“I hear you ma, but that still ain’t telling me what I need to know,” he stated frankly. “I want to know if you can put all that aside. I want to take care of you and Nahla. I would never let anything happen to you.”
Against her better judgment, she kissed his lips sensually. The chemistry between the two of them was insane. It literally felt like sparks were flying throughout the room and every single spot of her body was sensitive to Kasheef’s touch. “You’ve got my heart ma,” he said with his forehead pressed against hers. “I’ve never felt the things that I’m feeling for you.”
“Where would we fit in your life Kasheef?” she asked with genuine concern and doubt.
“There’s nothing but room in my world ma. It’s just me. I’m all alone. I have been for a long time now. Things are going to be a little crazy until this trial is over, but after that my life ... our life together, will go back to normal,” he guaranteed.
“I don’t want to live in New York,” she said.
“Then you don’t have to. Whatever you want Alija, I’ll give it to you,” he promised.
“I don’t know why, but I believe you would,” she replied.
Kasheef pulled her down onto the floor where he pulled out fresh fruits and wine for them to indulge in. It was the most romantic thing that any man had ever arranged for her and Alija was open. They sat up into the wee hours of the morning just talking and laughing. They got to know each other a little better. Kasheef noticed that it was five o’clock in the morning and he yawned deeply.
“Yo, I ain’t stayed up talking like this since I was in middle school kicking whack game to the young girls on three-way,” he stated with a chuckle.
“I know. It’s easy to lose track of the time though when you’re in good company like me,” she bragged playfully. “You better get some sleep though. You have court in just a few hours.”
“Right now that ain’t important,” he whispered. “The only thing that matters right now is me and you.”
Alija blushed as Kasheef massaged her feet. “Why me?” she asked.
“Why you what?”
“Why are you so interested in me?” she asked more clearly.
“You remind me of someone I used to know,” he replied.
She frowned. She did not like being compared to some other girl. That meant that she was only a replica of the real thing he had lost. “So you really aren’t feeling me. You just like me because I remind you of some other girl you used to love. What she broke your heart and I’m her substitute?”
“You remind me of my mother ... she passed away a couple years ago,” he said.
Alija immediately felt like an idiot for assuming the worse. She pulled her feet away from his grasp and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry.”
“It a’ight ma, you did not know. There is just something in you. It’s in your swag, like you’re strong. You are a survivor. You out here trying to raise your daughter on your own ... it’s just a combination of things that remind me of her. She raised me by herself. I never knew my father. We were like our own team. A two man show. We never had much, but we had each other and that was always enough. She was the only woman I have ever loved. I was protective of her. I would have done anything to save her. Nobody else just seemed to be able to compare,” he explained.
“She sounds like a beautiful person Kasheef,” Alija admitted.
“I know. After she died I didn’t think about her for a long time. It just hurt too much. It was so much easier for me to just shut off my heart than to deal with losing her. Now every time I look at you, I’m reminded of her.”
“Is that a good thing?” she asked. “I don’t want you to hurt every time you look at me.”
“Nah, ma. It’s the exact opposite. My heart seems to heal the more I’m around you.”
“What are you saying Kasheef?” she asked as tears filled her eyes.
“I’m not trying to scare you off ma,” he said. “But I care a lot about you.”
“I care about you too,” she replied with her head bowed in shame.
Kasheef frowned. “Why do you say it like it’s a bad thing?”
“You could never understand. I don’t even want to get into all of that. It’s too late and I’m too tired,” she said.
Kasheef pulled her body near his and grabbed the covers and pillow from the bed. He wrapped them over their bodies and within moments they were both sound asleep.
The next day Alija awoke to the sound of a baby’s laughter. She thought she was dreaming, but when she opened her eyes she saw Kasheef holding her daughter.
“Say hi to your moms shorty,” he said as he placed Nahla in Alija’s arms. Alija looked up at him in shock.
“When did ... how did you?” she was so stunned that she could not form any questions in her mind to ask.
“I went and talked to her doctors. They said that it was safe to bring her home. I knew you missed her and since they thought I was her father anyway they allowed me to sign her discharge papers,” Kasheef explained.
“Thank you Sheef,” she said, calling him by his nick name for the first time. Hearing her shorten his name let him know that she was becoming more comfortable in his presence and he smiled.
“You’re welcome,” he answered. “Are you coming to the courthouse today?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” she replied. He fixed his tie and leaned in to kiss Alija on the lips.
“Bring baby girl too, she might be my good luck charm,” he said as he walked out of the room.
