Page 183 of Vega

I couldn’t wait to watch her become a mother.

Saint clapped his hands. “Come on. Let me show y’all what we got.”

He led us toward the display cases while Sonnet carried Czar beside me.

“I got s’mores cupcakes, turtle cheesecake, peach cobbler cupcakes, carrot cake, taffy apple cake, banana pudding cake, and red velvet brownies.”

Sonnet’s eyes darted excitedly across the shelves. “I need all of it.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Saint said.

Zahra folded her arms. “Don’t encourage him.”

Saint looked back at her. “Why you hating?”

“I’m not hating. I’m irritated that you actually opened a bakery.”

“You knew I was opening it.”

“I thought it was another one of your temporary obsessions, but you decided you’re a pastry chef. How are you planning to run a drug empire, be a fucking killer, and own a bakery?

Saint didn’t even pause while cutting samples for us. “Time management.”

She stared at him.

“Don’t hate because I got layers, baby,” he added.

“You got issues. That’s what you got.”

Saint cut slices from several cakes and placed them on small plates. Then he set cupcakes, cheesecake, and brownies in front of us until the counter disappeared beneath desserts.

I took a bite of the turtle cheesecake and stopped chewing for a second.

Saint watched me eagerly. “What you think?”

I had to take a step back and smile. “This shit good.”

His face opened into a grin. “I told you!”

“Nah, this ain’t regular good.”

“I know, my half-nigga.”

Zahra shook her head, but pride was beneath her irritation.

Sonnet tried the peach cobbler cupcake while gently rocking Czar.

Her eyes closed for moment. “Saint.”

He smiled. “Yeah?”

“This should be illegal. This is really good.”

Czar made a small sound and grabbed at the neckline of her shirt.

She laughed and adjusted his hand. “You trying to take my clothes off already?”

I stepped closer and looked down at him. “Watch yourself, little man.”