Black (Drugs, Love&Money Book 3)

Chapter Seven: From The Dust (5 Years Later)

"Jade can you go see if that mail man ran yet? I need that package."

I put down my glass of paul mason and slid on my slippers. This move to Miami has been the best decision I've ever had. It's like a fresh new start and it's something both Zion and I needed. I gave the club up to Uncle Russel to run, heard he's playing Mr. Biggs now. I made sure that all earnings from the club went to Bri. I know money can't make up for the pain I'm probably still causing her. Hopefully one day I can sit down and tell her everything. Hopefully she'll forgive me but I know that she won't.

I opened the door and screamed instantly because I know what I'm seeing has to do with all the liquor I've been drinking. I backed away from the door, not believing my eyes. This isn't real.

"Hey Stink."

"D-Dad?"

My father smiled at me with the smile I used to dream about seeing. I let out a long breath and fell at his feet, hugging his legs. The tears wouldn't stop falling. I must be drunk.

"This isn't real." I said more to myself than him.

"It is real Jade."

I looked up and Zion who was now leaning in and kissing my father. I got off the floor and looked at the both of them.

"You knew?"

"Right after you left me the first time you visited I got a knock on the door and in walked this fine ass man here. He told me not to tell you anything."

"But...how?"

"You think a bullet gon' keep yo daddy down? I was hurt for a little bit, but Uncle Russel found me and let me lay low until I healed up. I've been watching you this whole time."

I hung my head embarrassed at what he said.

"Dad, I didn't-"

"I didn't want this for you Jade. I pushed weight since a lil nigga so you wouldn't have to want for shit."

"But I don't want for anything." I said snatching out of the guilty mind he thought he was about to put me in.

I picked up my head and stood toe to toe with my father. I'm Black, the queen pin. Nobody backs me down.

"You left me that note and told me to take care of something for you, I did it. It was my choice to pick up where you left off, yes, but I did it for you."

"No Jade, you did it for yourself. Just like you killed the young nigga Kash. You didn't need that territory. Don't get me wrong, you ran things better than I would've even thought of. That's cause you smart, you ain't like these other niggas tryna run the game. And even with you running shit, you still made sure ya workers was straight and you gave back to the community. I respect you for that. What I don't respect, is your greed. You let that shit takeover you Stink."

"I won't apologize for the choice I made to keep a promise to you. And if that makes me a disappointment, so be it."

"How you think that little girl feel Jade? Gotta wake up every morning wondering why somebody took away the only person who really gives a fuck about her. You should know how that is."

He shook his head at me then kissed my forehead.

"I wanted more from you." he whispered.

He walked away and playfully smacked Zion's ass.

"This a dope ass house you fixed up though."

"Dad, wait!"

He turned around by the stairs and looked at me. I walked to the living room and picked up the remote for the built in wall unit I have. I pushed the button and it opened up revealing my safe. I put in the combination, opened it up and grabbed the money and Lucy. I walked over to my dad and handed it to him.

"Even though eventually I convinced myself you were dead, at first I didn't want to believe it. And even after then I still kept up the habit."

"What's this?"

"Every time I got money I took a stack out and put it away for safe keeping. I kept it in my safe since the beginning. In my mind, I hopped you would come back into my life. And when you did, I wanted to make sure you were straight."

He grabbed the money and the gun.

"And I don't think I'll be needing that anymore."

I went and grabbed my keys off the counter and went towards the door.

"Stink, where you goin'?"

I looked back at him and tried to hold back the tears.

"To make things right."

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"Randell! You got a visitor!"

The buzzer went off and my cell's door slowly opened. The guard walked me down to the visiting room and as soon as I walked through the door I wanted to turn around. But I know I needed to face this. I got patted down then went over and sat down.

"Hey Brielle."

"Hey Miss Jay."

"Look at you, all grown up. What you been up to?"

"Just school mostly. I had a little rough patch but nothing too crazy."

"What happened?"

She looked around nervous and I got the urge to reach out and console her. But I damn sure don't want to hear that guards mouth.

"You were always able to tell me things before."

She took a deep breath then leaned in.

"I was expecting."

"Was?"

"I lost them. I always get so stressed around the anniversary of Kam's death. I guess it was more stress than I thought. My fiancé wasn't as supportive either so that made everything worse than what it needed to be."

The mention of Kam's name made my heart speed up. I never took the opportunity to tell her what I did and I have a feeling now is about to be the time. Better now when there are guards everywhere than on the street where she can end me at any time. I mean nothing is stopping her now but at least I feel a little more better now.

"How about you?" she asked, taking me out of my thoughts.

I looked around.

"I'm doin'."

"I um.....I'm only here because I received a letter from a Dyshawn. He told me where you were and that I should come see you."

"Yeah....that's my father."

"Well... why are you in here? And why did he tell me to come see you?"

"Bri, I want you to know that ten years ago, I was a different person than I am now. I was selfish, greedy...and cold hearted."

She looked at me as if she knew exactly what I was about to say.

"I'm in here because I used to sell drugs. I took over what I thought was left for me. In that process, I was told of a territory. I wanted it. I didn't care how I was gonna get it, but I was gonna get it. This territory belonged to your brother."

"Wait what? Miss Jay, what are you talking about?"

"I was the one who murdered Kam."

She looked at me with zero emotion then disbelief. Disbelief turned to sadness, and then to rage.

"I hope you rot in here." She finally said.

She got up pushing the chair back so hard it made a screeching noise. She quickly walked out of the visiting room, and for the first time in a long time, I felt alone.

"I'm already rotting."

I got up and went back towards the guard so he can walk me back to my cell. In a few days I'll be getting the lethal injection and it'll be all over. I'll be in black. And I won't matter anymore. I won't be able to cause anybody else pain. I will only feel my own. And I'm content with that.