“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 pacingsince 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 towatch me take care of his little family and there isn’t shit he can do about it. Who’s the loser now?”
I’ll never forget how he spat those words in my face after breaking my jaw and telling me to stay away from Zahirah. It killed me to pretend that I was over it to remain connected to his circle. Zahirah never knew why I disappeared for the two months it took for my jaw to heal.
“Remind me never to piss you off. Dude, you’ve been playing the long game since he kicked your ass and told you to stay away from Zah in high school,” Hamilton chuckled.
He’s the only one I’ve ever told my plan to. I couldn’t trust anyone else like I could trust him. He knows some of my darkest secrets.
“I knew back then he wanted to fuck her himself. Acting all high and mighty like they were too good for any of us. As if she were too good for me to touch.”
