by King, Deja
“I’ma always be here, Semaj. I’ll never leave you and if I do I’ll always come back for you,” he replied. “I’m here forever. I wanna take care of you forever if you allow me to. You gon’ let me take care of you?”
Semaj smiled and said, “Now Quasim Santana you knew the answer before you asked. You know I want you to take care of me.”
Quasim smiled, laughed and then said, “I don’t know what I’m tripping on saying that bullshit. Shit, from how you moving
looks like you gon’ be taking care of me.”
Semaj jerked her head back ghetto-girl style, and replied, “Ha…ha…ha, real funny, nigga. Don’t play, because you know I know you, my nigga. You bossed-up running clubs and probably all kind of other businesses. Plus, you the biggest street boss I done seen thus far. So I know ya paper mad long, B.” Her strong Brooklyn accent thickened and she laughed. “So don’t even act like you ain’t caking. Fuck around and have double what I got, my man.” Semaj entwined her arms with his and they walked out of the office. Semaj told her bodyguards she was good and instructed them to let her cousins know she was in safe hands. She decided to keep their relationship under wraps until she told her grandfather, knowing the Milano Hitters kept him in the loop about everything.
“You know I really trust you because it ain’t too often I’m without my goons.” Semaj said as Quasim led her through the rear exit of the club where his Benz awaited. A matching one was parked directly behind his.
“You know your boy don’t leave the house without ‘em either,” Quasim reminded her as he opened her door. “You know ain’t shit changed but the country we in.” He shut the door and made his way around the car.
Semaj was silent as Quasim held her hand as he navigated his whip through his City. She watched the city streets pass by. Unlike her last visit to London, Semaj didn’t feel weird in the foreign setting and immediately recognized why her feelings had been all over the place. Someone she had cared about unconditionally was there and her soul was crying out to her. This was real love. When you could feel it inside without even knowing. The old adage that two who are close in heart and mind the miles that separate them are no more than inches, was more than true, because their love hadn’t wavered.
When they pulled onto the grounds of the mini mansion, and the private gate opened, Semaj got out of the car and stared up at the old Tuscan Renaissance styled house. It was beautiful but small for him; and although she knew he had more than one crib, Semaj just had to shoot jokes. “Yeah, man, you may be right babe. I just might be the one taking care of you with this little ass shack. Shocking, because you used to have the biggest shits on the block my dude,” she cracked up.
“Well, you just ought to get used to it because it’s your home too,” Quasim grabbed her hand and led her inside his home. She couldn’t front his crib fit her style perfectly, and at that moment Semaj realized that they were more alike than she knew.
That night Semaj kept Quasim up all night, just talking about everything with an exception of leaving out confidential information about the mob, but Quasim adored her even more because she wasn’t loose at the lips. He knew she loved him and Semaj knew he loved her back. Their conversation got intense when they started talking about them, but Semaj needed this. She wanted to make sure this was what he really wanted despite what she had done to him. She refused to have another fake nigga as her partner in any form. Quasim reassured her that he was the realest nigga in it, and that as long as she did her part as his woman, he would rock with her forever.
“I’ma always hold you down,” he assured her.
Semaj felt so close to Quasim, and believed every word that he said. She was happy that they were finally at a place that there were no lies between them. He had her mind, her heart, and soul and Semaj knew they were in it for life. He was her best friend. As long as they were together Semaj would be happy.
They had stayed up all night discussing everything, and as the sun rose they lay in bed snuggled together and they both were too excited to sleep. It was 7AM when they finally stopped talking. The purple and orange hues that blended with the morning skies had finally calmed them, and before Semaj knew it Quasim had fallen fast asleep. She kissed his lips and closed her eyes as she thanked God for his blessing of allowing her to find her way back to her lost love.
