Misunderstood (Toussaint Mafia #4)

Prologue #2

“Masami, come here, you okay?” Her grandfather, grimacing, asked as he met her halfway.

Masami tightly embraced her beloved grandfather, releasing a gut-wrenching cry as she recounted the day’s events. Standing near the windowless building in Corktown, Masami cried on her grandfather’s chest in a way she never had in her adult life.

“—I know, she’s back,” her grandfather said solemnly, knowing where Masami’s emotional pain was coming from. “Let’s get in the cars, right now we have a meeting to attend. Come granddaughter, I have to make sure you kids are good before Carlos takes you all down with him,” her grandfather explained, pulling Masami towards the black Escalade with the dark tint.

Masami slipped into the back of the SUV and her grandfather was quickly at her side. Within seconds, the driver drove away from the curb, and she leaned her head on the window. As her eyes closed in worry, she heard the thunder crack in the sky before the rain ushered from the clouds in quick succession. It was as if Heaven was crying out for her family.

A family she was certain would never be the same. No matter how hard she prayed they would be.

“I need for you to listen to me Masami. Your father isn’t your ally. It hurts for me to say this, but he isn’t and when we catch up to him?—”

“What do you mean, up to him?” Masami inquired, gazing at her grandfather.

Her grandfather cleared his throat.

“Carlos, who was released to his lawyer two hours ago with strict instructions to meet me, is nowhere to be found. We have looked everywhere in the city for him, but he is no longer here. I am certain that he’s using a private jet for his travel, but it won’t be long before we track him down.”

Masami shook her head in confusion, unable to grasp the situation. Yes, her father was a piece of shit when it came to many things, but never would he leave them. He was the one who penned the phrase for the family . He emphatically emphasized the importance of loyalty, so he would never abandon them when they needed him the most.

“He can’t be gone. Let me call Beanz, I need my phone. I lost all of my things at the restaurant.”

Her grandfather stretched out in his seat as his eyes traveled over to his side of the window that showed the heavy downpour of rain as it pounced from the sky.

“Beanz isn’t gonna pick up, Masami, and neither will Reuben. We found them outside near the jet hanger, with gunshots to the head.”

Masami felt the blood rushing to her ears at her grandfather’s revelation. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her grandfather comfortingly grabbed her hand.

“Reel them in, sweetheart. We will have time to mourn later. Right now, we have to focus on the task at hand. The family jet is gone, along with all the money from an account that we weren’t aware he still had access to. The safes have been emptied, including the family jewelry that I intended to pass down to you girls. All valuable items have been taken; anything he left behind has been confiscated by the authorities as part of their investigation. This family is currently facing the threat of the Rico Act, with your father, myself, and our associates being the primary targets. The other members disapprove of Carlos not being here to seek forgiveness for his actions.”

“That’s not good for me either,” he said, allowing a brief silence to settle in the car before continuing. “In addition, we’ve recently uncovered new information about Cage Chery. I know it’s my son’s fault that we’re in this position, but his actions have left us in a tight spot, Masami. A new order is coming, but I won’t let any of my grandchildren pay for the sins of my disloyal son. If it comes down to it, I will gladly sacrifice myself for all of you. Simple as that,” her grandfather said protectively, speaking the kind of words her father never would. Masami hugged herself in worry, feeling the weight of his words.

She refrained from asking any more questions as the SUVs pulled into a parking garage on the outskirts of town. In no time, her door swung open, and she stepped out of the back of the Tahoe alongside her grandfather. He held her hand reassuringly, but as they entered the elevator, he let go. Three armed guards surrounded them as the elevator rose to the tenth floor.

“When you walk in, don’t say anything or cry, Masami. I would never let anything happen to you if I could help it. Stay composed, sweetheart. A lot of things are changing today, and I’m sorry for how it’s all unfolding. But like everyone else, I’ve made foolish decisions for the sake of my son. Now, we’re all paying the price,” her grandfather whispered, and Masami felt a slow fear creeping into her body.

She nodded, and the elevator came to a stop. As the doors slid open, more armed guards greeted them. They stepped into a room lined with men holding rifles, and two long tables dominated the space. Masami’s heart pounded as she moved closer to the table, and when she saw her mother and uncle Davido sitting there, their wrists bound, a lump formed in her throat.

“Reel it in,” her grandfather mumbled before walking away. “We apologize for our tardiness. They didn’t want to let her go, but they had no choice. She’s innocent,” he said as he joined the rest of the Founding Members.

“That’s still up for debate,” Sean, one of the Founding Members, replied coldly, in a tone Masami had never heard from him before.

