Loved By You

Prolouge

Honey Jacobs-Lawson

"Lil'Speedy I have someone I want to introduce you to." O-Bot said while signaling me to follow him. I knew exactly who I was about to see. The woman that had Locks heart on her wherever she went. Me, Lock, and my baby Speed had already went over this. What I was supposed to do and how I was supposed to go about everything; steady and easy. She is literally a walking target at this point, I have to be careful with everything I say and so. A part of me felt bad because O-Bot had no idea what was going on. So, as apart of me agreeing to get her out safely I told them O-Bot could not be harmed. Revenge is something they'd have to manage from a different route. As he took me to where we were going I thought about the conversation I'd had earlier with Lock and Speed.

"Be careful in there Honey." Speed said while tilting his head to the side.

"She shouldn't be going in there at all. It's dangerous. Y'all know Bot don't let nobody out alive. The only way we gone get her is if we kill him." Lock stated. I shot a look at him that instantly let him know that plan was a no-go.

"Listen, i will go get her. Out of all the years I've known Bot, he was never the type to keep a woman in his home. Where she has access to everything; money, receipts, guns, all that. Either she scrubs the floors with a toothbrush or she got one hell of a coochie on her." I said. Speed shot a look at me to let me know I was out of line. I looked at Lock and seen his jaw lock. I've seen that face before and usually nothing good comes after seeing it. I cleared my throat and walked over to Lock.

"Listen. Ima get her out safely. But when I do, I want you to let her know that you love her. Let her know how you feel and stop holding it back like a little pussy." I said while grabbing his chin and lifting his head up.

"If I do this and it produces no good fruits. We done with this, and don't ask me for nothing else." I said. I walked over to Speed to kiss him on the cheek and made my way over to Bots.

Arriving to the room he kept her in, I snapped out of my thoughts. The walk here had been so quiet that I forgot what we even walked over for.

"All you need to know is that she is still alive. I know you been talking to Speedy and I know Speedy been talking to Lock. Ain't nothing personal. I know you, and I know Speedy and Lock like the back of my hand. I know you ain't gone try nothing because yo' loyalty is forever. And you don't have to try anything because I'm letting her go." He said. My heart thumped a little louder and I felt like it dropped a bit too. I was in shock. What does he mean he's letting her go? Nobody ever comes out of here alive. Knowing his house and how he operates, I just knew something wasn't right.

When he opened the door, I seen a brown-toned woman laying on the California king bed asleep. Her legs were curled up a little and she let the warm breeze blow through the room as if it were her cover. She slept with a silk nightgown on that stopped mid thigh, and her hair was nicely placed in a silk bonnet.

"She's beautiful." I said aloud, thinking it was only me that heard it.

"Yeah." Bot said while staring at her, then looking down and turning to exit the room. I turned and closed the door behind me. I pushed the thought of saving her to the back of my head and started to worry about Bot. This was the first time I'd seen his body language do this, and it worried me because I didn't know what it was.

We traveled down to the kitchen and he leaned against the counter. The face, that face, was the same face Lock had.

"You love her." I said letting a tear escape my eye. I was devastated. Two important men in my life loving the same woman is never good. I plopped down on one of the comfy chairs he kept in his living room that was connected to this second kitchen. Tears began to well up and fall from my eyes as I thought about Lock. Then, I thought about Bot and started to cry even more.

"Why are you crying Speedy?" Boy asked coming towards me.

"Do y'all know how dangerous it is to love that woman? She seems so sweet and loving and I know she can't help who loves her but now she is literally a walking target Bot. She makes you weak, and if I can see it other niggas is gone see that too. She can't be around Bot, you gotta let her go. Not just for you but fo-"

I sat up and put my hands over my face and began to cry. Bot grabbed my shoulder and pushed my body towards him to comfort me.

"Listen." He said while putting my face up to where I could stare directly in his eyes.

"I'll let her go next week. She won't be harmed, not one scratch. Tell Lock we done and he ain't gotta look over his shoulder no more, we tight. After next week tell Lock and Speed to come to my table because I need them both." He continued, then wiped my eyes with his hands.

"And stop crying Speedy. They knew who to send, they know you my baby forever." He said with a smile, making me smile.

"I can't help who I love Honey. But, I can help who loves me." He said. I thought about what he meant for a second and let another tear escape my eye.

What the hell am I going to do?

****

"We gotta talk." I said walking in and throwing my keys on the table. Speed ran up to me because he seen the distress in my face but I motioned for him to sit down. I stood in front of them and let the tears fall freely while I talked.

"He's going to let her go next week. I promise y'all nothing will happen to her unless y'all act out and do something. After next week he wants y'all both at his table, I'm coming with y'all and I'm not taking no for an answer." I said all in one breath. I didn't know what to do next. I seen their faces and could tell they were doing a lot of thinking.

"Wait, wait. I don't get it. Why wouldn't he kill her? She knows everything about his territory, the ins and outs. She k-"

"He fell inlove with her." Lock said while his head was down. The look in his eyes explained the condition his heart was in and I couldn't take the sight anymore.