My stomach dropped.
The handle was damaged. The latch did not release. The door stayed shut.
I stared at it, confused and horrified at the same time. I tried the other handle. Same result. I reached for the window controls, but the switches did nothing.
Kodi had done something to this door before he pulled up on me and had planned for me to try to run.
I turned toward the backseat. KJ was buckled in already. Kinsley had climbed into her car seat and KJ had buckled her in.
Kodi got into the driver’s seat and closed his door. When he looked at me, I froze. His eyes were wild. He raised the gun again and pressed it into my side, keeping it low enough that the kids wouldn’t see if they turned around.
Then he looked into the backseat and smiled at them. “Put y’all headphones on. Daddy and mommy need to talk.”
KJ dug in his bookbag and pulled out his headphones, then handed Kinsley hers. They put them on and put their attention into their tablets.
Kodi pulled off with one hand on the wheel and the other holding the gun against me.
My voice shook as I asked him. “Where are you taking us?”
He didn’t answer at first. He drove like he was angry at the road. His jaw was locked. His eyes bounced from me to the road, then to me again.
“You thought I was just gone let you walk away from me?” he finally said. “You thought you was just gone cut me off and start a whole new life?”
“Kodi,” I whispered. “Please. Not with the kids in the car.”
He bitterly laughed. “You’re mine, Rhythm.”
My throat closed up. My eyes burned. I forced myself not to look back at the kids because I could not let them see my fear.
“This ismyfamily,” he repeated. “I busted my ass for this family. You know how many people I’ve killed to feed y’all?”
My stomach turned.
“You think I’m going to let you walk away that easy? You think I’m going to let another nigga have you?”
I swallowed and tried again. “Kodi, you’re scaring me.”
“Youshouldbe scared,” he snapped. “Because you don’t respect what I done.”
My mind raced through options that actually weren’t options at all. My eyes flicked to the door again, then back to the road, then to my kids.
Kodi leaned closer and his voice was so cold as he told me, “I’d rather kill you before I let another nigga have you.”
TARIQ “REEK” HORTON
I pulled up in front of Voss with Sienna in the passenger seat and cut the engine. The street was already busy with Ubers and black cars pulling up for drop-offs and driver's giving their keys to the valet.
Me and Sienna climbed out and I gave the valet my keys. We started toward the entrance and then I saw Ava coming up the block.
My feet slowed on their own.
Ava looked like a problem in the way only a pretty girl who didn’t know she was about to ruin your focus could look. Her hair was slicked back into a long ponytail that fell over one shoulder when she moved. Big hoops framed her face, and her makeup was soft but done. She had that polished glow that made people stare.
Her outfit was the reason she was turning heads, though. She had on an off-the-shoulder fur top that sat across her collarbone and hugged her arms. Her stomach was out, and I wanted to kiss it. Her pants were brown leather, high-waisted and fitted, with a zipper running straight down the front. She had on heels that showed off ankles that were even pretty and dainty.
She had her face in her phone, walking fast, thumbs moving, not paying attention to anything in front of her.
I leaned toward Sienna. “Go inside. I’ll be there in a second.”
