Where My Loyalties Lie 2

by K. C. Mills

  “Yeah, it's been quiet,” Gotti said.

  “It’s late, you might as well stay. Give me a minute to get her set up and I’ll be back to holla at you.”

  Gotti nodded, and Logic led Joy down the hall to his old bedroom, the one that he shared with his brother until they were both out and on their own. He was rarely ever in it, because it felt strange to him, being there without his brother. For some reason, it felt like Bernard would at some point come walking through the door. As much as he knew it wasn't going to happen, there was a part of him that felt like it would.

  Once Logic got Gotti situated and checked on everyone else, he joined Joy who had already showered and was in his twin sized bed, waiting on him. They talked for a minute before he went to shower and then climbed in bed with Joy. The two of them got cozy, Joy's back pressed against Logic’s chest while he tucked one hand under her shirt, the other folded under his pillow.

  “How many other girls have been in this bed with you?” Joy asked randomly, breaking the silence that surrounded them.

  “None, why?” Logic admitted truthfully. He had never been the type to disrespect his mother’s house by sneaking females in. Now he had snuck out plenty of times to handle business, but never in his mother’s house.

  “Yeah, I bet.” Joy playfully rolled her eyes not believing him.

  “I don't have to lie. I would tell you, because that was then and this is now.” Logic kissed the back of her neck. “But you can be the first if you want.”

  Joy smiled. “Not happening. The last thing I need is for your mom or sister to bust up in here with my legs in the air.”

  He laughed. “We can lock the door.”

  “Not happening, go to sleep.”

  Logic released a muffled laugh because his mouth was against her shoulder. Joy moved closer into his body and closed her eyes, while Logic did the same and just like that, they were both out.

  *****

  The next morning Logic was up early, got Joy to work, and the twins and Trent to school. Nova and Najah were staying at the house because neither of them had plans, and his mother still wasn’t talking to him. Now he was sitting at their spot across from Gotti, while the two of them discussed what’s next.

  “So this motherfucking is still hiding. That’s a bitch move. First you come after women and then you run and fucking hide.” Gotti was admiring the blunt that he had in his hand so he wasn't really paying attention to Logic as he spoke.

  “It’s all good, he’ll surface sooner or later.”

  “What now?”

  “Business as usual, fuck him. Shit don't stop because he’s hiding in the shadows. Just make sure our people know to be on the lookout.”

  “They’re good. I already let them know what’s up.”

  “Aight, bet. I have a few things to take care of before I have to pick Joy up later. You good around here?”

  “Hell yeah. Handle your business,” Gotti said with a cocky grin.

  Logic dapped Gotti before he stood to leave. Once he was outside, he checked his phone to make sure he didn't have any messages from Joy. Not knowing where Rah was or what he was up to, he told Joy to be in touch throughout the day to make sure she was good. He dropped her off and would be back to pick her up once her school let out, so for now, he was going to check on a few things, mainly trying to see if he could get eyes on Rah. It was annoying him that he couldn't find him.

  On the way to his car, he noticed a car parked across the street and there was a female inside. She looked familiar and was watching him. Once her car door opened, Logic reached behind his back with his hand on his gun, not really trusting anyone right now, especially after he realized it was the chick he had seen both Rah and Moses with. She had her eyes on him and looked nervous as she approached.

  “Um, are you Logic?”

  “Moses send you here?” he asked, instead of answering her question about his identity. He still had his hand on his gun, which caused her eyes to move from his to the position of his hand, as she spoke.

  “Yeah, but it's not what you think.” She began fidgeting with the hem of the shirt she was wearing and adjusting her weight from foot to foot.

  Logic narrowed his eyes at her, wanting her to get to the point. “Okay, so why the fuck are you here?”

  “He said to tell you that, you were right about his brother and that he can help you find him.”

  Logic laughed. “So you fucking his brother and Moses is still cool with you? So much so, that he sent you to tell me how to find his brother? Get the fuck outta here with that bullshit.”

