Nova
The basement smelled like sweat, fear, blood, and piss.
But none of it was mine this time. Kennedy was slumped in the chair unconscious in the center of the room, hands and ankles zip-tied, lip busted, eyes blackened.
Blood crusted on her temple from where a merc had knocked her out during the raid.
Black carried a bucket as he entered the room.
When he reached Kennedy, he threw the ice-cold water over her head and startled her awake.
Kennedy screamed and sputtered from the splash like a drowned fish. She still had that smug look, even with her mouth split and swollen. She looked like she hadn’t slept but like someone who thought her mouth could still get her out of here alive. But too bad for her I was done being the victim.
I paused in the doorway debating on how I wanted to do this.
I didn’t come down here to beg for answers.
I came to take them, not caring what I had to do to get them.
Black stood against the far wall, arms crossed, jaw flexed.
Blue was sitting on a stool next to the exit, silent, unreadable as usual.
I guess they were the muscle in case I needed back up.
But this time I didn’t need anyone to protect me. I wasn’t helpless and tied up.
“Look who finally decided to show,” Kennedy croaked.
I didn’t blink. Just walked forward, slow and calm.
“You think this is still a game?” I asked.
She smirked. “It always was, baby girl. And you were always the pawn, you and that little bastard of yours.”
That did it. Before I even realized it, I’d slapped her so hard her head jerked to the side. She coughed out blood, then laughed. Black didn’t even flinch at my response. Blue just nodded.
“She’s not scared,” Black said, looking at his brother.
“Good,” Blue muttered. “Because we brought back up.” He said looking at me and then Kennedy.
“Back up?” She said, smirk faltering.
The steel door opened behind me with a low metallic groan and in walked two beautiful women .
The shorter one was barely five feet, dark skin glowing under the harsh overhead light just like the twins, hoops swinging as she moved.
Her hoodie said “Soft Heart, Hard Fists” in bold white letters.
Her long hair was pulled into a long ponytail at the back of her head.
Behind her a taller woman, just as beautiful as the first strutted in like she owned the floor.
She was taller than me, all legs and leather, with a cinnamon complexion and stilettos that clicked like she was on a catwalk.
Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, and her smile brightened the room.
I stepped aside as they entered. The short one looked Kennedy up and down like she was inspecting a used car she didn’t plan on buying.
“This the bitch?” she asked.
Blue nodded. “That’s her.” He said glaring at Kennedy.
And then nothing. Was anyone gonna introduce us? I’m guessing that was an introduction. But before I could ask who these two were, the short one shook her head and introduced herself.
“Sorry for my brothers. They don’t have any home training.
She said, rolling her eyes at the twins.
I’m Mecca the little sister and this is Kema, my best friend.
If you’re here and not tied to a chair you must be family or close to it because our brothers don’t just let anyone into this building, clients or not,” she smiled.
“Nice to meet you both.” Crew said, as I continued to stare, until they both turned to me and gave me a friendly smile.
“Hello, thanks for coming,” I said.
“Well since we got introductions out of the way, let’s get this party started.” Mecca said as she stepped closer to Kennedy.
They circled Kennedy like they were stalking their prey.
“Mm. Ugly energy.” Kema said, popping her gum.
Mecca adjusted her gloves she was wearing before she glanced at me.
“You ready for this, Nova?”
“I was born ready. I just forgot for a minute.” I said, taking a deep breath.
“Well, we here to remind you.” Kema, winked.
“What, you think I’m scared now?” Kennedy laughed, rolling her eyes.
Mecca moved fast, so fast I almost missed it. One step, then a right hook that made Kennedy’s head snap.
“Scared? Nah. Not yet. That part kicks in right after the talking stops and the screaming starts. But hey…keep that same energy.” She said, with a sadistic smile on her face.
Kema circled the chair, heels clicking, then leaned down to Kennedy’s eye level.
“You helped kidnap a mother,” she said, voice flat. “You plotted to take a child. And you did it for a man who sees you as disposable.”
“And y’all think you’re gonna scare me with your little hood rat army?” Kennedy said, spitting blood on the floor.
“Nah. We came to beat the fear into you.” Mecca said, taking off her earrings.
“Nova. You want to watch or participate?” She asked, turning to me.
“Give me some gloves.” I said, not hesitating.
Crew tossed me a pair of black leather ones with brass knuckles stitched into the lining. I slid them on like armor. Mecca handed me a towel, like a damn coach.
