Memoirs of a Creole Crime Cartel

by Red Snapper

  “Roscoe…why are you doing this to me…I’d never lie to you about something this major…I swear you’re the father of this child as well as the father of LaVette’s child!” He looked at me was amazement as he let the words soak in. I felt dumbfounded after I realized what I had just said as he replied, “What did you just say…did you say that I’m the father of LaVette’s baby as well?”

  He stood up and walked over to the bar and poured himself a double shot of Jack Daniel’s and quickly gulped it down as fast as he could. He stood there totally confused as he thought about what I just laid on him. I stood up and walked over toward him as I said, “Look…nobody is asking you to do anything…we just wanted you to know that you’re having two children coming into this world and I wanted you to know that I love you and I want to be with you!”

  He looked at me flabbergasted as he stood there with his mouth slightly opened. I waited for him to give me an answer or something but he was without words.

  “Do you love me…Roscoe…answer me…DO YOU LOVE ME?”

  He looked at me and moved over to a large easy chair and sat down, putting his hands on his head.

  “I just wanted to know where I stand with you Mr. “Pimpin Jay.” “Your actions don’t lie.” “I now understand that you don’t care about nothing but you fuckin’ self…Is that it?”

  He looked up at me as he replied, “No…no that’s not true Tangie…I care…it’s just that…I thought you were gone forever and I knew I couldn’t have you because of your father so I went on and I met someone else.”

  When I heard him say he was with someone else my heart dropped to the floor.

  “What…you’re involved with someone else that quick?” “I’ve only been gone for a month and a half and you’re already in love with someone else?”

  He looked at me and shook his head in the affirmative. As soon as I was about to ask him who he was involved with this extremely sexy chocolate woman sauntered into the room. She was extremely beautiful and she was flawless. When she turned around sitting on his lap and looked at me I damn near died as I recognized who she was. She looked at me as she began to ask, “Hey don’t I know you?” “Yes…I remember you…you’re Tangie right?”

  I looked at her with a surprise expression as I looked at her sitting in my man’s lap.

  “Yeah…so Jamesetta… Jamesetta Applewine what an unpleasant surprise seeing you here.”

  Roscoe looked at us both as he couldn’t believe that the two of us knew each other.

  “It’s a small world huh Tangie?”

  “Yeah…I must say it is…what are you doing here?”

  “I’m here with my man…the question is whatcha doing here?”

  “I guess I was about to leave!”

  As I was turning around to leave his bedroom, Roscoe quickly said, “Hey…where are you going?”

  I just stood there with my back facing him as I replied, “I’m getting LaVette and were leaving here…isn’t that what you wanted?”

  He stood up and walked toward me as I slowly turn around and looked him straight in the eyes.

  “It’s really late…maybe you should wait till morning…I’ll call Don Laurie’s Capo and he can have someone pick you up in the morning, okay?” “It’s the right thing to do…I just don’t need the heat…please you must understand!”

  He tried to put his hands on me as I knocked them away, “The right thing to do is for you to admit that you’re the father of my child…why can’t you believe that?”

  He looked at me straight in the eye as he said, “Tangie…read my lips…I’m not the father okay!”

  I looked over at Jamesetta as she was laughing under her breath at me. This was definitely some revenge from our school days as I immediately remembered our boarding school bathroom altercation. I immediately turned around and walked out the door slamming it hard. I was so confused as well as furious as I made my way to LaVette’s room. When I walked into the room, I couldn’t hold it any longer. I just let me tears stream down my face as LaVette immediately embraced me. She just held me tight and it felt really good.

  I looked at her and said, “You know he dumped me right?”

  She responded, “Yeah…I knew he would!” “He’s a pimp…what else could you expect.”

  “Guess who he dumped me for?”

  “Who?”

  “Jamesetta Applewine…can you believe that?” “Somehow she manipulated her way into our lives again and she stole my man!”

  “What’s she doing here and how’d she meet Roscoe?”

  “Girl…I don’t know…but that bitch is here now and she fuckin’ Roscoe!”

