⛔️

Dave rounded the corner and saw Naala standing in the far edge of the woods, talking to a man in a hood.

"Naala," He called out. When Artist heard her name, he quickly turned away and made a run for it.

Naala huffed and turned back to Dave, "Why would you do that!" She shouted.

"Who was that?" Dave asked as he got closer,

"He told me he knows where Samar is," Naala said in excitement. "Look, this is the address," She showed the note he gave to her.

"Baby you've been taking your meds?" Dave said lowly, taking the note from her.

"You saw him too though," Naala frowned. "He's telling the truth,"

"Naala Samar isn't anywhere, he's dead," He tried to break it down for her.

"I believe him," Naala huffed. "If you won't help me then I tell Hassan instead,"

"What did he tell you?" Dave sighed, taking her hand.

"That Samar isn't dead and I believe him," Naala repeated. "This address is where he said we should meet him,"

Dave breathed out, with how Naala was at this point, she wouldn't take no for an answer.

"I don't think this is safe baby," Dave said seriously,

"Amir do you like when I'm unhappy?" Naala sighed turning to face him. "Do you like when I feel empty?"

"No I hate it," Dave answered. "But I don't want this giving you false hope," He was scared that this would only push her over the edge more.

"It's the only good thing I have to go by right now," Naala sniffed. "Please? For me?"

"Love you know I'll do anything for you," Dave replied wiping her eyes. "I'll go with you, don't worry," He added hugging her.

"Thank you," Naala whispered. "For everything,"

It was strange but Naala did feel like Dave was a changed man. She felt safe with him, something she hadn't felt around him for years.

"I'm gonna sort this out baby, I promise," Dave mumbled kissing her face.

A part of him wanted to tell her that it was very unlikely Samar was still alive but he couldn't break her heart anymore than it already was.

"Get up," Malia tapped Naala out of her sleep. "I'm hungry mommy," She added pulling Naala's hand.

Naala opened her eyes and sighed, she was dreaming again. That night they went to the address Artist gave but there was nothing.

"Where's your daddy?" She stretched,

"I'm here, Phat I told you not to wake her up," Dave huffed, "I've got it Naala," He spoke when he saw her getting out of bed.

"It's fine," Naala said softly, "What do you want to eat Bug?" She asked Malia.

"Pancakes," Malia smiled holding her mom's hand. She had missed always being with Naala.

"Can mommy get ready first?" Naala questioned, Malia nodded and ran back out of the room.

"You don't have to do it," Dave said when Naala moved past him.

"Why not? I can't be sad forever Amir." Naala muttered picking up her toothbrush. She started to brush her teeth while Dave stood with his arms wrapped around her waist protectively.

"I know but it's only been a month since," He trailed off, he wasn't sure how she would react.

"Since what? My son went missing?" Naala mumbled with her toothbrush still in her mouth.

"You want me to come to therapy with you?" Dave said switching the subject.

"I'm not going," Naala said rinsing her mouth out.

"What do you mean you're not going?" Dave mumbled. Naala wiped her mouth and turned around in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"What's therapy going to do for me? It won't bring Samar back, I'll bring him back" Naala shrugged. "I'm fine, I'm on my meds and I'm keeping busy,"

"Alright, you want me to get Saint?" Dave offered. Saint was staying with his dad for the weekend.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Naala shook her head. "Hassan and I need to talk anyway,"

"About what?" Dave raised a brow, "I thought we were spending the night together,"

"Like you said, it's been a month since Samar and we haven't spoken properly. He didn't believe me when I said Samar was alive," Naala sighed. "I know my son isn't dead Amir,"

"I don't want you going over there and getting worked up Love." Dave answered ignoring her last statement.

"You don't believe me either?" Naala questioned with a hurt expression.

"No of course I do baby but I don't like seeing you hurt," Dave responded quickly. "I don't like seeing you cry yourself to sleep mama," He added lifting her face up.

"I want him back," Naala frowned. "And he's out there, without me and you think I can just drop this?"

There was no arguing with Naala when she was like this. It was either he went along with it or she would stop speaking to him.

"I don't expect you to drop it Naala, let me come with you," Dave felt like he needed to protect her. He felt like he had done a shit job of protecting her previously and now he was making up for it.

