Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“I love you. Talk soon.”
“Love you too, baby.”
I hang up and pick up the call on the other phone. Cal and the team aren’t here, but I’m in town to speak with some of the bigwigs. Cal knows I’m here to talk to them.
I was shocked to hear he told his coach the truth. The coach is one hundred percent behind him and doing what it takes to get him back to playing the way only he can.
“Hello,” I say.
“Thank God. Cam, are you in New York yet?”
“Yeah, bro. What’s up?”
“It’s Nicole. She’s not feeling well. I can’t focus. I need you to go to our place and check on her. Just text me and let me know if she’s okay. I need you to see her with your eyes and let me know she’s all right.”
“I’m on it, bro. Don’t worry about her. Go out there and do your job. If something is wrong, I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Cam.”
“No problem, bro. That’s what I’m here for. I’ve got you.”
***
I can’t stop smiling as I lie here on Cal and Nicole’s couch. I’m having twins and my baby brother is going to be a father. He’s freaking out tonight, but he’ll be fine in the morning.
My mind goes to Amina. We’ve been apart for too long. I wish there was a way to speed things up. We know he’s going to fuck up sooner or later.
I need it to be sooner. I open my phone to stare at the ultrasound picture Amina sent me. I’m amazed as I look at the two tiny humans growing within the woman I love.
“Daddy’s coming,” I say and kiss two of my fingers before I touch them to the screen.
CHAPTER 43
From the Shadows
Jareil
A month later …
“Why are you doing this? What do you want?” I ask, trying to figure out what’s going on.
I was jumped on my way into my home after I left the arena tonight. I stepped out of the car and a bag was thrown over my head, then I was thrown into another vehicle. I don’t know where I’ve been taken.
I have a little girl on the way and Kayleen and I have been talking about getting married after she divorces Cam. This can’t be happening. I’ve been waiting so long for my life to be everything I want.
The cars, the money, they can take all of that. It all can be replaced, but my life with my little girl and future wife … those things are irreplaceable.
“Please. Tell me what you want. Is it money? Tell me how much, it’s yours.”
The air has become cool wherever they have taken me. I can feel it ripping through my T-shirt and biting into my skin. I don’t dare to think of where we are. I’m trying to stay focused on getting back home to my girls.
I was in such shock when Kayleen told me she is having my baby. It hurt to see her pregnant and to think she had moved on and forgotten about me—but then she said it was mine. I wish I would have known what she thought happened.
Between graduation and getting ready to be drafted to play basketball, I hadn’t had the time to track her down and find out what was really going on. Then came the news that she and Cam had gotten married. I was devastated.
Suddenly, the fabric covering my head is ripped off. I find myself standing on the edge of a rooftop. I go to step back, but someone tugs at me to keep me where I am.
I turn my head as my eyes begin to focus. Staring back at me is a guy with cold brown eyes. He almost looks like a demon.
He stares at me and I duck back. My hands are tied so I can’t defend myself and if I move too much, I’m going over the edge. I don’t know what this bastard wants, but he’s got my back up against the wall.
“You have been fucking the little white girl, haven’t you?”
“What?” I ask in confusion.
I haven’t been fucking anyone. Kay and I plan to wait until after her divorce. Before she was married, I didn’t have a problem with what we were doing.
Now she’s someone’s wife. I’m going to give their marriage some respect. I have no idea what this guy is talking about.
“My friend, my problem is not with you. I don’t care if you’re fucking that motherfucker’s wife. What I care about is my fiancée he’s hiding from me.
“Now start talking. You are fucking his wife because their marriage is bullshit, aren’t you?”
I knit my brows in confusion. This guy is giving off crazy vibes. My first thought it to protect Kayleen and our baby.
I don’t know what Cam has gotten into, but it has nothing to do with me or Kayleen. I need this guy to understand that and stay away from us both.