🚨First Chapter Alert🚨 DTMC 3

Chapter One

“What do you mean someone snatched her up?” Sky shrieked with her palm resting on her chest.

Malik’s dark, almond shaped eyes wandered to Ryker who displayed a muddled expression on his face. When Malik’s eyes landed back on Sky, he noticed that she had tears pooling on the brims of her eyes.

“What's wrong?” Malik asked with urgency in his tone.

“It’s Finesse,” she confessed with rocky vocal chords. “This guy on the phone said that someone snatched her up.”

Malik swiftly snatched the phone out of Sky’s handand held it up to his ear. He gritted his teeth as his heart leaped inside his chest.

“Who the hell is this?” he demanded.

“Listen, I'm just tryin’ to tell y’all what I thinkhappened. I don't need to talk to everybody in the family,” the annoyed tone spat on the other end of the phone.

Malik’s nose crinkled as his brows lowered. “Who the fuck is this and where the hell is my daughter?” he boomed with irritation.

“This is Quest and I think somebody snatched Finesse up.”

Malik gripped the phone tightly in his hand. “Why do you think that?”

“Because I ain't heard from her since last night and I got a text from her phone demanding money for her. I don't know who it is but I don't think they're playing because when I called her phone, some nigga answered talking about he wants his money. I don't know what the fuck she got herself into but the shit doesn’t look good. I just wanted to let y’all know just in case she's in danger. I gotta go.”

A beeping noise suddenly sounded in Malik’s ear. Hepulled the phone back and peered at the screen.

“I know this mothafucka didn’t hang up on me,” he seethed through clenched teeth.

“What did he say?” Sky asked in a worried tone.

“He said some bullshit about Finesse being snatched up.” He shook his head, attempting to process the actuality of his daughter missing. “Do you know anything about that Quest guy?”

Sky blinked her glossy eyes and swayed her head back and forth. “All I know is that he’s the guy that helps her set men up. He would be the person who knows who snatched Finesse up.”

“Fuck!” Malik gritted and plowed his foot into the floor. He nibbled on his bottom lips as his eyes descended to the hardwood.

“Can y’all track her phone?” Ryker asked.

“I don't know. Maybe we should call the police, Dad. They will know what to do,” Sky suggested.

“An adult has to be missing for forty-eight hours before they will even file a report,” Ryker added. “When’s the last time ol’ boy heard from Finesse?”

“He said last night,” Malik muttered.

“Which means they won’t even file a report. Okay, well, let’s go to Uncle Johan. I'm sure he will know what to do,” Sky recommended.

Malik snapped out of his overwhelming daze. “Yeah, yeah, let’s go. I swear I'm going to go back to jail if something happens to Finesse.”

“Dad, I don't want that to happen,” Sky glumly said. “Just calm down for a minute and lets think this through.”

Malik peered down at Sky’s somber face and shook his head. He had only been out for twenty-four hours and now he had to deal with the fact that his daughter was possibly missing. Going back to prison was something he wasn’t willing to do, but now that Finesse was potentially in danger, he would do it all over again to ensure that she was safe.

“I gotta go,” he announced and headed for the door.

Sky followed after him. “Wait, where are you going?”

“To Johan’s. I’ll call you when I know something,” Malik quickly confirmed and twisted the doorknob.

“Hold on. I'm going with you,” Sky snatched her purse and keys from the table.

“You want me to come with you?” Ryker offered, staring into her eyes.

Sky shook her head. “No that’s okay. Can you stay here just in case Finesse shows up?”

Ryker nodded his head. “I got you.”

Sky kissed his lips before following Malik out the house. His mind was racing with thoughts of Finesse’s whereabouts. He had heard all about her extracurricular activities when he was locked up. He desperately wanted to warn her about the lifestyle she was living, but getting in contact with Finesse was an extremely hard task. He hadn't spoken to his oldest child in years. When she turned eighteen years old, she stopping coming to see him as well as conversing with him.

“I really hope she's okay. Maybe we should stop by her condo before we go to Uncle Jo’s house. Who knows if that Quest guy is telling the truth.”

Malik was so consumed with his thoughts that he didn’t even hear what Sky had said. She pulled on his arm before they got inside the car.

“Dad, did you hear me?”

He blinked his eyes rapidly. “Nah, my bad. What did you say?”

“I said we should stop at Finesse’s house before we go to Uncle Jo’s. Quest is shady and he could be lying about Finesse missing.”

“Do you have a key?” he quizzed.

“Yes, I do. There's a huge chance that she is there. As a matter of fact, let me call her phone.”

Malik watched as Sky shakily dialed Finesse’s number. Again, his heart rate had skyrocketed to a dangerous speed while he stared at Sky. He held his breath hostage as she put the phone up to her ear. Her almond shaped eyes darted anxiously, causing Malik’s already rapid heart rate to rise even higher.

When Sky released a deep breath and ended the call, Malik felt like his heart had stopped.

“She didn’t answer,” she uttered.

“Fuck that. Let’s go to her house.” he commanded and jumped in the driver’s seat of the car.

She quickly followed suit and slid into the passenger’s seat. Malik started the engine and sped hasitly out of the driveway.

“Do you know where she lives?” she questioned.

Malik nodded but didn’t respond verbally.

“Dad, I'm so scared,” she confessed. “What if someone has Finesse?”

Malik blocked any thoughts of Finesse being in danger and prayed that she was at home. He felt like he had to stay positive for Sky since she seemed to be an emotional wreck.

