Turn of the Cheek

By Janaya Black

The concept of forgiveness becomes an unimaginable concept for one family as they face being torn between facing their son’s murderer and being compelled to help an innocent child whose life is caught in the balance.

Turn of the Cheek explores the lives of two families, from two different walks of life, brought together by tragedy, who are forced to deal with God’s providence in a way that will change all of their lives forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Janaya Black
• Release date: May 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463017364

Janaya Black

Janaya Black is a woman who thrives in the capacity of wearing many hats. A passionate writer at heart, from the silver screen to the stage she seamlessly blends her creative drive and aspirations into the many other facets that make up her impressive resume. Janaya serves as president/CEO of Black-Smith Enterprises, an entertainment infrastructure created to house all of her creative projects. In 2004, Janaya wrote and published her first fiction novel The Breaking Point, followed by her second release in November of 2006, As Told by the Other Woman, and the third and final installment of the "Prison Chronicles" series Beautiful Rage: The Break of Dawn in 2008. With the release of her first book followed the spark that ignited her love for the art of independent filmmaking. After teaming with her husband Rockey Black to create a trailer for The Breaking Point, she then went on to write, direct and produce several short film projects and released her first feature length film, Till Death...Do Us Part, to DVD in 2009. In subsequent years, she went on to complete a plethora of other stage and film productions that include The Breaking Point, Idol, I Am My Sister's Keeper, Why Do Men Cheat and Loud Pack, and most recently Warrior Pride, which was released in December 2018. Janaya is the proud mother of two beautiful children, a community advocate and in her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, playing sports and reading. For more information about Janaya Black, please visit www.black-smithenterprises.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @janayablack.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Michigan weather is bipolar … just like most women, Cain Vasquez thought as he shuffled his feet, rubbing his hands together to generate some extra heat during a particularly chilly June night, while standing in the shadows of an abandoned warehouse in the most undesirable part of southwest Detroit. After flexing his fingers to get the circulation going, he stuck his hands back in his pockets and around the grip of his gun.

As he shuffled, he looked around impatiently to see if his connect was lurking around in an attempt to sneak up on him—because, after all, in his line of work you never could be too careful. At the sudden rattle of what sounded like a fence in the distance, Cain tightened his grip on the weapon in his pocket and stepped farther back into the shadows of the building in order to watch without being seen. A long moment later, a masculine figure dressed in dark clothes and a hoodie came into view, walking briskly in his direction.

Cain watched the man approach the designated meeting spot and once he was sure that he was alone, he covered his own head with a hood, stepped out of his hiding spot, and began walking toward him with both hands in his pockets. With one hand, he traced the outline of the package the man had come to retrieve, and in the other he held the answer to any unscripted antics the connect might decide to test during their encounter.

When he was about five yards away from the stranger he stopped, and stared hard at the man, allowing his dark eyes to bore into him as if searching his soul for untold secrets. From his vantage point, he could see that the man was in his early twenties and clearly very uncomfortable in his current surroundings.

Cain, who was also in his early twenties, mentally sized his visitor up and quickly concluded that this one wouldn’t be a problem if things suddenly went left. He had a good fifteen pounds of muscle on the guy and he knew that while he was more than competent with the trigger, he was even better with his hands, which yielded all of the fire that his Latino heritage afforded him to accompany their much-tested skill. So, he figured if dude wanted a problem, then he would be more than happy to give him one.

Sup? Cain said neutrally.

The man’s gaze bounced around nervously, and then back at Cain.

Whatchu got for me? Cain asked impatiently.

The man reached into his pocket, pulled out a roll of bills, and held it out in his hand as he stepped forward to make the exchange.

That was easy, he thought moments later as he watched the nervous man make a hasty exit in the same direction from which he came.

With business out of the way, Cain found himself climbing the stairs of his ramshackle rental house a few hours later. He had made all of the necessary drops for the day, and had even remembered to stop by the store and pick up all of the little, stupid whatnots his girl kept insisting that she needed to have in order to survive, along with a few other things.

Just as he slipped his key into the lock and prepared to turn the knob, he heard Lia yelling something at the top of her lungs.

What the hell is your problem? he barked as he entered the house.

