Chapter 23

23

Lila (Nala)

I woke up with my nerves on ten.

Today was going to be an emotional day and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. I had no choice but to be though. There was no way I could allow Slim to leave this earth and I not get this shit off my chest.

Ahmad tried to alleviate a little of my anxiety with morning head. Granted, it helped for a little while, but now that we were on the way to take Kari to my parents, the anxiety was back. I sat in the passenger seat with my arms crossed, nervously shaking my leg.

Ahmad reached over and wrapped his large hand around my thigh.

"Relax, Bunny."

"I can't. I don't know how you do this for a living."

"You don't have to do this at all. I can take care of it, and you never have to deal with it again."

I shook my head. "I have to. End of story."

He nodded and focused back on the road. I grabbed his hand and linked my fingers through his. Much to my surprise, he pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it. The action caused me to blush. Every time he showed me softness, it made my heart flutter.

"Mommy, where are we going?" Kari questioned from the back seat.

"It's a surprise."

I'd called my parents this morning to ask them to watch her and of course they said yes. Before we got off the phone, my father was already rattling off all the things he wanted to do with her. I just knew that in a matter of hours, they were going to pack in every ounce of time they'd missed with her.

"Is it a big surprise or a little surprise?"

I giggled. "It's a big surprise, and I'm sure there will be even more surprises when we get there."

She gasped and clapped her hands. My baby loved surprises and it didn't matter how big or small. I could surprise her with a trip to Disney World or with a cute pair of socks and she was always grateful.

Twenty minutes later, we were pulling into the driveway of my childhood home. Cars lined the street, but I thought nothing of it. Tears flooded my eyes. It had been so long since I graced these walls. It looked just as I remembered. My father still kept the yard neatly trimmed and my mother still had the beautiful rose bushes she planted when I was a ten. The tire swing still hung from the big oak tree in the front yard.

Memories of my childhood flooded my mind and the tears I'd been fighting fell forward. Ahmad reached over and wiped my face.

"It's all good, baby. Soon, you can be here whenever you want."

"I know… I know."

"Why are you crying, Mommy?" Kari asked.

"Mommy's just happy to be home," I said.

"Home?"

The front door opened, and my parents stepped out. I pointed them out to Kari, and she screamed.

"Nana! Papa!"

She quickly unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door. She slammed it shut and ran up to them where my father scooped her up in his arms. I smiled as I watched them smother her little cheeks with kisses.

"You good?" Ahmad asked.

"I'm good."

He climbed out of the car and came around to open my door. I slid out and looped my arm through his. My father's eyes fell upon us as we made our way up the steps. He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly as he balanced Kari on his hip.

"Baby girl, it's so good to see your pretty face."

"It's good to see you too, Daddy. Hey, Mama."

I hugged her tightly as well before reclaiming my spot next to Ahmad.

He extended his hand. "Mr. and Mrs. Stanton. Nice to see you again."

"Mmm hmm," my father mumbled.

My mother elbowed him. "Lionel." She shook Ahmad's hand with a soft smile. "Thank you for bringing our babies to us. Y'all come inside for a second."

I didn't miss her smile brightening as she invited us in. They were up to something. She held the door open. As I started to walk in, she held Ahmad back, but motioned me inside. The moment I stepped foot inside, I was greeted by so many of my family members screaming, "Surprise!"

I damn near jumped out of my skin as I looked around at the familiar faces. There was a huge Welcome Home banner and balloons. Someone shot a confetti cannon and others were blowing whistles. My hand flew to my chest. I didn't know who to hug first. The decision was made for me when they all crowded around me, pulling me into their arms one by one. I was overcome with emotion. I was so happy to see them, but it was like a sensory overload.

There were too many familiar voices, scents, and faces. Too many hands were touching me. It felt like my throat was closing up and I couldn't breathe. I started hyperventilating, causing everybody to take a step back as I struggled to catch my breath. I felt a set of hands on my face and looked up to see Ahmad.

"You're having a panic attack," he said softly. "Look at me. Focus on your breathing." He demonstrated and I tried to mimic his breathing pattern. "You're doing good," he said, nodding. "Keep breathing. In and out."

I followed his instructions until I felt like my lungs were clear again. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but all I could focus on was him.

"Better?" he asked.

I nodded. He kissed my forehead and pulled me into a warm hug. Immediately, I felt safe in his arms. My parents looked on in confusion with my father wearing a frown. I finally pulled away from him and turned to address my family.

"I'm sorry," I said softly. "That was just a little much. It's been so long. I promise, I'm so happy to see each of you. I just… I felt very crowded."

"It's okay, baby," my mother said, rubbing my back. "Why don't you all head out back and give Nala a little space."

My family gave me sympathetic smiles as they filed out of the living room and headed for the back door.

"I'm sorry, baby. We weren't thinking when we invited everybody over."

"It's okay, Ma. I'm happy to know I was missed and still very loved."

"I hope there was never a doubt. I know you can't stay long, but everyone will be waiting for you when you get back. We're gonna put something on the grill and celebrate you being home."

She cupped my face and kissed my cheeks before pulling me in for another hug. When we parted, she turned to Ahmad, speaking lowly.

"You make sure she comes back."

"Yes, ma'am."

"You and I are gonna have a little chat when you two return," my father said.

Ahmad chuckled. "Yes, sir."

"Where are you going, Mommy?" Kari asked.

"Mommy has to go handle something, but I'll be back. I promise. You get to spend the whole day with Nana and Papa, and you get to meet the rest of your family. All of those people can't wait to get to know you."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Well… okay. Mr. Ahmad, are you coming back too?"

"Of course I will, Rabbit. You be a good girl."

"Yes, sir."

