"Who is it?" Zadia forced herself to ask, her body trembling. She felt like she was going to piss herself, but her face remained cryptic. "Who is it?!" She asked again, this time with more base in her voice.

"It's me, Martin. We met a few weeks back when I was here." He said. "It's been a while, I don't expect you to remember me or nothing like that."

"What do you want?" She asked, moving to the side of the door, just in case he started shooting.

Martin chuckled on the other end. "The last time I was here, I asked you about a woman and a baby and you told me you didn't know what I was talking about. I just recently had a chat with your landlord and he says otherwise." He explained, pulling a spear point blade from his pocket. "I think this is a big misunderstanding and I just wanna come inside and check if those two people are here."

"I don't know why my landlord would say something like that, there's no woman or baby here. Just me and with all due respect, I don't feel comfortable letting a stranger inside my home." Zadia let out. "You should be on your way, Martin!"

"With all due respect, puta." (Bitch) "You don't have a choice. You see, my boss is a very specific person. So when he asks for something, it gets. My order from him is to enter your apartment and check out the place. If I don't, then we'll both have to deal with his ass. I don't know about you, but I ain't got the time for all that." Martin raised his fist and banged on the door with a hard thud. "Now, open the fucking door before I break it down!"

Zadia shifted the bat, putting it behind her back as her right hand held onto it for the life of her. "Alright. I'll open up... just calm down." She moved forward, unlocking the door, and pulling it open, so she could poke her head out to look at Martin. She caught a glance of the knife in his hand, before he put it back into his pocket.

"What's up, beautiful?" He flirted.

Zadia's knitted together, taking in his attire. He was dressed in high waisted, dark wash jeans with a hooded varsity bomber, that slightly covered the plain white t-shirt he had on underneath. "Beautiful? Wasn't it just bitch a few seconds ago." She resorted, pushing her door wider for him to enter.

Martin chuckled, giving her his undivided attention. He figured after this whole thing was over, he'd finally get her number. "I was just playing, it's all love here." He said, walking in. To him, if he played his card right, he'd get more than just her number.

Zadia took a peek outside to see if his partner was there. When she caught no sign of him she turned around, making sure to keep the door open. "Sure it is."

"You fluent in Spanish? Because if you are, I think that makes us soulmates." Martin eyed her living room, checking for any signs of Eliśa and her baby. His eyebrows furrowed, catching sight of the playpen that sat in the corner. He gripped his blade and turned slowly to Zadia. "I thought you said, you didn't know anything about a baby."

Zadia stared at him, waiting for him to do something. Martin gave it a second, their eyes dead set on each other, waiting to see what would happen. Having enough, he went for it, taking the blade from behind him and dashing towards Zadia.

Zadia took her bat and swung it, hitting him right in the arm. When the knife slipped out of his hand, she swung again hitting him in the balls. Martin with wide eyes, fell to his knees, clutching onto his crotch. "It hurts, doesn't it." She said, looking down at him on the ground. "You should've just left, but no, your ego was too big." She sighed, putting the bat on her shoulder, ignoring his groans. "This is how it's gonna go, Martin. You're gonna continue to lay on the ground, like the little bitch you are, and watch me walk out of here. You'll stay here for an hour, giving me my head start."

"Fuck you!" He groaned, breathing heavily. His eyes clenched together, his breathing hitched.

Zadia swung the bat again, this time hitting his face. Martin jumped up, screeching, tears in his eyes. From the blood spurting from his mouth, she could tell she knocked some of his teeth out. "What was that, I couldn't hear you?!" She sneered. "If you don't agree to wait, I'm going to take those pots of boiling water and pour it into your ear using a gotdam turkey baster! Got it?!"

He nodded, repeatedly. "Okay, okay. Shit fine, I'll wait!" He cried, his blood getting onto her carpet.

"Good choice." She walked over to the kitchen, turning off the stove. "Kid!" She shouted. "Start packing everything you can! We're leaving!"

