No Honor Amongst Thieves

by Brick

  I opened the book to get down to business when I noticed he was still in the room with me.

  “You can leave now,” I said, blandly.

  His black eyes bored into me. “I’m waiting to see how long it takes you to freak out on me again,” he said.

  “I know you get some kind of kick out of that, but don’t worry; it’s not happening today.”

  I knew it. I knew he got some kind of nauseating pleasure from the reaction I had to him. If I was to be honest with myself, after that day in the bathroom, I couldn’t explain the feeling I got after our exchange then either. I was actually embarrassed by it. To know the man I’d been so afraid of mere moments before could make me feel anything other than disgust for him was mind-numbing.

  “I saved your life, you know. Yet, you’re afraid of me. Why?” he asked pensively.

  In return, I looked at him as if he was remedial. “You threatened to kill me. I saw you kill a man.”

  “Did you really?”

  “Did I really what?”

  “See me kill a man?”

  I was a smart woman, and I’d figured out that the man sitting in front of me was just as smart. He was testing me or something, I was sure. When I didn’t answer right away, he smirked.

  “I’d like you to leave now. I have work to do,” I said.

  I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t for him to lean forward and say, “We started off on the wrong foot, wouldn’t you say? Allow me to make it up to you, as it was never my intention to frighten you in any way.”

  “Is this some kind of joke? Is this your way of what? Trying to keep tabs on me?”

  “Nah. If I wanted to keep tabs on you, it would be easy. What I’m asking for is a chance to show you Marcel the man and not Marcel the ‘alleged’ killer.”

  I paid close attention to him. Noticed how sometimes he spoke proper English, then noticed how at other times slang snuck in here and there.

  I frowned because I didn’t know what to say.

  “You broke into my home.”

  “To make sure you were okay.”

  “You’re a liar.”

  He shrugged and turned his lips down. “Among other things.”

  “Are you asking me on a date?”

  He chuckled, and then it turned into an outright laugh. “Do you want to go on a date with me, Sabrina?”

  “I want you to go to hell in gasoline drawers.”

  “Will you be meeting me there at eight?”

  I sucked in a breath to keep from spitting on him. He smiled. Dimples that I hadn’t paid much attention to before suddenly appealed to me.

  I stood abruptly. “Get out. Get the hell out.”

  He stood. “Is that a no?”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Say yes, and let me show you just how serious I am.”

  “You’re–you’re a—”

  “A what? A cook? Is a cook not good enough for you, Ms. Lanfair?”

  My chest heaved up and down slowly as I watched him. He was calm. I was unnerved. He looked at me like he knew something I didn’t.

  “Text this number with your answer no later than eight tonight. If you say yes, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six,” he said, then turned to leave as smoothly as he came.

  I was done for the day. Marcel had me rattled again, but this unnerving was of a different manner. I didn’t know if it was curiosity or what, but I picked the card up from the desk he had left. Why I was entertaining the notion of calling him was beyond me.

  I was all set to walk out until I heard voices coming from Leo’s other office.

  “What we’ve got to do is get a secured seat on the police commission as well. Everything else is falling into place,” I heard my daddy saying as I walked from the back office.

  “What about those shipments coming in from the Port of Miami?” Senior Giulio’s gravelly voice asked.

  Leo spoke up. “All is well on that end, Pop. They’re also going to swear me in sooner, especially with Nieuwe Haarlem dying like that.”

  “Best damn news we’ve heard all day,” Daddy chimed in. “Sepriani still flying in tonight?”

  “Yeah, the son of a bitch is,” Leo answered.

  Daddy said, “We have to do something about him.”

  “True, we do.”

  “Is he on the list?”

  “He is.”

  Senior Giulio finally came back to the conversation. “Then if he is on the list, we have nothing to worry about.”

  I stood there for the longest as that name was familiar to me. I’d never forget that damn name. I thought back to the day a man with that same last name tried to kill me and had to wonder if there was a connection there. When I heard the door opening, I hurriedly moved down the hall to make my exit.

