Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
YUMI
One Week Later…
The courtroom was silent.
After giving our closing arguments, the judge excused himself and the jurors. I was nervous because, while I made valid points and made Emil and Ellis look like angels, the judge didn’t seem to be buying it.
Because the witness or CI refused to show their face, the testimony on paper was dismissed by the judge, who believed it was fabricated. That was our only saving grace, and I prayed it would work out for Emil and Ellis.
Smith and Rivers looked more nervous than me, and George’s shit-talking ass was now on mute. He didn’t even look at me the whole time we’d been here, not that I wanted him to anyway.
We had a brief recess while the jury deliberated, which lasted only five minutes. In my mind, that could have been a good or bad thing, and I was too nervous to even think about failing Emery and his family.
Emil placed his hand over mine to stop me from tapping my pen excessively. “Relax, sis. You got this.”
I gave him a soft smile and nodded. A few moments later, the judge and jury returned as I watched the woman in her mid-fifties stand up with a paper in her hands.
“Has the jury reached the verdict?” Judge Cason asked. I took hold of Emil’s hand.
“Yes, Your Honor. In the case of Emil Aldana and Ellis Aldana with the impending charges of murder in the first degree, racketeering, embezzlement, and leading a criminal empire, we, the Jury, find the defendants not guilty on all charges.”
I smiled in triumph as Emil pulled me from my seat to hug me, and Ellis followed. The courtroom erupted in shouts, and some people were cursing and crying out. I was assuming it was the family of Alphonso and Raymon.
I suddenly felt guilty because I knew Emil and Ellis committed the crimes they were accused of, but I was a defense attorney for a reason.
People paid me an obscene amount of money to make their problems go away.
If this were anyone else who had committed these crimes, I would never have taken the case.
Emil and Ellis were like family. Well, they were soon going to be my family, so I had to win for them so they could relieve my fiancée of his stress.
We all headed out of the courtroom and out into the hall.
I could see my family standing by with looks of disappointment on their faces.
I couldn’t understand why they’d even come if they weren’t going to be happy for me, but I already knew why they were here.
They were hoping to see them go to prison for the rest of their lives. Their hate for them was crazy insane.
I walked over to them while they waited for me to approach.
“Congratulations, baby,” my mom said, pulling me in for a hug.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah . . . Congrats, Cousin. I hope you get your name on the building.” Zeke’s fake ass smiled at me, but I could tell it wasn’t genuine.
My dad gave me a half-smile. “Baby girl, I pray you get why you want out of life. I never want you to feel as if I don’t care or am trying to stop you from shining. I want you to make the right choices.”
“Have I not?”
“You have; you have. I just—come to the house and have dinner with us. We miss you.”
“I would love to, but I already have plans.”
“With them?” Ezekiel asked.
I rolled my eyes. “No, actually with Carmen, Chloe, and Chanel.”
“Oh! That’s good. Will you come by tomorrow then?” my mom asked, looking optimistic.
“Sure. I’ll call you.”
“Ready, baby?” I heard Emery behind me. I could see my father and Zeke’s faces twist in disgust, and I shook my head.
“Yes.” I smiled at him. “I’ll see you all tomorrow, and we’re going to talk,” I told my family, then walked off with Emery.
I was going to get to the bottom of their bullshit once and for all.
Emery had never disrespected my family; hell, he rarely even spoke to them or came by because I was always at his house, or we were hanging out, so for them to be this upset with his presence was baffling to me.
“Still salty, huh?” he asked.
“Very.”
“They’ll be alright. I’m proud of you.” He placed a kiss on my forehead and wrapped his arm around me, guiding me out of the building.
“Thank you, baby. You know, I never got that surprise you promised me,” I reminded him.
He smiled. “Change of plans. You’ll get it real soon. Just wait on it.” As soon as my foot hit the bottom step outside the courthouse, Ellis rushed me, picking me up, and spun me around.
“I knew you was the goat!”
