Chapter 34 Neha
I was in awe as I sat in Quaid and Jaeda’s office space.
It looked like something straight out of a movie.
There were so many monitors and electronic devices that I was afraid to even touch anything.
I knew she was the family tech and that he owned a cyber security company, but this .
. . this was amazing. Watching them go at it on those keyboards and seeing so much information pop up was exciting.
It was clear that they weren’t your average nerds.
“They do this all day?” I asked the girls.
I was sitting with them and my sister in the back of the room while everyone else gathered around the work area.
“All day,” Shar confirmed. “The rest of the family might be dangerous, but these are the two I would never want to fuck with. They can wipe out your entire bank account or plant incriminating evidence that will put you away for life. Plus, both of them have hands and can shoot. Triple threat.”
“Speaking of a threat,” Dinah said. “So we’re just not gonna talk about the way Ms. Tavia snatched that big ass man up?”
Salima smirked. “Girl, all of them get snatched up by their mamas. In most cases, they love fucking with them. I feared for my damn self when he yelled at her, ’cause what?”
Shar giggled. “Girl, I was ready to put myself in the corner. You see Senior was quick to grab her up. He knew what time it was.”
“You also saw how he fell in line,” Romi added.
“Straight drill sergeant his ass,” Shar agreed. “It’s funny now, but on some real shit, that man and his baby mamas don’t play about their kids. Grown and all, they will gather them in one breath and love on them in the next.”
That much I knew was true. When they left the house, Nayelli had tapped my shoulder and asked me if Kerrion was in trouble with her grandmother.
Ms. Tavia was usually cool, calm, and collected, so to see her out of character was alarming.
I understood it, though. He needed his family, and he was pushing them away.
KJ might have been his son, but they loved him, and this was hurting them too.
“You think they’ll be able to find her?” I asked, choking on my tears.
They all reached out and touched my hand.
“They will,” Salima said. “Shar and I were both kidnapped and they found us. It’s kind of their thing.”
“Wait,” Dinah said. “I’m not trying to be funny, but you mean to tell me that kidnapping is a regular occurrence in this family?”
The girls nodded. “Pretty much,” they all said.
“Oh, hell nah. I gotta get away from Kaylynn’s ass.”
We shared a small laugh, a first for me in days. I was so worried about KJ, especially with the state of mind his grandmother was in. If anything were to happen to him, it would kill me. A tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly swiped it away.
“You really love that baby, don’t you?” Shar asked.
I nodded. “I do. That’s my baby. I love him as much as I love Nayelli. My heart hurts so bad right now.”
I broke into tears for what felt like the millionth time in the last couple of days. I never thought I’d grow so attached to that little boy so soon, but I did. I loved and cared for him, and not knowing where he was or if he was safe tore me up inside.
“Found it!” Jaeda exclaimed.
We all sprang to our feet and went over to the rest of the group to see her findings.
“So, it turns out, Mr. Moore’s family has a cabin in the hills of Tennessee. That’s the address.”
Kerrion snapped his fingers. “That’s it. I remember now. Donna and her mom went there last summer. She said it’s a tradition dating back to when she was a little girl. We were supposed to go when KJ got a little older.”
Something flashed on one of the larger monitors. When the image populated, we saw that it was camera feed.
“I got into the security camera,” Quaid said.
He scrolled through empty footage of the outside of the house.
All we saw were deer, birds, and squirrels for the most part.
Then it happened. He stopped the recording at the exact moment Ms. Anita pulled up in the car she’d driven away in.
She got out and went to the back to grab KJ.
I went to Kerrion’s side and grabbed his hand.
My chest tightened as we watched her ascend the steps to the front door.
KJ was sleeping peacefully as she fumbled with the keys. Kerrion’s grip on my hand tightened as he watched the screen.
“He’s okay,” I whispered, rubbing his back. “He’s okay.”
“I have to go,” he said. “Now.”
“I already sent word for them to gas up the jet,” Deuce said, looking up from his phone.
“I’m going with you,” Senior said.
“Me too,” I spoke up.
