Where My Loyalties Lie

by K. C. Mills

  Logic chuckled as he watched Kia, as she moved from table to table, lighting the oversized candles that set on them. Her jeans clung to her shapely hips and thighs, like they were painted on and as always, the shirt she was wearing was a size too small, so that her full breasts were one of the first things you focused on. He couldn’t help but get excited about the memory of them being together. Kia was one of his regulars and had been for a while. It was nothing for them to be together two or three nights out the week, and Kia never really complained or pressed him about his situation because she had one of her own.

  She had a boyfriend that spent too much time with other women and when she got tired of it, she decided it was only fair for her to play along too. Logic couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t just walk away, but she claimed they had too many years vested and it wasn’t worth the headache to find another headache. So, she settled for whatever time Logic offered and stayed in her relationship. He was cool with it because it meant sex with no strings attached, and Kia was down. They would chill and hang out even without sex sometimes.

  “I’ve been busy.” Logic walked past Kia, but she caught his arm and turned him to face her, placing one hand on his chest.

  “You changing on me?” she asked with a grin.

  “Changing how?”

  “You know how,” Kia smiled and then stepped around Logic to continue lighting the rest of the candles.

  “I’m still me, Kia.” Logic knew that she was referring to Joy. He had only really been with Joy since the night they first hung out, and he was actually good with that; but, he also knew that being with Joy might make waves.

  “Commitment looks good on you. Never thought I’d see it happen but it’s a good look for you and trust me, if she don't act right, I’m always here.” Kia winked at Logic before she turned to head to the back.

  He just shook his head and laughed; as far as he was concerned, he was good with Joy as long as she was good with him. His only concern was making a decision about taking over again.

  “The two of you are grinning awfully hard,” Logic said when he laid eyes on his mother and Luther coming from the back. They were both laughing and smiling, and Luther had his hand on his mother’s back.

  “Mind your business Auggie,” Mini said, pointing her finger at her son.

  “Come on L, you know I have nothing but respect for this pretty lady right here.” Luther leaned down and kissed Mini on the cheek and she blushed, which made Logic laugh.

  “Aye, both of y’all are grown,” he said throwing his hand up.

  “I’m heading out,” Mini said before she turned to look at Luther. They hugged and then she moved past him, toward her son.

  “I need to see you at my house soon for dinner, and bring Joy with you. From what I hear, you guys are getting pretty cozy,” Mini said as she narrowed her eyes at her son.

  “We aight,” Logic said, before he leaned down to kiss his mother on the cheek and then turned to walk off.

  “Don’t make me come looking for you Auggie, I’m not playing,” she yelled behind his back, which made him throw his hand in the air to wave her off.

  “Chill Ma, I hear you.”

  Luther walked Mini to the door, and they shared another hug before she was gone. Luther headed back to his office with thoughts about how he planned on trying to see if he and Mini could finally move forward with things.

  ***

  It was after midnight when Logic pulled up on his block. Like clockwork, he parked a few blocks away, got his Glock out the trunk, loaded it and then sat there watching. Things moved like they always had, with what used to be his corner boys making deals, while the lieutenants hung out nearby, smoking and drinking. It was slow, which was unusual for their area, but he assumed it was due to the fact that like Gotti said, Donte was fucking up their brand. Logic knew that he could fix that in no time. He chuckled to himself knowing that just his name alone would bring in more business. People around there respected him. Like his brother used to be, Logic was fair, took care of his customers and his people, which was why Donte got pissed. Donte was too arrogant; he needed things to be about him instead of focusing on their business, so when the streets started buzzing about the Mitchell brothers, he couldn’t handle it.

  To this day, Logic swears that Donte was the one that put the bullet in his brother. Even though he claims he would have never crossed that line, Logic knew it was him. He could feel it in his heart and see it in Donte’s eyes. The smirk he wore when Logic confronted him about it, was all the proof Logic needed.

