5 years later 

Its been hard trying to adjust since mom died its been lonely and my mind seemed to 'be all over the place' let Taylor tell it. I know Miguel is now 9 and can't stay out of grown folks business he knowns a lot and I'm not saying this because I'm his mom it's just- he knows a lot. We moved to Canada...Toronto its nice over here the only con is the snow my gosh-

No, Abby hearing has not improved not one bit but she doesn't seem to mind that actually you wouldn't be able to tell she was an hearing impaired child unless she or myself would have told you. It took a lot of explaining to do when Miguel was younger that his sister can't hear just as well as him but he got the idea and now this little boy would drop kick someone for just looking at her wrong. 

Haven't seen Ace in 2 years not surprised just disappointed to think he actual might have changed I mean it was going great the first 3 years- some what great but you know when you can tell when someone is at least trying. it was as though he gave up the last two years that he was present and I don't like that because I do know hes still alive hell Taylor gets the follow up from her baby daddy and keep me updated 

and I know what your ass is thinking 'she's still friends with Taylor?' yes I'm still friends with her ass sometimes I do often find myself asking the same exact question but you know you kind of just gots to see it through (lmao)

"ma-" Miguel walked in I quickly turned around in the office chair closing my laptop 

"whats wrong?" he sighed leaning on the door frame 

"Abby misplaced her hearing aid again" I sighed getting up walking pass him as he followed behind me walking up the stairs I hear things moving around and whimpering 

"Abby?" I called out she walked into the hallway with a wet face 

'whats wrong?' I signed to her she started crying harder 

'I lost it' she signed back with her eyes closed 

"okay so lets find it a honey no need to cry" I spoke walking into her messy room "first of all didn't I say have this room clean by-" I looked at my watch "4?" 

Abby stopped crying and avoided eye contact with me when I looked back at her Miguel started laughing then stopped when I looked over at him 

"I'm glad you find it funny because I'm checking your room too he rolled his eyes picking up Abby bears as I turned to pick more of her things up

"found it!" Miguel called out from under the bed Abby jumped up and down with a smile 

Miguel stood up from under the bed smiling as Abby signed 'thank you' 

"no problem" he said as he signed my phone started ringing Miguel looked at me causing Abby to look over too 

"Hello?" I smiled as I walked out the room reassuring them everything is okay 

"hey girl" Taylor sounded down

"whats up?" I asked because of the tone of her voice 

"are you sitting down?" I frowned walking down the apartment hall switching my phone from the right ear to the left 

"no?" 

"I think you should sit down and I hope you're alone" Taylor sighed after saying all that I sat  down 

"whats up?"

"Ace got shot-"

"oh so you know where he is?" I cut her off 

"girl no! its just you know Leo told me-" she sighed "I just wanted to tell you-"

"when did he get shot ?" 

"yesterday they don't think he's going to make it I'm going to give an address that Leo gave me he asked for you to bring the kids and come home this Friday can you do that?" she asked 

"this sound like a set up" I laughed out 'they probably trying to clean up spit ends' I shook my head to that thought 

"It's not girl I wouldn't do that to you" she laughed trying to make it less awkward after that joke 

"I can see" is all I said and hung up

I don't know if I want to go or not because this man might be on his death bed and I don't want to traumatize the kids if he fuck around and die while we talking to him- I chuckled to my thought as Abby walked in 

"I'm hungry" she mumbled under her breath I nodded removing myself from the seat I was in kind of bummed he wasn't around like he said he was going to be I got up and ran away from him I understand but if he wanted to he would have right ? or am I being dramatic?

I slowly cut the now cleaned chicken breast in half as Abby sat in front of me watching quietly 'what is wrong' she signed damn I don't have the best poker face I smirked at her shaking my head shrugging 

"mom I need help with my homework-" Miguel stood in the door frame of the kitchen "oh you're making dinner-" 

"Miguel sit please" I pointed the the seat in front of me he frowned taking a seat I looked at both of them biting my bottom lip 

"so I need to talk to you guys" Abby looked at me with her big brown eyes with a confused face as she looked at Miguel and back at me 

"we need to go back to jersey-"

"what??" Miguel jumped up cutting me off "no" he shook his head 

"no baby it is only to-"

