Detective Kennedy is at the door of the interrogation room as Briana is being escorted down the hallway with her hands in cuffs. When she sees the detective she stops walking, causing the officer to aggressively guide her to continue walking.

"Why am I going back to this room? I already gave you what you wanted."

"There's someone else who needs to speak with you," the detective tells her.

She looks at him confused. "Why? I told you the truth. I didn't leave anything out. Y'all are really getting on my fuckin' nerves."

The detective opens the door as the escorting officer walks back down the hallway, leaving the detective with Briana.

She enters and sees Yemi sitting on the other end of the table with Sam standing next to her, rubbing her back. Briana quickly tries to turn back around to exit, and the detective stops her.

"Have a seat Billmore."

Briana sucks her teeth and exhales aggressively. The detective unlocks one handcuff and locks it around the table leg, leaving Briana with one free hand.

"You're staying here with them, right?" Detective Kennedy asks Sam.

Sam kneels down to be face to face with Yemi. "Do you want me to give you some privacy?"

Yemi is staring at Briana who is staring right back at her with no signs of remorse. "No. I want you to stay."

"Alright. I'll just be right over there in the corner," he tells her as the detective nods in approval.

"I'll be back in 10 minutes," The detective informs them before exiting.

Yemi and Briana continue staring at each other for a good 2 minutes in dead silence before Briana looks away in search of words.

She sighs, and then looks back at Yemi. "...It was an accident," she says nonchalantly.

Yemi frowns, still not saying a word.

"Shit, Yemi. What did you bring me in here for if you're not going to say what's on your mind? If you wanna cuss me out, then just do it."

Yemi straightens up her face and then slowly backs her chair away from the table. Briana squints at her, observing her body language.

"Look, I don't know what the fuck you got going on in your head, but like I said... it was an accident. So if you're trynna run up on me, just know I still have one hand to fight back. And it's lethal."

Then with the speed of light, Yemi jumps up on the table and leaps across it towards Briana. By the time Briana can react, Yemi's fist has already connected with Briana's face.

"Oh shit," Sam says under his breath with wide eyes.

Briana tries to get up from her chair, but Yemi's punches won't let her up. Her hits are just as powerful as a man's.

Sam is still in the same spot.

Briana's wrist is getting cut up by the handcuff as her body is being jerked away from the table.

It's like Yemi's soul has left her body and has no control of her actions. Briana falls out of the chair, not able to yell or fight back from the nonstop punches to her face.

The chair hits the floor and makes a loud noise and Briana's face is covered with blood. Yemi grabs Briana's shirt and lifts her on her feet just before the door swings open and reveals Detective Kennedy.

"Fuck," the detective breathes out before attempting to approach the women as Yemi pins one side of Briana down to the table.

Sam blocks the detective's path. "Don't touch her."

"Then you should stop her before an officer comes in here."

Sam calmly walks up to Yemi and grabs both of her hands. Yemi starts to kick Briana who is trying to block her body with her free hand.

"Yemi, we gotta go."

Yemi doesn't listen as she continues kicking Briana. Sam gently picks Yemi up with the front of her body against his.

"Thanks for your help," Sam tells the detective as he carries Yemi towards the door.

The detective looks over at Briana and shakes his head at how bloody and exhausted she looks as she uses the table to hold herself up.

——

ONE WEEK LATER

Yemi is putting her shoes on with a blank look on her face.

Sam walks in from the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist just as Yemi grabs her book bag by the bedroom door. "You're gonna leave without saying bye?"

"Bye," she calls out, not looking back at him.

"Yemi," he says sternly.

She stops in her tracks and looks over her shoulder at him.

"Come here."

"I have to go, Sam."

"Your class doesn't start for another hour."

She rolls her eyes before turning her body around towards him.

"Don't roll your eyes at me," he tells her playfully. "Come here."

She finally starts to walk towards him, but with her body language showing she doesn't want to be bothered. Sam ignores it and gently grabs her hand, pulling her close to him. He kisses her forehead before staring into her eyes.

"You wanna meet for lunch after?"

She shakes her head no.

"You're sure?"

She nods.

"What are you gonna do then?"

She shrugs.

"Ma, come on, now. Talk to me."

She sighs. "I'll just come back here."

"I'll bring lunch here, then."

"You don't have to."

"I'm going to. You haven't held a conversation with me in a whole week. I miss you."

She looks down in guilt and Sam gently lifts her chin up.

"Can you at least tell me how you're feeling?"

Her eyes start to get watery. "...I..." She takes a deep breath. "...I just... I can't believe they were all covering up for her." A tear escapes her eye, and Sam wipes it away. "...And over a man? The same man who lied on me. The same man who beat her up. I don't have any family, Sam, and it fucking sucks."

"Mamas. You have me and I told you my family is yours, now."

"...If you and I were to break up, that would all change."

Sam mean-mugs her. "Don't ever say that."

"I know you don't wanna hear it, Sam. But it's true. All this can end at any time. We're not even married."

"So you're gonna let your relatives change what we got going on?"

"I'm not changing anything, I just don't want my heart broken again, thinking I have something when it can be gone tomorrow. Yes Briana was a fucked up person but I thought it was just because of Jonathan. I thought maybe after not being around him for a while, she would get her mind back and we can have some type of relationship again. But now I just want her to..."

She starts to get choked up. "...I just want her and all those bitches to rot in prison. Another fucking reminder that I can't trust anyone."

Sam wraps his arms around her, tightening his embrace.

"Let me go, Sam."

