Mason

Steam rose from the stainless steel mug, that rested soundly in my hand. It had the luxury of relaxing better than I had, in years. Sighing, I watched patiently, as others jogged passed me, and some just happily mosing around carrying on with their splendid afternoon. Whilst I, sat glumly, I blankly stared into an oblivion, anguished from my past transgressions. Over the last decade, I've seem to watch my entire life fall apart. My father was sentenced to life in prison, my wife, as well as my best friend were brutally murdered. And the only son I ever knew, was now in prison, who is nine times out of ten going to be on death row. Everyone at work is proud of me, my mother thinks I'm a hero. Yet for the life of me, there was this tug at my heart, and a thought that hasn't ceased to cross my mind, that this isn't over, it's just the beginning. To my avail my off days never truly felt like off days, before Klein was finally apprehended, I spent every waking twenty four hours relentlessly building a solid proof case. Taking every advantage I could find to bring him in safely, because that's all I ever wanted was to get him off of the streets, just alive, and well. But now that it passes my mind, I wonder if that was really my best bet, maybe I should have gone the other way around. Vindango seems to be the bigger threat these days, maybe I could have used him, maybe I could have saved Dayton, maybe I could've saved my brother, and protected Abriel better. The funny thing about living, is that you learn, and contemplating maybes, never change the outcomes, I can't go back in time. I can't save Hilayna, or Khai, I can't change Klein, I can't prevent Dayton from dying. All I have, is a heavy heart, and an overbearing mind, slowly raising the mug to my lips, I drank; the only thing I can do now, is to get that son of a bitch Vindango, and the clock is ticking, I have to do it now.

An odd feeling shot at my thigh repeatedly, rolling my eyes I reached for my phone. I knew better than to hope it'd be Kassaundra, not caring to check who it was, I answered. "He's up, and asking for you, so get your ass over here." Abriel urged, but before I could respond elated by the news, I was hushed by the dial tone.

"I'll be there." I mumbled into the nipping air, taking another five minutes to myself, I raised to my feet, and headed to the hospital. The perks of living in downtown Miami, I could comfortably walk to the places I needed to go. Work was less than ten minutes, and the hospital five tops. Inching through the crowded park was a task though, so that added to my shrinking time. I was actually excited to see my brother, I'm more than grateful he's alive and well, a solid shot through the neck sent him on a ninety day spree of life support. It was tough seeing him like that, I had to stay away for a couple of weeks, it hit me too hard. All I could see with him laying there was Khai, Klein, Abriel. A repetitive scene, that I can't manage to get away from, a haunting curse with no hope for a cure, and it was called life.

I ran to the main entrance of the hospital, and opted for the stairs, instead of the elevator. Room 2509, the critical care unit, I lost Hilayna in room 2508, at 5:52AM, I guess my tragedies never seem to stray too far from each other. Making an appearance I watched my mother fill with joy, and run to my arms, "he's going to be alright honey, bless the lord, oh bless him!" I smiled shyly, holding her small frame tightly, her blonde hair blinded my view, she released me slightly, and squeezed me once more. "I love you boys so very much." She professed, relieving myself of my tension, I relaxed in her grasp.

"I love you too, mom." Letting me go, she wiped away her tears, and motioned for me to enter the room. Abriel stood next to my brother grinning widely down at him.

"Uncle May!" Reflexively my face scrunched into a confused pout, my body was consumed by a new embrace, followed by another. Tailer and Rylainah were here, but..

"Guys, let him in the room so he can see his brother, and shh, there's old people next door!" Kassaundras' voice played like a melody, and it sang to my heart mesmerizingly. Lifting my eyes to steal a glance, she met my gaze, and returned the encounter with a smile. "Hey."

"....hey." I dryly expressed. Bending over, I graced the air with Rylainah, drowning her with a strong bear hug and kisses, she laughed angelically. Being sure not to leave out Tailer, I did the same, "I missed you, I missed you!"

"We have so much to tell you!" Rylainah exclaimed, happily, as she stole another hug, and ran off to Kassaundras' side.

"Do you have anymore hugs for me?" My brother teased, "if not I guess I'll just sit here quietly."

Laughing I made my way to Mike, he looked like shit, but it was better seeing him alive and a mess, than dead and painted perfect. The bandages on his neck looked decorative and foreign, on his pale skin. Taking his presence in fully, I gave him the best hug I could muster from this body of mine. "I told Henslin to fire your ass."

