sulked at him
"Don't give it if you can't take it" he warned "Any news on my girl?"
"Sam was here, he booked a motel but they didn't stay there for whatever reason, we're following the road out of town in the hope of catching up with them"
"Okay that's good, we're just praying one of them calls" Mary butted in
"Mary?" Zina screeched "I miss you girl, I miss all you all"
"Miss you too, we need a reunion"
"Pen it in your diary, lets get that done once we sort these children out"
"How's Tony and Marcus"
"Well Marcus do what he do you know, and Tony's here"
"Hello Aunt Zina" Tony said shyly, she was the kind of Aunt that was all over you, he had his first wet dream many years ago to that woman's sexy phone voice, he remembered seeing her in a photo of the crew together when his Mom told him about the business a year go, she was about 15 in the picture, younger than all the others except maybe Uncle Martin, but she looked the cheekiest and the most fun
"Still sounding as handsome as I'm sure you look, if your anything like that Daddy of yours" her voice raspy
"Thank you" Mary laughed "And leave my boy alone"
"Whatever" she laughed "So what do we do about Sam and Mercedes?"
"Wait for them to call I guess, go back home to your babies" Heath ordered
"They're with us" she snapped back
"Okay" Heath said with attitude, smiling as Hazel rolled her eyes at the two of them bantering
"Bye"
"Bye" Everyone echoed as the phone went dead"
"Get the spare rooms ready Hazel, this is going to be a long one" Ann told her grabbing her arm, smiling as Mary followed and the ladies went to prepare dinner and get the house ready
They'd eaten dinner, settled into an evening of music and laughter when the phone rang at something nearing midnight "That has to be them" Heath jumped up
"Hang on let me answer, at this time of night he'd expect it to be me" Ann told everyone "Quiet" she told the room before she picked up the phone
"Mom" she heard taking a sharp intake of breath before letting out a sigh
"Sam where are you, I've been so worried" she couldn't help but burst into tears "Hold on" she told him putting him on speaker for everyone to listen to "Where are you?"
"I'm alright Mom, I'm with Mercedes and we're both alright, but we're not coming back"
"What do you mean you're not coming back, we can work something out"
"We know you guys want to split us up, and that's not an option we want"
"Listen to me Sam you guys are 16 years old, how the hell are you going to survive out there?"
"We'll survive, don't worry"
"How am I not worrying, you guys are too young, you can't get proper jobs, rent or buy a property, what's not to worry about?" she asked her voice raised
"Let me speak to him" his Dad mouthed listening to the conversation
"Sam you're Dad's here, he wants to talk to you"
"Son, whatever the reason for this we can work it out, just come back home, this is so worrying for us"
"We're not coming back Dad" he told him, his voice telling them he was getting fed up of hearing the same thing
"Is Mercedes there with you now?
"Yes why?"
"Her parents want to speak to her"
"Hold on" he muted the phone for a short while before they heard rambling in the background "She doesn't want to speak to them" followed by a silence "I'll put it on loud speaker for you" he said obviously talking to Cedes "I'm sitting right here" he tried to get her to talk "Sorry she doesn't want to talk, we just wanted you to know we're alright, bye" he told them and put the phone down
"We should have told them" Mary announced
"Told them?" Ann asked shocked
"Yeah" she looked around the room "They're out there with no money, no support, just that package and they are going to try to sell it, bit by bit or as a big deal, they need to know"
Daniel dare not say anything, he'd made a promise he just looked at Ann, Hazel was in agreement and Heath was totally against it, none of them had spoken but their expressions said it all
"We could maybe tell them bits" Hazel suggested cutting the silence
"Or we could put the word out, let the other dealers know they're out there, ask them to let us know, we have a good relationship with most of them" Tony suggested
"We've done favours like that for some of them before" Mary encouraged
"That's all good and well if they sell in bulk, but what if they don't?" Heath asked "They'll be treading on toes"
"I go with Tony" Ann announced shocking Daniel "We contact everyone we know in the business and ask them to pass a photo and the message on, paying as much as we need to, to get them back safe"
"You're alright with that?" Daniel asked concerned that Ann had shifted so easily
"We're not stupid D, we hear the stories about people disappearing, horrible deaths, rape we know what goes on in that world" Hazel told him
"I'll go get a recent picture of Sam" Ann got up telling everyone
"It's late I'll come with you" Daniel got up to follow her
Ohio
"So how are you bugging me to speak to my parents and you won't even grunt at yours?" Sam threw the phone down asking her
"They left me in that rat infested house, didn't bother to speak to me for nearly three months, I don't owe them shit" she snapped
"I only asked" he backed off at her tone
"Sorry, can we forget about them now?" she pulled him to her asking
"Seriously Cedes, you are killing me" he giggled taking her kiss "I thought we got up for food?" he commented his eyes closed as her lips trailed kisses down his neck
"Breakfast I promise" her husky voice replied
"Big breakfast" he melted into her touch
The next morning he woke up smiling as he smelt the coffee and saw the IHOP bag, sitting on the bedside table, opening the bag his eyes widened at finding everything he'd ever want for breakfast, Cedes sat on the end of the bed looking at him "It's a thank you for letting me have my way last night" she smiled
"Very welcome" he crawled down the bed to kiss her before going back to grab the bag, they sat eating for a while "So what are we going to do next?"