“Nigga, if you don’t put my wife down. The fuck?”
I laughed as Ellis placed me on my feet.
“Shut yo’ whipped ass up.”
“Good shit, sis. Thank you again, man,” Emil said, hugging me again. He was much calmer than he’d usually be, and I couldn’t help but see a little sadness in his eyes that I’d never seen before.
“You guys are welcome. Please, please, stay out of trouble.”
“You ain’t gotta tell me twice, cuz. I already got my jet booked to hit Cancun now that damn monitor is off my leg.”
“Well, have fun and enjoy.”
Emil and Ellis walked off after saying their goodbyes, and Emery pulled me into his arms.
“Ditch ya people and come to my parents’ crib. They’re cooking up a feast since these niggas are free.”
I giggled. “Raincheck, babe. I’ve been dissing Carmen lately, and she’s upset with me. I promise we can chill with your family tomorrow.”
“Fine. I want you home at a decent hour, and don’t get too lit. You still gotta drive back home.”
“I got you, big poppa. And since I’ve unofficially moved into your home—”
“Our home,” he corrected.
I rolled my eyes playfully. “Our home, I need to go back to my place and get my things.” I could see his eyes light up at the very mention of my moving in officially.
“We can do it this weekend.”
I laughed. “I love you.” I kissed his lips just as Jeremiah walked up.
“Congratulations, Yumi. I knew you’d win.”
I smiled. “We won, so congrats to you too.”
He smiled at me. “Thanks.”
“You a rude ass nigga,” Emery said, glaring at Jeremiah.
“Emmy, please,” I pleaded.
Jeremiah frowned in confusion. “Pardon?”
“You see me standing here and don’t even acknowledge the nigga that just put bread in your pocket.”
“I-I’m sorry—”
“And get them fucking hearts out ya eyes when you look at my woman, or yo’ ho ass gon’ be seeing stars. She’s taken, and it’s going to remain that way until I get old and croak the fuck over. Even then, she ain’t gon’ be available to yo’ sucka ass.”
“Emery Aldana!” I reprimanded. “Let’s go now, sir!
” I pulled him away while mouthing sorry to Jeremiah.
I probably shouldn’t have done that because I didn’t want to make it seem as if he had a chance.
Emery would kill this man, and I knew I had to make sure I put a pin in his growing attraction for me.
When we reached my car, I hit the locks, and Emery placed my satchel in the backseat.
“You really have to calm down, babe. Jeremiah is harmless.”
“Yeah, harmless enough to be kissing you in fucking parking garages?” My mouth opened and closed in shock. “Yeah, you didn’t think I knew, did you? You forgot I had security following you, Yummy?”
Shit. I did forget.
“That was—”
“I don’t care what it was. The only reason I ain’t snap that nigga’s neck was that he was beneficial to my brother and cousin’s case.
Now that that shit is over, I’d whack his stupid ass.
” I was about to say something, but he cut me off.
“Get your pretty ass in the car. I’ll see you at home later.
” A kiss to my lips and a swat on my ass made me hop in my truck and not say shit else.
I waved at him, then pulled from the curb, calling Carmen to confirm our dinner date at Ruth’s Chris.
Today was successful yet exhausting. I was just happy to be free until my next caseload, and I was going to celebrate my win with a nice, big drink.
Stepping inside the restaurant, I looked around until I found Chanel and Carmen and headed in their direction. Carmen spotted me first and stood to hug me, prompting Chanel to do the same.
“Hey, Mimi. I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while,” Chanel said once we all took our seats.
“You haven’t. Which is crazy to me.” I looked at the empty seat next to her and looked at Carmen. “And where is my Chloe bug?”
“Miss Mamas has been a busy bee this summer with her dad. It’s his week to keep her, so she couldn’t make it. If your behind would climb down from the Emery building and come over, you’d see her,” she jested.
I sucked my teeth and grabbed my water. “Whatever.” I picked up the menu and began looking for what I wanted to eat.
