"What do you mean they got Dolph?" Key asked pacing, he was trying not to completely spazz out because Elianna was in his room sleeping. He knew what it meant. So he wasn't sure why he was asking.

"He gone bruh." Woo breathed out, Key stopped pacing. He felt as though his whole heart was snatched out of his chest. Dolph was a big brother to Key, he helped him get out of the streets. Just for him to wind back into them with King.

"Call my baby mom." Was all Key managed to get out. He knew he was about to lash out and he didn't want to scare his daughter so he needed her to leave for the night until he got all this shit figured out.

Key sat down on his bed and took deep breaths, his vision started to get blurry. His breathing techniques were failing him. Elianna began to shift in her sleep.

"Lay not answering," Woo said wiping his hand down his face. He was shaken up by the news he had just delivered.

"We finna go over there," Key said throwing some clothes on, his heart was racing. mile a minute and he couldn't believe what he was hearing. His mind immediately went to Mia and the kids. He picked up his phone and saw missed calls and texts from his mother, Dolph's mom, and Mia.

"You think we should go over there? What if them niggas are after you too?" Woo asked as Keys' front door slammed shut, both Woo and Key lifted their guns ready to blast anybody who came through.

"They took Dolph," Snupe yelled running up the stairs looking for Key. They lowered their guns.

"We know foo. We finna take Eli to Lay's house. I gotta go check on the family." Key was trying to keep it together but he was weaving in and out of his right mind. Slipping a jacket onto Eli and her shoes he picked her up but she felt extremely heavy in his arms.

"Hmm. I'll take her," Woo said wiping his face once again, he as well was trying to remain strong for his friends. Especially Key, he knew he was bound to break down at any moment. Key handed Eli to Woo and ran down the stairs to make sure nobody was sitting outside.

"You sure leaving is a good idea?" Snupe asked looking over at Woo.

"What if they after me or my baby mom next?" Key asked snatching the door with the car seat open. "Make sure she's buckled securely nigga or that's yo ass!"

Once everybody was in the car, Key zoomed down the street to Lays apartment complex. He entered the code to the gate and entered making sure nobody was tailing in behind him. He threw the car in park, grabbed Eli, and started pounding on the door forgetting he had a key.

Marlee answered the door with an attitude.

"Markeyvius, it is 1 in the damn morning." Marlee half joked but she had just fallen asleep. She saw how distressed everybody looked and moved to the side.

"Where Lay?" As if on cue Lay came stomping out of her room. Her hair was all over the place and she had her robe secured tightly around her waist once she realized who it was.

"What's wrong?" Lay's stomach dropped once she saw Key had on two different shoes, his pants were inside out. Marlee looked over at Lay and shrugged. It was completely silent and Lay was about to be pissed if they woke her up for no reason.

"Somebody speak! What the hell is going on?" She raised her voice slightly.

"T-they got Dolph," Key spoke and right before he could break down Marlee grabbed Elianna and took her to her room. Marlee rocked Eli back to sleep as silent tears fell on her cheeks. Dolph had always been cool to her, even when they had all gone to the strip club together.

Lays knees were about to buckle from under her, she leaned on the couch for support as a quiet sob came out. She had just seen Dolph earlier in the day and Mia and the babies. She cried harder when she thought about Mia and the kids. Then she felt selfish.

"What? When? I gotta go check on Mia and the kids." Lay stated about to go put some clothes on, not realizing her baby dad was about to unravel in front of her. Woo and Snupe stood guard at the front door and Key swayed back and forth with his hands on top of his head. His eyes were tightly shut.

No matter how Lay felt about him she knew how tight he and Dolph were and that this was eating him up. She had to be strong for him and Eli and then right after this they could go back to not fucking with each other.

Lay wrapped her arms around his torso. At first, he flinched because he didn't expect it but then he started to relax in her arms. Opening his eyes, the tears began to flow rapidly down his face as if he had been holding his breath. He began gasping for breath.

"Markeyvius, just breath." Lay sat him down and rubbed his back, he began to sob loudly. He couldn't believe his nigga was gone. He genuinely couldn't believe it.

