Meek chuckled. “Quit frowning, homie. That’s your daddy.”

“You like him? Him your friend?” Messari asked.

Ahmeek looked at Messiah, who glanced up in amazement as he awaited the answer. They both knew the answer would make or break Messari’s opinion.

“He’s my best friend, and I love him, homie,” Ahmeek stated, eyes burning so fucking badly because it took his all to admit it aloud. “Why don’t you free up my arms a little bit and sit with him. How that sound?”

“But I want to stay with you!” Messari cried.

Ahmeek kneeled. “I ain’t going nowhere, homie. That’s my word. Let’s just give it a try, okay? I’m strong, but your daddy? The strongest man I know.” Meek looked at Messiah. “Get your son, man.”

Messiah took him off Meek’s hands, and Messari frowned hard.

“You big, man,” Messiah said in amazement. It was like now that he knew he was his father, the kid’s presence hit him in the gut. He looked to Bleu, who smiled with so much emotion in her eyes that Messiah felt a drop of wetness grace his cheek as a tear fell. Bleu wiped it away. “You think you want to give me a chance?”

Messari looked back at Ahmeek, and Ahmeek gave a nod. Messari turned to Messiah and nodded too. “Yolly mean. Her not gon’ try like me, right, Meek?” Messari said.

“She’ll try,” Meek said. “B, take Ssari. Come get your daughter, Messiah.”

Messiah stood, swiping hands down his face. His overwhelm wore him down.

“So she feels everything, man. She can’t hear, but she can feel exactly what you feel. You can’t be on no bullshit with Yolly. She a straight shooter. Kinda like you. If you got some ill on your soul, she gon’ see the stain,” Ahmeek said, rubbing Yara’s back. “She kind of fussy at night. She likes to be rocked to sleep, and she ain’t taking no less than a hundred back rubs before her eyes start lowering. You want to try? She don’t bite, nigga. Fix your face.”

Messiah snickered. “Nigga, you sure? Cuz her little ass was on a nigga head with the crying,” Messiah said skeptically.

Ahmeek passed Yara, and she immediately lunged for him.

“Put her face to your chest. She likes to feel your heartbeat,” Ahmeek said.

Messiah did as he was told, and Yara fought him a bit.

“Nigga, you know how to tame pits. Tame your seed,” Ahmeek said.

“Nah, her bite a little worse than any dog I’ve ever handled,” Messiah said.