A Family Affair

By Shanay M Piggee

In life, there is a beginning, middle, and an end. We never know what comes lurking behind closed doors. The people you grow up with are no longer the same. The person you call brother is not the person you looked up to. This emotionally charged crime drama novel will take you on twists and turns as it is the prequel to I Love You: The Cheyenne Thompson Chronicle. It takes a deep, dark twist in the life of her family prior to her and how they all learned to survive in a new world filled with hate and compromise. At the end, they all learn that family is an essential part of life. Or is it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546234739

Shanay M Piggee

Shanay M Piggee is an amazing author who loves to draw her passion of crime and drama into books. She has learned through her past mistakes that life is never what you expect it to be. What makes her style unique is her attention to the characters development and personality. Her years working in the legal field gives insight on how to tackle a complicated world and survive through her eyes. A powerful, yet driven mother of three has caused her to look on the inside and get in touch with the writer that she is. Her continued development as a writer will make any man or woman wanting more. Her mind blowing creative mind may seem dark and twisted but in reality, she is one of the most fun loving people you will ever meet.

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© 2018 Shanay M Piggee. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/20/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-3474-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-3473-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018903624

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgement

Prelude

The Past Story

New York State vs. Raphael Miguel Thompson

Oh Shit!

Raphe

The Present Story

Undercover

Awakening

Let’s Get Real

The Last Showdown

Grief

A New Hope

Justice

The Longest Winter

One Last Time

Epilogue

I am dedicating this book to my whole family new and old generation. Thank you so much for the love and support you all give to help with writing this story.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to the A Family Affair Contest winners who helped with being able to give some more of the creative names behind the Cheyenne Saga. Thank you to:

Ericka Bailey

Valerie Douglas

Steve Irons

Timothy Tazz Washington

Dailus Johnson

Tia Johnson

Nashay Taylor

I appreciate the time and effort they spent in giving names for the characters in this book in order for it to be successful.

Prelude

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L ike I have already said to every story there is a beginning, middle and an end. Raphe is the reason for the beginning as it turns out. Raphe had the typical childhood as any other child other than the fact that we had a father who was in the military. Raphe began dealing drugs at the age of nine little did my parents know. He was the street boy that all the thugs and gangsters relied on to help push their business. He was smart, however his life turned for the worst when caught by our dad on the corner dealing and smoking. Our father Cicelo was not the kind of man that you wanted to go against. Raphe on the other hand tested our father more ways than one. At fifteen years old, our dad caught Raphe with a gun in his backpack and kicked him out. Raphe tried his best to find a place to go, but he soon found out that he had no one. The crew that he belonged to did not want to take him as he was a flight risk and may become dangerous.

They were right to fear him as Raphe never knew betrayal until then. It was at that point that he committed his first crime. Shunned by his boss, Raphe plotted his revenge on his boss. He watched them closely every hour until night fell. When he had the opportunity, he made sure that he rushed inside and find a place to rest. He didn’t know that he was risking his life by doing this. Keeping quiet was easy as Raphe always knew how to surprise everyone. He quietly sat still until an opportunity arouse for him to be able to strike. I can’t believe that little shit was going to help me. He is nothing to us. Make sure someone takes him out, Tony his boss said as he was holding a meeting about Raphe. His blood boiled over and, in a rage, he ran in screaming and shooting everyone in the room. Asked to only use the gun for protection only, Raphe used the gun on his new family. Raphe held no remorse as he killed the men that he worked for. He made sure to leave his boss alone and let him scream in fear of what he may do to him. When he got his boss, Raphe made sure to torture him from sun up to sun down. He tied each part of his limbs down and stripped his boss down until he was asshole naked. Raphe, my son please spare me. I am so sorry for turning my back to you. Please let me go, Tony cried out. Raphe just looked at him and let out a thunderous laugh. Do you think I am going to let you go? I think not. You betrayed me. At least my father did me the favor of kicking me out, so I can grow up. After I kill you I am going home to try to rebuild what I tore apart in my family, Raphe said while thinking of us. He walked up on Tony slowly like a slithering snake before he would strike. With the knife, he had found in the nearby room, he slowly started to cut pieces of Tony’s limbs off.

The Past Story

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I n life, there is a beginning, a middle and an end. We can honestly say to truly understand Cheyenne, we must go back to the source from which it is me her father. I know this is ironic, but things happen for a reason and my children were a true blessing from God. It was 1965 and my family and I were living in the nice parts of Sicily, Italy. My mother was a beautiful African woman and my father a bold and strong Italian-Spanish man. They met in 1940 while my father Cicelo was still in the Army and dated for a very long time. Since dad was an Army man, mom had her own vineyard and made wine. Both were highly successful although life was different back then and racism existed but not as bad as it did in America. My mother and father married in the Summer of 1949 after he came home from the war. Soon after they were married, mom became pregnant with Dave. My brother Raphael came sometime right after and came little old me Tommy (Thomas) the last of the bunch. My mother did give birth to a little girl, but she died after birth; so, my parents stopped trying and just raised us boys.

