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  “Yo, come back down to earth,” Aaliyah said, laughing because she knew that he approved of her appearance. It made her feel good that he was even staring at all. He was the type of nigga who made every woman want his attention.

  “Shut up! Let me jump in the shower real quick,” Eron said, frowning as he made his way to the bathroom. He didn’t like it one bit that she had him speechless, and she knew it.

  Aaliyah sat on the bed, just thinking about the reality of her situation. She was even worried about the fact that she had nobody else in her corner. What would she do for money? What would she do about finishing school? She only had a couple of months left before she would be done. Where would she live?

  “Damn!” Aaliyah said just as Eron was coming out of the bathroom.

  “Are you in here going crazy? Are you talking to yourself, Aaliyah?”

  “Man, I just . . . I don’t know.” Aaliyah was so flustered. Not knowing your next move would have even the best in the same state of mind. “I don’t have shit. I don’t know anything right now. I hate this feeling. I blame my daddy.”

  “Stop calling that nigga yo’ daddy. Daddies don’t do the shit that nigga did to you. That nigga don’t deserve the title.”

  “But it wasn’t always like that. He was a daddy before my mama died.”

  “So you really think that it’s okay for him to stop parenting because his wife died? You don’t think he has wanted to molest you?”

  “Stephanie talked him into it.”

  “Man, what? The thought has to be there in order for him to actually go through with it.”

  “No, but—”

  Eron cut Aaliyah off. “Nigga, ain’t no buts! Not only did he violate you, he helped somebody else violate you. Look, man, if you are going to defend that nigga’s actions, then don’t do it to me. I don’t ever want to hear that shit.”

  Aaliyah knew that what Eron was saying was true. She didn’t even have a comeback. She knew that she sounded like a fool defending and making excuses for a man who raped her. He stopped being her father on that day. The day was her birthdate, to be exact.

  Eron couldn’t explain the warm feeling that was running through his body. He just felt that he wanted to protect Aaliyah. “Look, you straight. I want you to trust in me. Now, I know from your story that trusting won’t be easy. But for whatever reason, I just want to help you. I want you safe. I’m not, excuse my language, a ‘Captain Save-a-ho’ type of nigga, but I know that you didn’t deserve half the shit you have had to go through. Nah, I didn’t make myself known, but Mal kept helping you. I see what he sees in you. You’re one of the few diamonds in the rough. The hood has a way of chewing you up and spitting you out if you let it.”

  Aaliyah looked up at Eron, seeing the truth in his eyes. “You know, I wasn’t always positive that Jamal was the person helping me. That’s crazy. At the store by my house, the man would always tell me that my money was no good, and he would never tell me why.”

  “Yeah, I would ask why he did it. Mal explained to me who your dad was. Well, who that nigga Calvin was to you. We watched that nigga decline. Mal would always talk about how his daughter was the one suffering. At first, I was confused as to why the nigga cared so much. He’s a lot of things, but caring ain’t one of them. He wanted to help you, but he didn’t want you to think he was looking for anything in return.”

  “Damn, remind me to give him a big hug. That’s amazing. He was looking out and didn’t even know me.”

  Eron looked at Aaliyah blankly. “Aye, you don’t have to give that nigga a hug. You can just say something along the lines of, ‘Aye, thanks for looking out for me.’”

  Aaliyah busted out laughing. “No, I got to show him my appreciation.”

  “It doesn’t take a hug to do it. You know your mouth works just fine.”

  Aaliyah grinned. “So you want me to use my mouth to thank him?”

  Eron’s face balled up immediately. “Nah, you know that’s not what I was saying.”

  “Okay. So I’ma give him a church hug.” Before Eron could interrupt, Aaliyah continued. “Okay, let’s just get this over with.” Aaliyah was just able to shake the solemn mood while Eron was in a daze walking behind her.

  He couldn’t help but wonder what exactly he wanted to do with this chick. Most women did exactly what he said, but this chick was actually going up against him. He didn’t love it, but he loved the way she was willing to stand up for herself.

