by K. C. Mills
“Actually, you were, but I understand why.”
Mini smiled at Joy. “You’re good for him. You love him, but I can see that you’re not going to let that change who you are. He needs someone strong, who will be his voice of reason, when he’s not thinking rationally. Auggie is a thinker, but when his heart is involved he reacts, which is why I know he loves you. He was going to shoot that man, in my house because of you. He didn't, because you stopped him—not me or his sister, but you did that. When you put your hand on his arm, it made him think, so I need you to be his voice of reason. I’m mentally sick every day just thinking about all the what ifs, but I know I can't change that. He’s a man and he has to live his life so all I can do is let him, but I don't want to lose my son, so be his voice of reason. Give him a reason to come home to you every night so that I know he’s safe. I can't do that but you can.”
Joy looked at Logic’s mother and for the first time, she saw the pain in her eyes, the way they were pleading for Joy to keep her son safe. Joy knew that she couldn't promise her that, but she would at least try.
“I will,” was all she could say and with that, Mini stood, hugged Joy and then laughed.
“I don't know if you can really cook or not, but those two can't, so I guess we better go make sure my kitchen is still standing.” Mini’s confession about Nova and Najah made Joy laugh also, so the two of them left her bedroom heading back towards the kitchen. Logic gave Joy a strange look when they passed the living room, but Joy blew him a kiss to let him know things were all good, and followed Mini back to the kitchen where Nova and Najah were still going at it.
Nothing else needed to be said. Najah, Nova and Joy got cozy in the kitchen making spaghetti from scratch, because it was the only way Mini would allow it. Logic sat in the living room with Trent, Kenya and Kenyan playing video games, until Luther showed up and dinner was ready. The kids set up in the living room, while the adults sat around the kitchen table and settled in for dinner. The rest of the night was random conversation about a little of everything, and picking on Mini about the way she and Luther were pretending to just be friends when they were clearly much more. They kept finding ways to touch each other and were having private conversations, which ended in a lot of whispering and grinning. The night actually was a success and everyone seemed to be in a good place.
“So?”
“So what?” Joy lifted her head as she answered Logic.
He was stretched out on the sofa with Joy against his body, while his arms held her in place. His eyes were closed while she used the tip of her fingers to trace the outline of the tattoos on his arms. The apartment was quiet since they didn't have anything on.
“What did you and my moms talk about?”
“Our business,” Joy said with a grin, even though he couldn’t see her face because of the way she was positioned and the fact that his eyes were closed.
“Do I need to call her and ask her, because you know she’ll tell me.” Logic lifted one hand and went to go reach in his pocket for his phone, but Joy grabbed it to stop him.
“It's none of your business, just girl talk.”
That made him laugh, because not even thirty minutes before they got to his mom’s house, Joy was freaking out about how his family hated her and now they were having… girl talk.
“Oh, so y'all tight like that now?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Nothing, it's all good, but I’m still gonna make her tell me.”
“She won't.”
Logic lifted his head and frowned at the thought of his mother and Joy having secrets. That was a negative.
“So you have secrets and shit with my mom? You know I’m not having that?”
He slid his body from under hers, grabbed her wrists, pulling them above her head and securing them with one of his hands. Joy displayed a smile the entire time, as she squirmed to get comfortable under the weight of his body as he pressed his against hers.
Logic began with soft kisses to Joy’s face, before moving to her neck, where he transitioned to sucking and tugging at her skin.
“You can't seduce me into telling you,” Joy said before she closed her eyes and released a throated moan, that she was fighting hard to hold on to.
“You don't have to tell me shit,” Logic said in between kisses.
“I bet,” Joy moaned. She could feel his erection pressing into her stomach, which prompted her to open her legs and secure them around his waist. That was enough for Logic to take control. Within seconds, he was up and his clothes hit the floor. They were both naked from the waist down, and Logic’s head moved down Joy's stomach, in between her legs. He dipped his shoulders enough to leverage Joy's legs over them, and then went to work. He kissed, sucked and licked every inch of her center, until he felt her body began to pulse and she mumbled his name.
Without missing a beat, he spread her legs wider and tapped her clit with the head of his manhood, before entering just the head. He knew that Joy wasn't fully recovered, so a smirk spread across his face as he watched her hands grip the sofa, while she tucked her bottom lip under her teeth, trying to control the wave that was about to hit her. Her sex faces were so sexy to him that he could climax just watching the pleasure that she was feeling.
After removing the head and then entering it again, this time going a little deeper, he kissed Joy so deep and passionately, that he could feel her energy passing right through his body. So with slow, steady strokes, he began giving that energy right back to her. The deeper he moved inside her, the more he was about to lose it, so he closed his eyes and just let go. Being with Joy was like an out of body experience for him. It wasn't just sex. Even if they were being rough, which they sometimes were, the feeling couldn't be matched by anything that he had experienced before, but now his slow and steady movements had him on the edge.
“Damn Joy, you got me willing to do anything for you as long as I know this will always be mine. Fuck, I love you, I love this.”