  A light tap on Logic’s passenger side window pulled him out of his thoughts, so he looked up and hit the locks to let Gotti and Lil Chris in.

  Gotti slid into the passenger seat while Lil Chris got in the back, and they both shut their doors.

  “What’s up Logic, Gotti told me he hit you up today. This means you considering it?”

  Logic looked back at him and then focused on his old block again before he answered.

  “Thinking ‘bout it,” was all he said.

  “What’s to think about bruh, this is your shit? This is where you belong. You see that shit?” Lil Chris pointed to the block. “It was never like that when you were running things. Donte is killing us man. We can’t keep going like this.”

  “That shit is on you guys. You gotta put in work,” Logic said knowing that they could make the money if they wanted to.

  “Nah see, that’s where you’re wrong. People aren’t fucking with Donte like that or anything that he touches. Him and Fez got a bad rep right now and it’s affecting us, but if they know you running shit again, you know we can get it back. People respect you Logic.”

  Logic just looked at Lil Chris and chuckled. “You think so?”

  “Fuck man, I know so. I don’t know why you sitting here pretending like that’s not where you wanna be. We see you out here, watching, waiting. Fuck that. Let’s just body his ass so that we can get back to making money,” Lil Chris said.

  “It’s that easy, huh?” Logic asked looking over his shoulder at Lil Chris.

  “Hell yeah it is. You know we got you.”

  “So what’s up? You down?”

  Logic looked at Gotti and then Lil Chris, before he looked down at the Glock in his lap. His decision was already made, but he needed some time to figure out the details. He had to think about Joy. Being back meant long hours, late nights and there was no way he could keep that from her, so they were going to have to have a conversation.

  “Give me a couple days to figure some things out. Don’t say shit to anybody.”

  “Shit, whatever you need.” Lil Chris and Gotti were just happy to know that Logic was considering coming back, and they both wanted to see Donte get what was coming to him. Logic taking over meant that that was about to happen, because the only way Donte was letting go was when he took his last breath.

  “Aight, we’re out. We’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

  Logic dapped Gotti and Lil Chris, before they got out and left him there with his thoughts. He had unofficially made the decision to be back in the streets again. It almost gave him peace and would have totally, if he didn’t have to worry about what that was going to mean to his mother and Joy; but either way, the decision was made. He would have to find a way to make it work.

  -14-

  “Hi, Mom.” Joy tried her best to maintain her smile as she entered the kitchen of her parents’ home, even after she noticed the way her mother’s face turned up when she laid eyes on Logic. Her parents had insisted that she join them for dinner and she figured it was the perfect time for all of them to meet. She already knew that her parents were going to have plenty to say about him, but she didn’t really care. They were who they were and she was who she was. Her parents had to accept that which meant accepting Logic.

  “Hello, dear.” Marilyn stepped around the counter and cupped her daughter’s face, before she pecked her on the lips and then laid eyes on Logic again.

  “An
d who is this young man?” Marilyn asked.

  Logic extended a hand to Joy’s mother, already sensing that it was about to be a long night.

  “Logic, pleased to meet you,” he said.

  Marilyn glanced at Joy and then focused on Logic again. “Pleased to meet you too, dear. The frown she wore was had transitioned to a smug grin, and Logic could have sworn he was noticing something else in her eyes, but he pushed it aside.

  “So, tell me about this young man,” Marilyn said, looping her arm through Joy’s and then walking off with her daughter.

  “Lionel is in his office waiting to meet you,” she said over her shoulder. “Follow us, and the two of you can get acquainted while I catch up with my daughter.”

  “Mom no, you’re not sending him in there with Dad so that he can interrogate him,” Joy stopped and frowned at her mother.

  “It’s cool, I’ll be straight.” Logic moved towards Joy just as Marilyn latched onto her daughter again, and then started walking.

  “See, he’ll be straight,” Marilyn mocked Logic, looking back at him with a sly smile.

