Where My Loyalties Lie 3

by K. C. Mills

  “I won't, I’m leaving, tonight. I promise. I was heading to the airport after he left. He didn't know, he thought I was leaving with him, but I wasn't. I can't keep doing this. I can show you.”

  She looked back and forth between the two, as if requesting permission to move. Logic nodded and she stood slowly and made her way to the counter where there was an oversized purse. She pulled out what appeared to be a plane ticket and extended it to Logic. He glanced at it, noticing it was indeed a one-way flight to New York, so he nodded a second time.

  “Aight, you get a pass, but make a call before you leave and I’ll find your ass. Trust me. I have people everywhere,” Logic lied.

  He’d left New York as a kid, and the only person he knew there was his father, and he wouldn't contact his bitch ass for anything. But she didn't know that.

  “I won't, I promise.”

  “Yo, what about Rah? You heard from that nigga?” Gotti asked.

  Alicia thought about lying, but considered Logic’s words. If he would kill her for calling the cops, he would surely kill her for withholding information.

  “Some woman got him out. She put him up in a hotel downtown. He called Moses and they talked, but then Moses hung up and said that he had to find his brother before Rah found him. He said that Rah was just fronting and that he knew Moses had set him up. I didn't tell him that I was the one who called the cops, so he thought that Rah just knew that Moses had sent someone there to kill him.”

  “What hotel?”

  “I don't know. I just know its downtown and nice. The lady is rich. He’s even driving one of her cars. A black Range Rover.”

  “When was this?” Logic asked, now even more pissed that Marilyn's dumb ass was hiding Rah, and too stupid to understand what that meant for Joy’s safety

  “A little while ago. That’s why Moses was leaving. He said he had to handle Rah, and then we were leaving here, but I couldn't. I had to think about my daughter, so I lied to him and told him I was. My aunt had already bought me a ticket to come to New York. Moses just didn't know that.”

  “Last chance, and I mean that. You fuck this up and your daughter grows up an orphan. Don't fuck me or I promise you’ll regret it,” Logic said in a way that resonated with Alicia.

  She nodded and agreed. Her life was far too important to lose for Moses or Rah.

  “Yo, let's roll.” Logic walked toward the door and Gotti followed.

  At this point, Logic was on a mission to find Rah, and he was starting with Marilyn. But right now he needed to get Joy out of that club. With Rah on the loose, he didn't feel comfortable with her being out in a club without him there to make sure she was good.

  -7-

  “Damn, it's crowded in here. This the exact reason why I don't do clubs.” Nova scrunched up her face and looked around.

  They four of them were seated in one of the lounge areas. Karma and Joy were on one sofa while Najah and Nova were across from them on another. The DJ had been doing his thing, so this was the first time they had been seated since they got there. They were now scoping out potential candidates for Nova to kick it to since she was the only unattached one in the crew.

  “Aye, boo. He’s cute, what about him?” Najah pointed across the half wall that separated them from the walkway leading to the railing that overlooked the lower level of the club. They all had eyes on a really cute guy whom they assumed Najah was referencing. He wasn't super tall, roughly six feet, but he had a handsome face and nice build.

  Nova looked at her cousin before she followed the direction that Najah was pointing and rolled her eyes. “Girl, bye. He's that body builder type. You know what that means.” Nova sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes again.

  “What?” Karma asked.

  “He ain't working with nothing. The more they pump them muscles up, the smaller it gets. Hell, most of them don't have nothing to start with in the first place, and that's why they walk around looking like they on steroids.”

  Karma, Joy and Najah looked at each other and laughed. “Damn, boo, you speaking from the heart over there. Who disappointed you?” Karma was looking right at Nova.

  Joy glanced at the crew, just glad that they were all getting along now. When they first got there, it was tense because Karma could hold a grudge for days, and she was still pissed about how things went down at Mini’s house the night Rah showed up and showed out. She wasn't even there, but Joy had told her about it. Joy was her girl, so she was going to defend her to the end no matter who was coming for her, even Logic's sister and cousin.

