Mani was tired of this. Her patience was running thin. Nights like these were happening too often for her tastes. She laid on her side, cover pulled up to her chin, as the TV watched her because she for damn sure wasn't paying attention to it. Her eyes were focused on the clock on the wall. It was damn near morning, and Lauren wasn't home. Their relationship seemed to be failing miserably. What had once felt so natural for her now felt forced.
Truth was, Mani knew how to be Normani Hamilton. She had no idea who Mrs. Jauregui was. Her marriage vows had put a pressure on her that was making her weak, and clearly the transition was tough for Lauren as well.
She hasn't called, no text, she has completely lost her mind if she thinks this is going to fly with me, she thought. She was playing a dangerous game with Dinah, but still, to fall off the grid completely was unacceptable. What was the point of a legit situation at a legit company if she was still keeping illegitimate hours? It didn't make sense, and it was all beginning to sound like bullshit to Normani.
This is why that bitch Lucy is an issue. Every time she's late, any time things don't quite add up, I'm going to think she is with her. I'm driving myself crazy, she thought.
Trust was lacking between Normani and Lauren. The past had done too much damage for them to pretend like everything was fine. She didn't want to worry when it came to her allegiance. She didn't want to doubt the woman she had given her life to. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Not with Lauren. She was making her physically sick. Eating and sleeping had become a notion of the past. Lucy's presence in their lives threatened the very foundation that their marriage was built on.
Even when she could think of logical excuses why she would be this late, her mind always ventured back to the possibility that she was sound asleep in another woman's bed while she was up, tortured at the thought of it. This entire situation was turning her into someone she didn't recognize. Never ever in the history of her being had she stressed over a woman in this way. She found herself going through pockets and checking her phone. She was losing her mind waiting to catch her up, waiting to prove that she wasn't keeping true to the vow she had made.
With Leah she had feared physical harm. She had guarded herself against a crazy woman who wanted her life. In this scenario, Mani felt like the illogical one. Lauren was reducing her to insanity. She couldn't even confirm her suspicions, which made Normani think it was all in her mind, as if her insecurities were getting the best of her.
The doorbell rang, and Normani's heart clenched in anticipation as she sat up. Wrapping the blanket around her body, she stood and then went to answer it. When she looked at the security screen on the wall, she froze.
Suddenly her notions of cheating and scandal went out the window.
Federal agents stood on her porch. It wasn't that Lauren wasn't coming home, she couldn't come home, and these men at her door were the cause of it. Alarm pulsed through her as she thought of what Lauren might have inside their home. The thought was quickly dismissed, however; Lauren would never put her at risk by soiling their family home. She thought about not answering, but the persistent way the agents were ringing her doorbell let her know that they were coming in whether she approved or not.
Normani rushed back to the couch and grabbed her cell phone, immediately dialing Lauren's attorney.
"This is Normani Jauregui. There are ten federal agents outside my home, waiting to get in. Lauren isn't home, so I'm assuming they have her in custody. I need to know what to do here. Please give me a call back immediately. If not, you will have an irate woman storming into your office first thing in the morning," Normani said. She was trying her best to stay calm.
Mrs. Jauregui! We know you're in there! If you don't open the door we will forcibly enter!"
Normani rushed up the stairs and into Lauren's office. She didn't know exactly what they were looking for, but she wasn't going to make it easy for them to build a case. She grabbed every loose paper that covered the desk and then opened Indie's safe; she grabbed the money and the paperwork that was inside there as well before carrying it into Catalaya's room. She grabbed an overnight bag and placed all the contents inside, covering it with clothing. She hurriedly kicked on a pair of jeans and then grabbed her sleeping daughter from her bed.
"Mommy?" Catalaya called out, confused.
"Shhh, go back to sleep, baby girl. We're just going to go for a little ride," Mani said.
She flung the bag over her shoulders and struggled to carry Catalaya's dead weight as she headed for the back door. She peeked out, saw that there were no agents, and took a deep breath, calming herself before she ventured out into the night. She closed the door behind her, and the cool air caused her daughter to lift her head off her shoulder.
"Mommy? Where are we going?" she asked.
"Shhh," Mani whispered. "I need you to be a really big girl for me right now." Normani placed Catalayaon her bare feet and then tossed the bag over the fence into the yard of the house that sat directly behind her own. Adrenaline fueled her. She didn't know why the men had come to their home, but the fact that she couldn't reach Lauren let her know that she didn't want to face them. She needed to know what she was walking into. She had no idea what they were even looking for, but she took no chances. "Get on my back, baby," she said. Catalaya did as she was told, and Normani moved a garbage can over to the fence. "Hold on tight," YaYa whispered. "It's just a game. We're playing hide-and-seek, so you have to be quiet, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy," Catalaya replied. Normani grabbed the wooden fence, stepped on top of the garbage can, and climbed over into the next yard.
Normani reached for the bag but was startled when one of the agents shone a light through the fence, spotting her. "There's someone back here!" One of the agents reached through the fence and grabbed ahold of the bag. She tried to pull it free from the other side, but struggling for control of the bag was useless. She let it go, sending the officer stumbling, and she took off running toward the street. The extra weight from carrying Catalaya slowed her down, but she didn't stop until she was a few blocks away from her home. She caught the first cab she saw and headed straight for Clara's
"Go back to sleep, baby girl," Normani
whispered. She laid her daughter on her lap and stroked her hair as she tried to calm her racing heart.
It was dawn by the time she made it to Jersey, and trouble stirred within her. This was bad. It got no worse than this. She stalled the cabbie and exited the car. Her first priority was making sure that Catalaya was safe. Normani couldn't move around like she needed to with her daughter on her coattail. Mani rang the bell. She had no idea what she would tell Clara. Normani didn't want to alarm Lauren's mother before knowing all the facts.
"Mani? What in the world? Is everything okay?" Clara asked as she answered the door wearing a housecoat and slippers.
"Um, yeah, of course," Normani said. "Can you keep Cat for a little bit? There's something I have to handle."
"Normani? It's six in the morning," Clara said in confusion.
"I know," Normani replied. "It's important, Clara. You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't."
Clara wanted to push, but didn't. She opened her arms and Normani passed Cat to her.
"Is it Lauren?" Elaine asked.
"I don't know anything yet. I think she could be in trouble, but I don't want to panic you. I'll let you know when I know something," Normani replied. "I need to borrow some money for the cab."
Clara nodded. "Come inside. I'll grab my purse. Just let me lay Catalaya down." Normani followed her inside and watched as she tucked Cattie in comfortably on the couch. Clara grabbed her handbag and reached inside, taking out all of the money she had. "This is all I have on me. If you need more—"
"I don't," Normani said as she took it. "This is enough."
"She's my daughter, Normani," Clara said with teary eyes. "The only one I have left. Is there something I need to know?"
"As soon as I hear something, I'll call you, ma. I don't know what's going on, but I'm going to find out," Normani promised.
* * *
Normani took the cab back to her house, only to find agents everywhere. They seemed to be tearing her house apart.
"Keep driving," Normani instructed as she ducked down low in the cab. She couldn't reach Lauren. Her phone was going directly to voicemail now, and Normani knew there was only one place to go for answers.
AWWW SNAP ITS GOING DOWN ! But what's up guys 😁😁 I hope you all are having an amazing day . With this amazing update! I love you nuggets and I've been a bit MIA but hey 🤷🏾♀️ Ashley Antoinette did amazing job with this book if you wanna check it out it's a series that I most likely will convert but hey see ya soon 💜