"Like?"
"Well we said we needed to find somewhere stable to live, you didn't want to live in the projects. Mom tells me we're too young to buy a house, we'll have to find someone to rent one to us, and we're not there yet but we have to be mindful we have no money coming in, everything is going out right now"
"How long do you think we can afford to live like this?"
"Maybe another two months at least, take out the IHOP breakfasts every day" he laughed throwing more food in his mouth "It is good though"
"They said it was one of the best in the area and I wanted the best for you" she purred at him, feeling pleased with herself when he held his heart total love in his eyes and the most genuine of smiles "You make me burst with pride when you look at me like that" she laughed embarrassed
"I'll get that feeling, everyday" he looked at her
"Let me taste that bacon" she instructed him, watching as he lifted his fork to give her some "Not that one, the one in our mouth" she leaned in kissing him "I know you don't know how much just yet but, I do love you"
"I love you too" he smiled "And once our baby's out all gloves are off, you'll know just how much"
"I guess the next thing we need to do is set up home ready for this one" she rubbed her baby bump telling him "And then find jobs" she sighed at him "You're going to have to speak to Tony and find out how this thing works, just tell him once you get a job you'll pay him back"
"It's $400k we're talking about, what are we supposed to eat, pay bills with or rent a house on while I'm busy paying Tony back?"
"And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid" she rolled her eyes with disappointment at herself
"Like, I love you" he sung gaining himself a smile
Atlanta
"H said turn around and go home" Zina told Martin when she finally found her pocket on the skin tight jeans she had on and squeezed the phone into it
"Turn around" Martin told the driver
"It's getting late and my kids need to eat" she looked across at her sleepy children
"Stop at the nearest restaurant" Martin instructed the driver determined not to have any sort of argument with Zina, not in front of everyone anyway
"H actually said don't stop until you find them" she smiled telling him, he wasn't taking any chances
"Chris turn the car back round" he rolled his eyes at her stupid games
"No I'm lying" she laughed when Chris started to turn the car around
"Damn Zee is everything a fucking joke for you?" Martin looked at her his face telling her he wanted to say more, much more, but this wasn't the time or the place
"Lighten the fuck up Tin Man" she nudged him smiling "You used to be fun"
"You knocked that shit straight out of me" he looked at her from the side of is eye, trying to remember the last time anyone, especially her had called him that
"He said sit and wait" her eyes soft as she spoke "Now Mercedes has gone will you be leaving?" she asked her voice nearly as soft as he remembered it, back when they were together
"I'll see what H says" he almost whispered back, wanting to kick Danger for the smirk on his face
Three Weeks Later
Ohio
"This place looks ridiculous" Sam sat looking around the motel room at all the baby stuff they'd not meant to buy "We need a plan"
"You need to call Tony and find out what to do"
"I know, we're spending like crazy" he found a space on the bed to sit down "I just can't call him he'll kill me"
"Call your Dad ask him what to do about it, see if our parents can put together and pay him off"
"You didn't even speak to your parents when they asked last month"
"If it's going to save your life, I'll speak to my grandparents" she laughed "And you know their not with us anymore" he sat watching her belly laughing at her own joke a smile on his face "Phone them now" she suddenly sat up and grabbed his phone handing it to him, he looked at it and then back up at her "They can only threaten to kill us they don't know where we are, do they?"
