really appreciate the ride,” Draya said. She glanced over at the man and noticed his strong jawline and smooth black skin. He didn’t answer her, just gave a quick grin and nodded his head. The ride was so comfortable and relaxing that before Draya knew it, they were at her exit. She gave him directions and soon he pulled up in front of her project building.
“Thanks,” Draya said as she gathered her purse and exited the car. Once again Mr. Harris said nothing, he just nodded his head and smiled. Clearly he was a very quiet and modest man with a heart of pure gold. Draya knew that he was in unfamiliar territory. To a wealthy businessman, her projects must have seemed like a war zone and she understood that. So she hurried out of the car and watched as he pulled off.
Draya headed toward her building and noticed a young man standing by the door. A hoodie was pulled over his head and a scarf covered half his face, but Draya recognized his slim build and hazel eyes. Her brother June stood leaning against the door with his hands in his bubble down coat.
“Hey, sis. I see you un’ caught a baller, huh?” he said as he gestured at the Jaguar that was turning off of the block.
“Boy, that is not . . .” Draya waved her hand in dismissal. “Why am I even explaining it to you?” She shook her head and moved toward him. June gave her his famous smile, which got her every time, flashing the small gap in his pearly white teeth. His baby face had no facial hair and in her eyes he was still the little brat running around the house looking up to her. June pecked her on the check, and just like always Draya smiled. He had his big sister under his thumb.
As she walked past, a small-framed woman wearing only a sweatshirt and jeans approached June. She placed some money in his hand and he slipped a rock of crack cocaine into hers. The transaction was swift and smooth, only lasting a couple of seconds. June scanned the block as the woman walked off.
Draya shook her head and went inside. She hated what her brother did, but she fully understood. He was a smart kid, and he had to survive. Draya’s income could only support the rent and a couple household bills. She admired the fact that her seventeen-year-old brother pitched in and had the ambition to go out and get it.
Draya entered their small two-bedroom apartment and peeled off her jacket. She glanced at the clock and knew that she only had a brief period to relax before heading to her graveyard shift at the diner. She looked around the place and the thought of the big white house she had just left made this apartment seem that much more depressing.
She sat down at the kitchen table and noticed the stack of mail—mainly past-due bills with red lettering that only caused more stress. It didn’t matter how much she made with her two jobs, it was never enough. As she flipped through them, she stopped and smiled when she saw the white envelope with her brother’s name on it. It was a letter from the University of Michigan. It was the letter that she had been waiting on. She immediately ripped it open and read the first three lines, then smiled even wider. She screamed for her brother and ran toward the window that sat right above the spot where June was always standing.
“June! Come up quick!” she yelled in excitement. She had prayed to God for months for that particular letter and He had finally answered. June had been accepted to the college of his dreams and Draya felt a sense of deep accomplishment. Although they struggled and had gone through the loss of both parents, she had helped raise a pretty decent young man. He sold dope but he was a prisoner of circumstance. Yet through all his street dealings, he never missed one day of school and for that Draya felt proud. She was filled with joy, though the feeling quickly left as she thought about the tuition—the tuition they couldn’t afford. Although June had been accepted, his 2.8 grade point average didn’t warrant him any scholarships.
Draya heard the sound of the door opening and in walked June with his friend Blink, a kid about two years older than her brother. They were best friends and Blink had been responsible for introducing June to the drug game. Blink was small-time but everyone in the hood knew he was going to be the next big thing there—he had a boss mentality. June rushed in and began looking for the envelope. When Draya handed it to him, he quickly read it and gave her a half smile.
“This is cool, but how are we going to pay for it?” June asked. He had already made up his mind to go full-fledged into the drug game. The way he saw it, not going to school would give him more time to grind in the streets. By hook or crook, he was determined to come up.
“Well, you don’t worry about that. You just prepare for this summer. You will be an official Michigan Wolverine. Trust that,” Draya said as she put on a fake smile.
“I don’t know how we going to do that,” June replied. “All these jobs paying minimum wage and moving these eight balls ain’t no real money.”
“We need to hit a lick. Rob a plug a’ something,” Blink said, injecting himself into their conversation. He stepped forward with his hands in his pockets, a toothpick dangling from the left side of his mouth.
Draya looked at the kid in disgust, but then she began to think about what he had said. Flashes of Mr. Harris stuffing money into the secret compartment behind the painting popped into her head. And she remembered Mrs. Harris mentioning that they were going out of town for a week. Maybe all the stars were aligning for her to hit that lick. She knew Blink’s grimy ass would be down for the caper and Lord knows she needed the money. In those brief moments, she was already putting the play together in her mind. Nevertheless, she kept her thoughts to herself and snatched the letter back from June.
“I’ma get it,” Draya stated as the wheels in her cluttered mind began to turn.
Chapter Two
Sounds of plates clinking and the ancient heating system filled the air. The small diner was dimly lit and the smell of fresh eggs and bacon flowed throughout the joint.
Draya, with her ponytail pulled neatly back and pearl earrings in her ears, was once again going through the motions, trying to get through her shift. As she wiped a table, the only thing she could think about was the stacks of opportunity she had seen Mr. Harris stuffing in his safe. She thought about the tuition that June would have to pay if he attended Michigan. She knew deep in her heart that if he stayed home and went to a community college, his chances of graduating would decrease. The environment that the city of Detroit offered would consume him.
Blink’s words stuck in her head and she was truly thinking about setting the whole thing up. As her mind raced, she saw a familiar face walking in. He was about six two, brown skin, with a medium build. He wore a leather bomber jacket and a Gucci scarf was neatly wrapped around his neck. Crisp jeans and large Timberland boots made the outfit complete. Draya instantly grew nervous, as she always did when he walked in. His stride was unique and it seemed like he was marching to the beat of his own drum. His freshly cut Caesar and crisp black goatee enhanced his nearly perfect face. The only flaw was the healed three-inch cut along his jawline. The man sat in the back corner of the diner as he always did, and from across the room he locked eyes with Draya. She couldn’t help but crack a smile, showing her pearly whites. It was her favorite customer.
She walked over to him with a menu in her hand, gently placed it in front of him, and pulled out her pad to take his order.
“Good morning,” he said smoothly.
“Good morning, Cassidy,” she replied as a big smile involuntarily crept onto her face.
“Why do you always call me by my full name? It’s Cass,” he said with a smirk and warm eyes.
“Well, I like Cassidy better. Now, what can I get you this morning?”
“I’ve been coming to this same diner at the same time for about . . . a good year. And you don’t know what I want?” he asked as he slowly slid the menu back toward Draya.
“Eggs over easy, turkey sausage, and . . . Texas toast?”
“Bingo.” He peeled off his coat and displayed a gold necklace with a diamond-encrusted Jesus piece hanging from it. They both shared a laugh and Draya started back to the kitchen when she felt