“She’s probably at home, baby girl. Don't worry, okay?”

She timidly tipped her head and sat back in her seat. Malik found it difficult to believe his own words but he had to remain strong for her.

***

Sky stuck the key inside the door and twisted the knob. She and Malik trudged into the silent condo hoping that Finesse would pop up.

“Finesse,” Sky called out.

Nothing but silence permeated the room. Malik was still hopeful so he traveled through the living room and headed down the hallway of closed doors. He opened the first door and saw what looked to be a closet with shoes and clothes lined up everywhere.

“Come on, Finesse,” he mumbled.

He swiftly shut that door and opened the next door which was a bathroom.

“Her dog isn’t even here. Did you check her bedroom, Dad?” Sky asked.

“I haven’t gotten there yet. Hopefully this is the door,” he said and twisted the knob to the last door in the hallway.

Malik held his breath as the door swung open. His eyes immediately fell in disappointment when he noticed that she wasn’t in there. Her king size bed was neatly made up as if she hadn't slept there. There was no indication that Finesse had been home

“Oh my God!” Sky cried. “I hope she’s not in danger.”

He pulled her into his strong arms and rubbed her back in a soothing motion. “Don't worry Sky. I'm going to handle it.”

“I'm just scared that her ways have finally caught up to her.”

“It’s going to be all right,” he assured and pulled out his phone.

He dialed Johan’s number, hoping that he would have the connections to try and locate Finesse.

“What's going on?” Johan answered.

“Some lil’ nigga called and said that he thinks Finesse was snatched up by somebody.”

Silence filled the other end of the phone. Malik looked down at Sky who was still sniffling on his chest.

“Did you hear me?” Malik hissed.

“What nigga? When’s the last time anyone has spoken to Finesse? How the fuck do we know that he’s telling the truth?” Johan growled.

“Well she’s not answering her phone and she ain't here at her house. We need to get on this shit because she could be in real danger.”

“I'm so sick of this shit,” Johan huffed. “Meet me at my house.”

“A’ight.”

“Come on, Sky. We need to go to Johan’s house so we can come up with a plan to find Finesse.”

“Dad, I don't want anything to happen to her. I know she does her dirt but I would never want to see her harmed.”

Malik’s heart shattered into pieces as he peered intoSky’s misty eyes. He hated to see his baby girl so dispirited by this uneventful news. He was finally home from his long bid and all he wanted was to get reacquainted with his daughters. He hadn't anticipated being blindsided by the news of Finesse being MIA but he was going to ensure that he found her.

“I promise she's going to be all right. Let’s go, okay?”

Sky nodded and stepped out of his embrace. The two walked out of the condo and headed for Johan’s house. Malik said a silent prayer that he would have a plan because the only planning he was doing was setting the city on fire if Finesse didn’t show up.

***

Johan paced back and forth, pinching his bottom lip between his index finger and thumb. Malik had just given him the entire rundown along with Sky and he seemed to be unusually calm. Johan had been silent for five grueling minutes and the entire family was on edge. Malik sat on the couch with Sky and Kitty while Mafia and Kano sat on the other sofa.

“Sky and Mafia,” Johan finally spoke. “What do you know about this Quest guy?”

Sky cleared her throat. “Not much. I know that he is supposedly a friend of Finesse who helps her set up guys.”

“He’s bad news,” Mafia interjected. “His reputation in the streets is terrible. He’s always getting shot at and hestays robbing people.”

“Do you know where he lives or where he be at?” Malik asked.

Mafia nodded. “I remember one time when Finesse had me take her over to one of his houses off of Good Hope road. I guess you can try there.”

“He knows more than what the fuck he is saying, so we need to go over there and see what we can get out of him. Kano, I want you to come with me,” Johan ordered.

Kano nodded. “I got you.”

Johan then turned to Malik. “I need you to sit this one out.”

Malik’s face warped into a menacing scowl. “What the fuck do you mean sit this one out? I'm not a fucking kid and that’s my fucking daughter who’s missing. I need to be involved in seeking her whereabouts!”

“Listen, you just came home from a twenty-three year bid, plus you're on parole. I don't want you getting into any trouble and going back,” Johan explained.

Malik shot up from his seat and waved his hand. “I'm not trying to hear that bullshit! I'm going with you to see about this nigga!” he declared.

Sky grabbed his hand. “Dad, maybe you should listen to Uncle Johan. I wouldn’t want you caught up into a situation that could lead you right back to jail.”

“Yeah, Malik just sit here and wait with us until Johan and Kano comes back,” Kitty pleaded.

Malik angrily cut his eyes at Kitty and Sky and reluctantly took a seat. He was pissed that Johan was bringing his prison stint into the conversation. He had developed self-control over the years, and he felt like he could handle the situation. Since he didn’t feel like arguing with anyone, he decided to just sit this one out.

“A’ight, as soon as I figure things out, I’ll call you,” Johan promised Malik. “Let’s go, Kano.”

Johan and Kano quickly exited the house. Malik was trying his best to control his angry thoughts but it was proving to be a difficult task.

“I'm going to try and see if I can track her phone,” Mafia announced before standing and walking out of the room.

“Are you okay?” Kitty asked Malik.

He was highly annoyed and didn’t feel like speaking. He nodded his head so that they could leave him alone and then abruptly stood from the couch. He walked out of the house and stood on the porch. He wished that he had a cigarette because his nerves were overactive.