"Amir stop it!" Naala screamed as Dave continued to hit the masked man with the butt of the gun. "Just get him out of here," She said to him.

"Mommy?" Sinai said standing at the door, clutching Malia's hands.

"Girls, go to my room, lock the door," Naala said closing the door on them.

The man managed to get the gun out of Dave's hand causing it to slide across the floor to Naala.

She rushed to pick it up from the floor and checked to see if it was loaded.

"Bitch ass nigga," Dave sniffed punching him in the face before pulling the mask off.

"Tarek," Naala mumbled confusedly. Dave stood back and grabbed the gun from Naala.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Dave cursed flexing his hand which was sore.

"I came to get my children," Tarek slurred drunkly. Naala sighed and closed her eyes, she knew that he assumed the babies were his.

"What is he talking about?" Dave turned to Naala,

"Tell him Naala," Tarek stumbled towards her.

"He's drunk Amir, he's just talking," Naala said putting her hand on Dave's arm. "Can you just get him out of here?"

"Naala I ain't gonna ask again," Dave said calmly, he was two seconds from blowing up on her.

"We fucked and the next second she's pregnant," Tarek spilled.

"That is not what happened," Naala snapped. "I was already pregnant, they're not yours Tarek, I told you that."

"You fucked him while you were pregnant?" Dave questioned his eyes on the wire he say hanging out of his jacket.

Naala followed his eyes and realised what was going on. She was about to ask Dave if he was okay because he knew she slept with Tarek, they had discussed it almost 7 months ago.

"It was a mistake," Naala defended quickly following Dave's lead. "I was upset, and he was there,"

"I know everything Naala, you know your sister was a pillow talker," Tarek started. "She let me in on all y'all little secrets,"

"What are you even talking about?" Naala frowned.

"Where you keep your money, where you keep the drugs, everything," Tarek spat.

Naala raised a brow, there was no reason for him to be talking about that.

"You seriously fucked him?" Dave repeated holding the gun up slightly.

"Amir please," Naala said trying to gauge what he was about to do.

"And I'll do it again," Tarek smirked drunkly.

"Do it," Naala mouthed to Dave, gesturing to the gun.

Tarek chuckled and tried to reach to pick up one of the twins, when Dave took the gun off safety and shot him.

The sound of the gunshot, sounding through the entire house.

"Why would you do that?!" Naala screamed dropping to the floor beside Tarek. Still keeping up the façade.

"Everytime I think you can't raise the bar Naala, you do it," Dave shook his head at her.

"You knew I slept with him," Naala said with her hand over the gunshot wound. "I told you about it and you said we'll work through it," She spoke truthfully.

"You said a kiss," Dave shouted. "Do you know how much it disgusts me that every nigga I've been around knows what's your pussy looks like?"

Naala drew her head back because he was enjoying himself a bit too much.

"You're being dramatic, can you help me with him please?" She asked. The bullet was lodged in Tarek's stomach and if she lifted her hand off him, he would bleed out.

"I ain't helping shit," Dave mumbled. "I'm gonna go take my daughters somewhere," He acted.

"Don't start Amir, please?" Naala begged. "I didn't lie to you," She added.

"A kiss and sex is two different things Naala," Dave shook his head.

"Dial it back a bit," Naala whispered pointing to the wire sticking out of his jacket.

"I'm leaving you," Dave said loud enough for the mic to pick up on it.

"You can't leave me," Naala replied taking her hand off Tarek. His breathing started to get shallow. Dave handed her a cloth to wipe her hands off.

"I'm going Naala and I'm taking my babies with me," Dave announced handing her the gun to clean off.

"Where are you going to go?" Naala asked him. They made eye contact and he leaned down to kiss her lips lightly.

"Somewhere your hoe ass ain't," Dave said making Naala hit his arm with a small smile. "The hills," He whispered into her ear and she immediately knew what he meant.

Dave left the room dialled 911 on his phone and reported a gunshot heard from their house. He took the girls and left the house, leaving Naala alone with a dying Tarek and the twins.

"Naala please," Tarek breathed heavy, his death was nearing and all he could do was gravel.

"I'm trying," Naala lied sitting down in the rocking chair staring at him. "I want us to be together," She added with a bored expression.