He looks at her in shock. Sam knows how much his touch means to her. Even though they haven't been the same since Yemi fought Briana, she still allows Sam to at least kiss and hold her.

"Now I can't touch you?" He asks sarcastically.

"I'm just ready to go to class," she says with a hint of annoyance.

Sam swiftly grabs both of her legs before picking her up and wrapping them around his waist, causing her to drop her bag.

"Sam, stop."

"You're not going to class," he says with all seriousness as he walks her to the bed.

"Yeah, right. Put me down."

He sits down on the bed with her legs still wrapped around his body. She tries to remove herself but Sam has an effortless grip on her waist.

"Listen to me, alright?"

Yemi rolls her eyes, looking away to the side.

"I'm going to set an appointment for us to go to counseling together, so we can get back to building our foundation together," he says in a serious but loving tone.

Yemi looks into his eyes.

"Then you're going to stop avoiding V's calls, and finish planning that trip to Puerto Rico with her."

"Sam-"

"And I don't wanna hear that you don't wanna go anymore. You were pissed at V when she canceled New Year's Eve with you. How you felt then is how she's gonna feel if you don't go with her next month. I understand you were disappointed by your friends and your ex when you needed them, but V and I are not them. I hired the detective because I care. I definitely didn't do it for you to just try to push me away."

"I'm not trying to push you away."

"You don't see it, but you are. I've said this before and I'll say it again. I'm never gonna leave you, Yemi. I need you to understand that. I'm in love with you."

Yemi's face starts to soften.

"As a matter of fact, let's get married on our anniversary."

"Sam, you haven't even proposed to me."

"I will. When you least expect it."

She smirks.

"And don't think I forgot about you rolling your eyes at me that second time."

She gives him a tight lipped smile.

"Next time you roll 'em, I'm gonna bite you."

"...Where?"

"What?"

"Where're you gonna bite me?"

Sam smirks. "Word?"

She nods, smiling.

Sam starts to unbutton her jeans.

"Sam, you're gonna make me late to class."

"They'll be alright."

Yemi chuckles as he starts kissing on her neck. "No for real, let me up."

"You're gonna stop doubting us?" He asks between kisses.

"I'll try my best."

Sam loosens his grip, allowing her to stand up.

"After you come back from Puerto Rico, I'm gonna take you to the Bahamas. I remember you saying you've always wanted to go. I think going would be good for you, right now."

She picks her book bag up from the floor as Sam watches her every move. "Sam..."

"What's up, ma?"

"Thank you for everything. I really do hope we stay together."

"The only way we wouldn't is if you decide to leave me. And we both know I'm not letting that happen."

Yemi walks back to him and kisses his lips.

"What do you want me to bring for lunch?" He asks her.

"I'll cook us something."

Sam grins at the thought of her food, and Yemi smiles. Moment later, Sam stands up and walks her to the front door. "I'll see you later," he tells her, opening the door.

Yemi hugs him before stepping out, and Sam watches her walk to the elevator before closing his door.

Yemi calls the elevator, and the door immediately slides open. She walks inside and selects the garage floor. As soon as the door closes, Yemi breaks down in tears, letting everything out that she was hiding from Sam.

After going down several floors, she finally reaches her designation. The door opens and she walks towards the door that leads to the garage. As soon as she opens the door, the door to the stairwell swings open and reveals Sam wearing sweatpants and some Nike slides.

Yemi tries to quickly wipe away her tears without him noticing. "What? Did I forget something?"

"I came to check if you were really okay."

She looks down, trying to stop more tears from coming down her face.

"I'm not letting you go to school like that. Come on." He puts his hand out, waiting for her to grab it.

"I'm fine, Sam."

"Please don't lie to me. Have you been going to school like this every day?"

She nods, embarrassed.

"Let me take care of you," he expresses to her with his hand still extended.

"What do you mean? You have to go to work, Sam."

"Let me worry about that. Come on, ma. You took care of me when my mother died. Now imma do the same for you."

Yemi thinks about it for a moment, and then slowly takes his hand. Sam leads her to the elevator and then back up to the loft.

___

TWO HOURS LATER

The doorbell rings just as Sam ends his call with the pastor.

He walks over to the front door and opens it to reveal Jamie.

They briefly look at each other in deep thought before Sam opens the door wider for him to enter.

"Thanks for coming."

"No problem. So how long you need me to stay there?"

"You don't have to stay; I know you have your own job to go to. Just go in my office whenever you have the time and check the cameras, make sure they're not doing any dumb shit. I have an employee from the other gym going over there to lock up at closing time. But if you could open up in the morning, so my employee doesn't have to go to both gyms that would help."

"I got you."

Sam grabs his work keys from the counter and gives them to Jamie. "I owe you one."

"Nah, we good."

Sam nods before walking back to the front door. "I had to fire someone named Terry last week. I won't be surprised if he goes over there starting shit one day. If he does, let me know and I'll come up there."

"What do you think he'll do?"

"Stupid shit. Nothing major. But if it is major, do whatever you feel is best."

"Bet." Jamie starts to walk out before stopping to say one last thing to Sam. "My bad for keeping that information from you, bro."

Sam nods. "...Water under the bridge."

Jamie looks at him in shock before smiling. "Good to know. Let's just keep our hands to ourselves from here on out. Deal?"

Sam smirks. "As long as you don't hold anymore need-to-know shit from me... it's a deal."

"Cool."

"Call me if you need any more info."

They fist pound each other before Jamie leaves out and Sam goes to the living area to cater to Yemi.