by King, Deja
An unusual coldness kissed her skin and Paris had no idea that she was walking into the morgue. It didn’t take long to realize it though, but she knew that she had to take cover. Gio was coming and he was coming fast, so she hid in the closet.
Gio stepped into the cold room and stared at the bodies lying on the steel tables covered with white sheets. His heart felt as if it would explode in uncertainty. Something inside told him that his granddaughter was lying lifeless beneath the cover. “Just lead me to the table where the female is and leave. I want to be alone.” The coroner pointed to the table and departed respectfully.
He walked over as a huge lump formed in his throat. Reluctantly, Gio pulled the cover back, revealing Semaj. Deja vu smacked him dead in the face. So many years ago he removed the white sheet from his daughter’s corpse and now his granddaughter’s dead body was lying on the silver table years later. His mind went to another place and he was out of it. Her skin held a blue hue and more than half of her face was blown off. The workings of a shotgun had cleared her of her features. It was Semaj and she was gone.
“I promise baby girl, I will get the bastards that did this to you.” He bent down and kissed her bloody cheek. “I will not rest until they’re all dead.” A solitary tear slipped down his cheek onto hers. It looked as if they were crying together. “I love you, Maj,” Gio said before walking out of the room, escorted by his bodyguards who had been waiting just outside the door for him.
To be safe, Paris waited a good ten minutes before she came out of the closet, and fortunately for her she had been in a closet full of white lab coats and medical examiner masks. Dressed as if she was a part of the hospital staff, Paris would be able to leave unnoticed. She would blend in perfectly with the doctors. Just as she was about to step out of the room, something pulled her to the table Gio had stood at. She just had to see Semaj’s dead body. Everything in her tingled and there was no way she would miss an opportunity to see her archenemy dead. She had conquered over Semaj and the body would be confirmation.
All smirks and sneers turned into a look of confusion and disbelief. Paris had noticed something wasn’t right. There were no acid burns on her face. It couldn’t just disappear, Paris thought knowingly. She had put them there. For the first time in a long time, tears came flowing down her cheeks. She knew she had fucked up. But Ox’s goons came and shot her while I was out cold. They had to. Didn’t they?
Little did Paris know the goons that came weren’t sent by Ox, but what she did know was evident— the chick on the table wasn’t Semaj. The thought caused Paris’s heart to pound with fury. Unable to contain her rage she screamed, “Fuuuuucckk!” Paris knew she had fucked up.
As Quasim stood in the spacious room of the air ambulance he removed the black gloves and pulled the hoodie from his head while looming over Semaj. She was cut up badly, bruised and portions of her face were covered with acid burns. Her respiratory system was failing her and she was barely holding onto life. Hardly recognizable, Quasim had only spotted her because of the hallway light that bounced off her iced-out necklace right before the mirrors came crashing down. Undoubtedly if the mirrors hadn’t been lifted from her body when they did, she would have died.
Quasim watched as his specialized medical team hooked her up to a ventilator machine and filled her body with IVs as the private jet ascended into the night skies. Every since he had gotten Semaj’s frantic call he had been in the States to watch her moves, to make sure she was cool. Her association with the mob put her in grave danger, and the worry tortured Quasim daily. He had vowed to always protect her, and would chance his own life and freedom to ensure her safety. For the love of his woman, he’d risk everything.
Quasim didn’t know who the Milano Family was at war with, but now that Semaj had been severely hurt he intended to find out. Fuck the secrets and codes of the Mafia. Quasim had to find out who was behind the hit. Who had given the “green light” because they definitely had to get it. They had to go and Quasim was going through the top man first to make that absolute. He could’ve easily let Gio’s men handle it but with Semaj pulled in the war, Quasim was already putting calls in to get an army of goons together. The Dominicans weren’t doing a great job at protecting her, so it was time for him to step up.
Quasim only knew one person where he could get the information he needed, but knew phone calls weren’t acceptable and this matter caused for a sit down, however Quasim was unaware that he was headed down to enemy territories. The same man that orchestrated the hit was the same man’s guarded residence Quasim was taking Semaj to for refuge.
As he looked at Semaj, the sight of her condition inflicted a fear within him that he didn’t even know existed. The skin on half of her face appeared as if it had been sheared off and it was heart wrenching. I’m going to wipe out an entire zip code behind this one, he thought as a single tear slipped from its confinement.
All of a sudden the monitor went haywire and began beeping loudly, causing Quasim to rush to get one of the private doctors.
“Sir, you have to let us do our job,” one of the nurses instructed. “It appears that we’re losing her. Grab the equipment,” another said as the doctor placed an oxygen mask over Semaj’s face
As Quasim watched them operate on her he grabbed his chest in an attempt to catch some wind. It felt as if he was sharing in the moment with her. His airways were locking up with every breath he took. He prayed and hoped that she would survive. She had to. His sanity depended on it. His life wouldn’t be complete without her. His world would never be the same. Without Semaj, it would be hell on earth and Quasim knew that the old adage would become factual for every person ever associated to the people responsible.
