Page 77 of Love & Vendettas

Zaccai rewards him with a big grin.

“Glad you’re home, Dad,” Zayn expresses.

“I’m glad to be home. I wouldn’t want to be anyplace than right here with you all.”

“We’d rather be no place else either, OG,” Zechariah admits.

“We’ve got the best family,” Zaccai declares from his place on the floor.

“And it’s still growing,” Shana replies happily.

“Still growing?” Bayleigh asks, with a frozen smile on her face.

“Yes. Zayn and I are having a baby. You’re going to be grandparents,” she announces proudly, causing Bayleigh to faint.

35 – BAYLEIGH – LEARNING A LESSON

“Bay . . . Bay.”

“Lei-Lei!”

“Mommy!”

Zaire. Riley. Zaccai.

I hear their voices, but when I open my eyes, it’s Zaire’s face that I see up close and personal. I blink rapidly, and he slowly pulls back so that he’s not as close to me, and his features start to even out.

“Where’s Zayn?” I ask, frowning and placing my hand over my forehead.

“He’s right over there,” Zaire answers, pointing behind him.

“Zayn, baby?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Come here, sweetheart.”

“Bay, now listen . . . ”

I shoot a glance Zaire’s way and dare him to say another word. Zaire’s face is replaced with my middle child, the one who’s always been the most challenging.

I reach up and cup his face, smiling at him.

Zayn’s worried expression slips off his face, and the cloud in his eyes dissipates. He smiles back at me, and I say, “Baby, help me sit up.”

He does. I reach up and hold onto his shirt collar. Then I jerk him close to me, so close that our noses are touching.

“Boy! What the hell is wrong with you?” I shriek.

Zayn’s eyes grow wide and wild, and I hear someone shriek in the background. I’m certain that must be Shana. I pop him across the back of the head as hard as I can manage.

“Are you stupid or something?”

“Ouch! No, Ma,” he answers, rubbing the back of his head.

“Boy, you’d better watch your tone,” Zaire warns.

“I know your daddy taught you about safe sex, and I’ve worked with you on it too. What the hell is wrong with you, boy? Have you lost your damn mind?” I rage, grabbing his shirt collar so tightly that he begins to choke.

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