She came over to hug us both before grabbing my father's hand and pulling him toward the back. My mother turned to us with a serious face.

"I don't understand why you need to do this, but I'll respect it. Just please… be safe."

"Don't worry," Ahmad said. "I've got her, and my team has both of us. I'll bring her back safe and sound."

She nodded as she pulled me into her arms once again. "I love you, Nala."

"I love you, too. Now go enjoy your grandbaby. I'll see you soon."

She sighed heavily as she walked toward the back door.

"You ready to do this?" Ahmad asked.

"If I'm not… I might as well be."

If I didn't trust Ahmad, I'd fear for my life in the middle of nowhere. We'd been driving for what seemed like forever. When we turned onto an old dirt road that was overshadowed by big, bush trees, I briefly thought, this man could be taking me to my death. Even with the sun still out, the thickness of the trees casted the darkest shadow. When we finally made it to a clearing, there sat an old factory surrounded by trees as well.

"How long has this been back here?" I asked.

"Decades."

Ahmad pulled in with about five other blacked out SUVs and shut off the car. He turned to me with a serious look on his face.

"Now is the time to back out if you need to."

"No. I've done enough running. I'm ready to end this."

He nodded. Leaning over, he pecked my lips.

"Let's get to it then."

He climbed out of the car and rounded the passenger side to let me out. Hand in hand, we walked up the dilapidated building. Out front were two big men, smoking a blunt. When they noticed us, they put it out and greeted Ahmad with a slap of the hand and a bow of the head to me. We stepped inside the dimly lit building.

A coldness ran through me as I followed his lead to a small balcony that overlooked a large open space. I gasped as I looked over the ledge to see Slim bound to a chair with chains surrounded by six men with guns. Off to the side of him was a table with several weapons all laid out and waiting to be used. A chill shivered up my spine. Six years. Six years I'd run from this man and now I was about to come face to face with him.

Ahmad tugged my hand, and we made our way down the steps. The closer I got to Slim, the less recognizable he became. He was covered in sweat, dried blood, and dirt. His hair was matted, and his face was bloody and bruised. His pants were stained with urine, and I could smell it from where I stood. He looked like he could barely keep his eyes open, yet when his head lifted and he saw me, he became very alert.

"You fucking bitch!" He seethed, rattling the chains.

Ahmad walked over and punched him dead in the face. "Watch yo' motherfucking mouth, nigga."

Slim turned his head and spit out the blood in his mouth. His eyes found me again and he glared angrily.

"I guess you think you have the upper hand now, huh?" he said, with a menacing grin.

I stepped forward. "It would seem that way. I mean, you had me kidnapped and now you're the one who's being held captive. Isn't that ironic?"

He laughed. "What are you gonna do, Nala? Kill me? You don't have the balls to do that, baby. You like to throw the brick and hide your hand. You're weak. You've always been weak, and you'll always be weak. You were so pathetic that all it took was breaking your self-esteem to break you down without laying a hand on you. It was so easy to make you into the bitch I wanted you to be and now you've let this nigga make you his bitch too."

My eyes drifted over to the weapons on the table. Among them were knives, brass knuckles, razor blades, and a titanium baseball bat. Bypassing all the others, I picked up the bat with my good arm.

"You think I'm weak?" I asked.

I swung the bat, hitting him in his right kneecap. He howled as it made contact and his bone cracked.

"Weak is belittling the woman that loved you!"

I swung the bat again, hitting the left kneecap.

"Weak is humiliating me for your own sick, twisted pleasure."

I swung again, hitting him in the stomach.

"Weak is isolating me from my family because you hated the way they loved me when you knew you didn't!"

Repeatedly, I hit him until my arm got tired. Tossing the bat aside, I marched up to him and slapped him in the face before grabbing him by his throat.

"Weak is making me solely dependent on you so you could control me. The only weak motherfucka I see is you! I was never weak; I was just a fucking fool in love with a nigga I wouldn't piss on if he was on fire. You didn't break me, you bastard. I'm alive, and I have thrived in spite of you. When you're dead and rotting away, guess who will still be here? Me. While you'll become a distant fucking memory, I'll be living my best life with our daughter."

His eyes widened and it made me laugh.

"Yeah… I had your child. She's beautiful, smart, loving, and kindhearted, and that is because of me . None of the evil that dwells in you will ever taint her. She is the only good thing to come out of loving a selfish bastard like you."

I spit in his face.

"I fucking hate you! You made my life a living hell and for what! All because you could! So yeah, I took your money. The least you could do for causing me so much pain and suffering was fund me a new life. Now look at you… a shell of the nigga you used to be… soon to be the ghost of the nigga everyone once knew."

I released him and he gasped for air. I walked away, only to have him yell at my back.

"You'll never be safe here! You think my death won't be avenged? The streets will talk, and when they do, everything you love, everybody you love will all be dead because of you."

"No, they won't," Ahmad said. "There is nobody to avenge your stupid ass. You see while you've been tucked away down here, we've had the streets swept of any one of the so-called goons tied to you. They're all gone, my nigga. Poof."

He gave a cynical laugh as he approached Slim.

"Because of you, several families will have to bury their loved ones. You think anybody is gonna avenge that? As my lady said, you'll be a distant memory real soon."

He backed away from him and came to me.

"I'll be back to deal with you," he tossed over his shoulder. "Douse that nigga in some soap and water or some shit. A grown ass man pissing on himself? You should be ashamed."

I couldn't help but giggle at that as he led me back up the stairs and out to his car.

"You got it off your chest?" Ahmad asked as we settled in.

"Yes. He's all yours. I just wanna get back to my baby and my family."

"Then let's not keep them waiting."

He leaned over and pecked my lips. I relaxed into the seat and heaved a sigh of relief. Damn, I needed that.