Turning to look out the small window, Quasim realized the aircraft was descending upon Ox’s landing pad but instead of the overjoyed feeling of having the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders, Quasim now felt the overwhelming weight of two worlds as Semaj’s life hung in the balance. He had no clue of the direction God had intended for her, but even if Semaj did pull through her circumstances, the chances of her dying had just heightened as the jumbo jet touched down on the soils of Jamaica Island— the home turf of the malicious devil that started it all…
Preface
The Present…
Ring…ring…ring “Hello.”
“Mommy, it’s me, Aaliyah.” Precious glanced over at the clock to see what time it was.
“Where are you and why are you calling so late?” Precious wanted to know trying to snap out of her sleep. “I’ve gotten myself in a bit of a situation.” “What sort of situation? And where are Amir and Justina? I thought you were supposed to be with them tonight?”
“I am…I mean I was but something came up.” “Cut the bullshit, Aaliyah. What the hell is going
on?”
“I’m in jail and I need you to come get me out.” “Jail!” Precious screamed it out so loud that it awoke Supreme from his sleep. “You’re in jail!”
“Yes. And could you please not yell. I already have a migraine headache as it is.”
‘Aaliyah, what are they charging you with?” Precious asked. She gripped the phone trying to stop herself from wanting to reach through it and snatch her daughter up.
“First Degree Murder.”
Aaliyah
Mother/Daughter Born This Way
The Past…
My mother came from nothing but was determined to have it all. I was born having it all but wanted more. So in reality mother and daughter were exactly alike or at least I thought so. See in my eyes, my mother was a Boss Bitch. From the time I was a little girl I admired everything about her and knew when I grew up I would be her. For those that don’t know, my mother is the one and only Precious Cummings Mills and I am her daughter, Aaliyah Mills Carter.
Unlike my mother who was born and raised in the grimiest Brooklyn projects, I grew up in the opulent world of Beverly Hills. The closest I got to Brooklyn was the Upper East Side in Manhattan. You w
ould think with the vast difference in our upbringing that our personalities would be polar opposite but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Although I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth I inherited the fire that would forever brew inside my mother. That trait we shared was made evident at my eleventh birthday party. As I sat in my holding cell I thought back to that day, seven years ago.
‘Aaliyah, come on! Everybody is waiting for you to open your birthday presents.”
“They have to wait. I need to change my outfit.”
“What’s wrong with the outfit you have on?”
“This was my introduction dress now we’re moving on to part two. I have to give my guest another look,” I explained taking off my pretty in pink silk sleeveless dress with draped ruffles curving down the front. The dress screamed ‘princess’ but now I wanted to put on something that yelled out ‘it girl’. I couldn’t wait to put on the silver and black romper that was artfully embellished with metal studs down the front and around the neckline.
“Where did you get that from?” my mother barked standing in front of me.
“Daddy got it.”
“I know Supreme didn’t get that.”
“No not that daddy, my other daddy, Nico.” I watched my mother’s face quickly frown up. Even while angry she was still the most beautiful woman in the world to me. She didn’t say anything for a few minutes and I was afraid she was going to demand I take off the romper I had been dreaming about wearing since my dad got it for me a week ago. He had this lady that custom designed clothes for celebrity kids make it for me.
“Only because it’s your birthday am I going to let you wear that grown outfit but it’s a onetime thing.”
“Thank you, mommy,” I smiled wrapping my arms around her tiny waist. As I held her tightly I wondered when I got older and had a couple of kids would I still look that good. Her chain-stripe print dress with a tassel-tie waist and layered hemline highlighted her figure perfectly without overexposure.
“How can I look in those eyes and deny my baby
girl.”
“Mommy, daddy said bring Aaliyah to open her presents.”
“Here we come, Xavier. We can all go down together.”
“Mom, I don’t want to go back out there escorted by my mom and little brother. You all go first and I’ll be right behind you to make my entrance.”
“Girl you a mess,” my mom laughed, “Just like I was. We won’t stop you from making your entrance,” she continued as she took my five-year-old brother’s hand and walked out.
I twirled around one more time in the mirror and hurried out. I was anxious for all my friends to see me in my specially designed just for me outfit. When I stepped out into the lavishly decorated courtyard I was devastated when I didn’t see a crowd of well- wishers waiting patiently for my entrance. Instead everybody was gathered around the waterfall. I started walking towards the commotion when Justina and Amir approached me.
‘Aaliyah, you don’t need to go over there,” Justina said grabbing my arm.
‘And why not?” I asked yanking my arm out of her
grasp.
“Because my dad said they were over there handling grown folk business and we needed to stay out the way.”
“Well T-Roc ain’t my daddy! So you stay right here, I’m going over there.”
“Aaliyah, I really think you should listen to Justina,” Amir added.
