by Bobby Dennis
Only his quick reflexes saved him, as he leaned back. The razor made contact with his stiff collar, and his tie fluttered to the ground cleanly cut. She swung the razor back handed and he jumped back.
Bonnie had pulled her razor and was rearing back her hand to strike, when Bobby’s big fist crashed into her jaw. She fell to the ground limply, as Lori concentrated her attack on Sha. He stepped back and raised both hands out protectively. She moved in slashing with the razor.
He faked at her with his left and the razor followed. His right fist rocketed forward and smashed into her chin. Her head snapped back and she stumbled. He closed in and grabbed her wrist and twisted it viciously until the razor dropped from her numb fingers. He slapped her wickedly across both of her cheeks. The power of the two rapid blows, almost knocked her unconscious. She sagged and he pulled her back up to her feet. Her head lolled and bloody saliva leaked from her slack mouth.
Bobby picked Bonnie up and lay her on the back seat of the car. He shook her gently, until dazedly she shook her head from side to side. She sat up and looked confusedly around. “Where am I?” she asked.
“I need to see Silk.” Bobby said softly.
Bonnie shook her head to clear it, trying to remember what had happened. She looked at the big, handsome, dark skinned man and her memory returned. Fear cloudy in her eyes, she asked. “Y’all ain’t gonna hurt him are you?”
“I don’t know.” Bobby answered honestly. “You can take us to him and we’ll see what needs to be done!”
Roger, looking over his shoulder said. “If you don’t show us, all we got to do is find the other girls and follow them!”
“He’s home,” she said. “Promise me you won’t kill him! Promise me!”
“We ain’t promising you nothing. If he needs killin, he’s a dead man!” Roger said.
Bonnie showed them where their house was. The women had keys and the four men eased in the house with the women. It was almost 6:00 in the morning and Lori lead them to the bedroom. They could hear the bed squeaking and the sounds of a woman deep in the throes of passion.
Sha walked to the door and gentle turned the knob, it moved in his hand and slowly he pushed it open. Bobby quickly stepped into the dimly lit room. The sight that greeted them, was Josey’s legs thrown across Silk’s shoulders, as he pistoned methodically in and out of her.
She screamed in pleasure as her orgasm hit, “Ohh baby…Yes….Yes!” her feet twitching.
“Watch out daddy!” Bonnie shouted.
Silk swiftly dropped Josey’s legs and rolled over and dropped on the side of the bed. Bobby, Sha, Roger and Dennis had .45’s in their hands. When Silk rolled from between Josey’s legs and hit the floor, Roger was already there before he could recover. He brought the barrel of his pistol down in a wicked arch and clubbed Silk in the head. Silk slumped to the floor stunned, as blood flowed from his scalp wound.
Josey lay there in a sex induced daze, her legs spread wide, cunt gleaming with her juices. Dennis walked over, closed her legs, and slapped her sharply across the face. He pulled the covers up over her, and shouted. “Get dressed now!”
Slowly coming out of the fog of passion, she looked at him, and asked. “Dennis?”
“Get dressed.” he said sternly, as Roger and Bobby dragged Silk naked from the room. They pulled him to the front room and tossed him unceremoniously to the floor. Lori and Bonnie rushed to the man’s side.
There was the sound of a key in the door. Bobby and Dennis swiftly moved to each side of the door, as Sha and Roger moved from sight.
Francine and Angela walked in and paused. Bobby and Dennis shoved the two women to the floor, as Sha and Roger stepped out, their guns raised.
Silk looked up at the men, his green eyes flashing daggers at them. “What the fuck is this all about? Some bullshit robbery?”
“Nigga, we ain’t no petty thieves!” Roger said.
“Yeah, y’all hoodlums!” Josey shouted as she walked in. “Sylvester ain’t done nothing to y’all!”
“Yes hell he did!” Bobby said. “That punk nigga tryin to make you a ho!”
“Make me a ho? What the hell is that supposed to mean and who are them bitches all over my man?”
“That sorry ass nigga a pimp and that’s his stable. Them his ho’s!” Dennis said.
Josey never wondered if what was said was true because she knew her cousins wouldn’t lie to her about something like this. She looked down at Silk and the four women draped on him and moved closer. “So, I was gonna be one of your ho’s, huh?”
He looked up at her, and said. “Pimpin is what I do. Look at my women, beautiful aren’t they? You should feel honored that I wanted you to be part of this!”
