Page 180 of 4 Corinthians

“Oh yeah?” he chuckled. “Bet. I’ll see you when you get back.”

Thirty minutes later, I was on the private plane that I owned with Nine on my way back to KC to see what was going on with Cori. I called Judah back to let him know I was on my way and would be there in a few hours. He was cool with me being on my way, saying he would be awake when I got back home.

I relaxed in my seat and pulled out my laptop to pass the time. I opened my email and watched the video Trey sent me. I pressed play and the sound of Robert laughing made my stomach turn. I couldn’t tell who was holding the phone, but whoever it was was going to die right along with every nigga in that room. The view panned to Melissa standing in the corner of the room. Her face twisted in hatred and annoyance. Then to Isaac and Paul Kilmore, and Tyrell Cartell.

“Look at her,” Robert said, gently running his finger down Cori's face. She was drugged heavily. She could barely hold up her head, and her pupils were dilated. “She’s perfect. Beyond it.”

“She’s okay,” Melissa mumbled.

Robert quickly stood, approached her, and grabbed her throat. “What did you say?” he grilled her. “Because I don’t remember asking you a question.”

“I’m sorry,” she whined, holding onto his wrist. “Please.”

“What do you think you’re more important than she is?” he asked her. His voice was cold, his eyes empty. “Do you think you matter more to me than my pet?”

“No,” Melissa cried. “I-“

“You aren’t shit, you aren’t important!” he yelled at her. “You are just a bitch that is here to do my bidding! She is important!” he pointed to Cori with his free hand. “She is perfect! You are nothing!”

“I know,” Melissa cried. “I know.”

“Then remember your place!” he threw her to the ground, then kicked her in the abdomen. “Remember you can be replaced! All of you can and will be! She is the only one that matters!”

“Yes, sir,” the men in the room said.

“Even you!” Robert turned his wrath on the person recording. “You don’t even matter compared to her!”

“I never have.”

I sat up. I knew that voice. There was no fucking way he was there.

“And you never will. Your brother was the only thing close to holding the same value,” Robert said. “Turn that damn phone off so we can do this.” He unbuckled his belt. “Hurry the fuck up, Kenbral!”

The video stopped at Robert unbuckling his belt. His eyes were on Cori; the emptiness was replaced with longing.

***

The front door opened before I could enter the code. Judah stood there, in his pajamas, durag and house shoes. “I told you I’d be up,” he said, stepping back. “She’s in the living room.”

“Thanks,” I said, closing the door behind me. “You and Deuce on the game?”

“No, he’s asleep,” he said, shaking his head. “I was waiting for you.”

“I got it from here,” I told him. “You can go to sleep.” Judah nodded but didn’t move. “What’s wrong?”

“She’s crying,” he said softly. “My mama doesn’t cry, Four.” His eyes watered, and I felt bad as fuck. I knelt in front of him. “She’s like the strongest person I know. She can cook good, helps me with my homework, smiles all the time, and she’s in there crying. When she hugged me earlier, I felt her body shake.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I know it’s bad. The cousins are all here; Auntie Bug is here too, but I know you’re the only person who can make it better. You can get her to stop crying, right?”

“I can try.” I wiped his tears. “You know I love you and yo mama, right?”

“Yes.”

“So that means that I’ma do whatever I can to make sure she stops crying, okay?” I asked, and Judah nodded. “Alright then, man, go on to bed. I got it from here.”

“Okay.” He hugged me then ran back to his room.

I gave myself a minute, not because I wasn’t ready to get active over whatever had Cori upset but because my mind was still racing over the video. I watched it so many times I could recite every word said by heart. Shit was fucking with me hard.

After I got myself together, I went to the living room to find Cori, her sister, and all her cousins sitting around. She was sitting in the corner of the room, her knees pulled to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs, and her head resting against the window.