“Justina doesn’t run me! This is my birthday party,” I stressed. As I hurried forward, from the corner of my eye I could see Justina and Amir trailing right behind me. I began carefully maneuvering my way through the crowd of adults hoping not to get noticed by my parents or grandfather. As I got closer I could hear what sounded like my mother raising her voice and my dad trying to calm her down. When I got to the forefront I could see my dad holding my mother back and I immediately ran
by her side to see what had her so upset.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?”
“Supreme, let me go! I don’t need you holding my arms like I’m some uncontrollable child!”
“But you are out of control right now. You can’t get to fighting up in here. Think about Aaliyah and Xavier.”
“They’ll understand!” my mom growled. I could tell the claws were about to come out.
“Mommy, mommy, what happened?” This time I screamed out desperate to get her attention. When she finally met my stare, my mother could see the tears swelling up in my eyes.
My dad let her arms go and she cupped my face in her hands. “I’m so sorry, Aaliyah. Please don’t cry.”
“Why are you upset?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry yourself about,
it…”
“Look at my beautiful niece,” I heard a female voice say interrupting my mother. I turned my head around and noticed a familiar face that I hadn’t seen in years.
“Maya, what are you doing here?”
“That’s Aunt Maya,” she smiled. She stepped near me and my Grandpa Quentin quickly pulled her back.
“Don’t you dare speak to my daughter! You ‘bout to regret that you ever stepped foot in this birthday party!” My mother was ready to step out her open-toe stilettos and jump on Maya in front of everybody. I knew my mother could get upset because occasionally I would hear her arguing with my dad but never did I see her like this. She seemed ready for war.
“All I came to do was wish my niece a happy birthday and give her a present. I haven’t seen her since I first came home.”
“You mean since you got out of jail, you psychopath!”
“Precious, calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. She probably found out about this party through you. You know how I feel about her! You’ve made it clear that you embrace her as your daughter but that heffa ain’t no sister of mine. And once I drag her ass up outta here she’ll learn not to listen to what you say when it comes to me!” Right before my mother lunged at Maya my dad grabbed her again.
“Listen, if you put your hands on her she might try to press charges or some dumb shit like that,” I heard my dad trying to whisper in my mom’s ear. “Think about the kids, she ain’t worth going to jail over. Instead let’s lock her up for trespassing.”
“I don’t want to cause any problems. Here, Aaliyah, take my present and then I’ll leave,” Maya offered as if she heard what my father was planning to do. I walked towards Maya and my mom reached out to grab me but I turned around and smiled before continuing on my way.
“Let the child take the present,” my Grandpa Quentin suggested wanting to be the peacemaker.
“Here’s a beautiful present for such a beautiful girl,” Maya said bending over to hand me over a small Tiffany box with a white ribbon. With one hand I took the present and with the other hand I swung it back as far as I could and slapped her face so hard that my hand was hurting.
“That’s for disrespecting my mommy,” I belted after my hand left an imprint on her face. “And this is for ruining my birthday party,” I screamed out again, tossing the Tiffany box she just gave me in her face.
Everybody went silent and Maya stared at me as if in complete shock. I stared her back down daring her to even look as if she wanted to slap me back. She and I both knew that everybody in this party would jump on her if it even appeared she had any intentions of doing that.
“I think it’s best you leave,” my Grandpa Quentin finally said, breaking the silence.
“Yes, Grandpa, I agree with you,” I said before turning back to Maya. “You need to leave and don’t ever come back. You’re not welcome in this family.” I walked back over to my mother and stood by her side. “I love you, mommy.”
“I love you too, Aaliyah.”
Lorenzo
Welcome To My World
Before I die, if you don’t remember anything else I ever taught you, know this. A man will be judged, not on what he has but how much of it. So you find a way to make money and when you think you’ve made enough, make so
me more, because you’ll need it to survive in this cruel world. Money will be the only thing to save you. As I sat across from Darnell those words my father said to me on his deathbed played in my head.
“Yo, Lorenzo, are you listening to me, did you hear anything I said?”
“I heard everything you said. The problem for you is I don’t give a fuck.” I responded, giving a casual shoulder shrug as I rested my thumb under my chin with my index finger above my mouth.
“What you mean, you don’t give a fuck? We been doing business for over three years now and that’s the best you got for me?”
“Here’s the thing, Darnell, I got informants all over these streets. As a matter of fact that broad you’ve had in your back pocket for the last few weeks is one of them.”
“I don’t understand what you saying,” Darnell said swallowing hard. He tried to keep the tone of his voice calm, but his body composure was speaking something different.
“Alexus, has earned every dollar I’ve paid her to fuck wit’ yo’ blood suckin’ ass. You a fake fuck wit’ no fangs. You wanna play wit’ my 100 g’s like you at the casino. That’s a real dummy move, Darnell.” I could see the sweat beads gathering, resting in the creases of Darnell’s forehead.
“Lorenzo, man, I don’t know what that bitch told you but none of it is true! I swear ‘bout four niggas ran up in my crib last night and took all my shit. Now that I think about it, that trifling ho Alexus probably had me set up! She fucked us both over!”