Ledge (The Domino Effect #1)

by Grey Huffington

“Alecic. Soft-natured. Gentle. Fragile. Mild-mannered. I’d use those words to describe what’s in front of me. Their relation to an actual halo isn’t coincidental. The name suits you.”

“It involves me taking you to my house, eating your pretty pussy until you beg for me to have mercy on you, then you putting my dick down your wet, slippery throat right before I slide into the mess we both create between your legs,” he articulated.

As if the levees had been broken, every ounce of fluid rushed from my vagina. There wasn’t anything I could do to stop the overflow. I tried and tried and tried. “What is… what is going ooooonnnnn?” “Your pussy is thanking me. That’s what the fuck is going on,” Ledge snarled as he tapped my center with his hand, bringing more of the waterworks. “Oooooohhhhhh my God!”

“Bet.” With a nod, he turned in my direction and asked, “Got any? A wife?” “Nah. It’s just me, man. I hate it, but it’s really just me. I’m trying to be on the same sh—stuff y’all on. The kids and the wives… I love to see it, fam.” “It’ll come and when you least expect it. It isn’t easy, so enjoy your time alone. I can’t even shit in peace now. And food, it never really belongs to me. It belongs to everyone,” he explained. “So, I hear.”

For that, I’d forever be in his debt. He’d given me something that I never knew I needed or wanted. He’d given me a reason to keep trying and keep pushing. He’d given me purpose. He’d given me love like I never knew it. I hadn’t met my tiny human yet, but I loved them with every fiber of my being. He’d given me that. He’d given me joy.

God, please fix me. Heal me. Restore everything within me that has been broken.

“I’m trying. I’m trying. Just been busy. When the time is right, I have someone in mind.” “The time is always right when the person is,” our father interjected. “Get her before someone else does, whoever she may be.” “Noted,” I responded with a nod.

“They were right about one thing… the disrespect. What they didn’t tell you is that he doesn’t tolerate it. Niggas like you were my favorite to end…with my bare hands. You’re not as tough as you think you are, son. I’ve seen it all and you ain’t shit. Pipe down, have a seat and get to know the nigga you never met. He’s trying to get to know you,” Liam warned.

He slapped Lawe’s piece away from his chest and reclined slightly in his chair. At that moment, any and everything I’d ever heard of Liam Eisenberg was proven to be true. He was as fearless as he was feared. He was as haunting as he was haunted.

My ideal love centered around devotion, protection, romance, patience, kindness, respect, and a bunch of filthy ass sex.

Her fragility contributes to her beauty.

We’ve both got scars, I discovered. Wounds that still need healing.

The night that I met you at the bar, I’d faced some of my biggest fears. Without knowing it, you helped me conquer everything I’d set out to overcome that night. And, well, even gave me something to look forward to.

“I never said you were. I’m talking about me. The shit beginning to look like a fucking circus. Tighten up, Lawe. I mean that.” “Yes sir.” “Really fucking funny. Ugly ass nigga.” “If I’m ugly then what that make you?” “Fuck you!” I spat, leaving him where he stood and heading back to the table where everyone was seated.

“Don’t give it too much thought. As much as you might hate it, I’m a father. Whether I found out about you thirty-five years ago or a day ago, the same principles apply to you as Luca, Laike, and Lyric. Being a part of this family will teach you that it’s always the best of everything for my flock… y’all included.” “Appreciate that.”

“I’m trying to get like you, big bro. Wife. House full of kids. Overflow in finances. Man, that’s my definition of living. Fuck all that other shit.”

“Your mom own a daycare?” “Our mom?” Luca corrected. “We don’t do step shit over here.” “Yeah. She owns a daycare?”

Expectations of others, I despised them and myself for having them. I’d learned a long time ago to never expect anything from anyone. It was the quickest way to get let down and I’d been let down enough times already.

Please, Halo. I’m trying. I would love to see your face. Hear your voice. Rub your belly. And, kiss the baby to sleep. Please don’t keep running away from me. I’m not here to harm you. I’m here to hold you, love you, and help you. I’m ready when you are. We can start by you telling me one thing… Who hurt you?

“I’m the furthest from being tired of you, Halo. I haven’t had enough of you, yet. I’m tired of not having more of you. That’s all. That’s it. And, I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re fucking awesome, okay? I think you’re special and somehow was made especially for me. Look at you,” he gasped.

