Page 97 of Mia

Maddie slapped the back of his head. “Shut up before I’m the one that breaks your shit.”

He looked up at her. “I’m starting to rethink this relationship, love. You and your daughter are abusive. I’m ‘bout tired of fighting for my love.”

“Booker, shut the fuck up,” my mama said. “You okay, baby?” she asked Mia.

“Wait a minute!” Booker protested. “She almost broke my arm, and you asking her if she’s okay?”

Silas chuckled. “If you let Mia’s little ass beat you, you deserve that shit. Nigga just big for nothing.”

“Right,” Noah agreed. “You deserved it for all that gyrating you were doing. We know who’s a quick pumper.”

The room erupted with laughter at his expense.

“All y’all can go to hell,” Booker said, standing. “I ain’t quick pumping shit.”

Mia walked over and stood in front of him. “My bad, Booker.”

He waved her off. “It ain’t shit, sis. I knew what I was doing. Gotta get you right. We have business to take care of. We on niggas ass when we touch down. I gotta avenge my godbaby.”

Mia frowned. “Godbaby?”

Booker looked offended. “So y’all wasn’t gonna ask me to be her goddaddy? Woooow! That’s cold.”

Mia shook her head. “Shut up and give me a hug.”

“Put your shirt back on first, nigga,” I said.

He kissed his teeth, but did as I said and put his shirt on before hugging my wife. The rest of the team gathered around to hug her as well. She started yelling that they were squishing her, and that only made them squeeze her harder. They started play-fighting and before I knew it, she was chasing all of them around the gym like some big ass kids.

It was funny because my team wasn’t in my training group growing up. My mother trained them, while Ms. Maddie was my trainer. They had always gotten along with Mia. I’d always wondered why she didn’t ask to switch teams, but knowing her, she had a point to prove that me and our team weren’t going to run her off.

I needed her to tap back into that.

I needed the Mia who wasn’t afraid of anything. The Mia that didn’t let a lil’ threat be a threat to her. Paris changed her. I was just waiting on the beast inside her to resurface.

Isat in front of Eden’s crypt with tears streaming down my face. Bleu sat nestled in my arms with her head resting on my shoulders. As I stared at my baby’s nameplate, I was filled with so much anger and regret. I’d been sitting out here for an hour, not saying a word. She’d come to me last night.

At first, I wasn’t sure who was speaking to me, but the moment I looked into her face, I knew it was her. She had my complexion and hair, but her daddy’s everything else. His brown eyes, those thick eyebrows and full lashes that I was jealous of, his full lips and nose. Every part of her was Titan DeLuca.

I was sitting on a park bench alone, just staring out at the lake when I felt a presence behind me. Normally, I was on high alert, but this presence didn’t feel threatening.

“I like the lake too,” I heard behind me.

I turned to see my baby standing with my grandfather, who wore a smile on his face. She was older. Every time she visited me, she was a different age. It was like watching her grow up in my dreams. This time, she was about six.

“Hi, Mommy.”

Tears sprang to my eyes and my lips trembled as I looked at her.

“Hi, baby.”

She looked at my grandfather and he gave her a nod. Breaking away from him, she ran to me and threw her little arms around my neck, squeezing me tightly.

“I miss you,” I whispered.

“I know. But remember, I’m right here.” She pulled back and touched my heart. “Always.”

I smiled. “Are you being a good girl for your grandpa?”