“You swing when you’re ready. We’ll step in when you need us.”
I circled Kennedy slowly.
“You don’t get to make me feel small anymore,” I said.
“You were always small. Cheap, worthless, and beneath my brother.” She smirked.
Crack.
The first punch landed on her jaw making her groan and my knuckles sting. Good I needed the pain to remind me of what they’d tried to take from me. “Say something else,” I said.
“You ain’t?—”
Crack.
The second one bloodied her nose. Sending rivulets of blood down her face. My heart pounded in my chest, but I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t weak. I was taking my strength back. I hit her blow after blow until her head dangled as she tried to remain conscious.
“That’s my girl. Damn Crew, your girl a beast.” Kema clapped softly.
I stepped back, chest heaving, gloves bloodied and nodded to Mecca and Kema. “She’s all yours.”
He nodded in approval.
Kema pulled out a syringe from her leather jacket. Kennedy’s eyes widened.
“What the hell is that?” She slurred.
“Just a little cocktail,” Mecca said smoothly. “Adrenaline, a smidge of truth serum, and something to make your muscles spasm when you lie.”
“You can’t—” She said, thrashing like she could get away.
“You lost your rights when you put your hands on Nova,” Blue said calmly.
The needle slid into her neck as she screamed. Then her screams turned to sobs and then soft groans.
“Talk,” I said.
“Y-Y’all already know what Kyle did. What we were trying to do. What more do you want?”
“Say it.” I said.
“Kyle, h-he made a deal with the Valdez family,” she choked out. “They needed a girl from an affluent family to marry his son and give him an heir. But the family had to be one that was comfortable with their business.”
“What business?” I asked.
Guns, murder for hire, but mostly trafficking.
Humans. And Timberly was the key to bringing our family into the fold.
The promise was made before she was born.
My father helped him plan it. In return for Timberly, our family would get 50 million dollars and represent the Valdez family exclusively in all of their legal endeavors here and abroad. ”
My stomach turned.
“Timberly is your blood. How could you do this?” I whispered.
“I was loyal to Kyle. He promised me power and Crew.” She said with a straight face.
Crew walked over and leaned in close to Kennedy, his voice low and laced with venom.
“Let me make somethin’ real clear to your goofy ass.
I don’t remember you. Not your name, not your face, not a single damn moment you thought meant somethin’.
You were just background noise in a room I never looked twice at.
And even if Nova wasn’t in the picture, hell, even if every woman on Earth vanished you still couldn’t get me.
You ain’t got shit I want. You just got delusion…
and a front-row seat to your own downfall.
Congratulations.” He said, stepping away.
Tears rolled down Kennedy's face the farther Crew got from her. This bitch insane.
“Anything else you want to add?” Kema asked.
“Kill me or let me go. But I got nothing else.” Kennedy said, looking at me with not an ounce of regret.
This was her truth. She actually believed what her brother was doing was okay.
“Where is your brother?”
“I don’t know? If I had to guess somewhere regrouping with my father. He’s the planner of the family.” She said.
“You forgot one more thing.” Mecca smiled coldly.
“What?” Kennedy asked, like she was bored of us.
“Your silence.” She said, before shooting Kennedy between the eyes before I could even process what she was doing.
Kennedy slumped in the chair, eyes unseeing.
Black pulled a phone from his pocket.
“Come clean this shit up.” He said.
Mecca turned to me, pulling off her gloves. “How you feel?”
“Lighter,” I whispered. For some reason I didn’t feel a bit sorry for Kennedy. She picked her side and unfortunately it was the wrong one.
“Good. You held your own.”
They both hugged me tightly. “You family now. Welcome to the dark side, baby.”
Kema nodded.
“The twins said you’ve met our sister in-law Anesia.
She’s sweet like you. Had to learn the hard way that sometimes you have to save yourself.
In this life we don’t flinch around here.
We don’t bow. If someone threatens our family, we do what has to be done to protect us.
If you're gonna be in our friend group you're gonna have to be ready for anything.” She said.
“Don’t let the cute faces and soft voices fool you. I mean Black and Blue are my brothers.” Mecca giggled.
Tears slid down my cheeks, but I was smiling.
“Thank you.”
“Thank yourself. You stepped in that ring. You didn’t tap out.” Kema said.
Crew walked over and wrapped his arms. After what just happened, I needed this. He kissed me on my head before guiding me to the door. As we walked out, I looked back at Kennedy one last time.