Page 69 of Church Girl
I fought my attraction to her, my need for her, the joy she brought my daughter, the light she brought me. I fought and lost. But I don’t feel like a loser. As soon as she opened her door to me and took me in her arms, accepting me, protecting me with no questions asked, I became the victor.
I’m so used to scrapping for everything in my life—my shop, my daughter, my fucking dignity—that when a gift strolled right through the front door, I did my damnedest to force it right back out.
But not anymore.
Not anymore.
I reach for Aaliyah but only touch an empty sheet. Frowning, I open my eyes, turning my head to search the room. The door is cracked, so maybe she just went to the bathroom. I’ll give her a few more minutes before I hunt her down. I’m ready to dive back in the sweetest pussy I’ve ever had. Pussy that’s as much of a goddamn miracle as the woman.
My frown deepens as a sound penetrates the quiet in the bedroom.
Muffled voices.
Is that what woke me up?
It’s probably her cousin; a glance down at my watch shows it’s only a little after six. Too early for Jade—or Tamara, as Aaliyah told me her real name—to have left for work.
An unmistakable deep, male voice echoes down the hall. I can’t tell what he’s saying, but it’s definitely raised.
The fuck is that and who’re they yelling at?
Hurriedly, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and locate my jeans and T-shirt. I drag them on, and seconds later, I’m out the room and striding barefoot down the hall.
I thought I would be squaring off with an asshole who didn’t know when to leave, but instead I come face-to-face with a tall, distinguished-looking older man, a woman who is the image of Aaliyah with a couple of decades added to her, and another man, younger, slim and wearing a scowl directed toward Aaliyah.
Oh, he got me fucked-up.
“Aye, bruh, I don’t know who you are, but you might want to fix your face before I do it for you,” I warn, stopping behind Aaliyah and Tamara, who stands shoulder to shoulder with her cousin.
Tamara glances at me, and though she doesn’t lose the mug on her face, I catch the relief that flashes in her light brown eyes.
“Who are you?” the younger man asks, his mouth twisted up as he somehow manages to look down on me even though I got him by no less than five inches in height. “Aaliyah, who is this...person?”
“Gregory—” She pinches her nose, and I don’t miss the quiver in her voice. “I—”
Instantly, I want to lay hands on this muthafucka for causing that tremble.
“Ma, you don’t have to explain shit to him. Especially when he’s being disrespectful as fuck with how he’s looking at you.”
“Von,” Aaliyah whispers. “It’s okay.”
I scowl. The fuck she mean it’s okay? Ain’t shit “okay” about what’s going on here.
“Young man, if you’ll excuse us,” the woman who must be Aaliyah’s mother—which would make the older man her father—says. Her tone is more polite, so I don’t snap on her. Though front and center is what Aaliyah told me about her and her husband. Only being her mother and a woman is saving her right now. “This is a family matter.”
“If you’ll excuse me, ma’am, this isn’t your place, and unless Tamara wants to put me out, then I’m not going anywhere.”
Aaliyah’s mother raises an eyebrow. “Tamara? This discussion should be among family.”
Yeah, that seems to be their motto. I don’t even try to contain the disgusted curl of my lips.
Tamara shrugs, crossing her arms. “I don’t have a problem with him staying.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Aaliyah’s father,the bishop, sniffs. “Given youroccupation, the wordsdiscretionandprivatearen’t in your vocabulary. I pray with your father for you, but—”
“Daddy, that’s enough,” Aaliyah quietly interrupts what was undoubtedly about to be some self-righteous bullshit. I’m glad she got to him before I did. The same tremble still occupies Aaliyah’s voice, but it’s firm when she adds, “This is Tamara’s home, and she shouldn’t be disrespected in it.”
He stares at Aaliyah, a deep frown slowly settling on his face. “Excuse me, Aaliyah Montgomery.” His shoulders draw back, and he glances at his wife then at Aaliyah again. “Is this what you’ve been learning while you’ve been hiding up here? To talk to me like you’ve lost your mind? I shouldn’t have let your mother convince me to give you time to come to your senses. Considering what I’m seeing and hearing, I should’ve come to fetch you as soon as I found out where you were.” He tosses a derisive look at Tamara then at me. “The influences you’ve been under have you forgetting who you are and where you come from.”
