10. Rock
I was sitting there watching my son sleep.
Things had been spiraling so far out of control that I damn near didn't recognize my own life anymore.
My heart was fucked up. Shina was the love of my fucking life.
I had never met a woman so loving, so selfless, and so damn pure in my life.
She loved me when I ain't have shit but a dream and loyalty to offer.
She stood beside me through it all. I met Shina when I first got here from Puerto Rico, and she never judged me for the shit I was going through.
I had been hiding out in Puerto Rico for a few days, trying to figure out what the fuck I was supposed to do with my life.
If it wasn't for my best friend's Pop, I would've never made it out of there alive.
That man saved my life. He was the one who told me I had to leave because once word got back to the Mazio Cartel that I was still around, they weren't going to ask questions. They were going to kill me.
I remember that night like it was yesterday. I was scared out of my fuckin' mind. My hands wouldn't stop shaking, and every car that drove by had me looking out the window. I didn't know who I could trust anymore.
“Anthony, you can't stay here. If anybody connected to the Mazio Cartel finds out where you're hiding, they'll kill you before the sun comes up and us too. I love you kid, and I’m afraid for you.
But as a man, a husband, and a father, I have to put my family first." I nodded, trying to process everything he was saying.
“You can try reaching out to your father and see if he'll help you. But I’m not sure about that either.
Hell, I don't even know if that's safe. You don't know who's listening, who's watching, or who's waiting for you to make a move.” He stood in the center of the room in thought.
“If you want to live, Anthony. You have to let this life as you know it go.
Forget everybody you ever knew here. Listen to me and listen good.
No matter how hard shit gets, don't make contact with anyone in Puerto Rico.
The minute they get news of where you are, they'll come for you. "
In the blink of an eye, I lost it all. My mom, my home, and my identity.
“Where do you think I should go? I don't know anyone, me and my mom have never left the Island.” I shrugged, confused as hell.
“You need to go somewhere that's overpopulated.
I think New York City is the place. Lay low for as long as you can.
I know someone that can help you get out of Puerto Rico.
When you get to New York, you're on your own. I have something, one minute.” He walked out of the room and quickly returned with an envelope.
“Here is a thousand dollars. That's my rent money, no worries.
I'll figure something out. This should help you get a room and food for a couple of weeks.
New York is expensive, but you gotta figure it out.
Get a job, but keep it low key for a while.
I've already called Hector, and he's coming.
He will help you get a new identity. Everything about your appearance will have to change.
Figure it out. Good luck to you, son. I'll be praying for you.” He patted me on my back as tears ran down my face.
The pain I felt was unbearable. Those tears were for my mother, and losing her would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Everything I'd ever known was gon', the only thing I could do was pray that I would be alright in the end.
When I got to New York, I came with the clothes on my back and the money that Jose gave me.
His cousin Hector helped me get a new ID, and I was able to get on a flight safely to New York.
I did what he said and never reached out to my Pop.
I never understood why he was secretive about me being his son, but I later learned that he didn’t want his wife to know.
I resented him for that shit, but I still loved him.
Going through that ordeal of them running in our crib and them killing my mom fucked me up in so many ways.
Now the shit has happened to me all over again.
They ran up in my shit and killed my girl.
It’s like a repeated cycle. Me and my mom weren’t a part of that life; I wasn’t a part of my Pop’s illegal dealings.
We just got caught up in his shit. I was eighteen when that happened and had plans to go to college.
Juelz had me here in one of his safe houses, and I’ve been here for a minute now.
He said he wanted me to lay low until he could get a location on Juan Mazio.
This shit was getting to me, and I had to figure out a way out of this.
Shina was gone and now I have to protect my Haven, he was only eight and didn’t understand why his mom was gone.
He was lying here sleeping and all I could think about is what our life is going to be like.
“I got you, lil' man. Daddy ain't gon’ let nothing happen to you.” I kissed him on his forehead and laid my head back on the headboard. Just as I was about to get up from the bed, I heard a noise. I pulled up the camera on my phone so I could check out the grounds. I didn’t see Vince or Joe walking around, so I got up to see what was going on.
I grabbed my gun and eased out of the room without waking up Haven.
I made it out into the hallway, and I knew something was wrong; the guys weren’t +inside the house.
The house wasn’t that big and when I saw the info read light flash by, I knew I was in trouble.
I walked back into the room quickly, locking the door and pulling the metal grip across the door.
Juelz had this room equipped just in case something went wrong, and we went over the escape plan over and over again.
I woke Haven up, and told him to be quiet, and he nodded.
Because of the situation we were in, I spent days drilling things into his head, so if something happened to me, he would know what to do.
He had on pajamas, and I slipped on his sneakers.
I grabbed the backpack from the closet and strapped it on him because everything he needed was in that bag.
A phone, cash, his new identity information, and keys to a safe deposit box.
“Haven, we don’t have much time. Remember, once we get outside, I need you to run even if I’m not with you.
Get inside that bunker, and the minute you’re in it, run like hell.
The phone is in the backpack, remember to turn it on and hit number one and it will call Juelz.
He’ll take it from there. You ready?” I asked in a low tone, and my boy had a face full of tears.
“Yes, dad. I’m ready,” he whispered.
The minute, I opened the door to lead us down a hall within the bedroom.
I heard the handle jiggle at the bedroom door.
In my heart of heart, I knew they’d found me.
I closed the door and grabbed my son’s hand as we quickly moved down the hall.
Once we got to the door that would lead us to the bunker, I eased it open to make sure the coast was clear.
I looked back at my son and pulled him in for a hug.
“I love you and I always will. When we get out of here no matter what happens, you keep running, act quickly because they will be behind us. If something happens to me and I don’t make it. Do what I taught you to do.” I kissed his forehead, and he nodded.
I eased the door open and we took off running.
I tried looking at my surroundings and before I could call out to Haven to keep going, I was hit multiple times and my body dropped.
I could see my son still running and the men were chasing him.
“God protect my child.” Is all I remember saying before everything went black.