She was waiting for him to die so she could take the wire off him. What was bothering her was who had sent him and why did they care to hear her conversations?

"Ma'am, ma'am, and then what happened?" The uniformed officer questioned Naala. Naala held onto her babies tightly, not looking away from the broken window.

"I took the gun off safety and shot him," Naala muttered softly. She was playing her role perfectly.

"Is he dead?" Naala added turning to them. A glint of hope in her eyes.

"No he's not," The officer replied to her question. Naala could have been sick right there at that news. "But he will be going away for a long time,"

"Oh okay," Naala breathed a sigh of relief. That gave them enough time to get to him in jail.

"Howie we aren't gonna get anything from her," The other cop intervened.

It was clear, Naala wasn't going to tell them much more, she was far too shaken up or so they thought.

"Where is my husband?" Naala questioned with a sniff.

"He wasn't on the property when we arrived," The officer told her.

Naala nodded and looked down at the babies who were asleep in her arms.

"I guess we've got everything we need," The officer blew out a breath. Naala wasn't speaking and they weren't interested in waiting for her to speak.

"I'll show you out," Naala stood,

"No, you've got your hands full," Howie grimaced at the babies. Naala watched them leave and waited till she heard the door slam.

"Alright guys, we're going to the hills," Naala mumbled to the babies laying them down to change.

~~

"Naala are you listening?" Miani asked her daughter. Eli paused his prayers and looked up at her.

"I'm listening," Naala nodded sitting up straight. Today was the twins dedication ceremony and in Nigerian culture it must always take place 7 days after birth.

Naala was tired, exhausted even. No one knew of their house in the hills so they didn't have any staff, meaning she did everything on her own.

They had been praying over the babies for about 30 minutes and Naala was ready to sleep.

"Kí wæn máa gbé ní ìṣọ̀kan" Eli prayed in Yoruba. [They will live in harmony]

"Ami," Naala mumbled an Amen in Yoruba.

"Aye won yoo dara," Eli added, stretching his hands over to Naala. [Their lives will be better than those of their parents].

"ibi kan kì yio sunmọ wọn," Eli prayed with his eyes closed. [No evil shall come near them]

"Mú ìbejì wá" One of Naala's grandmother, Stella, called to her. [Bring the twins]

"Mommy can you help me?" Naala said standing to her feet. Her mom rushed to help her get them from their new nursery.

"Nibo ni oko re?" Miani questioned making Naala sigh. [Where is your husband?]

"I don't know Ma," Naala replied tucking her hair behind her ear.

"And no ring," Miani said taking Naala's left hand. "What is going on dear?"

"Marriage is so hard mom," Naala exhaled. "We keep fighting over petty things so he's staying in the guesthouse," She explained.

"So he couldn't come for his children's dedication?" Miani said in disbelief.

"Mama this is our tradition, not his," Naala defended Dave.

"It doesn't matter. If it's important to you, then it should be important to him," Miani reminded her.

"I told him to come, if he doesn't I won't be mad about it," Naala shrugged picking up Aamirah.

Aamirah had finally warmed up to Naala, after a week of crying anytime Naala was near her.

"What were you arguing about?" Miani asked her, "I hope not infidelity?" She herself knew both Dave and Naala had a problem with cheating on one and other.

"No not that. He doesn't agree with the ways I choose to raise our kids. He also called me lazy and that hurt because I try my best," Naala huffed.

"So you kicked him out for calling you lazy?" Miani asked to be sure. "Sweetheart, if I kicked my husband out for everything he said to me, I'd be divorced. You need thicker skin."

"Whatever mom, you asked so I told you," Naala tutted catching an attitude.

"How's it been with the twins?" Miani questioned lifting Aasad up.

"Amir is helpful, even when we're fighting. He comes into the main house at night to help with the night time feeds," Naala told her.

"He's a good man Naala, work it out," Miani replied,

"That's what he's meant to do, he does the bare minimum," Naala frowned. Her family literally praised Dave for doing what he was meant to do as a father.

"At least he's present," Miani commented. Naala rolled her eyes and didn't respond to her mom.

"My handsome grandson," Miani smiled at Aasad. "You know, he does look like Eli a bit," She teased Naala.