Sean had always been like an uncle to her, the one who gave her the best Christmas and birthday presents. But now, he was looking at her like she was the enemy. Like he hadn’t watched her grow up, celebrate life, and share family moments over the years. It became clear to Masami that this wasn’t a friendly meeting. These people weren’t really her family, despite what they had always claimed. Now, they were all suffering the consequences of her father’s actions. The tide had shifted, and this time, it wasn’t in their favor.

“Please, sit, Masami. Are you okay?” Fred, another Founding Member, asked, his eyes scanning her.

Masami pulled herself together and sat beside a silent Meilani at the long wooden table. “I am,” she replied respectfully.

Fred crossed his arms and nodded. He stood with the other Founding Members as Masami felt her mother’s gaze burning into the side of her head. She refused to look back at her.

“Today has been an unfortunate turn of events for us as a family. As you’ve all seen on the news, Revvy Chery declared war on the Toussaint family, resulting in their arrest by the DEA. The DEA has opened a RICO case against the Toussaint’s due to Carlos Toussaint’s actions. As you know, maintaining discretion is key to our success. It’s how we’ve retained our power. For other families in the life to see us on the news like this—it’s a disgrace. We feel ashamed, and you should, too,” Sean said, his voice tense.

“Today is a somber day for the Michigan Mafia,” he continued, his eyes sweeping the room. Masami noticed that all three mafia bosses were present, along with Yaseer. “In order to fix the damage done to this organization, change is necessary, and sacrifices must be made, even if it involves shedding blood. And today, we were greeted by people we thought were long gone. That needs to be dealt with too,” Sean added, his left eye twitching—a clear sign of his eagerness to be the one to carry out the punishment.

“As of now, Carlos is on the run. We haven’t heard from him. Not even his father, but once he’s found he must make right the things he’s done to the family. There is only one retribution that will atone for his sins, and Carlos is aware of that. He has run out of passes, and there will be no forgiveness for this. Due to his dishonesty and deception, his family’s position in the mafia has been destroyed,” Sean coughed before proceeding. “As of now, the Toussaint mafia is no longer a part of the five families of the mafia. We all know this is blood in and blood out, but the Toussaint’s are a family that will no longer work directly with Yaseer or any other Boss in the life. As of now, you all will pay your dues like everyone else in the city and stay away from anything mafia related in terms of the business. This includes your wife Yaseer. Yes, you are the Don, but as a Toussaint, your wife should not be privy to your dealings. Are we clear on that?” Sean asked.

Yaseer’s eyes wandered over to Meilani for a second before he said, “Crystal.”

Sean gave a nod.

“Great. I hope that one day the Toussaint’s will be able to move past all of this drama so that my good friend and Founding Member Juan Toussaint isn’t weighed down in embarrassment by a name that once held so much power and respect to it.”

Sean stared at everyone sitting at the table briefly before speaking again.

“Although Carlos was treacherous, Davido Toussaint attempted to take his life when he was the Don. While Carlos is not the Don anymore, we cannot let that pass without retribution. Despite Carlos’ predetermined fate, Juan Toussaint, my good friend and Founding Member, has stepped down in order to save the lives of Davido Toussaint and Jazmine Toussaint. He is handing over his stake in the life and giving his power to the four of us. Davido and Jazmine, I hope you realize the sacrifices your father has made for you. The protection of our guards, lawyers, and the life no longer covers him. He is still affiliated, but like his offspring, he is merely an associate of the mafia instead of an intricate piece on the board. Considering what he sacrificed, it was sufficient to pardon Davido and Jazmine for their misdeeds. Unfortunately, Davido, you cannot stay in Marcy Falls, specifically in Michigan. Are you aware of the meaning of that?” Sean shifted his gaze to Davido, his eyes filled with seriousness, he asked.

Davido’s eyes blazed with outrage instead of gratitude as he glared at Sean.

“I do, and as soon as we get Jazmine’s sister, I’m gone. I didn’t ask for or want to be a part of this shit.”

Masami couldn’t believe how smug and indifferent Davido seemed. While her life was falling apart, he acted like none of this concerned him.

Sean chuckled, but his eyes burned with fury as he stared down Davido.

“Ah yes, now I remember. You think you’re different from Carlos, but trust me, you’re not. You’ve always made it clear you hate this life. Maybe that’s why you didn’t hesitate to betray your own family and destroy everything your father built. So, tell me—how the hell are we supposed to help you find her?”

Masami lowered her gaze, her thoughts drifting to the photos she had intentionally left in the SUV. Was her supposed mystery aunt, in LA too? Was she living a carefree life while the rest of them were trapped in a mental hell, thanks to their father?

