Murderville Page 0,73

night A’shai would gladly oblige him. As he stood in the doorway he thought that he was looking at the two most beautiful women in the world. He cleared his throat to announce his presence and interrupted their bonding moment.

They turned around, and Willow stood to her feet to embrace him. “I’m glad you’re okay, Shai. I was worried about you. Things are going to get very bad,” Willow stated.

“I can handle any beef that comes my way. You don’t have to lose no sleep, ma,” he stated surely as he kissed her cheek. “What you doing driving all this way? It’s bad out there. I know your little Benz was sliding all over the road.”

“It was hell getting up here but a woman does what she has to do to protect her family. You didn’t answer my calls. I needed to come and see with my own eyes that you were okay. Samad isn’t to be underestimated, A’shai,” Willow warned as she took his face between her hands and kissed his forehead.

He nodded his head, choosing not to respond with words. That bitch ass nigga got mu’fuckas thinking he don’t bleed, he thought as he clenched his jaw.

“You’re not superman, boy. You may be a grown man, but you’ll always be my baby boy. You took his woman. That’s a grudge that doesn’t die. Just promise me you will be careful,” she said.

“I promise, ma. You don’t have to worry about Samad,” he assured. Willow hugged him, and A’shai held her tightly as he winked his eye at Liberty, who was still seated at the table. “I love you,” he mouthed.

She smiled and blew him an air kiss.

“I’m going to get out of here. I know your father is wondering where I am,” Willow stated. “I just couldn’t resist driving up here to check on you.”

“You can’t drive back home tonight. Your car won’t make it down the block in that snow,” A’shai argued. “Call pop and tell him you’ll be home tomorrow.”

Willow shook her head and replied, “No, I need to get back. You have really ruffled your father’s feathers. I need to be there for him right now. Maybe I can convince him to give the two of you a chance. I know once he meets Liberty he would approve.”

A’shai went into his pocket to retrieve his car keys. “You can take my car. It’ll get you through the snow better,” A’shai said.

“Walk an old woman out?” Willow asked.

“If there was an old woman in the room I surely would,” he replied smoothly, flattering Willow. She was in her late 40s and far from being an old head. She still had it and they both knew it, but it felt good to hear her son say it. Liberty stood to hug Willow.

“Thank you for accepting me,” Liberty whispered in her ear.

Willow hugged her tightly and Liberty could feel the sincerity radiating from the kind woman.

“I’ll see you soon. You remember what I said, beautiful girl,” Willow complimented.

Liberty went to the window as A’shai walked his mother to the car. He opened her door for her and said, “Tell pops I’m sorry. This is something that I have to do.”

“I know Shai and now that I’ve met her, I understand why. I believe in love and that girl in that house is your soul mate, Shai. She looks at you the way that I look at Baron. She’s good for you. She softens you. You be a good man to her, and you both stay safe. If you need anything just call my cell phone. I will never turn my back on you, Shai. You have made my life so much better over the years. I know you have a pretty young thing in your life now, but don’t you forget about your old lady,” Willow said with misty eyes. She shivered slightly as her tears hit the cold wind, and she pulled the mink shawl she wore tighter around her neck.

“Never,” A’shai said as he kissed her cheek and pulled her coat tighter around her. “Get out of this cold weather, ma. Call me when you make it home just to let me know you made it. I’ll answer.”

He hit the top of the hood once she was inside and turned to walk away. As he stepped onto the porch he heard her blow her horn. He turned and saw her smiling face as she gave him a wave. He waved back and then remembered that the