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“And you should. That’s all I want for you, and I been telling your stubborn ass that. I ain’t never cared so much about another person and what they had going on, so I knew as soon as I bonded yo’ ass out of jail, it was like that with you. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself?—”

“ You were the one who bonded me out?” I was truly caught off guard.

I always thought I’d gotten out on my own recognizance…

At least that’s what they told me, and who was I to argue, considering I’d never gotten in trouble before.

The fact that he hadn’t said shit in all this time and obviously still hadn’t intended to let it slip just made his actions that much more selfless to me.

He bit his lip and gave me a dimpled smile.

“Yeah, I couldn’t have my future baby mama in jail,” he teased, squeezing my body lightly. “But for real, you been had a nigga getting out of character. That’s how I know it’s real, and now you stuck with me for the next eighteen years, so…” His voice trailed off, and I pushed him playfully.

“Anyway!”

“Anyway my ass! Ain’t no stepdaddies around here! We locked the fuck in.” I couldn’t deny the truth in his words, simpering as he put his juicy lips on me.

“And is!”

“Right, now tell me about these classes and shit.” I didn’t hesitate to start talking his damn ear off about what field of study I wanted to go into and why, getting more animated the more I talked.

What sealed the deal for me was him listening attentively just like he did whenever the twins talked to him.

He even gave feedback and suggestions about how we would work out the schedule with the kids when I gave birth since I would clearly still be a student by the time he or she came.

I was finally going to get my happily ever after, after all…

we just needed to lose the dead weight that was trying to prevent that.

The day had finally arrived for my meeting with the advisor, and I’d been nervous up until the point that I walked through the lady’s door.

We’d conversed through email, but it was different being in person.

Although she had been nothing but professional, I was still worried about being such an old student.

Ms. Waller was just as sweet in person as she was through messages.

She’d gotten me started with paperwork and figuring out which classes I should take first and what type of schedule I’d have.

I was even more excited by the time I left the building with an armful of pamphlets and brochures.

Cruz and the three guards he’d brought along with us hadn’t been too far either.

He sat right in the lobby with one of them while the other two circled the building to make sure Raya’s crazy ass didn’t pop up.

I was thankful that she didn’t make an appearance, and not because I was afraid, it was because I didn’t want to beat her ass in such a public place.

After what she’d done to Ms. Anne, she deserved to catch an ass whooping with a side of bullet.

Then the way she’d put my children in danger was enough to make me see red.

The initial shock of it all had worn off, and all that was left was a deep rage that I couldn’t wait to unleash on her face!

“Can we get some food before we go in? I’m starving now,” I asked once we were on our way back to the house.

“I can go get some, you can take yo’ ass back in the crib.” Cruz didn’t miss a beat, as his fingers moved across his phone screen.

“But we’re already right here, and your greedy ass baby is hungry now!

I don’t wanna wait to drive all the way home then have you leave and come all the way back here and back again.

That’s gone take all day!” My mouth was literally watering for some Church’s Chicken, and I knew I’d fuck around and cry if I had to wait.

“I love how you keep throwing the baby in your bullshit.” He smirked, finally looking up from his phone. “You got him fucked up.”

“Well, you’re the one who put him in me, so that makes it your fault that I’m putting him in my bullshit!

” Glaring his way, I was already thinking about how I was going to refuse to give him some if he didn’t give me what I wanted, even though I knew as soon as he acted like he was about to play in my pussy, my legs would fall open.

“Come on! We’re literally right there and we haven’t even seen a glimpse of your crazy ass girlfriend. Maybe she took the day off.”

I had to be desperate to call her his girlfriend, and he knew it too, because his eyes shot over to me.

“Oh, you feigning, huh? Over there sayin’ anything and shit.

I told you I only hit that crazy bitch twice.

Stop calling her my girlfriend.” He mugged me, and I knew I’d made him mad.

His ass hated when I said that shit, and I only said it when he was getting on my fucking nerves. Like now.

“Fine. Me and your baby just gone starve. I hope I don’t get nauseous from my stomach growling so hard.

” I threw in an extra hard pout with the guilt trip and turned my body to the window.

Was I being childish? Yeah, but I was really hungry.

I’d been too nervous to eat before we left that morning, so after sitting on an empty stomach for three hours, my shit was literally touching my back. After a while, I heard him sigh.

“What you got a taste for?”

I smiled discreetly, making sure to fix my face before turning around.

“Church’s and maybe some ice cream?” I lifted my brows hopefully, knowing that two stops was definitely pushing his limits, but he sighed again and put his phone to his ear.

When I realized that he was directing the two men in the car behind us to go to the restaurants for us, I was only slightly disappointed.

Technically, I was still getting what I wanted, and they wouldn’t be too far behind us, so instead of eating in the car, I’d be able to spread my food out and eat comfortably in some loose-fitting clothes instead of the business casual attire I had on.

I did a little dance and slid across the leather seat to hug him while kissing all over his face.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Maaan, get off me. Got me putting my baby in danger for that greasy ass chicken,” he said, weakly pushing me away, but I only held him tighter and threw my leg in his lap.

“Yo’ ass better chill before Roc get an eyeful back here.

” His hand found my thigh when I let out a low moan, and he gave me a knowing look.

“You got that, but when we get home, I’m gone suck the skin off yo’ dick,” I told him lowly so only he could hear. “You ever got some greasy chicken head?” I asked, raising an arched brow, and he shook his head laughing.

“Hell naw, and I don’t want none either. Keep that chicken hoe shit over there.”

I busted out laughing at the movie reference he’d just made, because I’d talked his ass into watching Woo with me recently. He was funny as hell for throwing that shit into regular conversation.

“You not funny.”

“Yeah, I am, I’m the funniest nigga you know.” I rolled my eyes at his cockiness as the car lurched forward.

“Cruz, we got a car coming up kinda fast,” Roc told him, looking nervously in the mirror, and I immediately sat up to take a look for myself. “Make that two.”

A gun materialized in Cruz’s hand, and he cocked it. “Speed up a little and see if they follow suit. Put your seat belt on, bae.”

My heart pounded as I did what he said without argument, strapping myself in tightly. I was praying that maybe it was some regular ass niggas racing like idiots or something, but the thought had barely formulated in my mind when the truck got slammed into on my side.

“Ahh!”

I fell back against the seat as Roc pressed on the gas, pulling us ahead once again.

“Bae, you okay?” I nodded in response, hand on my heart, trying to keep it from pounding out of my chest. Once Cruz was sure of me being okay, he turned his attention back to the front.

“Aye Roc, drive this muthafucka, man!” Spittle flew from his mouth, and he pounded on the driver’s seat.

I clutched my door as the speed gradually picked up, but we only got a small lead before we were slammed into again, this time on Cruz’s side, sending him falling against me hard enough to leave my shoulder aching.

I let out another scream as tears stung my eyes and Cruz cursed.

Roc sped ahead again, and that’s when bullets began penetrating the truck from what felt like all sides.

I ducked, and the next thing I knew, the car was spinning before finally landing hard upside down.

“Cruz!” Seeing him literally lying beneath me all bloody and banged up had me frantically trying to unlatch my seat belt, but it was stuck. “Cruuuz!” I cried, trying to reach for him just as another truck came crashing into us, and the impact had everything going black.