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A date. . .
The babysitter who stepped in was a young woman, probably in her early twenties, Big glasses, Harry Potter earrings, and a shirt that read, “I love Big Books and I cannot lie.”
Regardless, she was petite with a friendly face framed by curly hair. She held two thick novels in her arms. From the shirtless muscular man on the cover, I figured it must be romance.
I stepped up.
The babysitter’s eyes widened noticeably as she caught sight of me, and I could almost feel her taking a mental step back, slightly overwhelmed by my presence. “Uh. . .”
“Sorry.” Zuri cleared her throat, stepping in to break the awkward moment. “This is Dante, Carmen’s father. He was just leaving.”
Zuri’s voice was steady, but I could tell she was trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
I nodded at the babysitter. “Nice to meet you.”
A nervous chuckle escaped her. “Nice to meet you too.”
With a final glance at Zuri, who avoided making eye contact, I knew it was time for me to exit. “I’ll be back tonight with the presents.”
“Call before you come.”
And you make sure you’re not back at this condo too fucking late.
I got to the door, opened it, and could feel both of their eyes on me.
A fucking date.
Stepping out of the condo, I closed the door behind me.
A click came, and the sound echoed a finality that I wasn’t ready to accept.
Yet, I knew this wasn’t the end, just another turn in the winding path that was my life.
I’ll be back tonight, and we’re going to finish that kiss and end this nonsense with Alonzo.
I walked away and made a new to-do list in my head.
Get the Foxie Cherry Doll.
Destroy Crimson Mob.
Fuck Zuri so good that she forgets Alonzo’s name.
Chapter 14
This Christmas
I passed the night doorman and stepped out of Zuri’s building.
Brisk winter air hit me with a jolt.
All around the snow fell softly and covered the grass, streets, and sidewalks with a powdery shield. Snowflakes fluttered, glistening as the faint moonlight caught their blue-white sparkles.
While I pulled my coat closer, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. After five years in prison, the view was a scene from a fairytale, and I couldn’t believe that I was actually in the middle of it.
I’m blessed.
I started to walk.
My shoes crunched through the snow, leaving a trail of footprints behind me.
Zuri may be going on a date, but she loves me. And my daughter. She loves me too.
The roads were nearly empty, the typical commotion of the city silenced by everyone heading in for dinner and holiday fellowship.
That’s when I heard it—the deep, soulful tones of Christmas music, booming through the silence.
The night air, crisp and cold, carried the music to me, making it feel like a personal serenade under the starlit sky.
Continuing forward, I sought out the source.
Of course. It’s Anthony.
I grinned.
He’s having a concert.
The music blared from open windows, filling the night with a mix of jazzy beats and the smooth voice of a soul singer taking on a Christmas classic.
As I got closer, the snowflakes seemed to dance to the rhythm of the music.
I crossed the street and recognized the song as one of Zuri’s favorites—Silent Night by the Temptations.
Deep, soulful tones filled the air and stirred nostalgia within me. In fact, the melody transported me back to that December many years ago.
It had been a night very much like this one, crisp and adorned with a thin blanket of snow.
Zuri and I had been out Christmas shopping. We had our hands entwined as we meandered through the festive streets. Colorful lights reflected in those beautiful brown eyes.
We laughed and joked. Our breaths formed small clouds in the cold night air. It was during those moments, amidst the cheerful chaos of holiday shoppers, that I realized how deeply I had fallen for her.
Then, as if the night had decided to gift us a moment straight out of a romance novel, we found ourselves under a sprig of mistletoe, strategically placed above the doorway of our favorite bakery.
Zuri looked up, and without a word, I leaned in for a kiss. It was soft and sweet, a perfect seal to our love, a memory etched forever against the backdrop of a winter night.
Fuck.
I snapped back to the present.
I can’t wait to be back with her. Crimson Mob ends tonight.
As the song reached its climax, I approached the car, pulled open the passenger door, and slid into the car.
The rich scent of cologne hit me.
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim interior, lit only by the soft glow of the dashboard.
I turned to my left.
What the fuck?
That was when I realized Anthony wasn’t in the driver’s seat.
Who is this?
I began to reach for my gun.
“Naw.” The man wagged his finger and casually pointed his gun at me. It was a gold gun like something out of a gangster movie, shiny with emeralds outlining the barrel.
