Ave Maria

Chapter 18

"I could kill your crackhead ass and still have my bitch at the end of the day." Jay gritted with his aim still on the younger man.

"Nigga if you gon' shoot me then do it." Chris stared at him with no fear in his eyes. Jay saw it and took his chances to kill the man who was coming between him and his family.

"I'll be glad too."

Beyoncé Knowles | Hamptons, NY

I watch as the cops put Jay in the back of their squad car and the paramedics placed a bleeding Julius into the back of the ambulance. Chris had his arms around me as Blue clung to my leg. I rubbed her head as she watched. I looked at everyone and they had a very somber expression on their faces. The sirens of the emergency vehicle blared loudly then pulled out of my driveway and the squad car pulled out behind it.

"C'mon baby." I took Blue's hand and walked into the house and everyone followed suit. I looked back seeing Chris standing outside just staring at the sky filled with shades of purple, pink and orange.

"Solo get her cleaned up for me?" I asked my sister who gave me a head nod. "JuJu come and finish your homework."

I walked outside and closed the door behind me. I walked next to him and he took my hand into his. I looked up at him and saw no emotion in his face. I sighed pulling his body into mine as we sat down on the steps.

"Talk to me Chris." I looked down at his knuckles seeing they were bruised along with Jay's dry blood.

"I remember when I was 6 years old I saw my stepdad put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. I have never seen some shit like that in my life and I struggled to cope with that for so many years. Today I saw that look in the man's eyes when he pulled the trigger. Cold and heartless." I turned his face and he looked at me. His eyes were a bit glossy but the tears never fell.

"Beyoncé, he almost killed them kids man." I closed my eyes trying to fight the tears from falling. "If it wasn't for Julius they would've been dead and me being a father that's not something I would ever want to go through in my life. I wouldn't even wish that on my worst enemy bruh." I wiped the tear that slid down his cheek and he wiped mine also.

"If anything ever happened to them I don't even know what I'd do myself. I can't see my life without them just as much as anyone who has known them. I pray to God that he keeps them safe every day and he did it today. We can't be nothing but thankful for Julius." I leaned my head on his shoulder looking off into the dusk.

"I just hope his ass gets what's coming to him. Karma is a bitch and I should know." We chuckled as the front door opened. We looked back seeing Julez walking towards.

"Thank you." His hands wrapped around Chris' neck. Chris was taken back but he returned the hug. "We all got you lil' man." Chris spoke ruffling his head. Julez pulled away and turned to me.

"Aunty can we go see Julius tomorrow?" I smiled then said, "Whenever Blue gets home from school tomorrow." I kissed his cheek then he ran off in the house.

I turned to see Chris looking at me. "He likes you."

I stood up and held my hand out for him to hold. He grasped it and I pulled him up along with me.

"I'm hungry so you better get to cooking." I heard him laugh as I pushed him into the house.

>>>

I walked into my bedroom to see Blue sitting on the edge with her iPad in her hand. I walked next to her and sat down pulling her in my lap. She rested her head on my shoulder now fiddling with the strings on my grey hoodie.

"Mommy why dad always hurt you?" I was shocked by her question. I had no way of telling her the truth because I knew it would crush her.

"Does he loves us mommy?" I looked down at her and she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

"Yes he does baby." I spoke softly wiping the tears from her eyes. "He loves you very much baby but daddy and mommy won't be together anymore." I told her and her face switched expressions.

"What does that mean?" she asked me. "It means that daddy and mommy will be living in different houses from now on baby but you can see daddy whenever you want." I smiled but I quickly disappeared when I saw her frown.

"I don't wanna be around daddy! He hurt JuJu and you mommy!" I sighed running my hand threw her beautiful afro. "I hear you cry at night mommy and daddy never here." I bit my lip not realizing that my daughter knew so much.

"I want a new daddy!" I laughed lightly kissing her forehead. "Soon baby but mommy gotta make sure you're protected at all times. I can't lose you because I love you too much for you to get hurt baby."

"But Chris can beat up the bad guys like he did daddy!" She punched the air in excitement. I laughed loudly as I watched her.

"Yes I will and I'll teach you too." I looked over and Chris who was walking into the room. "Yay! He's gonna protect us!" I chuckled looking over at Chris.

"Look what you started." I pointed at Blue. He chuckled sitting next to me.

"Well she is right. I will protect her because I will protect you as well. She also has Julius and her family. It isn't better than that." I smiled looking at him. I pecked his lips then pulled away.

"You're gonna stay around?" I asked him placing Blue on her feet. She ran out of the room punching the air.

"As long as you need me here I'll be there but you gotta let me know if this is what you really want Giselle. You also gotta learn to love yourself again before we can fully move forward. I love you and you're my forever but I can't have a forever if you're not in it." I looked down at my feet then back at him.

"I want this Chris but can we take it slow?"

"Anything for you baby." I kissed his lips as he deepened it.