Carmen could not believe what had just happened. She knew that she could not help Norelle right now. She had to finish her job and represent Kasheef. She shook her head in blatant disgust at him as she mumbled, “Unbelievable.”
“Believe it,” he whispered back.
The judge slammed his gavel several times to regain control of the room. Once everyone was silent the trial resumed. Kasheef winked at Alija as she continued. “I don’t see Ahmad’s shooter in the courtroom.”
A look of irritation spread all over the DA’s face as she persistently continued to steer her witness back into the right direction, “But Ms. Bell did you not tell a Detective Nielson of the NYPD and I quote ‘Kasheef did it. I’ll testify to protect my daughter’ end quote?”
“I did tell the detective that I would testify in order to protect my daughter, but he is the one who brought up Kasheef Williams’ name. I had never heard of him before I was arrested. He is not the man I saw,” she said confidently.
The DA walked back to her chair, her frustration and exasperation made clear when she flopped down in her chair and put her hand on the side of her face while in deep thought. This was Carmen’s cue to spring into action. “Your Honor, it is obvious that the state has done everything in their power to falsely convict my client. I would like to move for immediate dismissal!”
The judge looked toward the DA. “Mrs. Schwartz, do the people have any other evidence against Kasheef Williams?”
Nancy Schwartz’s face was flushed and red in anger. Holding back her emotions, she stood and replied, “Your Honor, even without Ms. Bell’s testimony we have provided evidence against Mr. Williams. I think that it is only fair that we proceed with this case and let the jury decide.”
The judge nodded, “I agree. The trial will continue, but we will adjourn for the day. Closing arguments will resume tomorrow after which the jury will deliver their verdict.”
Alija stepped down from the witness stand and if looks could kill she would have fell dead where she stood and been circled in chalk as hard as the DA was staring. She walked out of the courtroom, relieved that her ordeal was over. She had done all that she could for Kasheef. Now all she could do was wait.
Kasheef left the courtroom with a huge smile on his face. Alija had pulled it off and her tears had only intensified the affect of the false statement she had given. He was sure that the jury had believed her. As he walked through the courthouse he felt rejuvenated and confident for the first time since the trial had begun. Alija was worth every penny he had agreed to pay her. He felt forever indebted to her. The performance she had put on was sure to get him off. He exited the courthouse and descended the steps then got inside the limo that was waiting for him curbside. He went straight to his accountant’s office to retrieve the remainder of Alija’s money. He could not wait to see her and share his future with her.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” His accountant asked skeptically. He had witnessed Kasheef’s grind over the years and he knew how long it had taken him to accumulate his wealth. “This is a lot of money. You have worked very hard for this.”
Kasheef nodded his head and replied, “I’m positive. I’m going to marry this girl. She just saved my life today. I trust her.”
His accountant nodded and handed Kasheef paperwork to sign. Kasheef signed them without reservations. The accountant made him copies and put them inside of the suitcase that contained Alija’s money.
Kasheef couldn’t wait to see Alija. When he arrived at the hotel he went to Alija’s room. Before he could even knock on the door Alija opened it with a smile on her face. “I was waiting for you,” she said. He scooped her into his arms excitedly and kissed all over her face.
“Aghh!” she screamed playfully and laughed giddily as he spun her around in his arms.
“I love you girl,” he told her as he set her down on her feet. “Where’s Nahla?” he asked.
“She’s still at the daycare. I figured I would pick her up in a couple of hours,” she replied.
“Here sit down, I need to talk to you,” Kasheef stated seriously as he pulled a chair out for Alija. He put the briefcase on top of the small eating table and popped it open. “Here is the rest of the money that I promised you.”
Alija smiled and ran her hand over the neatly arranged bills. The amount of money was overwhelming and she had to stop herself from screaming she was so happy. Even after she paid Mickey $50,000 for all of her help she would still have more than enough money to live comfortably and give Nahla the best of everything.
Kasheef removed two pieces of paper and handed them to Alija. “Read these,” he instructed.
Alija began to scan the document. “Aloud,” he said gently. Alija frowned and looked up from the paperwork.
“What is this about Kasheef?” she asked.
“Just read it ma. It’s important.”
Alija sighed and began from the beginning. “I Kasheef Williams hereby give Alija Bell joint ownership of Cayman Island Account 5487624008630 and Swiss Account 74639957203. There is a combined amount of $2,500,000 in these accounts.” Alija stopped reading the document and stared at Kasheef in disbelief. “Kasheef, I can’t accept this. This is too much,” she objected.
