Chapter One

1

Guess who’s back?

Nasir Lassiter pulled into an open spot in front of The “U,” the University Homes Apartments, and put the silver Aston Martin in park. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He’d been away for far too long. Nasir looked around and felt a chill roll down his spine. He couldn’t count the number of times he had dreamed about this day. It had been five long years since his feet touched these grounds.

With the exception of a few minor adjustments here and there, The “U” hadn’t changed much since he’d been gone. The housing department finally paid someone to paint the doors the ugliest blue they could find and a short gate was put up, a blatant barrier constructed to separate the ghettofied residents of The “U” from the good-paying students across Fair Street who attended Clark Atlanta University, Spelman, and Morehouse College. A knock on Nasir’s car window disturbed his survey of the surroundings.

“Ay, man, lemme hold a li’l something?”

“Nah,” Nasir said, staring at the projects that raised him.

“Nasir?” the vagrant said, leaning in for a closer look. “Is that you?”

“Yeah.” Nasir got out of the car.

“Boy, what you doing back here?”

Nasir smiled. “I know I know you but I forgot your name.”

The old man folded his arms, an offended look on his face.

Nasir smiled and tried to place a name with the face. “Man, it escapes me.”

“It escapes ya, huh? Well, just thi