“I’ll grab my shit and get out.” Her voice was coming out in whimpers as she reached for her clothes slowly. Her eyes, haunted, still fixed on his darker ones.
His gaze pierced her like a knife. “I’ll take those briefcases off of your hands.”
“You trying to rob me, nigga?”
He took a threatening slide toward her. “I can’t believe your stupidity. You really thought all that time that I meant it when I said I loved you? All those times I kissed you, you believed in those kisses?” He arched an eyebrow and smirked. “Oh, wait, of course you did, Simone. You were stupid then, and your ass is even dumber now. Get the fuck out of my whip.”
Nervousness and bile wound up in Simone’s stomach like a tightly coiled spring under pressure. She needed to throw up. No, she needed to get away. Her body was still frozen, only able to inch backward. Her gaze dropped from his to the briefcases on the floor between them. A cold shock ran through her as though she hadn’t realized the meaning of his words until that moment.
“Come on.” His smirk widened, and he put his hands around her neck, removing a gun from his pants with the other. “Don’t worry,” he teased her. “I’m not going to kill you,” he said with trademark laziness. “I am going to take this money, though, as a parting gift.”
“We need that money,” Simone begged.
“What the fuck does that mean to me?”
Simone felt his cold hands land on her shoulders, pushing her backward. She stumbled, reacting fast. Everything around her spun and smeared, making her dizzy. All she could do was let out a deathly ringing scream. Lights blinded her vision as her arm got caught on something, stopping her fall.
Fear made her want to close her eyes, but the adrenaline flowing through her veins wouldn’t allow her to do so. She could see the street through her half-opened eyes, and then it disappeared and everything was pitch black. Her eyes slowly blinked open to reveal the truth: Money had thrown her from a moving car, butt naked, and he had taken all of her money.
CHAPTER 6
Boss tapped the small gray table as the light from the lamp flashed on his face. He kept a straight face as the detective sat across from him, waiting on him to answer the questions he had just asked him. The detective glared at him with hate as his demeanor remained calm.
Boss knew the game. Silence was his best friend at the moment. Whatever they had on him wouldn’t change. He refused to give them anything to hang him. They had enough rope on their own.
He thought about Aphtan and Simone as spit flew from the detective’s mouth with each word that he spoke. He prayed they would be safe. He hoped that being in jail would be enough to satisfy Money. He didn’t want him to go after his family. He wanted to get him first before he had a chance to.
He should’ve handled the situation when he learned about Simone and Money years ago. He blamed himself for the situation. He was weak, because of love. He wished that Simone would be only his one day, but that day never came.
“Lester?” The detective hit the table with the palm of his hand. “You may want to pay attention to me. I’m trying to be a good guy here. I’m trying to cut you a deal if you offer me information.”
“You’re trying to bury me under the ground.” Boss put his hands together. “No, thank you. I thought I asked for my lawyer hours ago. Isn’t it against the law to speak to me without one once I ask for him?”
“I want to make a deal with you,” the detective spoke, his voice hitting the walls, causing it to echo through the room.
The room was dimly lit and Boss could barely see, and that was on his half of the room. On the other half it was dark, but the darkness looked as if it was moving. He had to focus to see. It looked like a solid black shadow, but then he could look again and see lighter grays mixed in. The shadows were where the detective was lurking.
“What kind of deal?” Boss asked out of curiosity.
“Are you willing to give up Money? I know you have some dirt on him.”
“Y’all want his head, too?”
Anger pumped through his veins as he waited for the detective to respond. When he didn’t, he started to shift from foot to foot and look into the shadows trying to see the man. Questions started to fill his head as he waited for him to respond. Was he serious? Would it be a good deal? He could feel his eyes on him, watching him intently.
“Of course,” he finally spoke, his choice void of any emotion.
“I have nothing for you.” Boss put his hands on the table. “I want my fucking lawyer. This shit is against the law.” His voice rose.