"No I don't need you," Naala huffed. "I can do this on my own. I love you Amir but let me do this,"

"You love me?" Dave broke out into a smile.

"Mmm, I do," Naala nodded pecking his lips. "I love you most," She parted his face.

"I love you too," He smirked leaning down to take her lips in. He kissed her softly lifting her up on the bathroom counter.

"Nope, not now," Naala said pulling away. "I have things to do today," Sex was the last thing on Naala's mind. She needed to find her son.

"I'm dropping you off," Dave said kissing her lips once more.

"Whatever you say daddy," Naala replied hugging his waist as he kissed down her neck.

~~

"Princess, he's here," Mason, her new security, said knocking on her office door. Naala wiped her eyes and looked up from her desk.

"Send him in," She replied quietly. She had taken over Dave's office at his house so she could focus on finding Samar.

Naala put her life and soul into finding him, she left no stone unturned.

"I hope you have better news for me Kyle," Naala sighed looking at him.

"I wish I did Princess," He responded with his hands behind his back.

"Nothing?" Naala breathed out,

"The search on his plates came back, he's a Louisiana native. No criminal record, no family," Kyle started to describe to her.

"No criminal record? He ran me off the road," Naala snapped at Kyle. "He knows where my son is Kyle, find him, it's not that fucking hard," She shouted.

"He's good at hiding," Kyle defended,

"And I'm good at killing people, I don't want to kill you." Naala replied pointing at him.

"I did find something but I didn't think it was interesting," Kyle spoke stepping forward.

"Go on," Naala huffed.

"He's been renting out an apartment in Bedstuy. He never goes there but I've been seeing a woman going in and out," Kyle said pulling out his phone.

Naala looked at the pictures and her eye twitched, "This is the woman?"

"Yeah, do you know her?" Kyle questioned.

"I do and I'm gonna kill her," Naala said firmly throwing the phone back down onto the desk.

"Mommy!" Naala heard Malia squeal from outside of the office.

"Put your gun away," Naala said standing up. Kyle moved his strap from his waist and tucked it into his clothes.

"You okay Phat girl? I'm working," Naala asked opening the door.

"Malia is bored," Malia answered clinging onto her mom's waist.

"But I'm too busy to play right now, where's Nai?" Naala said brushing Malia's hair out of her face.

"She's in her room, please play with me," Malia pouted, her eyes clouding with tears.

"I can come back later," Kyle cleared his throat.

"Yeah okay," Naala sighed, "What does Malia want to do?"

"I wanna play dress up," Malia smiled widely, dragging her moms hand out and towards the game room.

When Naala got into the room, she saw Trinity sitting down in one of the small chairs in Malia's play room.

"Hey LaLa," Trinity waved moving Mariah on her lap.

Naala waved back, she didn't realise they were on nickname basis now.

"How are you?" Trinity asked to spark a conversation. When Naala started to stumble over words Trintiy realised what a stupid question it was.

"I'm sorry that was silly, you're not fine, your son just died," Trinity rambled,

"Samar went bye bye," Malia chimed in with her back to them, playing with her dolls.

"Mmm," Naala nodded looking at Mariah, "She looks like you,"

"Thank you, everyone says she looks like Dave," Trinity laughed lifting Mariah up. Naala looked away, seeing her interact with a child that was Dave's made her uncomfortable.

"I want you to know I don't have any hard feelings anymore about the situation. You and Dave are meant for each other," Trinity said after a while.

"I didn't steal him from you," Naala said softly,

"No I stole him from you," Trinity replied. "I was caught up in him and now we have our daughter but that was never my intention,"

"It is what it is Trinity. I don't feel any way about you, I'm happy you could give him something I couldn't," Naala answered quietly. Her emotions were about to get the best her.

Trinity parted her lips to speak but was stopped when Dave came waltzing in.

"Hey baby," He mumbled kissing the side of Naala's head.

"Is that my Princess?" He shouted scooping Mariah up.

"She's saying hi daddy," Trinity smiled, no matter how things ended with her and Dave she was glad he was a good father.

Mariah carried on babbling and Naala couldn't take it anymore.

"Phat, I have to get back to work," She shot to her feet. Malia has been playing on her own so Naala didn't see the need to be in there.

