Free Something Worth Fighting For by Lena Matthews

his hand on the door handle then had a second thought. Acting quickly, he turned around and kissed Tisha. “Thank you.”
    She smiled, her eyes lit with compassion. “You’re welcome. Now go get our girl.”
    He exited the car and headed up the walk, breathing deeply as he tried to calm himself. Tisha had been right, he needed to be in control here, at least until he knew the whole story. He rapped sharply on the door and then waited a moment before ReShaunda answered.
    Her lips thinned with anger when she saw him. From her apparel, Jonah was willing to bet he wasn’t the only one getting ready for bed when the shit hit the fan. “This is ridiculous.”
    “I want to see her.” Jonah wasn’t going to debate the point with her. He was there for one reason and one reason alone. “Where is she, ReShaunda?”
    “Upstairs where she belongs.” The angry woman crossed her arms over her chest. “I will not be disrespected in my home. Not by her, not by anyone.”
    Cami was a mouthy little thing, but she wasn’t disrespectful. For his little girl to have done something like that she had to have been provoked. “Let me talk to her.”
    “Why? You’re just going to upset her more.”
    “More.” He tested the word out, not liking the feel of it at all. “What upset her to begin with?”
    “Nothing.”
    “And that’s why she called. For nothing?”
    “This whole thing is being blown out of proportion.”
    The longer she stalled the more insistent he became. “It’s too late for this shit. Get her now.”
    “Or?”
    Jonah’s nostrils flared. “Or I’ll do it.”
    “Uncle J.” The front door was pulled open from behind ReShaunda by Cami. Her eyes were bloodshot, as if she’d been crying. “I want to go home.”
    That was all he needed to hear. Reaching past ReShaunda, he took hold of Cami and pulled her past the irate woman, not caring that the move caused ReShaunda to lose her balance and stumble into the doorframe. “What’s going on, baby?”
    “She…”
    “Oh for goodness’ sake,” ReShaunda interrupted. “If we’re going to do this, let’s take it into the house, please. I don’t want to upset my neighbors.”
    More like she didn’t want her neighbors to get a feel for the real ReShaunda. “Fine.” It made it easier for Cami to grab her stuff that way, anyway. “Inside, Cami.”
    He spared a quick glance behind at the car before stepping in the house and shutting the door. The last thing he wanted to do was to cut Tisha out right now but he had to deal with this mess. “What happened, Cami?” Jonah placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her and give her strength at the same time.
    “She said you weren’t my real uncle and that my momma was stupid to let Daddy talk her into making you my guardian.”
    Not this shit again. “I thought the judge was very clear about certain things we were and weren’t allowed to talk about in front of Cami.”
    “Those weren’t the exact words I said.”
    “Really, what were they?” His words were measured, but he could barely hear from the blood pounding through his veins. This “real” shit was getting old quick.
    “I don’t even remember now, but I’m sure it wasn’t that.” And he was more than sure it was. “She’s exaggerating.”
    “I am not. You said I’m going to be moving in here soon and I won’t get to see Uncle J anymore.”
    Jonah had to unclench his jaw to even respond. “Funny, that’s not the way I remember the agreement working.”
    “I said if she wanted she could move in here. Wanted.”
    “Why would she want to, ReShaunda?” Hell, he was surprised her kids hadn’t tried to escape yet.
    “To be with her family. Her blood.”
    “I am her family.”
    “Oh please, you know what I mean.” ReShaunda turned to Cami and smiled falsely at the little girl. “Don’t you enjoy visiting your cousins and playing with them?”
    “Not enough to move in here.”
    Jonah tightened his grip on Cami. “Even if