The chuckle that came from one of her captors threw her off, and before she could protest, he was picking her up and carrying her over his shoulder as he descended the steps.

“Put me the fuck down!” she screamed.

The man did as he was told, and when she turned to view the room, she saw red.

“Nahvid!” she screamed. Her brother sat behind a desk, calm and collected, like nothing at all was wrong.

“What the fuck happened to her head, yo?” he asked.

“She fucking slipped, man. She’s gave us hell trying to get her here,” one of the men protested.

“You sent these niggas to my boyfriend’s house to snatch me?” Aria shouted. “Nah!”

“You weren’t supposed to get hurt. Just brought to me. To show you that nigga ain’t capable of keeping you safe,” Nahvid answered, standing before rounding his desk to look at the damage that was done to her sweet face.

Aria pulled away from him.

“Didn’t I fucking tell you not to hurt her?” Nahvid asked. His gun was drawn before the man could answer.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The man’s teeth were demolished under the steel of the gun and the weight behind Nahvid’s blows as he pistol-whipped his worker. “Get your incompetent ass out of here before I blow your shit off, man. Look at her fucking face!” He was seething, and Aria folded her arms across her chest.

“You should have never sent him!” she argued.

“You should have never been there!” Nahvid bit back.

Siblings at war.

“Get this nigga out of here, bleeding all over my shit,” Nahvid ordered the second goon.

When the room was cleared, Nahvid reached for her face. Aria slapped his hand away.

“I can’t believe you had me kidnapped!”

“Quit being dramatic. I sent for you because you’re coming home. Might as well call this Michigan shit a wrap,” Nahvid said. “We leave tomorrow.”

“Nahvid, I have a life here. Friends. Isa!” she said.

“You’re not safe with him. I said no. We’re family. I’ve always taken care of you. You don’t go against family. Do you know how many enemies that man has? I know you don’t, but I do. Do you see how easy it was for me to have you grabbed up? You’re coming home. End of story. You stay here, and I’m done with you, Aria. What’s it gon’ be?”

Aria saw red, but she didn’t protest. They had never chosen anyone over each other. It had always been their promise. Their family creed. Blood over everything.

“What about graduation, Nah? I worked hard for this! You’re going to make me leave without walking?” she asked.