___________

Roman glanced at a chubby Ferb, pushing a middle-aged man into the yellow mustang. He couldn't help but smirk at the scene before him. Something about a chubby guy, bullying someone that wasn't his size, was very... entertaining. He chuckled, glancing down at his watch to see the time. Martin had been inside the crappy apartment for some time now. He was surprised Ferb hadn't gone in to check on him yet.

"Something's definitely up." He mumbled, taking his gun from the passenger seat. He looked over it, making sure he had enough bullets. Stepping out of his Jeep, he put on his hoodie and looked left then right before crossing the road. With his head lowered, he made his way towards the entrance, making sure not to get Ferb's attention.

Walking into the apartment, he gazed around the place, looking for Martin. Not seeing him around he kept his pace, edging to the hallway, the sound of his boots echoing. The further he walked, the more he started to feel his skin itch because of the rust that surrounded the place. He wasn't necessarily a germaphobe, but something about rust always made him feel... disgusted. From the corner of his eyes, he watched an older woman struggling to get her walker down the stairs. Roman bit the inside of his cheeks. "Fucking old people." He muttered. "Can't help but like them." Clearing his throat, he walked in her direction. "Need help with that?" A fake smile found its way on his face.

The older black woman smiled, her skin glowing. She didn't look a day over sixty. "Are you the police? You have the body of one that just graduated. Strong and stable... I called you guys over ten minutes ago about the noise on the fifth floor." She paused, watching Roman pick up the walker and set it down. "It's coming from Zadia's apartment." She informed him. "At first, I thought the poor girl was getting her freak on, which I'm okay with because she's been here for a while and I've never seen her with a man." She shook her head. "I thought that poor girl was gonna die a virgin to be honest, but today I heard some loud groaning, and then it got intense. I don't think she's having sex."

Roman blinked at the older woman, not expecting that much information. "I'm not the police... but I am the building's security. They told me to check it out instead." He lied, easily. "You said the woman's name is Zadia?"

The older woman nodded. "It is, she told me it when I caught her in the laundry station when she first moved in. She's a shy little thing... single if you're interested."

Roman chuckled lightly, amused. "I'll keep that in mind, Miss." He patted the walker. "I'll head up there now to check on her. You wouldn't happen to know her door number, would you?"

"It's five-eleven, which is the opposite of mine, four eleven." She told him. "If you can't find it, the noises will lead you there."

"Thank you, miss. Have a nice day." He replied, making his way upstairs.

"You too, sugar. Be safe now, we haven't had security in this place since forever."

Walking onto the fifth floor, Roman peeked into the foyer. He didn't see Martin, but he could sure hear him groaning and crying... well at least that's what it sounded like. He took out his gun, walking against the wall, bracing himself as he spotted the open door the noises were coming from. He eased slowly, squeezing his gun tightly. His breathing surprisingly calm, his mind on alert. Nearing towards the door, he tilted his head to get a look. Martin was on the ground, spitting out blood as he clenched his leg... and balls. Roman tilted his head some more, finding a woman in the kitchen with a bat in her hand. "Hmm." He hummed. "At least she's smart."

Zadia bit her lips, waiting on Abel to finish packing the baby stuff. "Kid, get a move on it! We don't have much time!" She yelled at Abel, pacing around the kitchen. Something felt off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Forget my stuff, just get the baby's clothes and wipes."

"Leaving so soon?" Roman asked, stepping into her apartment with his gun aimed at her head. Zadia looked familiar, but for the life of him, he couldn't grasp where he'd seen her before. Her eyes were an enchanting brown that reminded him of the chocolate-colored sea shell he'd used to collect back at base before he got shipped out overseas. Her lips were naturally large and plumped, which made him wonder if she'd ever bitten them when she got nervous or angry.

Zadia gasped, quickly lifting her bat, and that caused Roman to stop analyzing her face. "Who the fuck are you?!" She questioned her eyes on his gun.

Roman ignored her and her excessively long locs. "Seems like we've got mutual friends." He said, glancing at Martin. "You must be Zadia."

