Page 25 of Stolen Moments with a Bad Boy

E rie

Months Later

Months ago, when I received Troy Jr.’s journal from my dad, I was reluctant to read it.

There was no telling what kind of evil and selfishness was trapped between those pages, but there could’ve been some joy as well.

Now was the time to find out. I had a few minutes to spare, so I cracked it open.

There were a few colorful tabs in the journal. I assumed that was my dad’s doing.

I flipped to the first blue tab. The date listed caught me off guard. It was the day I was born and the day we lost our mama. An uneasy feeling filled my chest and stomach. That wasn't a good sign, but I decided to see it through. I read his hateful words out loud.

September 7 th 1996

I hate her! That little monster ain’t been in the world for a full day yet she took the most special person in the world to me. How in the world could you let this happen, God!

You’re supposed to be our savior. How could you take my mama, God? Why couldn’t you take Erie’s evil ass?

She’s the spawn of the devil. Only a demon could be born and kill their own mother. You can’t get any eviler than that.

Tonight, I stared at the stilled body of my mama. The coldness from her hand was a chilling cold I’d never experienced before. Mama appeared colder than an actual wind chill winter in Chicago.

Why couldn’t I save her? Why couldn’t she be here? I only got to know her for thirteen years. There was so much more to my life.

She won’t be able to see my prom, college graduation, marriage, or the birth of my first child. I hate my life. I want to end it, but if I did, I still won’t be able to be with her.

My heart is filled with malice. It feels like it’s been that way since I could remember. Mama was the only pure and special part of me.

Now I don’t have her anymore. The chains of self control are broken. Without her being around, there is no one around to contain me. My revenge would be exacted against my sister Erie.

I don’t know how or when, but I will kill Erie. She took my mama away from me. It was her that should’ve been dead, and I’ll make sure that the devil get its minion back.

Daddy is on the list and so is grandma. They sheltered that little bitch like she isn’t the reason for mama dying. My family now pledged their loyalty to Erie, but my loyalty would always be to my mama. Sleep good sister because you’ll never know when death comes knocking.

Present Day

I shut his journal and tossed it on my vanity. My heart sank to my stomach. All this time the doctors had said grandma’s death was undetermined, but now I see it wasn't.

Troy Jr. had killed our Gigi because of her love for me. My tears rolled down my face. I dabbed at my tears because I didn't want to ruin my makeup, but how could he be so damn cruel and heartless?

Gigi loved him just as much as she loved me. She gave him so much. He got his first car because of her. It was nothing that she wouldn’t do for him.

An ear-splitting scream erupted from me. How could he take her from me? I loved her so much. She was the only mother I’d known, and he took her away from me.

Since I took our mother from him, he took Gigi from me. What a fuckin’ monster. There was a knock on the bedroom door to my old apartment. Hurriedly, I cleaned my face before I invited the visitor in.

“Come in!”

The door opened slowly, and my dad poked his head. The rest of his body quickly followed when he saw my sorrowful position.

“Sweet Pea, what's the matter?” He walked over to me and lowered in front of me.

“I read the first entry in Troy Jr.’s journal. He’d been planning to kill me since I was born because he blamed me for our mom’s death. To add insult to injury, he killed Gigi. What was wrong with him? How could he be so heartless?” I sobbed.

“Aww, Sweet Pea. I’m sorry you had to find out on your special day. We won’t let Troy Jr. win from the grave. That boy had issues way before you came into the picture.

“Your mom and I put him on different treatments and gave him everything he wanted, but nothing was ever good enough for him. He desired more. Your mom enabled him a lot because he was her firstborn.

“But all the love, money, and power would’ve never been enough for him. Now, you are entitled to feel and mourn the loss of your Gigi all over again, but do that after today. Right now, you have a date with your soulmate, and I refuse to let you miss it,” my dad encouraged me.

I dabbed at my eyes and cheeks again. My dad was right. I loved my Gigi. She meant the world to me. I knew she’d want me to have my moment. That was exactly what I planned to do. Today, something special and magical brewed, and it was time to consume the blessings of the day.

“Sweet Pea, you ready?” my dad questioned.

I nodded and grinned. “I've never been more ready for anything than I am for this moment.”