“Yumi, I’m sorry,” Chanel said.
Without looking up from the menu, I asked, “For what?”
“For siding with your parents about Emery. You were right. I was pro-Emery and Yumi, but when they told me the things he was into, I worried about your safety with him.”
“That’s the thing, Chanel. What Emery does or is into does not define him. He has never mistreated me, and if your nosy ass aunt and uncle had minded their business, he would have been my husband by now.”
“But you broke up with him when you found out what he was into.”
“Because, again, your meddling aunt and uncle coerced me to do so. You, of all people, knew I loved Emery, and he loved me. I could have convinced him to come with me because that’s how much he loved me, but they made him sound like the devil himself.
With us being so young, I honestly believed every word they said.
” I shook my head. “But that doesn’t even matter anymore.
They may have been right about what he did in the streets, but they were wrong about his character.
Do you know how hard it was to watch him cry?
I broke his heart, and I’m grateful that he even wants to still be with me. ”
“Y’all were young, bestie. I’m sure he understood that your people had a hand in your decisions back then.
It’s why he’s been applying that pressure to your ass.
” Carmen giggled, and I laughed. The waitress came over to our table, and we placed our food and drink orders before resuming our conversation.
“So, what happened with Liam?” Chanel asked.
“Girllll, I’ma let her tell you!” Carmen exclaimed, laughing. I didn’t find it funny, but it kind of was, now that I looked back at it.
Chanel laughed. “Oh, hell. Please tell me what happened.”
I proceeded to tell her the story of Liam and his concubine. I refused to accept that I was ever a side piece, but honestly, I was. He was with Michelle, or whatever her name was, before he met me. How he was able to keep a whole relationship from me was beyond crazy.
I saw the signs. I just didn’t want to believe he would do that to me after being so charming, loving, and attentive in the beginning. I guess it was to prep me for his fairytale dream of having two women.
The dinner went on with us laughing and having a good time.
Even though Emery told me not to drink too much, I couldn’t help it since I was celebrating with my girls.
I excused myself from the table and went to the ladies’ room.
After relieving myself and washing my hands, I pulled out my cell to call my husband.
“Yummy, everything good?” He answered on the second ring.
“Emmy, baby, . . . I think I overdid it.” I giggled into the receiver.
“What I tell your hardheaded ass?”
“I knooow. I’m sorry, baby. Do you forgive me?”
“Of course I do. I’ma spank that ass when you get home.”
“Mmm, careful. I just might like it.”
“I hope you will. I’m wrapping up some things right now, so I’m sending Juno and Lou for you. I’ll meet you at home.”
I smiled goofily. “My hero.”
He chuckled. “Nah, you’re the one that saved me, baby.” My smile grew wider. “I love you, mamas.”
“Ditto, baby,” I replied and hung up. I went back to our table just as the waitress came over with the bill. When I tried to grab it, Carmen snatched it up before I could.
“It’s on me,” she said, slipping her card in the leather pouch and handing it back to the waitress.
She then placed a shot in front of Chanel and me.
“One more shot to toast my girl winning these motherfuckin’ cases and being the baddie that she is!
I am so very proud of you, friend, and I pray that you have much success from this day forward. I love you, bookie.”
I placed my hand over my heart and smiled. “Thanks, my girl. I love you more.”
“To success, love, and beyond,” Chanel said, lifting her glass. I tossed back the shot and sucked the lemon.
“Oh! I have something for you, ladies. I’m going to get it out of the car.
Wait here,” I said, standing and going out to my car that was parked a few spaces from the door.
I opened my trunk and grabbed the gift bags as my phone chimed.
I pulled it from my pocket and saw a message from a weird number, and I opened it out of curiosity.
+25 322 319: You should have dropped the case.
My eyes widened, and fear gripped me before I felt someone grab me from behind.
“What the—get off of me!” I tried to scream, but I lost the battle as a pungent smell of alcohol wafted up my nose, and my world turned dark.