Page 28 of A Don & His Doll

“Women only make those type of moves when they’re secure. You must be doin’ somethin’ right,” Mitch wisely stated. “You two are a good fit,” Mitch observed and stated aloud, knowing that the news he needed to reveal would have to wait.

“Can I get you something to eat or drink?” Promise asked, extending the southern hospitality that always came naturally for her.

“Nah, we good. We gotta get goin’, Doll. We’ll get somethin’ on the plane. You good?” Monroe asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Promise replied softly. “Call me when you get back.”

“You know I am,” Monroe kissed her soft lips three times before turning to leave.

“We’ll have to sit down and get to know each other soon,” Promise told Mitch.

“We gon’ make that happen sooner than later, niece,” Mitch said, the word slipping out naturally, surprising himself.

Promise smiled as Mitch stepped outside. Monroe paused before following, turning back toward her one last time.

“I left one of my cards on the nightstand for you,” Monroe wrapped his arms around her waist and said. “Run it up, Doll. Ain’t no limit,” he said, then kissed her lips.

“You spoil me so bad,” Promise beamed, kissing him again. She simply couldn’t get enough of this man. “Be careful, baby. I’ll be waiting up for you.”

“Already. You know a nigga can’t stay away too long,” Monroe winked, then turned to walk away.

Promise watched him leave, unaware that the peace she felt in that moment would soon be tested by truths neither of them saw coming. She closed the door, then turned to get ready for the day. Jazira would be arriving in a few hours, and Promise didn’t want to be late. She’d missed her friend so much, and couldn’t wait to hit the city with her.

Mitch hopped in the awaiting car with Monroe, leaving his parked in the driveway until he returned. It was his intention to talk to Monroe about Sienna and his daughter, but when he saw Promise there was no way he could bring himself to do it. It had been one thing to see the way Monroe spoke to her, and the way his body language had changed while he was on the phone with her. But, it was a completely different story to witness the depth of their love in real time. It was so pure, Mitch felt like he was trespassing. It was the love that very few in life truly got to experience. Mitch had recognized it, but he had never experienced it before.

“What’s on ya mind, Unc?” Monroe quizzed.

“Everything good. Just thinkin’ ‘bout the next play,” Mitch lied because everything Monroe believed about his past, his mother, and his future would be forced into the light. He couldn’t tell him right then because he knew that when that truth surfaced, no one would walk away untouched.

Jumbled emotions surged through Monae as the plane touched down. Morocco had been the only place she’d known since birth. It was home in every sense of the word, yet it had never been enough to quiet the curiosity that lived inside of her. Her mother’s stories had painted pictures, and Google had filled in the gaps, but neither could satisfy the desire she carried to experience life beyond what she had been allowed to see. She needed more.

In her mind, she’d played her first words to her father in a loop because if first impressions were the lasting ones, and she needed hers to be nothing less than perfect. Monae was a born leader, and though she was still young, she thought deeply, felt deeply, and understood more than most adults ever realized. Seeing her grandmother didn’t stir nerves within her. They were acquainted, and she had built a strong relationship with her through the countless FaceTime calls throughout the years. That had been the one thing Macie allowed, though the reward didn’t come without a threat. Nothing Macie gave ever came without a cost. Every call had been backed by a threat, and every moment of connection had been controlled. She had made it clear in her own calculated way that stepping out of line would come with consequences no one would survive. It was her style to lead with control, fear, and power.

However, despite how manipulative Macie had been, there had been moments where her granddaughter seemed to soften her heart, but those moments never lasted long enough to be trusted. This act alone had humanized her, but was short-lived when Sienna realized it was just another chess move that kept not only her, but her parents under her control.

Macie wasn’t the typical queen who sat back and did nothing. She didn’t just play chess, she built the board, placed the pieces, and decided who stayed alive long enough to finish the game. She was beautiful, lethal, and strategic. Macie had set her goal, studied the board, and had covered her steps. From the time she’d staged her son’s home to make it look like an armed robbery, orchestrating Sienna’s staged death, relocating her across the world to Morocco and keeping her there under watch, to the moment she brought her back to New York. Macie had anticipated it all, and had thought it through thoroughly before lifting one finger.

As they stepped off her private plane, the shift in the air was immediate. New York didn’t feel like freedom to Sienna. Every weighted step she took confirmed the devastation and destruction she felt deep in her soul. Sienna stood somewhere between excitement, brokenness, and hope for a better future, even if Monae was the only one who lived to have a second chance at the life she deserved.

Abel, one of Macie’s most trusted soldiers, waited near the runway, standing beside two vehicles. His presence alone was enough to remind Sienna that nothing about this moment was coincidental…freedom was an illusion. Macie had purchased a brownstone for Sienna and Monae in Brooklyn.

“This is your car,” Macie said, handing Sienna the keys. “The GPS has already been set to take you to your parents’ house. I’ve already texted you the address to your new place in Brooklyn. Your keys are connected to the key fob already. I’ll be in touch,” Macie said, then bent down to kiss Monae’s cheek. “You’ll be meeting your father in a few days.”

Monae’s heart skipped at the words instantly. “Thanks, Mama Macie.”

“Come on, Monae,” Sienna voiced as she walked away with invisible shackles squeezing her ankles. This was control at its finest, disguised as provision.

Sienna inhaled deeply before pulling away. Monae buckled her seatbelt, unbothered by the tension between her mom and mama Macie. Music had always been like therapy for Monae; it was her way of tuning out everything that disturbed her peace. Snoh Aalegra’s Do 4 Love streamed through the car speakers, resetting the mood. Monae liked this song, but had no idea how much it resonated with her mother. She had spent years protecting Monae from the truth, carefully constructing a version of reality that felt safer than the one they were actually living in. But Monae was growing… and with that growth came awareness. Questions. Curiosity that couldn’t be silenced forever. So much guilt lived inside of her, and she begged God for clarity. She repented all the time, begging for forgiveness because she was clueless as to whatever she had done to deserve going through such a hard trial. The answers never came, but she needed the nightmare she’d been trapped in to be over.

“You've tried everything, but you won't give up.

And in my world, only you.

Make me do for love, what I would not do.”

Sienna sang along, blinking back the tears that threatened to race down her pretty face. I’m coming back to you, baby. Please receive me. Forgive me for all the bullshit that kept us apart. Monae and I need you. Please save us. Choose us. Save us, Sienna prayed inwardly as she switched lanes and merged smoothly onto the expressway.

Usually the drive from Manhattan to Brooklyn took no more than thirty to forty-five minutes. It was Saturday, so the traffic was thick. Sienna was quickly reminded of the fast pacing of New York. She’d missed her city more than she’d put on, but it was one of those things she didn’t know if she could really trust until it became a reality.