My dad smirked. “I’m happy to hear that. Let’s get you married.”

He helped me up from my vanity chair. We exited my apartment arm in arm. My nerves were all over the place. The day was finally here. After all the trials and tribulations we’d experienced and after delivering three healthy babies, love had brought us to this day.

Today, I just wasn't marrying the love of my life but my best friend in the whole world. Ro was my protector and provider emotionally, mentally, and physically, and those were just a few titles. Those were labels that he wanted, deserved, and nurtured.

He took his role in my life seriously and intentionally. Next to my dad, I’d never seen a man so dedicated to the family he created. Every time I saw Ro in action, I yearned for him more than the previous moment.

Our forever was just a few steps away. As soon as we descended the stairs, I ogled the cream rose petals adorning the burgundy carpet. What a beautiful sight. When my feet touched the last stair and we turned the corner, my mouth curved into a wide smirk.

I was nervous but more excited than anything to be called Mrs. Terelli.

My eyes moved between our families and closest friends dressed in their Sunday’s best on this lovely Sunday morning.

My café was decorated in beautiful shades of cream and burgundy since it had been transformed into our wedding venue.

My eyes landed on my Ro. Damn. He looked good enough to eat. He was dressed in an expensive, tailored cream suit with a burgundy vest. The matching tie made my mouth water.

In addition, the suede burgundy designer loafers he wore paired well with the suit. His line up was so damn crispy it allowed his ocean waves to be more pronounced. The sprinkles of salt in his hair and beard made me so wet.

I matched his fly in my cream-colored designer mermaid dress with cream tulle at the end that pooled on the floor.

The dress had a V-shaped neckline with lace covering my breasts and arms. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around all the embroidery and details of the dress.

Ro paid a pretty penny for it too. The fact that he made the alterations himself still made my heart melt.

We didn’t believe in those pre-wedding superstitions.

My love and I had already dealt with evil.

Whatever else came our way, we would handle it the same way—together.

Olivia, my lounge manager, had beat my face something serious.

She was surgical with her highlights and contour.

I went to a black salon, and they gave me a silk press as if God himself had done it.

Temporarily, my mass of curls was gone. My hair flowed straight down my back.

I focused back on my lover. We never broke eye contact from one another, and once we made it closer, the tears that ran down his face fueled my tears. My dad placed my hand in Ro’s hand. Instinctively, he tugged on my straightened strands of hair.

“You look stunning, but I can't wait to sweat this out the natural way,” Ro professed for my ears only.

I chuckled quietly. My man was a trip. Ro and I turned and gave our attention to the minister. A half an hour later, we sealed our vows with a kiss.

After the wedding, we were led upstairs to my lounge area where the reception was held. The tables held steamy hot dishes of food and drinks. There were sweets on both sides of the four-tier cake they ordered. Only one layer of the cake was burgundy.

Ro led me to our table while my staff served us food and alcoholic drinks.

It felt so good to drink again. In between bites of my meal, we tended to our littles, even though they had nannies.

I was a mother before anything else. Time had gone by, and it was time to serenade my husband.

I stood and walked in front of our guests. Olivia handed me a microphone.

“Thank you all so much for joining my husband and I to celebrate our union. You all put so much time and effort into making this day absolutely perfect. A special thank you to my husband, who always seems to know what I need before I do sometimes. That’s why I wanted to sing him a little something to show my appreciation. ” I smiled at him.

He whistled with his two fingers, hyping me up.

I sang Lauryn Hill’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” acapella until the DJ played the instrumental music.

The lyrics flowed through me like a river.

I had sung this song to him countless times, but it meant way more in this moment.

I made sure to make eye contact with him.

I meant every damn word. When the song came to an end, cheers and applause filled the room. My husband sauntered over to me.

“You are so beautiful, Bella, and your voice is heavenly,” he whispered in my ear.

When he looked back at me, adoration was pronounced in his eyes.

“You just wait until tonight, and I’ll show you what else my vocals can do,” I stated naughtily.

Ro kissed me so deeply it made me speechless. He swiftly picked me up afterward.

“Why wait for tonight?”

He picked me up bridal style and raced out the lounge, leaving behind a trail of boisterous laughter and camera flashes.