“Or are you ready to meet daddy, already? Mommy saw him today. He’s so patient and so kind and so amazing. One day, we’re going to be a big, happy family. Maybe give you a sibling. You’d like that?”

As I leaned forward, questions surfaced that I didn’t have the answer to. What the fuck you doing, nigga? What is this? You’re going to scare the damn girl. Fall back. But, instead of taking heed to the warnings that were going off in my head, I continued on my path, finally ending with her lips on mine.

My soul stirred. For the first time in my life, it was wrapped in the warmth and fragility of another being. Without a doubt, at that moment, I knew that I’d love this woman for a lifetime. And, slowly but surely, that lifetime was beginning. Patience.

“When you give me the chance, I’m going to love you down pretty lady, until your heart can’t take anymore.”

“Target, that was my second time being out. I can’t help but wonder if this thing between you and me was just fate. Because, when I step foot out of my door, you’re there it seems. And, I never, ever step foot out of my door.”

“I’m sorry.” Halo broke the silence. “For what, pretty lady?” “Ruining your morning.” “You haven’t. I’m just… I’m tight right now, love.” “I feel it.” “Listen,” I cleared my throat and grabbed her chin. Gently, I turned her around to face me. I needed her to hear my words and understand them clearly. “At this point, I’m locked in, aight? Like, locked the fuck in. And, I’d kill anything moving about you and this little one.” I pointed to her stomach while pausing.

“When you want some dick, pretty lady, open your mouth and use your words.”

“I’m not asking you to be anyone other than yourself. I like you just the way you are. Whatever you’ve dreamed of, it's possible to make it a reality. Even if we have to tailor it a little bit, that’s our damn business. I’ve never been into traditional shit. Let’s make this work… our way.” “Okay.” “You trying to fuck with a nigga for a lifetime?” “I’d like that.” She blushed. “Me too. I want us to try to figure this shit out together. I’m as lost as you are when it comes to this parenting thing, but I don’t want to do it separately when we have the chance to try getting it right together.”

“I don’t give a fuck about that, pretty lady. I’m signing up for this shit right here and right now so you can stop apologizing. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve made that clear. Whatever you’re dealing with, I’m dealing with too. You don’t have to do this alone anymore. I’m right here, willing and able to make shit better for you.

“I’m the sorry one. I’m sorry that life has been so unkind to you. I’m sorry that you had to suffer for so long. I’m sorry that you’ve had to face this all by yourself. I’m sorry that your grandmother passed. I’m sorry that there was no one around to protect you. I’m sorry that you had such a shitty childhood. I’m sorry that the sickness of someone else forever altered your world and the perception of the world in its entirety.”

“I’m sorry that you’re afraid and always scared. I’m sorry that you haven’t become the girl that you’re yearning to be. I’m sorry that you spent most of your pregnancy alone. I’m sorry that I didn’t come sooner. I’m sorry, Halo.”

“You hear me, pretty lady? I’m sorry about it all. Until I take my last breath, I plan to try to right every wrong the world caused you. I just hope it’s enough to help you understand how much of a treasure you are. All you see is a mess. I see a gem buried underneath the mud. I can’t wait until your eyes are open and you can see it, too.”

“When I think of you. When you’re near. It’s a never-ending pain that makes this feel real, makes you feel real. It’s so hard to believe that you are, but this pain reminds me. It’s as if my heart is actually hurting and I don’t know if I ever want it to stop. It hurts so good.” Ledge said nothing for a while. I was worried I’d scared him off with my words until he finally spoke again. “That’s love happening, Halo. I feel it, too.” “Yeah?” “Yeah, pretty lady. Soon, it won’t hurt so bad or so often. But, when it does, it’ll be a reminder of how deep your shit runs for me and vice versa. In those moments that you think of me, of us at our best and even at our lowest, it’ll let you know that it’s no fairytale and it’s real.” “I like that. Nothing has ever felt like it.” “Nothing ever will.”

“Ledge.” “What’s up, mommas?” “I’m so happy it’s you and no one else.” That had been on my mind since I discovered the little one I was carrying. “Me too. Me too.”

