STEP DADDY 2: FAMILY TIES (COMPLETED)

Prologue

24 Hours Before ...

Redwood, MI

Rocko's POV

         "If anything should happen to me, take this." I handed Sabrina the large, thick yellow envelope. "Everything you'll need is inside there."

          Sabrina placed the envelope next her on the bed and asked me, "We have the baby already—why can't you just come with us?" She fought back tears. Sabrina has been holding it down for me since the early 2000s. Unlike Tammy, Sabrina never questioned me... until today. I let it slide though, she had to deal with the fact that I was living a double life and married to another woman instead of her. There were numerous times that I almost got caught up by Tammy because of Sabrina constantly calling or texting my cellphone.

          "I have some unfinished business with Neveah and that boyfriend of hers." I sighed frustratedly. "Plus, it appears that her father has received my message and has returned to Riverborn. So, do as I say, Sabrina and don't fight with me." I walked up to her and cupped her chin, "Now, go see if dinner is done." Dismissing her.

          Neveah and Athena were kept in a separate bedroom down the hall. Opening the door, I peeked inside and found them knocked out sleep on the sheetless bed. I closed the bedroom door back and met up with Boogie who was seated on the living room couch, flicking through the TV channels. I grabbed one of the cold beers on the table and took a seat across from him.

          "So, what's the plan again?" Boogie asked while taking a hit of his blunt.

          I took a deep breath and shook my head in disappointment, the death of Sam was starting to settle in; had it been Boogie, I probably wouldn't have cared as much. Between the two, Sam was the smarter one. Boogie was a lost cause. "This is the last time I'm repeating myself. You and Neveah, will return to Riverborn tonight, take that phone I gave you and call Freddie at 7AM and have him meet you at his father's park. Matter of fact have Neveah call him, that will make him bring his ass even faster. I gotta make sure Sabrina and Athena are straight before I meet you there."

"Food is ready!" Sabrina yelled from the kitchen.

"Go make a plate for Neveah and make sure there's enough for Athena on there." I ordered him so he could get out of my face.

          With an attitude, Boogie passed me the blunt and got up. I pulled my cellphone out and dialed my partner, Juelz's number. I've been trying to get in contact with him all day about a heroin shipment from Texas and he hasn't been responding to neither my calls nor texts.

          "Yo, if I ain't answer, I'm busy fucking yo' bitch. Leave a message and I might get back to you." He laughed but the answer machine beeped.

          "Aye, I don't know who daughter you in," I said as inhaled the weed smoke, "But you need to answer this phone. Shit almost wrapped up out here. I need you ready!" I ended the call, irritated.

          Sabrina approached me with my food and handed it to me. I thanked her for the meal and sat the plate on the table and continued going through my messages.

          "Baby, you need to eat something, God knows when the last time you did that."

I grabbed the plate off the table and took a bite of the cheesy macaroni, savoring the taste. I complimented Sabrina on the meal until I noticed she put spaghetti on my plate and I quickly handed it back to her. "You know I don't eat spaghetti! Why you put that shit on my plate?"

"I guess I forgot." She responded dryly and walked back into the kitchen. 

"Stupid bitch." I mumbled under my breath. I've seen to many of the homies lose their mind after eating a women's spaghetti, no bitch was about to catch me slipping. 

Boogie returned to the living room and plopped back down on the couch. I changed my mind and told him that they will be leaving within the next hour if they wanted to get back to Riverborn around midnight. In the meantime, we watched a sitcom show until it was time for them to head on the road.

At 9PM, I woke Boogie up from his short nap and told him to follow me, he slowly got up and we headed to the room Neveah was in.

Opening the bedroom door, Neveah and Athena were sitting on the bed finishing up their food, I noticed she didn't touch the spaghetti as well. Smart girl. I informed her that she was going back to Riverborn along with Boogie, of course she wanted to pick a fight about Boogie trying to kill her, but I assured her that he is to follow my orders and to not harm her.

I called for Sabrina to come in the room, so Neveah could see who would be taking over the motherly duties from now on. I let her know that if she didn't act accordingly or if things went left, Sabrina were given specific instructions to follow.

Defeated, Neveah agrees to act right for Boogie. I allowed her to get one more hug from Athena before Sabrina took her out the room.

Before walking out, "Do what you have to do, and she'll  be back in your arms again." Facing Boogie, "Call me when you make it to the city." I closed the door behind me.

I found Sabrina back in her bedroom, sitting on the bed, trying to calm Athena down, "Shhhhh...everything is going to be okay. Mommy is right here." She rocked her

"You're not my mommy," Athena argued back, trying to get off  her lap.

I slowly walked over and kneel down to Athena's eye level, "Sweetheart, play nice or you won't see Neveah again. You do want to see Neveah again, right?"

With tears in her eyes, she slowly nodded her head yes.

"Okay, now be a good girl for Ms. Rina." I then gave her a stuffed animal to keep her occupied for the time being. The sound of the front door opening and closing, confirmed that Boogie and Neveah were leaving. 

"Is all your stuff packed?" I stood back up and check the time on  my phone. It was 9:20PM.

"Yeah, it's all packed."

"Grab ya stuff now, we're leaving."

"Leaving? You said only if something happens."

"I couldn't wait for that. I'm taking you and Athena to the bus station now; the ticket has already been paid for. Once you get to your location, you're going to take the burner phone in the folder and dial the number that's already been programmed. Tell them you're at the bus station and they will come and pick you up."

Without a fuss, Sabrina grabbed her luggage by the door, the yellow folder of the bed and headed to my truck with Athena in her arms. I called Juelz again, and he didn't answer. I said fuck it and pushed him off to the side until I was finished with the current situation at hand. I did one more walk through of the house before walking out the door.

          Hopping in the driver's seat, "You got everything?" I asked Sabrina before I put the truck in reverse.

          "Yeah, I got everything. We're good." She turned and smiled at Athena who sat in her car seat with her arms folded.