"Oh fuck you, you've had your fair share of scares asshole." My brother shot back.

"Hello...children. There are children." Abriel, sassed. Folding those large arms of his he rolled his eyes and smirked.

"How's our boy?" The room grew grim, taking a step back, I cleared my throat, and glanced around, all eyes were on me.

Sliding my hands down my jean pockets, I answered. "He's rotting in prison like he should be, besides the hiccup beforehand, which landed both you and Abriel in critical care. He deserves to be there, and I'm making sure they don't take it easy on hi—,"

"He saved my life." My brows furrowed.

"What?" Mike fought hard to sit up, but with stern relaxes, and hands being laid on him to stay put he rested on his elbows.

"He saved my life, Velez shot me. And Klein stayed with me until I was brought in to safety, he's always been good to us." He pleaded desperately.

"He shot Abriel. It was an intent to kill. He is a murderer, among other ungodly things. It's out of my hands Mike, Kleins' going to be gone for good. These judges take this seriously, there's no way out of it, he knew it would come to this, so should you." His eyes hardened with the strength of my words, as he fell back restlessly. "I'm not here to talk about Klein, none of us are, we are here to see you, alive and better, again I say alive!"

Roughing up my little brother softly, he forced a smile. I could practically hear his mind rattle with awful thoughts of Kleins' demise, and ways it could've gone differently. I understood his pain, I understood his frustration, because I too, was there. At five in the morning, running on nothing but stale coffee, a bitter cigarette, and my optimistic heart. "I'm going to get him out of this, he's going to be my kid again. He's going to move on to the better things life has to offer." I repeated that to myself for two years, when the news broke, that detectives were this close to getting him. The shootouts, the high speed car chases, the bodies that would pop up that had his doing all over them. I had hope, but hope dies with the weak, and despite me wanting to believe that, an ounce of that hope still beats with the faith of my heart.

The rest of the afternoon, faded lovingly. I was with my family, it wasn't everyone, but they were there in spirit. As everyone began to pack up and leave, I stayed behind with my brother for a few more minutes, his breaking heart was just screaming out to me. "I know you want to see him." I confessed to his disappearing smile. Nodding he turned away from my stare, and instead at the book Abriel left.

"I know you do too." Humming to the sound of his truth, I patted down my jeans and sat beside him.

"I did see him. He's full of shit, and like I said before he deserves to be there. Just like dad does, and everyone else we arrest for breaking the law, I'm not done yet though, I'm going to get Vindango. I'm going to get Ronn, Reeko, Meke, and Marko, all of them."

"I know what he's done. I've seen it, and I've heard it Mason, I know him, we know him. But there is good in him, he wouldn't let anyone hurt you, and Abriel! He probably shot him to keep him from dying, we were in a van with dirty cops Mason. They killed Hilayna, Karmer and Velez, they were there that night, Khai and Hilayna were killed. It was a hit, put out by Vindango. Klein knows things Mason, he can be useful, he will help I know that he will." My heart seemed to protrude out of my throat, as I stood to my feet, holding on to the bed rail, and my stomach attentively.

"Ve-Velez killed Hilayna? The-they-they, killed my wife? Ho—, how, how could, what!" My rage came over me, but my broken heart, is what sent me to my knees. The wounds ripped open, and my flesh was bloodied and fresh, festering in a throbbing pain, that didn't want to end. My head shook into my palms, as I still knelt frozen in my shock and unbelief. Wallowing in my depressed silence, I stayed on the hospital tile, my left hand now resting on the mattress, as my eyes remained closed. If I opened them, I'm sure tears would fall, and at this point the only thing I know that would get them to stop, was a bullet. One straight through the head.

"He admitted it. Over 100 million dollars, just for Hily, Khai, I don't know. He said somebody else did it, but who...?" It boggled through my pestering brain, and I desperately searched for clues, but I withheld myself from knocking on that door. Because what was behind it, was too much to bare witness to again. Gaining the strength to stand, I squeezed my eyes tighter for good luck. But at this point the tears had already dried back up.

"You know what's disappointing about death sometimes?" The question left my lips with mischief, my brother ultimately confused fixed his mouth to reply, yet to my rudeness I interrupted. "You can't kill a man that's already dead."

"Wait, Mason!" He called out protectively.