  Logic turned towards his car, but she kept speaking. “It’s true, he would have told you himself but… well, you already know he can't, so he asked me to do it. You don't have to believe me, and I understand why you wouldn’t, but I messed up with Rah and Moses is giving me another chance. He hates him just as much as you do, if not more, so I can tell you how to find him if you want.”

  “Nah, I’m good, and tell Moses his ass might be next.”

  Logic looked at Alicia with a smirk and then pulled the handle to open his car door.

  “First and Prospect at six tonight. He’ll be there. He thinks he’s meeting his supplier but Moses lied. He set it up so that you could meet him instead. Moses doesn't care if he dies. It's the truth.”

  Logic glanced at Alicia but didn't say a word. He just got in his care and pulled off, leaving her standing there.

  -17-

  “Where’s my daughter?” Moses asked after Alicia walked into his hospital room alone.

  “She's with my mom. I hope you didn't expect me to take her with me, while you were sending me to set up a hit on your brother.” She rolled her eyes, annoyed that she was stuck in the middle of all of this.

  “You need to calm all that shit down, real talk. This is your damn fault. If you hadn't been so damn slick, sneaking around with that nigga, you wouldn't be doing shit but raising our daughter,” Moses sneered at Alicia. He was trying real hard to give her a pass, but with her giving him her ass to kiss, when she clearly didn't have room to say shit, was making that damn near impossible to do.

  “I’m sorry, but this is hard. You might deal with stuff like this every day, but I’m not you, Moses. It's not like I’m used to setting someone up to die. How do you expect me to feel?”

  “I expect you to make shit right. You did this so fuck all that whining and shit. Did you tell him?”

  “I tried, he acted like he didn't care. He knew who I was, so he didn't trust me.”

  “But you told him where to find Rah?”

  “Yes, but I don't think he’s going. I told you he knew who I was.”

  “Shit, I know that. That was the point. I wanted him thinking that I was so pissed with Rah that I was willing to hand him over.”

  “He didn’t believe that though.”

  “Don't matter, he’s arrogant. Whether he believes it or not, he’ll show, just because it might be true. He’ll be cautious about it, but he’ll show. Any chance to get rid of Rah, and he won't pass that up. Trust me. What he doesn't know is that he won't make it out of there either.”

  Alicia looked at Moses confused. She wanted to fix this, but she also couldn't handle being responsible for someone losing their life. She did half of what Moses asked, but what he didn't know, was that she had a plan of her own. She planned on calling the cops and telling them that a drug deal was going down. She knew that Moses and Rah kept drugs, guns and money there, because she had been to First and Prospect with both Rah and Moses a few times. Jail was better than letting Logic kill Rah, and if the cops showed up and found drugs, guns and money, then they would arrest them both. That way neither of them had to die. She didn't want Rah to die, no matter what Moses wanted. He would never know that she called. There was no way he could, if she called in an anonymous tip.

  She just hoped that Logic actually did show, that way they would both be in jail, because she knew Moses well enough to know that he wasn't going to be satisfied
until Logic was dealt with, and if he was in jail, then Moses wouldn't have to deal with him. Alicia needed Moses alive and well. She had a daughter to raise and she had become dependent on the lifestyle he provided her with. If he was willing to raise Noel as his own, then she was going to let him.

  “Why you sitting there looking all crazy and shit, Alicia?” Moses’ voice pulled her attention back to him, so she forced a smile.

  “Just ready for all this to be over,” she mumbled. It was true. Not over in the way Moses was expecting, but still over so that they could try to move on.

  “Yeah, well hopefully it will be tonight. Come lay down with me.”

  Alicia hesitated for a minute, but then moved slowly towards him. She climbed in his hospital bed with him, trying to be careful not to affect his injuries, but he still flinched and gritted his teeth when she positioned her body next to his. Moses kissed her on the cheek before she let her head rest on his chest.