Kerrion’s head snapped in my direction. “No. You need to stay here with Nayelli. If something happens, I don’t want you caught in the crossfire.”
“But—”
“No, Neha. I promised I’d protect you, and I can’t, knowingly put you in harm’s way. I can’t focus if both you and KJ are in danger. Stay here with our daughter so I can bring our son home.”
I stared at him for a moment before nodding. “Okay.” I turned to Senior. “Just make sure you bring my boys back to me.”
He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “I got you, baby girl.” He turned to his son. “I have to ask. What do you want to do with her? I know that’s a hard call to make.”
Kerrion inhaled deeply. “I don’t know, Pop.
She needs help, and I don’t think . . . I know I can’t bring myself to do her in.
I just can’t. And I can’t have y’all do it either.
I love that woman. I loved her daughter.
She’s my son’s grandmother. I know she’s not a monster.
She’s just sick with grief and doing something irrational.
I’m not going there with the intent to kill her, and I pray it doesn’t come to that. ”
Pops nodded. “I’ll follow your lead on this one.”
I couldn’t imagine just how hard this was on him mentally. He didn’t want to hurt her, but I knew if it came down to it, he would do what was best or whatever forced his hand.
“I’m just gonna play it by ear,” Kerrion finally said. “It’s up to her how this is going to end.”
Deuce sighed. “Just stay strapped. We don’t know what’s in that house or what she brought with her. Grandma or not, I won’t hesitate to shoot if you are in danger. I’d rather have that on my conscience than losing you.”
Kerrion sighed. “I hear you, but me and Pops got this. Too many people might scare her, and shit can go left real quick. I want this to be as peaceful as possible. I don’t wanna traumatize my son.”
Deuce frowned but nodded. I could tell he was the protective big brother that hated to see his siblings face danger without him. If he could save them, he would.
Senior looked around at everyone. “Y’all head on home. We have a few things to discuss before we get ready to head out tonight.”
Everyone made sure to hug him and Kerrion before they left the office. He walked me to the door and pulled me in for a hug. His embrace was a little tighter than usual.
“Are you gonna be okay with this?” I asked, pulling back. “You can always let your dad handle it.”
“I don’t have a choice but to be good. I keep thinking about Donna and how she would want me to handle this.
She would be devastated if I killed her mama.
I don’t want that on me. I just want her to surrender KJ and herself.
She can go to a mental facility or something, but I don’t want her in jail, and I don’t want her dead.
She just needs help. Her grief is officially too far gone. ”
I nodded. “I hope she come peacefully.”
He sighed heavily. “Me too.” Cupping my face, he kissed my lips. “Go on to the house. I’ll be back in a little bit to pack and say goodnight to Nayelli.”
“Okay.”
We shared another kiss before I trekked down the steps and made my way down the road to his house.
Normally, I wouldn’t leave Nayelli alone, but she was surrounded by her family, and we were literally next door.
When I walked in, she was lying on the couch watching a movie, with her grandparents on FaceTime on her tablet.
“Hey, Mom. Hey, Daddy.”
They looked into the camera and smiled.
“Hey, baby,” my mother said. “Everything okay?”
“They found her. She’s in a cabin in Tennessee. Kerrion and his dad are heading out that way in a little bit.”
“Praise God!”
“I know, right. Thank y’all for keeping her company for a little bit.”
“It’s not a problem, baby girl,” my dad said. “She has us watching this movie with her. Go on and get comfortable and join us.”
I kicked off my shoes and climbed on the couch behind Nayelli. She snuggled up close to me.
“KJ’s coming home?” she asked.
“That’s the plan, baby. Just say a prayer that everything is okay.”
“I will.”
I kissed her temple and rested my head against the oversized pillows.
Silently, I said my own prayer. I prayed for KJ and that this wouldn’t traumatize him in any way.
I prayed for Kerrion and Senior’s safe arrival and departure.
I prayed that Ms. Anita didn’t put up a fight and things didn’t take a violent turn.
I just wanted my man and my baby to come home safe.
I wouldn’t be able to sleep until they were back under the same roof with me.