Lauren Monique
"Get up you some of a bitch" pounding on Elijah's body I wiped my tears away. Snatching him out of bed I kicked and punched him repeatedly until he pushed me away somewhat aggressively. "I'm so tired of holding my tongue to spare your feeling and shit but guess what, our kids are gone! And all you have to say to me is 'clean my bandages'? You don't even know what the hell I've been going through for the passed couple of weeks, from to help you to, trying to our businesses a float.
You don't see me bitching and waiting on you to do stuff. I was shot just like you and I still got my ass out of bed to make sure our kids have a better childhood than I did. Making money so they don't have to want for anything.
Hell you've choke at least five times since you've been back, the last time you were so close to killing me. My fucking lips were changing color and let's not forget you squeezed my wrist so tight you sprain it. Get the fuck up and get your shit together. I'm sick of your shit. At first I thought there was something wrong with you but in reality you're just hiding behind that little walled you built in your head do you don't have to deal with your problems.
Believe me I understand your pain I've lived through it my whole life with my parents and ex boyfriend, consider yourself lucky you only spent a few days suffering instead of years like I did. I'm admitting you into the hospital since you don't want to help yourself. I'm too old to be babysitting a grown ass man when I should be doing everything I can to get our kids back. Postpartum depression is real bitch and let's not forget I just had your fucking baby two months ago! All this stress your putting on me isn't helping, on top of that it's making my anxiety act up"
Another week has went by since the last time I've seen my babies. I've completely lost my mind, they were the only ones keeping me together. I can't even go to Elijah got comfort, I truly feels like I have nobody in my corner.
I didn't even mean to go off on him like that, but I know it's too late to take it all back. I'm so freaking stupid.
"Hurry up, I'll be waiting downstairs" closing the room door slowly behind me I went down the stairs.
I wasn't surprised to see Alex, Geovani, Matt and Alik staring at me in shock.
The only person who knew everything that was going on is Remo and he's been following the kids to each foster home they go to. So far they've been to four houses in the matter of three days.
Matt and Remo take seven hours shifts following them. So when one of them are out the other is with me making sure I don't do anything stupid and to keep me from spiraling. too late for that, I'm spiraling like a perfectly thrown football
"I knew it" Matt grunts glaring towards the stairs
"He's been hurting you?" Alex questions almost in disbelief
"Why didn't you come to me?" Geovani asks somewhat hurt
I usually discuss my problems with him and Remo but since he's been with Sienna a lot lately I didn't want to loop him in and take him away from her.
Cussing and yelling in Russian, Alik pulls out his gun going towards the stairs.
"I can handle it" stopping him I gestured for him to put the gun away. "We aren't in the right head space, it's going to take some time"
"Have somebody else drive him, I don't want you alone with him"
"Like who? I'll kill him" Matt mumbles running a hand through his hair. "Lauren why didn't you say something? Is that the reason Remo wanted me to be your guard?"
"You told Remo and not me?" Geovani scuffs
"Yes because I knew you would've wanted me to stay away from him. He needs help, I couldn't just let him stay beaten and bloody"
"So you'd just let him beat on you and potential leave you in worse shape he was in?" walking away Geovani went out back pulling out his phone
I understand why he's upset so I didn't bother trying to reason with him, him and Remo both look at me like I'm their sister so for him to hear what's been going on is heartbreaking for him.
"Bella" Alex mutters lowly "is there anything I can do?"
"Yea make the house even more kid friendly than it already is. Child protective services are coming sometime this week for a house exception.
Hearing the room door open Alik and Matt reaches for their guns.
"He's your boss Matt, Alik put it away. The both of you" sighing I slid on my shoes eyeing them
"My loyalty is with you and you know that, my job is to serve and protect you and your kids at all cost is if it's from him" Matt mutters pulling it out all the way, aiming it directly at Elijah
Elijah chuckles pulling his out, taking his off safety he stared Matt down daring him with his eyes.
"By killing him you'll take away my kids father"
"By standing by I'll be watching him take away their mother"
"Kill him" Alik mumbles glaring harshly at Elijah
"Matt you said your loyalty belongs with me right? Prove it, put down the gun and walk away"
I took the bullets out of Elijah's gun so I'm not worried about him pulling his trigger. Matt on the other hand, his gun is fully loaded.
After a while I realized he wasn't going to back down, going over to him I laid one hand on his arm and the other on his jawline.
"Please, Matt"
Glancing at me from the side of his eye he slowly lowered his gun, tucking it in his pants he watched Elijah from a distance.
"Thank you" smiling softly I hugged him happy that he didn't take Elijah's life, regardless of what going on in our relationship I don't want him to die.
Nodding Matt shrugs me off him, hugging Alik goodbye I kissed his check telling him not to do anything too crazy.
"We'll got something's to discuss when you get back" he mutters glaring at me, nodding in response I made my way to the door.
Creeping behind me Tatum followed me whimpering, he's been doing this since Delilah left. This is the first time they've been apart for a long period of time, I know he's hurting just as much as I am. He has touched his food or water, poor thing is going to collapse from starvation soon.
"Leave your gun on the counter, you aren't going to need it where your going" I told Elijah
Rolling his eyes he walked passed me going into the kitchen, with the gun still in his hand.
Humming I tapped my fingertips against my leg, to stop myself from lashing out again.
Taking my keys from the coffee table I went outside and sat in the car waiting for him to come out.
***
Delilah Woods-Ricci
Hours later
Screaming and kicking I fought to get out of the dark room I was placed in. Baby blue is somewhere on the over side of this door.
The lady told me to go to sleep then locked me in here.
"I want my Mama!" crying I pulled on the door knob "Tatum? Find me!"
