Luxe by Ashley Antoinette Page A

He … he … he killed him and then muscled his way inside the door. I th-thought I was g-g-oing to die,” she stuttered.
    â€œI came in and surprised him from behind as he held you at gunpoint. We tussled and I knocked the gun out of his hand, but he had another gun in his waistline. He pulled it on me and then you scrambled for the first gun and shot him in the back of the head. You feared for your life and you thought he was going to kill me. You understand? He brought both of these guns here. These belong to him. A’ight?”
    She nodded her head in panic as she went over the details in her head. Noah hoped that she had it down, because one of those guns had two bodies on it and he could go away for life if anyone connected the dots of what had really occurred that night. He picked up the gun and placed it in Bleu’s hands and told her to pull the trigger.
    â€œYou need residue on your hands,” he explained quickly as she shook uncontrollably.
    â€œI’m scared,” Bleu admitted as tears fell.
    â€œI know … I know, B. I got you,” he whispered.
    At that moment four armed police officers infiltrated the apartment, guns drawn, aiming from Bleu to Noah, trying to assess the situation at first glance.
    â€œShow me your hands! Put the gun down!” they yelled.
    Bleu lifted her hands and let the gun fall to the floor with a clang.
    â€œGet on your knees!”
    Noah got on his knees with his hands planted firmly behind his head. He had seen the routine enough times to know how to not get shot. “She can’t get on the ground. She’s been shot. She’s the victim in that store robbery that happened about a month ago!” Noah yelled.
    â€œPlease, I was just released from the hospital today,” she whispered.
    She trembled like prey as a female officer approached her. “Place your wrists in front of you, dear. We don’t know what happened here, but we still have to cuff you. I’ll be gentle,” the woman said.
    â€œI … I shot him,” Bleu whispered. “I thought he was going to kill me.”
    The female officer lowered her voice, whispering, “Sweetheart, I don’t know what happened here, but you don’t say one word without a lawyer, okay?”
    Bleu nodded her head as she was escorted out into the night. Every resident who lived in Black Wall Street seemed to be out as the police walked her to the squad car. Life moved in slow motion as she met the eyes of the neighbors. It felt like she was taking the long walk of shame, and as the officers stuffed her in the back of police car, she saw the officers escorting Noah out. It hit her. He had saved her life. If it were not for him, she would be the one the coroner would be tagging. She stared at Noah through the window with tear-filled eyes and mouthed, I love you. A simple nod was his only reply as the car started and pulled away.

 
    5
    â€œI’m looking at five years, Bleu,” Noah said as he gripped the phone and stared at Bleu through the thick glass that separated them.
    Her heart broke when she heard the news, and pools of emotion immediately gathered beneath her lashes. “But how? I told them what happened. They let me go! Why are you still in here?” she asked desperately.
    â€œI had a brick of heroin on me that night. They don’t even want to pin the bodies on me. They’re concerned about the dope. If I fight it I could get life, Bleu. I can do a quick five and be out. I’m going to take the plea,” Noah replied, trying to sound as if this entire plan were okay.
    â€œNoah,” Bleu whispered, heartbroken, as she placed her hand against the glass. “I’ll wait for you. What you did for me, the way you look at me … I finally see it. I love you and I’m going to wait for you, no matter how long it takes,” she promised.
    Noah grimaced as he sniffed loudly, trying to contain his