“Yo, yo, yo! What’s the dilly-O?” The Hispanic man asked gleefully like he hadn’t a care in the world, displaying a gold encrusted smile that afforded him an expensive conversation. He held out his hand for a pound.
Tommy rolled his eyes already annoyed but still showed him respect and shook it like it pained him to do so. “Hello Papers.”
“No need to get an attitude brother man. I come in peace.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah. I just want to rap a taste with you,”
“About?”
“Your future, working for me as my number one enforcer.”
“Good bye Papers,” Tommy growled and gave him his back.
“Come on man. Hear me out,” the flashy drug kingpin pressed Tommy as the bartender handed him his drinks. When Tommy reached for his wallet, Mister Papers pulled out a fat bankroll, peeled off a crumbled fifty-dollar bill and told the bartender to keep the change. “Think of me as a guidance counselor. Let’s take your chosen field. Bad choice. I recommend against it.”
“Who asked you?” Tommy snapped.
“Nobody, but man I gotta tell you, you’re making peanuts dealing with these welfare cases. You and I both know, the hood ain’t no good. But it can be extremely profitable if you come play ball for my team. Hell, I’ll sweeten the deal and pay your partner in Alpo. What do you say?”
Tommy pulled out a bank teller crisp one-hundred-dollar bill. Paid for his own drinks and left an even bigger tip, carving a huge grin onto the bartender’s face. “Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
After making it clear he was not interested in what Mister Papers was offering, Tommy took his drinks and headed back to his table. A large man with a scowl permanently tattooed on his face stepped up beside the Hispanic man. “You want me to go persuade him to rethink your offer?” the thug asked.
Mister Papers looked at him like he was crazy. “If you could do that, then why would I need him? Besides he’s not the kinda guy you can persuade. He’s the kinda guy who does the persuading!”
“What was that all about back there?” Donnie asked as Tommy presented her with her drink.
Tommy shrugged. “Oh that? Nothing. Just a local street pharmacist who wants me to come and work for him as his personal bodyguard. He figures it’d increase his street cred, which it would, if he could persuade me to join the dark side. I’ve gotten offers like that from practically every kingpin real or aspiring all over the city. Some even out of state.”
“Okay there’s something I still don’t get about you and this whole Trouble Consulting thing.” Donnie said.
“Which is?”
“Some people refer to you as Tommy, and other’s as Havoc.”
“Right-so.” he said eating his meal.
“So, at first, I thought it was a situation where when you wore red clothing you were Havoc, hero of the hood and when you wore anything else you were Tommy Strong, mild-mannered homeboy from BK. But that guy just recognized you as Havoc yet you don’t have any red on.”
Tommy grinned. “What, you thought that my wearing red was like a superhero costume or something? When I’m in red I’m Brooklyn’s Black Batman and when I’m laying low I’m Bruce Wayne?”
“Batman has Robin. Havoc has Mayhem.” Donnie reasoned over a mouthful of lobster and pasta.
“Wow, you learn something new every day. I had no idea you were such a big fan of comic books.” Tommy shook his head amused.
“I’m not. But I once wrote a term paper on the subject of modern day superheroes in college. It was all about the similar traits between super heroes in the pages of comic books and in real life. Their homogenous mindsets and what makes them do the things they do. The father who’s up at 4am to take the train to a job he loathes to support his family versus the guy who dons a cape and mask to protect the weak and innocent because he suffered a tragic loss in life. That sorta’ thing. Had I known you back then you could’ve saved me from all the hours I spent at the local comic book shop reading comics and being drooled on by nerds. I could’ve interviewed you instead and we could’ve drooled on each other.”
“And all you would have gotten outta me is that I am nobody’s superhero. Trust me there’s no noble cause here. I do this strictly for the loot.” Tommy promised but Donnie’s look wasn’t buying it. “But I guess I could see why you’d think that, cause red is my signature trademark. Even though it’s definitely not the image I was going for.”
“Ok, then why the red? Inquiring minds want to know.”
