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“He- he tried… to…” My shoulders slumped down, and I found myself not being able to find the words needed to communicate what just happened with Jarei and I. I was still stuck on the fact that he really tried to drown me. Matthew’s dreads were freshly twisted going back into a ponytail. He smelled so good and looked even better. With a white Polo shirt on and dark blue denim jeans, he had on some all-white Air Force Ones that looked fresh out the shoe box.

I don’t know what made him come here but I was forever grateful once again for his presence.

“Let’s go, we will talk about it when we get home.” I nodded my head and grabbed his hand and let him lead me right to his all-black Cadillac Escalade.

When we got inside of his car Jarei was speeding into the driveway. He hopped out of his car just as Matthew grabbed his gun. My heart start beating fast in my chest, I couldn’t make out what Jarei was saying. Matthew’s eyes turned dark, he looked over at me and stared deep into my eyes as Jarei yelled and tapped hard on the window. This time I could hear him telling me to get out of the car.

“Sugar mommy, listen to me. Focus only on me for a second baby.” He was talking to me calmly but his jaws were clenched.

“I don’t want shit from you, not even pussy if you don’t want to give that up. That shit good as fuck but I’m willing to wait for it. I don’t want to rush you in no form of commitment, but I know I’d act a fucking donkey on any nigga that’s trying to get close to you. I’m really digging the fuck out of you, and I know one day, I’ll be able to explain better on why I feel so captivated and attached to you.” He grabbed my hands and enclosed them with his. Totally ignoring Jarei, he leaned forward over the car console and kissed me passionately, stealing my breath away.

“That nigga out there is dead, I ain’t gon’ kill him yet cause I want him to prove to you why his mere existence isn’t needed. I’m a stone-cold killer baby. I make niggas like him go away for less. He don’t love you, he love the control he has over you. He like to see you weak as fuck and second guessing yourself. I want you, but not like this. I want you loving and embracing yourself and being a good mother. I know already that we both gon’ have those fucked up days where our mental is off and that’s okay too as long as we able to snap out of it and be there for one another. Feel me?” He let go of my hand and turned towards the window holding up his index finger at Jarei.

“Let me help you, I don’t want help but if you willing to get help I will too. My parents got a family therapist. She annoying as hell but she’s good at what she does. I’ll take you back to the apartment I let you stay at. It’s yours, I won’t pop up or force myself on you. If it’s time you need then you got that.” His eyes were pleading with me. I slowly nodded my head.

“Okay.” I agreed. “Thank you, Matthew.” I looked down at my red arms then back up at Matthew. I would take his help and seek the help that I needed.

“I need you to turn the music up and turn your head. If you want, you can pray for this nigga’s mercy.” He smirked.

“Why?”

“Cause I’m about to beat this niggas ass and make him stay the fuck away from you. When I knock him out, I’m gon’ go in that house and get your medicine since I know you ain’t took it. You got a day to relax then you going back to work.” I swallowed down hard and nodded again. Jarei needed his ass beat.

Matthew calmly got out of the car and the first hit he delivered to Jarei rocked his entire world. He stumbled onto the grass and stood back up on shaky legs as Matthew kept walking up to him calmly to pursue the ass whooping, he promised to give him. Something in me snapped as I opened my passenger door and got out the car.

The fresh air hit me, I took in a deep breath then approach them.Once I got to the side of Matthew, I touched his arm then looked up into his cold gray eyes. .

“I want him to feel how he made me feel twenty minutes ago. Go get some hot water and put it in a bucket.” Matthew gave me an evil smile and nodded as he turned towards Jarei who was now toothless.

“All I ever did was love you when I didn’t even love myself. You constantly kicked me when I was down, never even trying to help me. When I constantly helped you and even took care of your ass!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

“Fuck you bitch! You think this nigga gon’ love you? He gon’ treat you the same in a couple months-”Matthew launched his fist back like he was Popeye and connected with Jarei’s chin knocking him out instantly. Saying nothing, he walked towards the house and fifteen minutes later he came out holding a big pot of water. You could see it steaming. It looked like he actually boiled a pot of water which explained why it took him so long. Nyla walked out seconds later with a cold bottle of water and handed it to me. She looked at Jarei and shook her head. She turned on her heels and walked back into the house.