  The duo made their way out of the hotel to the same black Yukon, only Eron hopped in the driver seat. Aaliyah assumed that it was his truck. She’d seen him around her hood. The two were lost in their thoughts as T.I.’s beats filled the air.

  “I’ma take you to this little clinic in Highland Park. It’s a real small, chill spot so you won’t have to worry about the police getting involved. Then we’ll have to go back to your house to make it seem like you’re looking for your father, and we’ll go file a police report.”

  “That makes sense. I was wondering how I would cover that.”

  “I told you I got you. Come on,” Eron said in a reassuring tone as they hopped out of the car.

  The sign read HIGHLAND PARK CLINIC, and it looked rough. The clinic was full of crying babies with young mothers and dopefiends nodding out. That’s all Highland Park was though. It was a small city within Detroit. Detroit was far from being a suburban community, but Highland Park was a fucking warzone.

  Eron walked in behind Aaliyah.

  “What up, E?”

  “Hey, E!”

  “E, what’s up?”

  Aaliyah’s head swiveled. People were sitting up straight in their seats like the principal had just come into the classroom.

  “Aye, E man, can I holla at you outside?”

  “Man, damn. Aaliyah, go ahead and sign in. Let me holla at dude right quick.”

  What Aaliyah didn’t know was that Eron had a long-standing relationship with this particular clinic. This clinic was ghetto in every sense of the word, but it was actually a smart investment. The clinic had a pharmacy inside of it. Dr. Brown and Dr. Angelo, the duo who had offices here, were brothers. Dr. Brown was the pharmacist, and Dr. Angelo was the doctor. They took a liking to the young Eron.

  Eron went into the clinic for a checkup and approached Dr. Angelo with a proposition that he couldn’t refuse. Dr. Angelo then took Eron into his office to get a better understanding.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m paging my brother, who is the pharmacist here at the clinic.”

  “No, I don’t mind. In fact, I’m sure he can benefit from this business proposition too.”

  In walked Dr. Brown, who was almost a replica of his older brother.

  On that day, they sat down, negotiated numbers, and had been in business ever since. That was seven years ago. It was a smooth operation. Nobody but the three of them, including Jamal, knew their connection to each other. Eron would send people to the doctor to get “checkups.” Dr. Angelo would usually prescribe Xanax, codeine/ promethazine, oxycodone, morphine, or Percocet. With this connect, Eron and Jamal were able to feed the streets without a problem.

  Dr. Angelo and Dr. Brown loved the city. They just wanted to help the underprivileged. In doing so, they didn’t get paid what a doctor should, because they accepted Medicaid, which most people on welfare had. Neither one of the men liked the idea of participating in illegal activities, but when they thought of the “American dream,” they didn’t think it would be this hard to help people. It was either sell out or start to make the poor have to pay higher copays. That was something they just didn’t want to do. So, Dr. Angelo and Dr. Brown did what they thought was best.

  They debated about the situation for a while. They both got good vibes from Jamal and Eron. In this business, you had to follow your first mind. Dr. Brown felt that Jamal and Eron were calculating individuals. They were not loud and obnoxious. They moved silently. Money was their motive. And the amount of extra income was astronomical.

  Aal
iyah attempted to sign in, but the lady at the desk immediately told her that she could step to the back. Aaliyah was buzzed into the office, where her weight and temperature were taken.

  “What brings you in today?”

  “I just need to be tested and get a Pap smear,” Aaliyah mumbled. She wasn’t too happy that they would have to touch around in her pussy, because it was very tender and sore, but it needed to be done. It was better to be safe than sorry.

  “Okay, you can step to room four, and the doctor will meet you there. One quick question: you call yourself messing with E? ’Cause my friend Jessica is his bitch. You can’t compete. Just thought you should know. Don’t get too comfortable. He always goes back to her.”

  Aaliyah was taken aback by the chick’s boldness. Who is this bitch talking to? Aaliyah smirked at the medical assistant as she turned around to look the bitch dead in the eyes. She didn’t want baby girl to think a confrontation like this would ever happen again. Aaliyah was going to make sure that the medical assistant went back and told her friend that she was not to be approached in any form or fashion.