“What’s against the law is selling drugs.” The detective spread pictures from a folder across the table.
“Is it?” Boss asked in a condescending tone.
“It is, and what we got on you, you’ll be doing twenty, easy.”
“I guess we will find out.” Boss smiled at the detective as knocks from the door echoed throughout the room. “That’ll be my lawyer.”
The detective opened the door as a man in a midnight blue suit with a thin green windowpane pattern walked in. Single breasted, but with peaked lapels. This unusual detail, along with handmade buttonholes and functional cuff buttons, gave the garment away as bespoke. The shirt under it was white, with lavender stripes running up it. The tie was deep purple, solid and sleek. It was tied with an impeccable, effortless dimple. His pocket square was colorful and vibrant, yet tasteful.
The man took a seat next to Boss. His pecan colored skin glistened with oils. His hair was cut in the neatest fade around, and his face was clean-shaven like a baby’s bottom. He was tall with a body to give the impression that he had played sports in high school. He fixed the glasses on his face after he set his briefcase onto the table.
“Can I have a moment with my client, detective?” the lawyer asked.
“Sure,” the detective sneered before walking to the door and leaving.
“How does it look?” Boss leaned back in his chair.
“Eight years.” The lawyer opened up the briefcase and took a stack of papers out. “Federal time.”
“That’s the best you could get?”
“With everything they have on you, yes.”
“Fuck.” Boss kicked the bottom of the table. “This plea is the best? What about my properties and my accounts?”
“Seized.”
“Damn, Kevin.” Boss stood up. The chair he had been in fell over from the sudden movement.
“Look, Boss,”—Kevin picked up the chair—“we’ve known each other since we were kids. I wouldn’t steer you wrong. I called every favor I could just to get it this low. Trust me, take it.”
Boss put his hands behind his head as he paced around the room. He wasn’t naïve; he knew he was going to get some time. Hearing it out loud made it a reality, though. He didn’t know if he could survive that long without seeing his family. That was his only concern.
“Okay.” He sat down and looked over the paperwork.
“Sign.” Kevin stood up. “We’ll go stand before a judge soon, and he will present the plea information from the district attorney.”
“How soon?” Boss signed the paper.
“It will be within the month. It’ll be quick because you’re agreeing to the plea.” He closed the briefcase after putting the paperwork inside. “I’ll keep you updated.”
“Thank you.” Boss gave him a handshake. “Tell Mariah I’m sorry to get you out of bed at this time of night.”
“It’s fine, Boss. Just keep your head up.”
“Kevin?” Boss stopped him at the door. “Can you do something for me?”
“What do you need?”
“I need you to call one of my workers with a message.” Boss rubbed his tamed beard.
“You know I don’t do any illegal shit, Boss.” Kevin stared at him.
“I just need you to say two words to him,” Boss assured.
Boss gave him direct instructions on where to find Scooter. Boss had already paid him for the job. Killi
ng Money had been on his mind for a while. After Kevin delivered his message to Scooter, Money would be six feet under before the sun set on the next day. That alone would help him sleep comfortably for the next eight years.
* * *
When she’d seen Money and his goons leave by his condo’s rear gate, Simone ran inside and up to his home, threw all his possessions into her bags, and raced out of the condo. As she neared the top of the stairs, Scooter stepped to the bottom stair, bringing her to a near crashing halt.
“Who else is with you?” Scooter asked.
“Just me.” Simone squeezed against the stairwell wall to let him pass.
Scooter didn’t move. “What’s in the bags?”
“My shit.” Simone put her hands on top of the bags that hung from her shoulder.
Scooter ignored her as he slowly walked up the stairs almost like a tall, shadowy specter. His footsteps created a heavy, creaking noise below the nice vintage stairs. The sound grew more and more distinct as he got closer to the top.
