He didn’t care how she looked. He was only happy that she was there to begin with. “You really here?”
“In the flesh.” Ayla held onto him and tittered.
She was dizzy but didn’t want anyone to worry about her. She hadn’t had a decent meal in what seemed like forever. Danehelped her up the steps, but Kong wasn’t far behind as his brothers sparked a blunt near the truck.
“I’m good. Y’all head out,” Kong instructed when he reached the porch.
“Just like a nigga.” Moose scoffed. “Why we can’t see the reunion too? And I’m hungry,” he complained. “Nigga wasn’t eating good in Premier like that.”
Tears fell past Inari’s cheeks like rainwater when she reached out and could actually touch her heart. Ayla was the first baby she ever held or had to care for, so it was only right.
“Look at you,” she whispered. “Are you okay?”
Something flickered behind her rich brown orbs before she blinked, then nodded slowly.
“Better… now.” She took in the house and sighed.
Inari let out a cry and pulled Ayla into her arms. She held her so tight, Ayla thought she heard something crack as she struggled to take in a breath. Bringing her arms up, she held her sister back and inhaled the familiar aroma of her perfume. Dior. Always. Inari nudged away and searched her sister’s exhausted face. She could tell from her dismal gaze that she had been through it.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.” With an arm around her, Inari led her through the front door.
A fresh, clean scent slapped Ayla’s senses as she examined her former home, noticing that not a lot had changed. She stopped at an old photo of her parents and reached for it. She didn’t think she’d ever see their faces again. After a moment, she paused and found everyone staring at her like she was going to fly away. Even Moose and Mozzi had come inside as she hovered near the arched doorway to the living room.
“What do you need? You hungry? You want to take a bath? You still have clothes in your room upstairs.” Her sister pointed anxiously to the staircase.
“Some water and a bath sound amazing.” Ayla forced a smile on her face. “I hope I’m not spoiling this reunion or anything. I’m just… kind of tired.”
“Of course you are.” Inari’s brows bunched together.
“We can talk, just… not right now.”
“Dane, grab her some fresh towels, please, and a bottle of water. Get some fruit, too. Just in case,” Inari instructed. “You okay with the stairs, or you want to use the bathroom down here and maybe sleep in the living room?”
“No.” Ayla shook her head. “Sleeping in my bed sounds perfect. I can make it on my own. I remember the way.”
She grabbed the railing and started up the staircase, leaving Kong and Inari staring after her while Moose and Mozzi made their way into the living room. Inari turned to Kong once she figured her sister was out of ear shot.
“What happened?” she pried. “Where is that bitch Mira?”
“She’s swimming with the fucking fishes.” Kong slid his hands into his pants pockets and ambled into her living room, where his brothers took up space on the couch. “We found her whole operation where she was running girls. Had them all locked up in cages like fucking animals.”
“Oh my God.” Inari gasped. “Was… did she do that with Ayla?”
Kong looked at her. Jaw tightening as he thought about all the things Ayla could have been through in the last four months.
“I don’t know. She hasn’t said much since we found her.” He paused near the fireplace. “She did say our son was alive.”
“Son? It was a boy?” Inari asked.
“She said she remembers giving birth, hearing him cry, and then he was gone. Mira took him. No telling where he is now.”
“Wh… well, we have to find him!” Inari shrieked. “Mira didn’t say anything before?”
Kong’s mind immediately flashed to what she mentioned about their parents, but he decided to keep that tidbit of information to himself until he knew more. Mira could have been on bullshit, and he didn’t want to stir an already boiling pot. Right now, he was grateful that Ayla was home.
“No, and we are going to find him. I don’t care what I have to do or how far I have to go. My son is coming home,” Kong vowed.
“I got Clue looking into a few things,” Mozzi said, sitting forward with his hands clasped together. “If he’s out there, we’re going to find him.”
