Page 177 of Tainted

“You’re Kyce’s mama, not mine.”

Zara ignored my comment, scrolling her phone while I headed to the bathroom. I had to go to the dock and receivethe shipment from Javier’s people because Kross was losing his shit. I decided to wait until afterward to tell him Zara solved his problem, leaving him to suffer a little longer for all the times he got on my damn nerves.

After getting dressed, I leaned across the bed and kissed both of my girls on my way out the door. Halfway to the warehouse, Sydney’s name popped up, but I was relieved to reach her message.

Syd: Hey, finalizing the guest list for my donor dinner. Do you need a plus one?

Me: Yeah.

Syd: Gotcha. Thanks!

After John’s case was officially closed, Sydney took that as a sign to live in her truth. Now, she was getting into politics to do everything her father wouldn’t. Some days, the guilt ate at her, and she’d call for a reminder that she did the right thing. Outside those moments, Sydney was the happiest I’d ever seen her.

We received the shipment, and I didn’t have to curse anybody out. That was a blessing, so I quickly hopped in the car to go home and relax before we hit the club later.

“Everything straight?” Kross immediately asked, answering my call.

“No, it’s not,” I smirked, knowing my response would send Kross spiraling.

“Where are you?”

“On my way home.Thatwent straight, but I saved your ass twice now, so you owe me nigga.”

“What the fuck do I owe you for?”

“Just now, and solving your little problem at the club.”

“Zara agreed to help?”

“Fuck no, but she suggested getting Rajah to do it. That’s not a bad idea.”

“Hell no. The last thing I need to do is give Rajah more power than she already has.”

“She’s your best option, and despite her not listening to shit you say, we both know she could run Utopia in her sleep.”

The line grew quiet because I was right, as much as Kross hated to admit it.

“The words you’re stuck on are you’re welcome.”

Kross groaned. “Fuck you, Keyes.”

Hanging up, I drove back to the crib. Zara and Kyce were already gone, so I decided to take a nap because I knew I was in for a long night of playing chaperone.

Ileaned against the bathroom doorframe, watching Zara in front of the mirror, twisting her curls into a style I couldn’t name but knew would look good, like everything she did.

She caught me staring in the mirror and smirked.

“You gonna stand there, or are you planning to help?” she teased, brushing a hand through her hair.

I grinned. “I’m just here for moral support.”

She laughed and returned to her hair, her fingers moving quickly as she pinned the last few curls. “I think I’ve got it covered. You just focus on getting yourself together.”

I was already dressed. Simple but clean, nothing too flashy, but I knew I looked good, and Zara’s eyes on me every few seconds told me she thought the same.

“Do I look okay?” she asked, stepping back to check herself in the mirror. She was wearing a red dress, showing just enough tohave me biting my lip, knowing I’d be thinking about peeling it off her all night.

I walked over, sliding my hands around her waist, my chest against her back. “You look more than okay,” I murmured, kissing her shoulder softly. “You’re gonna be why I don’t make it through the night.”

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