G, thank you for setting up my day to be full of blessings and surprises. There’s a girl just a few rooms down the hall that I’m really into. She’s having my baby. I want to do right by her. Help me. She’s the most precious thing I’ve ever seen or held in my hands. I don’t ever want to let her go. She needs a healing, a good one. It’s something I can’t do alone, so I need your help with that too. A nigga feels like he’s begging, but it is what it is. Help me help her. Show me the ropes. Show me the way. And, I promise, I’m going to put a ring on that pretty as— that pretty finger of hers. I’m out.

“You can tell me whatever, aight?” I sat up in bed and told her. “Don’t ever feel like you can’t. I’ve told you already, we’re working through this shit together. You’re not alone and will never be alone even if it feels that way sometimes. It’s not the case and won’t ever be the case anymore. Come ‘er,” I called her over, beckoning for her with my hand.

“Tell me what’s the matter.” “I don’t want to sleep alone,” she finally admitted. Chuckling at her misery, I could only shake my head. “Baby, why was that so hard for you to tell me? I thought some shit was really happening up here.” I tapped her forehead. “No, it’s happening here,” she explained, reaching up to grab my hand. She placed it over her heart and set my soul ablaze. There wasn’t room for question or doubt in my mind. She was it for me. This was it for me. “Come on, pretty lady. Climb in bed and let’s get some rest.”

“I want to feel you inside of me,” she whispered as if there were people in the room besides us. Again, I found humor in her misery. It had taken a lot for her to confess the sexual urges that woke her from her sleep and dragged her into my room in search of satisfaction. “You don’t have to whisper, Halo. We’re the only ones here, baby.” “Sorry.” “Climb up and let me put this motherfucker inside of you.”

“Lyric, you love to play with that man when he’s not around. But, when he is, you don’t have much to say.” “Because he’s around, but when he leave, I be talking again.”

I love him. Wholly and heavily. I love him widely and I love him deeply. Immensely. I love him. I admitted. So much it hurts.

As I tried to focus on not passing the fuck out, I glared at the gaping hole that I loved sticking my dick in. It was being stretched beyond recognition and used for a much greater purpose.

“She’s everything.” “She is and she’s ours.” “She’s ours,” Halo agreed.

“I just know that you’re part of me, now. You’re embedded. Your name, etched right on my heart. And, for the rest of my life, I want to keep loving on you, keep falling in love with you. Soon as you’re all better and feeling like yourself again after giving me the greatest gift ever, I’m locking it down for life. I’m telling you now so don’t freak out on me, pretty lady. Tell ya’ nigga yes when he asks you to marry him. Alright?”

“She only takes the good from people. She leaves the rest where it’s at.

“Everyone has spouses and children and just living the dream. Black love at its finest. This is the type of thing that the world wants us to believe isn’t possible or real. Health. Wealth. Love. And Light amongst us.”

“Closer to God. That’s a big one for me. He’s been too good, way too good.”

“It pisses me off to see you lay down and let it defeat you. You have to want to win for it to happen. Trying to go round for round with me when you know I’ll never fight you back is pointless. I’m not that nigga. All I’ve got for you is words, love, encouragement, support, money, and some dick. If you’re looking for a fight, I ain’t got that. I’m beyond that. I refuse to let any of this fuck up my night. I’ve got things I need to do.”

“What I’m asking you is, have you ever been in love, pretty lady? The real kind. The deep kind.” “Our kind,” I finished for him. “Yes.” My heart pounded against my chest. “Then, you’d understand when I tell you how sorry I am for ever jeopardizing that love.” Nodding, I answered him. “I meant your heart no harm.” I tried blinking away the tears, but they fell anyway. The pain in his eyes was as evident as the pain in my heart. There was no way of hiding it. “I meant you no harm.”

“Don’t make me live my life without you. I won’t make it.” With his final words, he lowered until he was on one knee with a velvet box in front of him. “Don’t make me try. Just tell me that we can move forward and relish in that love we just talked about.” “Our love?” I choked through the tears. “Our love. Halo, in any lifetime, I’d choose you. I’m just asking you to choose me for this one. Be my wife.” “Baby.” I broke down until I was kneeling with him. “Hmmm? Tell me you feel this, too. Tell me I’m not alone.” “I love you,” I cried. “Immensely,” he shared the same sentiment. The tears in his eyes told me. The drumming of his heart told me. The sincerity of his voice told me. “Be my wife,” he repeated himself, still on bended knee. “Okay,” I agreed. “Yes?” “Yes.” I nodded. “Yes!” He huffed, visibly relieved.