  What she didn’t know was that Eron stood on the other side of the door, listening to the exchange. He needed to see if she could handle herself. Weakness wasn’t a trait he wanted in his camp. What he wanted to do with her, he wasn’t sure, but he wanted Aaliyah safe around him. Eron listened closely from where he stood. He could even see the exchange, but he couldn’t be seen.

  “You got a lot of nerve. I’ll give you that. You got some big-ass brass balls.” Aaliyah was damn near in a full-fledged laugh. Aaliyah finally looked at the chick’s nametag. “Robin! Let me teach you a thing or two. Don’t come questioning me about a motherfucking thing.” Aaliyah stepped closer to Robin. “I need you to feel these words that I am saying to you. With the night I had, I could end your shit right here and now. Think again before you step to me. Now, if you want it to be a problem, I’ll gladly alleviate you of that problem by solving it. Now you tell me what you want to do.”

  Eron cleared his throat, making his presence known. “The doctor is ready for you in room four,” Eron said, reaching for Aaliyah’s hand.

  Aaliyah didn’t even acknowledge Eron. She maintained eye contact with Robin. Eron snatched Aaliyah’s arm, pulling her into his chest.

  “Aye, Robin, do me a favor. When you see her just go the other way. Feel me?”

  “Yeah, E,” Robin answered with her head down.

  Eron led Aaliyah to her room. “Get undressed and urinate in the cup.”

  Aaliyah snatched the cup and went to the bathroom across the hall to handle that. She noticed Robin at the nurse’s station. As soon as Aaliyah looked at her, she looked at the floor. She came back in the room still pissed about the confrontation with the cheap-ass medical assistant.

  “Fix your face!”

  “People checking me about you. I don’t like that shit. I don’t even fuck with you like that.”

  “You don’t fuck with me huh? Not yet, but you will. Not on no conceited bitch shit, but women want to be close to me. They are not going to like you. That’s some shit I can’t control. I can stop them from approaching you though. I can assure you it won’t happen again. The girl Jessica she was talking about, I fuck with her from time to time. It is not close to being anything serious. I haven’t fucked with her in a while, which is why her homegirl felt the need to approach.”

  “I hear you!”

  Aaliyah silently got undressed from the waist down, throwing the sheet over her legs. She wasn’t sure if she was mad about the chick testing her or about Eron really having a woman. Even if the bitch wasn’t his girl, she didn’t want nobody close enough to him to feel like they could check the next bitch.

  Dr. Angelo came in and said, “Hey, Ms. Aaliyah, I received your urine, so I’ll run some tests. Do you have a secure e-mail or phone number that I can send the results to?”

  “No, I—”

  Aaliyah was cut off by Eron. “You can text my phone, Doc. She’ll be with me anyway.”

  Aaliyah just nodded, agreeing with Eron.

  She gon’ be with me? Where did that come from? Eron thought.

  Am I really going to be with him? Aaliyah thought.

  Eron’s and Aaliyah’s thoughts ran rampant. Eron couldn’t explain the chemistry between the two. Aaliyah felt that she had nothing to lose and that Eron was nothing short of a winner. She knew that she was a pretty girl, but to have Eron’s attention you had to be a real woman. Not just a pretty face. Not just a nice body. Not just a bad bitch. You had to be a combination of those things.

  “Okay, Ms. Aaliyah. We can make this fast. Would you like Eron to leave the room?”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “Okay. Lean back and put each foot in the stirrups. It shouldn’t hurt, but you will feel pressure.”

  Eron sat in the chair directly behind the doctor so he could see everything. The doctor put lubrication on the speculum before sticking it up Aaliyah’s vagina then widening it. Dr. Angelo then used a long Q-tip-like utensil to scrape cells along the vagina wall to test for cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.

  Aaliyah just felt so exposed. Before she knew it, tears were falling from her eyes. Eron watched on, each tear tugging at his heart involuntarily.

  “Ms. Aaliyah, you can tell somebody roughly sexually assaulted you. You have tears up against your vaginal walls. It’s not as bad as it sounds though. You can get dressed. I’ll text Eron’s phone tomorrow with the results. You can pick up your prescription at the pharmacy.” Dr. Angelo walked out the room.

