Things became silent. The sisters couldn't hear what was going on. Danny took Kenley back into her bedroom. She saw that the room was in disarray.

Danny stood in front of her, steadily showing her the knife. "Take the top off."

Kenley wiped a tear from her eyes. She shook her head. "I don't want to."

Danny s.n.a.t.c.hed her by the T-shirt and tried to remove it. Kenley fought back by giving him a karate kick, but he grabbed her leg and she fell down on the mattress that he had tossed on the floor. He slid the knife across her right arm to cut her. Blood gushed out.

Kenley screamed, "You cut me."

"Do as I say, or next time it'll be your d.a.m.ned face," he whispered.

Kenley settled down as she tried to wipe the blood. She didn't know how bad the cut was; all she saw was blood as red cherries.

Danny didn't give it one thought. He raised the T-shirt off her to expose her small b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Kenley covered herself up with her hands while he loosened his pants. Not wanting to see his body, Kenley closed her eyes. She knew she had to think of something else or he was going to have his way with her before she bled to death.

Outside of the home, Tessa arrived. She saw that the door was ajar and walked in. "h.e.l.lo, is anyone home?" she called as she waited for someone to appear. Pete, the servant, couldn't hear her. He had gone out back to throw away the trash.

Upstairs, Danny, so caught up in having his way with Kenley, didn't hear Tessa either as he removed his pants.

Holding the knife up in the air, Danny went to get on top of Kenley, but before he could lay on her, she jammed her right knee into his crotch with all of her strength. He let go of the knife and it fell on the mattress.

Danny grabbed his groin while Kenley picked up the knife and swung it at him. She cut him across his chest, slipped from underneath him, and ran out of the room screaming.

Tessa saw her make it to the stairs. Kenley held her hands over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. They made eye contact.

Kenley screamed, "There's a man in my room."

"Come to me. Let's get out of here!" Tessa yelled.

Kenley rushed down the stairs. She cried, "My sisters are locked in the closet."

Tessa noticed the blood flowing down her arm. "You're bleeding. We must call for help," she said as she took a cell phone out of her purse.

She found some Kleenex in her purse and handed them to Kenley.

Nolan and Sid arrived, noticing no police had come as of yet. They parked at the back of the house near the kitchen. Nolan unscrewed two legs from a table that was on his moving truck for them to use as weapons.

Pete with a trashcan in his hand spotted Nolan and Sid with the table legs in their hands and became alarmed.

"It's okay. We didn't mean to frighten you," Nolan said when he recognized Pete's burgundy pants as the uniform of a servant.

"What I need you to do for me is call the police," Sid instructed. "Tell them to hurry up. A robber has the Houston sisters held hostage in a closet. You got that?"

"A robber?" Pete whispered.

"Yes, we got a call from one of them upstairs. We're going up to try to stop him."

All three of them entered the spotless kitchen. Pete picked up the cordless phone and made the call. He went on to place a garbage bag in the trashcan.

As Nolan and Sid made their way into the hallway, they encountered Kenley and Tessa.

"The robber is gone?" Nolan wondered.

"He's up in my room," Kenley said. "He may be hurt. I cut him with his knife."

"Stay put," Nolan advised.

"I've called for help," Tessa said as she glanced toward the top of the stairs.

Nolan listened for any noises coming from upstairs as he proceeded to go up. As he got closer, he heard Danny moaning from Kenley's bedroom.

Nolan rushed in the bedroom where Danny had taken the covers and wiped the blood off him. Nolan charged at him, whacking him in the knees.

Kenley had already pointed upstairs to show Sid where Milandra's bedroom was located. He ran up the stairs to rescue Milandra and Noelle. When he opened the closet door, Noelle ran into his arms. He kissed her with pa.s.sion.

"I have to go, Baby. Nolan may need my help." Sid held the leg of the table in his hands. "Get some clothes on. The police are on their way."

Kenley, Tessa, and Pete watched from downstairs as Sid made his way into the next bedroom.

Sid saw Nolan had cracked the leg of the table on Danny. Of course, he got a few swings in for himself. Danny screamed in pain as he lay on the floor.

Milandra rushed to Nolan. He checked her neck. "You're lucky, baby, the knife didn't go any farther."

"Thanks for saving us," Milandra said as she gave him a hug.

Once the police arrived, Danny had to be carried out. Both of his legs were broken.

The police insisted Kenley be taken to the hospital, but she didn't want to go. Milandra had the Houstons' private doctor come to their home to tend to her wounds. Kenley had to have a few st.i.tches in her arm.

Baron entered the house to see everyone gathered in the kitchen. Pete had cooked food for them. Noelle and Milandra had given their dates a rain check.

