Page 9 of Don't Kross Me
“You came in here to receive salvation and hand your life over to Jesus?” she asked him with her hand perched on her hip.
A dry chuckle streamed out of him as he shook his head. “Nah. I came to speak to my mother. Can we do that?”
Raquel pursed her lips before turning to her choir. “Practice is over for today. Make sure you’re here bright and early tomorrow for nine o’clock service,” she announced to them.
The choir members all agreed before they gathered their belongings and left out of the church. Once they were the only ones left behind, Raquel opened her arms for her son. He shuffled his way down the aisle of the church and fell right into his mother’s embrace. He needed a set of arms similar to Cassie’s to wrap around him. The love his mother had for him was the closest he would get, so he was basking in it.
“Walking in my church with a gun in your pocket shows me you haven’t learned your lesson after seven years.” Raquel sideeyed him as they parted from the hug. Together, they walked to a nearby pew and took a seat next to each other.
Kross’ empty brown eyes seared into the sculpture of the cross that hung high above the stage. “My lady died the night before I got out, and my son is in critical condition. How it’s looking, I got to get these motherfuckas’ before they get me.”
“Watch your mouth in the house of the Lord,” she chastised him before her shoulders sulked down in sadness. “I heard about Cassie and Aniyis. My condolences go out to you. She was a very sweet girl.”
“Why didn’t you come through and see about your grandson?” he asked, completely going around accepting condolences for Cassie. He wasn’t quite ready to face the fact that she was gone. He needed more time.
A heavy sigh drifted out of his mother as her honey gold eyes trailed down to her hands. “I didn’t know how well that would go, honestly. The last conversation we had was over seven years ago. Coming back into your life during your darkest times after I cut contact with you seemed wrong to me.”
“Coming here after seven years was hard for me, Raq, but I still did it.” He brushed her excuses off with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “You don’t pick and choose when you wanna be there for family.”
“You’re right. I should have showed up for you and Aniyis. I’m sorry.” She reached over and grabbed Kross’ hand into hers.
They sat in silence for a little while. Kross desperately needed the comfort since he felt like the entire world had gone cold toward him. “I don’t know if Niyis gonna shake back from this, Ma. I can’t lose his mama and him all at once. I need everything to work out for the better.”
“And it will,” she encouraged. “Give it all to God?”
“I’m handling this how I want to, not how God would want. Whoever did this to Aniyis and Cassie is gonna die. I ain’t comehere for you to try to speak the word of God into me. I came here to tell you if anything were to happen to me, whether that be I end up locked up again or dead, I want you to take care of Aniyis. I know me and Ezekiel ain’t turn out how you wanted us to, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re a good mother. We were just hardheaded and money hungry. Aniyis won’t be like that, so I trust that you’ll make sure he’s better than I am.”
Raquel’s heart shattered. Her son was so full of turmoil and anger that he didn’t even realize that avenging Cassie’s death would bring Aniyis more pain than he was already in. “Kross, that won’t be necessary because you’re gonna do right for your son.”
“I’m sorry, Ma, but they forced my hand,” he said as his empty orbs peered at her.
She knew her son well enough to know that his decision was final and there was absolutely nothing she could say or even do to talk him out of it. “If Aniyis loses you too, think about how devastated he would be to not have you or Cassie. Getting revenge can’t mean that much to you, Kross.”
“It means everything to me ‘cause she meant everything to me,” he sternly stated, making it clear there was no room for debate. “She gave me seven years of her life just to get killed before I could give her the life she dreamed of. Then my son in critical condition ‘cause these motherfuckas spun on my lady while she was with him. I don’t think nobody understand what they took from me once they killed Cassie. I’m not playing fair when it’s my turn to get my get back.”
Raquel wiped the tear that cascaded down her face as she shook her head. Kross was hurting, and that was expected. She wished she had the power to alleviate the pain he felt from losing Cassie, but she didn’t. She knew her son would stop at nothing until Cassie’s death was avenged. With that in mind, she needed to prepare herself for the violence that was about to hitthe streets of Miami. She cupped her hands around his face as tears continued to flow from her eyes. She felt convicted in her spirit to give her son the warning that churned in the pit of her stomach.
“Don’t trust anyone, not even the people you think you can.”
“I hear you, Ma.” Kross nodded his head before wrapping his arms around her.
Chapter Four
Kross sat behind a dark tinted pair of Cartier shades as he watched Cassie’s mourning family members and friends walk into the church. It was early Saturday morning, and the time to finally lay Cassie to rest had come. He was a wreck. Life couldn’t just come and go as quick as it had for her. She had so much more life to live, dreams to accomplish, happiness to experience. Knowing that all her hopes and dreams would never come to fruition was devastating for him. He didn’t know anybody who deserved all the good things that came with life more than Cassie. She was a true gem.
A heavy breath exhaled out of him as he killed the engine of his car. He knew he was in for a whirlwind of drama for showing up at the funeral despite Joyce making it clear that she didn’t want him there, but he didn’t give a fuck. Nobody had Cassie the way he did. Nobody picked her brain, earned her heart, and made her feel at peace like he did. Sure, their relationship was different, but the love they shared was strong and passionate. Cassie’s heart didn’t want anyone besides Kross and vice versa.
He got out the car, allowing his black leather Prada loafers to grace the gravel beneath him. For his lady, he finally dragged himself from Aniyis’ bedside and picked up something sharp.His lady was big on putting that shit on, so he had to make sure he looked right for her. He was fitted in a long-sleeved black button down that went seamlessly with a pair of black Tom Ford chino slacks. To beat the Miami heat, he didn’t button his shirt all the way. He left the first two buttons undone, allowing his thick gold Cuban link to rest upon his chest. His wrist was laced with his gold Rolex, and the fingers of his right hand were decorated with his big gold signet rings that brought his ensemble together. He had finally gotten around to getting a haircut, and his line up and beard were looking sharp. Kross looked good as fuck, and he knew Cassie was smiling down at him since it was his first time getting cleaned up after spending seven years in prison blues.
Ezekiel pulled up shortly after, stepping out of his Urus. He too covered his eyes with a pair of dark tinted designer shades. His attire was similar to Kross’, all black with hints of gold detailing. For the occasion, he wore his long wick dreads down his back. The brothers dapped each other up before sharing a hug.
“You look fly as hell, nigga,” Ezekiel complimented him.
Kross chuckled. “‘Preciate it. Had to put that shit on for my lady.” A weak smile graced his face as he thought of Cassie.
Ezekiel could see his brother was struggling to put on a brave face. A light sigh drifted out of him as he sat a hand on Kross’ shoulder. “You ready for this?”
“I ain’t got no choice,” he said while shaking his head in response. “I gotta show up for my lady like she would for me.”
