Tothestreets,“Raq”Thomasiscold,hardandfierce—asuccessfulanddeadlywomantakingnamesinaman’sworld.Sheistough,resolute,ruthless,butRaqstilliscapableoflove.Greatlove.Thesolerecipientofthataffectionisherson,Kanan;heiseverythingtoher.Asmuchasshecaresforhim,though,therearemanyinstanceswhereonewondersifsheloveshimforwhoheisorifsheloveshimmerelyasanextensionofherself.Themiddlechildofthree,Raqalsocarriestheheavyburdenastheearnerforhertwobrothers.Sheisthesun,andeveryoneelseinheruniverseexistsinherorbit.
Tariq tries to resume his normal college life; Brayden provides Tariq an escape; Monet makes plans for the business to protect her children; Cane seeks out a new family to take the streets for himself.