Life was tough, but we managed to go to school just like any other child and graduated. Most of the teachers were confused with our complexion and did not describe us as full African or Italian. We were what the French creole called mulato. Yeah, we were brown skin with nice flowy hair and the girls, loved our hair. When my brothers and I finished our schooling in Italy, we went on to America to further ourselves. I know some are wondering why we wanted to leave, well we wanted an opportunity to be great and do great things. Since our parents were well rounded and educated people, we wanted the same things, but more. America was the best choice as the opportunities were great and we could try to make a difference. Tommy, listen son we need you to watch out for your brother Raphe okay. He has been getting into some trouble and we need for you to be careful. Tell your brother Dave pop said he needs to mine his manners or I bust him in the balls, my father Cicelo said before we left.

Our mother had many conversations with us about our grades and habits. Mrs. Amara Thompson was here name and she did not take any mess either. She left Africa as a teenager and met my dad while she was in college. She managed her own vineyard for a very long time and made good money. A tough woman who also did not tolerate raunchy lifestyles like our dad told us stories about growing up in Africa and how she gained an international scholarship to go to college. Our mother has beautiful soft wooly hair with almond eyes and a dark complexion. She is a beautiful woman and my dad fell in love with her from the moment he saw her. People would say it was love at first sight when they met near the Italian Rivera. They managed to keep their love alive even after dad went to war. Both of our parents came from middle income families and each managed to hold their own even after they left home. Although they never expected to have three boys who would turn out to be just as tough, mom and dad knew we were all loved and cared for. It was hard leaving, as Italy was the only thing we knew, but we wanted more. The reason why my dad looked up to me to watch out for my brothers is so that they don’t get into any trouble. Being the youngest is hard as my father tried to gain the attention of the other two, but for some reason, they wanted to do their own thing. When we left for America, it was 1968 right after the revolutionary Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had passed. We found ourselves in the heart of New York. We went to college as directed by our father. Dave and I grew an interest in law as we both like the study of political science and history; Raphe on the other hand dropped out. It was hard to tell dad that one of his boys dropped out of school.

In elementary school, we counted on Raphe to protect us from the other kids who use to make fun of us. He would get into fights with the other army kids about our complexion and hair. Granted, we could not help who our parents were, but our skin tone was not the same. All the way through school, Raphe fought, but he managed to get better grades than Dave and me. You guys are assholes, study up for that damn chemistry test or else I’m telling mom, he would say to us all the time on the way home. It never phased him as Raphe at times did more bad than good. You see, our dad beat not spank us if we acted up in school. Every time school called home and told on us, our mom would get us before dad would even have the chance. There would be times when the Army Sergeant in him would try to kick us out before time. He particularly wanted Raphe to go because he was having severe problems at home. I’ll never forget it when our dad found Raphe helping one of the drug guys selling and doing drugs. My father Cicelo Thompson was tough and didn’t take shit from anyone not even his boys. We got our asses kicked if we messed up more than once. To our surprise, he kicked Raphe out after he kicked his ass. Our mom was no sucker either and did not tolerate that mess as well. Raphe was the smartest of all of us and made better grades than we did and graduated with honors even though he was becoming a druggie.

Coming to America gave us a brand-new hope and perspective. A hope that we never dreamt of, but it allowed us to keep the fun going. We all enrolled at New York University. To me it was the greatest thing as it was the smell of freedom. Freedom from our mom and dad was highly needed, but the pressure was on to succeed, and we were not going to fail our parents. You see my brothers and I are first generation Americans here in the United States of America, but we also kept our citizenship to our real home in Italy. Enrolling into school was easy for us, but picking our majors well let’s say it took us some time. We managed to find a nice apartment in the Little Italy side of town in New York. Everyday Dave and I would go to school and work the night shift at the warehouse. It was no sunshine in the park, but we had to do it for us to succeed. Hey Dave, where is Raphe? I asked one day. I don’t know Tommy, but we better not say or do anything unless it gets out of hand. Then, we can call dad, he called out.

Just then Raphe came through the door with some dame and acting funny. We knew our brother was the lose one, but we were unaware of the women and his habits. Hey gentlemen, this here is Fiona. We met over at the docks and I just had to have her, but I don’t mind sharing if you guys want a taste too, he said while looking like some horny teenager. Dave and I just looked and walked out. Ever since we came to America, Raphe’s life started changing. He dropped out of school and started hanging around the tough crowd. With Dave being the oldest of us three, he tried to help him, but nothing worked so he gave up. I knew the last straw was coming when we came home one day, and all our stuff was gone. We called the police and filed a report, but that was no help because of where we were living. Damn it Tommy. I think I know who did this little brother? He said with anger in his voice. I hope that you don’t think Raphe did this Dave. I mean come on, he is our brother. Why would he do something like this? I said in hoping I was wrong.