"What else can happen around here?" Baron asked. "Unbelievable. And you didn't tell me you were coming over here." He pointed at Tessa.

"I'm sorry; I came to speak to the girls," she said, but had yet to tell them her decision.

"It was scary," Noelle admitted.

"Where's Kenley?" Baron asked.

"She's taking a nap. Doc gave her a painkiller," Milandra said. "Have a seat."

Baron took a seat on a barstool near Tessa. "Nolan and Sid, I hear you're heroes."

"Man, we just did what we had to do," Sid said.

"Beat a man down." Nolan laughed.

"You got him pretty good." Sid chuckled.

Tessa was keeping quiet during the exchange, but finally she spoke up. "I have something to say."

Everyone saw the seriousness in her face. Baron wished she wouldn't upset them after what they had just been through.

"Rosie has done wrong, but no matter what, she's still my family. I know you are doing what you have to do to punish her for what she's done to you, but I'm sorry-I can't. I'm going to drop the kidnapping charges."

Milandra jumped out of her seat. "What? Are you as crazy as your niece?"

"Miss Houston, don't be so harsh," Baron said.

"I'm wondering about you, Mr. Chavis. What is it about her that makes you want to be with her?" Milandra asked.

"I love her unconditionally," Baron said.

Tessa cried, "Miss Houston, aren't you loyal to your family? You'll do anything to protect the Houston name. I must stay loyal to my family, too. I'm not saying Rosie is right for what she's done. I know it's wrong. I mean, she pretended to be my dead baby, but she's still my family."

Tessa got up and started to leave, but Baron stopped her. He held her in his arms. "Take it easy," he said.

"Milandra, as much as I wish she wouldn't drop the charges, she's right. The girl is her family. I know if it was you, I'd stick by you to the end, even if you were wrong. Her love for her family is no different than our love for ours," Noelle said.

Milandra took a swallow of cold water from a gla.s.s that sat in front of her on the table. "This day has been too much. Whatever you decide to do with your case against your niece is up to you."

Kenley came in the kitchen sporting a short set. Everyone turned to see her. "h.e.l.lo, everyone."

"How are you feeling?" Milandra asked.

Kenley held her right arm close to her side. "I'm feeling a lot better."

"I'm sorry I couldn't rescue you the way you rescued me," Tessa said as she walked over and gave Kenley a hug.

"Your niece sure knows how to pick her men," Kenley said.

"Rosie?" Tessa questioned. "What does she have to do with this?"

"He knows her. He said something about me reminding him of her when he met her around my age."

"He must be the man I heard she ran away with," Tessa said.

"He said he was going to get the money out of us that he should've gotten out of her. He's blaming us for her going to jail," Kenley explained.

"The police will handle all that. I'll find out more about him," Baron said.

"Jacka.s.s, he is," Sid said.

"I bet he's in a lot of pain at the hospital." Nolan laughed. "I bashed them legs good."

Tessa listened to them. She was ready to leave. She wanted to run and see her niece. She wondered if Danny was really the man who had persuaded her niece to leave Mexico.

"I will go see Rosie," Tessa announced.

Baron looked at her. "I don't think so. Stay far away from your niece."

"I must find out who the man is-what part he played in her life," Tessa said.

"I never want to see your niece or him again," Kenley said.

"Your niece is in a terrible state of mind," Baron said.

"I don't fear my family. Please call a car to take me to the prison."

Baron saw that she was determined to go. "I'll drive you."

"No, I'll go alone. You stay here with the Houstons and help them," Tessa said.

"I guess you're going to tell her you're dropping the charges," Milandra said.

Tessa bowed her head. "She's family." On that note, she left.

Chapter 31.

Tessa didn't part her lips to say a word as she turned over her purse for prison security to check for contraband. She went on and followed what she was told to do for the rest of the check-in procedures to obtain visitation.

Afterward, she was led into a room where all visitors were asked to be seated.

Lightly tapping her feet on the floor, Tessa waited for her niece to come out.

Aniyah, dressed in an orange uniform, strutted into the room. Her once high-fashion hairstyle was pulled back in a rubber band. Her face was as dull as an unsharpened knife from the lack of makeup. Right away she spotted her aunt. She had a.s.sumed her aunt was a public defender a.s.signed to her case, in hopes of getting her released. "Aunt Tessa, I'm happy you came to your senses," she said. She wanted to give her aunt a big hug but the handcuffs held her hands hostage. "You've come to get me out of this mess you put me in."

Tessa no longer tapped her foot, nor was there a smile on her face. "How can you say it's my fault that you're behind bars?"

Aniyah yelled, "You didn't keep your d.a.m.n mouth shut!"

"Lower your voice, Sanchez," a tall, medium-built female correctional officer said.

"Calm down," Tessa said.