Charmed By A Steel City Hustler

One Year Later.

Lois:

"Logan Leonard Malcom, what are you fussing about in here?" I said walking into the nursery. My six-month old baby boy was on his back kicking up a storm and hollering those tiny lungs out. I had settled into motherhood better than

expected. My pregnancy was a breeze after all the turmoil in my life. I lived in a nice home and had passed the bar exam just before giving birth to my little prince.

Bash was very supportive and stayed in my face daily. He had several high-end condo buildings and a restaurant up and running now. I was so proud of him for taking on more legal businesses and becoming a better man. He still had his other sources of revenue, which had me worried at first. Logan and I always had an escort whenever we left the house.

Bash and I had rebuilt our friendship and grown so much closer. We were casually dating and sleeping together. We had agreed to live in separate houses. Well, he gave in to the request. He was sleeping over three to four nights a week. Logan had an amazing bond with him and was spoiled rotten by his grandparents.

"Lo, bring my god baby down here. LL, is momma torturing you with her horrible singing again?" Nise yelled up my steps. She had really taken the role of godmother to another level. She came up every two weeks to visit and spoil Logan. I think she was making up for the baby she lost with Caesar. Nise never talked to me about his disappearance, but I can tell it took its toll on her.

I found it funny that Bash was unbothered by his sudden Houdini act as well. Nise was a thriving businesswoman as always and had let me in on what she really did. My bestie was at the top of the food chain: a hit woman and arms dealer. Nise was never meant to be a dancer with her upbringing. I was proud of her and had no judgements whatsoever. No one in this world was perfect. The Lord gave each of us different talents and we needed to explore them regardless of ethics. Nise came into the nursery dressed in a red romper with matching wedge sandals. She took baby LL from me and began loving on him immediately. I had prayed over the year that someone would come along and steal her heart away. Nise walked away babbling away in the baby's ear and I took a deep breath following behind her.

The kitchen had food on trays and wrapped in foil on every countertop. Bash decided to have a cookout and invite everyone over. He was really big on family time now and wanted everyone to get along. I was shocked at how cordial he and my father were being to one another. They were not best friends, but they were civil.

The death of my former father-in-law Zeus six months ago was very shocking. He died under the same strange circumstances as Adonis. There was no suspect in the case either. I had a strange feeling the deaths were connected. Bash never spoke on any of it and that was fine with me.

"Yo cousin, where the liquor cabinet at? This beer is straight piss water."

"Kalvon go on head with that, it's down in the cellar. Don't get booted and start flirting with every female tonight. I refuse to pull Nise off anyone today."

"Awe fam come on, don't do me like that. Dangerous love all this shit right here. That's why she fighting those ratchets off me."

"Boy fuck you!"

I said, and he began to laugh going down the steps. Kalvon and Nise had a brief fling that ended the moment he moved to D.C., and they became business partners. She was sticking by her guns to never mix business with pleasure again. He had no problem telling these young broads all up in his face that he was taken. The moment those dingbats realized who Nise was, they wanted to test her gangster.

Nise found the shit funny at first and cute. Now she just had Juggy throwing girls out of public places before Kalvon arrived. He had money, clout and the full support of Nise' brothers behind him. Bash stated Kalvon needed to fly on his own.

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He did still hold him partially responsible for past events. I had all the faith those two would eventually get together. Kalvon respected her position in business and loved her feminist ways as well. Nise was wearing down slowly to his charm. "Honey don't forget to put a plate up for Lola and Shari, okay? Bring the rest of that meat out. Those men out there going at it over gas versus charcoal grilling. Lord be a guiding light. Hurry up and stop dreaming Lo!"

My momma yelled on her way out the back door with both hands full of food. Lola had come out of her coma after a month. She had gaps in her memory and some cognitive issues. Once she recovered, we had a heart-to-heart talk. Tears were shed, and a lot of hugging happened.

Lola would always be my sister and love me. She could not be a part of my daily life as it was a reminder of her pain. She and Bash did finalize their divorce. Lola took an extended vacation to the islands to clear her head and came back with a girlfriend.

That was a shocker to all of us, except Bash. He said Lola had a freaky side when they did a three way early in their marriage. I was happy that she found someone to love her unconditionally. I prayed that someday we could spend more time together. She was a good aunt to Logan and spent lavishly on him.

I walked out into the backyard and gazed upon everyone enjoying themselves. Never in a million years did I think that my life would turn out this way. Finding love in the most forbidden of places. The trials and tribulations I went through to get here were not easy by far.

I was a stronger and better woman now having gone through such tragedy. Sometimes at night I would think about Adonis and wonder what would have happened had he lived.

"Lo, yo tell you dad that old school charcoal ain't touching this Butane baby ha, ha."

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I headed over to Bash who had his Gucci apron and matching chef hat on. He was too over the damn top while cooking. I love that he took an interest in healthy eating during my pregnancy and continued after Logan was born.

I put the plate down and waved my hands to say no, I wasn't getting in the middle of that mess. I loved both their cooking and refused to choose sides. My dad kissed my cheek and walked off to give us some privacy. I admired Bash for a few moments as he loaded burgers and chicken wings into the plastic container.

"What's on your mind baby?"

"You are and how wonderful of a person you are to Logan and I."

Bash looked at me, dropped the fork, and grabbed the hand sanitizer. He cleaned his hand and then removed his apron. He opened his arms, welcoming me into his embrace. I cupped his face and planted a sensual kiss on his lips. Bash reciprocated and grabbed my ass tightly.

"You come out here to start some shit while I'm cooking baby?"

He spoke in between kisses and swirled his tongue around in my mouth.

"No. I came to tell you that the movers on stand-by are getting that call today. You need to be home permanently with your family."

Bash simply nodded his head with a smirk and slapped my ass hard. He had won me over completely for a second time and we're going to last for the long haul.