The next day rolled in and it was as if the Jackson's residence had become a comfortable inn. Friends and family gathered their home, after what felt like forever of not seeing one another. "No, for-real, Des, this is like MTV cribs." Cleo was still in awe of the home. Destiny let out a joyous laughter before thanking her friend, again. "I really missed you." She pulled Cleo in for a tight hug. "Y'all in here crying?" Darnell screwed his face upon walking into the kitchen.
"Why, you want a hug too?" Cleo teased him, holding her arms open. "Mane, get in here we trying to eat." He was tired of waiting on the girls to join everyone at the dinner table. "Go. We coming now." Destiny waved her brother off, sending him out the kitchen. "I have something big to tell you, but it can wait until after we eat." Cleo said. Destiny's eyebrows furrowed, "Everything alright?" She observed her friends appearance. She knew it couldn't be news of a pregnancy because Cleo didn't go that way. She wondered what could it be, but was patient enough to wait.
The two joined the rest of the guests at the dinner table. Kross cleared his throat before speaking, "Des and I appreciate y'all for being here with us. I know we all have our own lives, but it feels good to have everybody here, under one roof." He smiled hearty. "Thank you for having us." His mother replied on everyone's behalf. Soon, chatter and laughter went around the fully seated table. Kross and Chance were on a full on debate about this weekends big basketball game. It was the first one of the season, and Chance was willing to bet on the 76ers each time.
"Bro, stop it." Kross placed his cup back down, "You know the Celtics about to take that W. I'm sorry." He clowned Chance. Kyrie silently laughed. Giselle and Jamal overheard their debate and laughed at how strong each of them felt about their choice of basketball teams. "Y'all both ain't on nothing with them sucky teams." Darnell decided to chime in. Kross chuckled, "I know mister Miami Heat fan ain't over there talking." Darnell rubbed his beard that he was desperately waiting to connect. "Don't come for my team like that bruh. We got three championships." He reminded. "Barely." Chance mumbled. "Last time I checked, the 76ers ain't win a championship since 1983." Kross bursted into laughter.
"Don't sleep." Chance said his final words. The girls sat on the other end of the dinner table, engaging in their own conversation. "I still can't believe you're married with two kids, and living in this beautiful ass house." Cleo said. "Three kids, but I catch your drift friend." Destiny giggled, "I, myself be in disbelief too." She added. "I'm real proud of how far you've come. You never gave up." Cleo admired her friends growth. "Thank you, boo." Destiny could appreciate the acknowledgment. They talked more over the delicious food before moving on to desert. The kids went out to play in the backyard afterwards while the guys sat out on the patio and talked.
Destiny nursed Rylie while sitting beside Cleo on the couch. The two watched reruns of love and hip-hop like they often did back in the days. "I don't know how you do it." Cleo smiled watching Destiny burp the baby. "Do what?" She looked awkwardly. "This. Be a damn good mom to three different age groups." Destiny couldn't help but laugh. "I don't know. It comes naturally. It's hard not to want to nature and love on kids. I will never understand how some parents abandon this job title." She replied. Cleo sighed and then there was a pause in the conversation.
After putting Rylie down in her bassinet, Destiny grabbed a wine cooler for Cleo and a bottle of cranberry juice for herself. "Ok, so the big news I have to share with you." Cleo took a sip of her drink before repositioning herself on the couch. "I" the doorbell went off just as she was about to go on. Destiny silently cursed, resting her drink on the center table and getting up. "Hold that though. I'll be right back girl." She left the living room to answer the door.
Her eyebrows frowned when she saw two officers standing outside the door. "Hello officers. Can I help y'all with something?" She stood confused. "Good day, Mrs. Jackson. We have an arrest warrant for Chancellor Adonis Reid." One of the officers stated. Destiny's eyes widened. "W-What? Are you sure? What for?" Taken back was a understatement in the moment. "Ma'am we're going to have to come in now." The other officer said. "Absolutely not. Now if I heard correctly, y'all said there's an arrest warrant. Not a warrant to come into my home and do whatever it is y'all do." She crossed her arms.
"Is Chancellor Reid inside your home at this moment ma'am?" Destiny could sense the second officer growing frustrated. "I'm under no obligation to answer your questions." She mugged him. "Mrs. Jackson, if he's in here and you don't tell us you can be charged with harboring a fugitive." She rolled her eyes. There was some sort of commotion coming from the backyard, so loud it frightened Destiny who was still standing at the front door. She slammed the door on the officers before rushing out to the back. The scene before her seemed surreal. Kross shielded their children while officers had Chance pinned down, face first into the grass. "Chancellor Reid, you're under arrest for the murders of Blair Kristi and Peyton Smith." The detective stated.
Destiny quickly grabbed the kids, bringing them inside. She could hear one officer reading Chance his rights. "What in the hell!?" Cleo freaked out at what was taking place mere feet away from her. Kross watched as they walked his friend away. "I'm right behind you C." He pulled out his phone to make a call. On the ride to the station, Kross spoke with his lawyer to fill him in on the events. He was confused how all this shit could come back on Chance. Kyrie sat in the passenger seat in shock. Everything happened so quickly, and unexpectedly at that.