Semaj and Quasim had spent an entire week locked up inside in his crib becoming reacquainted. They had seen no one but each other, and were getting that old thing back. Quasim was a true homebody but Semaj didn’t mind. Day to day, they were rebuilding their relationship, this time the foundation would be solid and unbreakable. Semaj had actually missed the fact of being out of sight and out of mind, and appreciated it. It reminded her when they used to cuddle up on their spare time and watch movies back-to-back in the home theatre. With Quasim, Semaj didn’t need the excitement of the outside world in her life, and realized that if they ever had to be confined to a home as long as they were together she was with it.
Quasim was happy that love was back in his life and found himself even deeper in love with her. She had grown into a different woman and this go around they could learn from each other’s mistakes. She was less submissive now though, and not at all intimidated by him, but he found her feistiness and bossy attitude cute. She was no longer a pushover and would argue him down until he waved his white flags; but Quasim liked her strong will. He admired how she stood up to him. He was intrigued by it and never wanted her to hold anything back from him because he respected real shit.
He felt as if their love was unmatched. She would forever be his queen.his leading lady…his homie.his other half…his confidante.and even his adversary sometimes, but Semaj was his. Unapologetically they loved each other. Their connection was undying. It was one that only they could understand, because only they had been on the rocky journey. London was a city to adventure, and in the seclusion of Quasim’s home they had made a passage through each other souls as they became one, night after night. The time flew by so quickly that they didn’t want to part ways, but as they sat at the airport’s landing strip they both knew that they had to.
“This past week has been great, Qua. Thank you for even being willing to take me back. For taking me as I am,” she whispered.
“You ain’t gotta keep thanking me. You’re the only woman that has been able to teach me how to love.”
“And, you’ve taught me the real meaning of true love. I’ll always be thankful for that. I can’t imagine my life without you in it now.”
“You’ll never have to because I’ma always be in the picture, Maj. Even if I’m way in the back and you can only see my shoes I’ma walk through life with you until you all gray and old looking,” he laughed.”
“Nigga!” she swiveled her neck. “I ain’t gon’ ever be gray and old looking. I’ma stay dyeing my shit and Botox is something magical in today’s world,” she chuckled.
“You ain’t gone even need that. Your beauty is ageless and even if it wasn’t I ain’t tripping. I love you more than for your beauty and booty,” he said sweetly with a charming smile. “But it is an added perk, though,” he gently pinched her cheek. “I’m just bullshitting with you,” he sighed, hating to see her go. “Damn, I hate that you leaving so soon.”
“I’ll be back. I’ma always come back to you,” Semaj assured him as she watched the town car pull up at the bottom of the jet’s boarding steps. “Ooh, I knew Sosa was feeling Nasah. Her ‘ole stunting ass.” Semaj cracked up, watching Nasah open up the car door for her and walk to the trunk to remove her luggage.
“Looks like I ain’t gon’ be the only one spending a lot of my time in London.”
“He really feeling shorty. Got my man’s opening doors and shit. That’s uncharacteristic for that nigga. True story.” He chuckled and then kissed Semaj on her forehead. “I know you got to be going though. I’ma be waiting on you when you get back. You said seven days, right?”
“Yup, one week. I’ma holla at my grandfathe
r and then we gonna fly back out so y’all can have a heart-to-heart. Gio really had mad love for you and respected you. And my Poppa don’t respect niggas,” Semaj said straightforwardly.
“You know I already know,” he replied, kissing her on the back of her wrist. “I’ll see you soon.” He leaned over, grabbed the door handle and opened it from the inside, seeing that he was still a secret for right now. “Semaj,” he called after her and she turned around before walking away. “I’ma be waiting for you. I’ma always wait for you, Maj.” She smiled, nodded, and closed the door. He watched as she climbed the steps and took her seat at the window. Quasim laughed lightheartedly when he saw Semaj wave at him, knowing she knew that he’d be looking, and then finally pulled away with his goon following behind him.
Semaj awoke to someone nudging her arm. She squirmed and it took her a minute to adjust her vision so that she could see. “Y’all bitches was all booed up when the rest of us was scoping the town out. Now you wanna be sleep. Get up, playtime is over bitches,” Emilia shouted amped, as she lifted the shades up welcoming the sunlight. “The plane lands in another five minutes.”
