Page 44 of Meraux Mafia: No Ordinary Love

“A boy,” I admitted. Every man wanted a son, and I was no different.

“I should’ve known,” she quipped, enjoying the gentle sparring as much as I was.

“I want a daughter too. I wanted my son first, so she’ll always have somebody to look out for her.”

“He can do that whether he’s older or not.”

“True, but it’s not the same. You have any siblings?”

“On my dad’s side, but I could walk past them and wouldn’t know it.”

“You’re not close with your Pops?”

“He’s dead.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. He wasn’t that great anyway.”

“Cold-blooded,” Hailo shrugged, but she was more bothered by it than she let on. I could tell the way she looked away at the mention of him. I made a mental note of that and let her off the hook.

“You’re an only child,” she announced.

“What makes you think that?” I questioned.

“I can tell.”

“Takes one to know one.”

“I guess you can say that. We have a few things in common,” Hailo revealed as I grimaced in good humor.

“I can’t wait to hear this shit. What do we have in common?”

“We’re independent sometimes to a fault and don’t like to compromise because we’re not used to it. You warmed up to me at the club, but that’s not your normal disposition- even your cousin was shocked.”

“What about you and your mom?” I asked to change the subject because I couldn’t believe how I had acted that night.

“Sadie’s my girl. Speaking of which, don’t let me forget to call her about my appointment. I don’t need her popping up at my house because I didn’t call her back.”

“Might as well let her meet her future son-in-law.”

“Baby steps.”

“You told her already?”

“Not in so many words,” Hailo focused on two squirrels playing a game of tag on the pavement before she revealed. “Not in any words, honestly. She’s aware that you know about the baby, but that’s it. I don’t know how to tell her everything else.”

“You need to. Sooner than later.”

“She’s the sweetest person you’ll ever meet, but there’s another side to Sadie Harrison if you fuck with me. Mama bear comes out, and she’s not going to take somebody forcing me to get married because I’m pregnant. Your family is crazy, and I’d hate to kill your father for fucking with my mom,” Hailo revealed.

“She’s important to you, so she’s important to me. Nothing is going to happen to Sadie.”

“With all due respect, it happened to me, so you can’t exactly make that promise.”

“Who saved you?” My expression stilled and grew grim because I needed Hailo to trust me. She was safe along with anybody she cared about.

She smiled to herself as she spoke, “Touché.”

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