Where My Loyalties Lie 3

by K. C. Mills

  “What the fuck is he talking about, Marilyn? What truck and who is he looking for?”

  Logic didn't have time for them to be figure out which one was more fucked up, all he needed was a way to find Joy.

  “Your dumb ass wife here got her little boyfriend out of jail and he just took your daughter. I don't know how the fuck Joy was raised by the two of you and managed to end up normal, but I know it didn't have shit to do with either one of you sick bastards.”

  He looked at Marilyn again. “Find him now.”

  “I have to get my phone. It's upstairs,” she said.

  “Are you still fucking him? You’re a stupid bitch. Sleeping with him is bad enough, but you got him out of jail? What is wrong with you? Are you trying to ruin your career?” Lionel peered at his wife in disbelief.

  “Nigga please, this bitch is fucking your daughter's ex-boyfriend and you’re fucking some twenty-two-year-old that you have a son with, and all you can think about is her got damn career? Both y'all asses are crazy. Upstairs, let's go.”

  Logic kept his hold on Marilyn while he damn near dragged her up the stairs with his gun pointed at Lionel. When they reached their bedroom, he allowed Marilyn to get her phone and she pulled up the app that she had installed to track the truck that she had given to Rah. She didn't trust him, so she had a tracking system installed to make sure he was playing by her rules.

  “Here.” She held it up and Logic quickly realized the location. That was all he needed, so he released his hold on Marilyn and snatched her phone from her hand, but her dumb ass couldn't leave well enough alone.

  “You better not kill him,” she yelled, taking a step toward Logic, who at this point had had enough.

  He turned and swung on her with so much force that her body spun just a little before she hit the bed and then the floor. He had never once hit a female in his life, but with Marilyn, he had no regrets.

  She stumbled to her feet and looked at Lionel. “Are you going to just stand there?” she yelled.

  Her question was apparently humorous to him because he laughed and pointed at his wife.

  “You better hope he kills that nigga because if he doesn't I will, you stupid whore. I should have left your ass years ago. You are such an embarrassment.”

  “I’m an embarrassment, but you have a child with a twenty-two-year-old?” Marilyn laughed sarcastically while holding her face.

  Logic couldn't believe those two. He didn't have time to deal with either one, so he left with them yelling at each other behind him, but just before he hit the door he stopped.

  “Fuck with me if you want to and watch what happens. Jail don't mean shit to me if it means keeping Joy away from both you sick muthafuckers.”

  That got their attention and they both turned to him with a type of fear and understanding that let him know that he didn't have to worry about either of them. They were too wrapped up in their own insanity to worry about him or their daughter. Not once had either of them shown any concern for the fact that Rah had Joy, so Logic didn't really give a damn about killing them if they decided that they wanted to give him any problems.

  *****

  Rah’s eyes roamed Joy’s body as his tongue glided across his bottom lip. They were in her bedroom with him standing over the bed while she sat on the edge peering at him.

  “Why the fuck you keep looking at that door? That nigga ain't coming. Can't nobody save you but me, Joy. I’m all you have, just like it’s supposed to be. In the end, it all comes back to you and me, so quit fucking stalling and come up out that shit.” Rah smirked as he looked down at Joy.

  “You wanna shoot me, Rah? Then do it. I don't care anymore.” Joy was afraid, but not enough to give in and have sex with him. He would have to shoot her first.

  “That nigga got your head that damn gone that you’d rather die than give me what’s mine? You’re mine, Joy, always have been. He’s temporary, and as much as I hate that you gave him what belongs to me, I can get over it. The second I slide up in you again, you’ll remember who it belongs to, who you belong to.”

  Rah reached for Joy and grabbed her arm. She tried to snatch away, but he pulled her into his chest and covered her mouth with his. When she attempted to turn away, he tossed his gun onto the bed, knowing that he could overpower her with his strength and size. He grabbed her chin and forced another kiss on her.

