Proving her worth and impressing these people hadn’t been easy. It took a lot of time and the backing of Cassydie and Marcellus for her to finally find her place within the council, an honor that didn’t go over her head.
“Aight. Unless anyone has something else to go over, we can be done for the day. Next meeting date and notes will be sent to you within the next week,” King Ro said.
“Thank fuck,” Pop said as he hopped up and walked straight out of the room.
A few chuckles sounded through the room. Everyone knew Pop wasn’t cut out for these meetings. He was the wildest card there and would rather be in the streets wreaking havoc.
“Excuse my brother,” Peso said as he followed his twin brother.
Cashmere watched Nyx, Karma, King Ro, Tech, and Vauncci walk out of the room before she looked at Cassydie and Marcellus, who grabbed their things and spoke in hushed tones as they prepared to leave.
“What y’all over here talkin’ about?” Cashmere asked as she grabbed her iPad and purse.
Cassydie smiled at Cashmere before she grabbed her hand and led her out of the room. “Nothing, girl. Cell is grumbling about his birthday party.”
Cashmere shrugged. “I don’t blame him. He don’t like people, and you’re insisting on throwing him the party with a bunch of niggas he don’t know.”
“Thank you, sis. Someone who gets me,” Marcellus said as he walked up behind them and threw his arm around Cashmere’s shoulders.
Cashmere did her best to suppress a grin.
That day when she ran into Cassydie at the mall had been the moment that changed her life forever. Changed her lifefor good. Their friendship started out with Cassydie giving Cashmere odd jobs and way overpaying her. Cashmere was super skeptical at first, and she could tell Cassydie was sizing her up too. For what, she wasn’t sure.
Eventually, the two became friends. Cashmere thought it was just as much of a surprise to her as it was to Cassydie that they clicked so well. Later, Cashmere found out that Cassydie never really got along with females. Cashmere understood that sentiment.
After an entire year of them bonding and Cassydie helping Cashmere and Ivoree get on their feet, Cashmere learned who Cassydie and Marcellus really were. Cassydie had learned how slick Cashmere was with stealing shit, and to Cashmere’s surprise, there was no judgment. Instead, she seemed intrigued by it. Cashmere soon found out it was because they wanted to get her a seat on the council.
Growing up in the hood, Cashmere had heard whispers about the council. She even heard some names associated to the council, like Pop and Karma, but it was all a myth, or so she thought.
The day she walked into one of the meetings, she realized these people were very real, and Cassydie and Marcellus argued their case for Cashmere. They believed the council could make even more money if they opened up a stolen goods sector. It took months of back and forth and voting, but eventually, Cashmere secured a seat in the council, and that changed her life completely.
She went from living on the streets, to living in a modest apartment, to owning her own damn mansion. There were three cars in her garage, and she had staff running her household. Ivoree went to a prestigious school, paid for in full, and the days of their stomachs touching their backs from hunger were long gone.
Seven years had changed a whole fucking lot.
“You’re supposed to be on my side, Cash,” Cassydie argued.
Cashmere knew better than to get in the middle of an argument between Marcellus and Cassydie. Two Aries were explosive, and she wanted no parts. To change the subject, Cashmere asked, “Where are my nephew and niece at, anyway?”
“Tato’s watching Cierra,” Cassydie said. Tato was Marcellus’s son. Cassydie treated him as if he was her own. He was seventeen and thought he was grown, but he was the best bigbrother to Cassydie and Marcellus’s daughter, Cierra. She was seven years old and Cashmere’s goddaughter.
“I miss them,” Cashmere said as they walked outside.
It was getting a bit cold out. Fall in Ellwood was Cashmere’s favorite, now that she could properly enjoy the cooler months without freezing to death.
“Let’s do a family dinner soon. It’s been a while since we’ve done that,” Cassydie suggested as they reached Cashmere’s car.
“Sounds good to me,” Cashmere said. “I’ll get with Ivoree and see what day works for her.”
Marcellus opened her car door for her. “Aye, don’t think I forgot about getting you a new head of security.”
Cashmere groaned. The downside of being in the council was the security. She was used to fending for herself, since she was a damn toddler, so having a gang of niggas following her around or roaming the perimeter of her home at all times felt taxing.
“I hoped you forgot,” she mumbled.
Her last head of security was an older man that Cashmere never got along with. Their bickering got so bad that Marcellus finally pulled the old man from her detail and decided to search for someone new. Someone who wouldn’t bend to her will, let him tell it.
“Well, I didn’t. I found someone for you. I’ll introduce you at the party tonight,” Marcellus said as he leaned down into her car after she got inside.