"to?" he cut me off again as Abby look back and forth 

"Abby father-" I sighed "he is on his death bed and you know his final wish is to get all his kids all together-"

"how sweet but I'm not his child and he should of did that when time was on his side and he should of never put his hands on you" my nine year old said with so much hate I looked away putting the knife down 

"I know" I looked at Abby who had tears in her eyes she probably didn't understand anything but death and father and I don't forgive him for putting his hands on me but that was years ago and-

"why do we have to grant his 'final wish' when he couldn't even be here for Abby? he sucked as a father why is he now trying to make it right on his death bed this makes no sense what so ever!" Miguel yelled with hurt and I know he's hurting because when my mother was on her death bed she told Miguel what happened to his real father and he saw this man slap his mother lets just say my little boy ended up hating Abby father I still do too

"I know you're hurting Miguel but lets just go for the sake of Abby" Miguel looked at his little sister with tears in his eyes nodding 

Abby looked at me 'so daddy is dying?' she signed and I nodded she shrugged making Miguel laugh

"no Abby don't shrug he is your father" she smiled 

"who haven't been much of a father" Miguel added making Abby laugh I started smirking "I'm serious!"

"please Miguel we leave Friday" his eyes went wide 

"its Tuesday !" I nod picking the knife back up 

"I know but for now bring your homework to the island and we are going to start packing tomorrow night" he nodded getting up 

...

(days later)

we got off the plane walking quickly as I held my children hands Abby looked up and around admiring the airport as Miguel looked angry but I know thats just my baby face 

Taylor texted me as soon as I got my rental car asking if I made it to the hotel I told her not yet but that was a lie I needed a nap and so did my babies so as soon as we checked in we put our bags down and crashed for a hour 

I was woken up to my phone ringing making Miguel sit up "mom" I rolled over ignoring them both "ma get up" he shook me 

"5 more minutes" he started laughing tickling my sides making me laugh 

"no mom you don't give me the 5 extra minutes why should I?" I sat up challenging him smiling I grabbed him throwing him down on my bed 

"I'm your mother shut up" he laughed as my phone started ringing again I sighed picking it up 

"hello?" I rubbed the cold out of my eye looking at the time '6:43' I cringed

"girl I know damn well your ass made it to the freaking hotel! why haven't you came yet?" she basically yelled into the phone as I pulled the covers off sleeping Abby I kissed her cheeks waking her up making her stretch her body 

"I'm on my way now Taylor" she sucked her teeth giving me a 'mhm' as I hung up "okay we got to move fast" I put my phone down Miguel walked out of the hotel bathroom brushing his teeth as Abby got out of the bed with grumpy eyes 

I groaned throwing my head back dramatically "don't look at me like that please" she tried her best not to smile but gave in laughing "lets go brush our teeth" she nodded 

;4

we sat in the car as we sat in front of our destination "you guys ready?" they both said no making me laugh 

knocking on the door Abby reached for my hand making me look down at her with her full eyebrows I looked over at Miguel as the door swing open Taylor yelled 

"my babies!!" she snatched Abby up making Abby let go of my hand I walked in as she backed up and Miguel walked in too "Hi Miguel oh my gosh you've gotten so big baby!"

he pulled on his curls nodding "yeah" 

"okay come on lets go" she squeezed my arm putting Abby down 

"how is he?" I asked as we walked down the long hallway she looked at me 

"he's been in and out he's up now with his oldest son he lost a lot of blood you know being shot and all" she mumbled the last part unconfidently I narrowed my eyes at her 

"he's really on his death bed?" she nervously smiled as we reached a door 

"n-no I'm sorry I lied but listen Cam he really wanted to see his daughter-"

"then he should have called I haven't seen him in 2 years!" I yelled as she held the doorknob 

"and you look great my love I promise he just-"

"fuck you" I pushed the door open pulling my kids in and he sat there in his dark blue tux drinking a cup of brown liquor smiling at his oldest son as they spoke his native tongue 

they looked over at us as we walked in if I freaking knew we had to dress fancy I wouldn't have came in converse and baggy jeans why did she have to lie lord I sighed as Abby grabbed my hand and Miguel walked in front of me in a protective way 

"Camila" he held the glass up to me then pointed to the 3 chairs in front of him I stopped in my tracks making the kids stop too 