“I want you to have that Alija. I’ll give you all that I have in order to keep you.” Kasheef stood in front of her and got down on one knee. “I need you ma. I know this is all happening kind of fast, but I know this is right. You are right for me Alija. I love you. You are the only person that I have loved besides my mother in my entire life. Will you be my wife?” The three karat platinum princess cut ring was blinding.
Alija closed her eyes. She could not believe what was happening to her. She could not breathe and she gripped Kasheef’s hand tightly.
I’m not supposed to be in love with him
, she thought frantically. She felt his hand grace her cheek and before she could come to her senses she responded, “Yes. Yes, Kasheef I will marry you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Alija sat nervously in the back of the courtroom as she waited for the jury to come back with a verdict. She stared at her engagement ring and her stomach filled with knots. She wished that she could have talked to Mickey before the deliberations began, but it was too late. Whatever was going to happen was already in motion. There was no turning back now.
Kasheef’s heart felt as if it would explode as he sat in the federal courtroom. News cameras were littered throughout while both supporters and the opposition awaited the verdict. It was the day that he would meet his fate, the day that the rest of his days would be determined by the decision that the jury rendered. On the outside, Kasheef was calm and collected. His chocolate Armani suit rested perfectly against his dark skin and medium athletic build. With his hair cut neatly in a fresh caeser and his eyes filled with sincerity, one would never guess that the man sitting before them was a drug kingpin. Kasheef scanned the jury with his eyes and couldn’t read their expressions. He didn’t know what tomorrow held for him and for the first time in his life he was afraid. Prison was not an option for him. To lock him up would be equivalent to stealing his pride and he refused to live on his knees. Kasheef hoped and prayed that the verdict would be delivered in his favor, because if it wasn’t he was already prepared to go out in a blaze of glory. A $10,000 cash payment to one of the assigned court officers ensured that he would have his weapon of choice, a chrome .45, taped underneath the defense table. He discreetly ran his hand along the underside of the cherry wood and felt the cold steel that was strapped securely in place. It was his insurance policy.
Kasheef was not green to the game and had been in the dope game since he was a young boy, so he knew that his day of judgment was inevitable. While many glamorized the street life, he knew the real deal and was well aware that his reign could only end in one of two ways—prison or death. He would much rather hold court in the streets for his actions, in his own environment where he would at least have a chance to survive. Sitting in a courtroom made him a sitting duck. He knew that it was very possible that the jury would convict him and that the judge would throw the book at him, sending him away for the remainder of his life. He turned and stared into the eyes of Norelle, his girlfriend, who greeted him with a wink and a sexy smirk. Cameras flashed continuously in her face, but she took it all in stride. She knew that they had recognized her face from her very public arrest that had occurred the day before. She didn’t care however; she had just come to see what the verdict would be for Kasheef. From her Manolo stilettos to her Marc Jacob two-piece suit with the matching clutch, she represented all that he was. He was a miracle worker and had taken her from the gutter and put her in a throne beside his own as the queen of the streets. She held her title well, no matter the cost and indeed like royalty she commanded attention.
You didn’t think I would come
, she mouthed as she discreetly stuck up her middle finger. Kasheef knew that she would be out on bail, but he was confident that the feds would have enough evidence against Norelle to convict her. He looked past her and Alija’s face stuck out from the crowd. She gave him a weak smile and he nodded to acknowledge her. He couldn’t show it, but his heart warmed at the simple gesture that Alija had given him. Just the simple things that she did made him happy. He was glad that he had her support.
“All rise!” the bailiff announced loudly, causing Kasheef to turn back around in his chair. “The Honorable Judge Campbell Martin presiding.”
“Be seated,” the judge mumbled as he took his own behind the large pedestal. “Has the jury reached a decision?”
The face of the foreman told Kasheef all that he needed to know. Kasheef gripped the steel underneath the table and took a deep breath as he prepared himself for what was about to go down.
“Yes, we have your Honor.”
“And what say you?” the Judge inquired.
“We the jury ...”
Kasheef’s hand wrapped tightly around the gun and the anticipation made him sweat slightly as he closed his eyes and waited to hear if he would walk out a free man or be left in society’s constraints.
“Find the defendant ...”
His heartbeat in his ears, blocked out all sound as he watched the foreman’s lips mouth the words.
Pow! Pow! Pow!
The verdict fell on deaf ears as the courtroom erupted in mayhem. Norelle grabbed one of the court officer’s 9 mm pistol and fired as many shots as she could get off. With rage in her eyes and her finger around the trigger she went after Kasheef with a vengeance. “No!” Alija screamed as she ran toward the front of the room. The guards drew their weapons and surrounded Norelle.