Lia, his girlfriend, whipped her head around to glare at him before unleashing her wrath, allowing him to take in the full state of affairs. He saw clutter strewn about everywhere, a mountain of dishes in the sink, and finally, his four-year-old son, Jacob, sitting on the floor with his toys in front of the television looking fearfully at Lia.

In the midst of her righteous anger, she was still strikingly beautiful with her flawless, caramel skin, perfectly-styled hair, manicured claws, and fiery brown eyes, which looked like they were about to jump out of her head.

My problem, she spat, is that old dude keeps on calling here asking about his rent money! That was the fourth time he’s called today and he is on my last nerve! That’s what the hell my problem is!

She walked angrily to the kitchen table and sat down, with more attitude than one would have ever thought possible in the mere act of sitting, and lit a cigarette. Cain glanced at the boy, and then made his way to the table to drop the mass of bags he carried in along with a wad of money.

How much is that? Lia asked.

Only two hundred fifty. I spent fifty of it on the stuff you wanted and some food, he replied.

What is that supposed to do? she shot back. That’s not enough to catch us up! We owe twelve hundred. We’re three months behind, Cain, and old dude said that if we don’t have it by five Monday, he’s sending the cops over here to put us out!

You think I don’t know that? What do you want me to do? The boy gotta eat! We ain’t got nothing to eat in here. Look at him!

Look at him? Look at me, she raged. I didn’t sign up for this, Cain! When I got with you, you was ballin’. Now look at you! You done fell all the way off. Got me up in here taking care of your kid in this filthy house …

He tried to stop his fists from forming, but the sound of her voice was drawing his fingers tighter and tighter together despite his effort. As the blood thumping in his temples threatened to cloud his better judgment, he took a deep breath and stepped away from her to put himself at a safe distance.

Look, he began calmly, I’m doing the best I can. The hook is watching us, so we gotta lay low for a while. What do you want me to do? Go out and start robbing people?

I want you to be a man! Lia shouted, shooting to her feet indignantly. She eyed him disgustedly as if he was some bum on the street begging her for spare change. I want you to be a man, and do what you gotta do to handle yours. I can’t keep living like this. Me, I got somewhere to go. What are you gon’ do when five o’clock comes and you ain’t got the money for the rent? What then?

Cain said nothing.

That’s what I thought, she said with finality, as she stalked off to the bedroom and slammed the door.

When he was sure that Lia was gone for good, Jacob approached his dad and stood staring up at him uncertainly. Cain felt a pang in his heart as he met his son’s eyes; eyes that were so much like his own. Jacob, with his dark eyes and a facial structure that was the spitting image of his father, pleasingly blended with his mother’s always-ready-to-smile lips and laid-back personality, was the type of kid that people gravitated to. The boy was the perfect combination of him and his mother, Jade, the love of his life. His ride or die. Jade, who had died shortly after giving birth to their son.

Cain loved his son and it was that simple. His life and the streets had made him into a hard man, but after losing Jade he swore that he would do everything in his power to provide for their son. He knew that he wasn’t anywhere in the running for Father of the Year due to his long career as a hustler and gang member, but it didn’t change the fact that he loved his son and did the best that he could by him … by his own estimation anyway. Besides, his own father had never done anything for him.

His eyes appraised his son carefully, noting that he looked very small and fragile standing there with the large, dark circles that pooled under his eyes in pajamas that almost swallowed him. The boy continued to search his father’s face until Cain finally broke the silence.

Sup?

Daddy, I’m not hungry, Jacob said in his small voice. You can take the food back so you can have more money.

Cain struggled to keep his face neutral and the emotion out of his voice when he spoke, You good, lil man. You go ahead and get you something to eat. Don’t you worry about that. We gon’ be alright. Okay?

Okay, Daddy, he replied and went back to playing with his toys in front of the television, leaving his father alone with his thoughts.

Chapter 2

Deborah Green tried her best to focus on what the pastor was speaking about in his sermon, but she just couldn’t seem to keep the visions of party tents, table arrangements, menu selections, and slideshows out of her head. She tried to remember if she had completed everything on her prior-to-party-day to-do list and couldn’t, and before she could stop herself, she was digging through her purse again.

What are you doing? her husband, Thomas Green, asked in a church whisper as he gave her an amused look.