"How do you know my name?"

"Your downstairs neighbor talks a lot." He stated, looking down at his watch. "I don't have much time. In a few minutes, Ferb's gonna come storming in here and when he finds this idiot like this, things will get ugly. Is Eliśa here? Is the baby here?"

"Roman..." Martin stuttered. "Help me, man."

Zadia gripped her bat. "He knows your name! Who the fuck are you?!"

Roman rolled his eyes. They were wasting his time. "As I said, we've got mutual friends. I'm not with his people, see," He craned his neck to the side so she can see for herself. "no, Los Ánarquistas tattoo. I'm just looking for answers about Eliśa and her baby... she's my sister."

"She never mentioned any siblings, so I don't believe you!" Zadia shouted. "What the fuck do you want, no bullshitting this time!"

"Are you always this fucking annoying." He asked, growing frustrated. "I'm the one with the gun, so that means I'm in charge here. You answer my questions!"

"We're packed." Said Abel, coming out of the room with two bags and the baby in his arm. Roman turned, quickly aiming his gun at him. "Woah, calm down!" Abel shrieked. "I've got a baby here!"

"Hey, don't point that at them! Keep it on me, they're just kids!" Zadia screamed.

Roman's breathing lagged, looking into the eyes of the baby. It resembled his sister so much. He could even see a little bit of Cortez in him. "That's Eliśa's baby isn't it?" They all stayed silent. "Answer me!"

"I'm not telling you shit!" Zadia cursed, walking forward. "We are leaving and you're not gonna stop us!"

"Aye yo, Martin?" They heard in the hall. Everyone except for Roman, tensed.

Martin rolled over, bracing to make a run for it but Roman was onto him. He kicked him in the face, knocking him out. Looking back at Zadia, he sighed deeply. "You don't want to talk, cool. I'll just make you talk." He leaped at her, taking the bat from her hand and throwing it against the wall. Grabbing her locs, he wrapped them around his hand and turned her forward, putting her in a chokehold. Zadia stirred, trying to set herself free until she felt the gun barrel pressed against the side of her head. "Stay still now, I don't need your brains on my favorite hoodie." He said, before casting Abel a look. "You, stay there. Don't move either."

"Let me go, asshole!" Zadia screamed.

"Shut up!" Roman groaned, slowly walking to the door. He stepped out into the hallway and whistled, getting the attention of Ferb.

"Roman?" Ferb asked, confused. "What the fuck you doing here?" He looked from Roman to Zadia, his hand slowly inching for his gun.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you. Not unless you're prepared to die." Roman threatened.

Ferb paused, sucking his teeth. "Man, when Cortez finds out about this, you're dead! He's gonna come at you with everything he's got."

Roman nodded, knowingly. "I'm hoping for it." He said truthfully. Ferb tried reaching for his gun again, but Roman was faster, sending two bullets into his head. Zadia's eyes widened in horror as she gripped onto his arm that was pressing into her neck. She let out a blood-curdling scream, thrashing around. "Stop with the fucking screaming or so help me God I'll break every last tooth in that big mouth of yours." He told her... he meant it. From the hallway, he motioned for Abel to walk forward. "Come now, or I'll shoot her!"

"Don't listen to him!" Said, Zadia.

Roman squeezed tighter around her neck. "If you don't listen to me, I'll shoot her in the head and then I'll shoot you in both of your fucking knees and you'll be paralyzed for the rest of your life." He told him. "Your choice. Think logically on it."

Abel could feel his heart beating in his chest. He wanted to do what Zadia said, but there wasn't anywhere he could run to. If he made it out of this, no one would believe him and he'd be putting his aunt in danger. "Okay, I'm coming out." He gripped the two bags in his hand and held onto Santino as his life depended on it.

