Love & Contraband

Love Spell

** Love Spell**

Fall crept in like a slow chill, painting the leaves in golds and reds, and the scent of pumpkin spice hung in the air. But for Denisha, the season wasn't about cozy sweaters and warm drinks. It was about something far more dangerous-a potent mix of risk and reward that bubbled hot, just like a witches brew.

Her hustle with Dwayne had stepped up. What had started as small pickups and drops had morphed into something bigger, something bolder. Now, Denisha found herself letting Dwayne's homeboys use her house as the drop spot for FedEx deliveries. Not just any deliveries, either-these were ten-pound packages of pure, uncut drugs, coming straight to her front door.

She was nervous, no doubt about it. Every time she heard the FedEx truck pull up, her heart would race, but she played it cool. She figured she wouldn't be suspected-after all, who would think someone like her, with her manicured lawn and perfectly decorated front porch, was moving weight? Denisha had always been careful to blend in. Her house looked just like every other in the neighborhood, except she took it a step further.
Each season, Denisha made sure her home was picture-perfect. For fall, she had lined her front walkway with pumpkins and scarecrows, the wreath on her door was made of autumn leaves, and the orange lights twinkled just right at night. It was all about appearances. Her neighbor across the street was a detective for Delray Beach Police department. She wanted to fit in, to be unnoticed, just another friendly face in the neighborhood.

Dwayne had promised her that this setup was temporary. "It's just for a short while, baby. Then we'll move it to another spot, I swear," he said. And Denisha believed him. She always believed him. Denisha was under his love spell, but with each new delivery, the weight of what she was doing pressed harder on her. This wasn't just about running errands anymore. She was deep in the game now, letting her house become a key piece in Dwayne's operation.

As much as she tried to convince herself it would be fine. Every package that arrived felt like a ticking time bomb. One wrong move, one neighbor paying a little too much attention, and everything could come crashing down. But Dwayne had a way of soothing her nerves. "You ain't gotta worry, babe. You're smart, and you're careful. Ain't nobody looking at you."

He was right, for now, at least. Denisha was making money-real money. And she couldn't lie, she liked the lifestyle it was affording her. Her bills were paid, her fridge was full, and her closet was stocked with the flyest clothes. But there was a part of her that felt like she was living on borrowed time. Every time she saw the FedEx guy pull up, a cold chill ran down her spine, like the fall breeze sweeping through the trees.

She watched as the delivery guy, none the wiser, placing the heavy boxes on her porch. Denisha stepped out, calm and collected, smiling like she was just grabbing another online order. But as soon as the door closed, her heart pounded in her chest. She knew what was inside the boxes, and the thought of it made her hands shake. This wasn't just money anymore-it was her life.

The house was quiet, except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Denisha stood there, staring at the boxes, knowing she had to make the next move. She called Dwayne, like she always did. "It's here," she said, her voice low.

"Aight, good. My boy will come by in a couple of hours to pick it up," Dwayne remained calm as always. He made it sound so simple, but Denisha knew better. Surely it was simple for him he was sitting on a cell phone all day barking orders, keeping his hands clean, Denisha thought to herself. This was a dangerous game, and she was in the thick of it now.

As she hung up the phone, she looked around her perfectly decorated home, everything in its place, everything designed to make her look like she was just another woman living her best life. But underneath it all, she was balancing on a knife's edge, one step away from falling into something she might not be able to climb out of.

The fall season might have been crisp and beautiful, but for Denisha, it was hotter than the red on an autumn leaf.