  “You can fight it all you want, shorty. I’m taking what's mine, with or without your permission. I’m gonna make you remember who you belong to and then kill that nigga you call yourself in love with.”

  Joy’s eyes were filled with so much hate as they met his, but that only made him more driven. His eyes were dark and cold, and she didn't even recognize the person he had become. It was hard for her to believe that at some point she had actually loved him, because right now, witnessing the psychotic break that he was having, she had no idea who he was, and it had her at a loss.

  When Rah’s hand made it to her jeans and began to unfasten them, Joy fought hard against the hold he had on her. She tried to free herself, but it was pointless. Rah had one of her arms securely against his chest to hold her in place while her other grasped at his, trying to stop him from unbuckling her pants. When he had enough of Joy fighting against him, he grabbed her around the neck and shoved her into the wall.

  “I don't want to hurt you, Joy, but I will. You need to stop fighting me and make this easy on yourself. You know you want it, so stop fighting me, Joy.”

  “If you really believe that, then you’re just as crazy as you look,” Joy yelled with her eyes on his.

  He wasn't fazed in the least. In fact, it turned him on. He brought his lips to hers and tried to kiss her again while forcing his hand into her jeans. His fingers worked their way inside her and Joy’s body tensed.

  “See you like that shit, don't you, Joy?”

  “I hate you. I fucking hate you.” Joy continued to fight with his hand, but he shoved his fingers deeper inside her.

  Joy closed her eyes to hold back the tears that were fighting their way to the surface. She wasn't going to cry. She refused to let him see her cry, and she refused to give in. Rah would have to fight her for anything he thought that he was about to get from her. Joy's eyes popped open when she felt her body jerk forward and Rah being snatched away from hers. She caught Logic’s eyes as he threw Rah to the floor and started beating him so severely that she froze.

  The wild look in Logic’s eyes and the way he connected with Rah’s body scared her just a little because he was beating him so severely that Rah didn't even have a chance to fight back. Joy watched as Logic took Rah’s life, blow by blow, literally killing him with his bare hands. He delivered one hit after another, not stopping even after Rah took his last breath and lay lifeless on Joy’s bedroom floor. In fact, Logic didn't snap out of it until he felt her hand on his shoulder.

  With eyes full of rage, he looked up at her and they softened just a little before he stood and pulled her into his chest.

  “I’m fine,” Joy whispered into his body as he held her so tight that she couldn't move.

  “This shit is on me, Joy, I keep fucking up with you.”

  “No, you don't. Don't do that, I’m fine. Let's just go.”

  She didn't want him for one minute to think that she was disappointed or felt like he wasn't keeping her safe. As much as he tried, there was no way to prevent everything, and she understood that.

  “We can't do that yet. I need to make some calls.” Logic kissed Joy’s forehead and then held onto her for a few minutes more before he loosened his hold on her, just enough to see her face.

  With a few kisses on her face and lips, he let her go and pulled his phone out of his pocket. This wasn't like any other body. It was Joy’s ex-boyfriend dead in her apartment. That was going to cause a lot of questions that led right back to both of them, so they couldn't just walk away.

  “How did you know where I was?” Things had calmed down enough for Joy to think, and her first t
hought was the fact that Logic was there.

  His eyes turned dark again as they looked at Joy's because murderous thoughts about Marilyn had returned.

  “Your mother,” was all he said before he turned his back and focused on his call. “I need your help.”

  Joy waited while he spoke and she listened, trying to figure out who he was talking to and why. After a few minutes, Logic rattled off her address before he ended the call and pulled her to the living room. She looked around and noticed the door wide open with Logic’s keys still in the lock. Her mind was spinning, and she felt like she was in a daze, but the second she felt his arms around her again, everything calmed.

  *****

  Logic looked around Joy’s bedroom while Luther explained what happened to the detective he had called in favor to. How Rah grabbed Joy, brought her to her apartment, and was on the verge of assaulting her before Logic showed up. The men fought and Rah ended up dead.