"Mama stop," Naala laughed taking a muslin with her.

They returned back to the living area where Naala's grandmother Stella, had brought out all her essentials to give the babies their first traditional bath.

"I don't want you to get upset about this, maybe you should go into the kitchen," Miani suggested to Naala. She knew first hand how graphic this would get.

"I need to see," Naala shook her head. Stella took Aamirah first, and put her in the warm water, pouring water over her face immediately.

Naala winced as Aamirah started to cry loudly,

"So she will not be afraid of heights," Stella announced as she held Aamirah by her foot upside down.

"Sit," Miani told Naala as she stood to get her crying baby.

"But mom," Naala teared up while Aamirah screamed loudly. Stella was now shaking Aamirah and Naala couldn't bare to watch.

"Yoo dara," Miani said putting her hand on her thigh. [It will be okay]

Stella set Aamirah down and picked up the Shea butter to rub into her skin.

"We don't want flat bum," Stella laughed in Yoruba pushing Aamirah's bum up.

"I don't like this," Naala said standing to her feet and walking away. Her mum watched her leave, knowing she would do so.

Naala sat in the kitchen, trying to block out her babies crying. It hurt to hear them scream and know she couldn't do anything about it.

The back door unlocked and Dave stepped in, throwing his keys onto the counter.

"You're late," Naala said watching him move around the kitchen.

"They crying and you're in here?" Dave spoke looking over at her.

"I couldn't watch anymore," Naala shook her head. Dave looked at her funny and peeked his head out to look.

"She got Aasad upside down," Dave gasped stepping back. "Y'all are too much for me," He shook his head.

"It's my mom," Naala sighed. "She wants this to happen, after Naleli and everything," Naala wasn't big on tradition but she wanted to please her mother.

"I admire that," Dave nodded taking a seat beside her.

Naala didn't respond, she concentrated on his phone in his hand.

"Someone's blowing you up," Naala pointed out making him look down at his flashing phone.

"It's not important," Dave answered putting his phone down on the counter.

"Oh," Naala nodded. "So I can answer it?" She reached for it.

"Naala what are you trynna do? Why do you wanna argue?" Dave sighed sliding the phone away from her.

Naala scoffed and picked up the phone, looking through his messages.

She didn't see anything that wasn't right, if anything all she saw was work stuff.

"Where have you been staying?" Naala asked him, "I went to the guest house this morning and you weren't there," She said putting the phone down.

"I went to see Mariah," Dave replied before pulling her stool closer. "I'm staying in the guesthouse, why would I lie?"

"Because you're a liar," Naala mumbled staring at him.

"I wanna come home," Dave added talking close to her lips.

"You don't respect me," Naala said sadly. "I'm trying so hard to be a good mom and not fall into a depressive state," She complained.

"All of this because of laundry?" Dave mumbled rubbing her thigh.

"It's not the laundry," Naala snapped. "It's you thinking my job is easy."

"Alright, I'm sorry, I was insensitive," Dave replied sincerely. "I'll make it up to you. So can I come home,"

"Naala," Eli's voice boomed through the house. Naala rose from her seat and tried to walk away from him.

"I'm coming home," Dave pulled her back by her waist. "Ion like that house," He added kissing her lips before she could protest.

"You can come home," She nodded, "But first, did you have sex with Trinity?" Naala asked him quietly.

"I wouldn't even let her get close enough for me to do that baby," Dave shook his head.

"Mmm," Naala hummed not believing him. Dave wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again.

"Stop assuming shit," He said patting her ass. Naala huffed and put her hand on his chest.

"Do you think I need to go back to therapy?" She asked him lowly.

"You need to start trusting that I don't want to hurt you Naala, all I'm trying to do is love you," Dave said honestly.

"I'm a mess," Naala muttered. Her hormones were raging and all she wanted was him.

"You didn't hear us calling you?" Miani asked entering the kitchen. She noticed how close they were and Dave's arms wrapped around her.

"Hey ma," Dave smiled letting Naala go.

"David," Miani said simply. "My daughter is no longer wearing her ring?" She said getting straight to the point.

"Mommy," Naala sighed rolling her eyes.

"I told her about taking it off," Dave replied lifting Naala's hand up.