"can we make this quick I got lied to and I'm not pleased at all on how y'all went through with this" he nodded but frowned after the nod 

"lied to?" he put his glass down 

"yes lied to I was told you were dying-" he cut me off with a chuckle making Miguel tense up 

"sit down Camila" he said more firmly Abby squeezed my hand I knew she was scared of her father who she barely remember the 5 year old pulled my arm and Miguel stood there watching him as we made our way to the seats 

"hey little man" Ace oldest looked at Miguel with a smirk Miguel grilled Ace oldest making Ace laugh 

"he's gotten tougher I wonder why?" I shook my head 

"you know seeing a man thats 2 times bigger than his mother hit her probably gave him the motivation" I looked at Ace who's looking back at me with a smirk he sat up 

"you think I did it on purpose Camila?"

"you call that a mistake?" Miguel sat up too 

Ace laughed nodding "you grew some balls kid I give you that but I'm not worried about you" he looked at Abby who eyes went wide and she got closer to me hiding her head behind my arm

"no tengas miedo" he smiled she peeked at him frowning "you didn't teach her Spanish?" he stood up making Abby hide again 

"and why would I do that?" I asked he clenched his jaw 

"it's that smart ass mouth that got your ass where you are today" he pointed at me "it's what she has to learn she is my daughter after all Camila you ran away because you do not want her to be apart of this life I did not run away from you" he poured more in his glass 

"she's freaking 5 Ace why do she need to know who is your enemy and- and what she cant do or how to speak she's a baby!" I screamed 

"she's old enough to know who is the bad guy I want her and my first to learn the same shit I did I want either her or him to take over this empire" he lifted his arms smiling 

"let it be him" Miguel pointed to his oldest who smiled Ace started laughing 

"man this kid has some jokes on him damn man" he thew the last sip back "it's looking like it's going to be either mommy let me take my daughter to start her learning now or mommy dies" Ace shrugs "her choice"

"I rather die" I said not processing what I said before I knew it I felt pressure behind my head and Abby panicking right along with yelling Miguel 

"I'll ask again" Ace whispered ignoring the kids I closed my eyes ignoring all the noise around me I heard my mother voice 

"don't get yourself killed now child they need you" I opened my eyes and smiled 

"Ace" Miguel calmed down once he saw me smiling Abby looked at me confused 

"ma-"

"what?" Ace cut my son off still holding the gun to my head I saw Miguel looking around my son ran to one of the guards pointing the gun at Ace as the other guards pointed their guns at Miguel my smile dropped and I panicked 

"don't shoot please don't" Abby started crying as I begged "please put the gun down Miguel" he kept his eyes on Ace who kept his eyes on Miguel with a smirk 

"just like his father" Ace shook his head "put the gun down"

"you first" Miguel challanged 

"do you want me to blow your mother pretty Brians out!?" he pushed my head with the point of the gun making be cringe as Abby hugged me tightly she was shaking 

"please" I begged " Miguel please just come here please" Miguel saw Abby crying and lowered the gun he slowly put it down and Ace did the same 

"change of plans I want the boy" Ace put the gun down I shook my head quickly 

"he isn't yours no no no" Ace shrugged 

"it's okay mom" he hugged me and before I knew it I heard a gun shot making me jump Abby had shot Ace making him smile the guards pointed their guns at the 5 year old 

"smart kid" Ace chuckled leaning back the guards were confused not sure if they should focus on their boss who is bleeding out or the little girl who shot him the whole room went into panic mode I stood up grabbing my kids once they focused on Ace who started yelling in Spanish 

we ran and we kept running until we got outside I started the car up wiping my face and pulled off 

we went back to the hotel to grab our things and ran straight back to the airport trying to get on the first flight back home 

Abby cried the whole way back home Miguel did too hell even I cried as the plane took off 'I need to find a therapist when we back' was the only thing on my mind.

the end ♥︎

thanks to all the kind souls who gave this corny book a chance I started this at the start of the pandemic so I wasn't so good and I don't think I can keep this going LOL but I had to end it somewhere right? now I wasn't so sure if I should of included Ant in the ending-

oh gosh Taylor pissed me off man LOL but yeah at least they got away? Thank you all. should I do an epilogue?