Say You Love Me

SAY YOU LOVE ME A BEROTTE FAMILY BOOK MONICA WALTERS CONTENTS Introduction Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 From the Author… Other Titles by Monica Walters INTRODUCTION Hello, readers! Thank you for purchasing and/or downloading this book. This work of art contains explicit language, lewd sex scenes, violence, moments of grief/depression, talks of rape, and other topics that may be sensitive to some readers. It also contains urban elements, which is why it is listed as a genre category for this book. This is book twelve of a new family of books… The Berotte Family (pronounced Bee-Rot). It starts with the father, and the following books trickle down to the kids and their friends. So if some things seem incomplete where the sub characters are involved, that was done intentionally. Those issues will be resolved in later books. This book is about Ali and Shyrón’s friend, Jericho Marcellus. You first became acquainted with him in book six, I Want You Here. It’s highly recommended that you read the previous books of this family series before indulging in this one, because it typically picks up right where the last one left off and updates ongoing issues that I don’t go into great detail about. Love On Replay Deeper Than Love Something You Won’t Forget I’m The Remedy Love Me Senseless I Want You Here Don’t Fight The Feeling When You Dance I’m All In Give Me Permission Force of Nature Also, please remember that your reality isn’t everyone’s reality. What may seem unrealistic or unrelatable to you could be very real and relatable to someone else. But also keep in mind that despite the previous statement, this is a fictional story. Jericho and Whitney’s story has plenty of drama, but it is also a beautiful love story. So brace yourselves. Again, issues from previous stories are resolved and/or updated, and new issues have surfaced. So I hope you enjoy the ride this story is going to take you on. Monica P.S.- Jericho and his family are Haitian, so there is some Haitian Creole throughout the book. I did my best to interpret everything so you won’t be lost. Oh, and Jenetta and Chelsea are the same person! PROLOGUE JERICHO “Jenetta? Wake up, baby,” I whispered softly in her ear. Her eyes opened slowly, and I was able to see how swollen they were. My anger was consuming me, but I was doing my best to be soft with her. I had to take out three muthafuckas with my blade to even get to her, not to mention scaling a fucking wall like a damn ninja or navy seal. “Jericho?” she inquired softly. “Yeah, baby. Come on. I’m taking you with me. You have to be quiet though.” My lip twitched as I unlocked the cuff at her ankle with the key I got off the guard at her door. Jules had her in this fucking room like a got damned prisoner instead of his baby sister. The minute I caught up with his ass, I was gonna stab that nigga in his fucking throat. Jenetta scrambled, trying to find clothes to put on. She hurriedly slid on some sweatpants and a T-shirt, then some tennis shoes without socks. She slid a crossbody bag around her like she’d been waiting for a moment like this to present itself. “What about Mama?” she asked. I damn near caught whiplash as I turned to her. “Mama? You told me she died damn near seven years ago.” “No. Jules made me say that shit to try to get you to come home. She’s in the lower level. I couldn’t tell you the truth by phone because Jules listens to my calls. That’s how he knew where you were.” “Fuck!” I whispered harshly. “Let me get you out of here first. I’ll have to come back for her.” “Okay.” “We have to move now.” I peeked out of the door and hurriedly got Jenetta off the compound and to the vehicle I had waiting a mile away. She ran with me and didn’t get tired. Freedom was in her bones and had been dying to be let loose. This was her opportunity, and she wasn’t going to miss it, even with a swollen ankle. As I started the car, I took off, headed toward the airport. She grabbed my hand and kissed it repeatedly. “Listen to me, baby. I’m taking you to the airport. You’re gonna fly to Houston. I’m gonna call my boy out there to get you. He will protect you. Okay?” She nodded. “I always knew that you would eventually come for us.” I grabbed the phone from the console. “You did leave that other phone, right?” “Yes. He can track me.” “Okay. Here’s a phone for you to call me as soon as you get to Houston. I’m going to give Jungle this number to call you. Most likely, it will be him and a guy named Vegas. I thought I would be flying back with you. I can’t believe Manman is still alive. I didn’t plan for this, so wish me luck. Going back will be extremely dangerous. I need you to tell me exactly what room she’s in.” She filled me in on the details as I drove, and I was able to know exactly where my mother was and how I would get to her. There was a courtyard right outside the room she was in. She informed me that our mother was in good health and should be able to make the mile. After giving Jenetta five hundred dollars to put in her bag and using her phone to purchase a ticket, I hugged her tightly. “What do I do? I’ve never flown before.” “Ask an employee for help. Show them