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“Again, even in front of your father, the fuck.”

She laughed loudly at that. “You’re ridiculous.”

I kissed her neck. “I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.”

“You really love me?” she asked, her eyes wide.

I kissed her nose. “I really love you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life showing you how much. It’s been a whole year I had to keep that in. I ain’t doin’ it no more. The world gonna know who I love.”

Yara looked nervous, so I backed up some and settled for holding her hand. With the other hand, I gave her the food I picked up.

“Thank you,” she said, joy trying to peek through the nerves dancing in her tone.

I kissed the top of her head just as the elevator doors opened. “Of course.”

I took a deep breath as we stepped off the elevator. This was it.

I’d wanted Turbo here, if nothing more than for moral support, but I also didn’t want him anywhere near this. I didn’t want the cops to have it on record that he was here. It was better that he stayed away and kept a low profile for a little while until everything was settled. So, it was on me. I glanced down at Yara as she gripped my hand. Me and my fave, that was.

I glanced at my phone. It was almost 8:45.

“Go ’head and eat, baby. I’ll come get you in a minute.”

“Gino, wait—” I fixed her with a look, and my smart baby caught on quick. “Daddy, when is all this supposed to go down? Where do you need me?”

I smoothed her hair behind her ear. “Ain’t I tell you I’d come get you? Relax, baby. Nothin’ gonna happen to you. I got this, so don’t worry, okay? You’re good.”

“I’m not worried about me,” she admitted.

My heart swelled. I hugged her to me, not caring if anyone saw. This floor was typically pretty empty, but it didn’t mean someone couldn’t see us. Hell, Aniya should be in her office just a few feet away from where we stood, and still, not a fuck was given.

“Don’t worry. Eat,” I encouraged.

I gave her one last kiss and watched as she walked behind her desk and got comfortable. She still eyed me wearily, but I winked at her before I disappeared through Aniya’s office door.

“Is Yara here?” Aniya asked as soon as I walked in.

I frowned. I hated her even asking about Yara.

“Yeah.”

“Good. I forgot to tell you what her ass did yesterday. Can you believe she refused to stay late for a meeting for me? I had to cancel my dinner reservation. I’m going to have to write her stupid ass up. First missing work for her so-called doctor’s appointments and now this? Bitch wouldn’t know how to do a good job even if she had a gold sticker.”

Rage boiled within me. The fact that I’d married someone who was so disgusting to other people bothered me. Okay, granted, I wasn’t a damn saint either, but I didn’t want my woman to be like that. I wanted my woman to be soft, understanding, and kind. I wanted motivation to be better and do better. The problem with Aniya was that she always encouraged me, even when I was deadass wrong. And now, her stupid ass thought she was me. She thought she had the balls to bully people and make it look good. She was dizzy in the damn head because all I saw was an ugly, miserable, gold-digging ass woman.

I swiped my thumb across my nose. “Aye, let me talk to you right quick. When did you realize you ain’t love me no more?”

She frowned as she looked up from her phone. “Huh?”

“If you can fuckin’ huh, you can mothafuckin’ hear. Answer my fuckin’ question.”

“Since when do you talk to me⁠—”

“If you don’t answer me . . .” I warned. I didn’t have to finish the sentence. Aniya knew how I got.

“I do love you⁠—”

“Lie to me again, and I’ll snap yo’ neck, and I mean that. I’m done bullshittin’ wit’ you.”