Page 149 of 4 Corinthians

“Let’s go home first.”

For the rest of the drive, we were silent. Cori was giving me a chance to get my thoughts together, and I appreciated it. She parked in the garage, waited for me to check the house, then I took her to the living room.

Cori sat on the opposite side of the couch. Her knees pulled to her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs. She rested her chin on top of her knees and watched me. “You can't handle what I told you?” she asked.

I sat there, staring at her, confused as fuck at how she decided that. “What?” My brows damn near touched.

“Look, I get it. Finding out that Robert could be Judah’s daddy is a lot. I don’t blame you for wanting an out.” She looked away without turning her head. “I don’t know what I will tell Judah, but I’ll figure it out. He told me that y’all had a friendship before we became a couple. All I’m asking is that you don’t cut him out of your life completely. He really loves you.” She looked back at me. “But I get it if you can't. It’s a lot. I know.”

“What, you thought that I was leaving you?” I asked her with a laugh. Wasn’t shit funny, but I couldn’t help but laugh. “You think I give a fuck about who his biological father is?” I wiped my hand over my face. “I mean yeah, it matters, but not for the reasons you think. Baby, I’m not leaving you!” I stood up and started to pace in front of her. “What the fuck do I look like leaving you because of something Robert did? You didn’t consent to that. He took it. Like he’s taken so much from you.”

“But you left,” she reminded me.

“That shit was a coincidence,” I told her. “I already had that quick trip planned you knew that. I had a meeting with my Uncle Bradon and someone else. I-“

“I forgot,” she sighed, then gave me a small laugh. “So, we aren’t breaking up?” she asked.

I stopped pacing and looked down at her. “Are we breaking up?” I repeated. “Fuck no, we aren’t breaking up! We are locked in for life. I’m going to marry you, give you and Judah my last name despite the bullshit linked to Robert.” I lowered myself to my knees in front of her. “Cori, do you realize how much I love you? Love Judah? How in love I am with y'all?” I cupped her face and wiped her tears. “Baby, I’m not going no-damn-where!”

“Then why have you been quiet since I picked you up? Why did your uncle call me? Because your monitor was going crazy. Do you know how scary it is to get that alert? Every time my phone beeps and I know it’s your alarm, I’m scared as hell. Then your uncle calls Nine, and he sounds nervous, damn near stuttering, and all I can hear is your monitor going off. He says he can’t calm you down and doesn’t know what to do. Nine doesn’t even think about it; he says to put you on the phone and then handed it to me.”

“That’s how he got you on the phone?” I chuckled, and she nodded. “My uncle called Nine, and he called you?”

“I was with him and Cross.”

“Okay,” I said, nodding. “Listen to me, alright? I’m not going anywhere. That shit earlier was me being stressed about something. The second I heard your voice, I calmed down. You are my peace. The only person who can get me to calm down by just saying it. Don’t nobody else got that kind of power over me. Just you, only you, always you.” I got up and sat down next to her. Cori climbed into my lap and wrapped her arms around me.

“What scared you earlier?” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” I told her, shaking my head.

“It does.”

“It doesn’t because I’m going to handle it,” I replied. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her, at least not right now. I needed to come up with a game plan first. I couldn’t have her around me scared to move, but I also couldn’t have her walking around unaware of what Robert was planning. I kissed the top of her head. “Trust me.” I closed my eyes.

“I do,” Cori softly replied.

“Uri,” Robert chuckled and walked around the ring. “Uri!” He slammed his hand on the mat. “What did I tell you? Huh? What did I say? You don’t stop fighting, no matter what the other person says or does. You don’t stop fighting!”

I stood in the middle of the ring. Watching as he circled the mat. He’d been on one all day. No matter what I did, he wasn’t happy. He was never happy, but that was beside the point. Today his behavior was erratic. His eyes bounced all over the gym; his hands twitched. Something was off more than usual.

Logan walked into the gym, limping. I don’t know what happened to him, but whatever it was had him on edge too. The doors opened again, and Jonathan Franklin walked in. He looked annoyed. He barely glanced in my direction before stopping in front of Robert and Logan. I watched as they talked, their voices low, but the tension and frustration were evident.

“This is bullshit!” Logan yelled and stumbled back. He only caught his balance because he backed into the side of the ring. “I ain’t doing that shit.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Jonathan told him. “That was our agreement.”

“Robert,” Logan groaned. “Talk to him.”

“You entered into the agreement, Logan,” Robert told him, shaking his head. “You must live up to your end of the deal.”

“Go get the girls then!” Logan replied. “Go get your pets. I’ve done my part.”

“We can't!” Jonathan yelled and got in Logan’s face. His hand went around Logan’s throat. “We can't because of the bullshit paperwork you had drawn up. Now I’m down thousands and have no pet to help with the frustrations.”

“You have others,” Logan gasped for air. “You have more.”

“And none of them will do.” Jonathan pulled Logan to him and licked the side of his face. “You will have to take my favorite pet’s spot.” He pushed Logan away and smiled. “Now let’s go. I have given you enough time.” He left Robert and Logan standing there.