by D. Camille
“Thanks,” Miles smiled, then focused on his mother. “Are you okay?”
Pat grinned. “I’m fine. Did I dream that party at your house?”
He laughed. “No, it’s still out there.”
“Let’s get out there.”
After a light knock on the door, Liv poked her head inside.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to check on Ms. Johnson.” She said quietly.
“Come on in here, girl.” Pat told her.
Liv entered and walked over to the bed.
“How are you?” Liv asked.
“I’m so good.” Pat beamed at the pair, then over at Lance and Khayla. “I never thought I’d see this day with both of my sons, successful, happy, and having their own families.”
Lance and Miles grinned both looking so handsome.
“You two, Khayla and Liv. Thank you…”
Liv hugged her. “Thank you for your wonderful son.”
Khayla hugged her, too. “Yes, thank you.”
“I want to get out to that party. Miles don’t let nobody come to his house too often.” Pat said and Lance looked at Miles.
“I think that’s going to change.” Miles said, watching Liv smile at him.
The party continued with Liv and Miles being congratulated by friends and family. By the end of the night they were both exhausted, and Miles sent Liv upstairs to prepare for bed, while he finished up downstairs.
After showering, Liv climbed into the big bed and remembered her first time being their. At that time she never actually thought this would be her home and Miles would be her man. But, things had a funny way of working out.
She’d come to Detroit to celebrate her sister’s love and found her own, in a man that she’d never dreamed of…
Settling back against the pillows, she placed her hands on her stomach and smiled. What a ride it had been that produced the next phase of her life. A new school was opening in Detroit, in conjunction with the Pride Center that Khalil ran...the Bantu Academy would teach Black history and serve the melanated children of the city.
Liv had been offered the position as a Science teacher and looked forward to expanding a new set of young minds. Everything in Liv’s life had come full circle and all because of Miles Johnson.
She looked up as the love of her life entered the room and smiled at her.
“What are you doing?” Miles asked, coming towards the bed.
“Thinking about you.” She lifted her arms to him.
“What are you thinking about me?” He went willingly into her embrace.
“How you changed my life in a day.”
Miles kissed her face. “I didn’t mess around, did I?”
“Nope. While I was doing everything I could to keep from falling in love with you, you kept pushing me further to the edge.” Liv told him.
“And then we went over together…”
He looked into her face and saw forever.
“We’ve let the cat out of the bag,” Liv whispered. “So you’re trapped now.”
“Never trapped.”
She gave him a look.
“If anything I trapped you.” He said softly.
“Why would you want to trap me?”
Holding her gaze, he answered, “Who doesn’t want to bottle lightning?”
Liv smiled. “We’re really going to do this?”
“For the rest of our lives…”
Looking at the ring on her finger, Liv grinned.
“Okay.” She told him. “But I have one condition…”
Miles frowned.
“You’re coming with conditions?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want country girl?”
She placed a hand on his trimmed beard.
“I want you to ask your Mama to come live here.”
Miles frowned. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Why?”
“She’s your Mama, and we can all have breakfast together in the mornings right here.” Liv told him firmly.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“If she starts to get on your damn nerves, I don’t want to hear it.” Miles said just as firmly.
Liv shrugged. “It’s a big house.”
Miles smiled at her.
“Thank you for thinking about her.”
“I know how much she means to you.”
“Do you know how much you mean to me?” He whispered.
Nodding, Liv replied, “You show me every day.”
Moving down, Miles laid his head on her belly.
“Thank you for trusting me.” He told her.
“It was touch and go for a minute,” she teased.
“Yeah, I know.”
“But now, I’m all in with you…”
He looked up at her.
“That’s where I want you to stay.”
“Me, too…”
Miles kissed her belly button.
“I’m documenting your pregnancy.”
“Does it begin in your studio?” Liv raised a brow.
“You really think that’s where we made our baby?” He asked.
She nodded. “I sure do..because it was so beautiful.”
“I don’t know what came over me that day, but I wanted you on film.” Miles replied. “Until I could have the real thing…”
“You gave me Sumn Real…” Liv whispered with a naughty smile.
Miles started the verse…
You love me,
You love me,
Come show me,
You know me,
The new me,
The old me,
My new things,
My old thang,
Gimme Sumn Real...
Epilogue
Miles sat in Malachi’s office with a smile on his face.
“Look at Miles…” Ethan said. “A grown ass man now.”
Miles frowned. “I’ve been a grown ass man.”
Mathias laughed. “You’d have to be to handle Liv.”
“My baby is fire.” Miles boasted.
Mr. Shaw entered the room and all the men greeted him, before he took a seat. Looking at his protege, he nodded in appreciation.
“I’m glad you are all here.” He told them.
“You didn’t want the Neo Negus?” Malachi inquired.
“No.” George answered. “They’re yours. You all...are mine.”
“What do you want us to do?” Ethan asked.
“I want John Campbell.” George told them. “Use the Negus, the Neo Negus and anybody else you need to get him.”
