Murderville (18 page)

He couldn’t get Liberty out of his head and ever since The Gentleman’s Ball he had been counting the days until it was time for them to re-up. Baron usually sent his workers to cop at the re-up, but A’shai already had it in his mind that he would be making the trip this time. He blew through his portion of the first batch of bricks just to get back to L.A. more quickly. He wanted to find Liberty. Now that he had a clue about where she was he refused to lose her again. He felt Jenny’s hands rubbing his chest and what would normally make him feel like a king merely aggravated him. He removed her hands and climbed out of the bed. “I’ve got an important meeting to get to. I’ve got to go,” he said. “Where you want me to drop you?”

“I can wait here for you till you get back,” she offered.

“I’m not coming back,” he replied quickly.

He could see the disappointment on her face, but A’shai didn’t care. He only had one woman in his line of sight, and he was too preoccupied with memories of her to think of anyone else.

A’shai sat across from Baron as they drank coffee and read the Wall Street Journal. It was a ritual and both were silent and in deep contemplation as they calculated their wins and losses in their head. Willow walked into the room with two huge breakfast plates and placed them before the men in her life.

“Thank you, baby,” Baron stated without looking up.

“Thanks, ma,” A’shai said. He kissed her cheek as she leaned over to greet him.

“You look like an old man, Shai. Don’t let this one make you dull like him,” Willow said with a striking smile. A’shai loved the way her curly, wispy hair stuck out of her dreads. Her hair wasn’t even the right texture to wear the ethnic style, but somehow it fit her.

“We’ve been doing this since he was fourteen years old,” Baron defended. “I’ve made quite the businessman out of him.”

“So you have,” she answered while shaking her head at her son and husband.

Willow kissed the tops of both of their heads and then walked out of the room.

As they sat over breakfast, A’shai said, “I think it’s time I made the re-up trip to L.A.”

Ever since A’shai had begun working in the streets with his father he hadn’t been interested in little work. If he was going to do it he had wanted to do it large. Even as a young boy he hadn’t wanted to put in the footwork. He was interested in cutting deals so his sudden interest in re-upping threw Baron off slightly.

“Since when do you like doing the grunge work?” Baron asked.

“Since we had that talk about me taking over. I started at the top of the business. If you are going to pass all of this down to me I want to make sure I know the operation in and out . . . even the grunge work,” A’shai stated.

Amazed at his son’s exceptional reasoning Baron nodded his head in agreement. Normally Baron wouldn’t even consider sending A’shai. In his opinion it was too big of a risk. If A’shai was caught his entire future would be deaded with a prison sentence, but Baron knew that he couldn’t protect him forever. A’shai was right. He did need to know every aspect of the game. “Okay,” Baron conceded. “You’ll fly in and out on the jet. I don’t want you riding back with the work. Two of the workers can meet you there so that they can drive the semi back to the Midwest.”

“I can handle it, pop,” A’shai said.

“I know you can, but why risk it if you don’t have to? You would never catch me riding with that much product. That’s what you have soldiers for, Shai. You call the plays, and they execute them,” Baron answered. “Put the call in and tell Samad to expect you next weekend.”

“Why wait an entire week?” A’shai asked. He was tired of waiting. He was trying to get to Liberty as soon as possible and another week felt like an entire year.

Baron peered curiously at his son, sensing something was up. “Well, our people out of Flint haven’t run dry yet, and we’re still waiting for Pontiac too. There isn’t a rush. We move smart, not fast. Unless you know something I don’t know?”

A’shai shook his head and replied, “I’ll put the call in.”

The week crept by but A’shai kept himself immersed in the streets to keep his mind from going crazy. His anxiety was high as he thought of seeing Liberty again. He didn’t even know how she would react or if she would even recognize him, but this was something he had to do. He would never know if he didn’t try.

A week later he was sitting alone on the private jet headed for California. He had no game plan; he was just stepping out on faith hoping to lay eyes on Liberty. He couldn’t predict what the future had in store . . . he only hoped that she was included in his.

A’shai stepped off the plane and entered the black town car that waited for him on the ground.

“Greetings, Mr. Montgomery,” the driver said as he held open the door for A’shai.