“Girl, I’m sleepy. Gone!” Sosa whispered groggily as she put the pillow over her face.
“Well, I’m up now. That loud ass talking you doing got me all the way up,” Semaj said as she stretched her arms wide. “What
sup?
“Nah, what’s up with you is the question? Rushing us off the phone lines, giving us the “fuck you” button most of the time only to shoot us a text to let us know everything fine. Dude got you hooked like a fish,” Marcela said.
“Clasped on tightly and its unleashing baby,” she replied excitedly.
“You a fucking retard,” Sosa laughed, eyes closed, still half sleep.
“You really feeling this guy huh, Maj?” Marcela asked. “I guess he must be something, getting you whipped doing the first meeting. I heard the dude Nasah run their city so if he’s bigger than him he on a level close to you, huh?”
“Yeah, his money long. Thing is he built his shit from the ground up. Started from the cellar now he on the top floor,” she bragged, quoting a rapper. A beam stretched across her face. “Y’all a meet him. Y’all a meet him real soon.”
“Got you smiling from ear-to-ear dude must be special,” LuLu said. “I ain’t seen you this happy in forever.”
“Only if you bitches knew. He’s always going to be special to me and happy would be an understatement.” Semaj said as she watched the stewardess gather their belongings as the plane descended on the ground. Semaj stared out of the window and saw her grandfather waiting on her. Her brow rose in question at the sight of him leaning against the last limousine with his hands tucked inside his slacks. What is he doing here and why is he looking like that? Oh my God? Do he know about Qua? Please don’t let him know! Finding out on his own wouldn’t be good for us. She grabbed her bags and stepped off of the jet in a hurry.
“Greetings, Semaj,” her driver said as he removed the bags from her hands.
“Hey.” She replied quickly and rushed over to her grandfather. “Hello, Poppa. I’m surprised to see you.”
“I’m afraid we have a problem. I’ve just received a call that Ox is no longer at the hospital in a coma.”
“That’s good news right? Now he can get tortured and we can feed him to the alligators and move on from this finally.”
“I’m sorry, but he is not at the hospital, period. A woman posing as the leader of some medical researcher group showed up and by the time anyone noticed it she was gone and so was Ox. The men guarding his room were all dead.”
Semaj dropped her head in disbelief. She just knew this problem had been snuffed out but now it appeared as if it had sparked light again. “Who was in charge of security?”
“You don’t have to worry about that, I already handled it. All of them are dead,” Gio stated, heartlessly. “But there was a note left inside the room.”
“What kind of note?” she frowned in concern.
“A note addressed to you.”
“To me? What did it say?” She asked but instead of responding, Gio handed her the written message.
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID and IM COMING FOR YOU. YOU WILL PAY SEMAJ RICHARDSON
XOXO
Just then, Emilia walked behind her and read the note as she stood over her shoulders. “Fuck is this?”
“I don’t know. Get some people on the phone. Have them run the tapes back at the hospital,” she turned to Sosa. “Did you ever handle that shit with ole girl twin sister?”
“We’ve been searching for the bitch. Can’t find the hoe nowhere. Our people still on it as we speak.”
“Put more people on it,” Semaj ordered aggressively. “I got a bad feeling about this and I wanna make sure all my possible enemies are handled. See who is behind this and when you do bring ‘em to me.” She walked to the limo with her pencil-thin heels stabbing the dry pavement; she slid in the backseat as she pulled out her cell phone to dial Quasim. He answered on the first ring.
“Babe, we’re going to hold off on the meet-and-greet. Shit just got hectic and we have to wait. I don’t know when the time will be right but I know it’s not now or anytime soon. I love you and I’ll call you later.”
“Semaj, what is going on? Is everything a’ight?” he asked as he clenched the phone so tightly in anger, it could almost break. He could hear it in her voice that something was wrong. It was as if he could feel the worry from her shaky voice.
