Murderville (20 page)

Willow tried to peer out of the windows of her home to view the young girl that had made her son act so uncharacteristically. She couldn’t make out the figure in A’shai’s car. It was too dark outside, and the night time concealed her identity.

“She cannot stay here!” Baron hollered. “You went into that man’s home, murdered his workers, stole his woman! Did you not expect him to retaliate?! This is interfering with business, A’shai. She goes back.”

“She’s not going back,” A’shai said maintaining his position. “I thought you would help her the way you helped me.”

“No, you didn’t think at all! I will not go to war over a whore,” Baron charged. “She is not welcome here.”

“Then I guess neither am I,” A’shai stated. “She’s not going back to him. She’s with me now.” His arrogance enraged Baron, and as A’shai walked away Willow tried to intervene.

“Baby, think about what you’re doing,” she reasoned.

A’shai stopped and kissed his mother on the cheek. “I have thought about it, ma. She was all I thought of since the day you brought me here. I love you,” he said.

His statement floored Willow and revealed the depth of his attachment to Liberty.

A’shai turned his back on his mother and walked out as Willow called after him.

“Let him go!” Baron bellowed. “But if you walk out of those doors with that girl . . . you’re cut off! You hear me, Shai?! He’s the connect and your actions were disrespectful! He could have killed you!”

A’shai turned and rubbed the scar on the side of his face. “He should have . . . because now I’m gonna murk him.”

FIFTEEN

A’SHAI REACHED OVER AND GRABBED LIBERTY’S HAND
. His tires screeched against the stone driveway as he pulled off Baron’s property. He was torn and his disloyalty plagued him as he thought of how he was turning his back on the only family he knew. But as Liberty intertwined her fingers with his, he remembered that he was the only family she knew and he could never leave her out in the cold.

“I’m going to take you somewhere safe . . . we need to lay low for a few days until I can come up with a plan. I need some time to think,” A’shai said.

Liberty looked out of the window feeling truly free for the first time. She had not seen A’shai since they were kids, but being with him felt right. It was the only thing that had ever felt right in her entire life.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely as she turned towards him. “You don’t even know how you saved my life.”

A’shai pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it gently.

“I’m sorry for pulling you into this mess with me,” Liberty whispered. “It seems like your life turned out okay . . . like maybe MURDERVILLE benefited one of us. I can tell you getting on that ship was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. But you . . . you were lucky. Things got better for you.”

A’shai could hear the sadness in her voice as she spoke, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty for the way things had ended up. He hadn’t seen the type of struggle that she had and he silently wondered about the things that she had been through over the years. Liberty had gotten the short end of the stick and despite the fact that they were both kids when they were taken, A’shai felt as if everything that had happened to her was his fault.

“Don’t apologize for anything. I owe you this. I didn’t protect you. All of those years ago, I should have just admitted that I didn’t have a plan. I was running scared just like you. Instead I led you right into hell. That’s what that ship was Liberty . . . it was hell and I took you there,” A’shai admitted.

“It wasn’t hell until they took me away from you,” Liberty replied under her breath. She didn’t think that A’shai had heard her, but his ears intercepted every word. He tightened his hold on her hand as he eased his Range Rover onto the interstate.

“Get some rest, Liberty. We will be driving for a while,” he said.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“Up north. My family owns a winter home near Boyne Mountain. It’s secluded. You’ll be safe there,” he responded.

Liberty closed her eyes and the peace that settled over her was so foreign that she immediately popped them back open. She had never gone to sleep with a serene mind and heart. There was always a threat lingering in her life. She was used to being preyed upon by others who wanted to hurt her. With A’shai it was different. It was as if time had stood still for them because she still felt the same love for him that she had so many years ago. In his presence she felt safe. He noticed her hesitation and put his hand on her shoulder as he rubbed the tension out of her neck. “Relax. I got you,” he said. She closed her eyes and went to sleep without reservations.

The five-hour drive north gave A’shai time to clear his mind. He knew the risk that he was taking but felt that he didn’t have a choice. It was his obligation to protect Liberty . . . he had promised her and he had broken that promise once before . . . he couldn’t do it again. Baron had been calling his phone for hours, but he refused to answer. His father couldn’t understand the connection that A’shai and Liberty shared. He didn’t know their back story. All Baron saw was a girl who had been for sale. He was blinded by Liberty’s lifestyle, but he had no clue what had brought her to that point. A’shai gave his father the ‘fuck you’ button, sending him to voicemail as he finally arrived at his destination.