A’shai stepped inside and immediately checked beneath the seat for the handguns that were stored there. He removed a .9mm Ruger and popped out the magazine, checking to ensure that it was fully loaded. He quickly put it back in place and cocked it back, placing a bullet in the head. Putting it on safety he tucked it in the shoulder holster beneath his suit jacket and leaned back comfortably as the driver pulled off and headed for Samad’s.

The car pulled up to the massive estate, and A’shai stepped out of the car. He tipped his driver and then walked up the stairs to Samad’s front door. He rang the bell and was greeted by Samad.

“Shai . . . how was your flight?” Samad asked as they shook hands and he welcomed him inside. A’shai’s eyes scanned his surroundings, searching for Liberty or any sign that she lived there.

“I wasn’t expecting for you to return so quickly. Business must be good in Detroit,” Samad commented.

“Business is good everywhere if the right person is running it,” A’shai replied as he took a seat in Samad’s great room. He sank into the expensive leather seat and placed his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward.

“Touché,” Samad remarked. “I take it the order will be the same this time around . . . since that was the stipulation that allowed me to give you the product at such a discounted rate.” Samad spoke freely, not worried about the repercussions of his words. He never had to worry about anyone walking into his home under false representation. If A’shai was wired up, Samad would have known as soon as he walked through the sensors on his front door. The alarms would have sounded off as if A’shai had stolen something.

“My word is good. We will never decrease our order. If the quantity does change . . . we’ll be copping more and that means good money for everyone involved. I don’t think you would have a problem with that,” A’shai stated.

Samad laughed and said, “No problem at all. How long are you in town for?”

“Not long at all. Just here to take care of a few things then it’s back to Detroit,” A’shai said.

“That’s a shame. I could have shown you a good time. Taken you to see some of the beauty that the West Coast has to offer,” Samad said, referring to some of the finest strip clubs in the city.

A’shai smirked and shook his head. “I doubt anything could top what I’ve already seen out here. The ball was a good time. You shelled out a nice amount for one of those girls,” A’shai said throwing out the bait to get more information. “Was she worth it?”

Samad smiled mischievously and replied, “Let’s just say she’s still around and I usually bore of the same pussy after only a few weeks. It’s been what? Five months now? That should answer your question.”

A’shai’s stomach turned and he began to rub the scar on the side of his face in irritation. He was tight at the thought of Samad and Liberty’s intimacy.

“Yo, where shorty at now? I don’t want to be discussing business while prying ears are around,” A’shai said, trying to get Samad to reveal Liberty’s whereabouts.

“She’s out with my driver, running errands. I know that you and your father value your privacy so I sent her away for a few hours,” Samad replied.

Normally A’shai would have had it no other way, but this time it worked to his disadvantage.

“I like to know my associates. I hope to have a lasting friendship with you and your father. You should consider extending your trip by a couple days. We could discuss some big business. I see the future. I see past your father’s reign,” Samad said. He knew that he was on the border of being disrespectful, but he had to test the line. He had seen a spark in A’shai during their initial meeting and knew that there was no reason to deal with Baron on the long term. Samad could put A’shai over his own operation, which would cut him in on some of that Midwest profit.

A’shai wanted to slap the taste out of Samad’s mouth. A’shai peeped the subtle disrespect that Samad threw at him. He was trying to divide and conquer, A’shai was no fool, he knew that Samad was an opportunist who wanted a piece of the pie. A’shai wasn’t about to let Samad eat off his plate. There was nothing that Samad could offer A’shai that would make him turn on Baron. A’shai was itching to speak up and put Samad in his place, but he knew that entertaining the thought would buy him more time to wait for Liberty. Even though he would never cut Baron out, he leaned forward as if he were interested and replied, “We should talk. Maybe I will extend my trip by a day or two.”

Samad nodded and smiled as if he had just baited a prize winning catch. “Good. Let’s have a drink.”

Not fully trusting Samad, A’shai let the glass of fine brandy sit in front of him untouched as Samad fully indulged in his own. Everything that Samad was proposing went in one ear and out of the other as A’shai impatiently waited for Liberty to arrive back home. She was whom he had come for . . . everything else that Samad was speaking about was irrelevant, and he was beginning to rub A’shai the wrong way. All money wasn’t good money in A’shai’s eyes and Samad as a connect might not have been the best idea.

