FOURTEEN

A’SHAI COULDN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT LIBERTY. She had been on his mind for months. She had grown into a woman, but she still looked exactly the same to A’shai. When he saw her, his heart felt as if it had skipped a beat. Feeling possessive over her, he was prepared to bid until his bank ran out, but Baron had stopped him. Seeing her on the platform had saddened him because after all the time that had passed, she was still stuck in the system. A’shai felt as though he had been her downfall. He was the one who had led her onto a prisoner’s ship, and she was still plunging into the darkness all these years later. He had tried to take his mind off her. He hustled tirelessly in the streets, stacking his paper and going hard in the game. Getting money was the perfect distraction to keep him from pining after the childhood love from his past. It was the moments that he stood still that he saw her face . . . moments like now when he was laying in bed with his girlfriend Jenny that he wished the girl next to him was Liberty.

“What’s wrong, Shai?” she asked. “You’ve been so distant.”

A’shai pulled his arm from behind her head and replied, “I’m just tired. I’m not trying to be cold towards you. I’ve got some things to take care of today though so don’t make any plans to hang around here,” he said. He wasn’t fond of the way she was slowly becoming a fixture in his life. She was trying to plant roots on him, and he wasn’t interested in cultivating their relationship. His connection with her had been interrupted the moment he laid eyes on Liberty at the ball. He wanted a sincere love . . . something genuine, and Jenny couldn’t provide that. Women wanted him now because he had the world in the palm of his hands. He was young, rich, and powerful, which was attractive to them . . . but Liberty had known him before all of it . . . she had loved him without any of it . . . and wouldn’t see him any differently because of it. He wanted her and as he thought of her being sold and purchased like an item he felt a great pain in his chest. If Liberty was anything like the little girl she used to be, then she was an amazing woman, and A’shai needed her in his life.

Jenny, on the other hand, was high maintenance and required a lot of attention. She was used to being spoiled. She was one of the hottest chicks in Detroit, and many men wanted what A’shai had, but she was addicted to him. His power and prestige was like a magnet to her and ever since he had returned from L.A. the attraction had been less than mutual. He was Baron Montgomery’s heir and that alone brought women out of the woodwork . . . women like Jenny who were opportunists who saw A’shai as their new sponsor. He saw them as pieces of ass. He wasn’t into cuffing or upgrading no chick. He was about getting money, and Jenny was just something to do in the meantime. She was nice arm candy and good company on lonely nights. In fact he was quite fond of her, but he didn’t see her in his future. Ever since losing Liberty as a child, he never made plans to keep a chick around because none of them could ever measure up to his childhood love. The affection that he had built up towards Liberty in such a short time was so great that when he lost her his heart broke. No girl after her had been able to repair him and since he had located her, all of his feelings for Liberty had resurfaced. They may have only been kids when their paths crossed but she had left an everlasting imprint on his life. He couldn’t shake the memory of her and now that he had seen her again he was itching to check for her.

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.

A’shai felt a mixture of rage and love as he realized that Liberty was still living with the consequences that came with ever stepping foot on MURDERVILLE. She’s never been free, he thought. He could feel his chest caving in at the mere thought of what she had been through. A’shai wanted to embrace her, but he had to play his hand correctly. He couldn’t react impulsively. A’shai knew that Samad was a powerful and dangerous man. A’shai would have to think out an entire plan in his head before he implemented anything. He yearned to see Liberty’s face. She was so covered . . . so subdued . . . so trapped beneath all of the bullshit. They were so close to one another but could not speak without inhibitions. He could see her chest heaving frantically and her eyes pleaded with him.

Help me, they begged.

She didn’t have to speak the words in order for A’shai to understand. He heard her, and he nodded his head acknowledging her request. The silence was thick and if Samad had not been under the influence he may have noticed the tension in the room.

Samad snapped his fingers at Liberty, breaking her out of her daze and she quickly regained control of her emotions as she gave her attention to Samad.

