17. Rakim #4
Cupping my face to pull my attention from the scenery and onto her, Daylin said, “Baby, murder and violence isn’t always the solution.
You and your brothers need therapy, and though you are nothing like Nate, you’ve inherited acting out violently to get desired results, and that’s not always the way. ”
“My violence and that nigga’s violence are nothing alike,” I defended.
“You’re right. Your father is a bully and coward; that’s not you at all.
But just because you have good reason majority of the time, doesn’t make it right.
I’m thankful you kidnapped me because you are the best thing to happen to me, but I need to be the last woman you kidnap, no matter the reason. ”
“I’m a drug dealer, Day. You knew that when we got together. Ain’t no way you thought I was hugging muthafuckas and leading peace rallies to get what the fuck I needed.”
“No, I don’t think that. But you’re not just a drug dealer.
You’re a man, a great one who had to do what he had to do, and helped your family along the way.
However, your violent streak has gotten you in shit that brought about terrible consequences, too, Rakim.
I see the logic and don’t fault you for the half of the shit you’ve done, but I love you, and I don’t want to see such a promising life go up in flames because you can’t solve issues without guns or fists or both.
If your life is threatened, then by all means, but if not, I want you to be able to see another out.
“Your father did a number on you way worse than what you believe. You’re the sweetest man I know but, also, ferocious, and that is because of Nate. You are having sweat-inducing nightmares at thirty-three years old.”
I had no rebuttal because she was right.
And as much as I didn’t wanna hear this shit right now, I had to appreciate Daylin’s outspokenness and how opinionated she was, even when it was directed my way.
The first thing I noticed about her, outside of the physical and what drew me to her, was the fact that she had a mind of her fucking own and would speak up when she felt it necessary.
I said nothing, swiping the lone tear that traveled down my face just before Daylin kissed me.
“Fuck.” I shook my head.
“You are perfect to me, and I wouldn’t change anything about you.
” She looked into my eyes, cradling my face between her palms. “I just love you and am protective of you. I don’t want you going back to prison or ending up dead.
I want you here with me, free to go experience things like this vacation for as long and as frequent as we want to.
Or to be there to wrangle our kids for dinner or to open Christmas gifts.
Life is short, Rakim, and I don’t want to spend a minute of it without you if I can prevent it. ”
I nodded, bringing her into me to embrace her tightly.
“I love you,” I said, kissing her neck a few times, then her jawline before her soft lips. “I value yo’ opinion, so if you think therapy will help, I’ll try.”
“You value my opinion.” She batted her lashes, making me smirk.
“Of course. But even if I didn’t, I would still go to make you happy. That’s one of my life’s goals.”
“Since when?”
“Since I snatched you from yo’ parking lot.”
Daylin pressed her mouth to mine, and one thing led to another. After we made love, we cleaned up then lay back down.
“What time is it?” She giggled somewhat torpidly, checking her iPhone as she lay on my chest. “Damn, it’s four a.m.” She smiled, but then it waned, making me look at her screen intently.
“The fuck?” I frowned, seeing a photo of me and a pregnant ass Téa outside the beauty salon.
“Who is this?” Daylin moved from laying on me in order to see my face properly.
“It ain’t nothing like that. I ain’t ever gotten a woman pregnant in my life,” I spoke truthfully. Sighing, I continued. “She pregnant by Zaire, and I been funding her life until the kid get here.”
“Looks like y’all are arguing,” Daylin stated dubiously.
“Because I got word that she ain’t too chaste, and I needed to be sure she wasn’t fucking lying about having my brother’s kid. That baby would be all we had left of him, and I had to let her know . . .” I let my sentence trail off, remembering what Daylin had said about my violent streak.
“That you’d have her head if she was lying?” She peeped game, cuddling back up to me. “I hope she is telling the truth, but in this instance, I can’t blame you for wanting to off her. Like I said, I see the logic in everything you do. I just don’t want you resorting to that all the time.”
I bobbed my head to say I understood.
“I got you.” I pecked her forehead.
“And I need you to be a little more transparent with what you’re up to with other women because I was ready to take off on you.”
I chuckled.
“And I’m the violent one.”
“I learned it from you, Rah,” she lied, chortling as I clawed at her side where she was ticklish.
“I will be more transparent,” I said as her laughter ceased.
Pushing her hair from her face as I admired it, I added, “But even if I slip up on the transparency tip, know that me being unfaithful or up to no good is not some shit you gotta fret about. This ain’t that, Baby.
I only got eyes for you, and I’m always gon’ only have eyes for you. ”
Daylin blushed before bolting her lips to mine in feverish kisses. She then lay back on my shoulder, and it wasn’t long before she drifted off.
It took me a minute to follow suit, as I began wondering who took that fucking photo, and also, who sent it. If Téa was behind that shit, unfortunately, my violent streak wouldn’t be tucking itself away any time soon.