“Where would the birth be registered if it was in New York?”

“At the State Department of Health.”

JAZ

“Hey Big Daddy, we miss you. I miss you. Kaeerah misses you.”

“I miss y’all more. I’ll be there.”

“When, Faheem?

“Let me handle my business, baby.”

I knew my man and something wasn’t right. Why hadn’t he been by yet? What the hell was he out there doing? What business was he referring to? “Bae, what are you doing out there? You want to fill me in? Faheem, we didn’t relocate up here for you to get dirty.”

“We’ll talk when I see you.”

“What!” I didn’t like the sound of that. Faheem had fought hard to free himself from the game. Now my gut instincts were telling me that he was up to no good. “Look at how we’re living? We’re in hiding. Talk to me now, Faheem. Not later when you see me.”

“Jaz. Chill. Let me tighten up a few things, and I’ll be there. What have you been up to? What’s Kaeerah been up to?”

“Don’t try to change the subject, Faheem. Me and Angel have been taking turns homeschooling your daughter and the other kids. Now, when are you coming to see us?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be by to see you soon.”

“Don’t worry? How can I not worry when we are in hiding? I need this to be over, Faheem.”

“Over?” Faheem scoffed. “Is it ever?”

“Damn, baby. It’s like that?”

“Jaz, I’ll be there soon.”

He still didn’t answer my question. As soon as I hung up, I went online and put in an order for a half-dozen guns. I could do that because I already had my license.

KYRA

I had never been this happy! Our baby girl was in the bassinette by our bed sleeping, and Rick was sleeping next to me. This had been the happiest two weeks of my life. My man being there when I delivered our daughter meant the world to me, and it strengthened our bond. Now that I was older, I saw and felt things I didn’t feel when I had Aisha.

We couldn’t have sex for six weeks, but I was already horny. I began to rub and kiss him all over his body.

His eyes flew open. He yawned. “Kyra, what’s up?” Rick asked, looking down at his growing erection and smiling. “We’ve got to wait four more weeks, right?”

I wound up giving him a hand job. I would’ve given him a blow job, but I just didn’t like the idea of knowing he was with Nina.

“Why can’t it always be like this between us?” I muttered.

Rick said, “How about just living in the moment? Enjoying the now.”

“How about you make a choice now.”