It was a dark and stormy night and we went searching for Raphe to settle this issue. It was dark, but the streets were darker. Dave and I walked all around trying to find our brother and we could not find him anywhere. When we got back home, Dave called our dad in Italy and explained to him everything that was going on. WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU BOYS DOING??? He yelled through the phone. We hated that tone as that was a tone of death. Dave son, look I’ll be in New York some time tomorrow. I need for you and your brother Tommy to find Raphe and bring him to me at once. I will let you know exactly where we will be staying. Amara, our boys are in trouble honey. Pack our things so we can go, he called out in hurt and anger to Dave and our mother. Dad was one person not to piss off as he told everyone. In this case, he did, and all the family came out including my mom’s family.

It was hard trying to find Raphe, but he managed to come back home and find us. Dave slammed the door and rushed him. Where the hell were you Raphe? I’m going to kick your ass. Dad and the family is coming out here because of you!!! He yelled at him. Of course, I broke up the fight between them both and managed to get a couple of hits in on both. Stop the family is going to be here soon. Raphe, you have a lot of explaining to do brotha. We love you and don’t understand what’s going on please talk to us. Dad’s pissed at all of us because of you right now. We need to find a way to talk together before dad kicks our asses and puts them on a platter for everyone to see, I said with no hesitation to kick their asses again. Raphe just sat there cold to the situation. Look guys I’m sorry but fuck you and fuck the family. I don’t need any of you at all. Trust when I say I don’t care what dad does to us, he said with blood running down his face. Dave and I gave up.

The next day came and our whole family was in town. Since we had only been in New York for three months, Dave and I managed to get our license, so we could drive around. We found out they were all staying at the Ambassador Hotel near the center. Dave and I would go over there from time to time to catch a concert or two and pick up on the ladies. When we arrived at the hotel, we had to explain that Raphe was coming on his own without us. For the first time, ever, I think I feared what our family may do to us. Hey papa`, Dave and I said when we saw our father. He looked at us and hugged us both. At that moment, Dave and I missed being home, so we just loved on our family as that was the thing to do at the time. As we all greeted and loved on one another, Raphe came in.

Dad went to him in a loving heart and hugged him, but Raphe pushed him away. My dad was not a small man at all and did not like the disrespect he was getting from him. We all sat down as a family and we had a nice family dinner. Afterwards, we showed them where we were living and grades in school. I’m so proud of my boys. Raphe where are your grades son, our mother asked looking worried. Raphe did not answer her at all and just looked at her with a cold look. Why in the hell did you not tell us that we were black you stupid bitch. My whole life, I believed to be something I wasn’t, he said to our mother. She looked in disgust and slapped him for disrespecting her. Then out of nowhere, Raphe struck our mother. Mom went off and started cursing him in both Italian and Nigerian. We never heard so much anger come from her not even as a child. Our dad rushed over and knocked around Raphe for slapping his wife and being disrespectful. All my dad’s brothers and I took all our energy to get dad off him. Raphael enraged our entire family with the level of disrespect he was showing to our parents.’

This was a side we had never ever seen before coming from him at all. Dave and I just looked in disgust with Ralph. Dude that’s our mother and father. What the hell has gotten into you? You need to get your shit together and get the hell out, Dave said. Raphe looked up and laughed at us. Look at all of you. You all are pathetic. I’m the boss ‘round here. You know what I was doing making real money, he said with a grin. Then suddenly, he pulled out a gun on all of us. The family looked in horror as he pointed it towards our dad. Look at me Cicelo. I am the King of New York. I didn’t need school because I’m smart. I don’t need my family either as you all are dead weight to me, he screamed out in a thunderous voice. Our mother just cried over in tears while our dad shook his head. Raphael my boy. What did we do to make you be like this my son? If I did anything, please tell me. I thought we were all close enough to handle our issues, our father said while looking furious with him. Father, you have done everything right for me, but I found my true self, he said with a roll of laughter. It became clear at this point that Raphe was turning his back on family.

