Chapter Forty-eight

Having Shorty back in my life is everything I have ever imagined it would be. At the age of six, I knew she would be the one for me. Some people may think it's crazy and foolish to think we knew what our destiny will be at such a young and innocent age.

But that wasn't the case with me. The moment I laid eyes on her with her crazy curls swaying across her face, I knew she would bring me down to my knees. I belonged to her, and she belonged to me.

And now, after all these years, I've kissed her luscious lips, held her smooth silky body, and lost myself in her. I could never get enough of her. If I ever lost her again, I would never be able to recover. It took me years to dig myself out of the dark hole that swallowed me whole after her "supposed death."

I could never become that person again. A person with a black heart, a hunger of lust with random chicks to scratch an itch, and the adrenaline of beating someone's face hoping death would finally come for me.

With Shorty by my side, she resuscitated my heart to beat again. Her flawless beauty gives me a reason to live. She's the Ying to my yang, my normal to my crazy, and my light to my darkness.

I can't breathe without her.

I need her.

"Can I get you anything else?" A seductive voice turns away the thoughts of my girl reeling in my head.

The server is wearing black bootie shorts with fishnet stockings, and a tight fitted tank that barely supports her tits.

"No, I'm good thanks." She winks and walks away.

"Dude. Where's our girl?" Seb sits across from me as Lupe sits on his lap.

I laugh. "Our girl went to the bathroom." Propping my leg on my knee with my arm draped over the couch, I take a sip of my beer. Lupe jumps off Seb's lap at the same time Telle and Tiny plop beside them. "I need to use the bathroom too. Come on." Tiny Telle's hand and scurries to the bathroom.

"Man. I'll never understand why girls go to the bathroom together. Do they wipe each other's ass or what?" Gio scarfs down the rest of his drink.

"I'd like to see that." A cocky smile dangles on the corners of Max's lips.

"Dude, that's fuckin nasty. What the hell is wrong with you?" Seb shakes his head and laughs.

The server returns and offers to refill our drinks, but we turn her away. She's persistent with her flirting, I'll give her that. Bending her ass in front of the guys, her tits are on full display for my own personal viewing. I don't even give her the time of day. Does she really think that's going to work on me?

The girls return from the bathroom without Shorty.

She's been in there for a while.

"Where's Shorty?" I ask the girls. She's been gone way too long, and she's not answering her phone.

"She wasn't in there," Telle says, looking back where she came from.

My body stiffens and I'm on my feet in seconds. The guys follow suit. "What do you mean she's not in there?" I nearly growl.

My gut tells me there's something wrong. This doesn't feel right.

I charge my way to the girls' bathroom with the guys hot on my heels, steamrollering through the crowd and shouting at them to get the fuck out of my way. Terror mounts with every step I take.

Kicking the door so it slams open, loud shrieks fill my ears as I barge my way in. The sound of heels striking against the marble floor echoes around me and fades as the door shuts behind me.

"Shorty!" I roar, kicking in each empty stall.

"She's not in here, bro," Gio says with a worried look etched in his eyes and his voice.

"Shit." Seb rubs his hand over his face.

"Where the fuck can she be?" I punch the last stall door.

"D. Take a breather, fuck. Let's get the others to help look for her. She's probably somewhere in the club," Seb says but I can sense his lack of confidence. He's worried. And if he's worried, I know something is wrong, especially after Frank's last warning.

"We need to split up. Gio, go to the bars,. Max comb the area downstairs, including the bathrooms. Seb and I will get Ash, and Tia to check out the front and back of the club Call me the moment you see her and stay fucking put." Without a second thought, we split up and begin to tear this place upside down.

I tear back to our area, not caring if I knock people on their asses. I lean over the railing, scanning for Ash and Tia. When I spot them, Ash must've felt my eyes on him because he glances up and sees the panicked expression on my face. He grabs Tia by the hand and drags her behind as he rushes toward me.

"What's wrong?" he pants, trying to catch his breath.

"I can't find Shorty." I choke as fear grips my throat.

"What do you mean you can't find her?"

"What? Tia and the girls say at the same time.

"She went to the bathroom and never came back out. the guys are searching for this place. I need you to check the front to see if she's outside."

Where are you, baby?

"Do you think it's that Frankie dude?" Ash asks frantically.

Try not to lose my shit and kill any motherfucker involved.

"I'm going to track her phone. I put a tracker on it and the car after the shootout." I wasn't going to take any chances of anything happening to her. Ash nods and runs down the stairs.

"Have you tried calling her?" Tia asks.

"No, that's why I'm going to track her phone. It's quicker that way," I snap.

"Fuck this." Tia starts to turn away, but I'm quicker and grab her arm, pulling her toward me.

"Where are you going?" I snarl.

"Jo needs to know. She yanks away from me and runs away. Dread twists in my gut, knowing something bad has happened to my girl.

Please God. Give me a sign she's ok.

"Fuck!" I yell at no one as I locate her phone.

"You need to relax. We can't lose our shit right now!" Seb roars in my face.

"What the…" I stare at the screen confused as fuck. My shoulder is grabbed, I can't comprehend who the hell would put their hands on me.

"I told you to keep an eye out for her!" A wave of pain spreads throughout my face as Josiah's fists connect with my jaw.

"Fuck!" I stagger backwards but remain on my feet, grabbing my jaw.

"Josiah! Calm the fuck down!" Seb holds him back.

"Stop this shit! Shorty is missing and we need to fucking find her. Put your dicks away and get over your shit." Tia stands between us, glaring with daggers in her eyes.

I look down at my phone. "I know where she is."