Page 276 of The Wright Man

"She invited herself," Maleek said. "I don't control her. Nobody does."

Prada wiggled free of his arm, hit the floor running, and made a beeline for Bella's takeout container. Bella scooped her up before she could commit a crime, and Prada immediately began licking her chin with the enthusiasm of someone who had been waiting her whole life for this exact moment.

"She's so manipulative," I said, already smiling.

"She learned from the best," Maleek said, eyes on me.

It had been almost a year since that weekend in the hotel suite—the weekend my world shifted on its axis and never snapped back. And being with Maleek? It hadn't been hard. Not once. It was passion and peace in equal measure. Laughter in the mundane. Desire in the ordinary. He didn't just love me—he saw me. Held me steady when I took the leap from the salon to Raised and Rooted. Drove me to and from every therapist appointment, and never pushed me to talk afterwards. Never flinched, never doubted, never made me feel like I had to explain the fire in my gut or the purpose in my pivot.

We didn't just survive this first year—we bloomed in it. Together.

He was holding a white paper bag with a blue-and-gold sticker, something sweet and expensive from Tina and Bella's favorite bakery.

Tina and Bella perked up. Prada perked up.

"You brought Brioche & Crumb?" Tina gasped. "You can stay."

"Wasn't here to impress y'all," Maleek said smoothly. "Came to steal my woman."

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm busy saving the world, love."

"Cool. Can it wait?" he said, eyes sparkling. "Because if you want your surprise while the sun's still out..."

Bella and Tina exchanged a look so dramatic I knew they were in on it. Unloyal asses.

Bella waved me off with a smirk — Prada still tucked under her arm, now eyeing the bakery bag. "Go. We'll hold down the healing while you get your back blown out — I mean, romantic surprise."

Tina cackled. "Bring back wine."

I laughed, but Maleek just walked over, grabbed my bag, and held out his hand.

"Come on, Angel. Take a ride with me."

That voice. That look. That man.

How could I say no?

I kissed my sisters on the cheek, kissed Prada on her ridiculous little head, and followed him out the door, already burning to know what he had planned.

And more than ready for whatever came next.

I knew something was up the minute we turned off the main road and onto a cracked, faded street I hadn't seen in over a decade. The air shifted. Got heavier. Thicker. Like the past was waiting around the corner, hands on its hips, ready to remind me who I used to be.

And then I saw it.

"Wait a minute..." I leaned forward, peering out the window. "Uh... why are we at Jefferson Park? This place been abandoned since Nelly had braids."

Maleek just smiled, slow and secretive. The kind of smile that always either meant trouble, or something big.

We were parked in front of the old Jefferson playground. Or what was left of it. The chain-link fence was crooked in two different directions, choked by ivy and rusted at the hinges. A sagging caution tape flapped lazily near the entrance like even it had given up hope. The swings were missing seats. The slide was cracked down the middle like a bad breakup. The whole place looked like it belonged in one of those gritty Black-and-white photo series about urban decay.

It looked like something time forgot.

It also looked exactly the same.

I stared out the windshield, blinking. "Maleek... what the hell are we doing at this busted-ass playground?"

He didn't answer right away. Just sat there for a second, staring at the space like it was sacred.