  Once they made it to her father’s office, the three of them walked in where they found Joy’s father, Lionel, sitting in an oversized burgundy leather chair with the paper opened in his lap. He looked up and peered over his glasses, before he folded it neatly, stood and placed it on the table next to him.

  “Well I suppose you do remember where we live,” Phillip said, as he hugged his daughter and then kissed her on the forehead.

  “I’ve been busy Dad,” Joy returned, before she unintentionally glanced at Logic, causing her father to do the same.

  “I see,” Lionel said, as he turned to Logic and folded his arms across his chest.

  “And is this who you’ve been busy with?” he asked in an underlying condescending tone.

  “Daddy, this is Logic.”

  “Logic,” was all that he said as he locked eyes with him.

  Logic really wanted to laugh at how superior her father was acting, but out of respect of Joy, he kept his emotions in check and decided to play nice. But he knew exactly how her father felt about him the second he laid eyes on him. The problem was that Logic didn’t really give a fuck. He was who he was and whether they liked it or not made no difference to him, as long as Joy didn’t let that influence how she felt.

  With an extended hand, Logic finally spoke. “Pleased to meet you,” Logic said.

  Phillip waited a few seconds before he accepted but shook his hand, and Joy could feel the tension. She looked at Logic apologetically and he winked at her, letting her know it was okay.

  “Well, we’ll leave you to talk while Joy and I get dinner on the table. Shouldn’t be long,” Marilyn said, giving Logic a once over that lingered a little too long, around certain areas of his body.

  Phillip nodded, but Logic reached for Joy and pulled her into his body. He kissed the side of her face and then whispered, “Fuck him! He can hate me all he wants as long as you don’t.”

  When he pulled away, he kissed her again on the lips to let her know that he was good. He knew people like her father and had little respect for people like him, so he wasn’t about to let that affect who he was.

  Joy smiled at Logic, and then joined her mother as they left the room. Phillip followed behind them and shut the door to his office, before he made his way back over to the chair he had been in before they joined him.

  Once he was seated, he held his hand out to offer the one next to him to Logic.

  Logic chuckled, “Nah, I’m good. I’ll stand.”

  “So that was quite a show you just put on,” Lionel began.

  “No show, that’s just me. I don’t see a need to pretend to be something I’m not. I’m sure you can understand that,” Logic said.

  “Hmm, so Logic, is that your real name?” Lionel asked.

  “Phillip, is that your real name?”

  “Look, you’re not the first and you won’t be the last. Joy has a thing for your type. I think it has more to do with us than anything but this,” he waved his hand toward Logic, “is temporary, trust me. So you don’t have to flex your muscles with me. You’re no threat to me.”

  Now Logic had his arms folded across his chest as he peered down at Phillip. He was about his height, but thinner frame. His salt and pepper hair showed his age, but Logic could see Joy in his face.

  “You sure ‘bout that?” Logic asked with a smirk.

  “Sure about what?” Phillip looked confused.

  “That I’m not a threat to you.” Lionel looked at him with vengeful eyes, hearing the threat in Logic’s words which made him stand, but he was smart enough to keep his distance.

  “I know your type and like I said, trust me, this little thing that you have is just that - a thing. She will never be serious with you so…”

  “She’ll never be serious with me or you don’t want her to be serious with me? See, there’s a difference. Honestly, I don’t really care which one it is because you and your opinions don’t really matter to me, only hers. So we can skip this part and just be clear about the fact that I don’t wanna fuck with you anymore than you wanna fuck with me. Just stay out of my way and I’m good. If and when Joy decides this isn’t working for her, I’ll walk away, but only if it’s her choice. It damn sure won’t be yours, I can promise you that.”

  “You’re that confident?” Phillip asked.

  Logic just chuckled and proceeded to walk away. When he got to the door, he stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

  “Logic Augustus Ford, I’ll save you some time. Do all the research you want, but it won’t change shit. I know your kind, too, but like I said, it don't mean a damn thing because I’m here as long as she wants me here.”