  “So if she’s here then she must be trickin’ right?”

  “Yeah…so what?”

  “That means he’s just using her like he did us…so whatcha gonna do now?”

  Before I could get out an answer, there was a large explosion in back area of the club. Several men came running into the place, waving guns and giving orders. Before I knew it LaVette and I was taken hostage by some of these men and forced to go into the main ballroom area of the club. All I could think of was my Papa getting pissed at me for coming back here and now getting involved in this shit!

  It did not take them long to take control of the club. Many of Roscoe’s bouncers were now lying dead or extremely injured on the floor. Suddenly a short but extremely powerful man strolled into the place. All the men who raided the club were now at his beck and call as he instructed them to tie all of our hands and feet together. As his henchmen were doing what he commanded, he was searching around and observing the scenery when suddenly Roscoe and Jamesetta were both brought into the main ballroom area by two large henchmen. The men dropped them onto the floor directly in front of the short man as he began to speak.

  “So…Pimpin Jay…I take it you’ve made up your mind about our little proposition…yes?”

  Roscoe looked up at the man with his now badly bruised face and said, “I’m not giving you my business…I worked hard for this empire and you want to come in here and take it away…hell naw!”

  The man walked up to him and put his foot on his hands as he replied, “Pimpin Jay what is this loyalty…why are you holding out on me…huh?” “You know we run this fuckin region…you’re just an expendable piece of shit that can be replaced…but yet you still hold out on me!” “Why…why are you being such a fool?” “Maybe your loyalty now lies with Don Laurie?”

  Roscoe quickly answered, “No Don Costantino…my loyalty lies with no one…this empire is mine!” “I’ll die before I give it to you or anybody else!”

  The Don nodded his head slightly to the henchmen and they immediately commenced to beating Pimpin’ Jay’s ass.

  Roscoe “Pimpin’ Jay” Jefferson was now lying silently on the floor as the Costantino henchmen began to beat him like a wild animal. I wanted so bad to reach out to him, because I still loved him despite how he had treated me. I had to keep my mouth shut because I didn’t want to reveal my identity just in case the Costantino clan did not recognize me. I closed my eyes as I heard Roscoe’s screams began. He tried for as long as he could to hold out but the excruciating pain was too unbearable. Suddenly one of the henchmen said, “If you don’t talk, I’m gonna take this here bitch and show her what a good time really is!”

  Roscoe continued his silence as the henchman frowned and then grabbed Jamesetta by her arms. She began to scream as she started giving information to Costantino.

  “Please…you don’t want to hurt me…besides theirs someone more important than me that you want!”

  Intrigued with what Jamesetta had just spilled, Costantino stopped the henchman, “What are you saying…who’s more important than you in this shit hole bitch?”

  She frowned at him as she responded, “Look over there…you have the Crown Princess of the Creole Crime Cartel right here under your nose!”

  Roscoe gazed furiously at Jamesetta as he screamed, “You fuckin’ bitch…keep your mouth shut!” “You
don’t know what you talkin’ about!”

  Immediately Costantino’s focus shifted toward me as two of his henchmen grabbed me and drugged me over to him. They sat me down on a chair in the middle of the floor as Costantino took his right hand and gripped my face, turning my head back and forth to see if he could see any family resemblance. He looked at me as he began to laugh, “Well I’ll be damned…boys…we got us a real winner here!” “She is Don Laurie’s daughter…I recognize her mole on her left earlobe.”

  Roscoe sighed as he angrily gazed at Jamesetta as she was now smiling with the Don.

  Costantino strolled over to Jamesetta as he motioned for the henchman to release her. As he untied her Costantino said, “Since you were so gracious to rat out your little friend, I’m going to give you a chance to be part of my clan.”

  She slowly walked up to him and put her arms around him as she replied, “Whatever you want…I can do it for you baby!”

  Roscoe looked at her surprised as he heard his so-called bottom bitch sale his ass out to the Costantino Family.

  Looking back at Roscoe, “You should have told me that you had Laurie’s daughter here, since you didn’t, this proves that your loyalty lies with the Creoles!”

