Page 117 of Her Loyalty

"What's up, baby?"

"Listen, even though I'm going with you, she is right." I expressed to him as he listened intently.

"I really don't feel comfortable going back there."

"I just got shot there last night, meaning someone had to be either targeting me or you. That's not a settling feeling." I explained to him and he licked his lips, sitting back in his chair.

"Whatchu scared, T?" He asked and I just stayed quiet. Of course I was scared, this was his life, not mine. He'd been shot multiple times like it was nothing but one shot was enough for me to know that the street life was not for me.

"Yes, I'm scared, babe." I admitted and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" I expressed at his nonchalant demeanor, he knew I wasn't about this life.

I watched as he chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Baby, you ain't gotta be scared of shit. I already handled it."

"That nigga gone."

"You know who it was?" I asked and he slanted his lips.

"Who you think your nigga is?" He went on, making me smile small.

"That bitch ass nigga I almost killed the other day came back tryn' hit me and made a mistake and hit you."

"Na' that nigga dead." He went on, making me swallow hard at the idea of him killing someone. I knew it wasn't his first time but I never wanted to know about the killings.

"I ain't gon' let nobody touch you ever again. I put that shit on my life." He spoke sternly.

"You ain't ever gotta be scared of nothin'. I'm your man, whoever you want dead, whoever even look at you wrong, baby. I'a do him in, I don't give a fuck." He spat, looking at me seriously.

"I'm here to protect you, you ain't gotta be scared of shit. Ever."

"So don't ever let me hear that shit come out your mouth again. You got hittas out here for real." He went on, holding his hand out for me. I smiled small as I grabbed it and he kissed the back of my hand.

"You trippin' baby. You must've forgot who your nigga is."

"Stop fuckin' playin' with me."

39.

Tiana

Pulling up to Dominic's house, I could already see that there were so many people outside on the porch. They were mostly Deja's friends but I already knew the only reason they were all actually here was to be nosey.

"You good?" Dom asked as he cut the engine and I simply shook my head no.

"Babe."

"I don't want to stay here tonight." I expressed becoming even more anxious than I was leaving the hospital.

"T." He sighed deeply.

"I really don't, Dominic." I went on, looking at all of the guys on the step. Though I knew they were friends and harmless to me, I just didn't trust anyone at the moment. Around me or Dom.

"Please." I practically begged.

"Aight, baby. Where you wun' go?"

---