“Yes?” she answered.

“We need some privacy so that we can discuss some things. Disappear for a while,” Samad stated without looking Liberty’s way. Hesitantly, Liberty stepped away from the table as her weary heart sank into her stomach. It ached so badly that she could practically hear it breaking. She discreetly watched A’shai in her peripheral vision. He was so close, but at the same time seemed so far away. Disappointment filled Liberty as she retreated to her room. I have to talk to him, she thought as she paced back and forth. Little did she know, he was thinking the exact same thing. A’shai was just as desperate to get to her as she was to him. Samad had no clue that they even knew one another. They were connected in a way that he could never understand. Liberty’s mind spun as she dreamt of being whisked away by A’shai. She didn’t know where he had come from or how he had finally found her, but she would go anywhere with him. She used to trust him and something told her that she still could. Fear of Samad kept her from speaking up. Liberty was very perceptive and she could tell that A’shai was connected. He represented a larger entity than just himself. His confident stature told the story of a man with clout, but she wasn’t naïve . . . she knew that not many could match Samad’s reign. A’shai couldn’t trump Samad and although she wished that he could, reality was that he probably didn’t have enough power to save her without facing harsh repercussions himself.

A’shai waited almost an hour before he made an effort to separate from Samad. “Yo, can I use your bathroom?” A’shai asked.

Samad nodded his head and motioned towards the stairs. “At the top of the stairs take the east hall. It’s the third door on your right.”

A’shai stood and walked up the stairs and then followed Samad’s instructions. He located the bathroom but bypassed it as he peered over his shoulder cautiously. He peeked his head inside room after room in search of Liberty until finally he saw her. She was no longer covered from head to toe but, dressed in a black silk slip and black lace bra. She sat in the middle of a plush king-sized bed crying her eyes out, her face buried in her hands.

In awe of her appearance, he paused momentarily to take her in. With no make-up and no fancy clothes she was beautiful. Natural. But A’shai could hear the pain emanating from her soul as she sat unaware of her audience.

“Liberty,” he said as he stepped into the room.

She looked up stunned and then looked behind him for Samad.

“He’s downstairs . . . drunk,” A’shai said.

She exhaled a sigh of sadness and relief as she leapt off the bed and ran to him. A’shai embraced her tightly, wrapping his arms around her securely as she heaved tormented wails into his shoulder.

“It’s okay ma . . . it’s okay Liberty. I’m here now,” he whispered. She gripped him desperately as her body trembled fearfully.

“He’s going to kill me, Shai. I saw the urns . . . the other girls . . . he killed them,” she rambled.

A’shai looked over his shoulder and then turned to her, holding her face in the palms of his hands. “Shhh . . . shhh. Nothing’s going to happen to you. I’m here now. I won’t let it,” he assured.

“Take me with you, Shai. Please . . . get me out of here,” she sobbed, clasping her hands together as if he could walk on water.

She was too frantic, and A’shai knew that they didn’t have time for a lengthy conversation.

“Calm down, ma. He’ll hear you. You have to give me a few days to get things in order. I have to leave but . . .”

Liberty cringed, her knees buckling slightly as she bounced up and down desperately begging him. “Shai, please noooo,” she cried. “Don’t leave me here. Take me with you . . . noooo. Please, Shai, please.”

A’shai could see the fear in her and instantly grew hot. “Does he hit you? Has he hurt you?” he asked, slightly raising his voice as he reached for his pistol.

“No . . . but he will do a lot worse if you don’t save me,” she said solemnly. “If you leave here without me, you won’t come back.”

“I’mma always come back for you Liberty. That’s my word, ma,” he said. He kissed the top of her head and looked into her face as the seconds ticked by. Knowing that he couldn’t remain with her for much longer without arousing suspicion he said, “I’m coming for you. I promise. When does he leave the house?” he asked urgently as he gripped her shoulders.