  “Self-defense, huh?” Downs asked again as he turned his attention from Luther to Logic.

  He scanned Logic’s body in search of at least one sign that the men had an altercation. Rah was barely recognizable, and aside from light bruising and blood on Logic's clothes and hands, there wasn't a mark on him that indicated that he been attacked. The altercation appeared to be extremely one sided.

  “Self-defense, Downs,” Luther said firmly, knowing exactly what Downs had to be thinking. “I need you to make this go away. You know I don't pull rank or make demands, that’s not who I am, but this is important. You owe me, and I need you to make this go away, so self-defense.”

  Luther glanced at Logic before he laid eyes on Downs again. Downs looked at Luther first, then Logic, before he scanned the room. He walked over to the bed and lifted the gun that belonged to Rah by the barrel and handed it to Logic.

  “I assume you can make this disappear?”

  Logic nodded, took the gun and slid it under his shirt and into the waist band of his jeans.

  “I need to get a statement. After that, you’re free to go. I can call in a few favors to get the body processed without any one asking questions, so we should be in the clear. I’ll make it go away. After this, we’re even.” He was now looking at Luther.

  Downs had been Luther's partner for a few years before Luther retired. He owed Luther for covering up a body for him after things got out of control one night at a bar. Downs had too much to drink and beat a guy to death who claimed to be sleeping with his wife. Turns out it was true, but Luther helped Downs get rid of the body, so no one ever found out. Making this situation go a way for Logic was repayment for that, and Downs was glad to return the favor. He respected Luther and appreciated what he had done for him.

  Luther extended a hand to Downs and the two men shook on it. Logic did the same and then left. Luther and Downs got to work on the details while he went back to living room where Joy was. The second he hit the corner, her eyes were on him and she tried to smile, but he could see the stress on her face.

  Logic sat down next to Joy on the sofa and lowered his arm around her shoulders, forcing her into his side.

  “Why are they here?” She asked, confused about why Logic had called Luther who showed up with someone who she knew was a cop.

  “This is your apartment, Joy, and that’s your ex-boyfriend. All this shit is in your name. We couldn't leave a body here without there being a million questions why. They’re taking care of that so that it doesn't come back on you.”

  “Me, what about you? They’ll know I didn't do that so they’ll assume it was you.”

  Logic smiled at the fact that she was more worried about him than she was about herself. “I’m good. They have it under control.”

  “But that's a cop, don't they have to—”

  “No, they don't have to do anything that will come back to either one of us. It's handled. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. When we walk out of here, this shit is over. Get whatever you need before you leave because you’re never coming back.”

  She looked at Logic, wanting to question him more, but decided against it. Rah was gone, and Logic had assured her that she didn't have to worry about the fact that he took Rah’s life. The details weren't important. As long as they could move on, she had no problem letting it go.

  -11-

  “Yo, you good?” Gotti asked as he eyed Logic.

  Logic and Gotti were sitting in his car behind an abandoned warehouse, which was one of the locations they used to do handoffs. Logic made a point of always switching things up because he didn't have a lot of trust in people, especially Solomon, who they were currently waiting for to get their product.

  “Yeah, why, what’s up?” Logic slid his phone back into his pocket and looked up at Gotti.

  “You keep checking your phone and shit, like you waiting on something. I got this if you need to jet.”

  Logic laughed when me realized Gotti was right. Ever since the situation had gone down with Rah, he had Joy checking in with him damn near all day. It was almost three o'clock, which meant that school would be letting out and he should be receiving a text from her at any minute to let him know that she was good and on her way to Mini’s house. She was supposed to head there straight there from her school at Mini’s request to help her cook for the family dinner. Logic was happy about Joy and his mother’s relationship. The two talked all the time, and Joy even went there to spend time with Mini without him.

