Chapter 012.

Jonathan stood at the edge of the parking lot, his eyes scanning the scene before him with a mixture of apprehension and resignation.

The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the echoes of distant city traffic and the electric tension of an impending storm. This wasn't just any night. This was the night that Nashira had promised herself would be the last time she fought Temia. Jon couldn't shake the worry that he'd heard this same promise before.

He was flanked by Jacob, Zilla, and Joshua, all there to make sure things didn't spiral out of control. The air was charged with a kind of raw energy, buzzing with the anticipation of what was about to go down. Jon's fists clenched at his sides as he scanned the crowd. There was no turning back now.

"Jon, you sure this is the right move?" Jacob asked, his voice low but edged with concern. He looked at Jon, eyebrows furrowed.

"It's too late now," Jon replied, the tension in his voice betraying the calm he was trying to project.

He glanced at Nashira, who was standing near Trinity, Ari, and Destiny. Nashira's eyes were locked on Temia, who was standing a few feet away with her crew. Temia's smirk was infuriating, but it was the way she looked at Nashira that Jon really hated.

Temia stepped forward, her timbs clicking against the pavement as she sized Nashira up. The air seemed to thrum with the unspoken challenge hanging between them.

"Come on, Nashira," Temia taunted, the smirk spreading wider. "Show me what you got."

Nashira stepped forward, her jaw set and her fists clenched. Jon took a step in her direction, but she caught his eye and shook her head slightly. This was her fight, for better or worse.

"Remember, Nashira, this is the last time," Jon said, his voice low and harsh, so only she could hear. "Make it count."

She nodded once, a flash of defiance in her eyes before she turned back to Temia. The crowd around them murmured with anticipation, people shifting and craning their necks to get a better view. Jon knew that if this spiraled, it would take more than just him and his family to break it up. It would be chaos.

The two girls circled each other, Nashira throwing a few feints, testing Temia's reaction. Temia's eyes narrowed as she prepared for the real attack. Jon's muscles coiled, ready to move at the first sign of trouble.

Suddenly, Temia struck, her fist aimed at Nashira's face. Nashira ducked just in time, the blow barely grazing her cheek, and stumbled back slightly. Jon's heart stopped for a moment before Nashira recovered, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Not this time," she muttered.

Nashira closed the distance between them, throwing a series of jabs and hooks. Temia blocked a few, but the blows landed with enough force to send a ripple through the crowd. Nashira's fists found their mark more than once, striking Temia's face and forcing her to stumble. Finally, Nashira grabbed a fistful of Temia's hair and yanked her to the ground. With a surge of fury, she began to punch Temia, relentless and fierce.

"Hey!" Jon roared, rushing forward with Zilla close behind him. The crowd surged forward, but the two of them created a barrier, breaking up the scuffle before it could get worse. Temia's face was already red and blood trickled from her lip, a vivid reminder of Nashira's fury.

"Enough!" Jon said, his voice a thunderclap in the charged atmosphere.

Nashira, panting heavily, looked up at him, eyes wide with adrenaline and rage. Jon's eyes softened as he met her gaze, but he pulled her back, making it clear that this was over. Temia lay on the ground, breathing heavily, her sister Daphne pushing her way forward.

"Now, it's my turn," Daphne spat, eyes locked on Nashira.

Before Jon could react, Daphne threw a punch, but Nashira sidestepped it, pivoting to land a solid blow to Daphne's face. Ari stepped in, moving with surprising speed to shove Daphne sideways, causing her to fall. The crowd erupted, people shouting and pushing to see what would happen next.

"Stop this!" Jon shouted, looking at the growing chaos around him. But the tension was only escalating, not dying down.

Temia was back on her feet, but before she could come at Nashira again, Trinity stepped in front of her. "Leave her alone, Temia," Trinity said, voice cold as ice.

Temia laughed, the sound harsh and full of contempt. "What are you going to do, princess?"

"Get out of my face!" Trinity spat, landing a blow to Temia's cheek.

The tension snapped like a tight wire when Trinity shoved Temia, sending her stumbling back. The two girls erupted into a blur of movement, fists flying as insults cracked through the air.

Zilla was there in an instant, separating them before things could get worse. But Temia, now fueled by rage, lunged forward again, landing a slap to Trinity's face.

The air around them was thick with shouts and jostling bodies. Maya, one of Temia's friends, was in the middle of it now, facing off with Destiny. Their anger was palpable, each girl's eyes blazing as they threw punches that connected and missed in quick succession.

"You want some of this too?" Destiny roared as she managed to land a hit on Maya's forehead.

Maya staggered back, and before she could recover, Destiny grabbed her hair, dragging her to the ground and raining down blows until Jacob stepped in to separate them.

Jon, eyes wild with frustration and exhaustion, felt his heart pound as Nashira charged at Temia again. This was the last straw. He couldn't let this continue. He surged forward, pushing past the crowd and grabbing Nashira by the arm, pulling her away.

"Aye! She got beat up. This is over," Jon said, voice sharp with finality. He looked at Nashira and then at Trinity, who was equally out of breath. "Get in the car," he told them.

They piled into the car, the sounds of yelling still echoing behind them as Zilla started the engine and pulled away from the chaos.

"I don't want to hear about Temia ever again," Jon said, his voice hard. The tension in the car was almost palpable, the adrenaline from the fight still coursing through their veins.

"I was done anyway. She got her ass beat up enough," Nashira said, voice rough but defiant. Trinity nodded in agreement, the lines of her jaw set.

Ari, who had been silent, finally spoke up, her voice laced with sarcasm. "I thought you couldn't fight, Ari?" Joshua joked, breaking the tension.

Ari shot him a grin. "Do you see who my big sister is? Ain't no way I can not fight with Nashira's ass always running up on people," she said, laughter sparking in her voice.

Destiny chimed in, her expression a mix of pride and exhaustion. "One thing about Nashira—she'll step in the paint."

"And you better be prepared to step behind her," Ari added with a grin.

"Period," Nashira said, leaning back in her seat.

Jon shook his head, his frustration bubbling up. "I love my babies, but Nashira, please, next time you swing on someone, I will call the police. I ain't putting up with that mess."

Trinity rolled her eyes. "He ain't calling the police for real," she muttered.

"Watch me," Jon said, half-joking, half-serious. Nashira pouted, a small smile breaking through her battle-worn expression.

"I promise I won't fight anymore," she said.

"Lying!" Joshua shouted, breaking into laughter.

"Let's go to Waffle House," Ari said suddenly. The boys' eyes lit up, and Jon's grin was quick and relieved.

"To Waffle House!" Jon exclaimed, shaking his head as Zilla drove them away from the chaos, the noise of the city fading behind them.

"A bunch of greedy mofos," Nashira muttered, and the car erupted into laughter, the night's tension finally breaking, at least for now.