You just mind your business, she shot back, annoyed. She couldn’t understand how he could be calm when there was still so much to do before their son’s graduation party that afternoon. Men. What did they know about party planning? After all, how often was it that one’s only child graduated from high school with honors and got accepted to Howard University on a full-ride scholarship? Not very, that’s how often.

Glancing back at the wall clock, she saw that it was getting dangerously close to one o’clock, and she mentally willed Pastor McGee, who was still going strong, to wrap it up. Not that she didn’t thoroughly enjoy his sermons, but on this particular day she had a lot to do in a relatively short period of time.

Why didn’t I just stay home? she thought to herself as she glanced over at Thomas who was still looking at her with an amused grin on his handsome face. She rolled her eyes in mock irritation, but he remained unbothered. They were two sides of the same coin, and he knew her better than anyone.

I’m surprised you stayed awake long enough to see me doing anything, she whispered before turning her attention back to the front.

She allowed her gaze to drift to her son, Daniel, who was seated in the choir stand behind the pulpit, staring directly at her with the same mocking grin his father had given her. Despite her earnest efforts to show them both her annoyance, she couldn’t help the smile fighting its way to the surface of her face. Her two guys were the source of all of her happiness. In her mind, never had there been a better husband or son created in all of God’s green Earth, and she felt abundantly blessed that He had seen fit to give them both to her.

Before she could drift any further into her reverie of thankfulness, Thomas nudged her to stand for the dismissal prayer. A few moments later, they found themselves at the front of the exit line to shake hands with the pastor.

I really enjoyed the message today, Pastor McGee, Deborah said.

Thank you, sister Green! It always makes me feel better to know that not everyone was sleeping while I was teaching, Pastor McGee quipped pointedly as he smiled at Thomas.

I’m sorry, Pastor. I stayed up a little later than I should have trying to get everything ready for this afternoon, Thomas admitted.

No need for apologies, just make sure that you set me aside a serving of those world-famous ribs of yours that I’ve been hearing so much about.

You got it, he replied. Hey, baby, I’m going to go pull the car up for you.

No, honey, I’m right behind you, she asserted quickly before turning back to Pastor McGee. Pastor, we’re going to see you around four thirty, right? We wanted you to bless the food.

I’ll be there, Lord willing, he promised.

While Deborah and Thomas made their way to the car, Pastor McGee stopped Daniel as he trailed his parents.

How’s everything going, Daniel?

Very well, Pastor!

So, I hear that you decided to go to Howard.

Yes, sir! Daniel exclaimed proudly. I leave in two weeks.

Very good. Pastor McGee clapped him heartily on the back. I want you to know that we are all very proud of you. I’ve watched you grow from a boy to a promising young man, and now I am really looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in your life.

Thank you, sir, Daniel said beaming.

Don’t ever forget Him, son.

Never, Daniel replied, nodding his head earnestly.

Alright now, Pastor McGee said as if satisfied, "I’ll see you later.

Life’s good in the hills … West Bloomfield Hills that is , Deborah thought as they drove toward home. Not that she’d grown up poor, but living in one of the most affluent communities in Michigan wasn’t something she had ever taken for granted. She had always dreamed of having a big house, a handsome husband, and plenty of beautiful children to fill her big home with lots of love and laughter. Even though they had only ended up with one beautiful child—though it wasn’t from lack of trying—she always felt the Lord had blessed them above and beyond what she ever could have hoped for. And now her baby was going off to college. She could barely keep her eyes from watering at the thought of it.

From the moment they entered the house, where Deborah’s sisters, Loretta, Jackie, and Lisa, had been busy carrying on party day preparations, Deborah went into drill sergeant overdrive. Even though her sisters appeared to have everything running smoothly and on schedule, Deborah immediately set to moving about the kitchen like a tornado while barking out orders.

Lisa, I need those balloons tied to the tables outside! Jackie, can you please take this tray of ribs out there to Tommy? Loretta … aren’t you finished with that slideshow yet? she inquired to everyone at once.

Loretta, the eldest of the Winston sisters, and never one to be rushed, looked up from her project and waved a warning finger at her younger sibling. Look, Debbie, I am moving as fast as I can! Don’t you start with me today, she advised.

Deborah, in no mood