  Thankfully, after a few drinks and a little conversation, Karma had realized they were all over it and cool with Joy. She had let it go, but reserved the right to beat ass if either of them got wrong again. Karma was just like that.

  “Girl, he ain't even worth talking about, but trust me, it's true. Overdo it on muscle, under do it on the package,” Nova said, causing them all to smile.

  “What about me? What am I working with?”

  A very nice chocolate dream stepped around the half wall from the section behind them and stood right in front of Nova. His stare made her uncomfortable because it was so intense.

  “Damn. You got to be working with something nice, cause you too damn fine to be a disappointment,” Karma said, causing Joy to punch her in the arm.

  “What? I ain't blind and neither are you.”

  He chuckled about Karma’s statement but kept his eyes on Nova. “I’m waiting.”

  She eyed his body, gauging his features. Chocolate skin, low cut Cesar, full sexy lips, and athletic build. His body was nice, but not overdone.

  “Man, I’m not about to discuss your body up in here in front of all these people,” Nova said. She had already checked for a print, but his jeans were hiding whatever he was working with.

  “So you can play dude out, but you don't want to give me your honest opinion? And those are you girls, right? You’ve been chilling with them all night, so I’m sure they won’t mind.”

  “Nope, Nova, tell him. We don't mind,” Joy said with a grin.

  “Nope, not at all. In fact, I would love to hear your opinion about what chocolate dream here is working with,” Najah said.

  After being put on the spot, Nova froze and snapped on Joy and Najah. “How about the two of you mind your business, Logic and Gotti?” Nova made a point of calling them by their men's names, which made Joy smirk and Najah laugh.

  “Yo, it's cool. How about this?” Dude reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone. “My boy is ready to jet anyway, so you give me your number and we can have a private conversation about it later. That work for you? I really want to hear your opinion.”

  “Yeah, Nova, he really wants to hear your opinion on what his dick game is like,” Karma said and giggled.

  “I’m about to slap every single one of you,” Nova said and rolled her eyes.

  Dude laughed and then looked at Nova with that damn death stare again. “So, do we have a deal? Or are you gonna make my home boy clown me for the rest of the night? He’s watching, so if you don’t give me your number, I’ll never hear the end of it. You wouldn't do me like that, would you?”

  He offered up the sexiest grin and Nova melted. She reached for his phone, entered her number, and then handed it back to him. After he looked down at her entry, his eyes were on her again.

  “Nova, I like that. I could get used to saying that.” She blushed. “This is your real number, right? You wouldn't play me out, would you?”

  “It's real,” she said.

  “Aight, well I’ll hit you later. You beautiful ladies enjoy the rest of your night.”

  After he was gone, the ladies wasted no time at all offering up their opinions on what had just happened, beginning with Najah.

  “Girl, why the hell didn't you leave with his sexy ass? He clearly wanted you to evaluate his situation.” Najah had her finger pointed at her cousin with a curious grin on her face.

  “Yassss, boo. You should have been like, ‘th
at will take some hands on evaluating, which I will be more than happy to commit to’,” Karma said.

  “Girl, yes, that evaluation would have been just for fun. Anybody that damn cocky has got be working with something serious,” Joy added.

  “You would know, wouldn't you?” Karma looked across her shoulder at Joy and grinned. “Don't think I haven't noticed that your ass can barely walk tonight. You’re struggling, boo, and your man is king of cocky, and apparently the king of cock too.”

  “I’m fine, and you need to mind your business.” Joy adjusted her body so that she could sit a little more comfortably.

  Najah laughed. “Nah, boo, she’s right. My brother put that ‘your ass better not even look at another man tonight’ hurting on you before he let you out. Auggie ain't slick. He knew what he was doing.”

  Nova frowned. “Can we please not go there? That’s just nasty, that’s my damn cousin.”

  Joy rolled her eyes and Najah laughed.