“You know there is certain stuff I can’t talk about,” she explained. “But I have to go. I promise to stay in touch to let you know I’m good at all times.” She quickly hung up the phone, because she knew if she hadn’t it would only break her down. He was her weak spot. She couldn’t think about Quasim right now. She was in another war and anyone outside of their circle would be a distraction. She couldn’t afford that, there was no room for it. One day she hoped Gio would welcome Quasim back in like a son and then she’d tell Quasim the whole story, but until then she had to keep him at a distance. I have to be focus. See who is behind the shit at the hospital. Definitely gotta be someone with Ox. But why single me out from everybody else? She asked herself as she stared out the window in deep contemplation. She thought of everyone she had ever crossed, but with all the destruction she left in her path, there wasn’t any telling who was gunning for her head.
17 Days Later
Ox lay in the hospital bed and hadn’t even been awake from his coma for more than forty-eight hours, but that hadn’t stopped him from complaining. Paris had pulled some helleva tricks out of the bag on this one. Once word spread through the street grapevine that the Dominican mafia was holding Ox at their private hospital, she set the game plan in motion. Ox had a few good connections in the States and with the bond they had established over the years, he had hipped Paris on to them. With a simple well executed plan, she had pulled Ox out of the Milano family’s deadly clutches and the ball was back in their court.
“Me have ta be outta here as soon as possible. De sooner dem will release me, de sooner me put somet’ing together and hit de Dominicans harder den de could ha’ve ever imagined. De brought heat ta me parade. Nyala could have been hurt. Me baby girl could have been killed. Me is done playing tit for tat with ‘dese slick- haired bumbaclots,” Ox said weakly, but his tone was lethal. After rescuing Ox, Paris had arranged for him to be transported to a South Florida hospital. He had a small drug turf out of Little Haiti, so she knew it was all good and made sure they placed him on the top floor under an assumed name.
“Nyala is cool. Since your nanny is British, and she’s from England I sent them over there for six months because I know things are about to get out of hand. I know she’s your angel so I put them up in a nice safe spot.”
“T’ank you, Paris. Me really appreciate what you did for me baby girl. Me will get dem all dis time. Me plan ta murder dem all in one spot, in one night. De perfect night,” he said determinedly. “I’m tired. By
de time me wake up make sure de physicians have me paperwork ready ta sign fo’ me release. Me ha’ve a lot of t’ings to get in order. Me have ta strike back harder dis time. Me want dem all dead.”
“I got you. Rest up, tough guy,” Paris said as she bent over and kissed him lightly on the forehead. “Don’t worry about it. These mu’fuckas gon’ feel us, believe that.”
“You have no idea what me ha’ve in mind ta takedown de Dominican mafia. But it will be like no other. Crazy t’ing, dem bumbaclots won’t even see it coming.”
The End of the Year
Three Months Later,
New Year’s Eve.. .Times Square
Bachata music played in the background as Semaj stared out the floor length window. Despite the wintry conditions the people took up blocks of the New York City streets to witness the ball drop and enjoy the celebrations of a new year. It was the perfect time to paint the town red and not exclusively, because it was Semaj’s birthday, but the charges against Bonjo had been dismissed. Semaj invited all of their organization’s Chiefs to come celebrate with them, and the following day she planned to call a meeting at her residence where secrecy and security was assured.
The Chiefs had pledged their allegiance to her out of love and loyalty to the Family and like no other leader of the Milano family, in return, Semaj had silver Caran d’Ache lighters waiting on them. Every prominent rank in the organization would have their own personalized flickers. From silver to the diamond lighters, whoever had one was of great value to the Family. They had help her build something great and Semaj wanted to show her gratitude.
Semaj was running the busiest and most lucrative drug cartel that North America had seen in decades, and it didn’t take long for her family to become the biggest importer and distributor in the country. With Semaj in position she took no prisoners as she reigned over the Milano Empire, but with all good comes bad.
