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Jayda had found a way to excuse herself for the fifth time today. She sat in the bathroom with the knees to her chest after receiving a text message from her mother stating that she missed her and to have a lot of fun during her vacation.

She wanted to break down and let her know everything that was going on but unlike the other women around her, death wasn't promised upon just herself but the ones she loved also. This family was cruel and evil. They had a name for themselves and it ran all the way to Texas.

She couldn't see how Monét and Dess had adapted to being kidnapped victims but realized they had compartmentalized and forced themselves to be okay with something they couldn't change. They defended their behavior, they hid their emotions to the things that went on around them and it was simply because of their backgrounds and not coming from a family of love.

They were doomed before they even entered this life. Jayda partially blamed herself, she was the reason Monét was in the predicament, she had convinced Monét to be her friend in Austin, the more she pulled away the more Jayda pushed a friendship on her.

"This is your fourth time coming here Jasmine, you talk to me at your appointments get comfortable but then when I ask to hang out, you decline me sis. I don't have a lot of friends, but you seem genuine."

Monét didn't think that it was any of Jayda's business, she was paying her to do her hair, so she should have simply done that. She could have went to anyone else but Jayda was not only one of the cheapest in the area but the best. Jayda believed that if she kept her prices reasonable she would receive that many more customers and outdo the other competition.

"Jasmine, Jasmine. Girl I know you hear me." Monét snapped into reality, realizing she was Jasmine.

"I just, I like to be alone. That's it." Monét shrugged her shoulders.

"Alright, let's just go get some drinks once and if you like to go back into being an introvert, I won't say anything. Pinky promise."

"Girl, alright damn. We can go get food and like two drinks. If we're cool outside of appointments, I will accept hanging out."

Coming to the conclusion that the only way Jayda would let this go is if she said yes, so she agreed. That formed an unbreakable bond in just a few short months.

Jayda also posted the picture on Instagram the night she was drunk not realizing that Monét was in the background. She couldn't be mad at her, she did everything to avoid this happening. She didn't know Dom was the man that would come over to her house and she didn't know Dom would force her into their marriage.

As for Dess, she noticed how quickly she came to defense for Izzy and their family. She shared a bond with his mother, the one she'd hoped and prayed for with her own mother. Izzy treated her amazing, he had brought her out the ghetto, gave her everything she ever wanted and showed affection in every form. He worshipped the ground she walked on. The way they looked at each other was full of love.

She could never be on that level with Dom. She missed Sunday dinners with her family, she missed calling her mom after failed date attempts, she missed arguing with her siblings about who their favorite child was.

She was missing holidays, cookouts, birthdays. With every thought her hate for Dom grew, she even felt disgusted with Samael and Izzy for being apart of it. She wanted to feel bad for them because she knew they were forced into a lifestyle but it didn't make things any better in her eyes.

Standing up from the floor she looked at herself in the mirror, wiping the tears from her eyes. She needed time to herself, so instead of going back downstairs she dyed inside of the room that she and Dom shared during the vacation.

Dess wrapped her arms and legs around Izzy, they sat in the jacuzzi spending alone time. Today was the last day of the vacation. In two weeks Monét and Samael would be getting married. Again, changes were made in the wedding adding Jayda onto the bridesmaid list.

Monét claimed that she didn't want to leave Jayda out, but Dess knew the reason behind it was because she was stalling.

She understood completely, the marriage with Izzy was nerve wrecking, she didn't have the time that Monét had and there was no one around to be her friend and give emotional support aside from Lucia.

"We ready to give this shit up man." Izzy sighed, shaking his head. "This shit eating Dom up. He kills people but, only people that deserved it. He don't kill women and kids, it's law. So kidnapping a woman? He hates it."

Dess rested her head in the crook of Izzy's neck just listening. "He's keeping her around until we can get out of this."

Her head popped up looking him in the eye, she'd been wanting Izzy to leave since she fell in love forreal.

"He doesn't want to get disowned from the family until he gets the amount of money he really wants. None of us do. We're almost at our goal. We're going to do what we want with this money and still be set." Izzy placed a kiss on Dess' lips, looking around.

"We're not getting back into this drug shit, we don't want to bump heads with our family but, we're going legit. I want kids, but I don't want my sons kidnapping women. This should be over soon." Dess smiled looking at Izzy.

"It's sick as fuck that this is even normal in your family Izzy. Y'all need to change from the inside. Stop this shit. Each time I'm meeting these victims it's hurting more. I'm trying to find ways to get these girls to accept being kidnapped. It makes me as fucked up as your family. I can't keep forcing my unhealthy ass coping mechanisms on them, especially when the men aren't like you." She sighed.

"Y'all pick out women that are going through it at home, y'all prey on our weakness. Women who won't give you much trouble because you're able to give them a life that they never had. It's fucking manipulative." Dess didn't realize that she was crying, but this was the first time she'd talked about her feelings. It was only until now that she had women around her going through the same thing she went through with the Jones.

"Jayda isn't like us, she's loved. She can get y'all in trouble Izzy. She had a family, she had loved ones. Me and Monét? Our backgrounds are fucked up man. We allowed ourselves to love because just like everything else in our life, it did us wrong. We were fucked up from the beginning. Nothing to look forward to. It was a circle of madness, pain and wishing our mother would love us."

Biting her bottom lips, she sniffled wiping her eyes. "I love you Dess, I'm going to get us out of this shit. I'm going to give you a life you deserve without having to be the spokesperson for women that's been through the same thing you've been through."

Biting down on her bottom lip, she didn't know how she ended up so lucky with Izzy. He didn't cheat on her, he didn't disrespect her, he spoiled her. He gave her random gifts without a reasoning, he did little things like buy keychains from different states and countries he visited when he was away. She loved the way he loved her. He treated her better than any man she'd ever dealt with and after dealing with parents that swore she'd never find anyone to love her. Made her believe that she was never good enough, this love hit different for her.

She cherished the black love, vowed to bring black children into the world and show them unconditional love from a black mother and father.

He was her protection.