[ PART OF THIS BOOK WILL NOT BE ON THIS ACCOUNT, ITS GONNA BE ON MY MAIN; ]

& i don't wanna see any "this is unrealistic" comments this chapter bc to put it in short terms, I dont really gaf 👍🏽

𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗,𝚃𝚇.

❦

Mari couldn't help but restlessly tap her foot in the courtroom while she waited for Samiron's trial to start. Out of all the places or things she thought she would've been doing today, this was the last thing that came to mind.

It was truly a nightmare for her. She wanted nothing more than for Samiron to walk out of the courtroom with her today so they can go home and cuddle in their bed with Sani between them like they've been doing everyday up until about four weeks ago.

Samiron's side of the courtroom was packed. Zion, the twins and Nasir sat right behind Mari. Mari's parents sat on her left side while Aijah, Tasia and Destini sat on her right. Rell, Duck, Eli, Terris and Reece sat in front of Mari. Thirty and Ju also sat next to Mari's parents. Ry would've been there too if he wasn't still in jail himself and Camille was watching the kids.

Mari shut her eyes tightly and silently prayed to god. It was something she had gotten in more of a habit doing these past months.

Terris was sitting in front of her clenching and unclenching his fists. He hated that this happened after he specifically warned Samiron numerous times about the possible outcome of him going after Jonah. When Terris came to visit Samiron 2 weeks ago, he offered to take the charge for him but security heard him and immediately escorted him out. They also prohibited him from ever coming to see Samiron again.

Mari glanced over at Jonah's mom who was sitting next to her lawyer in the stands with her chin held up high. For a forty year old woman that lived deep in the hood, she didn't look the part. Her chin-length brown hair was silk pressed and curled in her face and her clothes looked fresh out of Neiman Marcus. Mari wanted nothing more than to hop over the threshold and beat Jonah's mother's face in. She hated how certain and confident she looked while Mari was everything but.

The police lieutenant and arresting officer, Maison Gregory, was sitting on the opposing side next to the district attorney. The conversation in the courtroom immediately died when the door opened and Samiron walked in wearing an all-black Armani suit. He had cuffs on and two guards walked closely behind him.

Mari heard a sniffle come from behind her and she could only hope Kania wasn't crying because Mari was trying so hard not to do so herself.

Samiron could care less about all the eyes from the jury and everyone else on him, he was only looking for one person. When his eyes landed on her, he winked and watched as a tear rolled down her cheek. He wanted to get out of the metal cuffs, cup her face and wipe her tears because he hated seeing her cry, but he knew he couldn't do that. Not right now at least.

While the court got ready, Samiron sat down next to his lawyer, Khris, and glanced over at the police lieutenant who was already staring right at him. Samiron smirked at him which only made Maison clench his fists under the table. He hated how confident Samiron was and it made him feel like he already had everything figured out.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Westin."

Everyone stood up and waited for the middle aged black woman to make her way to her seat. Samiron took the opportunity to turn around and steal a glance at his family. He instantly noticed Kania crying and he sighed to himself, knowing that he got himself into this mess so he was the reason behind her tears.

"Be seated." Judge Westin said, her southern accent evident. Everyone took their seats and she cleared her throat.

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of the People of the State of Texas versus Samiron Xavier Davis. Are both sides ready?"

"Ready, your honor." The district attorney said.

"Ready, your honor." Samiron's lawyer, Khris, nodded.

"This court is now in session."

After the clerk swore in the jury who were sitting on the other side of the court, across from Samiron, the trial began. It started with the district attorney who was on police lieutenant Gregory's side.

The white man abruptly stood up at the judge's orders to present his opening statement and buttoned his suit before starting. "Your honor and the jury, the defendant has been charged with the first degree murder of Jonah Dealith. The evidence places this man at the crime scene, exactly when the killing took place on March 12th, 2021. We have his tire marks about 3 feet away from the exact spot where Jonah's mother found her son's body as well as a witness that says that they heard gunshots and saw the defendant's car only a few seconds later. The evidence I present this afternoon will prove to you that this man, who already possesses a criminal history, is in fact guilty of this cruel murder and his freedom should be withdrew."

As the district attorney turned around and sat back down at his seat Mari couldn't hold back her tears anymore. Cheyenne gripped her daughter's hand for reassurance but it did nothing to calm her nerves. She was trying to keep her sniffing at a low so that Samiron wouldn't hear her but Terris was the only person sitting in between them. Samiron didn't have to turn around to know that she was crying. The fact that he couldn't get up and hold her made him clench his fists.

Terris was never close with god. Even as a Muslim, he prayed here and there but he was never as consistent and committed as he should've been. This was the one time in his life, with the exception of his father passing away, that Terris was asking Allah himself to get Samiron out of this situation.