He shook Liberty gently. “Wake up, we’re here,” he said as he reached over and unbuckled her seat belt.

She looked up at the beautiful winter log cabin that sat amongst the mountains. The 3500-square-foot home was impressive real estate and the two of them had it all to themselves. A’shai grabbed her hand and escorted her into the house.

“It’s late and everything is closed right now, but there’s a storm headed this way tomorrow. I’m going to have to go stock up on food and a few supplies to last us about a week,” A’shai told her.

Liberty nodded her head and sat down on the couch as she put her hands in her face, overwhelmed.

“I thought I was going to die in that mansion. This feels so good . . . just being free . . . you know? I have spent so much of my life being under someone else’s thumb. I’ve never had control of my own destiny,” she said. She was crying heavily but her tears were a direct result of mixed emotions. She was mourning her past and all that she had been through but also shedding tears of joy, considering that she had made it through. “Did you ever think of me?” she asked.

“Every day,” A’shai replied honestly. “I always hoped that you were okay.”

She smiled, slightly flattered that he had never forgotten about her.

“You’re far from the knock-kneed, bony little girl I used to know,” he commented.

“You have no idea,” she said as she shook her head in disgrace. “I don’t even remember that little girl.”

A’shai had so many questions for Liberty. He knew the expectations that were placed upon him simply by being Baron’s son. Liberty was not the type of chick that he was expected to be with. She had a stigma attached to her name. He knew that she had been with many men. He wanted to ask her how many had parted her thighs, but he knew that more than likely she had lost count. He did not want to embarrass her or make her feel badly.
I can’t think about who she’s been with. She was forced to live that lifestyle. She was doing what she had to in order to survive. Any nigga that came before me doesn’t matter,
he thought as he convinced himself that her past was irrelevant.

A’shai had always been mesmerized by Liberty and as he sat staring at her, enthralled by the changes he saw, he realized that his feelings toward her had not changed.

He sat down beside her and she leaned back, resting her head on his chest as she exhaled deeply.

“Relax . . . you’re safe now. Put all of your burdens on me. You don’t have to worry anymore, ma. I’ll take care of you,” he stated.

A’shai had left home so quickly that he only had the money that had been in his pocket. He knew that he would need big paper in order to stay off Samad’s radar. Nothing about him was afraid. He would war with any nigga that wanted to bring it to his doorstep, but with Liberty by his side he couldn’t afford to move reckless. He had to align his chess pieces and think strategically before he acted—the way that Baron had taught him. He needed the money out of his safe and knew that there was only one person he could ask to bring it to him. They hadn’t always seen eye-to-eye but Nico was the only person he trusted with his paper. He wasn’t the smartest man A’shai had ever met, but he wasn’t a broke nigga. A’shai knew that he wouldn’t have to worry about his paper coming up short if Nico brought it. Once Liberty was asleep he slid from beneath her and armed the alarm system to ensure that he wasn’t caught slipping. He went into the next room and picked up his cell to call Nico.

“Fam, what’s good baby? Fuck type of shit you on? I know you not running away with bitches now? Not you, kid,” Nico teased, letting A’shai know that he had spoken to Baron.

“It’s not like that. Look I’m not calling to rap with you, fam. I need a favor,” A’shai stated directly, not wanting to beat around the bush.

“Anything . . . just say the word. You need me, I’m there. I didn’t like that pussy ass mu’fucka Samad anyway,” Nico stated, ready to pop off.

“Nah . . . nah. This isn’t your beef, family, and this isn’t just some broad. We go back,” A’shai stated. “Look, I need you to bring me my paper out of my safe.”

“No doubt, baby. Where you at?” Nico shot back without hesitation.

“I’m in Boyne,” A’shai stated.