“He doesn’t . . . he never leaves. He watches me like a hawk,” she explained. She was so emotional that she could barely speak without yelling.

“Shhh . . . calm down, ma. Think. Is there ever a moment when he doesn’t have you under a scope?” A’shai asked.

“He runs . . . every morning he goes for a jog,” Liberty said.

“How long?” A’shai shot back.

“Half hour . . . an hour at the most,” she said.

“I’mma come back for you. Just be patient. I won’t leave L.A. without you,” he said. He kissed her cheek and then walked out of the room.

Liberty’s lips trembled so badly it appeared as though she had the shivers. When he disappeared from her sight she broke down. Her knees hit the floor, and she bent over in grief. She needed A’shai to come back for her this time . . . she needed to be rescued more than she needed the air in her lungs. He was her only way out.

A’shai sat down the block from Samad’s estate and watched as Samad exited his gates in full running gear. He waited until Samad was out of sight and then instructed the driver to pull the limo onto Samad’s grounds. He hopped out of the car and rang the doorbell. He was greeted by one of Samad’s many service workers. The maid stood before him.

“Samad is expecting me. I’m A’shai . . . his business partner from Detroit,” he announced.

“Mr. Sadat isn’t here, but if you are expected you can wait for him inside,” the woman replied.

A’shai followed her to the sitting room, and she motioned for him to have a seat. “He will be back shortly,” she stated. “I have many chores to do, but, please, if you need anything just call me. My name is Sarah.”

A’shai nodded and watched her leave the room. As soon as she was gone he slowly snuck up the stairs and headed for the bedroom that Liberty shared with Samad. He opened the door and found Liberty staring blankly out of the window. She was uncovered and in normal street clothes.

“Liberty,” he said, making her aware of his presence.

As if her ears were playing tricks on her she snapped her head to the right as she looked at him in disbelief.

“You came back,” she whispered as she rushed to him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him sensually as he hugged her, lifting her slightly from the floor.

“Get your things. Let’s go,” A’shai instructed.

Liberty rushed to the closet and grabbed the few pieces of clothes that she had that weren’t of Muslim heritage. She threw them into a small suitcase and A’shai grabbed it from her hands. He put his hand on the small of her back and led her out of the house. They smoothly re-entered the car. “Drive,” A’shai called out to the driver. Liberty’s eyes widened in surprise when she noticed that the vehicle was loaded with weapons. It looked like an artillery closet with all of the different assault rifles and hand pistols.

Liberty was so afraid that she thought she would pee her pants. Being caught was not an option. The penalty would be too great if Samad knew of her insubordination.

“Relax,” A’shai said, sensing her apprehension.

A’shai gripped her knee and leaned in to kiss her cheek but was interrupted by the barrage of bullets that rained down on his car.

“Shai!” Liberty screamed as she covered her ears.

“Get down!” he shouted as he pushed her to the floor of the vehicle and grabbed one of the assault rifles. The windows in the limo shattered as Samad’s goons drove beside them, firing relentlessly. A’shai came up blazing as he pulled the trigger of his AK. “Drive this mu’fucka! Go!” he shouted in the midst of the all out gun battle. A’shai noticed that the car was zig zagging back and forth, making it hard for him to let off a clean shot and when he glanced at the driver he discovered why. His head was blown half way off and the car was going at full speed with no one to control it. “Hold on!” he said as he crouched over Liberty and waited for the impact as the car rammed through the showcase of a store front. Customers screamed and ran in every direction as A’shai and Liberty gathered their bearings. Slightly dazed by the impact the couple sat up as A’shai peered out of the back of the car. The goons were pulling to a stop in front of the store. “Let’s go!” A’shai said as he pulled Liberty from the car. He handed her the .9mm in his waistline and they made a run for the back door figuring if they got lost in the frenzy it was hard for them to be spotted. A’shai knew that one of Samad’s men would be waiting for them at the back exit so he came out shooting first. He had no time for questions and when he hit one of the goons dead in the forehead he felt no remorse. They ran back out to the busy city street and luck was on their side as A’shai raised his hand and stopped a cab.