"I'll be back tomorrow." Sternly reassuring my brother that I wasn't up to no good, "don't worry, I'm fine." I lied, and closed the door behind me.

They fell, poetically. The closing of the door cued the the violin, my hand never leaving the handle of the door, I stood there, and I cried. It was hard seeing her body, just laying there fighting to breathe, to circulate blood in her drying veins. Bruises, and lacerations, filled her skin like a tattoo, foreign, she wasn't even recognizable. I just lost Khai an hour ago, I watched him hiccup his last breath, and all I could do was yell at him to breathe again. I yelled at him until I was horse, I screamed, until somebody called for help. But it felt like no one was listening to me, my voice boomed loudly, I heard it, yet maybe it wasn't loud enough. I couldn't say much to her, as she faded, her eyes closed I couldn't even steal one last gaze in them. Her chest slowly, almost invisibly pummeling up, as it pummeled back down. I counted, each time I seen her breathe, and as the time continued to flow, her breaths began to cease more. I begged Hilayna, I begged her, prayed, held her hand and prayed. She always wanted us to go to church more, and to bring god into our relationship, so that it would last a lifetime, so that we could be happy. I'd lie, and tell I'd make time, but I never did, so I asked god just to save her, bring her back to me and I promised I'd do everything she asked.

He didn't give me that though, the tiny little vein on her right hand stopped pulsating, and I couldn't look up to see her breathless. I fought myself in just looking up at her, because I just couldn't get used to the sight of now seeing her lifeless. Khai and Hilayna, all in one night... all in one night. The scenery washed away, as I wiped the flooding tears out of my eyes, and continued to exit the hospital. Just before I did though, I took a second to peer into the empty 2508, the lights were off, and the room was clean. But why did I see Hilayna, just standing there, right over me, as I damned life itself, and I cried over her dead body?

10 Years ago:

So this is my visual of Hilayna, if you picture her differently and have a suggestion of who you think fits her best comment and let me know!❤️

"I hate wearing suits." I muttered with a scowl, Khai was searching the table of food, for something actually edible. Finding a sausage on a stick he thought was tasty, he tossed it in his mouth and grabbed five more.

"Shut up, ya momma bought it for you, and she thinks you look fresh. Now smile, more old people are coming." I sighed as I hit at the expensive suit, smoothing it down, and quickly glancing up to see who was coming. "You want one?" Politely I declined my best friends offer, just in time when a few guests arrived.

"Mason, get over here and hug your grandpa!" Smiling happily I ran to my grandfather with open arms. Big biceps, wrapped around me tightly, and with a strong pat on my back he lifted me. I wanted to tell him I'm too old to be picked up in the air, but that would only encourage him to lift me higher, and as I grew dizzy, and nauseous, I nervously smiled.

"Haha okay, gramps, okay, pu-put me down now." A booming laugh exited from the depths of his toned belly, as he set me down with might.

"Alright now Khai, your turn."

"No the hell," I flashed my best friend a look quickly, as he rearranged his words, "sir, now I!" All I saw within the seconds that passed was Khai, being raised to the chandelier up above us, as if he were a sacrificial lamb. "I don't like being this high from the ground!" Laughing hysterically, I watched as he fought his way back down to earth, and when his two feet finally landed on solid ground he scowled at me.

"Boys, I can't express my happiness to see you here, but we are missing two." My grandfather looked around suspiciously, and then pried his eyes to mine. "Where's Abriel and your brother Mike?" Khai raised his brows and twisted his lips with an attitude, tossing his wondrous glare upon me as well.

"Uh, Abriel is on vacation with his family. Mike, is uh, Mike is, probably high somewhere. I honestly couldn't begin to tell you where that boy is, grandpa. I keep telling him that I'm a cop now, if I catch him doing those drugs and shit I'm arresting him."

"Now, now, you're supposed to be your brothers keeper. Enroll him in a rehabilitation center and show up for him, that's the least you could do." His brown eyes gleaned of peace, and understanding, the kind I know my little brother could only wish to find in me and my father. But I've done all that I've could for Mike, if he wants better he knows how to find it, I can't keep fighting the big fight for him, while he makes no effort at all, and it's not even my fight to begin with. I rolled my eyes slightly, at my grandfathers reply, and sighed. Laying a strong hand on my shoulder he continued to hold a loving smile. "Sometimes when you fight when they're down, they'll have the strength and courage to get back up and fight too. Don't give up on him yet, he needs you." His words sunk deep into my veins like a vaccination, a cure to my seemingly increased cold heartedness. My grandfather was right, he always has been. What troubled me is that my dad was nothing like him, he wasn't kind hearted and free spirited, he adopted the stance of conditional love. And stood his ground on everything he thought was right, he presumed he could never do any wrong, and lately I've been becoming just like him. To pull me back down to reality, my grandfather, hit me where it hurt, Mike.