Scooter could not be seen, but the sound of his footsteps slowly getting closer and closer sung in the darkness. He could hear her heart beating at a rapid pace. He could see the hair on her skin stand upright as she stood still with fright. Scooter ignored her as she ran down the stairs and past him.
Scooter looked ahead. He had received the instructions from Boss. He had a mission to complete. What Simone had going on wasn’t his business as long as it didn’t interfere with what he was sent to do. After he approached the door, he opened it up with force. He cut on the light; the apartment looked as if it hadn’t been tampered with. If he hadn’t seen Simone downstairs, he wouldn’t have assumed someone had just robbed the place.
He sat on the couch and removed the gun from his person. He looked at the picture of him as a little boy on the oak end table. He grabbed the frame and remembered when Money took that picture of him. He finally saw what everybody saw; he really did look just like Money. He set the picture down as the front door opened.
Scooter didn’t move an inch. He sat there as silent as a mouse. When Money and his goons saw him, they pointed their guns at him, but he didn’t blink. He sat there and looked straight forward with no fear in his heart. He turned to look at them and pointed his gun in an instant.
“Lower your fucking guns.” Money walked over to Scooter. “It’s only my son, niggas.”
“Can I speak to you?” Scooter lowered his gun after the goons did. “In private.”
“Of course.” Money waved the men off with his hand. “Why are you breaking into my shit, Scooter?”
“I saw Simone on the way up.” He ignored his question. “She had a bag full of your shit.”
“That bitch.” Money hit the coffee table in front of them. “Did you stop her?”
“No.” Scooter stood up as he looked at the picture of him. “I need you to get out of town for a little bit.”
“Why?” Money’s face squinted a little.
“I was sent by Boss to kill you,” he said with no emotion.
Money smiled at his old friend. The rules of the streets were ruthless, because there were none; anything went. Sending his own son to kill him was a dirty thing to do, even for Boss. He stood up and held his arms wide open and faced Scooter. “Do it.”
Scooter put his gun away. “You know I can’t do that shit. I just need you to get away for some years. Lay low and stay under the radar. I’ll tell Boss the deed is done.”
“He’s going to want proof.” Money lowered his hands. “I know he’s in jail, but if he finds out you didn’t do what he asked, he will have you killed. He still has some power.”
“I already know this.” Scooter sat on the arm of the couch. “I’ll take over and play my role here. When you return, I’ll hand over the crown to you. No questions asked. We just need to let the power that he has fizzle.”
It was if the proposition ran through Money’s head as he sat back down on the couch. He wasn’t a pussy. He never ran from a fight. However, he was a father first, before he married the streets. He would do anything to keep Scooter safe. Even if it meant going into hiding.
“I’ll do it, Scooter. When I return, I want full control.” He stood up and gave his son a hug. “Make me proud.”
“Be safe,” Scooter said before he walked toward the door and left.
Scooter walked down the stairs, about to be the youngest nigga in charge the streets had ever seen. He was eighteen going on thirty. He thought about his plan as he got inside of the foreign car that waited for him in front of the condominiums. His plan would go into motion as soon as he delivered the news to Boss. He just hoped that he believed him.
CHAPTER 7
A cold breeze brushed against the tree, making the leaves shiver under the too bright sun as Simone and Aphtan walked up the flight of stairs leading to the courthouse. Motes of dust danced through the air, glinting in the sun, like little wisps of life fading in and out of focus. They approached the solid wood doors as Simone thought, prayed, and pondered what-ifs.
Simone felt singled out, alone, and scared yet confident after talking to Boss’s lawyer. Boss didn’t want her or Aphtan there. He made that perfectly clear when he had called her over the past month. She didn’t listen. She wanted Aphtan to see her father, no matter the circumstances. Simone couldn’t live with herself if Aphtan didn’t get to see him before he got shipped off.
Aphtan’s face looked as if she had lost her best friend. Simone knew she could comprehend most of what was going on. Simone was aware that she understood what her father did for a living. She had been present when Aphtan saw it with her own eyes. It would have been preposterous for Simone to lie to her.