Scratches covered them from the impact of the crash and A’shai could see the cabbie peering at them suspiciously. “There’s a big tip in it for you if you mind your business, fam,” A’shai stated. He looked out of the back window making sure that no one was following them before turning to check on Liberty. “You okay?” he asked.

She nodded her head as her shaky hand gripped A’shai’s gun. “Let me see that, ma,” he stated as he gently eased it out of her fingertips.

A’shai gave the cab driver directions to the private airstrip and when they saw the plane, both of them let out a sigh of relief. They were home free and once they were back in the city of Detroit, Liberty would be safe behind the protection of Baron’s organization.

A’shai held Liberty’s hand as they ran up the stairs of the jet. He went to greet his pilots and stopped when he saw the two white men slumped over the control panel with two bullet holes in the backs of their heads.

“Oh GOD, Shai . . .” she gasped as she covered her mouth. “He’s going to kill me. I shouldn’t have left!” She was beginning to panic, and A’shai grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

“I’m going to get you out of here. Trust me, ma!” he stated aggressively, adrenaline pumping through his body.

She nodded her head and he disembarked the jet with her right behind him. When they got to the bottom of the steps they saw Samad’s Audi A8 pull up. Liberty froze like a deer in headlights as time—for her—stood still. A’shai pointed his gun at the car as Samad emerged from the vehicle.

“A’shai, my good friend. It seems we have the same tastes in women,” he commented as he got out and lit a cigar.

A’shai wasn’t looking for conversation. He was fully prepared to go out blazing on Liberty’s behalf and as he gave Samad the screw face he pointed his gun unwaveringly. A’shai didn’t hesitate. He fired, spraying bullets everywhere and killing the bodyguards that had stepped out of the car with Samad. What Samad didn’t know was that A’shai had a marksman’s aim and was a killer at heart. Samad reached for his waistline, but A’shai fired a shot so close to his head that it halted Samad instantly.

Samad’s hands shot into the air. “Calm down, A’shai. This . . . we can work this out.”

“Put your keys on the ground,” A’shai stated.

Samad did as he was told and then said, “You are going to ruin your father over one bitch?” he asked.

“Get on the ground,” A’shai said.

Samad smirked and then put both knees in the dirt. “It doesn’t matter where you take her. I’m going to find her . . . I’m going to find you both and when I do, you’ll wish that you never saw her pretty face,” Samad threatened. As A’shai walked up on Samad he wanted to put a bullet through his brain, but he thought of the backlash that he would get from Baron.

“You’re going to die for some pussy, A’shai,” Samad stated.

A’shai hit him forcefully with the gun, knocking him out cold and then grabbed the keys to the Audi. He opened the door for Liberty and instructed her to buckle up, then ran to his side of the car and drove away, leaving one of the West Coast’s biggest drug bosses bleeding in the dirt.

A’shai and Liberty drove to the nearest bus station and caught a long ride back to Detroit. As the bus pulled away from the station Liberty began to bawl silently, putting her face in her hands to muffle her cries. A’shai reached over and wiped away her tears as he leaned into her ear.

“I love you, Liberty. Nobody is ever going to harm you again. I promise you on my life. I will die before that happens,” A’shai stated.

“What did you do?!” Baron barked as he stood before A’shai. He had never raised his voice at his son before, and Willow looked on in shock but didn’t interrupt. “Do you know what this has done? What you have done? All over a girl.”

“She’s not just some girl,” A’shai responded calmly as he stood before his father.

“Do you know the danger you have put yourself in? She has to go back! You will not be affiliated with her,” Baron demanded. He was so furious with A’shai that he couldn’t control the tone of his voice. This was by far the stupidest thing that A’shai had ever done.

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.”