Manhattan

Caesar sat in the front pew of the church by himself, staring at his father’s golden casket. He had never before experienced a chest cave like that one, and although he was surrounded by family, he had never felt so alone. He now was an orphan. No mother and no father. His father had been found by a dock with ten bullets in his body. He had bled out, and the part that made Caesar the saddest was knowing that he had died alone.

As the reverend spoke to the congregation, Caesar felt hands squeezing his shoulder. He could feel the love in the pressure, but love wouldn’t bring Cassius back. He held back his tears and kept his eyes glued to the closed casket. Cassius’s body was actually suitable for viewing, being that it was his entire torso that had been shot up. However, Caesar wouldn’t allow anyone to see his father in death. He wanted their only memories of him to be of when he was alive. The Cassius King. Forever.

“Death is always a sad thing,” the reverend’s voice boomed. “But let me remind all of you that although Brother King had his ways, the light of God outshines all darkness. He forgives all sins, and only He has the say-so on who walks through those pearly gates. I know in my heart that Cassius King is walking with our Maker alongside his wife and looking down on his only son. Caesar, you are and forever will be covered, you hear? You don’t just have one guardian angel. Now you have two. I hope you find solace in that. I’m going to be praying on your healing.”

There was clapping, and a few amens were shouted from behind Caesar. But although the reverend’s words were heartfelt, they didn’t fill the void Caesar had in his soul. Thinking about his parents in heaven did nothing but remind him that they were gone. They were dead, and he was alone. He sat through the rest of the funeral service, and when it was time to leave, he helped the other pallbearers carry the casket to the hearse. Afterward, Caesar rode with Niles to the grave site.

“I’m not gonna ask you no stupid-ass questions about whether you’re okay,” Niles said, breaking the silence after a while of driving behind the hearse.

“It sounds a little like you’re asking,” Caesar said.

“Nah. Because I know you’re not okay. Shit, I’m not okay. This here fucked me up in the head, man.”

“I . . . I just don’t know what to do.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what you can’t do, and that’s show weakness. Anybody else would be able to shed a few tears for their daddy bein’ killed. But you? Nah. You just acquired the biggest drug operation in New York City. You have to be a shark. We still don’t know who did it?”

“No. And forensics confirmed yesterday that his body wasn’t moved from somewhere else. He died where he was found.”

“And there was nobody else around?” Niles asked.

“Nobody,” Caesar confirmed, and the two of them exchanged a look.

They didn’t speak another word inside the car. They’d reached the burial site, and it was time to say final goodbyes. Cassius had always been a meticulous man and had planned every detail of his own funeral after his wife died. The thing he had been most adamant about was being buried next to her. After they carried the casket to the freshly dug hole, they placed it on the lowering device. Everyone besides Caesar stepped back and waited for the last of the cars to come. Amira was among them, and he watched as she aided her grandmother up the hill. When she and Caesar connected eyes, she offered him an encouraging smile and blew him a kiss. He was glad she was there. When everyone had arrived, he looked around and let his eyes fall on Ed and Joseph, Cassius’s oldest friends and bodyguards. Their eyes were red, and Caesar knew it was because they’d been crying. His family comforted them with hugs and pats on the back. It was truly a sad occasion.

In the back of the crowd, Caesar’s eyes were surprised to fall on one face: Nasir’s. Not too far behind him were a few of his bodyguards, and when he saw Caesar’s eyes on him, he nodded respectfully. Caesar returned the gesture and waited until white roses were handed out to everyone before he began speaking.

“My father stated in his will that he would want a small gathering with only his family. But I think he forgot how big his family actually is.” Caesar smiled, and everyone around him shared a laugh. “I feel that the reverend said all the good stuff, so there isn’t much more to it. But what I will say is mostly everyone here knows what kind of man Cassius King was—cutthroat but loyal. And the one thing he loved most was family. What he built most men only dream about. I see many of you arrived today in nice cars, wearing designer clothes, and shining because of the jewels on your necks and wrists. Bellies so full that you might not even need to go to the repast. And it’s no secret that the reason behind you having all these things is my father, Cassius King. He created an empire with jobs and opportunity for all of you. As I said before, he loved you. And I hope that even now you never forget that. His death is what I would like to call untimely, but his legacy will live on through me.”

Caesar stopped addressing them and focused on the casket. He placed his single white rose on top of it, wanting to say his personal goodbye while Cassius was still above ground. But when it came time to speak, no words came out. He remembered the last conversation he had with his father and realized that he’d already said goodbye. So instead, he kissed three of his fingers and placed them on the casket before walking away back to Niles’s car.

As he stood and waited for Niles to finish mingling with the family, Amira approached him. She threw her arms around his shoulder and hugged him tightly before letting go. Staring up into his eyes, concern dripped from hers.

“I’ll be all right,” Caesar said, answering the question her lips had yet to ask.

“Caesar, your father just died. It’s okay to be sad.”

“Who said I’m not sad? I’m tormented. But these are the cards I was dealt, and I’m still in the game, so I have to play.”

“But this is your family. You can let your guard down around them.”

“That would be nice, but no, thank you.”

“Why do you have to be so tough all the time?” Amira asked, kissing his chin.

“Because my father raised me to be strong even in a time of weakness. The family you’re telling me to let my guard down in front of are the same ones who never wanted me running any kind of business. And now I’m the one in charge of all these motherfuckas.”

“I get it, I really do. You have to mourn in your own way, but make sure you do. Or else it will come out in the worst ways.”

“I hear you,” Caesar told her.

Niles had come back to the car by then, and he had Pricilla holding on to his elbow. The black veil connected to her hat covered most of her face, but Caesar could still see the tear streaks on the bottoms of her cheeks.

“Come on, Amira,” Pricilla said, switching from Niles’s arm to Amira’s. “I want to make it back to the mansion and make sure everything is in order before all these people get there.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about any of that, Ms. Pricilla. Martina and the others have it all covered,” Caesar tried to tell her.

“Martina?” Pricilla scoffed. “That woman couldn’t find her left shoe if it was on her foot! Now I won’t let Mr. King’s homegoing be a mess now. Oh no. Not Mr. King’s homegoing. That man liked everything a certain way, and I’m going to make sure it’s his way, understand? Now come on, Amira! Before Martina pulls out the wrong glasses. Mr. King would turn over in that nice casket if he knew these people were drinking out of the glasses he imported from France!”

“Okay, Grandma,” Amira said and grabbed her hand. She turned back to Caesar and blew him another kiss. “I’ll see you there.”

When they were gone, Caesar and Niles leaned on the car and watched as one by one people cleared out of the burial site. When only a handful of people were left, Ed and Joseph included, Caesar watched them in silence.

“You ready to head back to the house?” Niles asked. When Caesar didn’t answer, he studied the thoughtful expression on his face. “Hey, Caesar, you good?”

“I need you to set up a meeting for me tomorrow.”

“Caesar, we just buried Cassius. Take a second to—”

“It’s important, Niles,” Caesar said seriously, finally breaking his gaze from the two men.

“Fine.” Niles sighed reluctantly. “Who do you need to see?”

“Damián Alverez.”

Never underestimate your enemy.