Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“No, you’re fine. Don’t even worry about it. Thanks, Carmen. Get some rest.”
“Later, Tasha. Thank you.”
I hang up and sit staring into space. The sound of the door to my bedroom creaking open grabs my attention. I turn to find Sunny peaking his little head in. I smile and open my arms for my little boy.
“Mommy,” he sings and toddles his way over to me.
I pick him up and nuzzle his neck, causing him to squeal and laugh. I love his little laugh. Munching on his neck and cheeks, I cause him to laugh some more.
“Hey, handsome. What are you up to?”
“Ball-ball with Da-da,” Sunny replies.
“There you are, you just took off on me,” LaSalle says as he enters the room.
“You left Da-da to play basketball by himself?”
“I think he heard your voice and came looking for a cheerleader.”
“Is that right?” I laugh.
“Yup, he wants someone to cheer him on while he dunks on his old man.”
I pull a face and give LaSalle the side-eye. Sunny and his four-foot basketball hoop are hardly any challenge for this man. He usually has Sunny in his arms, helping him to dunk the ball.
Sunny gets so excited and happy. I always end up laughing the entire time they play. I stand with our son in my arms and go to carry him back out to play.
“Hold on,” LaSalle says and nods at Sunny in my arms as he places his hand on my belly to stop me.
I snort. Sunny has passed out. “Oh my goodness, what have you done to my baby?”
LaSalle chuckles. “I think he was running from me to find someplace to take a nap.”
“I told you to stop trying to be the basketball version of Joe Jackson,” I tease.
“I’m offering options, baby. There will only be one don. This one will either be in court or on one,” he laughs.
“Whatever, come with me to put him in his room and then I’ll make you some lunch.”
He moves to wrap his arms around me from behind. “I could think of something I’d rather eat,” he whispers into my ear.
I look back at him with a smile on my lips. The girls are at Marie’s and Elijah and Paulie are with my brother. Czar is one of the favorite uncles.
I’m not surprised by that. Czar was always the cool older brother growing up. I can’t wait to see him be a father. I think he’s going to be great. He’s amazing with my boys.
We walk Sunny to his room, and I put him down in his bed. Mary appears and nods as she goes to sit in the rocking chair in Sunny’s room.
“That reminds me. I’m firing Yolanda.”
“As in Sammy’s nanny? Miss Philps?”
“Yes, her ass. Did you know she locked Sammy’s vests away? She has some fucking nerve. I wouldn’t have known either because Sammy was trying to protect her.”
“How did you find out?”
“Uri told me. He was livid after Sammy had a bad day without one. If not for the NDA, her ass was planning to report us.” I seethe.
LaSalle kisses my temple. “I’ll handle it. Maybe we shouldn’t bother replacing her. He never uses them. Maldonado spends more time with him than the nannies do. He’s always with Uri, Micheal, Sim, and Val.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want them feeling like we’re pawning our kid off on them.”
“Trust me, no one feels that way. Sammy does more than just hang around them. Uri has been paying him for his help.”
“Really?”
“Yes, if I wanted to hand the family over next week, Sammy would have more knowledge about how to do so than Marcus ever will. Bobby wouldn’t have to advise him much.”
“Where has the time gone?” I groan. “He’s taking trips to California while we’re sleeping. Elijah wanted to make his own eggs this morning, and they’re all potty-trained. Heck, Jess needs to go shopping for her first bra.”
“Those eggs were delicious. I was so proud of him. Loved the way you handled that, by the way. Thank God for the potty-training and I don’t want to talk about the bra. I’m not ready.”
I laugh. “Well, it’s happening. Can we talk about what else is happening?”
He groans. “I knew this was coming.”
“He’s still a little boy. Going to Uri and Val’s is one thing. He might go into the city when they are there, but other than that, he’s close to home. California, LaSalle? Are you forgetting who we are?”
He snorts bitterly. “There isn’t a day where I get to forget who we are. Maldonado is with him and he’s with a bunch of trained killers. Tasha, I know this is hard, but this is something we’re going to have to learn to deal with.”
I sigh, knowing he’s right, but I’m still a mother. On top of that, I’m a mother married to the world’s most hated man. If someone harms one of my babies or my man, I’m going to take everything they love, but that won’t give back what I’ve lost.