Page 1 of And It’s Still You

PROLOGUE

Five years ago . . .

“I’m so done with his shit, Elise. Do you know this man didn’t come home again? Talking about he was tied up in a situation and didn’t know what time he’d be home, as if me and his son didn’t need him. As if I haven’t been up all night with our toddler who’s running a fever with a runny nose and cough. Fuck that. I’m done. Do you hear me?” Moya vented, swallowing back her tears as she threw clothes into multiple suitcases. Tears clouded her eyes while she packed her son, Ocean’s, belongings.

Being the wife of one of the most notorious drug dealers in the game came with more than Moya could bargain for. In the beginning, everything was sweet. They were young, so she lived for the thrill and fast money. As the two grew older and brought a life into the world, the dangers of O’Shea’s lifestyle became unattractive and scary. Moya had expressed her concerns to him on multiple occasions, but O’Shea continued to live the life he’d grown accustomed to. While Moya couldn’t blame him for being molded into the lifestyle, she could blame him for not being proactive about changing it.

On the other end of the phone, Moya’s best friend, Elise, released an exasperated sigh as she massaged her temples. She’d heard her best friend express her desire to leave O’Shea on many occasions, and she never believed her until today. There was something different about the way Moya spoke. There was finality in her tone, something Elise didn’t think she’d ever hear.

“Moya, I need you to sit down and take a second to think about this. Are you sure you really want to leave your husband?”

“I’ve never been so sure of something in my life. Does this shit hurt? Like hell, but I refuse to continue living like this. I refuse to allow him to continue choosing JMG over me and Ocean, especially when we’re the ones who need him the most. I’m tired, Elise. I’m so damn tired, and I truly don’t have any fight left in me.”

“Okay, I hear you. You know I’m here for you too. Do you need me to come over and help you with anything?”

Moya sniffled and paused with her hand on her hip. She was exhausted from not getting a lick of sleep, but she could feel it in her spirit that O’Shea would be home soon. She wanted to be long gone before he got there, so she shook off her worries and got back to work.

“I think I got it. All my shit was already packed. I’ve been slowly doing that over the last few weeks, but I knew it’d be harder being discreet with Ocean’s stuff. Shea would’ve noticed.”

“What about money? You good on that?”

“You know I am,” Moya answered with a curve drawing up her plump, glossy lips. “Shea never let me spend my own money before I got pregnant. I was still putting to the side when I stopped working, so money isn’t a problem. Love is.”

“Now, Moya. One thing we know about O’Shea is that he loves you and Ocean more than anything. That’s something you can’t take away from him.”

“Then why isn’t he here, Elise? Why doesn’t he put us first? And before you say he does, how many times have I complained to you about this? How many times have I had this talk with him? He’ll do good for about a month or two, then go back into the same routine.”

Elise couldn’t fight with her friend on it. She was right, but Moya also knew what type of man O’Shea was before they got married and had a child. JMG had always been number one priority. Did that make it right? No, but nothing had changed except Moya.

Raking her hands through her sister locs, Elise carefully thought on her response. Not only was Moya her friend, but so was O’Shea. She’d met Moya through O’Shea, so it was tough when she wanted to show loyalty to them both. Her husband, Terrance, told her to stay out of it, but it was damn near impossible when Moya and O’Shea confided in her. It usually left her stuck in the middle, which she despised. She loved them both and wanted what was best for them.

“You know I got your back, Moya,” Elise assured her. “As a woman, I understand how hard this is. Hell. You remember when I went through this with Terrance while he was trying to go legit. It was hell, but we got through it.”

“The difference with Terrance is that he didn’t want to lose you. I fear it’s not the same with Shea.”

“O’Shea is in a different position than Terrance was. JMG is Collier bloodline. It’s not easy for him to say fuck it, and you know that.”

“Pfft. Well, it’s stopping at Shea’s blood because I refuse for him to even attempt to try and pass it to Ocean. I’ll really show my ass then.”

Elise giggled. “You do that anyway. Just know that O’Shea would never put Ocean in that predicament. He’s not like the other men in his family who forced JMG upon their sons.”

Moya knew what Elise said was true. When they first found out she was pregnant, O’Shea promised her he wouldn’t have Ocean anywhere near JMG, nor would he pass it on to him. The day Ocean was born, O’Shea set him up with a fund along with looking into legal businesses he could start to pass down to Ocean. He was all for generational wealth, but only in the legal way.

The buzzing of Moya’s phone caught her attention. She went over to the dresser, picked it up, and her heart dropped to her stomach. On the camera, she could see O’Shea easing into the garage. She tapped her nails on her lips, debating on her next move. There was no way O’Shea would let her leave without a fight, something she didn’t quite have in her anymore.

Noticing the silent panic on Moya’s face, Elise inquired, “What’s wrong?”

“Shea is here.”

“Oh, shit. Shit. I thought he had at least another hour before he made it.”

“Me too.” Moya continued tapping her nails against her lips, feeling her chest tighten with each breath. “What am I supposed to do, E?”

“Stand your ground, Moya. Back up all the shit you’ve been talking.”

Slowly, Moya nodded her head. “You’re right. Be on standby in case I need you.”

“I’m right here. Love you. Do what you feel is in your heart.”