“Because it’s the color of danger. A fear tactic. And it’s what I want these fools to know they’re in when they see me and Mayhem coming for them! Plus, it’s great at hiding blood stains.” Tommy explained with a shrug and removed a piece of steak from his fork. “But to answer your question, yes, some people know me as Tommy and others as Havoc and some as both. It basically comes down to the nature of our relationship.”
“Oh, I see. So if we would have never surpassed our one-time business relationship, I’d only know you as Havoc because I hired you.”
“And here I thought college was a complete waste of time.” Tommy winked.
Donnie stuck her tongue out then sipped on her drink. “Now something else is odd to me. Your mother doesn’t know what you do, how is that?”
“Hell no! My mom would trip if she found out. Probably pull off her belt and commence to beating my ass.” He snickered on the outside but wouldn’t put it past her. “It makes my life a helluva’ lot easier if she thinks I’m a construction worker with a dog named May.”
“Secret identity, check.” She giggled continuing the superhero comparisons.
“And that’s where the corny similarities end because my Pop knows. As well as my cousin.” He said.
“Well Batman does have Alfred.”
“At the end of the day I’m just an ordinary guy who does extraordinary things.”
“You’re a lot of things baby. But ordinary isn’t one of them.”
In an attempt to move past what he felt was a ridiculous notion of him being a superhero. Tommy beckoned her with his finger then stuck his tongue in her ear hitting her spot. Donnie smiled enjoying herself as she watched two boneless kids battle it out on the dance floor with back flips, handstands and intricate pop locking moves. Then suddenly everything paused like E.F. Hutton had something to say as a tall long-legged modern-day Amazon with long Shirley Temple curls and a big butt in stiletto-heel boots, squeezed into a barely there dress tight enough to crack the shell of an armadillo sashayed in.
Heading past the eye rolls and adoration of gawking men, she went over and put her curves on display at the bar then ordered a whisky sour. Ignoring the desperados and cheap pickup lines she set her sights on Tommy and hungrily stared him down.
“Having fun, beautiful one?” Tommy asked Donnie.
“I was-a minute ago.” Donnie rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth in the direction of the Amazon staring down her man. “Take a picture sweetie, it’ll last longer!” she growled at the vixen.
Tommy glanced over his shoulder just as Miss Thing was showing off her oral skills by tying a cherry stem into a knot with her tongue. And he immediately set out to rectify the situation. He cupped Donnie’s chin and twisted her pissed off face towards his, “Hey, did I tell you how fine you look tonight?”
“As a matter a fact, no you didn’t.” Donnie said looking into Tommy’s magnetic hazel eyes.
“Well you do. Damn fine. Finest woman up in here.” Tommy said staring directly back into her alluring green eyes causing the Amazon to suck her teeth, toss in the towel and turn her back.
Donnie blushed. None of the guys she dated ever gave her compliments because they figured since she was pretty everyone else tells her that. But not Tommy. He knew that regardless of how beautiful a woman was, she needed to be told so every once in a while. “You’re looking good yourself, and you smell nice. What is that anyway?” Donnie asked sniffin
g Tommy’s neck. “I’ve never smelled that fragrance before.”
“You really wanna know?” Tommy asked.
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t,”
Tommy looked around then leaned in close, “It’s dog cologne. One time I ran out of Polo and it smelled so good on Mayhem that I said fuck it and decided to use some myself and have been doing it ever since.”
“Hilarious. Smells good though.” Donnie said after sniffing Tommy’s neck again and planting a kiss there.
The music lowered and a chubby black man in a tight seersucker suit strutted like George Jefferson on stage getting giggles from the audience. “Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen my name is Tracy Morgan. How’s everyone doing tonight? I see there’s a lot of beautiful happy couples in the house. Me and my wife were perfectly happy for 28 years…and then we met each other.” he said getting laughs from the audience. “So, I thought I’d come out and warm up the crowd with a few quick jokes before the main event if that’s alright with you. How do fish get high?”