  “Joy, you know her? She damn sure all in your grill like she wanna say something.” Najah pointed to the left of where they were sitting and everyone’s eyes followed.

  Sure enough, Felicia was with some other chick who was clearly a chick, but looked and dressed like a dude. Both of them had their eyes on Joy. They didn't bother to pretend that they weren't staring either when Joy and her crew looked their way.

  “No, but your brother does,” Joy announced, feeling annoyed that Felicia was there and staring her down.

  Nova and Najah looked at each other and then right back at Joy. “Knows her how? That's my brother and everything, but if he's on some fuck shit, we can handle that,” Najah said and she meant it. She had grown to like Joy even after they had a slight rift, so if Logic called himself being on some disrespectful type stuff then she was going to check him and whoever this hoe was that was staring them down.

  “I guess they had something before us.” Joy shrugged, not really concerned about Felicia. Logic had already made it clear that there was nothing there and she believed him, but this chick was seriously trying her patience.

  “So the bitch still living in the past. She better get her damn eyes in check before I become a part of her future,” Najah said.

  “Yeah, her and that trick she’s with, looking like she’s in need of a damn shape up with her baldheaded ass.” Karma rolled her eyes.

  All four ladies burst out laughing as they looked right at their spectators.

  Them laughing and joking didn't sit well with Felicia because she knew from the way they all turned and faced her that they were talking about her. It was bad enough that Joy had Logic, and sitting there watching her gloat about it wasn't helping the situation.

  “Oh shit, this hoe is crazy. She is seriously about to come over here so I can check her ass,” Najah said, standing to her feet.

  Nova and Karma followed, but Joy stayed put because she wanted to see if Felicia would actually address her.

  As soon as they were close enough, Najah asked, “Can we help you?” before Felicia had a chance to open her mouth.

  “No, but apparently I can help you since you all in my damn face,” Felicia said.

  Joy looked right at her and laughed.

  “Bitch please, you the one with the eye problem. You need some help with that?” Karma said.

  “Fe, don't sweat these hoes, especially that one. She won't have him for long, you know like I know. If you want him, you can have him. Anytime. Let's roll.” The chick that was with Felicia said with smirk looking right a Joy, who looked up with a grin, not moved by any of what was going on.

  “You need to listen to your boyfriend and keep it moving,” Joy said in reference to the fact that Felicia’s friend actually looked like a dude with her low cut hair, ashy skin, t-shirt and baggy cargo shorts that hung low around her waist.

  “Bitch, you talking mighty slick, but you ain't moving,” Felicia’s friend snapped.

  Joy finally stood and stepped past Karma, who was standing slightly in front of Najah and Nova.

  “Do you really want to wear an ass whooping because your girl is all in her feelings about a man who has clearly moved on? I mean, it doesn't matter to me either.” A cocky grin spread across Karma’s face as she squared up, ready for one of them to make a move.

  “Cori, let's go. Fuck them.” Felicia grabbed her friend’s arm.

  Although she knew that Cori had hands, she didn't, and the four of them looked like they were ready to use theirs. She had underestimated how Joy would react.

  “This hoe’s name is Cori. Fucking priceless. No wonder she looks like a dude,” Najah said and laughed so hard it pissed Cori off.

  She swung on Najah, but somebody caught her arm before she made contact.

  “Nah, shorty, it's not going down like that,” Gotti said from behind her, causing Cori to turn and almost swing on him until she realized it was a guy.

  “The fuck going on here?” Logic asked as he stepped between Karma and Joy. Once he was behind Joy, his arm moved around her waist until their bodies were close.

  Felicia looked like she wanted to cry.

  “This hoe seems confused about past and present,” Nova said, pointing to Felicia.

  “Man, get the fuck out of here with that bullshit. She knows it ain't noting. Now try to act like you don't.” He gave Felicia a look that made her regret that she had even stepped to them in the first place.