“Sean, it’s my younger sister,” Jazmine interjected, her voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t even know I had a little sister until after I left Carlos. We’re still in shock that he found her, but he did. Davido sent her to college, and Carlos kidnapped her right off campus. He took her over six months ago, and I know she’s being held in one of his secret rooms in that house. I have to find her. And I swear, once we get her back, my girls and I are gone. I’ll even make sure Ossa never comes back either.”

“What the fuck. We’re not going anywhere—” Maia’s words were abruptly halted as Promise gave her a disapproving glance, silencing her outburst. “I apologize, Sean,” she quickly said, realizing her surroundings.

“It’s fine, Maia. I am aware that there is a lot of emotion involved. The return of my deceased mother would evoke strong emotions within me, too. Jazmine, you must locate your sister within the next 24 hours. Otherwise, Davido Toussaint will face the same consequences as his brother.” Seán’s words were filled with intensity before he cleared his throat. “Now let’s move on to the final issue. Revvy has come to us with proof he says that shows Boston Toussaint was behind the killing of Cage Chery,” he said and Revvy stood with a serious expression on his aged face.

Revvy grabbed a cellphone and handed it to Sean, glaring at Promise Marceline, who sat comfortably in his chair.

“The messages on that phone are proof that Boston killed my son,” Revvy growled through clenched teeth.

Promise let out a yawn while Sean and the other Founding Members examined the phone carefully.

“Which messages are you referring to?” another Founding Member asked, raising an eyebrow.

Revvy shot up from his seat and rushed over to the phone. In a hurried manner, he scrolled through it, while Promise sat up, now more attentive.

“Everything okay?” Promise asked, his tone calm.

Revvy ignored him, furiously searching through the phone. As time passed, the men in the room exchanged uneasy glances until Juan broke the silence with a clearing of his throat.

“Well, do you have them or not?” he asked.

Revvy looked up, frustration clear on his face. He flung the phone towards Promise’s head, missing by inches, before lunging in his direction. The guards in the room quickly moved to restrain him as he tried to reach Promise. Meanwhile, Promise remained unfazed, locking eyes with Revvy with a stoic expression.

“Juan, why are you even speaking to me? I thought you got kicked out of this family and he is responsible for all of this. He erased the fucking phone! I saw those messages firsthand with my own two damn eyes!” The guards restrained Revvy while he seethed with anger. “He did all of this to protect that little bitch, and it’s complete bullshit. This family needs to be killed, every one of them. Including them walking dead motherfuckas! They are like cancer to the mafia. Peace and Promise is helping that bitch.”

“My sister-in-law not gone be too many more bitches, Revvy. I mean, unless you are ready to see who can let one off the quickest cause the only person scared of you is ya pussy ass son. You know, the one that’s still breathing,” Promise said with a calm tone, giving Revvy a serious look.

Sean shook his head before speaking while raising his hand.

“Won’t be any of that, Promise. Being close friends isn’t obligatory but respecting each other is. It’s best if we don’t go beyond where we are now. Revvy, we express our condolences for the loss of your son. Cage played a crucial role in this organization. Regrettably, all of us in the family have suffered losses. Did we not? I had to bury my daughter at eighteen because of the lifestyle we have. You were aware that casualties would occur when you agreed to be a part of this. Nevertheless, a war is something we want to avoid. The Chicago families have been informed that supporting you will initiate a conflict with us. They all agreed to fully support our decision to end this insanity. They have withdrawn their support regarding the issue. Is it true that you approved the strike on the Toussaint family responsible for shooting Ossa Toussaint?”

“I didn’t. There is no proof to that,” Revvy said, regaining his composure. His mood rapidly changed from anger to worry as he took his seat. “That was someone from my camp and he was handled at the baby shower. I’d never do anything to harm Ossa. He’s like my goddamn son. My only desire is to get revenge for Cage.”

Juan cleared his throat.

“My grandson was fighting for his life. Revvy, you should be dead for that alone. The only thing keeping you out of harm’s way is your allegiance to the family. You walk in here with a cellphone with no information, claiming that was your justification for the attacks. My granddaughter almost died today. Are you out of your fucking mind?” Juan asked.

Revvy’s throat tightened, and he squirmed uncomfortably in his chair.

“Again, that was one of my workers and he is dead. I deeply apologize for the harm caused to Ossa. I won’t talk about this anymore. I apologize, I did not know that Masami was in that restaurant. I tried to tell my guys to chill when I saw her at the table,” Revvy explained in a hurry.

Sean gave Revvy a hard stare while Masami frowned at his lies. Revvy was well aware of her being inside of the restaurant and he didn’t give a damn about her being caught in the gunfire.