My eyes remained on the floor beneath us, as he gave me a pat, and said his goodbyes. "Do not forget about the marathon tomorrow, I expect to see Miamis' finest police officers, standing tall and strong in the basking heat. Serving their city dutifully and honorably!" With a final laugh he embraced Khai and I, and waltzed out of the extravagant gathering and into the night. Khai kept his silence peacefully, but I knew it was burning a hole through his tongue to keep quiet, so I begged him to speak.

"Go ahead, asshole."

"What!" He exclaimed, downing a glass of wine and reaching for another, "grandpa came through with wisdom, and now, you assume I've got something to say?" Scouting the table for cheese, he popped a few squares in his mouth, and continued,"well, I don't."

"Yeah, right. Khai you always have something to say."

"Well, when someone does the talking for me, I proceed to the next task at hand." Noticing a waitress, about to drop a few things he raced to her aid. Right in front of my dad, she balanced heavy hot plates, and glasses. Nervous for her well being I followed after Khai, but before we could save her from the oncoming humiliation, a co worker of hers, trampled through with a cart on wheels. Bumping into her dramatically, I watched anxiously as my father remained unaware of the situation at hand. Until he found himself in utter surprise, because the objects this woman was fighting to keep in place, tumbled down, right into his lap.

I caught my breath, in hopes I didn't laugh aloud. Yet Khai, fought to keep my father calm, I hurried to assist her, as her face beamed red. She was fighting hard to push her tears back. The look of rage embraced my fathers' face, as he stood to his height, and stared her down evilly. "Dad, she didn't—,"

"Move."

"Dad!"

"Get the hell out of my way Mason!" His deep voice startled the entire room, as the remaining food fell from his clothes and onto the floor. Rushing to clean the mess, she dropped to her knees. "And you too." Looking down, he glared, "move." Kicking the glass in her face, he shoved passed Khai, and finally through me, and into the crowd that suddenly formed. Kneeling down, I grabbed her arm lightly.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Hey, I'll get someone else to clean this up, maybe you should go get some air?" Frantically searching all around her, she complied and allowed me to lead her outside. Khai, calling over for help from the rest of the staff, gave me an encouraging smile, and a nod. Shaking my head I continued to leave, reaching a point away from all of the havoc, I took a seat by the fountain. Sitting right beside me, she inched away, nervous of being too close to me. Watching from the corner of my eye, I smiled. Ten minutes passed by, and she sat wiggling around contemplating on speaking a word. Entertained by this, I looked her way completely. "I'm not that hard to talk to, in fact I get compliments on how I am a good listener."

With a blank expression on her face, she stared. Nodding my head I laughed slightly, and looked around. The lights were illuminating passionately on the statue peacefully, I listened closely to the water cascade. "I wish people were as peaceful as the water." I didn't wait for her reply, I figured she was still shaken up, and honestly I was the last person on earth she'd be wanting to talk to. "It flows in multiple streams, but collides harmonically, in a way that's beautiful. There's so many beautiful souls in this world, it's sad that they're anguished, and depressed—,"

"Or just assholes." I laughed hard, snorted even. Happily she laughed too, I wouldn't say particularly at her joke, but my hideous sounds of amusement.

"Yeah, or just assholes, that fits perfectly." Chuckling a bit, I swiped a quick hand through my hair, and glanced at her. Taking a moment to graze her over with my eyes, I noticed her name badge. "My great grandmother told me once, that only strong women are named Hilayna."

"Hmm, and what was your great grandmothers' name?" Her brown eyes sparkled as she gazed across the water before us.

"Helayna." Laughing a bit, I stole a glance her way again, but this time I just couldn't look away. "Why are you working as a waitress, you look as if you have so much more to offer, than a glass of wine."

"Well you're right, I uh—," Staring down at her fingers as she fidgeted with them, "I'm in my last semester of nursing school, believe it or not I've got a job lined up already." Her smile widened, and I couldn't help but to smile at her, not with her. "What about you though, what do you do?"