“Do you want him to just disappear?” Malachi asked, and the others looked at him.
“No, I want an example made of him.” George replied. “I want everyone to see what happens when you come for us.”
All the men agreed.
“I’m bringing in another piece to this puzzle.” George told him.
“Who?” Ethan asked.
“Someone Campbell is familiar with, but won’t connect to us.” He answered. “I’m going to play into his ego, and bring him to his knees.”
George continued, “Since I’m retired, Malachi will coordinate all of you, and Miles will take over the Neo Negus.”
“Who?” Miles asked.
“You.”
“Why?”
Looking at him, George said, “Because it’s time for you to come out of the shadows. The Neo Negus respect and look up to you. You’ll have the best effect on them.”
Miles frowned and George gave him a look.
“They’re coming for all of us, and we’ve only scratched the surface of what they’re up to.” George told them. “We need to be organized and efficient.”
Malachi said confidently. “We’re ready.”
“Good.” George replied. “I’ve already set things into motion.”
******
Jeff Morgan finished practice and headed into the locker room. After showering, he sat on the chair in front of
the locker displaying his baseball jersey. Taking out his phone, he read a text.
Jeff…Get Ready!
-The End-
Hotep Reader Fam!
Detroit City!!!!
The Neo Negus, The Negus, The Expert, The Ace, The Guide and now The Professional!
I loved Miles and Liv! Their passion ignited quickly, but they worked together to create more than a flame. Miles became a grown man and did the thang. No longer in the shadows, he put his skills and talents to use in assisting Mr. Shaw. While, Liv brought her own flavor to the story and heated up the screen with the sexy documentarian.
More secrets were revealed and even more are to be uncovered! All questions will be answered in the FINAL two books this Fall!
Thank you for taking this ride with me and I hope you will enjoy the next books in the series.
#GetReady!
Next up…The Champion – Book 6 (Jeff Brooks) – Fall 2020
Ase’
D. Camille
BEFORE YOU GO…
Author D Camille has started an exclusive group for our reader fam. Since some readers are not on social media platforms, and SM's algorithms are selective with post sharing, we wanted to have one central area for all readers to receive the same information, at the same time.
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Join us, and gain access to all of this amazing content focused on Black Love, Black Life and Black Knowledge…and so much more. Visit www.dcamille.com for more information.
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OTHER SERIES BY D CAMILLE
The Black Diamond Series
Three men…one common bond. Mystery, suspense, romance, and black love. These are stories that you can immerse yourself in with characters that you can connect and bond with. You can feel their pain and experience their joy. Their triumphs make you happy and their failings make you want to be better.
The Uncut Series
The sequel to The Black Diamond series featuring the younger characters that were introduced in the original series. The mysteries and storyline follow The Black Diamond Series.
The Heirs Series
From Black Diamonds, to Uncut Diamonds…the Heirs…A new generation is formed, designed to be more advanced, more dangerous and more intriguing than their predecessors.
The Blackman Saga
The Blackman Saga features the Blackman brothers, introduced in The Uncut Series. This is a CONSCIOUS FICTION with elements of romance, mystery, and history. While related to the Diamond World, the Blackman Saga is not a series of couples, but a continuing saga in the lives of the Blackman brothers and The Camilles...
The Black Land Series
A conscious romantic suspense series focused on social issues within the African American community.
The Negus Effect
The series to follow the Black Land Series, where conscious issues plaguing Detroit are still the focus,
along with people who dedicate themselves to making their lives, their community and their city, a better place to live. Follow the characters who have been touched by the Negus in their lives, and are ready to continue to carry the torch.
The Creators Series
One story (Fall Black in Love: Volume 2 - When Curtis Met Pearl)... brings three incredible black women together and shapes their lives. In an environment where gender and racial discrimination abound, this group comes together to fulfill their dreams.
Bantu Academy
Bantu Academy is an annual Black History Month Volume, consisting of TWO complete stories of black love. The storylines are dedicated to learning our history, while discovering current love. The books are centered around the Bantu Academy, it’s students, teachers, parents and community. We are black history, black present and black future...the Bantu Academy represents all three, displaying the beauty and power of positive black love, at its finest.
The Sable Inn Series
Sable Romance presents…a digital imprint delivering passionate and powerful, contemporary love stories featuring African American couples. The Sable Inn features three beautiful black sisters...their lives, their loves and their legacy.
The Book Club Series
Sable Romance presents… The infamous Book Club from the Sable Inn series is back! Nadia, Debra and Tiffany make a pact to all find their real life, Book Husbands. After watching the Sable sisters find love, the three women decide it’s time to find their own happily-ever-after.
The Excellence Series
Welcome to Grayling! The place where Excellence Lives...
The Excellence Series continues the Contemporary Romance Series set in Grayling.
Black Love, Black Life, and Black Knowledge abound as the town grows and flourishes in their blackness.
Fall Black In Love
An Annual Volume dedicated to classic Black Love. 20th Century African-American Historical stories.