The atmosphere in the house was heavy. The tension between Nia, Marcus, and Liam had only grown since the revelation of their secret lives. Days had passed, and though they moved around each other, the warmth they once shared had been replaced with distance. Nia couldn't shake the fear, the betrayal, and the uncertainty, but deep down, she longed for the closeness they had before the truth came to light.
Marcus and Liam felt it too. Every time they saw her, they wanted to reach out, to hold her, but they didn't know how to bridge the growing chasm. They knew they had hurt her, and the weight of their choices bore down on them.
---
That evening, Nia found herself sitting on the couch, staring out the window as the rain fell steadily outside. Zion was already asleep, his soft breathing a comforting reminder of her purpose. She held a warm cup of tea in her hands, but it did little to ease the chill in her chest.
She heard the front door creak open and glanced over her shoulder. Marcus and Liam walked in, their clothes damp from the rain. They exchanged a quick glance before walking toward her. Marcus was the first to speak.
"Nia, can we talk?" he asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.
Nia sighed and set her cup down on the coffee table. "Yuh ready fi talk now? Or yuh still have more secrets mi nuh know 'bout?" Her tone was sharp, but her eyes betrayed the hurt she carried.
Liam stepped forward, kneeling in front of her. "Nia, we deserve everyting yuh feelin'. But we can't leave things like dis. We love yuh, an' we love Zion. We want to fix dis, but we need yuh to let us try."
Marcus sat beside her, his hand brushing hers lightly. "Mi know we've hurt yuh. Mi know we broke your trust. But Nia... yuh mean everyting to us. We're sorry. Fi real."
Nia looked at them, her eyes welling with tears. "Sorry can't change what mi feel, Marcus. Yuh both lied to mi. Yuh put mi and Zion in danger without even telling mi what was going on. How mi fi trust yuh again?"
Liam reached for her hand, his grip firm but tender. "Mi swear, Nia, mi'll spend di rest of mi life proving mi's worthy of yuh trust. Mi didn't mean fi hurt yuh. Mi only ever wanted to protect yuh."
Marcus added, "We've already started making changes, Nia. We're working fi pull out of di life. It's not easy, but we're doing it because we want a future wid yuh. Yuh and Zion."
The sincerity in their voices chipped away at the walls she had built. Nia's heart ached. She wanted to stay angry, to keep them at a distance, but she couldn't deny the love she still felt. She had built a life with them-a family-and despite everything, she didn't want to lose it.
"Mi tired, Marcus. Tired of di secrets, di fear, di lies. Mi just want peace," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Liam stood, pulling her to her feet gently. "Then let us give yuh peace, Nia. Let us make it right."
---
That night, something shifted between them. The three of them sat on the couch, talking late into the night. Marcus and Liam opened up in a way they never had before, sharing the details of their past and the plans they had for the future. They told her about the legitimate business they were trying to build, about their efforts to cut ties with the gang, and the risks involved.
Nia listened, her heart torn between fear and hope. For the first time, she felt like she truly understood them-their struggles, their pain, their love for her and Zion. And though it didn't erase the hurt, it planted a seed of forgiveness.
As the hours passed, the distance between them lessened. Marcus pulled Nia into his arms, holding her close, while Liam rested his hand on her back. For the first time in days, she felt a sense of safety, of belonging.
"Nia," Marcus murmured, his voice soft, "we're not perfect. But we'll do everyting we can fi make dis right. We love yuh."
"Fi real," Liam added. "Yuh di glue dat hold us together. We don't want to lose yuh."
Nia looked at them, her tears spilling over. "Mi love y'all too. But yuh need to show me mi can trust yuh again. Words alone nah go work."
"We will," Marcus promised, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
---
Later that night, as they lay together in the quiet of the bedroom, the tension between them melted away. The intimacy they shared wasn't just physical-it was emotional, a reconnection of their hearts. Marcus and Liam took their time, showing Nia through every touch, every kiss, how much she meant to them.
Nia felt her walls crumble as their love surrounded her. For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to let go of the fear, the anger, and the doubt. In their arms, she found a moment of peace, a glimpse of the life they were fighting to build together.
As they lay entwined in the early hours of the morning, Nia whispered, "We have to get out of dis, Marcus. Liam. For Zion. For us."
"We will," Marcus replied, his voice steady. "Together."
Liam kissed her shoulder, his voice soft but firm. "Together."
---