My mother looked in shock with tears running down her face. She never once thought that her children would be so disrespectful and hurtful until now. Cicelo, we need to go home. I have only but two sons now, she wept as she walked out. My dad looked at him in his army eyes and tone Raphael Miguel Thompson, you are banned and shunned from this family. You are not allowed back into our home state and will suffer the consequences of your next generation here. May God have mercy on your soul son, our dad said while walking out for the last time. Before he could walk out the door, he gave my brother a kiss on his cheeks and let him know that his life from that point forward was going to be hell. The kiss of death is what our father gave Raphael. It was hard for our parents to go, but they had to make a choice to let go of our brother and move forward. We drove them back to the hotel that night and apologized for all the mishap. Dave and Thomas, you boys are all that we have now. Please do not disgrace our family and do whatever you can to bring your brother back to us. I meant what I said. The next generation of children will come after him and seek justice. He is no longer your brother by blood. Please honor me and your mother’s wishes. We love you both, he said hugging us and crying at the same time. Our mother hugged us as well as they prepared to go back home.

Things were bad for us all. It left me and Dave in a terrible funk. Raphael went too far by putting his hands on our parents. Since our family was highly traditional, disrespect was not tolerated. The kiss on the cheek was like a kiss of death to someone who disrespects the family. This was the first time that Dave and I experienced it and knew there was going to be trouble. Hey Tommy. This means we need to move from our glorious bachelor pad and into something better, Dave said. I nodded my head in agreement as I couldn’t agree more. As pissed as I was with Raphe, I thought about what my father said and had no choice but to move forward. He knew that mom and dad raised us well and that his lifestyle contradicted everything that was taught to us. It pain struck us as we all were close in age but grew up inseparable. He would become the villain and the family needed someone to be the hero.

As the fall school year approached, Dave and I moved closer towards the school and got better jobs. We changed our majors to Criminal Justice from Business Administration to study the law. Dave got a job within the courts and I got a job with the police station. We didn’t know where life was going as we both had to live up to our family’s expectations. This school year was hard as we both shared the same classes and our professors were tough. Who would have thought two young international men studying law in America would ever happen now of the year? We managed to pass all our classes with very little help from our teachers. Dave, I think I want to become a lawyer and study criminal law more. What do you think? I asked looking excited. Tommy, I was thinking the same thing, but I want to be a judge one day too, he said with a gleam in his eyes.

We called our parents and told them the good news as soon as we both got home. Mom and dad Tommy and I have great news for you both, Dave yelled. What is it boys your mother and I are waiting, our dad said with anticipation. We decided to go to law school We both yelled out to our parents. They cheered us over the phone and asked when graduation was as they would be out soon. Then, came the dreaded question about Raphe and whether we had heard from him. It was hard explaining to our parents the bad news about Raphe. Well dad, Tommy heard over the news that Raphe was involved in a major drug heist and that he escaped from the authorities. Raphe turned against us pops, Dave said. It was hard to imagine one of our own in so much trouble with the law. It made it hard for us to focus, but Dave and I managed to pull through and get things done.

Prepping for graduation wasn’t easy as Dave went before me as usual and he loved putting it in my face. Although he was older, I was still the smart one who could graduate with his brothers. I guess times were tough for us as we needed closure with Raphe. It would be tough, but he was our brother and we loved him. Dave, we really need to find Raphe and get him back. Things are too rough, and we need one another, I expressed with concern to my brother. Dave just looked and walked away as we needed to get our things prepared for graduation. I couldn’t give up, so I decided to search for him my way. I looked for him all over and managed to check in with Dave occasionally, to let him know that I was okay. It was not easy as I searched the jails and managed to look on the lower east side of Manhattan.

The streets of New York were dangerous and Little Italy was getting worst. After countless hours and days of searching, I almost gave up until I came across a junkie. Hey, you look like the Boss, he said quivering in fear. Listen, here who is the Boss and where can I find him, I questioned him with a deep glare in my eye. He looked hesitant to tell me, so I did the next best thing. I beat the shit out of that little bastard until he could tell me. Listen here motha fucka, you betta tell me, or I will call the cops on your sorry ass and have you put in prison for lying to me, I yelled at this man. He stood straight up with blood dripping from his mouth and took me straight to where the Boss was. I was apprehensive as I’ve never been in these parts before and it looked more dangerous and it’s just me. Suddenly Dave came up behind me and nearly scared the shit out of me. Tommy, what the fuck man. I told you not to go looking for him. Now we both are stuck, Dave said while looking scared himself. We both walked with the guy inside the old place and saw Raphe slap some broad on the ground. Get your ass over here bitch. I’m not done talking to you. Get your…. Aww Tommy and Dave. What the fuck are you squares doing here? You heard pops I’m exiled from the family now get the fuck out of here before I kick your asses. Got it!!, he yelled back at us. With everything in me I tried my best to hold myself, but my rage said fuck it and I jumped on him started swinging.

I know Raphe was bigger than me, but at this moment I didn’t care, and I made sure that I beat the shit out of him for being disrespectful. As Raphe and I fought, Dave tried to break it up but was caught in the hell fire of blows. We haven’t fought like this in a long time and it hurt me that we fought.