“Get down! Now, put down the gun!” they yelled. Norelle didn’t comply, but instead raised her gun to finish off Kasheef who was gasping to fill his lungs with air and squirming from the hot lead that had entered his body. It was only the bullet that pierced her heart which managed to stop Norelle’s relentless, burning rage and her body instantly went limp as it fell to the ground. Her head hit the floor with a hard thud and she lie motionless next to Kasheef who writhed in agony.
Alija tried to run past the groups of people who were gathered around Kasheef, but the officers stopped her. “Move! Let me go! Don’t touch me!” she yelled as she struggled to get past the crowd. “Please! I need to make sure he’s okay.” No matter how much she fought they would not let her through. The area was quickly secured and stretchers were brought into the room to take Kasheef and Norelle to a hospital.
Everyone was confused and stunned by Alija’s reaction to Kasheef shooting. When Kasheef reached out his hand for her and whispered, “I love you,” the press went wild. Carmen and Alija locked eyes, but Alija quickly stormed off, headed for her car.
Carmen turned toward the judge. “Your Honor, the verdict?”
The judge shook his head and replied, “The jury found him guilty.”
“What?” she asked incredulously.
There has to be some type of mistake, she thought. Alija’s testimony should have been enough to free him
. She looked around at the disheveled courtroom and the blood splattered onto the floor. She turned around and found her boss standing near the exit shaking his head. His thin lips were clamped in together and she could tell he was fuming.
My career is over
, she thought selfishly. The entire case had exploded in her face and crumbled at her feet. She walked right past him without speaking. She had to finish her job and tell her client that she had lost the case and that he would be going to prison—if he lived to see another day. She fully intended on filing an appeal, but if she had lost the first case there was no guarantee that she could win the next, and at that moment Kasheef was a loss to the state.
Chapter Sixteen
Eight weeks passed before Kasheef was able to stand before the judge for his sentencing. Alija had stayed by his side the entire time he was recuperating in the hospital and he was saddened that their time together was being cut short. She sat directly behind him with her daughter in her arms. She cooed and reached for Kasheef while tears fell freely from Alija’s eyes. She had been so confused during the entire trial. Now that it was over her heart ached and she felt as if her best friend was being taken away from her. Carmen sat by Kasheef’s side as they awaited the judge’s decision.
“Mr. Williams,” the judge began. “You have been found guilty by a jury of your peers for second degree murder. Does counsel have any recommendations for sentencing?”
“Your Honor, the state would like to request that Kasheef Williams be punished to the fullest extent that the law allows,” the DA said.
“Your Honor my client has been unjustly found guilty of a crime that he did not commit. I would like to state for the record that we will be filing for an immediate appeal and I ask for the courts to show restraint on Mr. Williams in regard to his sentencing,” Carmen stated.
The judge removed his glasses and said, “Mr. Williams, I hereby sentence you to no less than fifteen and no more than twenty-five years in Sing Sing Correctional Facility. You will be remanded into immediate custody.”
“Kasheef?” Alija cried. “I’m so sorry Kasheef,” she said as she stood to hug him. He reached for her and she held him tightly. “I’m sorry Kasheef.”
“It’s all right ma. What are you sorry for? You’ve done nothing but made my life better. Listen to me Alija,” he said sternly as he blinked away tears. He knew that he had to remain strong. “I’m gon’ be okay. You take that money and you look out for yourself a’ight. Come see me sometime. I love you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, remember that.”
The guards came and took Kasheef away and Alija stayed inside the courtroom until she could no longer see his face. With each step that he took, a piece of her left with him and the onslaught of emotions was almost unbearable as she held onto Nahla, the only constant in her ever-changing life. She felt like there was a revolving door where people constantly entered and exited her heart, leaving her to mend the broken pieces after they were gone. She kissed her daughter and hugged her tightly. “It’s all over Nahla. It’s all over.”
“Williams, you have a visitor,” the CO yelled as he unlocked Kasheef’s cell. Kasheef stood. It had been three months since he’d been sentenced and only one person had visited him so far—Stick. He had communicated with Alija through letter only. He had asked her not to come and visit him because he did not want her to see him locked behind bars, in his weakest state, and chained like an animal. He sauntered to the visiting area, his feet shackled, and his pride wounded.
“Table four,” the CO told him. Kasheef approached the table and was surprised to see Alija sitting before him. She had put on a little bit of weight, but it was all in the right places and just her presence seemed to lift a huge burden from his shoulders.