"They took my nigga from me mane." He pounded his fists against his head, this wasn't new for Lay but she wondered how his new girlfriend was going to handle him when he had these 'fits'.

"I know. I'm sorry Key." Lay tried to comfort him but she didn't know how.

Everybody jumped when Golden walked through the door. Now that somebody had got Dolph, everybody was on edge, especially until they figured out who had done it.

"What's going on?" Golden asked looking at all the watery eyes.

"I thought you niggas was guarding the door?" Key said trying to calm back down.

They let Golden know what was going on and she almost fell out.

"When we slidin?" Golden asked pulling her hair up in a ponytail, Lay immediately noticed the hickey on her neck and felt herself getting a little uneasy.

"Soon as we find out who did it," Key spoke with so much grimace it scared Lay to her core.

"Markeyvius, you have not just one but two kids to look after now. You need to just let the police do their jobs." That may not have been what he wanted to hear but it's something he needed to.

Key smacked his lips, he knew that his sliding would just create a bigger problem but Dolph deserved to be avenged.

"Come on, I wanna go see Mia and see how she's doing." Key nodded his head at her request. He needed to be with his family. He had got the tears he needed out and now he had to be the one to get his family through this.

*

Everybody piled into the car, they were all more than likely going to stay at Mia's house for the night so they packed a light bag. The whole family was already over there, so Keisha told them to come on.

Lay rubbed her tummy as they got closer to the house. She began to pray that she wasn't having a boy. She couldn't imagine having a son in this day and age where there would always be a target on his back.

"Ya'll always gone be straight." Key read her mind and she nodded still looking out of the window. She wiped a free-falling tear from her cheek.

Mia and Dolph's home came into view and the whole car simultaneously took a deep breath because getting out. Lay tried to carry Eli into the house but Golden grabbed her and her bags. Lay mumbled thanks and walked into the house with Key.

"This some sad shit." Marlee sighed seeing all the security posted outside the house.

When they all walked into the house a tearful Keisha jumped into Keys arms. She was so grateful and heartbroken at the same time. When she finally let him go she greeted everybody else. The clan went down the line greeting everybody else. You could tell Mia had just gotten done crying but she looked to be in shock.

The hot cup of tea sat in her mocha hands. She was hunched over staring at a family picture of Dolph and the kids. A gray fleece blanket sat on her back almost swallowing her.

"She's been like that since we've been here." Lay examined the woman, not knowing whether or not to speak to her. She couldn't imagine how she felt and she didn't want to.

Key rubbed his sister's back, she slowly looked at him and when she did a fresh set of tears strolled down her face.

"I thought you were him." Mia's voice cracked, it being too much for Lay she cried with Mia. She removed the cup of tea from her hands and set it on the coffee table in front of them. Mia focused her gaze on the picture again. Lay got on her knees in front of Mia and grabbed her hands.

"How am I gonna tell my babies that their daddy ain't coming back? He never gone see Aria graduate kindergarten! Their daddy will never see them learn to drive, go to prom, or go to college. None of that shit man. Why would they take him from me?" Mia wailed shaking her head back and forth. The fact that Aria was just now about to be in kindergarten and would barely comprehend the fact that her daddy was gone forever hurt everybody.

"I don't have the words to comfort you but, I can pray with you," Lay spoke honestly. She knew she looked crazy but prayer had been getting her through her miscarriage.

"Okay." Mia was a strong believer in God so she bowed her head.

"Dear heavenly father we come to you today to ask that you cover this family in a way that only you can do Lord. I know this is going to be a long journey but I ask that you guide them along the way. Touch every one of their hearts Lord. I pray that his children will always remember how much their daddy loves them." Lay had to stop for a second, she could feel herself getting choked up just thinking about it.

"Mm." Mia sniffled.

"I pray that not a day goes by that Mia doesn't feel Dolph's love or see his smile in their children. I pray that on the nights when she feels like she can't do this on her own she leans onto you Lord. Even though we don't understand why this had to happen like this or at this moment, I pray that we find peace in your understanding and not our own. I honestly pray Markeyvius finds peace as well. I know you took his other half but I know he will prevail. Touch Dolph's mother Lord, I know she just lost her son. I know you would never leave or forsake us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen."

