The city lights of Philadelphia stretched out before them, glowing against the midnight sky. The ride had been long, silent, and heavy with unspoken thoughts. When Hustle finally turned into his complex, he killed the engine and exhaled.
"We here," he said simply, glancing back at Sajadaa and Danny. His voice was calm, but there was tension in his eyes that neither girl could ignore.
They all got out. Hustle led them through the quiet lot, up a narrow stairwell, and stopped at his apartment door. The second he pushed it open, a wave of warmth and safety hit them.
"A'ight listen," Hustle said as he kicked off his sneakers by the door. "There's two rooms down the hall, each one got its own bathroom. Y'all take whichever one y'all want. Go freshen up, get your heads right."
Sajadaa and Danny didn't need telling twice. They disappeared down the hall quickly, grateful for a space that felt like refuge, even if temporary.
Once the girls were out of sight, Reef leaned against the counter, shaking his head. "Yo Hustle... what the hell happened back there, man? Why Sajadaa stop? She ain't say a word since."
LK chimed in, folding his arms. "Yeah, bro. She risked all of us pausing like that. What she grab?"
Hustle rubbed his jaw. His eyes narrowed slightly, but the truth was written across his face. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I'ma find out. Whatever it was, it meant everything to her."
Reef blew out a long sigh. "That coulda cost us, dawg."
"Yeah, I know," Hustle said firmly. "But she family. I'll talk to her tonight."
He shifted the conversation quickly, his tone sharp. "Anyway, next move. The meeting's set for Friday night. Midnight. Back at the old warehouse we sold to Jerry."
Reef frowned. "The old white dude? Thought you ain't deal with him no more."
"Jerry on our payroll now," Hustle replied flatly. "Ain't nothin' move through that building without us knowing. We good. Everything goes down there."
The boys nodded, reassured, though unease still lingered.
Sajadaa's POV
The room felt too quiet once the door closed behind her. Sajadaa leaned against it for a moment, her heart racing, her chest tight. She locked it quickly, then started peeling off her clothes, needing to shed everything that felt heavy.
She turned on the shower, waited for the steam to fill the bathroom, and finally stepped under the stream of hot water. The second it touched her skin, everything inside her broke loose.
Her tears mixed with the water as she pressed her palms flat against the wall. The words from that man's lips echoed in her skull, refusing to let go.
"That's your twin brother."
She gasped sharply, trying to quiet her sobs, but the weight of it was too much. All the years of being told half-truths, all the nights she spent wondering why her life felt like chains... and now this.
"Stay strong, Sajadaa," she whispered to herself through gritted teeth. "Don't fold now. Don't fold."
But her chest still trembled. Her heart still hurt.
Danny's Pov
Danny curled up on the bed, knees tucked to her chest. Her eyes were wide open, but she felt far away from the room she was in.
She thought about Aaliyah—her laugh, her voice, her touch. It all seemed like a dream now, slipping further from her with each second. And then Sajadaa... her best friend, her ride-or-die, now tangled in secrets she couldn't even understand.
"How the hell did I get caught up in all this?" she whispered to herself, staring at the ceiling.
The silence gave her no answers. Only her racing thoughts did. On the run. Hunted. Lost.
A tear slid down her cheek as she pulled the blanket tighter around her body.
Sajadaa's POV
When the shower was finally too much, she stepped out, drying herself with slow, heavy movements. She rubbed lotion into her skin, dressed in sweats, and sat on the edge of the bed.
That's when her eyes fell on the small, weathered box sitting in the center of the mattress.
Her mother's box.
Sajadaa froze, staring at it like it was alive. The longer she looked, the more memories slammed into her—her mother's voice, the lies, the pain, the rare moments of warmth.
Her throat tightened. Her fingers trembled as she reached for it.
A knock at the door startled her. She jumped, quickly wiping her face.
"...Yeah?"
"It's me," Hustle's voice came through.
She hesitated, then unlocked the door. He stepped inside, shutting it quietly behind him.
His eyes fell on the box immediately. "That's what you grabbed?"
Sajadaa nodded, her voice breaking. "Everything important to me... it's in here. Sit down. You can... you can go through it with me." A tear slipped free, and she quickly brushed it away.
They sat together, opening the box. Inside were faded papers, old photographs, bits of jewelry, and cash. Hustle stayed quiet, letting her lead.
Near the bottom, Sajadaa froze. She pulled out documents slowly, her breath catching.
Her birth certificate. Her social security card. And then... two more birth certificates.
Her hands shook.
One for a girl. One for a boy. Both with the same birthday.
Sanaye. Brandon.
Hustle's eyes widened. He muttered under his breath, stunned. "So it is true... you got a twin."
His voice grew louder, disbelief lacing every word. "Daaamn, Sajadaa. How you ain't know this? Where's ya sister? What—"
"I don't know!" she snapped, tears spilling now. Her voice cracked. "I don't know. I was more of a prisoner than a daughter. She never told me nothin'."
She dug deeper into the box, her hands frantic, until she pulled out a worn photograph.
Three babies.
Her. A boy. A girl. All looking exactly alike.
Her breath hitched as she stared at it. "She must've sold them. Kept me. Who knows why..." Sajadaa whispered. "But look at us. We the same. Everything in me wants to find him now."
Her voice grew stronger. Determined. "We gotta tell the boys."
She shoved the papers back in the box, clutching it to her chest as she stood. Hustle followed close behind as she walked out the room, tears still streaking her cheeks but her eyes burning with fire.
Into the living room they went, where Reef and LK sat waiting.
This time, Sajadaa wasn't silent. She had answers.
And more questions than ever
YOU ARE READING
NOBODY
RomanceA Young Girl Named Sajada Smith Has A Life Of Secrets. Nobody really knows her or her hardships. Follow her as she goes from a nobody to a boss.
