Murderville Page 0,71

of A’shai being outnumbered, overpowered, and outgunned. And despite what Baron told her, she could see in his eyes that the situation was bothering him more than he let on. He played tough, but she knew that he was broken up about his blow out with A’shai. She couldn’t numb her heart the way that Baron could. She constantly called A’shai’s phone, praying that he would answer but each time she got his voicemail. Fed up and in need of answers, she called Nico.

“What’s up, Auntie Will?” He answered on the first ring.

“Where is my son?” she asked, cutting to the chase.

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard from him in a couple days,” Nico replied.

Willow detected the lie as soon as it slipped off his tongue. “Boy, I’ve known you since you were running around pissing in diapers. You come out of your mouth with another lie and I’m going to knock your teeth down your throat the next time I see you. Now where is he?” she repeated.

Nico had never heard Willow so angry, but he knew that she was not one to fuck with. She may have seemed gentle in nature, but he knew better and was well aware of her ruthlessness. She was a black widow who was capable of eating someone alive if she had to. She only played the back because she had a good man who was capable of handling the front.

“He’s up north at the house in Boyne,” Nico stated reluctantly. “But you shouldn’t drive up there for a few days. There’s a snowstorm coming in, and the roads will be rough going up. If you wait I’ll take you myself as soon as the weather clears. He’s hiding out, playing house with that bitch. . . .”

“Watch your mouth,” Willow said quickly before she hung up the phone.

She grabbed the keys to her E-550 and headed out of the door. The horrible intuition that she was experiencing was torturing her and would not allow her to wait until the storm passed. She felt that her son needed her, and her motherly instincts were seldom wrong.

Hours had passed and A’shai hadn’t returned, which gave Liberty time to become familiar with her new surroundings. She made herself at home and as she nosily went from room to room, she found herself becoming slightly jealous of how easy A’shai’s life had been during the years they were separated. He has no idea how lucky he is, she thought as she pulled out a photo album and made herself comfortable at the kitchen table. Just as she was about to flip it open she heard the front door open. Happy that A’shai had finally come back, she rushed into the living room.

“Hey, it took you long enough. Where did you . . . ?” Liberty stopped mid-sentence when she realized that it wasn’t A’shai.

“You must be the girl that has stolen my son’s heart away from me,” Willow said as she looked Liberty up and down.

Liberty’s mouth fell open to respond but she was at a loss for words.

Willow smiled slightly because she could see that Liberty was slightly intimidated to be in her presence. “You can start with your name sweetheart,” she said.

“Liberty,” she finally spoke. “My name is Liberty.”

Willow paused for a moment as she realized that she had heard the name before. “A’shai used to talk about you all the time when he first came to live with us. You’re the famous Liberty. He used to call you his wife,” Willow said with a chuckle. “He’s right: you are a very pretty girl.”

Liberty blushed slightly. “Thank you,” she replied.

“I’m Willow,” his mother said.

Willow noticed the photo album in Liberty’s hand, and Liberty handed it over, feeling intrusive. “I was just looking at your family.”

Willow stared at Liberty, slightly taken aback by her features. “You’re from Sierra Leone as well?” she asked.

Liberty nodded.

“You’re a long way from home,” Willow stated.

“I don’t even remember where home is. It feels like I never had one,” Liberty whispered to herself.

Willow’s heart immediately went out to Liberty. “I cannot imagine the things that your eyes have seen.”

Liberty teared up a bit, and she quickly began to wipe the tears away as she turned around in shame. “I’m sorry.”

Willow smiled sympathetically as she reached out and grabbed Liberty’s hand. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Come on. Let me catch you up on my son.”

The two ladies sat down at the kitchen table and flipped through the large