“How?” Tommy yelled out.
“Seaweed!” the comedian replied as Tommy and Donnie cracked up with everyone else. “What is Michael Jackson’s favorite pants?…Billie Jeans!” the crowd erupted into laughter and applauded as the up and coming comedian took a bow. “So, are you ready to keep the party going? Then please show some love and give a warm round of applause for Champaign as they perform their chart-topping hit, How Bout Us!”
The light’s dimmed as the attractive looking septet took the stage Tommy emptied his glass in one gulp then offered Donnie his hand. “My lady, would you do me the honor of accompanying me on the dance floor?” he asked.
Donnie stared at Tommy with dreamy eyes. He looked so good, so confident, so strong like Billy Dee Williams did in her all-time favorite movie, ‘Lady Sings the Blues.’ She imagined she was Diana Ross as she placed her hand inside his. She would have gone anywhere, done anything he asked.
As the baby making melody kicked in, the pair slowly swayed to the beat on the dance floor surrounded by other couples. Then after whispering some choice sweet nothings in each other’s ears, they tenderly kissed.
“After the day I’ve had, words can’t describe how good this feels.” Tommy said with a grin as Donnie squeezed him tight and rubbed his back. His eyes opened when she stopped. “Hey why’d you stop?”
“Oh so I’m just supposed to stand here in the middle of the dance floor massaging you all night?” Donnie giggled. “I’ll tell you what, if you want me to continue rubbing your back, then beg.”
Tommy laughed. “Beg. Oh see now you’re tripping. Just because I love you doesn’t mean I-” he paused, “Aw shit!”
“Excuse me?” Donnie asked then pulled back overwhelmed and looked at Tommy. He stared back at her uncomfortably. It was time to either shit or get off the pot.
He laughed inwardly, “I’m Teflon. Practically invulnerable to pain. After being beaten, knifed, shot, tortured I can eat it like candy. But there’s one type of pain I can’t tolerate.”
“And what’s that?” Donnie asked.
“Heartache.”
“Tommy, I would never cause you any heartache, don’t you know that?” Donnie said.
“Yes I do. But it wasn’t my heartache I was talking about.” Donnie looked confused. “Baby there’s something you don’t know about my marriage. Nicky never wanted to divorce me, but I gave her no choice. I could not leave the streets alone and she could no longer deal with being awakened in the middle of the night to let in a bruised and bloodied man. So as much as it hurt her, she filed for divorce.” Donnie’s feet still moved to the music but Tommy had her undivided attention. “After our divorce a part inside me died and I thought it could never come alive again. But I was wrong. That part I thought was dead is alive again, thanks to you. I don’t know how you wiggled your way into my life. Or I yours, but here we are slow dancing in each other’s arms. But I can’t do you like this baby. I care about you too much to put you through this.”
“Tommy I’m a big girl who knows what she’s getting herself into. I love you and that’s all that counts. Everything else, what you do, what may be, is secondary to me.”
By now Tommy had stopped dancing and looked deep into her eyes. Into her soul. The time was right. The mood was right. And above all, it felt right. “We had our first date here. I remember that we sat over there and the band performed that Roberta Flack joint from that Richard Pryor movie.” he pointed at a booth occupied by another blissful couple.
“Just When I needed you. Yeah, I remember. I was there too,” Donnie smiled joining him down memory lane. “Fun fact. I got here earlier and paid the band to perform that song.
“Word?”
Donnie nodded. “It described how I felt when we met. I never told you because, I dunno, I thought you might think it was cheesy.”
Tommy smiled shaking his head. “Quite the contrary. See, it’s stuff like that, that’s why I knew the moment we meant. I just refused to admit it.”
“What did you know Tommy? What are you trying to say?” Donnie asked.
“That if battling poverty and crime has taught me anything, it’s you have to take your pleasure where you can find it. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that, I love you.”
