Page 81 of Roulette: The Madam

I shook my head, waiting for the problem child to end his temporary beef with my security and follow me. His maneuvering exposed another frame. He wasn’t alone. While his presence was a surprise, the man behind him was quite the treat.

Glee straightened my spine and extended my arms. I pushed past the issue to get to the resolution.

“Damn, just like that with that ugly ass skirt on?”

“Fuck you, Makai.” I tossed over my shoulder as I stepped right into my target’s embrace.

“Malachi.” I sighed, resting my head against his black button down.

His arms gathered me, squeezing until I began to squirm. He’d been through hell, but he didn’t look like it. The woman who had chosen to see the pretty in him despite the ugly handlife had dealt him had everything to do with his escape from the dungeon. Just like Egypt, she’d rescued a man I loved.

A brother.

A friend.

A provider.

A protector.

“Rou–”

“It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you–so much.”

My words were deeply rooted. They didn’t mean the same for Malachi as they did for the others. I missed him.Dearly. Not only on the surface, but way down. The Malachi I remembered.

The Malachi that had Anna by his side. The Malachi that was the happiest man alive after discovering he’d be a father. The Malachi that could change the trajectory of your life with the snap of a finger. The Malachi that was in control of his emotions and all that they involved.

My Malachi.

My brother.

A piece of my heart.

“It’s good to see you, too, kid.”

“How i–”

“She’s well, Roulette. She’s growing and getting smarter by the second. I have a son now.”

“I know. I have to meet him.”

“And a wife,” he added.

I stepped back as I nodded my head, taking him all in. The sparkle in his eye was one that I recalled. It was present when his late wife was alive. Always. It didn’t die until she did. Discovering its rebirth was heartening.

“Aeir.”

“She’s a dream, Roulette.”

“I must meet her.”

“Gentle– gentle,” he warned with a chuckle.

Oh, that smile.

“Oh, how I’ve missed the sound of your joy,” I expressed, pulling him in for another hug.

“Aye– You know that’s your brother right? And, that nigga married.”

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