  Hours later, I looked at the clock on my wall. Seven forty-five. Marcel said I had to text by eight. Why would I go on this date? What would it accomplish? I paced my front room as I thought. He could give me the answers I wanted about the man named Sepriani who his boss had business with. He could tell me if the man was related to Antonio Sepriani, the man who I had no doubt would have raped and killed me.

  Marcel was the only one who knew what had happened to me. Was I going to overcome my fear of him as I’d told myself, or was I going for another reason? I didn’t know. I couldn’t answer for certain. All I know was when seven fifty-five came around, I texted a simple yes to the number on the card in my hand.

  Chapter Six

  Marcel

  When I received her text, I was at my warehouse crossing off the Dutch South African diplomat and moving the picture of Sepriani into the center of my board. Vincent Sepriani was the father of Antonio, the cat who tried to rape Sabrina. The elder Sepriani was a bad motherfucker, a dude who had been on my watch list after I had killed his son. I knew the day would come where I would have to handle him because he was on my list. But because my boss insisted that before I go after him, I need to train and become stronger in my craft, so I couldn’t go after him then.

  When I received a message from my boss that Sepriani was coming to Atlanta, I knew that I had to scope him out and make him my priority. Pacing back and forth, I was in my mind trying to figure out how to kill this dude in an unnoticeable kind of way. With the killing of that diplomat, I had gotten ahead of myself because I had forgotten that the state would lock down and go on alert. Authorities would be on the lookout sniffing for any type of bullshit, and I couldn’t afford to be caught up in any of that, or in view of Sepriani. I had to play this one smart.

  My work as an aide might be able to come in play, though. It was as I was formulating my plan that Sabrina’s text drew my attention. A pleased smile spread across my face, and I found myself rubbing my beard. Our date was set; I just had to think of a place to take her was all. My goal was to make her comfortable with me, as well as stop her from being jittery and loose of the mouth about what she experienced. Sometime and some place we would speak about it, but not at work and not in public. I aimed to let her know that because people listen and I did not need any issues with my boss that might also put her life at risk. I wasn’t sure that I could save her again if something happened. But shit, what cha going to do? Nothing, but accept the cards that were dealt and take a bullet that can’t be dodged. That was good for me, but I knew that wouldn’t be good for Sabrina.

  The next day rolled around, and I was all set to handle business. Dropping down at my desk, I made a quick call before dealing with Sabrina.

  “’Sup, Cel?” answered the voice in my ear.

  “’Sup, Diggy? You get that note from the boss?” I asked typing on my computer as I spoke to the air.

  “No doubt. He’s been spotted in Brookhaven,” he said casually.

  Diggy was my resident hacker and tech wiz who always helped in the tracking of my most active marks. Like me, he was a young dude who was employed by Senior Giulio. No one but the boss and I knew his locale, and we all respected it being that wa
y considering the type of work he did with his tech skills.

  “A’ight. I’m in the street cameras and . . .” I sat watching the images scroll back thanks to an algorithm Diggy developed that he called “Fish Eye.”

  The program made it easy to spy globally and trail anyone I wanted. I enjoyed it, and I bobbed my head in appraisal as Sepriani’s car came in view. “Yeah . . . That’s what’s up, dude! There that rabbit goes. He’s at a little fly restaurant. I need to hurry. Thanks, Dig.”

  “It’s all good, man. Holla a’cha,” he said before hanging up.

  The convenience of him being at a restaurant was all God’s. I had to thank Him or Her because He or She must have known it was time for Sepriani to die, and I was happy to be the one to deal the blow. Moving around, I texted Sabrina to wear a simple cocktail dress, something with a little color because I noticed that she was prone to black. I enjoy a woman in various colors, and I figured that today she could be a little different with it. I then told her where to meet me because I had a feeling that picking her up would be too much for her.

