Ashley's Story: THE LAST CHAPTER (15 page)

Anxious to see her face, Rio drove as fast as he could to
Ashley’s condo. He had some stuff he wanted to talk to her about and he didn’t
know how things would play out after tonight. The streets were unpredictable
especially when beef and gunplay were involved. Blood would be shed and niggas
were going to get killed. The only thing Rio could do was pray that he wouldn’t
end up six feet under and his body riddled with bullets.

When Rio walked in Ashley’s condo, the smell of fresh linen
hit him. A couple of candles flickered on the end tables making the atmosphere
comfortable and cozy. Ashley was curled up with her hand resting peacefully on
the side of her stomach.

Rio hated to wake her but every second counted. Daylight
would be here and then night would fall. Lately, time seemed to go by quickly.
He didn’t know if it was because he was getting older but it seemed like days
would pass if he blinked. His uncle always said, “The older you get, the faster
time goes.” Rio didn’t pay him any mind but now he knew exactly what he meant.

He went to wake up the only love he’d ever known. Rio stared
at Ashley while she was sleeping. She had captured his heart and he wasn’t sure
when it happened but it had. Now she held his heart in the palm of her hand. He
kissed the freckles across her nose and then her pouty lips. Ashley inhaled
deeply before opening her eyes. Rio’s cologne had awakened her.

“Hey baby, what’s the matter?” she asked.

Rio sat down on the couch beside Ashley. She could tell
something was wrong. His silence was a dead giveaway. She snuggled up close to
him while waiting for him to speak.

“I’m at war with a couple of niggas. I’m not going to
sugarcoat the situation, ma. Shit is getting worse. I’m not sure what the
outcome will be.”

Ashley pressed her ear up against his chest then closed her
eyes while listening to him breathe. The beating coming from his heart was like
a beautiful melody. It was her comfort.

“Okay, you’re at war. So what are you saying? What do you
want me to do?” she asked.

Rio sighed. “If something happens to me, I want you to go
back to Barbados with Choice and Supreme.”

Ashley was quiet. He knew she was thinking of something to
say.

“Like what?

“Ma, you know what I’m saying.”

Ashley stood up and stormed off. A couple of seconds later
she slammed the door.

Rio ran his hand down his face. He hated that he even had to
tell her some shit like that but it was the right thing to do. He and Ashley
had no secrets between each other and he wanted to keep it that way. He got up
and knocked on Ashley’s bedroom door.

“Ma, can I come in?”

He pressed his ear up against the door to see if he heard
anything but he heard nothing. Seconds passed and she still hadn’t answered so
he opened the door and walked in. Rio looked around but Ashley wasn’t in there.
The bathroom door connected was shut so she had to be in there. Rio stormed
over to the bathroom and pounded on the door.

“Ash, what the fuck are you in there doing?” he asked
angrily. His tone became softer while he pleaded for her to open the door.
Tired of hearing him beg, she opened the door.

He was annoyed with her for walking away and angry because
she hadn’t opened the door for him when he had asked her to. Looking at her sad
eyes and slumped shoulders had him feeling weak. His anger vanished
immediately. He put his pointer finger up and quickly motioned for her to come
to him. Ashley shook her head.

“No,” she answered with no emotion.

She paced back and forth. Rio leaned against the bedroom
wall and stared at her.

“What’s up, Ash? Talk to me,” he said evenly. “This here
ain’t us. Tell me what you’re feeling so I can understand. If you’re mad then
let’s talk about it.

 “How you gon’ tell me some shit like that and think I’d be
anything but hurt? Fuck being mad! I’m not mad. Hearing those words come out
your mouth make me think of Petey and where is he? When I hear you say if
something happens, do you know what I think about?” tears began to pool in her
eyes. “Death. It sounds like you’re telling me you might die. That’s something
I’m having a hard time hearing. So instead of me sitting out there listening to
that shit, I walked away I don’t wanna hear that, Rio. You know why I’m really
hurt? It sounds like you’re giving up on what we have. What about our child,
Rio? You can leave this street shit behind and we can leave Florida. I’ll pack
a bag and go to the bank in the morning to withdraw all my money. We can be
out. I don’t care where we go as long as we’re together.”

