Page 254 of The Wright Man

Maleek picked up on the second ring.

"Hey baby," he said, voice deep, steady, warm. "What happened?"

"They tried to ambush me," I said, my voice trembling—not from fear, but fury. "Gavin had his little attack dog laid out this whole 'case' about how I was unfaithful, how I named our daughter after you, how we've always been a thing—even when we weren't."

I could hear Maleek's breathing shift. Slower. More controlled. But underneath it was heat.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Not really," I muttered. "I feel like I just got thrown into a courtroom episode of Maury with zero warning."

I heard him go quiet in a specific way — the kind that meant he was choosing between words and consequences.

Then Gavin's cologne hit my nose before I even turned around.

"Really, Angelica?" he said, smug and smugger with every step closer. "Running off without saying goodbye? No handshake?"

I spun around so fast I almost dropped the phone. He was right there, smiling like the devil in a tailored suit. I saw red.

"You know what? Fuck you, Gavin," I spat. "For real. I don't know what kind of cheap-ass smear campaign you thought this was, but I—"

"Angel." Maleek's voice cut in through my speaker, sharp and calm.

"Put me on speaker."

I did it without hesitation.

Gavin's mouth twisted like he was about to say something clever and cruel, like he thought I was bluffing.

Until Maleek spoke.

"I told you once, Gavin," he said, his voice dropping into something lethal. "Don't speak to her. Don't look at her. Don't even think about her unless it's through a lawyer."

Gavin's face went pale. He blinked like someone had punched him in the throat.

"He can hear me, right?" Maleek added dryly. "Good. Lemme be perfectly clear this time."

I could practically feel the tension humming through the phone. Even I shivered a little.

"I'm going to make good on my promise. But only after I make damn sure you don't get a speck of dust from that salon. The one with my mother's name on it. The one my woman built. With. Her. Bare. Hands."

Silence.

Dead, thick, weighted silence.

Gavin didn't have shit to say.

Maleek's voice gentled, just a fraction. "She'll see you in court."

I stared Gavin down as Maleek kept talking. My heart was racing. My lips curved slow into something he didn't deserve to see.

"And Angel," Maleek said, voice low and velvet. "Don't stress that nigga. I'm making you come 'til you cry tonight."

Gavin flinched.

I smiled.

"That's a promise," Maleek finished.