Murderville

flew open and three masked men sat in the hatch of the truck and pointed automatic assault rifles at the driver and passenger cops. They let bullets rain before the cops could even pull their guns out. Meanwhile, Baron was in the back of the van covering up, not knowing what was going on. “Fuck!” he grimaced, knowing that the assault was intended for him.

The masked men jumped out of the Hummer and ran around to the back of the van with guns drawn. One man had a shotgun, which he used to blow off the lock on the back door. The door flew open and they quickly grabbed Baron and pulled him out of the back of the van. They hurried him into their trailing car and sped off. The whole fiasco was started and finished within thirty seconds. They were skilled professionals that flawlessly executed the plan. Baron was now a high-stakes fugitive and he had no idea what had just happened. Guns were on him and he tried to piece together what was happening. Did Shai send someone to bust me out? he thought.

Baron had been taken by surprise, and he asked the masked man what was going on, but he got no answer. The truck sped into an empty parking lot and Baron was swiftly forced out after which they jumped into another tinted vehicle. Everyone, even the driver, hopped into the new car. One of the masked men then grabbed a can of gasoline from the back of the Hummer and began to pour it all on the car they had just exited.

“Hurry up!” one of the men yelled as he left the door open for the man to jump in when he finished. The masked man threw the can on the ground and jumped into the truck with the others. The truck pulled off and the man reached out of the window and fired the assault rifle at the old getaway car. The sound of a loud explosion erupted and the Hummer went up in flames. They sped off, jumping on the freeway and escaping smoothly.

Baron remained silent as he was taken a few miles down the road and the truck pulled into a empty parking ramp. A limo awaited them. Baron had already figured out who was behind the current fiasco. Samad, he thought to himself as he grinded his teeth and sat in between the two gunmen.

The truck pulled about thirty feet from the limo, and the masked man opened the door.

“Get out,” the masked man said to Baron. Baron slid out of the car and saw that someone was stepping out the back of the limo. He saw the fancy shoe step onto the concrete and just as he thought… it was Samad.

“I never meant to harm your wife,” Samad said first as he slowly began to walk towards Baron. His goons got out of the cars and began to circle Baron, all with guns out.

“Why did you do this?” Baron asked, not wanting to talk about his wife. He only wanted to figure out Samad’s angle. Why did he bust him out? What was his motive? Baron wanted to know.

“I want to know where the girl is. Enough bloodshed has been spilled. I just want to get the girl back. Give A’shai up,” Samad said as he opened his arms and shook his head as if the problem was simple and without conflict.

“Fuck outta here,” Baron said after he sucked his teeth, blowing Samad’s request off. Although he was at odds with A’shai, he would not break the code.

“I can’t understand how you are so loyal to a hoodlum that had plans to kill you. He was plotting against you since day one,” he lied. Samad was trying to turn Baron against A’shai and get the information that he needed to find Liberty. Samad’s jealous streak was a mile long and he was determined to find Liberty and kill her for crossing him. His ego, on top of his bitterness, made him a heat seeking missile hell-bent on revenge.

“That’s a lie!” Baron yelled as he scowled and spit flew out of his mouth.

“No! That is the truth. He told me where you lived, and how to get you set up. How do you think I got the address? Huh? He wanted you out of the picture so he could take over. He was impatient. He didn’t want to wait for you to retire. Now I’m giving you a chance to double-cross him because he stole something from me. I want revenge,” Samad lied, leaving out the fact that Nico was his inside source. Baron took in Samad’s words, and they were like daggers to his heart as he tried not to believe what Samad was saying.

“You’re full of shit. You killed my wife and if you let me live…,” Baron began to shoot his threats as he stared at the man that stood before him.

“Am I? Think about it. How did I get your address? How did I know about your secret cabin up north? He planned on taking you out of the picture. That was before he laid eyes on Liberty. That’s when the plans changed,” Samad said trying to mind-fuck Baron… and it was working. Under different circumstances, Baron wouldn’t be as susceptible to manipulation. But with Baron’s mind in disarray and sorrow clouding his judgment, Samad’s story began to seem like it made sense.

“Fuck you!” Baron said as he dropped his head and hoped that what Samad was saying wasn’t true.

“Fuck me? No fuck that rat who betrayed you. Look where he is. He is lying up with a woman while you are on trial for your life. You can’t blame me… I didn’t break the rules, your boy did!” Samad yelled as he pointed his finger at Baron. “If he cared so much, why didn’t he break you out? I did this for you! I got a deal for you. You help me set him up, and I will send you on a helicopter anywhere you want to go. It’s all up to you,” Samad said as he placed the deal of a lifetime on Baron’s plate. There was no doubt in Baron’s mind that Samad’s offer was more of a demand than a question. Baron knew that if he denied Samad that he would be shot down right then and there. He then began to feel the grief and hatred towards A’shai for putting Willow in harm’s way. Baron dropped his head and thought about his decision.

TWENTY-ONE

A’SHAI RUSHED OUT OF THE COURTROOM AND held the phone to his ear tightly as Baron spoke to him on the other end. Liberty hurriedly trailed behind him as she exited the courtroom. She wore oversized shades and a conservative black dress as she eavesdropped trying to figure out what was wrong. She knew it was an important call because of A’shai’s instant change in behavior before he rushed to leave.

“I need you to come and get me quick. I’m at the old trap spot off Woodward Ave. I just escaped, and I need your help,” Baron said.

“Don’t move. I’m on my way,” A’shai answered as he flipped the phone down. He was waiting at the courthouse for Baron’s trial to start and got a call from him while in the pews. Baron had informed him about the breakout and failed to mention that Samad was behind the escape. A’shai quickly flipped down the phone and whispered back to Liberty, “We have to go now. I don’t have time to drop you off so you are going to have to go with me,” he said as they headed out. Liberty tried to keep up with him as they made their way to their car. She didn’t want to ask any questions, so she followed A’shai, trusting that he would take care of her.

A’shai sped down the freeway trying to get to his father on Woodward Avenue. He pushed his car 100 miles per hour down the highway trying to cut his travel time in half. Word was already on the street that the infamous Baron Montgomery had escaped from custody. Baron had the streets on fire, and every cop in the city was now looking for the drug pin escapee.

The radio blasted through A’shai’s speakers and the news alert came over the airwaves. A’shai and Liberty listened as the reporter called Baron armed and dangerous and a threat. The authorities encouraged civilians to not approach him and call authorities if seen. The entire city was up in arms and they were painting the picture of a villain on Baron’s name.

“Fuck that,” A’shai mumbled as he pushed the button on his radio, turning the newscast off. He was focused on getting his father out of the city and eventually out of the country. He sped off the exit towards the trap spot where Baron was hiding out.

A’shai pulled up to the house and threw the car in park.

“Come on,” he said to Liberty as he hopped out. He wanted to keep her by his side while he figured out the plan. A’shai went to the back door and saw that it was kicked in, obviously by Baron. He walked in and saw his father sitting on the couch. “Pops, are you okay?” A’shai asked as he motioned towards him. A’shai never saw it coming. Goons were waiting for him and before he knew it, he heard Liberty scream. Before he could even react he felt a blow to the head, and then everything went black.

Baron sat in a beach house in Costa Maya, Mexico. He had taken Willow to the expensive paradise many times before. He had made love to her on that very beach, and it pained him that he would never share that experience with her again. He would never be able to kiss her forehead or slow dance with her to a smooth jazz tune. Baron looked out of the window of the small beach house and watched as the sun began to rise. He retrieved funds out