ᴍᴏᴛɪᴇsʜᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀᴘᴋɪɴɢ (#1 ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇʟʟs ᴛʀɪʟᴏɢʏ)✓

60: Epilogue

Tiesha was happy.

Seven months pregnant and glowing, she had been looking forward to this day all week — her daughter’s fifth birthday.

It was a sunny Thursday afternoon.

Esther’s only wish had been to spend the day with family at the amusement park. No big party, no fuss, just the people she loved.

But Tiesha, being who she was, had gone ahead and planned a surprise party anyway. Everyone was already at the park, waiting for the birthday girl.

Daquan was practically bouncing on his toes, eager to hand over the gift he’d been working on for two months straight.

Tiesha dialed her husband’s number.

Ky’Mon glanced at the screen and winced before answering.

“Lil mama, I’m almost there,” he said quickly before she could start.

“Almost there?!” Tiesha’s voice snapped through the phone. “Over an hour, Ky’Mon! I told you, just pick her up from school and bring her here, but no—”

Ky’Mon sighed and tuned out the rest. In his head, the problem with women was simple: they talked too much when they were mad.

“Calm down, baby. You know the twins don’t want their mama stressin’.”

“That’s on their daddy! Stressin’ me for no reason.”

He rolled his eyes. “Just relax. I’m at her school gate right now. She g—there she is. Hey, Princess! Happy birthday!”

“Daddy!” Tiesha heard Esther’s little voice squeal before she hugged him like she hadn’t seen him in years.

“Your mama’s home waitin’ to celebrate with you,” Ky’Mon said, handing her the phone.

“Hi, Mommy.”

“Hi, honey. Happy birthday.”

Esther giggled. “You said that this morning buuuut thank you. We comin’ home now so I can get my gifts. Byeeee.”

She passed the phone back to Ky’Mon, who pocketed it as they walked to the car. Her bodyguards followed in a separate vehicle.

Tiesha rubbed her temples.

“Auntie, where’s Es?” Daquan tugged on her dress.

“She’s on her way, sweetie.”

“Stop askin’ so many damn questions. This why yo’ mama don’t answer you sometimes,” Lowe muttered as he headed toward an ice cream truck, Daquan trailing behind.

“You don’t mind your business, that’s why mama don’t give you food,” Daquan grumbled under his breath.

Lowe froze mid-step. Daquan stopped too, eyes wide, then began to slowly back away.

They stared at each other. Lowe raised one finger in the air.

“Strike one,” he said, before turning back around.

Daquan let out a breath and hurried after him.

In the car, Esther clapped and sang at the top of her lungs while Ky’Mon drove.

🎵 “For she’s a jolly good fellow, and so—Daddy, what’s the rest?”

Ky’Mon chuckled. “Ion even know, Princess.”

Esther frowned, then her eyes went wide. She pointed ahead.

“Daddy!”

Ky’Mon slammed the brakes. He looked at Esther, who was panting and clutching her seatbelt.