“Pour that cold water on him first.” Matthew coolly instructed. I took the top off and poured it all over him as he woke up gasping and struggling to breathe. Matthew sat the pot of water down to bend down and rip Jarei’s shirt off. Once it was off, he picked the big pot up, and tossed the water on Jarei causing him to scream out loud in agony.

“Let’s go before I actually kill him right now. That voice in my head ain’t agreeing with torture. It wants to murder.” He walked away and I followed him closely. I didn’t have shit else to say to Jarei’s sick ass.

On the way to the apartment, I couldn’t help myself from thinking about what Jarei tried to do to me. I couldn’t believe that he really took things that far and tried to drown me in the tub. If it wasn’t for Nyla, I wouldn’t be here. Hell, if it wasn’t for Matthew coming to see about me when he did, I would probably be roaming the streets phoneless and broke trying to figure out where I was going.

“He tried to drown me.” I blurted out just as Matthew pulled in the front of his house. It was very quiet, and it looked like his house was the only house on the dead-end street. I didn’t even bother to question him about why we were here. I thought he was taking me back to the apartment, but he didn’t.

“I know, look at your pretty ass skin red and shit. I’m having my doctor come to look at you to make sure your skin isn’t damaged. Then in the morning, Ms. Scott is coming to sit and talk with you. You raising a daughter, and these spells that you have of not washing your ass or feeling low of yourself ain’t good.” He got out of the car, and I wanted to ask him why he was so angry all of a sudden. It’s like his mood did a quick three-sixty like something came to his mind. He didn’t say anything to me as he opened the door to his truck and helped me out of the car. I was embarrassed but there was no running and hiding from the truth.

I walked closely behind Matthew and took in his mini mansion. The two-story house looked like something right out of a magazine. The grass was green, and I was surprised to see beautiful roses going up the pathway to his front door. He stood in front of his door scanning his hand over some sort of scanner and the door opened up slowly for him.

“You can stay in the guest room down the hall to your left for the night. I won’t bother you at all. When my doctor gets here, I’ll knock at the door so he can come in and check you. If that’s alright with you.” He shut the front door behind me and gave me a cold look. His eyes still looked wild and dark. I could feel anger radiating off of him.

“What’s wrong with you?” I looked up at him and when he didn’t answer, I simply just waited for a response.

“You make my fuckin’ heart itch Praylah, I don’t like that feeling. You also just told me that a nigga just tried to drown you. Like really kill you, then you expect for me to let this nigga still breathe. You can’t come in my life and rearrange some shit to your liking and expect me to have a good attitude about the shit.” He left me standing there speechless as I stared at his muscular back. He took his winding staircase by two, with ease leaving me standing here dumbfounded.

Matthew was a true character. I never asked him to get involved with any of my situations. I also didn’t expect him to try to save me, but it was obvious that he felt like it was his duty to do so. This was another reason why I didn’t want to stay in the apartment that he provided for me. I wasn’t trying to come into his life and rearrange anything. The fact that he owned his own establishments and was rich scared me.

I read stories about rich men and the things they did with their money. It was a sea full of women, so I didn’t know why he took a liking to me. Matthew was also a killer; I saw the look in his eyes the way he handled Jarei. From his mental to the way he walked and talked had me intrigued but my conscious was constantly telling me to run for the hills and never look back. I was in for the ride of my life with this man. First step was explaining to him in the morning that I had changed my mind and planned on going to live with my parents or Era.

God, I hated how indecisive and wishy-washy I was. I couldn’t make a solid decision to save my life but one thing I knew for sure was I didn’t want to be just depending on Matthew.

Chapter Eighteen