"Go to sleep kid!" the lady shouts hitting the door scaring me
"Turn light on, peas!"
Mama always leaves the light on
"I want my brudda!" kicking the door I fell back holding my foot. "I hurt!"
Baby blue whined and babbled loudly like he usually does when he wants Mama to cuddle him.
"Gimmie my brudda! Him need his Dee Dee!" screaming at the top of my lungs I choked on my tears. "Peas, gimme him!"
"Give her that fucking baby so she can shut the fuck up!" the man yells followed by a loud slapping sound.
Mumbling was heard before the door opens and the lady shoves baby blue into my chest.
He cried louder in pain squeezing my shirt tightly in his hands.
"You hurt him!" kicking her leg I jumped at her, holding baby blue like Mama showed me. "Mama gone beat you"
"Girl fuck yo mama, if she was any good you wouldn't be here with us" the lady spat slamming the door
"Mama is good" kissing baby blue's head I glanced at the window over the ugly bed in the corner of the room. "Mama is good"
Putting him on the bed I climb on it beside him, standing up I pushed on the window making it fall out.
I was just trying to make it go up.
"Dee Dee is going to make it better, okay baby blue?" I ask rubbing his face, sniffling he chewed his hand staring at me quietly
Throwing the pillows out first I picked baby blue up and threw out all the covers that he was laying on.
Babbling he grabbed my hair chewing on it, taking it out his mouth I held him out the window and dropped him onto the pillows and covers.
"Sowwy" I whisper jumping out the window, landing beside him I picked him up kissing all over his face. "I sowwy"
—
It's a one story house, for a average heigh person they could just step out the window but their kids so it's somewhat a far fall.
—
Throwing everything back into the room except a purple blanket, I carried baby blue around the side of the house.
"I don't know where mama is" I mutter looking for someone with a phone, I know Mama's number.
Whimpering Baby blue shook in my arms.
"You cold?" I hum sitting him on the ground I wrapped the blanket around myself then picked him back up, covering the both of us. "I got you brudda, I promise"
"Delilah?"
Looking around I saw a big truck, like Dada's.
"Dada?" I gasp
"No it's Matt, come here" getting out his truck he waved me over. "how'd you get outside?"
"They didn't want us" shrugging I went over to him, stopping in front him I held up baby blue. "Him want mama, we wan go home"
"I-"
"Phone peas? Call Mama"
"Bossy just like her" Matt mumbles pulling out his phone, taping on it he held it to his ear. "Hel—yes but she's with me now. . . I'm taking her to the police station. . . .if I bring her to you, they'll think you kidnapped her. Think about it, it's the middle of the night. . . .you can meet us at the Walmart a few streets from there but you can't take them. . .yeah she wants to talk to you"
Handing me the phone he picked me up putting me in the backseat with baby blue still in my arms.
"Yellow?" I ask watching Matt buckle us in
"Hey baby, are you okay?" Mama sniffles, two buttons pop up on the screen. A red one and a green one. "Press the green one, Dee"
"Okay" holding the phone up I tapped the button, wiping my tears away.
Mamas face came into the screen, she looked so sad.
"Why you cry?" I ask letting baby blue see her. "we cry too"
"I'm crying because I miss you and Squirt. Did those people hurt you? What happened why were y'all crying?"
"Lady gave me whoopin, and I didn't eat. Baby blue wan his Dee Dee but lady said no"
"She didn't feed you?" Mama frowns getting in her car. "They must want to me be under the jail. . . .okay Dee Ima bring you something to eat okay? Tell me what else that happened"
"Lady made me go night night with no lights, I so scared I pee pee on the bed. She gave me a whoopin two times. Baby blue no eat, he hurt. Him bleed on his mouth. I didn't do it"
Showing mama his lip I pulled it down so she could see.
"Ima bust a cap—they hurt my fucking baby? Lord, why must you try my gangsta like I won't shoot that lady fucking house up?" rambling to her she honked her horn angrily. "Delilah?"
"Yes mama?"
"How did you get out the house?"
". . . I don't know"
"Don't lie to me, Dee I'm not mad at you but I need you to tell me"
Sighing I told her lowly knowing I wasn't supposed to do that.
"I wan go home" I admit
"I know baby but you can't yet, I'm trying to see if Pops or uncle Alik can take y'all okay? It won't be that long until you can come home. I'm trying my best"
"Okay and Dada?"
"Y—yes him too"
"I miss Dada, I wan my Dada" whimpering I sat the phone on Baby blues legs.
"I know and he misses you too, he told me to let you know that he loves you so much and he can't wait to watch princess movies with you and that he has a surprise for when you come home"
"Really? Him miss his Dee Dee?" gasping excitedly I picked the phone up again, smiling I stared at mama happily. "Him miss me, really?"
"Of course he does! When you get back he'll be here waiting for you okay? I need you to be a good girl and look out for your brother"
"Okay Mama! I be good, promise!"
"Matt" Mama calls out
"Yes?" Matt answers from the front seat turning somewhere
"Send me the address you picked them up from, and don't debate me on my decisions I'm about to make. Them mother fuckas busted my baby lip and beat my toddler for nothing"
"You can do whatever you want but you'll have to find out the address from someone else, I'm not helping you fuck up. Child services are already on your case—"
"No biggy, I'll get it out of Remo" huffing she looked at me through the phone. "I'll see you in a few minutes Dee, I love you"
"Love you" waving I pushed the red button handing Matt his phone back, shaking Baby blue awake I kissed his check. "Mama coming"
Babbling he kicked his feet smiling, nodding in agreement I smiled back hugging him.
"Mama is good"
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