The house was quiet, save for the soft sounds of Amara cooing in her crib. Nia sat at the kitchen table, her fingers tracing the edge of a coffee cup as memories she had long buried clawed their way back to the surface. Her mind swirled with thoughts of Kayla, the pain she'd caused, and the threat she still posed.
She looked out the window into the night, her reflection staring back at her like a ghost of who she once was. The past she had buried when she got pregnant with Zion was knocking at her door again. The life she had left behind wasn't just a memory-it was a skillset. And for the first time in years, Nia felt the weight of who she used to be.
---
The next morning, Marcus and Liam were deep in discussion about their plans to flush Kayla out. They didn't notice the way Nia avoided their eyes, or how quiet she had become.
"Nia, yuh good?" Marcus asked, his brow furrowing as he finally caught on to her mood.
"Mi fine," Nia replied, her voice steady. "Mi just... thinking."
"Bout what?" Liam pressed, leaning on the counter.
Nia hesitated, her heart pounding. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she shook her head. "Nothing. Just worried bout Amara."
The men nodded, distracted by their own plans. But as they strategized, Nia slipped away, her resolve hardening with each step.
---
Hours later, Nia stood in front of a locked trunk in the garage. She hadn't opened it in years-not since she left her old life behind. Her hands trembled as she turned the key, the creak of the lid sending a shiver down her spine.
Inside was a collection of weapons, neatly stored and untouched. Her old tools of the trade. As a hitwoman, she had been precise, ruthless, and untraceable. But that part of her died when she chose to keep Zion and create a new life.
Now, as she strapped a blade to her thigh and holstered a pistol, she felt the cold determination of her former self return.
"Mi never wanted to go back," she whispered to herself. "But dis time, mi fighting fi mi family."
---
Without a word to Marcus or Liam, Nia slipped out of the house, her footsteps light and purposeful. She had spent the last few weeks quietly gathering information, piecing together Kayla's movements from the network of contacts she still had in the underworld.
Kayla was hiding at an upscale villa on the outskirts of town-a place guarded by her loyal crew. Nia knew the risks, but she didn't care. This was personal.
As she approached the villa, her heart pounded, but not with fear. It was the thrill of the hunt, the familiar rush of adrenaline she thought she'd left behind. She took a deep breath, then scaled the wall surrounding the property, her movements silent and calculated.
---
Inside, Kayla lounged in the living room, sipping a glass of wine as she reveled in her latest victory. Her satisfaction was short-lived, however, as the lights flickered, and the room plunged into darkness.
"What di-?" Kayla muttered, standing abruptly.
Before she could react, Nia emerged from the shadows, a gun trained on her.
"Hello, Kayla," Nia said coldly, her voice laced with the kind of venom that could freeze blood.
Kayla's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed. "Nia? What yuh doing here? Where's yuh little family?"
"They safe," Nia replied, her grip steady on the weapon. "Unlike yuh."
Kayla smirked, trying to mask her unease. "So, dis di real Nia, eh? Mi always knew yuh had a little darkness in yuh. But dis?" She gestured at the gun. "Dis a surprise."
"Yuh took too much from mi," Nia said, stepping closer. "Amara's mother, her life, her chance fi raise her child. Yuh cross a line yuh nah supposed to."
Kayla chuckled darkly. "Yuh really tink yuh can come in here, one woman, an' take mi down? Yuh nah ready fi dis world, Nia. Leave it to di boys."
"Dis nuh about dem," Nia snapped. "Dis mi fight."
Before Kayla could respond, one of her guards burst into the room, but Nia was faster. She pivoted, firing a single, precise shot that dropped him instantly.
Kayla's smirk vanished. "Alright," she said, raising her hands slightly. "Mi see yuh serious."
"Yuh finally get it," Nia said, her voice icy.
---
The confrontation escalated into a tense standoff, but Nia's years of experience gave her the upper hand. One by one, she neutralized Kayla's guards, moving through the villa like a ghost.
When she finally cornered Kayla in an upstairs room, the woman was visibly shaken. "What now?" Kayla spat, desperation creeping into her voice. "Yuh goin' kill mi?"
Nia hesitated, her finger hovering over the trigger. She thought of Zion, of Amara, of the life she had worked so hard to build. Taking Kayla's life might end the immediate threat, but it wouldn't erase the scars she had already caused.
Instead, Nia lowered the gun. "Nah. Mi not like yuh," she said. "But mi goin' make sure yuh pay for everything yuh done."
Before Kayla could react, Nia struck her with the butt of the gun, knocking her unconscious.
---
Back at the house, Marcus and Liam were frantic. They had discovered Nia's absence and found the open trunk in the garage.
"Mi can't believe dis," Marcus muttered, pacing. "She went after Kayla by herself."
"Mi knew she was hiding something," Liam said, his voice laced with worry. "But mi never imagine dis."
Just then, the door opened, and Nia walked in, her face streaked with dirt and her clothes torn. She carried a small USB drive and a folder of documents.
"Nia!" Marcus exclaimed, rushing to her side. "What di hell were yuh thinking?"
Nia held up a hand to stop him. "Mi thinking bout protecting mi family," she said firmly. "Kayla done. Di evidence here will make sure of dat."
Liam took the drive, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "Yuh coulda told us, Nia. We're a team."
"Dis was mi fight," Nia said, her voice softening. "But now it's over."
As the tension eased, Nia collapsed into Liam's arms, exhaustion finally taking over. Marcus watched them, a deep respect shining in his eyes.
"You really full of surprises, Nia," he said quietly.
Nia managed a faint smile. "Yuh have no idea."
---
