Za’miyah’s POV

The days that followed felt like a haze. I couldn’t focus on anything—school, work, even my family. Zaire’s words kept echoing in my head, drowning out everything else.

Was he right? Was I just another person waiting to be crushed by life’s harsh reality, or was there a way out?

I couldn’t ignore the fact that the world I was living in—my small corner of Kingston—had its limits. No matter how hard I worked, no matter how much I tried to escape the cycle of poverty, the walls always closed in around me.

But Zaire’s world was different. Powerful. Dangerous. His offer wasn’t just an invitation—it was a lifeline. The question was whether I could accept it without losing myself in the process.

I didn’t know if I was ready for what came with his world, but I couldn’t deny that it called to me.

One evening, I found myself sitting on the steps of our small house, staring out into the darkening street. My mind was a battlefield, and every thought I had was tied to one question: Should I walk away, or should I take Zaire’s offer and never look back?

A sound behind me snapped me out of my thoughts. It was Jayden, holding up a small ball and grinning. “Mi ready fi play, big sis!”

I smiled and patted the spot next to me. “Mi don’t know if mi have time fi that, Jay.”

“Yuh always busy, Miyah. Yuh neva sit still!” He plopped down beside me, and for a moment, I just watched him. He was still so young, still innocent, unaware of the hard choices that were waiting for us.

“How’s school?” I asked, trying to push my thoughts aside.

“School’s cool. But why yuh look so serious? Yuh look like yuh thinking about someting big.”

I laughed softly, though there was no real joy behind it. “Maybe mi am.”

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Zaire’s POV

I had given Za’miyah space. I knew she needed time to think, to figure out whether she was ready to accept the reality of what I was offering. But I wasn’t going to wait forever.

Bishop had warned me that if I didn’t act soon, Baines would try to move in. The west side was critical, and if Baines took control of the area, it would weaken my position. But none of that mattered right now. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Za’miyah was slipping away from me, and that couldn’t happen.

I had to make sure she understood.

It wasn’t about just pulling her into my world; it was about making her see the truth of it. I couldn’t let her live in ignorance. Not when her future was at stake.

The night was quiet as I sat in my office, the city lights below illuminating my thoughts. I had everything—power, wealth, control—but none of it mattered if I didn’t have her.

I dialed the number, knowing she wouldn’t be expecting me.

When the phone rang, I leaned back in my chair, waiting for her to answer.

“Miyah,” I said when she picked up. “I need to see you.”

“I’ve been thinking,” she said quietly, almost too softly. “About everything.”

“And?” I prompted.

“I don’t know if mi ready to walk into your world, Luci.” Her voice cracked slightly, and I could hear the uncertainty in it. “I don’t want to lose myself.”

I understood the hesitation. She was afraid. But it wasn’t the fear of me that I saw in her voice—it was the fear of losing what little she had left.

“I’m not asking you to lose yourself,” I said gently. “I’m asking you to choose a different life. A better life.”

She didn’t answer right away, and I could feel the silence stretching between us.

“I’m coming to see you,” I said, my voice steady. “You don’t have to decide right now, but I need you to understand what’s at stake.”

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Za’miyah’s POV

I hung up the phone with a heavy heart. The air in the room seemed thicker now, the walls closing in around me.

I couldn’t avoid the truth anymore. Zaire’s world wasn’t just a fantasy—it was a real choice, and the price of that choice was higher than I ever imagined.

Mama had warned me. Tasha had warned me. But could I walk away from the only opportunity I might ever get to change my life?

The sound of footsteps brought me back to the present, and I looked up to find Mama standing in the doorway, her face full of concern.

“Miyah,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “Mi see di way yuh been looking. Di weight on yuh shoulders… what’s going on?”

“I don’t know, Mama,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I don’t know what to do.”

She stepped into the room and sat beside me, her hand resting on mine. “Mi never tell yuh dis before, but sometimes, yuh have to make di hardest choice of all: to walk away, even when di world tells yuh to stay.”

I looked at her, tears welling in my eyes. “But what if mi don’t walk away, Mama? What if I take the offer and I lose everything?”

Mama’s eyes softened. “Mi can’t tell yuh what to do, Miyah. But you have to look at yourself and ask if what you want is worth what you’ll lose. Sometimes di things yuh gain ain’t worth di price yuh pay.”

I closed my eyes, absorbing her words. But the truth was, I didn’t know if I could walk away.

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Zaire’s POV

I arrived at her house late that evening, the air cool but thick with tension. I knew she had been struggling with her decision, and I needed her to understand that this wasn’t just about power or wealth. It was about survival.

When I knocked on the door, Mama answered, her eyes sharp as always.

“Zaire,” she said, her voice cautious but not unfriendly. “Mi know why yuh here.”

“I just need a moment with her,” I said, my tone respectful but firm.

She hesitated before stepping aside. “Mi don’t trust yuh. But Miyah is old enough to make her own decisions.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

As I stepped inside, I found Za’miyah in the living room, her eyes avoiding mine. She looked more fragile than I had ever seen her.

“I’m here,” I said, sitting down across from her. “To give you the truth, whether you want to hear it or not.”

She finally looked at me, her eyes searching mine. “What do yuh want from me, Zaire?”

I leaned forward, my gaze never leaving hers. “I want you to understand that the world you live in doesn’t care about you. But I do. I’m offering you a chance to take control.”

She swallowed hard, her expression torn.

“I don’t want to lose who mi am,” she whispered.

“You don’t have to,” I said softly. “But you do have to make a choice. Your future is waiting, Za’miyah. But you have to be brave enough to take it.”

She sat in silence, and I waited.

I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. But it was the only choice left.

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