Samiron's lawyer, a middle aged black man with a long beard, stood up next. "Your honor and ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client is innocent and the baseless evidence that the prosecution possesses, as well as the solid evidence I have, will prove that to you today. My client's phone was confiscated at the time of his arrest and nothing was found. He has a credible alibi who can confirm that on March 12th, 2021, Samiron Davis was at home with his long time girlfriend who was pregnant at the time. This case is one of many brought forward against young black men who have turned their lives over. Their criminal history is used to tie them to the system permanently and I will not allow my client to be one of the many."

Nasir blew out a relieved breath after Khris's opening statement. Khris used to go to highschool with Nas so he was his go-to person every time he got locked up. And every single time, he was able to get him out with clean hands. Nas was hoping that Khris could do the same for his son today— which wouldn't be the first time.

"May the prosecution please call their first witness to the stand." Judge Westin said.

"The people of the state of Texas call the mother of the victim; Greta Dealith."

Ms. Dealith got up and slickly gave lieutenant Gregory a reassuring nod before walking up to the stand. The sound of her beige Christian Louboutins clicked against the granite floor of the court room while the baliff escorted her. Mari's momma wanted to hop over the threshold and beat her ass just for walking to the stand like she was on the runway of a Victoria's Secret fashion show.

"Can this hoe hurry up?" Cheyenne mumbled, making her husband pinch her hand.

After putting her hand on the bible and promising to tell the truth, Ms. Dealith was seated and told to state her first and last name. The district attorney got up and started circling the stand.

"So Ms. Dealith, please describe, in detail, to the court what happened in your point of view on the night of March 12th, 2021."

She cleared her throat, "Well I was at my house that night waiting for Jonah to come home. He volunteers at the local church every Monday and Friday so I knew that sometimes he came home late."

Church? That nigga couldn't even spell the word "God." Lying ass hoe, Samiron thought to himself.

"At around 2:35am I heard some talking outside but I ain't pay it any mind. Then I heard rapid gunshots and the sound of tires screeching so I rushed out of the living room. When the noise died down I looked out of the window to see someone laid out on the sidewalk. I-" She put her head down and cried. "I walked outside and got closer. That's when I r-realized it was m-my baby." The court fell silent with the exception of Ms. Dealith's sobbing.

"The jury's buying it." Duck whispered to Rell who was sitting next to him.

"Nah, they not. Just look at their faces. She might be crying for real but her story don't make sense."

"That had to be an extremely traumatic experience." The attorney shook his head.

Greta patted the corner of her eyes with her manicured fingers. "It definitely was. And I wouldn't wish it on anyone, including the defendant who has a baby boy himself."

Everyone in the court room could see Samiron stiffen. He didn't like how Greta was trying to guilt trip the jury by bringing up his son. He wanted to round the table and choke her ass.

Mari took a deep breath and gripped Aijah's hand. "I know this expired Aunt Jemima looking ass bitch didn't just mention my nephew! That bad ass silk press she got on that big ass head of hers. How you got red bottoms on your feet but your silk press looks older than me?" Aijah whisper-yelled. If Mari wasn't crying she definitely would've been laughing.

"Did you see the defendant himself?"

Greta swallowed, "I saw the back of an all-black Hellcat. It was too dark to see inside the car but I could definitely make out someone wearing a hoodie in the driver's seat and his build was the same as the defendant's."

"Lying ass bitch." Terris mumbled.

"Your honor, the pictures the clerk presents to you now are from the investigation. The tire marks pictured are those of a 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat— the same vehicle that the defendant was allegedly driving in this neighborhood on the night of the murder."

Samiron took a deep breath while the judge surveyed the pictures. The tire marks couldn't necessarily put him at the crime scene but it definitely gave them an advantage. Then again, Samiron's alibi was solid so it wasn't like there was evidence stacked up against him.

Judge Westin nodded, "Proceed with questioning."

"So you said that Jonah volunteered at the church?"

"Correct."

"Where is the church located?"

"Off 32nd street. Right outside of the neighborhood."

"And have you ever seen the defendant in the neighborhood prior to this night?"

Greta glanced at Samiron but she was already receiving his death stare so she quickly looked away, "Yes. And to my knowledge him and Jonah were good friends. I guess things changed."

The attorney nodded, clearly approving of Greta's response. "It isn't unknown that 32nd street is a dangerous neighborhood. Crime rates are extremely high. I wonder what the defense was doing in there." He said accusingly. Khris stood up to protest his response but the attorney already proceeded with another question.

He asked her a few more questions about Jonah's person life before turning to the jury, "Ms. Dealith is nothing short of a victim to the defendant's actions herself. She lost her son to his despicable actions when she didn't need to." He said and made his way back to his seat.

"Does the defense have any questions?" Judge Westin looked towards Khris. He responded and got up.

"Ms. Dealith, let's cut right to the point shall we?" He smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "First off, you said that you often see Samiron in the neighborhood right?"

