Chapter 4
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.”
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 since Cassie’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 with Kross 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 gown that 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’s funeral, 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.