Miyah’s POV

Miya's up beside Zaire was different. It wasn’t just the comfort of being with him after everything we’d been through, it was the feeling of being completely at peace for the first time in a long while. All the drama, the chaos—it seemed so far away now. In this bed, in his arms, it was just us.

But I knew better than to think it was all over.

There was something unsettled in the air. Amanda hadn’t given up. I could feel it, like a storm brewing on the horizon. But for now, I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to think about anything but this moment.

I shifted in bed, propping myself up on my elbow as I looked at Zaire, his eyes still closed as he slept. He looked so peaceful, so calm. I didn’t want to disturb him, but I couldn’t help myself.

Gently, I reached out, brushing a lock of hair away from his face. The touch made his eyes flutter open, and when he met my gaze, it was like everything else in the world faded away.

“Morning,” he muttered, his voice deep and groggy.

“Morning,” I replied with a soft smile.

For a second, we just stared at each other, the weight of everything around us forgotten. But then, as always, the tension crept in. The reality of our situation was impossible to ignore.

“You know she’s not done, right?” I asked, my voice low.

Zaire’s expression hardened, and I knew he understood exactly who I was talking about.

“Amanda,” he muttered, a trace of annoyance in his tone. “I know. But she’s not going to get between us, Miyah.”

“I hope not,” I said quietly. “But I’m not backing down either. I won’t let her try to take you from me.”

Zaire’s hand found mine, his grip firm as he pulled me closer. “You’re not going anywhere,” he promised, his voice full of conviction. “I’m not letting her get to you, Miyah. Not now, not ever.”

His words reassured me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. There was still more to come. I knew it.

But for now, all I wanted was to hold on to this. This moment with him.

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Zaire’s POV

I could feel Miyah’s gaze on me as she lay next to me, her touch soft but steady. I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking about Amanda. Hell, I was too. I didn’t like how everything was unfolding, but I wasn’t about to let anyone come between us. Not again.

I turned to face her, pulling her into my arms as I kissed her forehead gently. “You know I got you, right?” I asked, my voice low but serious.

She nodded, but I could see the worry still lingering in her eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I added firmly. “You don’t have to worry about her.”

I saw the moment her guard came down, just a little. The tension in her body eased, and she nestled closer to me.

But I couldn’t help but feel that something was off. There was too much at stake now. The deeper we got, the more I realized how dangerous this all was. Amanda wasn’t going to let us have peace. She’d already shown that. But no matter what happened, I wasn’t about to let anyone take what was mine.

“Zaire…” Miyah started, but I interrupted her.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got a plan.”

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Amanda’s POV

I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, the kind that made my blood run hot. Zaire was mine. He had been, and he always would be. Miyah? She was a distraction, a pawn in this game. But she wasn’t going to win.

I had to remind him. I had to show him that he belonged with me. No matter how many times I had to fight for him, I would.

I paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, the silence of the space thick with tension. I couldn’t get the image of Zaire and Miyah together out of my mind. The way he looked at her. The way they were. It didn’t sit right with me.

I grabbed my phone from the table, fingers hovering over the screen as I thought about my next move.

“Jada,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s time to turn this up a notch.”

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Zoey’s POV

It wasn’t just about protecting Zaire anymore. It was about protecting all of us. Amanda was like a disease, spreading, trying to poison everything in our lives. She’d pushed too far this time, and I wasn’t about to let her wreck everything we’d built.

Miyah was strong, but I could see the cracks starting to form. The worry in her eyes wasn’t just for herself; it was for Zaire, too. She loved him, I could see it. And when you love someone that much, it’s hard not to let the fear creep in.

But I wouldn’t let her back down. I wouldn’t let any of us back down.

“We need a plan,” I said to Ashley as we stood by the window, watching the city below. “We need to make sure Amanda knows she’s not welcome.”

Ashley nodded, her expression cold. “I’ve got some people I can call. We can deal with this.”

Zoey looked over at me, her lips curling into a smile. “Let’s make sure she knows she’s messing with the wrong group.”

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Ashley’s POV

I could feel it in my bones. Amanda wasn’t done. And if she thought she was just going to walk away, she was wrong. I’d seen it before—people like her didn’t just give up.

“We can’t keep waiting around for her to make the next move,” I said to Zoey. “We take control.”

Zoey’s eyes lit up. “Exactly. We strike first.”

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