"Yes."

"So the tire marks that the lieutenant found are a mere coincidence." He then turned to the attorney. "And to accuse my client of anything even remotely criminal simply because of the neighborhood he visits is completely wrong and discriminatory might I add."

"And that's how you clear a bitch!" Kania whispered and Nas glared at her.

"Cuss again and see if I don't whoop yo ass. They gon' be taking me out this muthafucka in cuffs."

"Let's talk about your past with Mr. Davis shall we?" Khris continued and Greta gulped and nodded in an attempt to look put together when she was the complete opposite. She was hoping and praying the defense wouldn't dig up the past but they did.

"You said that to your knowledge Mr. Davis and your son were good friends, right?"

"Yes."

"So by saying that you're implying that is all you knew about your son's relationship with Mr. Davis?"

"Yes."

"Your honor, the evidence that the clerk presents to you now are hospital files from Houston Adventist Hospital dated back from 2018 to 2020. As listed, Samiron Xavier Davis was directly paying the institution for Ms. Dealith's chemotherapy."

The judge surveyed the files and even let Greta see them before telling Khris to proceed with his questions.

"So Ms. Dealith, it's obvious that you knew Samiron prior to this issue."

"My son had a relationship with him, I did not."

"So he just paid for your chemotherapy randomly?"

The attorney stood up to protest, "That's an argumentative question, your honor."

"The jury will ignore the defense's last question."

Khris rephrased, "If you claimed to not have any relationship with the defendant, why do you think he paid for your chemotherapy?"

"Like I said before, he knew my son. So Jonah must've mentioned my cancer before. I admit that I was aware of the defendant paying for the chemotherapy but I didn't question it due to me and my son's financial position at the time."

Samiron fought the urge to get up and cuss Greta out. He knew she was lying under oath. Greta knew Samiron well enough considering the amount of times he came and visited her in the hospital with Jonah. Him paying for the chemotherapy was out of sympathy and the kindness of his heart.

"Okay. I'm not really understanding how someone you claim to not know pays thousands of dollars for your chemotherapy. But that's your truth. Let's talk about the night of March 12th." Khris started, "You said that you saw Mr. Davis there?"

"I certainly saw his silhouette in the car." Greta confirmed, knowing she didn't see a thing.

"Earlier you said that after the gunshots died down, you waited a few minutes and then went outside. How would you have seen Mr. Davis's vehicle if you waited before you exited the house?"

Greta swallowed and kept her eyes on her hands in front of her, "I'm not sure. I know I saw that car. And I know I saw his silhouette. I can't tell you why he waited until I left the house to drive off."

Samiron couldn't sit there and listen to her lie anymore. He opened his mouth to say something but Khris had already turned around and gave him a reassuring look. Samiron took a deep breath and sat back in his seat.

After questioning and calling Greta out on her bullshit, the district attorney called Maison Gregory to the stand. He got up in his grey buttoned suit and avoided all the glares he was receiving from Samiron's side of the room as the bailiff escorted him to his seat. After promising to tell the truth, Maison sat down and the district attorney got up to circle the stands again. He asked him a few introductory questions before cutting to the chase.

"So lieutenant Gregory, you have been working on this case for a while?" The district attorney paced.

"That is correct."

"And what can you say about this case and the evidence the state has against the defendant?"

"It took a while to gather the evidence due to the defendant being uncooperative."

"How was he uncooperative?"

Maison glanced at Samiron who was leaned back in his chair with his hands in his lap, staring a hole into his head. Maison looked away and back at the attorney, "He refused to come in for questioning, even after he was made a person of interest."

"That is the defendant's right, he had already given his statement. The jury will ignore the prosecution's last statement." Judge Winston said, making the district attorney nod and give the lieutenant a knowing look.

"Your honor, the clerk now presents to you evidence of the defendants past criminal history, ranging from minor run-ins with the law to gang association."

The district attorney gave the judge whatever evidence he could scoop up while he continued to question the lieutenant. Maison gave the jury some more minor details about the investigation. The part that really had Samiron's side on the edge of their seats is when the attorney presented the judge with a traffic light camera recording of Samiron's Hellcat turning into Jonah's street a few hours before he was pronounced dead.

After lieutenant Gregory's long testimony, it was Mari's turn to testify in Samiron's favor. She was still an emotional mess so the judge gave her and Khris time to recess in one of the empty meeting rooms. Khris instructed her step by step on what he wanted her to say. He told her to talk about where Samiron was that night and explain it descriptively. She was also told to talk about the type of person Samiron is in hopes of gaining sympathy from the jury.

Mari sat on the stands and fiddled with her fingers in her lap while the judge got ready. Nervous was an understatement and the fact that she was an emotional mess didn't help either. She stole glances at Samiron who was sitting in the same position, leaned back in his chair with his hands in his lap.