A smile cracked Donnie’s face and developed into a big wide grin. She wished she could freeze this moment and hold onto it forever. After all this time the man she loved finally admitted what she knew in her heart all along. That he loved her back. She wrapped her arms around Tommy’s neck and squeezed tightly. He smiled and kissed his woman on the dance floor, staring at her longingly.
“Let’s get out of here.” Tommy insisted.
“Batcave, check.”
Fifteen minutes later they were in Tommy’s Jeep headed for Williamsburg Brooklyn. “I don’t know about you but, I’m still hungry. The food was decent, but the portions are so damn small. When we get back to my crib I’m heating up those leftover collard greens my mom left in my freezer. What about you gorgeous? You still hungry?” He said.
“No, I’m stuffed.” Donnie said and slyly cut an eye over at Tommy, “I was thinking, how about we go back to my crib for a change? I mean if you’re still hungry all I have is lean cuisines and Tab in the fridge but if you’re really hungry I have something hot you can ea-hey, are listening? Yoo-hoo, Tommy?” She called but Tommy didn’t respond. He was too preoccupied with the black Mercedes Benz that seemed to boldly taunt him as it slowly cruised past him, paused for a second then vanished around the corner. Was this really a coincidence or paranoia? “Way to make a sister feel special!” she complained.
“Oh, I’m sorry Princess. My mind wandered.”
“I’ll say. And what could possibly take your mind off of all of this?” Donnie asked, waving a hand over her curves. “It had better not be that chick with the huge calves that was clocking you from the bar. Bet you that bitch was a man anyway.” She said teasingly.
“Huh-who? Oh no way. Not even. But how’s this for an idea, let’s stop off at the liquor store and get a bottle of Dom P. so that I can get you drunk and take advantage of your luscious body?” he said rubbing her thigh while shooting an eye in the side view mirror. If he wasn’t tripping and someone was following them, he would rather that they knew his address, not Donnie’s.
“Tommy, how many times do I have to tell you? You don’t have to get me drunk. I’m a sure thing.” Donnie stuck out her bottom lip and pouted. “And why do we always go to your place? We never go to mines.”
“Aw baby that’s not true.” Tommy said.
“Oh really? Then what color is my bedroom?” She demanded to know. Tommy couldn’t answer because frankly, he couldn’t remember. “Now how fair is that? Don’t you think if we’re going to start a relationship then shouldn’t we begin by meeting each other half way?”
Tommy sighed, she was right, they always crashed at his loft or hotels but never at her place. She loo
ked determined and two identical cars that passed him on the street weren’t going to change her mind. “Okay ya big baby, let’s go to your crib.” he said reluctantly giving in.
“Really?” Donnie perked up.
“Yeah. Point taken.”
“I love you baby.” Donnie kissed him overjoyed she was getting her way while Tommy had a bad feeling about this.
“Yeah, me too.” he said with a concerned look in his eyes.
Chapter 22
Tommy’s eyes popped open at a quarter past two in the am. He looked over at Donnie. She was sleeping peacefully with her arm wrapped around him and her head nuzzled deep in the nook of his chest. He watched her sleep and liked the feeling of her smooth, warm skin against his body and contemplated on waking her up for more sex, but she looked so comfortable he let her rest. He got up without disturbing her and caught a glimpse of the hickeys on his chest in the mirror.
“This relationship shit’s getting to be painful.” he grinned then wrapped himself up in a lavender comforter, grabbed the half empty bottle of champagne and a spliff from his coat pocket then went out on the terrace. “Shit it’s cold out here.” Tommy said as the frosty cold whipped around his legs and torso. He took a swig of champagne before sparking up his spliff then leaned his six-foot-three frame into Donnie’s whicker lounge chair then maxed and just relaxed.
“So, I take it you’re Donnie’s latest?” A voice asked out of the darkness.
Tommy sprang up and looked around. “Whoa!” he said wondering how in the hell he could have missed the thick-thighed sista’ squeezed into a pair of size 6 canary yellow hip huggers on the terrace directly across from him.
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