The trial went on for the next couple days and Alija found herself sitting in the back row with her daughter faithfully. The District Attorney bitched a fit about her being there, but she refused to leave. She told them that she wanted to face her attacker when really she just wanted to show her support for Kasheef. After surprising her and bringing her daughter home early Kasheef had claimed a tiny piece of Alija’s heart. It was too hard to deny him, so she found herself giving in slowly ... regretfully. Kasheef was grateful for her support and was slowly but surely falling in love with this woman. They spent every day together. Alternating between his room and her room. She liked how he was so at ease with Nahla and she appreciated how he respected her as a woman, but more importantly as a mother. Alija was like a temporary vacation from life’s everyday grind for Kasheef. She was who he talked to when he needed to get something off of his chest. She gave him peace of mind and her smile brightened up his day no matter how bleak it may have been. It got to the point where he honestly could not remember how he had ever been happy without a woman like her by his side. Even when they were not in each other’s presence, she stayed on his mind and he carried her spirit in his heart. She was as close to perfect as someone could ever be and once the trial was over he planned on showing her how much he appreciated having her in his life.
The most important day of the trial was approaching fast. The day that Alija was expected to take the stand was only a few days away and everyone was on edge. Everything was riding on her and she knew it. She was nervous; she did not want to mess up in any way. She had to speak her words as if she were telling the truth and she figured the easiest lie was to say that Kasheef was not even at the club that night.
Kasheef still had some things to take care of. He contacted Carmen and asked her to set up a meeting with a federal prosecutor.
“Kasheef, I don’t think it is wise for you to contact them in the middle of your case,” she advised.
“There’s just something that I need to handle, concerning the drugs that were found during my arrest,” he responded.
“Kasheef I really think you should wait until they bring those charges against you,” Carmen said.
“Why haven’t they indicted me yet?” Kasheef asked curiously knowing that the fed boys didn’t play. Going up against them, your chances were slim and he hoped to be in the wind by the time those charges came back up.
“They must be after someone bigger than you ... maybe your supplier?” Carmen
speculated. “Either way, if you go in there you are going to ruffle feathers.”
“Just set up the meeting,” he said before flipping his phone closed. He was eager to get this business with the feds handled. Even if he beat the murder there was a good chance that he would be convicted if he was prosecuted for the heroine charge. This is where the game got tricky for him. He had to play chess with his enemies and knock out two birds with one stone. He had to be smart in how he moved. At this point, any wrong move could land him a permanent spot behind the bricks and he dreaded that more than he dreaded his own death. Kasheef never wanted to put his life in jeopardy again and since he planned on sharing his life with Alija he knew that he would have to give up the drug game. He needed to make preparations to make a clean break so that his past could never come back to haunt him. There was still the issue of Kasheef’s connect. He would not want to see Kasheef’s business go. Kasheef knew that he would have to have some type of incentive to provide Osti with if he wanted to exit peacefully. Kasheef went to a pay phone and contacted Osti to set up a meeting with one of his people who was already in the states. After that was done he contacted Stick, who had been loyal to him for years.
“I need to get with you about something fam,” Kasheef said.
“A’ight, come through my spot,” Stick responded. “Give me about an hour.”
“A’ight, I’ll be there in an hour. It’s important so make sure you are alone,” Kasheef instructed before snapping his phone closed.
Stick was only twenty-one, but was as thorough as most old heads in the game. Kasheef had found him when he was ten years old and was selling candy to people coming out of the grocery store in the middle of the summer. The young boy had caught his attention because Kasheef knew that schools did not do fundraisers during summer vacation and he confronted the boy about it. A youthful Stick was honest and when Kasheef asked him why he was posted in front of the store, Stick replied, “I’m just trying to get my shine up like you. I’m trying to eat.”
Kasheef laughed at the boy and purchased his entire stash of candy bars. He rode by the same spot for a week straight and sure enough, Stick was posted in front of the store relentlessly getting his hustle on. Kasheef respected the young boy’s tenacity and grind. He immediately recognized him as good corner boy material and put Stick onto the game. Stick had moved up in the ranks quickly because he was smart and ruthless. If Kasheef was not going to be getting money anymore he knew that there was no better person to pass his empire down to then Stick. An hour and a half later Kasheef pulled up to Stick’s Crown Heights project building. He placed a call to Stick to let him know he was in front of his building. A couple minutes later Stick came walking out of the building.
“What’s good fam? You sounded kind of urgent on the phone,” Stick said. He stepped into the car and Kasheef pulled away from the curb.
“It’s about time you came into your own fam,” Kasheef said as he whipped his Navigator through the hood. “I think you’re ready. I’ve seen your ass grow up from a little hard headed mu’fucka to a grown man. Ain’t no need for you to play the back no more. You were patient and you waited until your time came fam. I appreciate that. Most of these mu’fuckas out here trying to take what they haven’t earned. You have earned it though.”
“Earned what? You speaking in circles,” Stick replied.
“My spot. I’m retiring from the game. After the trial is over, I’m done. I’ve already set up a meeting for you to meet with my connect and everything,” Kasheef said.
Kasheef reached out his hand and Stick shook it. “Yo, fam, good looking out, but there’s only one problem.”
“What’s that?” Kasheef asked curiously.
“That new cat Fiasco is fucking up the game. I guess he’s been moving weight out of the Bronx. He’s been stepping on my toes lately. He is coming to our blocks shooting up shit, scaring our workers. He talking ’bout ain’t nobody working them corners unless they slanging for him,” Stick replied.
