Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
She places him on his feet and takes his little hand in hers. I take a step back as the wind is knocked out of me. He’s so tall standing on his own two feet.
He takes a few steps forward and holds out his tiny free hand for mine. I take his hand and look down at him in awe.
“When was he born?” I ask tightly.
“His birthday is next month. July.”
“He can walk and talk?” I knit my brows.
“He’s been walking since he was eight months old. And he’s been making noises—as if he could talk and hold conversations—since Erica started asking him for dating and shopping advice,” she says and snickers lightly.
“Yeah, so about since he was five months,” Erica says.
“No one else is pissed off about this?” Eddy growls.
“Will you chill?” Erica snaps. “The only people here who have a right to be seriously pissed are Bentley and Garret. The rest of us have been in Aaron’s life one way or another since the day he was born.”
“Um, guys, we’re starting to draw a crowd. Mom has been cleared to head home. I’d like to talk and explain if you will listen,” Zah says.
“Rice and nuggies, Mommy,” Aaron pleads, looking up at his mother.
I dip to scoop him back up into my arms. “You like rice and chicken nuggets?”
“Yes, yum. Please.”
“Anything you want, buddy. I’ll make them myself,” I promise.
“Bent—”
“A year, Zah. My son is going to be a whole year old.”
I hear her sigh behind me as I walk off with Aaron in my arms. I never want to let him go. Now that feeling I’ve been having for months makes sense.
So many times I wanted to come home. It’s like I knew I needed to be here. The only reason I didn’t was because I was waiting out the season and my contract.
I didn’t know if Zah and I would ever be a thing again, so I didn’t rush back. Then there was the root of it all. I didn’t know if this was home anymore.
I couldn’t bear to know that without Dad, I didn’t belong. A whole year. When was she going to tell me?
CHAPTER 33
Broken Plans
Gilbert
I’ve been pacing since I arrived here at Hamilton’s apartment as I try to wrap my head around the shitshow today has been. My plan is broken.
I’ll have to rethink everything. Zah is still mine. I’m not giving up that easily. Coswell has another think coming if he thinks he’s just going to walk in and fuck everything up for me.
“What are you going to do now? This project falls apart without your money. No wedding, no money, Gilbert. That’s a huge problem for me.
“I stuck my neck out and vouched for you. You have to get that money and make good on this. You hear me, bro?”
“I hear you,” I bellow.
I glare at Hamilton as he tells me something I already know. I started to make some investments because I was so sure I was going to seal the deal.
I had no idea that motherfucker was coming back. He hasn’t been here for twenty-four hours and she’s shutting me out. I can’t believe this is happening.
So what, her mother fainted. We should still be getting married tomorrow evening. Old bitch ruined everything. My mind goes back to the moment when I was so sure nothing could get in my way.
The wind blew through my hair, the salty sea air filled my lungs, and the feeling of success buzzed through my veins. The day couldn’t have gone better. I played my part perfectly.
“So, how is everything going?” Hamilton crooned on the other end of the phone.
“It’s going better than I could have asked for. She was here today, and get this … she’s pregnant. I was right, something did happen in Vegas.
“My intel was spot on. Either that little pill she bought didn’t work, or she didn’t take it. Coswell dropped her right into my arms with this one,” I crooned.
“Wait, pregnant? How does that work for you? Your grandmother will never accept another man’s bastard child.”
“She’ll never know the child isn’t mine. She assumed the kid was mine without even asking questions. I went with it, so did Zahirah.
“I’m going to get the girl, the money, and the empire. The little brat will be the cherry on top to burn Coswell to his core. His brat will call me Daddy while I fuck his girl every night.”
“You’re sure she’s going to marry you?”
“Zah’s a sweetheart. She’ll do anything for a friend. Once I get the engagement ring on her finger, Grand will help me get to the finish line.
“Zah won’t know how to break her heart. Once we’re married, she’s mine, no turning back. Coswell will have to watch me take care of his little family and there isn’t shit he can do about it. Who’s the loser now?”