"You okay?" Dave asked her lowly.

"No I'm not okay," Naala said moving around him. "I'm not okay," She repeated walking out of the room.

Naala walked down the halls fast and back into her office, slamming the door behind her.

"Where are you?" Naala sniffed looking up to the ceiling.

She knew that she would spend her last waking moments searching for Samar, she would never give up no matter how many obstacles she faced.

~~

Maniya knocked on her parents room door and stepped back. The sound of retching stopped and the room was silent. She waited for a few moments before she heard a faint come in.

"Mama?" Maniya said walking further into the room.

"Hey my angel," Naala replied appearing from the bathroom. She was wiping her hands with a paper towel.

"Are you okay? I heard you," Maniya said, not wanting to say the words.

"Oh that? I'm fine, I think I rushed my food earlier," Naala lied, she was far from fine. "Are you okay?"

"Mmm I wanted to discuss my birthday plans with you, only if you're free," Maniya answered with a small smile.

"I'm always free for you baby, sit down," Naala said softly sitting on the edge of the bed. Maniya joined her and passed her the iPad.

"This says the budget is 30,000 dollars," Naala scrunched up her face scrolling through the plans.

"Is that too much?" Maniya fretted,

"Too much? No this is too small angel, why don't we say no budget," Naala said excitedly passing her back the iPad.

"Really mommy?" Maniya smiled brightly. She wanted her 23rd birthday to be the biggest party of the year but she was being sensitive to the loss of her little brother.

"You're my baby, my first. I may not have biologically given birth to you but you're mine and I want you to have whatever you want," Naala said pulling Maniya into her.

"Thank you," Maniya gushed. "Daddy said no to the cars," Maniya pointed to the cars on the iPad.

"I'll talk to him, don't worry," Naala responded. "What about —" She paused when she felt her stomach bubbling again.

"Mmm," Naala gagged getting up quickly. She raced to the toilet and brought up everything.

"What is wrong with me?" Naala mumbled wiping her mouth and standing up from the toilet. She knew she wasn't pregnant because the test she took was negative.

"Maybe you're stressed," Maniya answered from behind her. "You've been doing a lot since you know,"

"You can say his name," Naala said before rinsing her mouth out. "I won't crumble down and die if you say his name,"

"Since Samar," Maniya corrected. "You're barely home now,"

"I have to work," Naala muttered wiping her hands. "Where's your dad?" Naala asked moving on swiftly. She didn't want Maniya to ask too many questions.

"He took Nai to ballet and I think he has Phat with him too," Maniya responded. Naala huffed and shifted her weight to the other leg.

"He's meant to take me somewhere, I can't drive anymore after what happened," Naala spoke looking at herself in the mirror.

"I can drive you," Maniya offered. "I'm not meeting Damon till later," She added.

"Okay, I need to get your brother first," Naala said walking out of the bathroom to change into something more suitable.

Naala opted for a basic outfit, consisting of a black hoodie and some black jeans. She threw her hair up into a bun and slipped on her Chanel boots.

"Ready," She said to Maniya who was waiting.

"Could your purse get any bigger?" Maniya laughed at the gigantic Chanel purse her mom was sporting.

"It fits everything I need," Naala laughed. They both left the house and got into Maniya's Range Rover, courtesy of Dave.

"So you and Damon? Is it getting serious?" Naala questioned looking over at her.

"I'm not sure Ma, he's nice and all but I don't think I'm ready for a big commitment," Maniya said speeding up to beat the light.

"You're still young, there's no rush for anything more than just boyfriend and girlfriend," Naala advised. "And no babies," Naala pointed at her.

"I don't want any kids," Maniya giggled, "Not till I'm 30, which reminds me, you're gonna be 30 soon mama,"

"Don't remind me," Naala said looking out of the window. "I will say please don't rush with him. Enjoy this period,"

"I won't," Maniya nodded. "So you and dad are officially back together again? For good?"

"I hope so," Naala responded playing with her nails. "I love him and I know he loves me but we have a lot of history,"

"Isn't it your anniversary today?" Maniya asked turning onto the next street.

Naala looked at the date on her phone and cursed. "Shit, why didn't he say anything," She said mostly to herself.

"Well I mean does it count? You are divorced," Maniya stated the obvious.