  Costantino nodded his head and like clockwork his henchmen immediately grabbed Roscoe and began to take him out to alley. All I could do was to gaze at him as they took my man out to kill him. I tried with all my might to get free but I couldn’t as he was dragged out with his feet dragging the ground. Tears rolled down my face as I could see his eyes full of love for me. He yelled out as he was taken out of the door, “Tangie…I’m sorry I made the wrong choices, but remember I love you and I always will!”

  After he said that, one of the henchmen hit him square in the mouth and a large gust of blood spurred out. They continued to drag him out the back door and just like that I didn’t see him anymore. After about a minute, I vaguely heard gunshots ringing out from the alley, which indicated that he was now gone from this place. I lowered my head as I felt a large void forming in my heart. The pain was so intense that I felt numb inside. All I wanted was to be happy with him, but within the blink of an eye that was taken from me! I was robbed by this lifestyle of ever being happy with any man. It was at that moment that I knew I had to avenge him. I began to get sick as I was now forced to watch Jamesetta and Costantino French kissing in the corner of the room. The rest of the henchmen were searching the room and clearing any trace of us being in the place. After he finished slurping tongues with that bitch, he released her and strolled over toward me. LaVette was crying profusely as he made his way toward us.

  “My little goldmine…I promise I will not hurt you.” “I just need to use you for a little while to get your Papa to see things my way okay!” “Take her to a comfortable room and give her whatever she wants!” “We need to contact Don Laurie now!”

  Andrew

  My Mother just told me that Tangie was missing and I knew that she had ran back to that punk ass pimp. I had already summoned my Underboss Jesse, my Consigliere, and Capo’s to meet me in my office as I stood there staring out the window. I couldn’t help but wonder why Tangie kept disobeying my orders. I tried to tell her not to go back to that fool but she wouldn’t listen. Now she’s pregnant, and in the hands of the Costantino Family. My Consigliere walked in with news on the situation as the rest of my staff came in soon after. He began to brief me on the situation.

  “Sir, Roscoe “Pimpin’ Jay” Jefferson’s empire was underwritten by the Costantino Family.” “Jefferson promised the Costantino’s that he would build this establishment for them and then after a five-year period he would surrender all operations to a manager of their choice.” “When time to deliver the establishment over to the Costantino’s, Jefferson felt he should not have to give up his business.” “My daughter was there for nine years with Jefferson totally unaware of her identity until recently.” “Although it looks like he had something to do with this, he was not involved in the planning conspiracy to kidnap Lady Mistress Tangie.”

  I looked at my staff and said, “We’ll need to be careful with this one!” “This is my daughter we’re talkin’ bout here!”

  One of my Capo’s replied, “We’ll get her back Captain…just leave it to us!”

  “If Costantino puts a finger on her…I swear he’ll have a war on his hands!”

  As soon as I said that, my Mother walked into the room. Everyone began to bow and kiss her hand as she slowly made her way toward me.

  When she stood in front of me, I immediately said, “Please give us a minute!”

  Everyone immediately began to leave the room as she sat down on the couch and I walked over to the bar.

  I gazed at her for a minute before I asked, “I’m gonna get her back Momma!”

  “I have no doubt…we must get better control of her Andrew!”

  “I know Mother…I just need to get her back here okay!”

  I strolled over to my mother and hugged her, holding her tight for a minute and then released her as gulped down my drink. I grabbed her hand and began to make my way toward the limousine. As I strolled toward the limousine, my mother frantically said, “Andrew…when you return with your child, I’m afraid I have some disturbing news to discuss with you…but it can wait upon your return.”

  I gazed at her with much concern as I replied, “Whatever the situation Mother…we’ll handle it okay?” “Is it something that must be addressed right this minute?”

  She looked at me and then lowered her head as she stepped back slightly answering, “No my son…just go and take care of our business!’ “We’ll discuss this upon you return!”

  “As you wish Mother…I’ll be back as soon as I get Tangie back okay?”

