Array Ashley - Murderville

“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.