Blood Thicker Than Water

Zaire’s POV

The walls were closing in. Between Amanda’s boldness and my mother’s constant meddling, I felt like I was fighting a war on two fronts. And while Miyah could handle herself—she was a bad gyal through and through—I couldn’t shake the instinct to shield her from all of it.

Kate wasn’t letting up. If Amanda was fire, my mother was ice: calculated, cold, and unrelenting in her belief that Miyah wasn’t good enough for me.

“Miyah can’t help you, Zaire,” my mother had said earlier that morning. “She’ll bring you down with her. You need someone who understands your world, not someone who’s learning it.”

Her words were still ringing in my ears as I paced my office. Malik and Giovanni were sitting across from me, watching as I tried to put together a plan that would keep Miyah safe while putting everyone else in their place.

“Kate nuh done yet,” Giovanni said, breaking the silence. “Yuh know she have somethin’ planned. She cyaah just leave it alone.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “She waan push mi hand. But mi done tell har already—Miyah nah go nowhere. Mi nah gi har di satisfaction fi see wi fail.”

Malik leaned forward, his face serious. “What’s di next move, boss? Amanda a push from one side, Kate from di next. Wi cyaah fight both at di same time.”

A wicked smirk crept onto my face. “Wi nuh need fi fight dem. Wi mek dem fight each other.”

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Kate’s POV

I wasn’t giving up on my son, no matter how stubborn he was. Zaire had always been the strongest in the family, but he had a blind spot, and her name was Miyah.

I sat in my living room, sipping tea as I went through my contacts. Zaire thought he could ignore me, but I always had a way of making my point.

“Mrs. Carter,” I greeted the woman on the other end of the line, a smile playing on my lips. “It’s Kate. I was wondering if your daughter was still interested in meeting Zaire.”

Her enthusiasm was almost embarrassing. “Oh, yes! Vanessa hasn’t stopped talking about him since the dinner. She’s such a sweet girl. I know she’d be perfect for Zaire.”

I nodded to myself, already formulating my plan. “Good. Let’s set something up. I’ll handle the details.”

Miyah might have Zaire’s attention now, but she didn’t understand the kind of world we came from. She didn’t belong in it. And I’d make sure she realized that soon enough.

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Miyah’s POV

I could feel Zaire’s tension like a storm cloud hovering over him. He wasn’t saying much, but I knew something was brewing.

“Talk to me,” I said, standing in the doorway to his office. He was sitting at his desk, his head resting in his hands.

He looked up at me, his eyes softening. “Mi just have a lot on mi mind, baby.”

I walked over and leaned against the desk, crossing my arms. “Let mi guess—Amanda and your mother?”

He gave me a small smirk. “Yuh know mi too well.”

“Yuh cyaah control everything, Zaire,” I said softly. “Amanda will dig her own grave, and as fi yuh mother, she nuh know who she messing wid.”

Zaire reached out, pulling me onto his lap. His hands rested on my waist, and he stared into my eyes. “Mi know yuh strong, Miyah. Stronger than most. But mi nuh want fi lose yuh. Not to Amanda, not to mi mother, not to anyone.”

“You won’t,” I promised, my voice firm. “Wi in dis together, Zaire. No matter what come.”

He kissed me then, slow and deliberate, as if he was trying to seal the promise between us.

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Zoey’s POV

Ashley and I were watching Miyah and Zaire from the kitchen. It was rare to see him so vulnerable, but with Miyah, it was like his walls crumbled.

“Kate nuh done yet,” Ashley said, leaning against the counter.

I nodded. “She’s gonna try something again. Yuh feel it, too?”

Ashley smirked. “Of course. But if she t’ink Miyah is some weak gyal she can run over, she’s in fi a rude awakening.”

“Facts,” I said, taking a sip of my drink. “Miyah nuh back down from anyone. Not Amanda, not Kate, not even Zaire.”

Ashley laughed. “Dat’s why wi love her. She fit right in.”

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Zaire’s POV

Later that night, I called my mother. The gloves were off now.

“Zaire,” she greeted, her tone icy.

“Mi know wah yuh up to,” I said, my voice low. “Stop playing games, Mama. If yuh cyaah accept Miyah, then mi done wid yuh.”

Her sharp intake of breath was satisfying. “Yuh would cut off yuh own blood fi har?”

“If mi have to, yes,” I replied without hesitation. “Miyah is mi future. If yuh cyaah respect dat, then wi cyaah have no relationship.”

There was silence on the other end, but I knew my words had hit her hard.

“Zaire,” she said finally, her voice softer. “Yuh making a mistake.”

“No,” I said firmly. “Mi finally doing wah right fi me. And dat include keeping Miyah by mi side.”

I hung up before she could respond, leaning back in my chair with a sigh.

“Miyah,” I whispered to myself, a smile tugging at my lips. “No one cyaah take yuh from mi.”

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