Page 119 of Roulette: The Madam

Those last few words gripped my heartstrings and tugged in four different directions. It was far from a compliment. It was confirmation of what I’d already known.

“Thank you for taking the time to get to know her.”

“She’s brilliant, but she is broken.”

I nodded, agreeing with her observation.

“Her mother is crushing her spirit.”

“She told you?”

“Yes. Of course she told me.”

Yara had our daughter over the weekend. Malaya hadn’t been seeing much of her mother and asked to spend time with her. As much as I wanted to deny her, knowing she’d be with her the following weekend due to my upcoming trip, I agreed.

“Did she do something to upset Malaya?”

My heart pounded against my chest as I tossed my feet over the bed, prepared to make the trip across town.

“No. She didn’t. Malaya said they had a really good weekend, but it was far from a sober one for her mother.”

I relaxed, settling in bed once again. Malaya’s transgressions had me stomped and ready to call it a night much earlier than I’d planned.

“Her drug of choice?”

“Heroine.”

“Ehh. Hard and dark.”

“Hard,” I tittered. “And very fucking dark.”

“What’s her story?”

“Just a damn good girl, a gullible one whose kindness and selflessness was taken advantage of.”

“Influenced.”

“Heavily by the nigga she was fucking.”

“And where is he?”

“Maggot food.”

“Good for him.”

“Fucked over a good girl.”

“Your relationship with her?”

“There isn’t one beyond our daughter, but that is saying a lot.”

“So, friends, not enemies.”

“Partners. Co-parents. She has me in her corner.”

“As she should. How long have you been separated?”

“Since Malaya was a little girl. You don’t have to worry about her.”

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