Page 98 of Heart of a Savage
I looked up at her, and tears were flowing down her face. I smiled as I stood, kissing her lips.
“You said sorry.”
She looked confused for a moment before she laughed. “I did, and I mean it. I’m so sorry.”
“I forgive you, baby, and I’m sorry too. I love you so much… you’re about to have my baby.”
She nodded. “I am. You want to know what it is?”
“Hell yeah! I don’t like to be in suspense.”
“It’s a girl… Asaria Nesiah.”
I beamed with pride. “I love it. Best Christmas gift ever.” I took her lips again and began to undress her. “Let me see if this pussy still juicy for me.”
“Make me cum. I’ve been going through hell without it.”
“Ask nicely.”
“Please?”
I smirked. “You got it, mama.”
February2023
Messiah and I waited in the visitation room for my father to come out. It had been nine months since I laid eyes on my father. He told us not to visit him, but this meeting needed to happen.
My father knew the Crawfords had something to do with Uncle Lamont’s demise, and I needed him to let go of the malice. I understood that what happened would always be a scar we couldn’t remove, but he had to understand that it was bound to happen, whether it was by them or someone else. Uncle Lamont was familiar with the game, but he didn’t know how to play it. That ended up costing him his life, and I no longer wanted to hold space for what happened.
My father finally walked inside the visitation room as I sat upright, waiting for him to approach. I stood to greet him, and he paused his steps. His eyes went from my face to my stomach, and then over to Messiah before shifting back to me.
“Hi, Daddy.” I hugged him around his neck, and he reciprocated.
“Baby girl… How are you?”
I released him as we sat down. “I’m good. This is Messiah?—”
“I know who he is. Why he’s here is what I want to know?”
“He’s my fiancé, Daddy. We’re about to have a baby.”
“Oh yeah? That’s what you do, Arie? Get engaged to and pregnant by the nigga that killed my brother?”
“I didn’t kill your brother,” Messiah replied.
Daddy scoffed. “My nigga, don’t play with me.”
“Daddy…”
“It’s okay, baby.” Messiah took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I get that you’re hurting, Mr. Logan, and I do apologize for the part I played in your brother’s untimely demise. As a man who lives by the rules, you should understand why this happened this way.
“Imagine agreeing to a truce and minding your own business. For years, everything is quiet, calm—neutral. Then, boom! You get six point five million dollars stolen from you. No rhyme or reason behind it, aside from you disagreeing toupa percentage because the neutral party gets greedy and takes what he wants.
“Of course you get upset… It’s six point fivemilliondollars of your hard-earned money thatyoupay a tax on all year-round. Hypothetically, what would you have done, Mr. Logan?”
Daddy looked away, eyes scanning the room before coming back to Messiah. He sighed deeply. “Look. That was my blood, my only sibling. No, he didn’t make the right call on this, but he didn’t deserve to die. However,” he said, holding up his hand.“It’s how the game is played. I don’t fucking like it, but I respect it.”
“And I’m sorry for your loss. Arieana and I are about to bring your grandchild earth-side… We want you there physically to welcome her.”
