Butterfly 2

by Ashley Antoinette

“Whatever she asks, whenever she asks. That’s my job. To anticipate her needs before she even knows she needs something. I’m her man so that’s my role. She’ll never want for anything with me, not even attention, not even time. The money is cool but the things I can’t buy she appreciates most. It’s why I buy her everything else too, cuz she don’t give a fuck about it.”

“Alani is my meal. She fills me, nourishes me. I had to hunt her because a real woman knows how to evade you. They know how to maintain some control in their lives. It’s a must they retain some governance over themselves. So, I had to figure out how to get her to think that submitting to me was a choice and not dominance.

“You got to lay bait for Mo that’s so tempting she can’t do shit else but bite,” Ethic said. “You got to feel good to her Messiah. You got to feel safe for her. You got to look nourishing. You want her to submit and open every part of her. You got to secure her. Throw out your bait to catch a queen. A queen is gon’ pick the safest kingdom. Your bait is the kingdom you build. The last name you’re offering. The history behind it…”

“Throw it back, man. Sometimes you catch something just to let it go. When it’s for you, you’ll know it. That ain’t our catch.”

Size the opposition up from a distance to determine if you’re going to allow access.

I’ll call my people and air all this shit out. I’ve been silent for two years with you, just going with the flow, so you think shit is sweet.” “I forgot your daddy’s a gangster,” Bash said sarcastically. “Daddy’s a whole killer nigga and I ain’t talking about Ethic.”

“The one who’s going to fuck shit up for every woman after this moment. You’re never going to be mine love, but I’ma always be yours. Whenever you need a nigga, you come find me. I don’t give a fuck about what happens between us. Good, bad. If you stay near, far. If we talk every day or if we haven’t talked for years. If you ever need to hit my line, don’t think twice, don’t talk yourself out of it. You call me and I’m pulling up dumping over you. Every time.”

Poem of Friendship” by Nikki Giovanni. We are not lovers because of the love we make, but the love we have.

“Say fuck nigga Friday, Yolly Pop. How you sign that shit?”

“Love is a weapon if you don’t use it right,” Alani said. “Disarm yourself, Messiah.”

“And you should want to be that, Mo. You don’t know who you are. Are you his Shorty? My love? Your fiancé’s future wife? Who are you? Without niggas telling you who they want to turn you into?” Ahmeek asked.

“You’re going to find somebody else,” she whispered. Worry laced every word. “I’m going to lose you.” Ahmeek tilted her chin, pinching it between his fingertips. “You’re going to find you, Mo. That’s worth losing anybody.”