her life when she saw that I had a son of my own, one I would never abandon. Tyra reached up as if hearing my thoughts and held my face between both hands. “I know that you are scared shitless and angry as hell right now, but I’m here with you, and we’ll get through this together. Do you believe me?”
I stared at my wife for the longest while. Tyra had given me seven years of bliss and not one moment of doubt, not one moment where I questioned if I’d made the right choice in not letting her slip through my fingers a second time.
“I believe you.” Remembering how to use my limbs again, I wrapped my arms around her. “I also love you.” My head was no longer heavy with the weight of the crown I’d been born with. Instead, my heart had been filled with a far greater honor—a husband and a father. I wouldn’t fall or fail them now.
“I love you more.”
“Good. Because, if this shit with my mother goes south, I’m not helping you clean up your mess.” Hefting her onto my shoulder, I slapped her ass for good measure, making her shriek and giggle before I slammed the front door closed.
The rest of the world could wait.
Turn the page for an extended epilogue.
Manhattan
“WHAT’S SHAKIN’, CHIEF?”
Bernie, the building’s doorman, who I’d gotten to know pretty well since Bee and I moved into the penthouse two years ago, smiled at my greeting. I’d only been CEO of NaMara for six months, having spent two years under my uncle’s wing, training for the role after earning my MBA. Once Uncle Thomas felt I was ready, he stepped down and took with his wife with him to Ireland, where he was currently enjoying retirement. Repairing their marriage had taken some time, but without the lies and guilt between them, they were happier than ever.
“Nothing but my knees if your friend doesn’t bring it home on Sunday,” Bernie replied, reminding me of Vaughn’s game this weekend. I wasn’t much of a sports fan, but I made sure to watch him whenever I could. “I bet two hundred on the game.”
“Well then, you’re definitely screwed. You should have bet more.”
I clapped him on the back before heading inside. I was eager to see Barbette, who’d been out of town on business. Bee’s YouTube channel had been just the start, and it wasn’t just because I’d actually flashed my dick to her subscribers. The inspiration women initially sought her out for turned into empowerment, and before I knew it, I found it harder and harder to keep her all to myself. Not without burdening my conscience and not to mention, I was proud as fuck of her.
I entered the elevator and took the long ride up to the top floor. I was more eager than ever for the summer—for many reasons.
The doors slid open, and I stepped inside. Bee’s luggage was waiting by the entrance, making me giddy as fuck.
“Barbette!” I removed my suit jacket and then loosened my tie as I moved deeper into the apartment. “Get your ass out here, woman. Daddy’s home.”
I waited a moment and then two before she appeared, her blue eyes ablaze. “Do you mind? I almost got your son down to sleep. Now he’s wide awake, thanks to you.”
Closing the distance, I kissed her like a man who hadn’t seen his wife in three days should. Pulling away for air, I whispered against her lips, “You and I both know he wasn’t counting a single sheep until he saw me.”
I plucked our six-month-old baby from her arms, and he started bouncing, all happy as fuck, as soon as I got him in my hands.
“You missed Daddy, Lyric?”
I stared into his brown eyes as he made random noises and drooled all over himself. It was safe to say that I made some cute as fuck babies. He even had my mahogany hair. I ruffled it as I carried him to the nursery. It was anyone’s guess where Selma, our nanny, had disappeared to. Bee followed me and watched with her arms crossed and a smirk as I struggled to get Lyric’s hyper ass down to sleep. I loved him, but he could be such a cockblocker sometimes. I was eager to celebrate the news Bee had purposely waited until she was boarding our private jet to share.
“Come here,” I ordered as soon as Lyric finally shut his goddamn eyes. I pulled her down the hall