Zaria
My eyes fluttered open to a dark space. The moonlight peeked through a tiny window, shining directly on Yana’s face.
I placed my hand to my head where a small knot formed. “My babies!” I shouted as I jumped up quickly.
Yana rushed behind me. “They wouldn’t let me get my daughter,” she sobbed.
I looked over to see that all the girls were in here with me.
Samara, Harvey, Sasha, Lakia, Paige, Symphony, Alyse, Phoebe, and Morgan were standing on the other side of me.
Each of them, especially the younger girls, held sadness with a bit of confusion in their faces.
I knew if I panicked, then so would they.
Harvey crossed her arms over her chest as she came a little closer to me.
“They got all the guys, too—” she paused, “—except Chevy.”
Did he ever make it back from his run? I rushed to the cell bars. “Let me out of the shit hole!” I yelled. “You fucking pigs! Let me the fuck out!”
“Did June make it back to the house? Did any of you see him?” I asked.
Sasha shook her head. “I saw him running back to the house.”
“Shit!”
I knew he was probably losing his mind. However, I knew that my babies were safe.
That gnawing feeling that had been in the pit of my stomach was for this very reason.
Clark was the only person I could think of who could’ve been behind some shit like this.
June getting us out wasn’t my worry; rather, what he was currently doing before he got here directly affected how this would end, which was what scared me the most.
If Clark was capable of this, what else was he capable of?
This situation alone further let me know he would go to the extreme to try to tear June down, and if June didn’t play his hand right, it was possible my husband would die in the process of protecting the one thing he loved, and that was his kingdom.
I closed my eyes and blew out a few steady breaths. I needed to connect with June, but I couldn’t when my mind was all over the place. As I paced the floor, breathing to clear my head, Yana started to ask questions. I stopped pacing and turned to her.
“Yana, shut the fuck up and calm down. We’re going to get out of here. I promise you Love is safe!” I snapped.
Yana’s eyes grew. “I need my daughter!” she shouted.
“And you will get back to her, but all the crying in the world isn’t going to get you to her any faster. I have a son who has only been home a few days, and another who was snatched from my fucking arms. Please! We’re going through the same thing.”
Sasha stood between us. “This isn’t the time for you two to be fighting. We’re all in the same place.”
I walked over to the dirty bench and sat next to Samara. “Are you okay?” I asked her.
I knew all of this was a lot for her and the younger girls, but I needed them to be strong. “You girls are fine. I promise,” I assured them.
I placed my elbows on my knees and dropped my head because my mind needed to be in Calloverse.
June!
I waited, but there was nothing. My eyes squinted tighter as I blew out a slow and steady breath.
“Concentrate, Zaria,” I mumbled to myself before trying again.
June, where are you?
I’m coming, baby.
Thank God. Are the kids safe?
Yes. I’m sorry. I fucked up. I should have been there.
Just get here fast.
I’m coming. Are you okay?
Yes. Yes, I’m okay. Get here now.
When he didn’t respond, I knew he was up to something, but in the end, he was going to be here.
I lifted my head to see Yana sitting in the corner with her knees to her chest. My sister was losing it, and as much as I wanted to do the same thing, I knew this was the time to channel big sister energy and keep her as calm as I could.