Array Ashley - Murderville

A’SHAI REACHED OVER AND GRABBED LIBERTY’S HAND. His tires screeched against the stone driveway as he pulled off Baron’s property. He was torn and his disloyalty plagued him as he thought of how he was turning his back on the only family he knew. But as Liberty intertwined her fingers with his, he remembered that he was the only family she knew and he could never leave her out in the cold.

“I’m going to take you somewhere safe… we need to lay low for a few days until I can come up with a plan. I need some time to think,” A’shai said.

Liberty looked out of the window feeling truly free for the first time. She had not seen A’shai since they were kids, but being with him felt right. It was the only thing that had ever felt right in her entire life.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely as she turned towards him. “You don’t even know how you saved my life.”

A’shai pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it gently.

“I’m sorry for pulling you into this mess with me,” Liberty whispered. “It seems like your life turned out okay… like maybe MURDERVILLE benefited one of us. I can tell you getting on that ship was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. But you… you were lucky. Things got better for you.”

A’shai could hear the sadness in her voice as she spoke, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty for the way things had ended up. He hadn’t seen the type of struggle that she had and he silently wondered about the things that she had been through over the years. Liberty had gotten the short end of the stick and despite the fact that they were both kids when they were taken, A’shai felt as if everything that had happened to her was his fault.

“Don’t apologize for anything. I owe you this. I didn’t protect you. All of those years ago, I should have just admitted that I didn’t have a plan. I was running scared just like you. Instead I led you right into hell. That’s what that ship was Liberty… it was hell and I took you there,” A’shai admitted.

“It wasn’t hell until they took me away from you,” Liberty replied under her breath. She didn’t think that A’shai had heard her, but his ears intercepted every word. He tightened his hold on her hand as he eased his Range Rover onto the interstate.

“Get some rest, Liberty. We will be driving for a while,” he said.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“Up north. My family owns a winter home near Boyne Mountain. It’s secluded. You’ll be safe there,” he responded.

Liberty closed her eyes and the peace that settled over her was so foreign that she immediately popped them back open. She had never gone to sleep with a serene mind and heart. There was always a threat lingering in her life. She was used to being preyed upon by others who wanted to hurt her. With A’shai it was different. It was as if time had stood still for them because she still felt the same love for him that she had so many years ago. In his presence she felt safe. He noticed her hesitation and put his hand on her shoulder as he rubbed the tension out of her neck. “Relax. I got you,” he said. She closed her eyes and went to sleep without reservations.

The five-hour drive north gave A’shai time to clear his mind. He knew the risk that he was taking but felt that he didn’t have a choice. It was his obligation to protect Liberty… he had promised her and he had broken that promise once before… he couldn’t do it again. Baron had been calling his phone for hours, but he refused to answer. His father couldn’t understand the connection that A’shai and Liberty shared. He didn’t know their back story. All Baron saw was a girl who had been for sale. He was blinded by Liberty’s lifestyle, but he had no clue what had brought her to that point. A’shai gave his father the ‘fuck you’ button, sending him to voicemail as he finally arrived at his destination.

He shook Liberty gently. “Wake up, we’re here,” he said as he reached over and unbuckled her seat belt.

She looked up at the beautiful winter log cabin that sat amongst the mountains. The 3500-square-foot home was impressive real estate and the two of them had it all to themselves. A’shai grabbed her hand and escorted her into the house.

“It’s late and everything is closed right now, but there’s a storm headed this way tomorrow. I’m going to have to go stock up on food and a few supplies to last us about a week,” A’shai told her.

Liberty nodded her head and sat down on the couch as she put her hands in her face, overwhelmed.

“I thought I was going to die in that mansion. This feels so good… just being free… you know? I have spent so much of my life being under someone else’s thumb. I’ve never had control of my own destiny,” she said. She was crying heavily but her tears were a direct result of mixed emotions. She was mourning her past and all that she had been through but also shedding tears of joy, considering that she had made it through. “Did you ever think of me?” she asked.

“Every day,” A’shai replied honestly. “I always hoped that you were okay.”

She smiled, slightly flattered that he had never forgotten about her.

“You’re far from the knock-kneed, bony little girl I used to know,” he commented.

“You have no idea,” she said as she shook her head in disgrace. “I don’t even remember that little girl.”

A’shai had so many questions for Liberty. He knew the expectations that were placed upon him simply by being Baron’s son. Liberty was not the type of chick that he was expected to be with. She had a stigma attached to her name. He knew that she had been with many men. He wanted to ask her how many had parted her thighs, but he knew that more than likely she had lost count. He did not want to embarrass her or make her feel badly. I can’t think about who she’s been with. She was forced to live that lifestyle. She was doing what she had to in order to survive. Any nigga that came before me doesn’t matter, he thought as he convinced himself that her past was irrelevant.

A’shai had always been mesmerized by Liberty and as he sat staring at her, enthralled by the changes he saw, he realized that his feelings toward her had not changed.

He sat down beside her and she leaned back, resting her head on his chest as she exhaled deeply.

“Relax… you’re safe now. Put all of your burdens on me. You don’t have to worry anymore, ma. I’ll take care of you,” he stated.

A’shai had left home so quickly that he only had the money that had been in his pocket. He knew that he would need big paper in order to stay off Samad’s radar. Nothing about him was afraid. He would war with any nigga that wanted to bring it to his doorstep, but with Liberty by his side he couldn’t afford to move reckless. He had to align his chess pieces and think strategically before he acted-the way that Baron had taught him. He needed the money out of his safe and knew that there was only one person he could ask to bring it to him. They hadn’t always seen eye-to-eye but Nico was the only person he trusted with his paper. He wasn’t the smartest man A’shai had ever met, but he wasn’t a broke nigga. A’shai knew that he wouldn’t have to worry about his paper coming up short if Nico brought it. Once Liberty was asleep he slid from beneath her and armed the alarm system to ensure that he wasn’t caught slipping. He went into the next room and picked up his cell to call Nico.

“Fam, what’s good baby? Fuck type of shit you on? I know you not running away with bitches now? Not you, kid,” Nico teased, letting A’shai know that he had spoken to Baron.

“It’s not like that. Look I’m not calling to rap with you, fam. I need a favor,” A’shai stated directly, not wanting to beat around the bush.