"I'm an officer, Miami PD. But in the next couple of years I want to be a detective, and move up from there. Maybe when my dad retires I can take his place, like he did my grandfathers. Chief of police."

"Sounds like an obtainable dream, I'm sure with a kind heart like yours you'd really make a difference." Catching each other's eyes, like the moon caught the night, we held a moment of silence. "I want to say thank you, for you know—," her hand found its way through her brunette hair, it cascaded below her waist, in a sensational wave. "You know, helping me out. I didn't mean to ruin your dad's night."

"Nah, don't be. He's just a hot head, who doesn't really respect others that may have a lower pay grade than him. He's another year older, and still is the same mean guy he was yesterday." She blessed me with the sound of her laugh, and I just took a second to fully admire it in its entirety. A serene tune of humility, and happiness, something I haven't heard so angelic in my life.

"Well I'm probably going to be fired." Rolling her eyes she stood to her feet, and began untying her apron. "So, to hell with it." Stepping out of her flats, she dived head first into the water, flopping her feet around she began to dance. "Woo! Come on, get wet, come on get in here!" My eyes widened, and my mouth hit my chin in surprise. Back peddling around the statue, she splashed and continued to enjoy her act of rebellion.

"You're going to need something dry to put on, I'd rather stay—,"

"Who cares? There's nobody out here but us!" She began to reason with devilish intent, complying, I swiped off my suit jacket, and my shoes, and followed her down the path of destruction. My dad is going to kill me. "Now that's what I'm talking about!" Her laugh grew crazed, as she attacked me with her new found weapon of water.

"I'm getting you out of here!" I warned, but she wasn't having it.

"You gonna arrest me or something? You'd be doing me a favor." Gesturing a reassuring nod, she raised her eyebrows sassily, "it's on my bucket list, and you'd be the pen to mark it off, so bring it on mothfucka!"

"Alright, enough of your trash talking, come throw some hands." Cliffhanging her playfully, I caught her waist as she fell back into my arms. Grabbing a handful of water, she threw it in my face and climbed me like a tree, dunking my head deep into the water, and snatching me out quickly. "Crazy ass, are you trying to drown me?"

"Maybe!" Dashing away from me, I caught her in my grasp and lifted her high.

"Ma—,"

"Mason!" Awkwardly freezing in my stance, I held on to Hilayna tightly, I didn't want to drop such a beautiful woman. "What in the actual hell, do you think you're doing?" Staring down at Hilayna, and her face just remarkably unphased, caused my lips to curl in a grin.

"Just uh...uh... just making sure she didn't drown, that's all."

"If she can't hold her own in shallow water, she deserves to drown, get the hell out of there!" My father moaned, sighing, I continued to stay in the moment. I had to have her in my arms again like this, only I wanted to have her forever. "Mason." He warned once more, but for some reason, her rebellious eyes, gave me their disease of carelessness.

"You better go."

"Or what?" Laughing, she placed her hand on my cheek.

"Or, he might just kick your wet ass." I could've kissed her, the timing, her lips, the...feeling, it was just perfect.

"I'll go, only if you let me investigate where and who you are, so I can properly ask you out on a date."

"Seriously?" With a brow raised, she questioned.

"Seriously." I proposed.

"Deal. But if you catch me outside of school, I like peanut butter cookies, a bag of lays, and a nice iced green tea. Sound fair?"

"Fair." Letting her down gently, I stomped towards my father, mother, and my best friend. Khai who was fairly amused by my current state of recklessness, tossed me my jacket, with a smirk. Aware of my father's disapproval, he stared me down with a look of death, and walked away.

"Did you have fun sweetie?" My mother pried with innocence, she was always rooting for Mike and I, regardless of if we were wrong or right. It pissed my dad the hell off, and she knew it, which is why I hugged her close and laughed.

"Yeah mom."

"I think he may have found his future wife, brace yourselves everyone, our boy May, might have tripped and fell into some love."

"Fuck you Khai."

Present Day:

"We need to talk." Placing my hands across from me, I stared blankly.

"We don't need to talk about anything, Mason. I have things to do, so go home, you look like you need to shit, and a stiff glass of fucking."

Maintaining my brewing anger I stared at Klein peacefully.

"It's about Vindango." His eyes softened to the name, but his stare was ravenous, and evil.

"You know how to make my spine tingle. Keep going, Poppa Klein is listening."