  “Nah, I’m good, and there goes Solomon anyway.” Logic looked up at the three Black SUVs that pulled into the parking lot where they were waiting. He and Gotti both got out, leaned against his car, and waited for Solomon to approach. Logic’s mind was on the fact that he was about to piss Solomon off, so a cocky grin was plastered on his face as they watched the vehicles that had just arrived.

  A few minutes later, Solomon approached and the men shook hands just before Solomon began to speak.

  “This is a large order. I take it this has something to do with the area you took over from Rah and his brother. It's a shame they just disappeared like that. First Donte and Fezz, and now Rah and Moses.”

  Solomon wore a smirk as he glanced at Logic after hinting around to Logic’s involvement in the four men’s disappearance. Gotti picked up on it and moved his hand under his shirt. Logic already wasn't feeling Solomon, and trying to send verbal shots at him was definitely not the move, or helping the situation. In fact, the only reason Logic had tolerated Solomon all this time was because they got quality product for a decent price, but that was about to change. With the increase in what they were ordering, Levi, who was Solomon’s boss, had reached out to Logic and offered him a better deal.

  Logic cut his eyes at Solomon before holding his hand up to stop him from talking. Logic’s gesture was purposely disrespectful, handling Solomon like a child who was speaking out of turn, which made Gotti chuckle. Logic pulled his phone out of his pocket, read a message from Joy, responded, and then slid it back into his pocket before he looked up to focus on Solomon again.

  “Yeah, seems like people just be disappearing and shit. The funny thing is, it's always somebody who tried some disrespectful shit with me. That’s just crazy as fuck. What do you think, Solomon?” Logic wore a cocky grin after his low key threat.

  He could see the tension lines forming on Solomon’s face because he knew that Logic was sending him a message. Solomon wasn't really a threat; he was just a man who had lucked up on an opportunity. After speaking to Levi, Logic was informed that Solomon was fucking up and wouldn't be around much longer.

  “Coincidence, I guess.” Solomon glanced across his shoulder where his men were standing before addressing Logic again. “So, I was thinking that with this new territory you have, it might be a good idea to renegotiate. I feel like we could come to some better terms and help you make a lot more money. With a little more commitment on your end, we could probably get you a much better deal than you have now.”

  Logic looked at him with no expression. “Oh
yeah? More commitment on my end, huh?”

  “Absolutely. You’re a loyal customer, so it's only right.”

  A cocky grin formed on Logic’s face as he peered at Solomon. “Only right, huh? See, the problem I have with that is that you already promised me that I was getting the best deal possible, and now here you are, telling me that I’m not. How the fuck should I feel about that, since I’m such a loyal customer? What I think is that you did some math and are now trying to cash in on my expansion. I’m a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them. I don't know, seems to me like I might need to start shopping around my damn self. Maybe I’ll just reach out to Levi. That’s your boss, right? What you think about that, Gotti?” Logic looked at his partner.

  “Aye, sounds like a good idea to me. I mean, if this nigga can't respect you enough to give you the best value for your money, then find someone who will.” Gotti looked at Solomon and grinned.

  Solomon looked at Logic and then got pissed, but he knew he couldn't really say shit. He had made a lot of money off them and didn't want to lose their business. Also, the fact that Logic had mentioned Levi made him nervous, and since they were now buying triple the product, he backed down. A buy like theirs should have gone through Levi anyway, and he knew it.

  “I see. I guess we’re good like we are?” He glanced over his shoulder before waving his hand in the air.

  Two men stepped out of one of the SUVs carrying two oversized duffle bags and headed their way. Logic opened his trunk and retrieved a backpack full of money. They did their exchange and Gotti loaded the product in the trunk.

  “So, I guess I’ll hear from you soon. You guys are moving through product faster than I really expected,” Solomon said, trying to gauge Logic's mood. He knew he had fucked up and was trying to regain a little.

  Logic glanced at him and made his way to the driver’s side of his car. He pulled the door and got in without responding.

  To further make it clear that he had no respect for Solomon, he smiled and casually tossed out, “Maybe, I’ll have to think about that.”