"I guess not" he smiled taking the phone off her and calling his Mom "Mom, yes yes" he rolled his eyes looking at Cedes as his Mom asked the expected; are you alright, eating well, is Mercedes alright stuff "Listen" he got her attention saying "I need you to get Mercedes parents with you guys we have something to say, in about an hour yeah?"
"An hour" his Mom agreed before the phone went dead
They grabbed some food, sat about talking about the pending conversation taking comfort in the fact that their parents didn't actually know where they were so there'd be no flack and he'd become good at ignoring his phone "It's time" Cedes said handing him the phone again before taking a breath and jumping on the bed as he sat on it ready for the dreaded conversation
"Hi" Sam said when the call answered
"We're all here" his Mom told him everyone waiting silently for the conversation to start
"Dad" Sam said his face red before he'd even started "I did something stupid" he looked at Cedes as he spoke "I got working for Tony down the road, I needed money to get to Mercedes, she's not been very happy these past months, I guess you all knew we were together"
"Tony?" his Dad asked
"Yeah Tony Dad I was fetching and delivering for him for a while, made a lot of money"
"Drugs?" his Dad asked
"Why's he saying it like that, like we're guilty of something?" Cedes butted in "So condescending" she hissed as Sam grabbed hold of her hand to stop her talking
"Please" his eyes begging her not to disrespect his parents
"Sorry Mr Evans"
"We want to say sorry too, well actually I do, it was my idea not to contact you sorry Mercedes, I made a bad choice" her Mom butted in, Cedes rolled her eyes
"I guess I accept" she told her although her facial expression said something different
"Anyway" Sam butted back in getting to the point "I ended up stealing a package from Tony, I thought we could sell it and get by, but we don't have a clue"
"So what do you want us to do?" Heath asked
"Have you been caught with it?" Ann asked
"No" Sam shouted "But we need some money"
"Let me talk to Tony, get back, give us an hour, but son be careful"
"Dad be careful he can be real nasty, I'll call back in an hour" he told them everyone saying bye before the call closed
"That wasn't to bad" he turned to Cedes saying
"No it was alright" she smiled "Your parents are so... nice"
"I notice yours hardly said anything"
"That's how much they care"
California
"How are you getting on with those emails?" Daniel asked Heath, Hazel and he had been busy sending information and pictures out to all four corners of America trying to get their community to work together to bring their children home
"Jonas in New York's on board and I've got Brad in Iowa and I'm waiting on our man Smyth in Florida, we're in trouble if they've come back this way, that's another war"
"We're good for it" Tony told them he was using his exclusive social media network to link in as many areas as he could asking favours across their world and offering what he needed to
"Okay times up and I have the perfect idea" Ann told them, just as the phone rang
"Mom?" Sam asked, when Daniel pressed speaker
"Yes son we're all here"
"Did you get anything from Tony?"
"Yeah he said for you to ask around for the boss, and say you've been sent by TDH in California, apparently those are the bosses around here"
"How did you get that information from him?"
"I spoke to his Mom who spoke to him and that 's what she gave me back"
"Cedes write that down TDH in Cali" he looked at her as he passed the information over
"He said he couldn't guarantee what you'd get for it, but that you're to take whatever they give you and get out of there"
"Okay" he told her a silence over the room as he considered what to say "It's not that we don't love you guys, we just... we want to be together and well... you guys are so against that and now Cedes resents her family for sending her away and giving her the silent treatment and all, we just think that was too much, we'll call again" the room silent as everyone looked around "Oh, and thank you for putting your lives on the line for us"
"Call" Hazel said through her tears "Just call, let us know your alright"
"We will" Sam told her shocked when Cedes joined in to say that, making him smile
"So bye" he said waiting for the response before he closed the call down
"Bye" Cedes shouted into the phone before he pressed the disconnect button
"What do you think?" Mary asked the quite room
"I don't think we're going to see our babies again" Hazel cried into her hands
"I believe we will" Ann told her, the two women grabbed each other "You have to believe we will" she looked up at Daniel begging him to make her words true, Daniel looked at Heath the pressure was on them to make this impossible task possible
"Tony how are you getting on with those links?" Heath asked
"There's $4m on the table so far and that's more than doable, we've covered some good ground, I think there's a light"
"Where there's light there's always hope" Daniel smiled sitting back down to carry on hitting his contacts, there was one specific one he needed to get on board.