Array Ashley - Murderville

“To take a shower,” she said. “But I’m not doing it alone. I don’t want to do anything without you ever again.” She reached down and grabbed his hand to pull him to his feet.

A’shai followed her into the bathroom where they resumed their sex session well into the night, making up for lost time.

As daylight crept through the hotel blinds A’shai realized that he had not been to sleep. His mind was racing and he felt extreme stress, despite the beautiful night that he and Liberty had shared the night before. As he listened to her steady breathing he felt the same responsibility for her that he had felt when they had run away from home as kids. It was up to him to lead her to a better life and this time he was determined not to drop the ball. She had no clue, but his pockets were dwindling. All of his money had gone up in smoke in the car explosion and all he had left was the paper in his pocket. He eased out of the bed, moving Liberty off his chest before climbing out of bed. He went into the pocket of his suit jacket to retrieve the small knot of bills. He flipped through it quickly, but when he discovered the total he knew that he may as well have been broke: $3,000 wouldn’t get them very far… not when they were running from a man whose resources were limitless. A’shai couldn’t even purchase any decent fire power for that amount. Fuck am I going to do? he thought. I’ve got to come up on some paper.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his cell phone ringing. He reached in his slacks and retrieved it. He recognized the name instantly. If Baron had taught him anything, it was to always have your attorney on speed-dial and as the call came up he answered it.

“Don Clarkston,” A’shai stated.

“A’shai, good morning. I’m sorry to call you so early, but it is very important. It’s Baron,” Clarkston said. “He was arrested last night. He was arraigned this morning. He asked me to call you. I need a $50,000 retainer to render services to him, and he says that you are the only one who knows where his money is.”

“Arrested?” A’shai exclaimed, stirring Liberty from her sleep. He knew that it was uncharacteristic for Baron to be caught slipping. “How did this happen?”

“Apparently, Baron was caught with large quantities of cocaine in his home,” Clarkston replied.

A’shai shook his head in disbelief. He knew his father would never bring his business home. “What’s his bail?” A’shai asked, instantly reverting back to his loyal duties as Baron’s son and next in command.

“Your father is considered a flight risk. Bail was denied,” Clarkston said. “Time is of the essence, A’shai. The sooner you can get me that retainer the better.”

A’shai hung up the phone and turned around to find Liberty staring at him.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Get dressed, ma, we have to go,” he stated.

A’shai pulled up to his parents’ home and parked his car in the circular driveway, directly in front of the door.

“Stay here. I’ll be in and out,” he instructed as he kissed her cheek and rushed into the house. He went to the basement and into the cellar where Baron kept his money secure in a safe. He located the large wine rack that hid the industrial wall safe. He pulled down one bottle and pressed the button that was hidden behind it. The entire rack slid to the side, revealing Baron’s hidden treasure. A’shai quickly put the combination in and rubbed his hands together as he prepared to unload the riches. He froze in disbelief when the door popped open and he witnessed the inside of the bare safe. It had been wiped out. The only thing that remained was a single handgun… his father’s signature.38. Every dollar that had once filled the space was gone. This can’t be right… fuck is all the money?

Liberty sat in the car antsy as she waited for her man to return. Where is he? What is taking him so long? she thought as she looked around nervously, feeling like a sitting duck. She noticed a black Acura pull up to the house, sitting curbside. Liberty tried to peer inside the windows at the driver, but the dark tint hindered her vision.

A bad vibe filled her as she whispered, “Come on, Shai,… hurry up.” Her worried eyes were locked on the open door of Baron’s home.

The sound of squealing tires caused her to focus her attention on the car, but before she could even process what was going on the black Acura rammed into the side of the Benz.

“Ahh!” Liberty screamed, terrified as she ducked down as the driver-side window burst from the impact. The car backed up and rammed into the side of A’shai’s ride again. Everything was happening so fast that Liberty didn’t know what to do. She climbed into the driver’s seat and attempted to throw the car in drive, but before she could even put her foot on the pedal, the Acura drove into her once again. Liberty felt the metal crunch into her side as she screamed out in pure fear. She mashed the car horn, trying to get A’shai’s attention without letting up.

BEEEPPP!!!

As she watched the Acura back up once more, panic filled her. Wide-eyed, she stared at the car as its engine revved. She struggled to put the car in drive but the way that A’shai was parked she had nowhere to go. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact as the car burned rubber before her.

A’shai heard the horn sound off and he grabbed the gun out of the safe before he shot up the stairs. He raced outside, knowing that the way Liberty was laying on the horn could only mean one thing… she was in trouble. When he saw the Acura ram into the side of his car he chambered the first round of the.38, knowing that Baron kept it loaded, and then removed his own gun off his waist. He clicked it off safety in one swift motion and started spraying. The semi-automatic spit specks of gold fire as he aimed at the car while walking towards it. Fed up, he didn’t hesitate. He had a marksman’s aim and was trying to eliminate whoever was behind the wheel. He knew that Samad was gunning for him, and A’shai felt no remorse as he tried to send someone’s child back to them in a box. Bullets riddled the car until finally the driver reversed all the way to the street. A’shai didn’t stop shooting until the car pulled away. He ran and snatched open the driver-side door. He wrapped his arms around a shaken Liberty.

“You’re okay… I’m here. I’ve got you,” he assured as he kissed her repeatedly. “Are you hurt?”

“No… no, I’m okay,” she answered, her voice shaking as she slid back into the passenger seat.

A’shai knew that Samad had his killers after them. A man of Samad’s power didn’t take insolence without retaliation. A’shai had given Samad the ultimate sign of disrespect… he had snatched his bitch, and A’shai knew that the conflict was only just beginning. Samad was a man with limitless means. Whoever he wanted touched would be touched, and A’shai knew that the threat was real. Things would have been so much easier had he had his father backing him, but A’shai knew that this was not Baron’s fight. He had his own troubles at the moment, and A’shai was too proud to admit that he needed help.

“We have to switch cars. Come on,” he said. Liberty was shaking like a leaf in the wind as she climbed out and followed him back into the house. A’shai went straight to the attached garage, revealing three luxury cars. He grabbed the spare key to Baron’s Lexus coupe and then pulled off.

“We have to get out of here, Shai. I know Samad. He’s not going to stop, and the longer we stick around here the greater chance we have to get caught,” Liberty said, her voice still trembling. He could tell that she was shaken up.

“I know, ma… I know. I just have to handle a few things first,” he said, not wanting to tell her that he was broke. He had been depending on Baron’s stash. He knew that there had been close to $1 million in that safe and after paying Baron’s bail he was going to take a portion to get them safely out of town… but his plans had been spoiled.