“If we catch wind of you, your son, or your crew trying to attack Boston Toussaint or any of the Toussaint family, you’ll be in for a world of hurt. The conflict has ended, and if you choose to harm any of them, you and your family will face serious consequences. We are all aware that the only way to escape this life is through death. Are we in agreement about this?”

“I saw with my own eyes the confirmation texts that shows proof Boston had a hand in killing my son,” Revvy restated, wearing a deep frown.

“You have nothing if you don’t have evidence. Revvy, we won’t be revisiting this matter again. You went ahead and did things without our consent or approval. There is no room left for errors. The shit about Boston and your son is dead. If you want to join him, continue on your own path. Understood?” With growing frustration, Fred asked.

Revvy’s eyes widened as he nodded, “I understand,” Revvy said hurriedly.

Fred nodded, fatigue covering his visage.

“Great, Yaseer, I know the family is currently in shambles, but we are hopeful that you can pull us out of this. Right?”

Yaseer furrowed his brows while looking at Fred.

“I can and I will. I promise you that.”

Fred smirked at him.

Alright, let’s get this family back on track. Right now, there’s a new world order going on. Carlos Toussaint is no longer part of the family. If you see him, call us ASAP. The Toussaint mafia is history. Y’all are associates now, no more being involved in the inner workings. Pay your dues like all the other residents in Marcy Falls. Revvy is to drop the beef with the Toussaint mafia. Also, Davido, you must find Jazmine sister and flee town within the next 24 hours, or else you’ll die. By our words and your agreement, this is established as law. Have a good day everyone and stay out of fucking trouble. We need to avoid DEA charges,” Fred spoke before leaving.

“If your woman’s sister is here, and she’s being held hostage, check the walls inside of the house. You should pay special attention to the secret room near his office. I always had a feeling that he was keeping something secret in there, maybe even hidden rooms in the basement,” Maia whispered to their uncle Davido while his hands, along with their mother’s, were being untied.

“Thank you, Maia,” Davido spoke earnestly, making Masami feel a way.

While processing the situation, she deliberately averted her gaze from her mother and uncle. She was no longer part of the Michigan mafia. Wow. It was both unreal and saddening at the same time. Very sad, in fact, because running the mafia had always been her dream as a little girl.

Now, what was she supposed to do?

“We have to go,” Juan said as he came over. “Everyone needs to come with me, including Davido and Jazmine,” he said firmly, and then walked towards the door.

“Babies I’m?—”

“Please don’t do that, Jazmine,” Meilani snapped, cutting her mother off in a bitter tone as she stood. “Save it because we don’t need your words. We didn’t have it all this time and we don’t need it now,” Meilani said, walking away.

“Masami? Baby, please,” Jazmine called out nervously in a pleading tone.

Masami couldn’t summon the courage to look her mother in the eyes. Instead, she stood and rushed after Meilani. They entered the elevator, with a visibly upset Maia following behind them. When Jazmine and Davido got onto the elevator, the cart ride down was extremely uncomfortable as Masami made it her duty to not give her mother or uncle eye contact.

“I would like for my son to ride with me, and Jazmine can ride with her daughters. Boston is waiting inside of the second SUV,” Juan their grandfather spoke, eyes weary with the day’s troubles churning in them.

Masami surveyed the lineup of tinted SUVs before her eyes landed on her sisters, who were standing together with angry looks on their beautiful faces.

“We’re not going anywhere with her, grandfather. No disrespect, but a lot has happened and the last thing we need right now is to be with this woman.”

Jazmine’s eyes flickered with hurt as they watered.

“This woman? I know I have so much to explain, and I will. Can you all at least ride to the house with me? If you want to go after that, I won’t try to stop you,” Jazmine pleaded, as their grandfather nodded.

“Girls, please hear your mother out, we’ve already lost so much. We need to fix the little family we have left,” he noted and walked off towards the SUV leading the pack.

“Right this way, ladies,” the head guard said and led Masami and her family over to another SUV.

As he opened the backdoor, Masami was struck by the sight of tears rolling down Boston’s face. Her sister was crying in a way she’d never seen before, but she understood. It was the same cry that she released on her grandfather outside of the building earlier.

“The baby, Boston,” Masami said quietly, climbing into the back of the SUV.

Boston didn’t blink as Meilani, Maia, and their mom climbed into the back of the SUV. Masami studied her mother, taking note of her youthful appearance. She seemed more beautiful than she had in her memory. Her hair was long, almost touching her waist, and had a glossy shine. Jazmine was slimmer too, and her stunning beauty angered Masami even more.