“Hello Kasheef,” she said with a half smile. He could tell her spirit had been dampened by his imprisonment and the sparkle that she had when he first met her was dim. The fact that he could not be with her killed him. Alija held Nahla in her arms and Kasheef noticed that even the baby had grown tremendously in the short time that he had been absent from her life.
“I miss you ma,” he said, his voice heavy with built up emotion as he put his hand against the glass that separated them.
“I miss you too Kasheef,” she whispered as she matched her hand alongside his. She stared at his face, taking in every single feature. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him before her and she instantly knew how they had come to be so close. At first she couldn’t understand how she had let herself fall so hard. Kasheef was a forbidden love. She experienced something with him that she had never felt before. In many ways, he was her man. Ironically, he was the only man that she had ever fully trusted. “I can’t stay long. I just came to give you something.” Her voice broke up as if she was ready to break down, but she quickly cleared her throat and willed her emotions away.
She handed a manila envelope to the guard who was monitoring their visit and he inspected it briefly before passing it to Kasheef. Kasheef opened the folder and pulled out the first piece of paper. It was an ultrasound picture. His eyes shot up from the photo to Alija’s. He stared at her more carefully and noticed the small bulge in her stomach. She was pregnant. He closed his eyes and had to stop the tears from forming behind his lids. Alija was pregnant with his first child, his only child and here he was stuck in prison unable to give her the support that she needed. He would never be able to be apart of his baby’s life. He gripped the phone tightly and took a deep breath before he opened his eyes. “You’re pregnant with my seed yo?”
Tears built in Alija’s eyes when she heard the sound of his voice. He was holding back his cries, but she could hear the undeniable sadness that was threatening to pour out of him.
“I’m sorry Alija,” he said sincerely.
“No, I’m sorry Kasheef,” she replied as she wiped away a tear that escaped her eye. “There’s more.”
Kasheef removed a set of photos. He flipped through the photographs slowly, one by one. There was a picture of Alija. He smiled, knowing that this would help him make it through a lot of days. Just having an image of her face would make the time go by easier.
“You’re beautiful,” he complimented. He went onto the next picture, a picture of Alija and Nahla. He loved Nahla. She was a miniature version of her mother and he silently hoped that Alija was pregnant with his son. A girl and a boy would make their family complete. He pulled out the next photograph, a picture of Alija when she was pregnant with Nahla. He flipped and it was a more recent picture of Alija. He peered closely at it. “Are you pregnant with my baby in this photo?”
She nodded and gave him a half hearted smile as he flipped to the last photo. When the image registered to his brain, he dropped the pictures onto the steel table as if they were as hot as fire. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He turned the picture over to make sure he wasn’t seeing things and he noticed the inscription that Alija had written on the back.
I told you from the beginning that it would be so wrong for me to love you. I don’t know how I let myself fall for you, but now you know why we can never be. This is exactly what you deserve.
He turned the picture back over, his hands shaking. He stared closely.
Alija, Nahla, and Ahmad smiled like the happy family that they were before Kasheef ruined their lives. Ahmad was Nahla’s father and Alija’s lover.
“You killed my baby’s father Kasheef,” Alija finally admitted. The tension that she had carried on her shoulders since the day Ahmad died finally lifted from her and it was as if a weight had been removed from her heart.
“What?” Kasheef asked as his eyes met hers, desperately searching for answers. He shook his head, unwilling to accept the naked truth as it had been laid out in front of him.
“We were supposed to get married and make a life together after he was released from jail,” she said through her tears, her voice heavy with sorrow. “I begged him not to get back in the game but he wouldn’t listen. He said that he was doing it for us, so that he could take care of his daughter. You killed Nahla’s father and I had to make you pay for what you took from me; for what you took from Nahla. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you. That wasn’t apart of the plan. I just wanted to put you away so that my daughter and I would be safe, but you got to me. You got inside my head. You offered to take care of me and you gave me what I needed to take care of my daughter. You gave me all of your money to start a new life, and you gave me your heart. It was so tempting to take Kasheef, but I couldn’t forget that it was because of you that my life was in shambles in the first place. That is why you’re here. For revenge,” she said as she wiped her eyes and willed herself to stop crying. “Even though I love you, you have to pay for what you did to him.”
He stared up at Alija as she arose from the table. He was speechless. He watched her walk over to another girl who had been sitting in the waiting area. His eyes bugged in disbelief as he recognized the girl from his trial. She sat on his jury.