Stepping out into the hallway, Roman nodded ahead. "You walk in front of us. Keep going until you make it outside, keep your head down, and don't say a word." He glanced at his watch and unwrapped his arm from Zadia's neck, but kept her at reach. His gun pressed against her back, right into the lumbar of her spine. "That neighbor of yours already called the cops, so they'll most likely be down there. And to add to it Martin and Ferb missed check-in, so more of Cortez's men are on their way. Walk." He instructed and they did. "Believe it or not, you're lucky I came when I did."

Zadia scoffed. "Yeah right."

Roman glared at the back of her head. He didn't understand how he could despise someone he had just met a couple of minutes ago and the fucking cocoa butter smell coming from her didn't make it any better. He hated cocoa butter. "Believe what you want." He ended up saying, which to him was better than, "I'm gonna fucking bash your head into the wall."

Zadia bit her lip in thought, thinking about how she could get out of this, without putting Tino and Abel in harm's way. As they walked down the stairs she decided to tread lightly. "Look. You can just take me, the kids have nothing to do with this. I'll answer any question you want, just let them go."

Romans eyes rolled to the back of his head. "Should've had this approach back there, it's too late now. Besides the kids are my insurance you won't do anything stupid." He muttered.

Zadia looked at Tino from Abel's shoulder. The baby surprisingly looked calm. "You're sick, you know that!"

"I've been called worse." He said unfazed. "Now shut up and keep walking." Zadia huffed, annoyed with his presence but her mouth remained shut, not wanting to make him do something alarming. The four of them walked together as though they were waiting in a lunch line. Once they made it downstairs, they weren't shocked to see the police, searching the area. "Head down, not a word." Roman reminded them.

As they walked closer to the front entrance, one of the cops approached them. "Hey, you guys know where the landlord is?" The officers asked. They couldn't stop staring at his mustache... it was funny looking. "We're looking for apartment five-eleven."

When Zadia didn't answer, Abel cleared his throat. "We don't know where he's at, he's usually in his office around this time." Abel blurted out nervously. "Apartment five-eleven is on the fifth floor."

The officer stared at them, before slowly nodding. "Right... well thanks." He said as he and his partners moved along. Once they were out of view, the three of them kept on with their fast pace. Once they reach outside, it's like a weight lifted off their shoulders. "What now?" Abel asked, worriedly.

Roman sighed. "Just follow me." He said, watching as the cars sped by on the road.

Zadia closed her mouth, breathing through her nose. She could feel herself sweating, her body slowly losing the adrenaline it had not too long ago. "Does the gun still need to be on me? We've made it out." She glared at the sky, disliking the way the clouds huddled over the sun.

Rain would soon come.

"I don't trust you," Roman stated nonchalantly. "Therefore, the gun stays where it's at." When he saw a clearing, he nudged Zadia onto the road and Abel followed afterward. They walked quickly to the other side before the cars could make it on their end. Roman reached into his pocket and grabbed his key, unlocking the doors to his Jeep. "Get in!" He told Abel, pushing Zadia into the car.

He dashed to the driver's side, starting up the vehicle but not before putting on his seatbelt. "This is crazy! The baby isn't even in a car seat. What if we crash?" Zadia asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"I'm a safe driver." Roman resorted, swerving onto the busy lane. The driver behind him honked and Roman rolled down his window, to stick the middle finger. "Deal with it asshole!" He shouted at the driver.

Rolling up his window, Zadia stared at him speechless. "Good driver my a-s-s." She spelled out.

Roman took his eyes off the road, frowning at her. "Did you just spell ass? What are you, six? Just say the damn thing."

"I spelled it, out of respect for Tino, idiot."

Roman shook his head. "He's a fucking baby, he doesn't even know what respect is. Matter of fact, he doesn't even know what curse words are." He told her. "Why the fuck are you sweating like a pig in my car?"

"Z? You alright?" Abel asked, concern flashing in his eyes. He sat Tino in his lap, holding onto him protectively.

Zadia took a deep breath, trying to relax. "I'm... I'm fine. I just worked myself up a little too much today." She said, glancing at him. "I'm alright. I promise."

"You're lying," Abel responded. "Yo, we've got to go back to the apartment! We've got to right now!"

