Without You | BOOK 2 TO ARRANGED

Certainty

"Me and Camara have been looking for things that might lead to Malcom and we got a lead. It's not much, but it's something." Z says.

"Hit me." I say, moving toys onto the carpet for the kids to play with.

"So, we found someone. Someone who absolutely hates and despises Malcom. They apparently used to be friends, but Malcom crossed her and they apparently hate each other now." he explains.

"Please don't tell me she's an ex of his. Anyways, that's risky. You know why." I say as Harley runs up to me, wanting to be picked up. I pick him up and I sit him on my lap, letting him play with my fingers and the rings on them.

"Yes, I do, but-"

"Z, they used to be friends. There's no telling what she could do. She might've told you she hated him, but she could turn around and side with him. I'm not letting her in my home if I can't trust her. I have children to worry about."

"Vixen, this is better than anything else. It's been almost four years, man. Don't push this away. Just consider it." he pleads with me.

I bounce my knee anxiously and I process this.

This could help. But I don't know if I can trust her. A lot is going through my mind right now, but I sigh and I shake my head.

"Okay. Alright. Fine. She can come." I say, shaking my head.

"I'll tell her to pack her bags." Z says, pulling out his phone and walking away.

Aleah starts to cry, so I look over at what's going on and Kai has a doll in her hand while Aleah cries.

"Aleah, baby, what's wrong?" I ask, picking her up as I talk to her.

She tries explaining why she's crying, but all I hear is jumble of slurred words coming from her. "Leah, calm down. I'm not gonna want to listen to you if you're crying like you are. Wipe your tears away and breathe first." I say, wiping her face. "Now tell me what's wrong, Bee." I say.

"Sunny took the doll I was playing with and she won't give it!" she says, folding her arms and huffing.

"Did you ask for it?" I ask, trying to resolve the situation.

"No..."

She only acts like this when she's tired.

"You know you have to ask first, Bee." I say. "Let's go take a nap, okay?" I say, picking all the kids up and taking them to their rooms.

I kiss all of them on the head before walking out of their rooms and cracking their doors closed before walking back downstairs.

When I get back, I start cleaning up the kids' toys as Zeno talks on the phone. When he hangs up, I'm finished cleaning up, so I plop down on the couch next to him.

"So?" I say, looking to him.

"So, she's coming. She'll be here in a few hours." he says.

"Okay. I need to go and blow off some steam. You mind-"

"Sure. Go ahead." he says with a smile. "They'll be fine." he adds.

"Thanks, Z." I say, walking upstairs to change.

After I've changed, I go into the kids' rooms and I kiss each of them before going downstairs, bumping knuckles with Z before I walk out with my keys in hand.

I slide my phone into the pocket of my sweatpants and I get in the car, putting my left hand on the wheel as I push the start button to start up the car.

When I look out in front of me, the ring on my finger glistens in the sunlight pouring through the window. I smile softly and I run my fingers across it with a smile.

Besides when I'm washing dishes or when I'm in the shower, I never take my ring off, ever, and I never will.

I'm attached to it.

This ring, our kids, and our photos are the only thing I have left of her.

When I arrive at the base, my assistant is waiting at the gate for me with her clipboard in hand.

"Mister Reed. How are you today?" she asks.

"I'm good, Cici, thanks for asking." I say as I scan my face and hands to get through multiple gates.

"How are the kids?" she asks.

"They're good. They're growing up too fast though. I can't keep up." I say with a smile.

"That's wonderful." she says, writing things down.

"I need you to make sure everyone's on duty. How's the search for Malcom going?" I ask as we walk into the base.

"We've got a lead. We think it's something good."

"You're serious?" I say, my eyes widened.

"Yes sir."

We walk to the meeting room and she takes me to the back where I see King sitting at a computer.

"King. What's up?" I say, tapping his chair.

"Nothing much. We got a lead on Scarface."

"Cici let me know. What is it?"

"We found this warehouse connected to Malcom's name all the way in Arizona. We think he's hiding out there."

My heart drops. This could be it.

"Are you certain?" I ask.

"Seems legit." King says, looking up at me.

I nod my head.

"Pack your bags. We're going to Arizona." I say, walking out the room.

I go to the workout room and I start working out, lifting weights, punching beanbags, running on treadmills, and doing it all over again.

After five hours, I'm done working out, so I grab yet another bottle of water and I guzzle it down before throwing the bottle away and grabbing a towel to dry my sweaty face.

I get a weird feeling, so I turn around to analyze the room and there stands Lindsey.

"Hey." she says, walking up to me.

"Is there a problem? Shouldn't you be training?" I say, my eyebrows furrowed.

"No, there isn't any problem. I just so happened to run across you in here so I thought I should say hi."

"Well now you have. Good day." I say as I walk away.

"But-"

"It's best you don't disobey direct orders, Ridley. Either you get your ass to that training room, or I'll happily put you back on the streets where you belong. Your choice." I say with a shrug.

She rolls her eyes and walks out, storming past me and I laugh at how angry she is.

I walk out and I go to my car, starting it and starting the drive back home.

On the way there, I get a phone call from Z. When I pick up, I see Aleah with a big smile on her face.

"Hey, Daddy!" she says, waving at me.

"Hey baby. How was your nap?"

"It was good, Daddy. Are you coming home yet?"

"Yeah, I'm coming. I'm almost there, baby. Daddy has something he wants to tell you when he's home."

"Really? Is it a secret?"

"No, not really, Bee. Where's Harley and Kai? Let me see them."

She walks over to the living room and turns the phone for me to see the twins.

"Sunny, Bubba! It's Daddy!" she says excitedly.

"Daddy!" they say, running over to the phone.

"Hey babies. You guys okay?"

"Yes Daddy."

"That's good. I'll be home in a second, okay? Give Uncle Z his phone okay? I'll see you guys in a bit."

"We love you, Daddy!"

"I love you too, babies."