  While I moved through my crib quickly dressing, I went back to my monitors checking out where the car landed. The area of Brookhaven had plenty of restaurants nearby that I could take Sabrina. The key here again was not to be in the view of my mark. If one was smart enough and paid attention to the killings, they could link up that I was around every time, except the opera murder. This time, I wanted to alleviate that, so as I stood tapping my finger on my desk and with my dress shirt open, I noticed the make of Sepriani’s ride.

  The sensation of a lightbulb going off in my mind had me moving to my drawer with my phones. Pulling on my gloves, I pulled out a tiny device, then frowned. “Nah, keep it simple, Cel.”

  Closing the drawer, I finished getting dressed in a simple white, button-down shirt, jeans, and black leather casual dress shoes. I then drove to Brookhaven and waited on Sabrina while keeping an eye on Sepriani’s car. I had driven by the Italian restaurant he was at and made a note of his limo chilling in VIP parking. I was still deciding on what to do when Sabrina’s car pulled up, then parked.

  Walking up to her car, I knocked, then opened her door so that she could get out. For a second, I saw a glimpse of fear, but then it disappeared when she saw that it was me.

  “Surprised that you hit me up, Sabrina,” I said holding my hand out so that she could climb out of the car better.

  “I had some questions, so I’m hoping you can answer them, or there won’t be a date,” she said gripping my hand, then closing the door to her ride and hitting the clicker to activate her alarm.

  A husky chuckle came from me, and I let go of her hand. “I’m not about answering many questions, but I can see what I can do as long as they aren’t pressing.”

  “Pressing?” I heard her say as she stepped up to me.

  “Meaning, as long as you aren’t stuck on talking about things that don’t involve me. People are nosy, and I don’t have time for accusations.” Glancing down at her, I took in her appearance, “You look beautiful, Ms. Sabrina.”

  She stood in a soft yellow minidress that flared out, showing her pretty thighs. Her hair fell around her shoulders in waves and was parted in the middle while she kept her face natural with just a touch of lipstick. Sabrina was beautiful to me. I suddenly appreciated her company.

  “Thank you, though I feel as if you just put me in my place,” she said while holding her purse.

  “No, I just wanted to be clear in my thoughts on things. Anyway, let’s put all of this on hold. I want you to walk with me to this Italian restaurant across the street. I want you to check out the menu and tell me if you desire what they have. I’m on the fence about my tastes right now,” I said while offering her my arm and taking her to the restaurant.

  The weather was nice enough to walk, but chilly enough where Sabrina pressed closer to me. I felt like a king for sure. Pride had me poking my chest out as we walked into the restaurant. I had her standing at the side reading the specials in the restaurant while handing her a menu as I scoped the place.

  Crowded as it was, I was able to make Sepriani who was standing and heading to where I could see several people were coming out of a hallway where the bathrooms were. It was then that my plan took shape.

  Resting a hand against the small of Sabrina’s back, I looked over her head, then scowled. “Hey, give me a moment. I need to excuse myself for a second. Left something in my ride. I’ll be right back.”

  Sabrina’s brown eyes assessed me as she turned her face up to me; then she nodded. “Okay. I don’t think I want to eat here, though; it’s too crowded.”

  “Yeah, me either. I have a taste for the tapas joint across the street, but hold that thought, okay?” I said stepping away.

  “Okay,” she simply said glancing back at the menu.

  Relief flowed through my shoulders, and I moved quickly back outside. Every move I made was calculated and precise. When I scoped out the restaurant, I’d seen that I could easily slip into the restaurant in the backway undetected, so that’s what I did. I kept my face down and worked the back door to make it inside the establishment unseen by human and camera’s eyes. Quickly, I moved to the bathrooms, keeping a low profile and making sure that enough people went in where I did not become suspect. Stepping into the huge bathroom, I counted the stalls as I stood in front of the mirror. Traffic in and out of the bathroom was going to be a problem as the old man sat in his stall, probably shitting bricks.

