Chapter 5 Kahlani
KAHLANI
Ihad the music turned up just enough to make the bass vibrate through the seats.
Moses’ voice flowed over the beat like butter.
Listening to the sensual lyrics, I smiled as I hit my weed pen.
This song was different from what he usually recorded.
There were no heavy drums or aggressive bars about the block and murders.
The lyrics were sexy and made you want to ride with your favorite nigga all night with the windows down.
“I love this,” I told him, glancing over with a grin as I steered us through traffic. “You know I like it when you switch it up like this.”
Sitting low in the passenger seat, he smirked as his head bobbed to his own flow. “I told you I could do more than drill tracks, baby. Wait ‘til the ladies hear this one. They gon’ lose they mind.”
I playfully smirked. “Nah, you better make sure the ladies know this one’s about me.”
“It is about you.” His lips curved into that cocky, boyish grin that still got me weak after all these years.
We were still in birthday mode, and I’d promised him breakfast on me.
I wanted to keep the vibe going from last night, since his party and performance had turned out so perfect.
The morning sun was pouring through the windshield, his hand was caressing the inside of my thigh, and for a moment, life felt perfect.
Then the flashing lights lit up behind us.
I eased my foot off the gas. “Shit…”
Moses glanced over his shoulder. “Fuck.”
“What are they pulling me over for?
“Were you speeding?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Baby…” Moses sounded so serious that I immediately started to worry. “I got some shit in the car.”
My head snapped toward him. “What?”
“Rah set it up for me to make a drop for Carlos. The customer was meeting me in the parking lot of the breakfast spot.”
I stopped breathing. The music was still playing, but I couldn’t hear a damn thing over the rush of my heartbeat in my ears. “Moses…”
“Just stay cool,” he cut in. “Don’t trip or act nervous.”
I swallowed hard as I saw the officer approaching through the side mirror. My palms were sweaty as I gripped the steering wheel. All I could think about was how one more arrest could change his freedom, our family, and our future.
I eased the window down, trying to keep my hands visible. The officer bent down slightly so we were eye level.
“Ma’am, you know why I pulled you over?”
“No, officer.”
“You were doing forty in a thirty, and you drifted a little over the line back there. Everything alright this morning?”
“Yeah. We’re just on the way to breakfast.”
He nodded slowly, glancing past me into the car. “I’m also getting a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. That gives me probable cause to search it.”
My pulse kicked up. “Search it? For what? There’s nothing—”
He cut me off. “Ma’am, go ahead and turn the vehicle off. Both of you step out for me.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the other officer posted on Moses’ side with his hand resting near his holster, peering in through the passenger window. Moses stayed still, but I could feel his tension radiating across the center console.
I turned the key and unbuckled slowly.
By the time I stepped out, the officer’s partner was already telling Moses to exit, too.
“Ma’am, for everyone’s safety, I’m going to place you in handcuffs while we conduct the search. You’re not under arrest. It’s just standard procedure when we have probable cause and two occupants.”
Behind me, I heard the other officer give Moses the same rundown. “Sir, same for you. It’s just to make sure nothing happens while we’re out here on the side of the road. Soon as we’re done, these come right off if everything checks out.”
The metal was cold against my wrists as he clicked the cuffs into place. My heart was beating so loud I barely heard him tell me to have a seat on the curb.
Moses lowered himself beside me. His eyes locked on the ground like he was thinking through a hundred scenarios at once.
Moses leaned toward me. “Baby, I’m sorry—”
“You can’t get arrested,” I cut in, staring out into the street. “You’re already on probation—”
“They’re going to find that bag. So, I’m going to get arrested.”
Finally, I looked at him. “You don’t have to.”
His breathing immediately sped up. “Nah, fuck that—”
“Moses—”
“No,” he snapped out of desperation. “You can’t get locked up. This ain’t on you.”
“Moses, if get charged with this, you’re done. You’ll get time for real. You got that meeting with Interscope coming. You can’t mess that up!”
“That’s just a maybe. A meeting don’t mean shit ‘til I sign something. What if that never happens?”
“And what if it does? I can’t stand by and watch you lose everything before you even get the chance to have it.”
He clenched his jaw. “This ain’t your fight—”
“It is. I’m in this with you, remember?”
Before he could answer, an officer walked up holding three bricks of cocaine. He stopped in front of us, glaring down at us. “Whose bag is this?”
My heart was hammering so loud, I could barely hear my own voice. “It’s mine.”
The cop’s gaze slid over to Moses, like he wasn’t buying it. “Yeah? You sure about that?”
“Yes,” I claimed, louder this time. “It’s mine.”
He stared at me for another beat, then sighed like he was already tired of my lies. “Fine. If that’s how you want to play this...” He grabbed my arm, yanking me to my feet. “You’re under arrest for possession of a controlled substance.”
I couldn’t look at Moses. If I did, I knew I’d break. Still, out the corner of my eye, I caught the tears pooling in his eyes as the officer uncuffed him.