Rio ran his hand down his face. He hated to see her like
this. She was falling apart. Gone was the strong Ashley he’d grown to know. Her
vulnerability finally showed and seeing her like this broke his heart. How
could he be annoyed and angry with her when the only thing she cared about was
him? With every falling tear, he could see the love she had for him much
clearer.

Rio looked up to the ceiling. “Come here, ma. Please. I need
you. Don’t leave me hanging.”

Ashley dropped her head and looked at the ground before
walking over to him. His eyes roamed all over her face before kissing her tears
away.

“Stop crying. I never want to see you crying ever again.
Tears don’t exist when you’re with me. I hear everything you’re saying, Ashley.
Just know that I got you.”

“How could you have heard me when you’re not willing to
leave with me?’ Ashley mumbled. “You want to stay in Miami and fight a battle
you might not win. As much as I want to argue with you about your choices, I’m
not going to.

Rio looked at his Rolex before looking at the window in her
bathroom. The sun was out. He was extremely exhausted and he could tell Ashley
was too. Her eyes begged for sleep.

“Let’s get a couple of hours of sleep. I’ll make you
something to eat when we wake up.”

 Grabbing her hand, they took the short walk to her bed. Rio
spooned Ashley while rubbing her flat tummy.

“Rio, promise me that you won’t leave while you’re out there
in the streets. Whatever you do, don’t forget you have a family to fight for.
Promise me.”

Rio was silent for a couple of seconds. “I promise. I love
you so much beautiful. You’re my world and I’ll never leave you to be a parent
by yourself.”

Minutes passed before he heard her light snoring. He closed
his eyes to get some much-needed rest.

When Rio woke up, he made Ashley breakfast then they took a
shower together before going their separate ways. Ashley went over to her mom’s
house. Choice had called her earlier to tell her that she was there so they 
made plans to go get manicures and pedicures before going to visit Kyree’s and
Petey’s gravesite.

As they were at the nail shop sitting in the huge plush
chairs getting their feet soaked, Ashley took a sip of water then looked over
at her mom and Choice.

“Okay, Ma, I have to tell you something,” Ashley said.
Ashley leaned forward in her seat and winked her eye at Choice. Choice raised
her wine glass to Ashley before taking a drink.

“What are you two up to?” her mother asked.

“Ma, we have another addition coming to the family,” Ashley
announced.

“We do? Who? Choice, you’re pregnant?”

With a smile on her face, Choice shook her head no.

“Me; I’m pregnant,” Ashley said beaming with happiness.

“Oh my baby! You’re going to be a mother?” Mrs. Harper spoke
loudly. Tears of happiness filled her eyes. “You never told me you were seeing
anyone.

“Remember the guy who stopped by your house a while back to
see me?”

 “The cutie? Of course I remember. You never invite men over
to the house.”

Ashley blushed because she was right. The only guy who’d
ever been to her mother’s house was Petey.

“We’ve been seeing each other for a while.”

“Oh now you tell! That explains why I haven’t seen you for a
couple of weeks,” she said with a light chuckle. “I’m so happy you’re seeing
someone. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Petey would want you
to be happy and I think he would approve of the dude too. What’s his name
again?”

“His name is Rio.

“Rio. I think Petey would approve of him. We need to have
him over for dinner.”

Ashley thought about the dream she had of Petey then smiled
when she remembered his words.

“I think you’re right, Ma I think Petey would approve.”

“All this talk about Petey got me missing him even more now
so let’s hurry so we can go visit his resting place,” Choice said.

***

Ashley was bending down in front of Petey’s tombstone. The
winds whistled through the trees causing the leaves to sway. The overcast said
that it was going to rain but the sun still seemed to shine brightly through
the gray clouds.

Ashley kissed two fingers then touched the cursive lettering
on the tombstone before putting her flowers in the attached gold vase. Choice
was to her right and her mom was to her left, both with a dozen red roses in
their hands. Both ladies handed Ashley their roses. She laid a dozen down on
each side of the vase before all three women bowed their heads and said a
silent prayer.