  “What prescription is he talking about?”

  “We might as well get some work done while we’re here. I’ma walk out to the car. Just grab the medicine, and I’ll meet you at the car.”

  So, now I’m a murderer and a drug dealer? she thought.

  Aaliyah smirked as she got dressed to head out of the room to the pharmacy. As she passed by, Robin’s ratchet ass looked down.

  That’s your best bet, thought Aaliyah.

  Aaliyah entered the waiting room. It was still crowded with dopefiends and young mothers who couldn’t control their kids.

  “Hi. I’m here to pick up my medicine.”

  It was then that Aaliyah came face-to-face with the other piece of Eron’s foolproof puzzle, Dr. Brown. She immediately took notice that the two doctors were definitely related. Aaliyah smiled, thanking the doctor, and she headed out to the car.

  “Thanks,” Eron said, grabbing the bag from Aaliyah’s hand. Aaliyah noticed that he touched something that made the radio come on and a storage space pop out.

  This nigga is heavier than I thought! He serious about this shit huh?

  Aaliyah sat there trying her best to look unfazed, but she ended up laughing. “Where do we need to go now, Mitch?”

  “Hahaha. Niggas got jokes huh? We should go check on your dad—fuck that—that nigga Calvin to report that he’s missing so that you will be eliminated as a suspect.”

  Aaliyah was silent for the rest of the fifteen-minute ride. The realization of her situation was beginning to weigh heavily on her heart and mind.

  “Come on, Aaliyah. Get ya mind right, baby. Matter of fact, this sad shit might work out in our favor.”

  Aaliyah nodded, hopping out of the truck. Eron walked closely behind her as she approached the door. Damn! This ass is so fat. How long before those test results come back? he thought.

  It was at that moment that Eron decided that he wanted to get to know her. He wasn’t fazed by that murder shit. He participated in shit like that every day. Calvin and his bitch deserved more torture, but death nonetheless. Plus, having a female on his team who could be his shooter would be epic. Niggas weren’t expecting shit like that. He didn’t have any enemies, but he wasn’t sleeping on that. Niggas always want your spot. Eron kept heaters on or around him, and he was licensed too.

  Aaliyah immediately walked to her old room. It was clean. Spotless. In fact, the entire house ha
d been cleaned. Eron posted up on the wall as he watched Aaliyah in awe. Her beauty was so simple and breathtaking to him, but he was amazed by how she called the police.

  Aaliyah was frantic and crying. “Oh my God! My dad is missing. I haven’t seen him in almost a week. He has a girlfriend named Stephanie. Nobody has seen either one. You want me to come file a report? Okay, I can get my friend to bring me. Okay, I’ll ask for Detective Morrison. Thank you. I’m sorry for all the crying.”

  Aaliyah hung up the phone, wiping her face. “Let’s go.”

  Eron smirked as he followed her outside to the truck.

  “He said to go to the precinct on Gratiot. I don’t think you should go in with me though. What you think?”

  “Ummm, shit, I don’t know. Maybe I should go in playing the caring friend role.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. That may look better.”

  Soon, they were pulling up to the Gunston precinct. It was located right at the Gratiot and Gunston intersection. Right across the street was a gas station where many drugs were sold. Bums were even panhandling like it was legal. Aaliyah’s face was still puffy, and her eyes were red, so she looked the part of a broken daughter as they walked into the police station.

  “Hi. I’m Detective Morrison, can I help you?”

  She sniffled. “Hi. I think you’re the guy the 911 operator told me to speak with. My name is Aaliyah, and my father has been missing for a week.”

  “Yes, ma’am, that’s me. We can step back into my office and fill out the necessary paperwork.” Detective Morrison ushered them into his cramped office. He proceeded to ask all of the procedural questions. It was pretty typical. The Detroit Police Department wouldn’t even attempt to find a crackhead. DPD didn’t really do their jobs.

  “Looks like we have everything we need. Do you have a phone number that you can be reached at?”

  “No, I don’t have a phone.”

  “Huh? Who doesn’t have a phone in this day and age?”