  “I’m trying, Alicia. I feel like we can get past this shit, but I need Rah taken care of first. Otherwise, I’ll always feel like there’s a chance that you’ll fuck me over again.”

  “I know,” was all she said.

  “I’m not saying I’ll immediately get over that shit, but I’ll figure out how to make it work. I just need you to understand that if you fuck me over again, I’ll kill you too.”

  Alicia felt her body get tense as Moses’ hand stroked her hair. She believed him, and for that reason she knew that she would never cross him.

  *****

  “Rah, what are you doing here?” Maura asked the second she opened her door and saw Rah standing on her porch.

  He of course ignored her, pushed past her into her house and sat down on her sofa. Maura rolled her eyes, shut and locked the door. She hadn't seen or heard from Rah in months, so it pissed her off that he just randomly showed up at her house without calling.

  “Damn, I can't just stop by to show you some love?” Rah looked up at Maura with a grin. Him being there didn't have shit to do with her. He just needed a place to chill for a minute until he figured out his next move. As much as he hated to admit it, Logic had him cornered and he needed time to think. He wasn't used to dealing with someone who matched his arrogance and disregard for another's life. From what Rah could tell, Logic was keeping shit moving and didn't seem bothered at all by the fact that he was after him. Rah was the one hiding out and that was fucking with him, so he needed a minute to let things die down before he stepped to Logic. For now, he planned on chilling at Maura’s until he had to meet Drew’s people. He didn't really feel like fucking with the situation, but he also knew that Moses was right. They couldn't afford to lose their supplier and business was business.

  “It’s been months Rahjee, so don't walk up in here now like we’ve been talking every day and have been cool.”

  “We’re not cool Maura?” Rah asked with a smirk, knowing that she was just talking shit. It didn't matter how long he stayed away, she was always glad to see him. That was why she was his first stop, that and the fact that they had no connections together, which meant that no one would know to look for him there.

  Maura was a computer analyst. The came from different worlds, and should have never even crossed paths, but by luck one day Rah noticed her at the mall, got her attention and just like that, she was in love with thug from College Park. She always told him that he brought out a side to her that she didn't know existed, and he loved how classy and accomplished she was. Maura reminded Rah of Joy in a lot of ways, but he knew that she would never be Joy. At the time Maura was as close as he could get, since Joy wasn't fucking with him anymore.

  “No actually we’re not, so don't just show up at my house like we are.” She placed one hand on her hip, adjusting her body so that the majority of her weight rested on one foot. Rah eyed her curvy body that was barely covered with just a pair of tiny running shorts and a sports bra. His tongue glided across his bottom lip before a smile crossed his face.

  “You want me to leave?” He kept his eyes on hers while he waited.

  “Yes.” She turned, unlocked her door, opened it and then held it with one hand, while she pointed to it with the other. Rah smiled and walked over to her. His arm went around her waist, pulling her into him while the other pushed the door closed again.

  “You sure about that?” He kissed her neck and then her shoulder before he backed her against the door, making sure she felt the swell in his jeans.

  “Rah, don't,” she moaned, as his lips grazed her skin. He ignored her plea, and before she could object, her clothes were coming off and so were his. She gave up and just let it happen.

  *****

  “Do you want to tell me why you’re really here?” Maura sat down next to Rah and lifted the blunt he was smoking from his hand, placing it to her lips and taking a long pull. She only smoked with him, a habit that she didn't necessarily love but she enjoyed.

  “I just needed to escape for a minute. You don't seem like you’re complaining too much though,” Rah smirked, thinking about the session that the two of them had just had.

  Maura took another pull from the blunt before passing it back to him. “We never had problems in that area Rahjee. Now, commitment and respect are a whole different subject.”

  Rah chuckled and inhaled as he placed the blunt to his lips. “That shit just isn't for me,” he admitted truthfully.

  “I don't see why not. You can sleep with a hundred women, but does that really satisfy you?”

  “Hell yeah it does,” Rah burst out laughing.