"We would have been married for 7 years today," Naala said lowly. "Did he mention it?"

"I don't want to make you feel bad but yeah he did," Maniya nodded. "He's been planning something for weeks now," Maniya didn't understand why her dad was doing that but she left him to it.

"Oh lord," Naala sighed rubbing her forehead. "It's too late for me to even get anything"

"I don't think he'll care," Maniya answered in a soft tone. "He'll understand, a lot has been going on,"

"I don't want him to think I don't appreciate him," Naala huffed. "I really do and he does so much for me,"

"Mama don't get upset," Maniya frowned. She wished she never said anything.

"I'm so tired," Naala mumbled leaning her head back. "I'm tired of crying, I'm tired of everything,"

"You need cheering up, daddy is gonna do that, don't worry," Maniya said trying to be hopeful.

She pulled up in front of Hassan's place and Naala couldn't help but roll her eyes. This was another issue, Hassan and his attitude towards her.

"I won't be long," Naala mumbled getting out of the car.

Normally, Hassan dropped Saint off and stayed in the car, meaning they had zero to no interaction. Knocking on the door, Naala stepped back to wait.

Hassan opened the door and kept a blank face, "Saint your mama is here," He shouted behind him.

"Hi Hassan," Naala said walking past him and into the house.

"He just ate so don't let him fool you into buying him something," Hassan spoke bluntly passing her his bag. "There's also some money in there cuz he was asking bout those new dunks,"

"I don't need your money," Naala said blinking at him. "I'm more than capable of buying him a pair of sneakers,"

"It ain't for you, it's for my son," Hassan tutted. "Why you looking upset? He's my son ain't he?"

"Stop saying it like that," Naala replied. "I get it, he's your only living son right?"

"Naala we put him the ground!" Hassan's voice boomed. "I ain't gonna tell you to drop that shit again," He was getting tired of her bringing Samar up.

"He's still alive Hassan, I can feel it," Naala snapped back. "You have to believe me,"

"You're making it worse, let yourself grieve Naala damn. He's not coming back, I don't know how else I need to tell you," Hassan said to her.

"Why do you want him to be dead so bad?" Naala said as she cried softly. "That's our baby San, he's just a baby,"

"A baby that you didn't strap in?" Hassan spat. "You was so stupid that you drove away without strapping my kid in. That's why you don't want to accept it,"

"I strapped him in," Naala defended through her tears.

"So how did he end up outside the car?" Hassan questioned. "Saint your mama is here!" He shouted when Naala continued to cry and not answer him.

"I strapped him in," Naala said again. "I know I did because I always check, I always check,"

Hassan couldn't stand by and watch her get upset so he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry, you strapped him in. Stop crying," Hassan mumbled,

"I always check Hassan," Naala cried. With her bipolar and OCD, Naala made sure to double check everything, that's what confused her about the whole situation.

Hassan started to feel bad for shouting at her, especially when it wasn't her fault Samar was gone.

"Okay, yeah I know that now. I didn't mean to make you upset," He said patting her back. Naala could feel how awkward he felt doing that so she wiped her tears.

"Let me just get Saint," Naala said pulling away. She had to stop getting emotional.

"Ion know what he's doing," Hassan said following behind her.

"Papa what's the matter?" Naala asked Saint when she went into his room.

"I don't want to go home," Saint grumbled. "I like staying here like how we used to,"

What Naala failed to realise that switching between her baby daddies so frequently confused her children. It wasn't healthy in them but she couldn't see that.

"Nasir we don't live here anymore, you spend enough time here. Put your shoes on," Naala replied sternly.

"I hate you," He frowned at her. Naala nodded and picked up his shoes, handing them to him.

"I hate me too, come on," Naala said with no emotion. She was not in the mood for Saint and his nasty attitude.

"Samar was lucky," Saint mumbled under his breath,

"Do you know what? Stay here," Naala said putting his bag down. "I have too much going on and if you want to stay here then fine, I don't care,"

"Naala —"

"No Hassan, he hates me right?" Naala cut him off. "I am too damn tired for this, and I am tired of fighting with a 8 year old,"

She turned on her heels and left both Saint and Hassan in his bedroom.

Naala left the house and walked back to Maniya's car, getting in and slamming the door.