The room was huge, and all eyes were on them as they entered. Very silent, yet a single sniffle, cough, or clearing of the throat sounded as if they stood near their ear. They continued to walk in farther, and Simone started feeling a little more at ease when she saw Boss’s face.
Simone thought she was at ease until she found her seat and sat down on the cold, solid wood bench. A chill shivered up her spine, to her shoulders, and down her arms and legs. She opened her eyes and tried to relax. She could never completely relax until it was all over. She wanted to run out the door and leave. A little chocked up and sick to her stomach, she needed some fresh air.
Her face contorted into a terribly beautiful, yet heartbreaking expression as her eyes welled with tears. She wiped them quickly as Aphtan’s face copied hers. She squeezed her baby girl’s hand and leaned down to kiss her forehead. She touched her nose with her index finger like she always did when she became scared. It calmed her down instantly.
Thirty minutes passed before the judge called Boss’s name. Simone watched him walk up to the judge with his lawyer next to him. His face looked normal, but she could tell from his wild facial hair that he was stressing. She cringed at the sight of the orange jumpsuit he wore as she stood up to represent her husband.
“That’s the drug dealer,” a woman whispered next to them.
“And this is my middle finger, bitch.” Simone flipped the woman off as the woman gasped.
Simone’s hands gripped the seat in front of her as her leg twitched with anticipation. She never thought Boss would get caught. He was always careful. He was as slick as oil. When he turned around and looked in her eyes, she couldn’t help it; a tear had to fall.
“How do you plead?” the judge asked as the courtroom fell silent.
“Guilty,” Boss answered as he kept his shackled hands out in front of him.
“I see you agreed to a plea offered by the district attorney’s office for eight years to be served concurrently for all charges at a federal facility of my choice,” the judge spoke loudly.
“Yes, sir,” Boss said to him after Kevin nudged him.
“You will serve your time at Crosspoint in San Antonio, Texas. Since this is your first offense, I will make it easy for your family to visit you. I will not send you far. I hope you learn from this.
Next,” the judge screamed as he banged his gavel.
“Thank you.” A cop grabbed Boss by the arm and led him to a door.
“Kevin.” Simone scurried through the seats to get to him. “Can we see him? Please? We have to see him before he gets shipped off.”
“Simone.” Kevin closed his eyes. “I’ll see what I can do, but no promises. I’ve run out of favors. Go out in the hallway, and I’ll let you know what I can do.”
Simone did as she was told, and she paced back and forth in front of the courtroom doors. Her heart fluttered with each minute that passed as families entered and left constantly. She watched Aphtan looking with wonder from the two gray chairs next to the door as she twirled the ends of her hair.
“Simone?” Kevin called from a door next to the water fountain. “Come on.” She grabbed Aphtan and rushed to the door. “We don’t have much time.”
“Thank you so much,” Simone whimpered as the door closed behind them.
They stalked down a hallway. The lights from the narrow ceiling shined brightly on them until they approached a room. Kevin opened the door, causing anxiety to build within Simone. Smiles filled their faces when Boss appeared on the other side of the door.
“Daddy,” Aphtan screamed as she ran into his arms.
“Baby girl.” He picked her up and squeezed her with love. “I love you, Aphtan.”
“I love you, too,” she cried, her chest going in and out with each pant.
“Five minutes,” Kevin said before leaving and closing the door behind him.
“Boss.” Tears fell from Simone’s eyes. The ability to touch him made her feet freeze. “I’ve missed you, baby.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” He walked up to her with Aphtan in his arms. “You have to be strong.” He kissed her lips passionately as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “This is no time to fall apart.”
“How are we supposed to make it out here without you?” She put her head in his chest as she wiped the tears from Aphtan’s now red face.
“You’ll be fine.” He put his head on top of hers. “You got the bread back from Money. Just spend it wisely.”
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