  “You know what I mean Rah. Are you really happy? Who’s in your corner, who’s really got you when shit really matters? You fuck bitches but you don't have a real woman on your team, or you wouldn't need all the extra.”

  Rah looked at Maura speechless. She was right. He didn't really have that one. He wanted that to be Joy, but he would have to kill Logic to make it happen. Joy wouldn't just choose him, not now. There used to be a time when she would have, but not anymore.

  “I had that, but I fucked it up.” He didn't know why he was telling Maura that. Probably because they were just cool. She made peace with the fact that she could never fully have him, so he was a play thing to her.

  “Fucking around, right? You need to grow up Rah. You're too damn old to be so called playing the field.”

  He chuckled. “You want to raise me? I need guidance, ma?” He offered up a cocky grin.

  “Fuck no. You’re on your own with that. I’d fuck around and kill you. You like to put your hands on women and I ain't the one. I’ll shoot your violent ass. It only took me once to learn that lesson.”

  “Bitches just be doing dumb shit—”

  “Don't, don’t make excuses because you’re not man enough to deal with a strong woman. That’s probably why your one got away. You’re a pussy if you can't deal with a woman without putting your hands on her. Ain't no dick that good to let that shit happen—not even yours—and you got some good shit.”

  Rah burst out laughing. If any other woman had come at him like that, he would have gotten in her shit. It was like he couldn't help it sometimes, but not Maura. She got a pass. She wasn't Joy, but she was the closest thing to her. He just wished that he could let go of Joy enough to want someone like Maura. That shit wasn't happening and he knew it. So for now, he was going to sit there burn a few with her, maybe get up in her one more time, and then get back to business.

  -19-

  Logic walked into Joy’s classroom, where he instructed her to wait for him, and looked around. He shook his head at how colorful it was, so much so that it damn near made him dizzy. From the artwork on the wall, to the ABC carpet on the floor, to the multi colored chairs, it looked like a bag of Skittles had exploded in there.

  “Why are you looking like that?” Joy had been watching Logic, from the second she felt his presence in her classroom. She kept her eyes on him, up until he stopped in the center of it, with a slight frown that he hadn't even realized he was s
porting.

  “How can you stand to look at this all day? All these damn colors and shit are making my head hurt and I’ve only been in here for a few seconds.”

  Joy laughed as she stood from behind her desk and walked over to him. Once she was close enough, she slid her arms around his waist letting her hands press against his back.

  “Stop, it's not that bad.”

  “Shit, yes the hell it is.” Logic looked around again before he leaned in to kiss Joy.

  She shrugged just a little, looking around before she focused on him again. “I like it.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose before he let her go and pointed at her with a grin. “You need to get your damn eyes checked. You ready to go?”

  Joy playfully rolled her eyes, before she walked over to her desk to get her purse so that they could leave. She had been ready half an hour ago and was just staying busy, waiting for him to get there.

  The two made their way to his car and once they were in and moving, Logic placed his hand on Joy’s thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Did you miss me today?”

  “Nope.” Joy playfully shoved his hand off her leg, which he immediately replaced and she didn't stop him.

  “Oh, so that’s how we’re doing it?” Logic had his eyes on Joy, smiling, because he knew she was just playing.

  “You were just being mean to me, so I know you don't expect me to be nice to you.”

  Her statement made him laugh. “The fuck Joy, I wasn't being mean. I was just stating facts. It's colorful as hell in your classroom and I couldn't look at that shit everyday.”

  “I decorated my classroom, so if you say you don't like it, then you’re saying you don't like something I did, and that’s being mean.”

  “I told you that’s not being mean, that’s being real and trust me, there’s a whole lot of shit I do that you don’t like, so I guess your ass is mean all the damn time.” Logic laughed a little to himself thinking about the list of shit he did that irritated Joy.

  “That’s not true,” Joy responded, trying her best to hold her smile because she knew he was telling the truth.