"I don't appreciate you making my daughter upset," Miani pointed at him. "When I came in here, she was laying on the couch crying,"

"Mom!" Naala said shutting Miani up. "Stop it," She tutted walking away from them.

"I don't make her upset," Dave responded. "Naala shuts down on me, I've been trying to get her to talk to me,"

"My daughter is very sensitive and she's still grieving, take it easy on her," Miani said low enough for him to hear. "As women, the hardest times we go through is after giving birth, she is bound to be all over the place," Miani advised him.

"I've never wanted to hurt Naala, I love her," Dave explained.

"I don't disagree with that darling," Miani said sincerely. "But she's my baby girl, wouldn't you protect your girls the same way?"

"A hundred percent," Dave nodded,

"So you can see why I'm hard on you," Miani said crossing her arms. "Stop hurting my daughter or I will hurt you. She is all I have left,"

"Now give me a hug," Miani smiled holding her hands out to him. Miani really did like Dave, he kept Naala grounded for most part but they were also both very much the same stubborn person.

"Are they done throwing my kids around?" Dave asked as they pulled away.

"We're just getting started," Miani laughed linking arms with him and walking back to the living area.

Naala was sat on the floor with the babies in front of her.

"Join her," Miani nudged him. Dave nodded and went to sit beside Naala who felt relieved to have him by her side.

"I'm not going anywhere," Dave reassured her quietly, kissing her cheek.

"Kini awon oruko ti o yan fun won?" Eli questioned Naala.

"He said what names have we chosen for them?" Naala translated for Dave.

"Aasad Sai and Aamirah Sahir," Dave said putting his arm around her waist.

"Lewä," Stella commented, calling the names beautiful. "I am glad to see you by his side," She spoke to Naala.

Eli ignored his wife and laid his hands over the babies, beginning his prayers over them.

"A woman's place is beside her husband, always," Stella continued. Naala sighed because she knew this was about to be some bullshit.

"Not now," Miani mumbled to her step mother.

Naala's grandmother was very traditional and believer that a woman lived to serve husband no matter what or how they treat you.

"I will speak my mind," Stella said to her. "You see where I am, I'm with my husband, that is what marriage is," She pointed at her.

"I get it, I have to degrade myself to make him happy right?" Naala spoke up,

"Wo ẹnu rẹ" Stella pointed at Naala. [Watch your mouth].

"All I am saying is that when he is happy, your family home will prosper," Stella went on to say. "Not living in separate homes with different men," Stella hinted.

She didn't like that Naala had children by two different men, it was not traditional.

"Y'all can get up out of my house now," Naala said standing up. "I'm not really in the mood for this, I have things to do tomorrow,"

"You better win that election," Eli stood and fixed his clothes. "We don't fail," He reminded her.

"Daddy, she just had her babies," Miani jumped to Naala's defence.

"Women give birth every day, she is not the first. I have put too much money into this. Don't let me down Naala," Eli said firmly.

"Are y'all gonna leave?" Naala asked shifting her weight to the other foot.

"Naleli would have been a better candidate, she would know how to manage this. You're in your head too much," Eli continued to go in on her.

"Naleli was stronger, it is a shame," Stella coincided with her husband.

"I really can't do this," Naala said picking up the babies. She was over her entire family at this point and wanted them out of her house.

"I don't appreciate y'all coming in my home and saying shit like that to my wife," Dave huffed.

"If you don't like how she does something, then that's on you. But you're not gonna come in here and make her feel bad about herself," He continued.

Miani smiled softly, she had never seen Dave be so protective over her.

"I'll see myself out," Eli cleared his throat, taking his wife's hand.

"Well done," Miani whispered patting his shoulder. "That's how you stand up for your wife," She praised him.

"Now I gotta go and pick up the pieces," Dave sighed with his hands in his pockets.

"I'll speak to my dad," Miani told him. She hugged Dave before leaving the house behind them.

Dave cleaned up the living room and went to find Naala. He went into their room and saw the babies laid on the bed but she wasn't there.

"Naala," Dave called out closing the door behind him.

"I'm coming," Naala replied from the bathroom. Dave sat down on their large bed and picked Aamirah up.

"My pretty girl," He kissed her cheek. Dave was in love with their children just as much their mother.