Alija set me up. All along she set me up
, he thought, as his heart dropped into his stomach. He felt sick and his eyes burned but he held back his emotions. It was hard for him to believe that everything that he had shared with her had been a lie. She had seemed so sincere. Her love had seemed so real. He had thought that they were so official. She was the closest he had ever been to true love and now he was finding out that it was all a lie.
This shit can’t be true.
“Alija!” he called for her as he stood and watched her walk away. He was not willing to let her leave just like that. He had to know more. He had to keep her in his life for as long as he possibly could. It was as if the beat of his heart was dependent on her loving him. If she stopped he was almost positive that his heart would too. He was beyond the point of self preservation. Almost from the first moment he sought her out, they had become connected. He felt it and refused to believe that it had meant nothing to her. “Alija, please don’t take my baby away! Don’t do this to me!”
He was conflicted. A part of him was enraged and hated her for being able to penetrate his shell. She was his weakness and he resented her for making him vulnerable. Because of her, he was susceptible to pain, but the other part of him could not possibly hate the woman who was carrying his seed; the woman who had cracked his hard exterior and gotten him to love. She was the woman whose smile could brighten his darkest hour. She was his salvation and with her love he could make it through the hell to which he had been reprimanded to. “Alija!”
Alija halted mid-step. The sound of his voice caused her to close her eyes. She took a deep breath and returned to the table. She picked up the phone.
“What Kasheef? Don’t you hate me now? Haven’t you had enough?” She waited for him to respond, but he was silent. She could see his broken spirit as she stared into the windows of his soul. “Huh? Why do you still want me? You can’t love me now, because I hate you for doing this to me! Do you hear me? I hate you,” she whispered vehemently.
“Don’t say that ma,” he begged, his tears finally falling from his eyes. “I can’t hate you Alija. I’ve never loved anyone the way that I love you. You put me in here, fuck it. I killed Ahmad, but you saw what went down. You know how it happened. I’m not a murderer Alija. You know me. I was protecting myself. I did what I had to do, you know that. I love you ma. Don’t take my child away from me. Don’t leave me in here on stuck.”
Alija was bawling as she listened to him. Her heart ached because she really had fallen for Kasheef. In another lifetime he would have been her man and possibly her husband. He would have been her king, the one she shared her hopes and dreams with, but in this lifetime they could never coexist.
Kasheef could see the wheels turning in her head. “Tell me you don’t love me ma. You can’t tell me that Ahmad meant more to you than me. You love me Alija. I can see that shit in your eyes,” he said passionately with fire in his gaze and through clenched teeth.
Alija stared him directly in the eye. “How can I raise Nahla next to her sister or brother and tell her that you are the one who killed her father? How fair is that to her? I can’t let her see me love you and think that it’s okay Kasheef. It’s not okay. It was wrong for me to let it go this far. It doesn’t matter how I feel about you. I have to think about my children. Ahmad may not have meant more to me, but he meant more to Nahla. That’s my daughter, I have to protect her.” She touched her stomach and finished, “I have to take care of both of them.”
“They’re my shorties too ma. I’m in love with your baby girl just as much as I love you. And the one that’s growing inside you is me Alija. That’s my seed yo. Don’t do this to me,” he pleaded.
“You did this to yourself,” she said. “Good-bye.”
All this time
, Kasheef thought as he put his head in his hands in despair.
She had someone working on the jury to sway them into a guilty verdict while she worked me to sway me into giving her my cash
. He looked down at the ultrasound and let his emotions flow without restraint. A combination of feelings raced through him. Rage. Respect. Love. Hate. He felt them all for Alija at that moment. She was the woman he had fallen in love with, the one he would have given his life for without regret.
She is the mother of my child yo
, he thought numbly. His heart ached in a way that he had not felt since the death of his mother. Alija was his everything and she had just walked on his heart with her Manolo stilettos. All he had wanted was her love and loyalty, but she was in fact loyal. Loyal to her man. The only problem was that her man was Ahmad. Kasheef stood up and punched the glass with all his might, struggling to let go of some of his rage. He returned to his cell. It was the place he would call home for the next fifteen years courtesy of Alija Bell.
I guess Ahmad really did get the last laugh. The nigga reached out from the grave to get his revenge.
He taped the ultrasounds to his wall. He told himself that he would look at them everyday and ask God to bless the child that he would never get a chance to meet. The ultrasounds were the only piece of his family that he had left and he prayed that one day the emptiness he felt inside could be filled by the return of the love of his life. Until then, his fate was sealed behind the steel and concrete that made up the desolate prison. Pain is love and it was the story of his life.