  Logic opened the door to leave without waiting for a response. He didn’t give a fuck what Joy’s father thought about him, any more than he felt that her father could convince Joy to stay away from him. What he was concerned about was the fact that he mentioned that he wasn’t her first or wouldn't be her last, which meant that there were some answers that he needed from Joy. He didn’t really care about her past, but he also wasn’t about to be something to occupy her time while pissing her parents off.

  The rest of dinner went as expected, with Joy’s father being quiet but watching Logic. Joy was curious about their conversation, but Logic wouldn’t give her any details, only stating that they would talk about it later. Joy’s mom on the other hand, wouldn't shut up, and for some reason kept finding a reason to be near him. He found it annoying as hell, but the situation moved to a whole other level when Logic excused himself to head to the bathroom just before they were about to leave.

  Joy was having a conversation of idle chit chat with her father, so Marilyn excused herself to go find Logic. See, Marilyn was actually happy to have Logic there. Much like her daughter, she had a type. Joy’s last relationship actually worked out for both of them, so Marilyn was hoping to receive the same benefits from Logic.

  Of the three years that Joy and Rah were together, two and a half of those Marilyn also had a relationship with him. Marilyn’s was strictly sex, which she was clearly missing and hoping that Logic could fill that void for her. She and her husband Phillip had more of a business relationship than a marriage, so sex was non-existent.

  “You seem to be happy with my Joy,” Marylyn said as soon as Logic stepped out the bathroom. She quickly moved into his personal space, placing her hand on his chest, which he grabbed and stepped back to create some space between them.

  “Yeah, we’re good,” he said, looking down at her with a furrowed brow. He knew for damn sure her old ass wasn’t trying to hit on him.

  “I bet I could make that better for you,” she said, snatching her wrist away and reaching for his waist.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Logic asked, stepping back just before she made contact with his body.

  “Don't act surprised. It actually works out in your favor. I have experiences that Joy doesn’
t have and she doesn’t have to know.”

  “Yo, you are foul as shit,” Logic pointed his finger in her face with a scowl on his.

  “Don’t act like you’re not open to having more than one woman in your life. I can look at you and tell what you’re all about.”

  Logic took a step towards her, so that they were inches apart, his hand pointed at her head as he spoke through clenched teeth. “First of all, you don’t know shit about me and for you to try and push up on your daughter’s man, is so fucking foul I don’t even know where to begin with that. Even if I was the type to sleep around, it damn sure wouldn’t be with Joy’s mother and for the record, the only pussy I plan on being in anytime soon is hers.”

  Logic pushed past her, disgusted, as he started down the hallway. First her bitch ass father, and now her horny ass cougar mother. If he wasn’t actually right here in the middle of this shit, he wouldn't believe it himself.

  “I’ll be here when you change your mind and trust me, you will,” she said with a smirk as he walked away.

  “I got to get the fuck out of this house,” he mumbled as he rounded the corner. When he made it to the foyer where Joy was standing with her father, he walked right past him and without saying a word, he grabbed Joy’s hand.

  “Let’s go.” He pulled her behind him as he moved to the door.

  “What’s wrong, where’s my mother?” she asked.

  “We’ll talk about it later. I need to get the fuck out of this damn house,” Logic said as he looked over at Joy.

  “Are you going tell me what’s going on?”

  “Not now,” Logic said, as he glanced at Joy’s father, and then behind him at her mother who was walking up.

  Joy snatched away and followed his eyes to her parents. “Will somebody tell me what’s going on?”

  “I’ll be in the car.” Logic turned the handle and left, leaving the door open.

  Joy looked at her parents with a frown. “I don’t know what you said, but we’re not doing this again. That right here is who I’m with, so get over it.” Joy eyed her parents for a few more seconds before she stormed out, not giving either of them a chance to speak.