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“We’re good.”

He stared at her like a scolded dog while she began removing her clothing for a shower. Still uneasy after herconversation with Zurich, she honestly didn’t have the energy to keep carrying on with Rico. Especially after the things Blue told her. Whether she’d wanted to hear it or not, he’d been right, and the more Rico stood before her with sorry ass excuses, the clearer it became.

“Shouldn’t you be happy? You just left from seeing Blue, right?”

“Yep,” she faced him head on. “And the whole time I was there, I was mad and snapping on him and his girlfriend because of your ass. He kept asking why I was so angry because this isn’t like me,” her throat got tight. “He asked because he knows me. He could tell stuff isn’t right with me. But what more can I expect from a man that genuinely loves me? Of course, he’d noticed. Just like Jugg did on my birthday, but I ignored both of them and played it off like it's nothing, just like I always do.”

“Zurena, come on,” Rico came in and sat on her bed.

“The whole time I was there, I was watching the way he is with his girlfriend and was turning green with envy because I don’t have that with you. It’s not fair.”

“That shit is fresh with them. He’s only happy because he just got home and that girl is fucking him.”

“I expected you to say something shallow like that, but that’s not true. They love each other, and it shows. Just like it shows how fucked up we are. I’m tired, Rico. Just go home. This ain’t working for me no more.”

“What you mean it’s not working?” he stood from the bed and walked to her.

“Exactly what I said.” She walked past, and he snatched her back roughly.

Already knowing where they would be going if they kept their pace, Zurena snatched out of his embrace just as harshly as he snatched her.

“Rico, I already told you. I’m not in the mood for this mess today. Go home to your family and leave me the fuck alone.”

“You my bitch. You don’t tell me to leave. I leave when I get ready to.” He gritted out.

“Boy, get out my house.” Never scared of a nigga, Zurena pushed past him again, only to be snatched back once more, making her back hit the corner of her dresser.

This time, she slapped his head into next week. As bad as she didn’t want to fight, she’d never let a man handle her, and she put that on her parents’ grave. Even if that did mean she’d have to throw hands to prove her point. Wasn’t like it would be something new. Before she could even catch her footing good, Rico’s hand was around her neck.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop putting your hands on me?”

“You put yours on me first,” she spoke the best she could with the pressure on her throat.

“Because, you on that stupid shit,” he released her throat and shook her.

“I’m done with you, Rico. Go home to your family.”

“You ain’t leaving me, Rena.” He glowered at her through squinted eyes.

“Watch me! I’m done playing with you. I’ma get a man that actually wants to be with me. Fuck you.”

She was past him and almost to her bathroom when she went flying forward into the marbled top sink. As soon as she caught her balance, she spun to face him, only to feel his palm on the side of her face. Too tired to fight, but too strong to lay downand take an ass whooping, Zurena readied herself for another one of their unnecessary brawls.

It was all they seemed to do. Fight and have sex. As toxic as it was, it was their life, and what she’d grown used to. She talked a lot about getting another man, but truth be told, if she got one that didn’t cheat or beat on her, she probably wouldn’t know what to do with him.

I’m never letting you go

The pink glow from the desk light illuminated the small corner of the room where Forever was huddled. It was going on two o’clock in the morning, and Forever was still up reviewing a case that she would possibly take on. Although she was technically still on vacation when she’d received the email, it piqued her interest too much to leave idle. Blue was laid out, and she’d been up nose deep in her new book,How Did We Get Here: A Millionaire Love Affair 2. Just like any other time her favorite author, A’zayler, dropped a book, Forever was up missing sleep just to finish it.

Reading had always been a passion of hers, but after discovering the Urban Fiction genre, she’d become an addict. The bad boy and good girl stories always did her heart the most good, and even more now that she had her own personal bad boy. Her and Blue’s story reminded her so much of a book that she found herself smiling and relating to Azayler’s work on a deeper level these days, and she loved it too much to explain. She’d just been trying to choose which man she liked for the main character the most, when she’d gotten the email notification.

She’d considered ignoring it until morning because she couldn’t tear herself away from her book, but since she wasn’t ready to be done with it anyway, she’d exited her Kindle and reviewed the waiting emails. The first one had been from Hope,and anytime he emailed, she was all in. He’d been nothing but the best to her, teaching and molding her into a mini him and she wanted nothing more than to continue his legacy if allowed. The second one had been from a new client.

It was mid-morning, and Blue had been asleep for the past few hours, so even with her trying to make the most of her vacation with him, she figured a few hours of work wouldn’t hurt. It had taken her a few minutes to scan the documents, and when she did, she was floored. She’d known after winning Blue’s appeal that she would probably have more clients in his situation coming in fast, but she hadn’t known it would be that fast or that many.

She’d been getting referrals by the boatload, many of them coming from inmates who had been housed with Blue. The newest one, and the one that had actually dragged her from bed, was an extremely high-profile case that she’d watched on the news. It had torn her heart to pieces as she watched it unfold for the world to see, and now it was in her inbox, awaiting her review.

“God, you’re showing out now,” she smiled while shaking her head in awe of his grace. “When you said my gift would make room for me, I didn’t know you meant this much room.”