  That soon was confirmed when he started grunting. Flashing a humorous grin, various dudes quickly finished draining the pipe and leaving the old man and me alone. I took that time to lock the door then and walk two stalls over. Removing my shoes and positioning them in a way that appeared that I was still in the stall, I calmly dug in my pocket, pulled out my black handkerchief, then tied it around my face. I pulled out another, tied it over my head, then rolled up my sleeves.

  For this one, I had to be hands-on, and I was down for it and hoped for a good fight. Slipping on my leather gloves, I waited for the old man to come out. A loud flush went down, along with the scent of the bowels of hell wafting through the bathroom. The sound of a latch unhinging, then the swing of his door opening put me in action.

  Pushing out of the stall to rush him, I heard him say, “What—” before wrapping my arm around his neck and squeezing through the fat rolls.

  This dude was a hefty man, so taking him down was not going to be a simple feat, but it would be a fun one. I rode Sepriani’s back as he tried his best to grip me, and I laughed in the process.

  “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” I muttered against his ear as he fought me.

  I felt his elbow slam into the side of my ribs while he grunted through the spittle that ran down his beefy face. “Who sent you?”

  His questions were my fuel, and I said nothing. I just kept squeezing and feeling his energy wane the more I held on. There was no way that I was going to speak to this dude, just in case this attack didn’t go my way. So because of that, all he got was my hand over his mouth and nose. I watched him sputter and try to continue fighting me as I suffocated him.

  Once his legs wobbled and collapsed under him, I let go of his mouth and let his breathing return to normal. It was then that I dragged him back into the stall, and positioned him back on the toilet. Yanking his pants down, because everyone knew that when a person dies, they always shit themselves, so I wanted to give the old head a little bit of respect.

  Chuckling to myself about it, I slumped him in the natural form a person would look like if they had died of a heart attack or from asphyxiation. I then stood back with my chin clasped in my hand while studying him. This was my art, and I wanted to make sure that it was perfect.

  My homework on him let me know that he had an allergy to seafood. On my wrist was a simple mixture of water that had been shrimp laden for several days in a tiny spray bottle. Pulling it out, I gripped his jaw, opened his mouth, and sprayed. I kne
w that if anyone did their CSI shit, it would appear that he might have accidently had traces of seafood in his meal.

  That was a plus for me, which is why I clamped my hand over his mouth. I waited for him to wake back up and fight me. Once he did, I watched his throat work, then enjoyed how his bucking eyes rolled into the back of his skull. It was then that I punched him in his throat hard enough to collapse his trachea.

  My work here was done. I watched him shake and quake. It took a damn long time, but eventually, all life in his eyes went blank, and it triggered his faulty heart. Waving to his faded spirit, I tilted my head to see art in how dying made his face seem peaceful. I then climbed over the top of the stalls back to my own.

  Stepping out with my shoes back on and everything on me back in order, I unlocked the door, walked back into the stall holding my feet up and waited for people to come and go. I listened to conversations; then I slickly exited out the backway of the restaurant.

  Once outside, I made it appear as if I was on the cell phone while walking around to the front again with a large group of people. Back inside, I slipped my hand against Sabrina’s waist and felt her jump when she turned to see me again.

  “Wow, you were gone a long time. What were you getting in your car?” she asked sizing me up.

  A playful frown appeared on my face, and I shrugged. “I’m not sure that you want to know, considering I might have to kill you.”

  Sabrina’s eyes became wide as saucers. My arms shot out, and I pulled her into a hug. “It was a joke, a bad one. I’m sorry.”

  I felt her hands on my chest, and the sensation against me had me feeling very good, but I knew I had to let her go and get out of the restaurant.

  “Let’s go to the tapas restaurant up the street, and I’ll answer a few of your questions,” I quietly said, guiding her out.

  As we left, no curious screams happened, so I figured that no one had found Sepriani’s dead body yet.

  Once we were seated and we both ordered, I chuckled at how Sabrina watched me. “Dang, Sabrina, what’s on your mind? You’ve been drilling holes into a brother this whole time. I’m sorry for having you wait as long as you did.”