Page 10 of Don't Kross Me
Together, the brothers made their way to the entrance of the church. The number of people who showed up for Cassie was a bit overwhelming for Kross. Half of the faces in that motherfucka’ probably couldn’t tell him the first thing about his lady. Knowing how people in Miami operated, he was sure most of the funeral guests only showed up to peep the scene sinceCassie’s murder was the talk of the city. At the front of the church, he could see her casket open for viewing. A tightness surfaced in his heart as he eyed his lady at rest peacefully. It was the first time he’d seen her since their last visit with each other. Due to him being on lockdown, they didn’t get the chance to squeeze another visit in before he got out.
Even at rest, her skin radiated and glowed as if she still had breath in her body. He knew the closer he got to her, the sooner he had to face reality. All around him, people were crying and falling out behind her being gone. The longer the theatrics went on, he was bound to say something. Everyone was acting like they didn’t turn their backs on her once she found out she was pregnant with his baby and decided to hold him down for his sentence. They all secretly judged her. Hell, some of them judged her out loud and to her face. One thing he couldn’t stand was fake love, and at the moment, the church was full of it. It was sad that Joyce wanted to send Cassie off with people who didn’t actually give a fuck about her instead of just allowing him, someone who loved her with every fiber in his body, to be in attendance.
His entrance stirred a lot of chatter and drew a ton of eyes. Since his release and the due to the circumstances, he never got the chance to pop out, and he honestly didn’t care to do so. This was the first time anyone aside from family and a few of Cassie’s people saw him in the flesh after his release. His reputation and name in the streets still remained, so it left everyone wondering if he was still on the same type of time since they last saw or heard from him.
“The guys coming this way,” Ezekiel warned his brother, immediately snapping him out of the trance he was in as his eyes locked on his lady’s casket.
Coming toward him were his guys he used to run with prior to getting locked up. They all made sure to keep in touch withKross while he walked his sentence down, but since he got out, they wanted to give him space to process his loss.
The first to approach him was Los. They went way back to middle school, and the ties ran deep. They dapped each other up and shared a hug. An embrace was much needed during a time like this.
“Good to have you home, and I’m sorry about your lady, fam,” Los said as they parted from the hug.
“‘Preciate it, Los.”
“Aye, whatever you need, you know I got you. We family,” Los asserted, and Kross knew he meant that shit. Los was as real as they came. He never switched up, despite Kross being away for so long. Every phone call was answered, letters were always sent, money was always put on Kross’ books, and he made sure to look out for Cassie and Aniyis.
They shared another hug before Kross dapped up Noonie, who was right behind Los. Kross and Noonie were play cousins, but no one could tell them they weren’t blood related for real. Noonie’s dad used to run the streets with Kross’ dad back in the day before they both died. Noonie and Kross grew up together and never lost touch.
“However you wanna rock out behind Cassie and ‘Niyis, I’m on that same type of time,” Noonie assured him in a hushed tone. He didn’t give a fuck about a time and place under these circumstances. The move could be discussed anywhere, and he would be on go.
“Right now, I just wanna make sure ‘Niyis straight. Then we can make some moves. Keep your ear out in the street for me,” Kross told him.
“Fa’sho,” Noonie agreed with a nod of his head. “We’ll rap after the funeral.”
Kross led the way down the aisle of the church and approached Cassie’s casket. She laid at rest in a white gownthat complimented her terra cotta skin beautifully. Even while at rest, her beauty was breathtaking. He bit down on his bottom lip to keep his tears from dispelling out of his eyes. This shit cut deep. He reached down and caressed the side of Cassie’s face.
“The most beautiful girl in the world,” he whispered down to her before sitting a light kiss onto her cheek. This was something he would tell her constantly, and he would always love to see her smile as she basked in the compliment.
Six months together in the real world just wasn’t enough time. Although it was nothing but bliss, there were so many other things he wanted to do and give her. She had devoted so much of herself to him—seven years of her life—and she blessed him with a beautiful baby boy. In this moment, while gazing down at her in a casket, he felt nothing but guilt. He wished their circumstances were different and she got to enjoy the last few years of her life without the stress of holding him down. She deserved better than that.
“I’m sorry this shit happened to you, baby,” Kross told her as he sat another kiss on her cheek. “I’m sorry I wasn’t the man you needed me to be for you and Aniyis. I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll love you forever, baby.”
As his heart ached for her, he felt an aggressive tug on his shoulder. Snapping his head over his shoulder, he was faced with Joyce, who was seething in anger. Due to all the emotions in the air, she didn’t immediately notice Kross and his crew roll up in the funeral. She meant what she said about not wanting him in the vicinity of her and her family. He was bad news, and so was everyone associated with him.
“What are you doing here?! I told you I didn’t want you here!” she hissed furiously with her bloodshot eyes bulging.
Kross cut his eyes at her before tossing her hand off her shoulder. “You’re not keeping me from being at my lady’sfuneral, so fall the fuck back!” he seethed, not caring to censor his language, despite being in a church.
“Aye, you not ‘bout to talk to my mama like that, nigga.” Cassie’s older brother Rico rose from his seat, pulling his pants up slightly. That motion immediately triggered Ezekiel, Noonie and Los to stand ten toes behind Kross. If shit went left, they were all riding with him. They didn’t give a fuck where they were or who they were around.
Completely unfazed by Rico, Kross eyed him up and down. “Nigga, fuck you and yo’ mama!” he spat. He wasn’t thinking rationally, and quite honestly, he didn’t think he ever would. The love of his life was gone, and Joyce was doing everything in her power to keep him from being a part of any final moments everyone had with Cassie’s physical being, and he wasn’t fucking with that at all. Him and Rico never had issues, but Kross understood how he was coming behind his mama. He still didn’t give a fuck, though. If Rico wanted to get some pressure off, Kross was with whatever.
Everyone could see the fury that flashed Rico’s eyes as he balled his fists up. “Nigga, if you wanted to be here, you would’ve put some money up for my sister’s funeral! You ain’t put up shit, but you showing up here like you did!”
“I ain’t never had no money problems, pussy-ass nigga! I got enough paper to give my lady the funeral she deserves and pay one off for you and your stupid-ass mama!” They had officially awoken the animal in Kross. He’d been chill for the most part, but Joyce continued to poke at him while he was dealing with Cassie’s death. There was only so much he could take before he crashed out.
Rico’s jaws flexed angrily before he cocked his fist back and swung on him. Kross’ mouth was reckless, but he always anticipated what came with it, so Rico swinging on him was expected. He weaved the first blow before following up with atwo-piece of his own. All the turmoil, anger, sadness and regret he had brewing in him since getting out of prison found their way out through those blows. The collision his fists made with Rico’s face sounded through the church, prompting the funeral guests to shout in fear. No one ever expected Cassie’s family to come to blows within the first few minutes of her homegoing, but tensions were high, and these Miami niggas wasn’t ‘bout to let shit slide.
Kross had Rico leaking instantly as he stumbled back. Blood seeped through the crevices of the permanent golds in his mouth as Kross charged at him and rained down blow after blow. He had completely blacked out and was taken back to a place he hadn’t been since his first few months in prison. He wasangry!
Angry about Cassie being snatched away from him!
Angry about not having more time with her!
Angry about his son never being able to experience a two-parent household!
Angry about motherfuckas playing on his top like he hadn’t been solid from the beginning!