They were startled by a clapping sound and turned around to
see who the culprit was because they were not welcomed. Choice stumbled back
and pulled her gun from the back of her waistband just as Ashley stood to her
feet. Ashley scowled like a bull and pulled out her gun.

Finesse’s smile dissipated when they pulled their guns out.
His facial expression was unemotional. The way Finesse’s eyes pierced through
their skin was fatal. It would’ve stopped any sane woman from breathing.

Ashley’s stared at the man intensely. She could still see
her mother from out the corner of her eye. Her mother’s body trembled from fear
and that made Ashley grip the gun in her hand a little tighter. Ashley slowly
aimed her gun directly between his eyes. She knew that if she were to take the
shot, the man would no longer be breathing. She wanted to so badly but
something told her not to.

“I’ve seen you before at club Liv but I don’t know you who
the fuck are you,” Ashley said. That made Finesse smile.

“You’re tough. I like you. I’m the boss. No one sent me here
I’m here because I wanna be.”

“You’re smiling,” Choice stated. You seem real comfortable.
You shouldn’t be when you got two guns pointed at your head. We could end your
fuckin' life in seconds.”

Finesse licked his lips. “You must be Choice? I’ve heard so
many stories about you.”

“I assume you’re here for me. If you are take me and leave
Choice and my mother out of it,” Ashley said. 

He shook his head no. “I wish I could but Choice being with
you is a plus. Taking her would be icing on the cake.”

Choice chuckled. “You’re not taking me anywhere and you’re
not taking her either.”

 “Where...where...are you taking them?” her mother
stuttered.

Ignoring the question, Finesse pointed to the trees a few
feet away. “There’s a man behind every tree waiting for me to give the signal
to kill all of you. If I were you, I would follow directions. You won’t get
hurt if you follow directions. All three of us will walk away together
peacefully. But, if you kill me, they’ll kill you.

“Ma, turn around and see if he’s telling the truth,” Ashley
spoke still holding the gun in her hand.

Her mother turned around and looked then slowly turned
around with tears falling from her eyes. She nodded her head.

Ashley huffed in defeat. “He’s telling the truth, Choice.
Let’s just put our guns down.”

“Nah fuck that, Ash. I’m not going. Fuck him and whoever
else is behind this shit.”

“Choice, think of Legend and Supreme. He’s going to kill you
if you don’t put the gun down. Then he’s going to have to kill me because I
couldn’t live if something happened to you. Put the gun down, boo. Wherever he
takes us, at least we’ll be together.

Choice nodded. She and Ashley bent down to put their guns on
the ground.

Finesse smiled. “I’m glad you talked some sense into your
girl.”

“Fuck you,” Choice said angrily.

He shook his left hand like it was on fire. “I was told you
were the feisty one.” He pointed to Ashley. “But I see things have changed.”

Finesse snapped his fingers and three guys dressed in all
black with black facemasks came running with guns in their hands.

“Take them to the van,” Finesse demanded.

Two of the guys grabbed Ashley and Choice’s arms.

“You don’t have to grab on her damn arm like that!” Choice
said.

“Hold up! What about my mom? What are you going to do with
her?” Ashley asked.

“Don’t worry about your mom. I’mma take care of her. Give me
your phone,” Finesse said as he invaded her mother’s space.

Tears fell from her eyes but no sound came out. Staring at
her daughter and stepdaughter broke her heart. She couldn’t do anything to save
them and that bothered her. Her mother handed her phone to Finesse with shaky
hands. How could a day filled with fun and relaxation turn out to be one of the
worst days ever?

“I really hate to do this,” Finesse whispered in her ear. He
took his gun and raised it quickly hitting her over the top of her head.

“Noooooo!” Ashley screamed. She tried her hardest to get
away from the man holding onto her but she couldn’t so she stomped on his foot
with her heel.

“Fuck!” the man screamed. He let her go and grabbed his
foot.

“Bitch, get back here!” the man yanked Ashley back towards
him by her hair.

Choice turned around and punched the man holding onto her in
the face. The man let her go and touched the spot on his face were he’d been
hit. Choice snatched his gun from his hands and shot him in the head before
turning the gun on the man who was holding Ashley.