Roman frowned. "What the fuck are you going on about? That place is filled with cops and Cortez's men, why would I go back there?" He asked, getting onto another lane.

"She's sick and she needs her medicine."

Zadia pushed her seat up and leaned more into the passengers' air vent. "Can it get any colder than this?" She asked, her voice barely audible.

Roman reached out for the air controller and blasted the air conditioning. Cool air seeped into the car. "What the fuck is wrong with her?"

Abel filled him in. "She's diabetic and her insulin is back at the apartment."

"Do you have any water in here?" Zadia asked, her throat dry, eyes droopy.

Roman glanced at her. "Hey! Don't close your eyes, stay awake!" In the rearview mirror, he looked at Abel. "We can't go back, she's gonna have to wait."

"She'll go into Hypoglycemic shock the longer she waits." Said, Abel. He'd been doing his research on type 1 diabetes in his spare time. He knew everything you could possibly know about the subject. For instance, the highest incidence of type 1 diabetes 
are in the Black community. Hispanics are next in line and Asians have a lower risk of developing it. Insulin shots are supposed to be taken every day, but Zadia being her stubborn self decided to take half of her daily dosage to save. "She hasn't taken any insulin since yesterday, she needs it."

"What a dumbass," Roman muttered. "Who the fuck doesn't take their insulin? That's literally their source of life."

"Shut up!" Zadia groaned, her body trembling as sweat dripped from her forehead. "I... I just need something... sweet."

"No, shit stupid," Roman replied. "It's gonna take time to get to the nearest gas station, so we have to improvise until then."

"How are we going to do that?" Asked, Abel.

"Zadia, look at me," Roman said, almost softly. It wasn't as annoying as it was before. Zadia turned towards him, her vision clouded. "I'm gonna do something that's gonna hurt like hell, when you wake up. But it's only so your brain can focus on something else, rather than your blood sugar."

"What is it?" She whispered, the things around her suddenly disappearing.

Roman took his right hand off the steering wheel and placed it on her face, ignoring the uncomfortable wetness he felt on his palms. He touched her cheek, using his thumb to stroke her. Zadia let out a relentless sigh, admiring how strange, yet foreign his touch felt. She didn't know how to describe it, but it was something... something she couldn't yet understand.

Looking into those enchanting eyes of hers, Roman for the first time in a long time, gulped. His Adam's Apple bobbing. "Don't stop breathing." He reminded her. Zadia's eyebrows twisted in confusion and before she had the chance to even say anything, the side of her face was slammed down on the dashboard. Her eyes shut on impact, her body transforming into an unconscious state.

"What the fuck?!" Abel shouted from the backseat, afraid. Not only for himself but for Zadia and Tino too. "Why would you do that? Didn't you just tell her to stay awake?"

"Calm down," Roman said, pushing an unconscious Zadia back to her seat. "It needed to be done. Her brain was gonna eventually do it, but it was taking too long because it was processing how to handle the lack of insulin. Since I knocked her out, it's switched its focus."

"So it'll focus on her passing out suddenly, rather than her blood sugar." Abel finished his anger still evident in his voice. "Why didn't you just tell her that?"

"I did... in a way. I got tired of hearing her mouth."

"You mean voice?" Abel corrected, unexpectedly. "All a person's mouth can do is open and close, it's the voice that actually lets you hear something." He looked down at a sleeping Tino. "My fault... I didn't mean to correct you. It's just, I've been rolling with Zadia for a while and it's a habit of hers... I guess you can say I'm developing it."

"Didn't ask," Roman stated. "I need to think, stop talking." He didn't mean to sound rude... okay he did but he need to think. That's all he ever did. He cut on the radio, letting the voice of Jorge Negrete ease his mind. He had to find Eliśa soon, he could tell time wasn't on his side but he wasn't going to stress it. He found her son, his nephew, and that's all that mattered right now.

A small smile found its way to his lips as he felt something in the pit of his stomach.

Hope.

Not edited. Excuse any errors and point them out too. Thank you💕