“I’ll be up there in the morning. What’s the combo?” Nico asked. A’shai gave him the numbers to open his safe and with that the two ended the call. A’shai knew that Nico would come through and he felt relieved to know that some serious cash flow was headed his way. The thought of the $275K was enough to calm his spirit. A’shai removed his shirt and then sat on the floor next to the couch that Liberty slept on. He took his pistol out and clicked it off safety, placing it in his lap for easy access. As he listened to the soothing rhythm of Liberty’s breathing, it relaxed him. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep feeling as if the void in his life had been filled simply by being in Liberty’s presence once again.

A’shai was awakened by the sound of the doorbell chiming and he shot up out of his sleep, grabbing his pistol instinctively. Liberty didn’t even budge, and he stood as he walked cautiously over to the front door.

“It’s Nico . . . open up it’s colder than a mu’fucka out here,” Nico said, his voice quivering from the winter hawk.

A’shai still looked through the peephole before opening the door and lowering his weapon. The two men embraced slightly, and Nico slid A’shai a duffel bag full of cash. A’shai didn’t feel the need to count it. Nico was fam and was getting major money. He had no reason to pull grimy on A’shai, so he took the duffel bag and put it in the front closet.

Nico moved further inside of the house, looking around until he spotted Liberty. Used to sleeping without clothing, she had stripped down to her bra and panties in the middle of the night, giving Nico a perfect view of her assets while she slept.

“Damn, that’s shorty?” Nico commented as he admired her body, but not really getting a good look at her face. He stared a little too long, irritating A’shai.

“Watch ya’ mouth, fam,” A’shai spat, seriously.

“No disrespect,” Nico replied. “You really ready to war over her? You know the position you putting us in?”

A’shai shook his head. “Nah . . . this is on me and only me. I don’t move sloppy. You know I wouldn’t have played it like this unless it was absolutely necessary. I couldn’t leave her there,” A’shai said.

Nico glanced over at Liberty once more. He understood what A’shai saw in her physically. Her body was undeniable, but her track record was marred. Any man with a $100 bill could have had her. She was damaged goods, and Nico couldn’t understand why A’shai was putting it all on the line for this particular woman. A’shai was usually so selective in who he kept time with. If a chick had been smashed by too many niggas she wouldn’t get the time of day with him. Liberty on the other hand had sex with random men on the regular, yet he dismissed that indiscretion.

“I don’t understand this, fam, but it’s not for me to understand. You let me know if you need anything. It’s nothing. You know how we do. There is a storm coming your way so I can’t stay, but don’t hesitate to call me, bro,” Nico stated sincerely. Not many niggas would have taken the hard drive without receiving anything in return, and A’shai appreciated Nico’s loyalty.

“You haven’t talked to me,” A’shai reminded as his cousin walked out of the house.

“No doubt,” Nico answered.

A’shai watched Nico pull away and then went to awaken Liberty. He stood over her watching her sleep for a few minutes before getting on his knees in front of her to stroke her hair.

“Wake up for me baby girl,” he whispered in her ear.

She opened her eyes but felt so weak that she closed them right back.

“Get up, ma. We’ve got to go to the store. You need clothes and we need food,” he whispered.

“I can’t, Shai. I’m so tired,” she moaned. She was extremely fatigued, and she attributed it to all of her years of living the fast life. Now that she was able to slow down everything was catching up to her.

A’shai could tell that there was no rousing her so he decided to let her rest, figuring that she probably needed it after all that she had been through. “I’m going to go get what we need then, Lib. Don’t open the door for anyone but me . . . nobody!”

“I won’t,” she mumbled.

Willow wiped the tear that fell from her eye as she looked at a picture of herself with A’shai. He was the only son she knew. From the moment he came to her aid when he was merely a boy, she had loved him. It didn’t matter that their bond wasn’t formed by blood . . . it took more than the act of birthing a child to be a true mother. Her heart ached for her son as she thought of the wall that his back had been pushed against. She had never questioned her husband before and normally stuck by his side, always wanting them to appear as a united front, even when she didn’t agree with his ways, but this time Baron had taken things too far. He had excommunicated their son, and for that Willow would never forgive him. She was sick with worry because she knew the game. Although she rarely spoke, Willow often listened and she was well aware of the danger that A’shai had placed himself in. The fact that Baron was feeding him to the wolves further aggravated her anxious heart. Willow stared out of the second story bay window and watched as the snow fell outside. She closed her tired eyes as she felt another presence enter the room.