  She nodded her head in the affirmative, as I turned around and continued to go toward the waiting limousine. As I got into the car, I could see her waving goodbye to me, as her tears were now rolling down her face. I couldn’t help but to wonder what was on her mind as the car began move down the driveway, but whatever it was, it had to wait while I concentrated on the dilemma at hand. All I cared about was getting my daughter back and I didn’t care what it took to make it so. As we hurriedly speeded away, making our way to get Tangie, I knew that I had to stop this shit once and for all. All I know is my daughter wasn’t going to be with that fuckin’ pimp because I’m taking his business from his ass and making it mine!

  Tangie

  As they were taking me out of the main club area, I could hear Don Costantino giving orders to take Jamesetta and LaVette to another room with the rest of the women. I turned so I could see LaVette as she was crying and fighting to break free. For the second time in my life I really felt that I was losing everything as I kept thinking, “If he kills LaVette, I would have no reason to live,” so I immediately came up with a plan quickly shouting out to Don Costantino, “Don Costantino…please let LaVette stay with me!” “You said I could have whatever I wanted…so please let her come with me!” “We can make it worth your while…together!”

  He gazed at me with a shit-eating grin on his face as he replied, “Okay, I’ll allow this, but don’t try anything foolish or I’ll have to provide your Papa a reason to make some funeral arrangements for you.” “Take them both to my hotel suite downtown; ensure they are cleaned up for the exchange!”

  The henchmen nodded in the affirmative as one of them pushed LaVette toward me as another henchman quickly grabbed her by her arms. They began to escort us both to the car waiting outside of the club. While this was happening I noticed that a couple henchmen were sitting around Jamesetta, making small talk as she watched them taking us out to the car. She made sure I saw her as she smiled, allowing one of the men to kiss her neck. I thought as I approached the car door, “She just doesn’t know what she’s gotten herself into…does she?”

  Chapter 17– Tangie

  August 1982

  The Presidential Penthouse

  Hillcrest International Hotel


  Columbia, Missouri

  “This hotel was enormous,” I thought as we approached it from the highway. I had always seen it from a distance but as we drove up to the entrance it was so massive. I looked over at LaVette as I said, “Just stay calm…I know my Papa will get us out of this, but you have to trust me okay?”

  She smiled as she replied, “You haven’t let me down yet so why would I not trust you now?”

  “One thing I do know…Jamesetta was part of this con to takeover Roscoe’s empire!” “She must have joined forces with the Costantino family shortly after we left the boarding school, but why?” “She couldn’t have known about us being here and involved with Roscoe!”

  I gazed at her as I replied, “That’s what we need to find out and so here is the plan.” “We must get the answer from the horse’s mouth.”

  LaVette responded, “DON COSTANTINO…how do we do that?”

  “Well, first we’ll just wait to see what he does when he comes back here from the club.” “After we find out what his mood is…we’ll have to do what I really don’t want to do.”

  “What’s that…Tangie…wait…I know you’re not suggesting we sleep with this bastard are you?”

  I nodded my head in the affirmative as the door of the car swung open. The henchman was staring at my legs as I prepared to get out the car. He tried to regain his composure as he motioned for us to get out of the car and to follow him into the hotel. Once I picked up on his weakness, I kept studying his disposition as I continued to catch him observing my flawless physique. As we walked into the waiting elevator, I noticed him rubbing the sweat from his forehead as I purposely stood in front of him. I tapped LaVette’s hand as the elevator began to make the journey to the penthouse suite above. She glanced at me with a smile as I flexed my legs slightly, allowing the definition in my calves to show as I heard him sigh behind me. At that point I knew I had him as we finally made it to the penthouse floor. As we stepped out the elevator to go toward the private entrance to the penthouse, I decided to test the waters as I made myself stumble, hoping he would come to my rescue. As I felt myself about to tumble, the henchman’s immediately response to catch me worked, as he quickly responded, grabbing me by my arms and breaking my fall. I continued my Academy Award winning performance as I looked up at him with my most sensuous expression. He looked into my bedroom eyes and melted before me as he said, “Miss…are you alright?”