Part 29 (1/2)

Baseem was standing with Malika tight in his arms and Quran firm by his side. ”Any other instructions?” he asked.

”Yes. Make sure nothing happens to my children and return safe,” Kayson said, leaning in and taking Malika from his arms.

”No doubt.”

Kayson escorted the children while Baseem took Mariam by the arm. Two of his trusted men loaded on with them.

”I am putting this mission in your hands,” Kayson looked at his longtime friends and the intensity in his eyes chilled them to the bone.

They nodded in agreement then shook hands with Kayson. Kayson kissed his baby girl then placed her in Mariam's lap.

”Do what you are told; take care of your sister. No questions. You will see us in a few days,” Kayson turned his attention to Quran.

”Yes, dad,” he said, looking in his father's eyes.

Kayson buckled him in, kissed his head and b.u.mped his fist. He moved past the crew and headed back to the truck. When he got behind the wheel, it was more than time to go, it was time for death.

KoKo moved through the mansion franticly looking for the children and Mariam. She went from one room to the next and when she saw the children's lunch untouched and laundry incomplete, she began to panic. KoKo turned to head back upstairs and b.u.mped into Kayson.

”Oh, my G.o.d, you scared me. Where are my children?” she looked in his face for answers.

”They are safe.”

”What the f.u.c.k is that supposed to mean?” KoKo tensed up.

”Baby, just trust me,” Kayson said in a soothing voice.

”Kayson, it's not about trusting you. I need to know where my children are,” she slightly raised her voice.

”Come with me,” he said, taking her by the hand.

KoKo moved behind him, getting angrier with every step. ”Kayson. Baby, stop,” she paused and pulled her hand from his. ”Where are my children?” KoKo got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

”I told you they are safe. Just come with me,” he reached out to take her hand again.

”Don't f.u.c.king touch me,” she backed up. ”Kayson, I can take a lot of s.h.i.+t, but I can't live if something has happened to my children. Where. Are. They?” KoKo's emotions began to take over her logic.

”You think I'ma let something happen to the kids?” Kayson was now raising his voice. ”What the f.u.c.k is wrong with you?” he asked, moving closer to her. ”Like I said...they are safe. Somebody came to see me today; they knew exactly where to find me. Until the kids are at their destination, don't n.o.body know where they are. Now, stop your f.u.c.king tantrum; man the f.u.c.k up, shut the f.u.c.k up, and come with me,” he grabbed her by the arm and moved her to the bas.e.m.e.nt.

When they entered the room, KoKo's eyes had settled on the two black duffle bags with pump shot guns and an AK sitting next to them. She scanned the stacks of money that were on the bar then looked back at Kayson.

”Sit down,” Kayson instructed.

KoKo took a seat as she watched Kayson place the bills into a Gucci tote.

”I need you to tell me everything that happened with my mother and then I want you to tell me what you are doing. Don't leave s.h.i.+t out because if I find dirt in your nails that you didn't tell me about, my disappointment with you will be unrecoverable,” Kayson said as he poured himself a tall gla.s.s of something brown.

KoKo tensed up a she watched him take the liquor to his mouth. She was avoiding having this conversation and now it seemed as though getting around it was not on the list of options. Kayson sat his drink on the table and sat next to KoKo with his ear turned toward her lips.

”Speak,” he said a little over a whisper as he folded his hands in front of him.

KoKo took in some air, swallowed hard, and began. ”Your mother was not who we thought she was,” she paused being very careful of her words. ”While you were gone, I sheltered her. I gave her Quran and I loved and trusted her the way I thought you would expect of me in your absence. And then she crossed me,” again she stopped to consider Kayson's mood.

”Continue,” Kayson spoke through his pain.

”I found out your mother faked her rape to manipulate you, and she slept with my father's killer to destroy him,” KoKo decided to just push the words out of her mouth and let the situation take care of itself.

Kayson kept his gaze forward. ”You proved all of this before you moved; right?” Kayson for the first time questioned KoKo's judgment.

”Of course. I would have never made that kind of move if I didn't have accurate proof. Kayson, she said the same lines to me that one of the members of Terrance's team heard her say when she put the hit on my father, and as for her role with Raul,” she paused. ”You need to ask your father,” she said and placed her hand on his leg.

”Kay, I would never do anything to hurt you.”

”Yeah, but some s.h.i.+t you did had our children in danger,” he said, reaching for his drink and taking it to the head.

”s.h.i.+t I did?” she wrinkled her brow. ”We both have put in that work that would make a n.i.g.g.a kill anything a.s.sociated with us. How can you sit there and put this s.h.i.+t on me?” KoKo moved her hand.

Kayson sat his gla.s.s down and weighed his accusations. ”Who is Brenda?” he asked, and then looked over into her eyes.

”I don't know, why?” KoKo asked, searching his face for answers.

”She showed up while I was visiting Rabb's grave and put a gun on me and the children. I can't rest until I lay that b.i.t.c.h down. Do you know anything about her?”

”No, I do not. What did she look like?”

Kayson paused, took a deep breath, turned back forward and took the rest of his drink to the head. When he sat the empty gla.s.s down he spoke. ”You,” he said, then turned to face her.

KoKo had no words; she just sat silent as she tried to read Kayson's mind for answers.

”Anything else?”

”No,” she stood firm.

”No more secrets. I need to know what the f.u.c.k is going on at all times; all this behind my back s.h.i.+t stops now,” he stared at her hard. ”Starting tomorrow, you no longer have a lead role in this play. I need you to fall all the way back and follow,” he gave his orders as if she was one of the crew.

”I don't have a problem with that,” KoKo said as an eerie feeling filled her body. She choked back the tears as she began to feel as if she had betrayed him.

Kayson picked up immediately on her feelings and even though he wanted to grab his wife and hug her and tell her everything was good, he couldn't. Kayson needed to teach his soldier a lesson and the best way to teach it was harsh and server; he could put Band-Aids on the cuts later, but right now he needed her to know this s.h.i.+t was not a game.

”I will see you in a couple days. Close this house down; secure the streets and your team, then meet me in Dubai,” Kayson got up and finished loading the money in one bag and the guns in the other two.

”Move like m.u.t.h.af.u.c.kas is on yo a.s.s and get to me safely. I will have the kids call you when they land,” he headed for the door.

”Kayson,” KoKo yelled out.