When they arrived at the police station, some officer gave them nonchalant answers regarding the status of their friend. They had no idea whether Chance was sitting in a holding cell or being processed and booked. "I can't say too much on the phone but Ima be here a minute." Kross spoke into his phone. Destiny was on the other end of the line, worried. "Did you hear what he's being charged for?" She wanted to make sure she heard correctly. "Yea," Kross sighed, "Shit crazy." He used his free head to run down his face. "It can't be, right?" Destiny was just as confused as her husband about how Chance was the primary suspect in a case that is supposed to be cold. "Babe... I don't even know. I'm waiting on my lawyer to get here to see how shit about to go, really. How the kids doing though?" He asked.
"Kaleb seems fine, but Skylar knows something drastic happened. I-I don't even know how to explain to her what she just witnessed." She replied. He silently cursed. "I'm mad as fuck our kids had to be exposed to some shit like this. Them cops deadass wrong." He told his wife. "I know, me too." After exchanging a few more words, their phone call ended. Kross agreed to updating everyone at the house as soon as there was an update to give.
"Where were you on the evening of May 15th, 2021?" Detective Reyes questioned. "Shit, you expect me to remember my exact location so far back? Y'all bugging." Chance chuckled humorously. Detective Reyes pulled images from a brown folder. "Blair Kristi and her daughter, Peyton Smith were reported as missing persons two years ago. There we no leads so the investigation went nowhere. That is until two bodies surfaced and they were identified to be them." She shared. Chance looked down at the evidence photos, remaining carefree. "Nothing?" The detective looked displeased.
"I'm not saying shit else without a lawyer." He answered, sliding the photos back across the table. "Of course you wouldn't." She smirked. "Lawyer or not, you're guilty and you're going to face the consequences for what you did to this mother and child." Detective Reyes gathered her things before exiting the interrogation room. "Fuck twelve." Chance flicked her off. Soon after Kross's lawyer had arrived, ready to represent Chance to the best of his ability. "Chancellor Reid? I'm Ezekiel Brown, I'll be representing you." He introduced himself. Chance eyed the man dressed in a well fitted emerald suit. He trusted Kross with his life and knew he was in good hands. "Just call me Chance." He shook the lawyers hand.
Ezekiel quickly briefed Chance on how to respond to the detective that was going to try and get some bogus confession out of him. Moments later, Detective Reyes was seen re-entering the room. "Good. Your lawyer has joined the party." She claimed a seat across from the two. "How can you possibly charge my client on two separate counts of murder with no proof?" His lawyer questioned. "Mr. Brown we have proof that your client is in fact guilty of these crimes." She stated. "How so?" He asked.
"Your client didn't do a well enough 'clean up' of the job. He not only killed a mother and her child, but he also shot Ja'Quan Smith, father and partner to the two deceased victims. Mr. Smith survived the shooting and came forward with detailed information about what took place that evening inside his home." Detective Reyes dropped the thrilling news. Chance wanted so badly to shout all kinds of fucks but kept his composure. "The same wanted kingpin and murderer that's currently sitting in jail? You're going to take the word of a convict?" His lawyer asked.
"Are you insinuating that he's lying on your client?" She looked at both Chance and Ezekiel. "There is nothing that ties my client to even knowing who Ja'Quan Smith is. My client lives up north and is only here visiting close friends." Detective Reyes smirked, "Figured you'd try to angle it that way. Mr. Reid and Mr. Smith share one common denominator though. Hakim Carter." She informed. Chance balled his fist underneath the table. "Ok?" Ezekiel wasn't following. This still didn't prove that his client was guilty of anything. "Mr. Carter is corroborating with police and actually confirms Mr. Smiths statement of what happened on May 15th."
Ezekiel needed a moment to straighten things out with his client and asked for some privacy.
About an hour later, Ezekiel left to speak with Kross as he impatiently waited to hear what was going on. "So?" He looked at his lawyer for answers. "There's witnesses. I know you said he's not this kind of guy, but I think a plea deal would be best." Ezekiel replied. "Nah. Chance ain't going for that. He'd rather do the time." Kross shook his head. "That's ten to thirty years we're talking here." There was no way he could watch his brother be put away for so long. "Your best bet is to try and get him to agree on a plea deal before court or I can't guarantee a judge will work in his favor. He already has a long track record." Ezekiel was doing all he could to keep Chance from serving a gruesome sentence.
However, for the time being, the ball wasn't in their court. Chance was being booked and transported to another location. "Fuuuuck!" Kross yelled after getting into his car. His blood was hot. "Fuck, man." He drove off not long after. When he got back home, Destiny patiently waited up. She felt like Chances arrest was her fault. If she hadn't gone over to Quan's house that day, all of that shit wouldn't have went down. "Where everybody at?" Kross plopped down beside her. "Asleep." She pulled him into her chest. "Baby, I am so sorry." She apologized.
"Every action has it's consequence, right?" He starred at nothing in particular.
The end.
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The long overdue update and ending y'all have been waiting for 😭 thoughts?
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