“Why am I just now hearing about this?” Kasheef asked harshly. “I knew the nigga was trying to make money and I didn’t hate on that, but now this lil’ mu’fucka getting out of hand. When niggas gon’ learn to stay in they lane?” he asked heatedly.
“I didn’t want to cloud your head. You know with the trial and everything I thought I should wait to let you know, but recently this mu‘fucka been doing some real disrespectful shit. He’s spitting venom on your name and everything. Mad niggas been jumping ship. They trying to be on the winning team nah mean? I’ma ride with you until the end fam, but you know when people think you down they automatically count you out.”
“Yeah, bitch niggas always do switch sides, but your boy is far from out fam,” Kasheef assured as he rubbed his neatly trimmed goatee.
“I told you before I’ve even seen your chick Norelle with him. At first they were real low key with it, but recently she’s been riding shot gun with the nigga and everything. In the club on his arm and shit ... just real disrespectful nah mean?” Stick said.
“You have put in a lot of work for me over the years. It’s your time. Don’t no new mu’fuckas run New York fam. That ain’t happening. I’ll take care of him, you just be ready to step into the big leagues. You’re the boss now,” Kasheef said.
Kasheef circled the block once more before pulling back up to Stick’s building. “You got to come up and have a drink with your boy or something,” Stick said. “I got to celebrate fam.”
Kasheef shook his head. “Maybe another time. I’ve got one more loose end I need to tie up,” he said. He tossed Stick a cell phone. “This is how Osti will contact you. He’s the only one who has that number. I don’t even know it. He will call you when he’s ready for you.”
Stick nodded and shook hands with Kasheef once more before Kasheef pulled off. He retired back to the hotel and found himself making his way to Alija’s room. He knocked softly on her door. She answered it wearing a gold lace camisole and lace boy-cut panties to match.
“Shh!” she whispered as she opened up her door and invited him. “I just put Nahla down. She was a little cranky today but—” she stopped talking when she noticed the look on Kasheef’s face. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Kasheef grabbed her arm and brought her near him. With his hand caressing the nape of her neck he kissed her slowly. “I love you.”
The look on Alija’s face was one of shock and panic. She did not know what to say. Here he was laying all of his cards out on the table and all she could do was stand in front of him, speechless. When her heart returned to a normal pace she took a deep breath and finally, unsurely replied, “I love you too Kasheef.”
He scooped her into his arms with ease. “I swear I’m gon’ give you the world ma. Just believe in me. Trust me. Be loyal to me and I will give you everything you need or want. If I can’t give it to you then I’ll die trying, I promise you that ma.”
Alija kissed his nose and replied, “I love you Kasheef. I wasn’t supposed to, but I do. I promise to give you everything that you deserve.”
She got into her bed where Nahla lay peacefully. “Come lay with me,” she said. Kasheef stripped down to his boxers and crawled underneath the covers. He took Nahla from the bed and laid her tiny body on his chest. Alija smiled and lay underneath his arm. “Good night Kasheef.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Get some rest ma.”
They both went to sleep knowing that they each held the other’s future in their hands.
Chapter Fourteen
The morning of Alija’s testimony came quickly, too soon for some, not fast enough for others. Kasheef and Alija moved around her hotel room silently. They both had burdensome thoughts on their mind and the air between them seemed too thick to talk. Kasheef finished dressing and grabbed his keys. There was one more thing that he had to do. Before he left he stood in front of Alija.
“How do you feel?” he asked her concerned. He could see the stress taking over her face. She was usually
so vibrant and relaxed, but today her features seemed to be set in a permanent scowl.
“Nervous,” she answered truthfully. “And confused.”
“I don’t want to put any more pressure on you,” Kasheef said. “I just want to let you know that I love you. I love you more than anyone in this world and no matter what happens today, that will never change a’ight?”
Alija nodded and gave him a weak smile.
“What about Norelle? When she hears me—”
Kasheef placed a finger to Alija’s lips. “Norelle is already taken care of. I got you ma, just trust me.” He kissed her one last time. “I’ve got to go,” he said. Alija nodded her head, but she could not help but feel like this was the last time she would ever see him. She felt like she was suffocating and all she wanted to do was run. Run away from her problems, run away from the confusing game that her life had become.
A half an hour later he stood in front of the federal building. He took a deep breath before stepping inside, knowing that there was a possibility that they might not let him walk back out with his freedom intact. It was a risk that he had to take. He took the elevator to the eleventh floor where the Drug Enforcement Agency was located. Confident in his Calvin Klein two piece suit, he stepped to the receptionist as if he belonged with the stride of a man on a mission. “I have information pertaining to a heroine ring here in the city. I need to speak with someone in charge,” he said calmly.
In less than ten minutes flat he was sitting across from Dan Greene, the chief of the DEA. “I hear you have some information regarding some illegal activities that are going on in the city,” the chief said as he stared intensely at Kasheef.
“Yes, I do.”
“And why are you just volunteering this information?” he asked suspiciously.
“I know you are aware of my arrest. I am going through a very public trial right now,” Kasheef stated.
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