“I love you too,” Joy mumbled. She was in her own euphoric state so she was barely able to get the words out.
With that, Logic buried his face in her neck and began trying to reach the deepest part of her body, and before long, they were both screaming out in pleasure together. After they came down off their high, Logic lay there inside of Joy, kissing her chin and neck, smiling at the face that had him so wrapped up.
“I know it’s a bitch move to say this, but I’m about to say it anyway, and I swear to God I mean it. This is my shit Joy. Don't ever let another nigga in it, or you gone have my ass in jail for murder. I put that on our unborn child.
Joy laughed. “Our child?”
“Hell yeah, they’re up in this bitch tonight, ‘cause I swear I just made it happen.
Logic placed his hand on Joy’s stomach and had a big ass grin on his face before he gently bit down on Joy's chin and then her bottom lip.
“You better hope not, because neither of us are ready for that.”
“Your ass might not be ready, but I’m ready. I’m ready for anything that’s a part of you. Trust that.” Logic spoke with such assertiveness that Joy couldn't even debate him on it. She just wiggled free from under his body and then headed for the bathroom. Logic was right behind her and after they shared a quick shower and got ready for bed, Joy decided to fess up about the conversation that she had with his mother.
“She wants me to be your reason for coming home every night.”
“What?” Logic mumbled, half asleep, before pulling Joy deeper into his body and kissing her shoulder.
“Your mom… she feels like if I’m here for you then you’ll have a reason to come home safe every night. She said she can't be that for you but I can.”
“Mm hmm, she’s right. You are my reason. You and this baby.” Joy could hear the smile in Logic’s groggy voice, but she knew that he was serious. She simply inhaled and let it out slow before relaxing against his body. If it happened, it happened, and at this point, she was good with i
t either way. After her eyes were closed, she let her breathing slow to the pace of his and shortly after, they were both out.
-12-
“Chill the fuck out Moses, I said I’ll be there. Don't worry about where I am. I’m about to run and go check on Joy real quick and then I’ll be by there. Let me worry about all that.”
Nova stood at her bathroom door with her ear pressed to it, listening to Rah’s conversation. She was expecting to catch him talking to another female, but quickly realized that it was his brother Moses, and even though she didn't catch him talking to another female, she caught him talking about one. She heard him clear as day telling his brother that he was about to go check on Joy.
Nova felt hot all over as she got pissed. One, because Joy swore up and down that she wasn't messing with Rah, and that her past was her past, and two, because Rah had lied also. He promised her, more than once that he hadn't seen or talked to Joy since the incident at her aunt’s house, but he was casually talking about checking on Joy, like it was a regular thing.
It took her a moment to get her thoughts together and her head right, before she could face him. Her original reaction was to go off on him and then go straight to Logic, but she knew she needed proof. If she just went to Logic with some maybes, she would first have to admit how she found out. That meant he would know that she was still fucking with Rah, and she also knew that Logic would likely take Joy’s word over hers, so she couldn't step to him unless she had proof.
She exhaled and then pulled her bathroom door open, where she found Rah sitting on her bed stepping into his Timbs. He looked up at her and smiled which she returned, but it damn near killed her.
Once he had his boots on, he stood, grabbing his phone off the bed, dropping it in his pocket before he yanked her into his body by her waist, and placed his lips on hers.
“I have head to the block to check on my brother, you good? You need anything?”
“Nope, I’m good.” Nova pulled away and started collecting the clothes that she had on before Rah helped her out of them. She could feel him watching her.
“Damn, no complaining, the fuck is up with that?” Rah asked as he grabbed his keys off her dresser.
“I have to go pick up my kids and it doesn’t matter anyway. You're gonna do what you wanna do, right?” She still hadn't looked his way.
“Don't be like that. It’s just business, ma. I’m not doing shit but making money.”
Nova pulled on a pair of jeans and then buttoned them, before she walked to her dresser to get a pair of no show socks for her Nikes.
“I know,” was all she said out loud, but in her head she kept going, you lying, cheating, no good ass nigga. I hope my cousin puts a bullet in your head right after he catches you with Joy.
“I’ll hit you up later and maybe I can swing through tonight after your kids are asleep,” Rah said, oblivious to the fact that Nova was fuming. She was hiding it well.
“Yeah, do that.”
Rah chuckled knowing good and damn well that she was trying to play hard, but wanted him to come back later. He actually planned on trying, but right now, his priority was Joy and then hitting the block for a quick minute to shut Moses up.
“Aight ma, I’m out.” He headed to her front door and Nova scrambled to get her keys and purse. She walked out right behind him, locked her door and then jumped in her car. She didn't have a clue about following anybody, but she was damn sure about to learn today.
Rah pulled off and Nova kept her distance, following behind him. Luckily there was a lot of traffic, so she was able to get a few cars behind, but still follow his moves. Once they hit the highway, it was a lot easier. She got nervous a few times when it looked like Rah was slowing down, but he never stopped and eventually, ended up at a school. Nova parked on the curb while she watched Rah circle the parking lot. She realized he was looking for Joy’s car and after he located it, he parked right in front of it, blocking her in.