  “If it ain’t nothing, then you need to tell this hoe to—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, Joy popped her right in the mouth. “Bitch, my name is Joy. If you gonna talk about me, the least you can do is get my damn name right.”

  Felicia grabbed her mouth as tears filled her eyes. She just looked at Joy, knowing that she couldn't defend herself.

  Cori was next to her yelling all types of bitches before she waved her hand at Felicia, irritated that she had stepped up to defend her and she wouldn't even defend her damn self. She walked off cussing and mumbling, not really caring what happened to Felicia at that point.

  Logic laughed. “Yo, let's go. This is exactly why I didn't want you up in here, because of stupid shit like this. In here acting like a fucking hood rat over some irrelevant bitch.”

  Logic’s eyes went right to Felicia before he grabbed Joy’s hand and shook his head as he walked past her. He stopped just outside the area they had been sitting in when he realized that Nova and Najah were still standing there.

  “The fuck you waiting for? I said, let's go,” he roared.

  Najah was the first to move because she could feel Gotti’s eyes on her, and he looked as annoyed as Logic did. When she made it to the entrance of their area, he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him.

  “How did you get here?” He looked down at Najah and she couldn't really read his expression as his eyes moved up and down her body and then stopped at her face.

  “Nova,” Najah said.

  “Your son good for the night, or we need to go get him?”

  Najah cocked her head to the side and looked at him curiously. Her mother had Trent, so he would be good for the night. “No, he’s with my mom.”

  “Aight, bet, you’re going with me.” He walked away without saying anything else.

  Najah didn't know what else to do, so she followed.

  The six of them made their way through the club and none of them stopped until they were out front. Karma and Joy said their goodbyes. Karma left and Joy sat in Logic's car while she waited for him to address Najah and Nova. When he was done and in the car with her, he leaned back so that his body was slightly against his door and he was facing Joy as he stared at her.

  “What?” Joy asked when he didn't say anything.

  “That shit in there ain't even you, Joy. The fuck is that about? Didn't I tell you that there wasn't shit there and that I don't want that damn girl? Yet, you got your ass in there arguing with her like you don't have no damn sense. Forget that hoe,” he yelled, pointing toward the club.

 
Joy laughed sarcastically. “I wasn't arguing with her about you. And I popped her ass in the mouth because she was being disrespectful. That wasn't about you. Why are you mad? She must matter.”

  “Man, don’t even… How the fuck you fix your face to say some bullshit like that? If I want her I can have her, and any other female out there if we’re being honest. You know that shit too, but I’m with you. I’m not gonna be with somebody who can’t believe that enough to let bullshit like that go. Why the fuck you gonna entertain somebody who’s fronting you about shit that you own? That makes your ass look dumb and insecure. You should have just ignored her dumb ass and kept it moving.”

  Logic started his car and pulled out of the parking lot. He was annoyed. He had enough other shit to worry about, and Joy showing her ass in a club over Felicia wasn't something he needed right now.

  Joy didn't even respond. She wasn't about to argue with him about the fact that he couldn't keep his past hoes in check. The drive to his house was quiet. They were both so stubborn that neither of them broke. Even after they reached his apartment, Logic and Joy both stayed quiet. She was pissed that he was upset about his past starting shit with her, and he was pissed that Joy had even entertained it.

  The two of them walked around his apartment like the other didn't exist, which was hard to do because the space was so small. But with everything in them, they were both trying. This went on for a while, Logic in the living room while Joy was in the bedroom. They both had managed to shower, change and go to their separate corners without saying one word to each other, but it was killing them both.

  Logic was suffering the most because after dealing with Moses, he needed Joy to settle his mind. Her body next to his, wrapped around him, erased all things in his life that he didn't want to think about, even if it was temporary. And he wanted that right now.

  “Fuck it,” he mumbled to himself before he stood from where he was sitting on the sofa.

  He laughed and shook his head, knowing that Joy had a hold on him. He loved it, but at the same time hated it because he was powerless against her. His free will was gone because she controlled it.