When A’shai heard the front door open his heart nearly stopped.

“Samad?” Liberty called out in search for him. Her voice was unfamiliar and as A’shai awaited her appearance he sucked in air, forgetting to let it back out as his chest swelled anxiously.

“I’m in the sitting room,” Samad called out. He took a sip of his brandy and turned towards A’shai. “Let me show you what $500,000 buys you,” Samad bragged.

When Liberty walked into the room she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. He couldn’t see her through the fabric of the burqa, but she saw him clearly. The man before her looked like an older version of A’shai. His presence took her off guard. She had no clue that Samad was affiliated with her childhood friend. It had been so long that Liberty figured it to be too much of a coincidence. This can’t be him, she thought as she looked at Samad’s business associate, examining him from head to toe. Her hands shook as Samad embraced her, groping her and kissing her sloppily. She put her head down in embarrassment and put her hand on his chest to push him away slightly. “You’ve been drinking,” she whispered, thinking of how hypocritical he was. He indulged in whatever sin he wanted too, but he made her cover herself from head-to-toe because it was the traditional Muslim way. He disgusted her because she knew that Samad was no more Muslim than she was . . . he just embraced a controlling nature.

Samad took her face in his grip, squeezing her chin between his thumb and four fingers. Liberty closed her eyes as he pinched her tightly. She grimaced but didn’t dare move as he looked down at her.

Anger filled A’shai as he watched. “We gon’ finish discussing this business or what?” A’shai asked in an attempt to interrupt Samad.

Samad loosened his grip and turned his attention back to A’shai. “She’s obedient . . . you have to make them obedient so they don’t stray,” Samad said, speaking as if Liberty was his pet instead of his woman. A’shai didn’t answer and Liberty looked at him briefly before diverting her eyes away. She was enthralled by his presence. He was dark and handsome . . . strong and confident. For the first time Liberty was grateful to be concealed beneath all of the fabric because it helped to hide her smile. Everything in her wanted to call out to him. His name was begging to fall off her lips, but she contained herself. Her heart fluttered nervously and she kept telling herself that this wasn’t real.
This is not Shai sitting here in front of me. It can’t be . . . can it?
Her suspicions were confirmed when Samad spoke his name. “A’shai, you need to get you a bitch like that,” Samad said.

Liberty’s breath caught in her throat as tears filled her eyes. It’s him, she thought as she looked him in the eyes. He met her gaze and stared intently at her, unable to turn away.

“Excuse me. I can’t be rude to the lady of the house. I’m A’shai Montgomery,” he introduced as he stood and held out his hand to her. Liberty wanted to grab his hand and never let it go. She reached out her hand and as soon as her fingertips touched his palm, her adrenaline sped up . . . she could feel the heat rising from his grasp as he shook her hand.

“I’m Liberty,” she replied as she continued to look in his eyes. She saw the glimmer of recognition in him, and her heart swelled as tears fell behind her covering.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” he said. He held onto her hand a little longer than necessary then finally let her go before Samad noticed anything out of the ordinary. Over the years they had been so far apart but had remained a fixture in each other’s mind and heart. Neither could believe this opportunity to reunite. Liberty had blocked him from her thoughts because it had hurt too much to think of their short time together. She couldn’t believe that he was standing less than ten feet away from her. His dark skin and beautiful deep eyes were so striking to Liberty. She stood back proudly as she took him all in. He was 100 percent man, and it was obvious from the jewels he wore along with his Italian suit that he had made it to the side of the game that she knew nothing about. He was successful and somehow he had made a life for himself. MURDERVILLE hadn’t hindered him the way that it had done Liberty and on the inside she was glad for him. At least one of them had known happiness. She smiled, knowing that no one could see her face behind her garment. Liberty wished that she could reach out to him . . . that she could tear the cloth from her face and greet him with a smile. She wanted to rush him and become tangled in his embrace, but she knew that none of those things would ever happen. Samad stood between them and there was no way that she could acknowledge A’shai in Samad’s presence. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt as if she would have a heart attack. It ached as she stood frozen before him, taking him in . . . breathing the same air as him. Her face was soaked with emotion beneath the fabric and as they became lost in each other’s presence she could tell that he remembered her.