Nova pulled her phone out and waited. About ten minutes later, a group of people walked out the building. She spotted Joy immediately and so did Rah, but Joy was deep in conversation with the group she was with, so she didn't notice him until she broke free and was on her way to her car. Nova could tell that Joy wasn't happy to see him, but Nova was prepared for anything, so she ducked down and waited.
The second Joy was close enough to Rah, Nova’s eyes were glued to both of them with her phone recording, but things didn't go like she thought. She watched as Rah grabbed Joy's arm and it appeared that the two ware arguing. Joy tried to break away from him while looking around the parking lot, but it was just the two of them so she surrendered under his control. Rah had Joy by one arm and forcefully pulled her into his body, before grabbing her around the neck. Nova could tell that he was yelling until he finally let her go. He started to move away from Joy and then stopped quickly. Joy jumped and Rah pointed at her, yelled something else and then turned to get into his car.
Nova sat there with her mouth wide open after having recorded the whole thing on her phone, but what she didn't count on was being so caught up in the moment that she wouldn't notice Rah pass right by her. In fact, she didn't notice him at all until he slammed on brakes, jumped out of his car and was yanking her door open.
“You spying on me?” he yelled holding Nova against his chest.
“Why shouldn't I? I don’t trust you and I’m glad I didn't,” Nova yelled.
Rah laughed. “Bitch, I don’t need you to trust me. You’re not my damn girl, just some pussy in a rotation of many,” he said through an evil grin.
Nova looked up just in time to see Joy speeding out of the parking lot, in the opposite direction from where they were parked. Nova knew she was in trouble because she had a feeling Joy was going straight to Logic, and if Joy had seen her with Rah, it wasn't going to look good for her; but unfortunately, that was the least of her worries. Right now, she had this psycho damn near trying to choke her.
“Fine, you want Joy, then let me go, why you still holding me here?” Nova looked around and still, no one. She got scared. It was like Rah had flipped a switch and had turned into someone she didn't know.
“Nah, it don't work like that. I can see that I need to teach your ass a lesson.”
Rah raised his hand and smacked Nova so hard across the face, that she knew for sure his handprint would be there. He didn't stop there though. He had one hand secured around her neck and began to squeeze, until she was barely conscious. Once he saw her fading, he smacked her again, bringing her back and as she gasped for air, he laughed like it was amusing him to watch her suffer.
“See what happens when you don't mind your own damn business.” Rah smiled as he lifted Nova’s body so that she was upright. His hand was gripping her neck again, while he peered into her eyes, and Nova saw nothing but hate.
“Bitches always gotta fuck up a good thing. And it's a shame too, because I was starting to like you Nova.”
He leaned in and kissed her lips before forcefully shoving her back, causing Nova to hit the ground. It took her a minute, but she scrambled to her feet backing further away from him.
“Tell your bitch ass cousin I’ll be waiting, because I know he’s coming for me. Especially now.”
Rah winked at Nova before he disappeared into his car and pulled off. She felt a rush of tears hit, the second he was out of sight. She stood there for a second not believing what had just happened, and when she finally got it together, she got in her car and pulled off. She didn't know what to do next, so for now she was just going home.
*****
Logic massaged his temple as he listened to Joy ramble on about Rah showing up at her job. Truth be told, he hadn't really registered anything she said beyond the fact that Rah physically put his hands on her. Aside from her being upset, there were no visible bruises, but Logic was standing there in front of Joy with one arm folded across his chest; the other was bent at the elbow, while he stared at the floor massaging his temple.
He
was so out of it that he hadn't even realized that she stopped talking, until she called his name to get his attention.
“Logic, did you hear me?”
“Yeah.” He hadn't heard a damn thing she said, but it didn't matter because the end result meant that Rah was about to die. Logic reached for Joy's hand and once she was on her feet, his arms were around her. He kissed her on the lips and then let his forehead press gently against hers. “I fucked up but I’ll make it right.”
“Don't say that, this is not on you, and I’m fine.”
Logic laughed arrogantly, before he stepped away from Joy and then around her. He walked to his bedroom, straight to the closet. It only took him a minute to have his gun out the safe and on his body. Joy watched, not really knowing what to say because she knew that it would be just words and wouldn't change anything. Logic was going after Rah and she couldn't stop him. There was a small part of her that wished that she had never told him, but she knew Logic well enough to understand that if she hadn't, it would have been much worse. She also didn't want to run the risk of not telling him and Logic mistaking that for Joy protecting Rah.
“I’ll be back.” Again, Logic stepped around Joy, moving towards the front door. She was right behind him and when they both reached it, he looked back at her with vengeance etched all over his face, and hate filled eyes. Once again, he pulled Joy into his arms and let his forehead rest against hers. He held that position for a minute and then kissed her lips. He didn't speak and it barely even seemed like his was breathing. There was a calm that washed over him at the thought of knowing that he was about to take Rah’s life.
“I love you,” Joy said barely above a whisper, once he had the door open.