"Amen." Everybody said in unison, Lay opened her eyes to see everybody staring at her at the moment. The energy in the air shifted after her prayer.

Mia leaned in close to Lay's ear and whispered, "Dolph was right about you."

The funeral was last week and ever since then, Key had been lost in action. Lay hadn't heard from him and she was scared for him honestly. Dolph was the wise one when it came to the two and without Dolph being here she didn't know how it was going to go.

Lay sat on the couch eating a can of pringles, ever since her prayer Mia had been in contact with Lay even more. Of course, she didn't mind, she wanted to help out in any way possible.

Chalynn's phone started ringing, "Can mommy have her phone?" Lay asked Eli, she chucked the phone at her and giggled. Eli knew she was gonna get her hands tapped for that one.

"Hello?" She asked into the phone, there was heavy breathing at first.

"Lay, you wanna grab lunch? I'm ready to have that big boy convo." Key chuckled lightly into the phone. Lay however wasn't amused but she was trying to show him grace.

"When Markeyvius?" She asked taking her feet off of the coffee table.

"Right now. I'm about to be downstairs."

"Ugh. Sure. Let me change real quick. You're lucky we're hungry." Lay grumbled into the phone, she called for Golden to watch Eli and then ran around her room to put something on for this lil lunch.

*

"So, what did you want to speak about?" Lay asked sipping her lemonade. They had gone to a cute little brunch spot. Key looked refreshed almost, still sad but he looked a lot better.

"I just wanna apologize to you. As a man, no mo kid shit. I hurt you. Multiple times. I know we will never work again as a couple but I want to be friends. I want to be co-parents. Dolph told me to get this shit together the day he died and I didn't listen. I'm here now though and I wanna make this right. All that fighting, arguing, and the loss of our baby. Ain't worth it. Now I lost my brother. Yeah. I'm ready to be here and present." Key said shaking the tears away. Instinctively Lay put her hand on top of Keys.

"I understand Key. I apologize for putting my hands on you and showing out at the birthday party. When you kissed her in front of me and let her hold our baby that was like a slap to me. Especially because I break my back for you all the time. There are niggas out here ready to give me the world but I would never pull the shit you did. I accept your apology and I hate that all of this had to happen for you to see this but I'm ready to move forward as well. If you want to be with Aubree, you have my blessing. But when I start to date. Give me the same respect please." She smiled small at him.

Key looked up at her and met her smile. Lay was truly done with him.

"I can do that. You blame me for losing one of the babies?" He asked her, she nodded her head and then shook it no.

"I did. But I blamed myself too. You would never hurt me or the kids on purpose. It's just best we put our feelings aside and be friends." Lay never thought she would be saying those words to him and mean it. Dolph's death just taught her life is too short to be mad at one another. Love everybody whole they here.

"I agree. Here, I wanna give you this. One of many push gifts." Key slid a ring box on the table. Lay eyed him and the box. She grabbed it and opened it, gasping at the ring inside.

"Key, this is beautiful I can't accept this." She said admiring the ring.

"You can. To symbolize the love we once had and the new beginnings. We got this. Friends, right?" He asked taking the ring out of the box and putting it on her right index finger. It fit beautifully.

"This is so beautiful. Thank you Markeyvius. For everything. I meant what I said, I pray you find peace." Lay smiled her smile once again about to melt his heart.

"No, thank you."

*

"Damn, he finally gave you that ring huh?" Marlee smiled, she had been out and about lately.

"What do you mean?" Lay asked confused, Marlee brought her up to speed. The smile on Lay's face had Marlee wondering just how much she was over Key.

Lay had showered and got into bed for the night when her phone began to ring again. Thinking it was Key again she answered.

"You're next."

💙

A/N

This is the ring 😌

Okay. I told y'all the second book was gonna be some shit.

Y'all think Key means it? Or he got sum up his sleeve

Do y'all want chapters every 6 days or every 4?

Y'all got Luv A Thug to 9k .. like bruh what? Welcome to all of my new readers and s/o to my new writer friend. 💛😌

LLD 💙🐬