The SUV drove off slowly and Masami tried to calm down while her mom looked at them with sadness.

“I’m so sorry,” Jazmine whispered almost inaudibly, and Boston dropped her head. Jazmine pulled her towards her and embraced her tightly.

“How could you walk away from us like that? Didn’t you love us? How could you do that? We thought you had died!” Boston sobbed and yelled while holding onto their mom.

Feeling like her emotions might erupt out of her as tears, Masami turned her head. She looked away and watched the SUV travel from the parking garage to the main road as her mom spoke.

“I’m so sorry baby, I promise I am. I was shot when everything happened that day, and I nearly died from blood loss. I came back as soon as I was good enough. I’ve returned countless times,” Jazmine replied, causing Masami to feel sick at the idea of shooting her.

“You did?” Maia asked, with hope in her voice.

“I did, and every time I nearly lost my life trying to save you all. It was so awful that he’d threaten to hurt all of you if I did it again. I gambled with my life, and unfortunately, not everyone who supported us had good luck. My sister’s husband, along with my two uncles and, sadly, my dad, died trying to help me. I persisted, even after losing all those people. But Carlos didn’t back down on trying to keep you all away from me. He did stuff to you girls that kept me up at night. When I saw he was serious about hurting everyone to keep you away from me, I had to back off for your safety. I’ll never forgive myself for not taking you when everything went down. If I could go back?—”

“But you can’t, and the fact that you hooked up with your husband’s brother is one reason why we’re so messed up right now. Everyone in this city thinks our family is a joke. You and your real husband are to blame for that. Don’t bother with your lies and fake tears, we don’t want them," Meilani snapped, shocking Masami with her anger.

Jazmine let out a big sigh.

“I know you’re all pissed off and angry with me. I’ll take whatever you’ve got because I deserve it. I have made plenty of mistakes and my sole focus is on repairing the broken bonds. I couldn’t continue to sit back and watch all of you live your lives without me any longer. I couldn’t stay silent while he continued to inflict pain on all of you. I had to come back for you all,” Jazmine responded.

“It’s a little hard to believe that when you are also here to get your sister. If she wasn’t in the picture, maybe we could believe you, Jazmine. But we don’t and it doesn’t matter, anyway. It is what it is. We have nothing now. No parents, no mafia, nothing and your heartfelt apology doesn’t change that,” Meilani gritted out and turned away from her mom.

The SUV was filled with the sound of Boston’s sniffles as the weight of the situation hung in the air.

“I could never excuse what I did, and I’m sorry. I aided in ruining you all and that is the pain I have to live with every day, but never did I stop loving any of you. If you all let me, I will die trying to make up for the wrong I did. Please, give me a chance to do that. I’ve missed you all so much and I didn’t come back because of my sister. I was always coming back. I started interfering with Carlos and his business long before she was taken. I promise I did, and I can prove it if you don’t believe me,” Jazmine replied.

“It’s fine, really. At this point in life, we’re used to our parents using and abusing us. Don’t stress, we can handle it. Concentrate on getting your sister back. I hope dad didn’t do anything to her,” Maia whispered, sitting next to Meilani.

Masami was too exhausted to chime in.

The SUV came to a halt at the Toussaint estate, causing Jazmine to anxiously gaze out of the window at the slightly altered home. Masami watched Jazmine closely as she held her hands tight, and tears streamed down her face.

“Wow,” she whispered, and Boston gently touched her hand.

“This is overwhelming, I need to head home and rest. Can we expect to see you again?” Boston asked.

“Boston, be fucking for real,” Maia huffed, and Jazmine shook her head.

“I know this is a lot for everyone. Again, I’m sorry and I understand if you all want to leave. Just know that I’m not going anywhere until I make things right with you all. Come here Boston,” Jazmine pulled Boston close, and Boston cried softly as Jazmine rubbed her back.

Masami looked away when she felt her walls lower for Jazmine.

“Boston, come on, we’ll take you back,” Meilani said in a bitter tone.

“Mei, baby I’m sorry and I will make this right. I promise, and I love you girls so much.”

Jazmine pushed the truck door open and exited the truck. Before allowing for the door to close, she cleared her throat.

“The only way I’m leaving you all is if God decides to take me. I’ll be seeing you all soon, my precious babies. You all are so beautiful. I love you,” Jazmine expressed, fresh tears now falling down her face.

As Masami sucked her teeth, Jazmine shut the door.

“Let’s get this straight right now. Jazmine is no mother of ours, and it would be best for you all to remember that. She left us once and she will do it again. So don’t get your hopes up high. Driver, get us away from here,” Masami snapped, pulling a sobbing Boston close.