He watched the transformation in her eyes, saw the tears well up and knew he had misjudged her. She would’ve fought tooth and nail, not to sell herself. Her foot shot forward and crashed into his nose breaking it. She went wild, kicking and stomping the dazed man.
Bonnie and Lori jumped up from the floor to attack her, but Josey had gone berserk. Her hand clawed at Bonnie’s face and gouged four bloody streaks above her right eye, across her nose and down to the left side of her face. Bonnie screamed in pain and reeled backward. She tripped over Silk’s semi-limp body and crashed to the floor. Her head struck the polished wood floor with a resounding thud and she lapsed into unconsciousness.
Lori moved in on Josey’s left and Josey turned to meet her. Josey’s longer reach enabled her to punch Lori in the mouth before she got in striking distance. Lori’s head snapped back and Josey hit her again. Lori stumbled and dropped to her knees and Josey kicked her in the stomach. Lori folded over and slumped to the floor with the wind knocked out of her.
Josey turned back to Silk and the other two women and launched a flurry of kicks, until she was breathing heavy and covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Exhausted she stopped.
The men had made no effort to help her and she had done considerable damage to them. They were all bruised and bloodied.
There was the sound of sirens, as a patrol car quickly slammed on brakes. A few seconds later, there was a loud knocking at the door.
“Open up police!” A voice shouted.
No one moved to open the door and suddenly it crashed open and Slo Lewis rushed in, followed by Tip Byers a new deputy. Both men had their service revolvers in hand. They looked up and saw four men pointing big .45 automatics at them. Slo and Tip froze.
“Just put the guns in their leather and you’ll walk out of here alive!” Sha said sternly.
Tip looked to Slo for instructions and saw Slo ease his gun into the holster. Tip followed suit. Slo looked at the battered and bloody group on the floor and asked. “What going on here?”
“None of your business Slo.” Bobby said. “Just go on and get in your car and leave. This a family matter!”
Slocum looked at the four men, then touched Tip on the arm and headed out the door. When they got in the car, Slo turned to Tip, and said. “We were never here, got it?”
Tip looked him in the eyes, and asked. “Are them Kanes above the law?
“You been living here all your life and you know about the Kanes, so how the hell could you ask me that?”
Tip just hunched his shoulders, crank the car and pulled off.
When the Kanes were sure that Silk was fully conscious, Sha walked over to him, and said. “Today is your lucky day. I like the fact that your girls got balls, so I’m gonna do you this favor. Remember, this one’s on me, the next one’s on you. You got one hour to pack what you can and get out of town. If you ever come back to this city, or county, you’ll receive no quarter. You’ll be killed on sight, so get your shit and disappear!”
Silk was a long way from being a coward and it just clicked where he knew the name Kane from. He had heard it frequently, and thought the Kanes were the stuff of legend. An urban myth that would give the niggas here something to look up to. Now he knew it was real, but that didn’t lessen the pain and humiliation that he
felt. He knew he couldn’t win against them and he didn’t have a death wish. He looked in Sha’s eyes and knew the wrong decision would cost him his life.
“You better get on the ball nigga, your hour runnin out fast and if you’re here when it does, your ass is dead!” Bobby stated emphatically.
Silk nodded and rose shakily to his feet. The four women rose as well. “Y’all hurry up and pack, cause we about to blow this burg!”
“We’ll escort you to the city line. Come back thru here again and we could take that to mean you’re seeking revenge. And if that is the case, you might as we’ll get a pistol and eat it!” said Sha. “I wouldn’t make St. Augustine home either if I were you, too tempting!”
* CHAPTER # 27 *
The Kanes prospered in the drug trade and in their relationship with the Torronelli’s.
Raven died in his sleep after a lengthy illness on what was called D-Day. The day America stormed the shores of Normandy, June 6, 1944. His passing momentarily threw the family into chaos. Ransom, Drake, Trace, Tim, Lao, Turk, Prince, Lefty, Juan, Jose and Blake were the elders and they fought the younger men to keep the family together. Their only allies among the younger men were Baron, Will, Bobby, Nelson and Sha. All of the younger men wanted to branch out and each have his own operation.
Dennis and Roger were extremely vocal since they had already picked their spot. The city was growing and the population steadily increased. Times were difficult, not financially because the drug trade was profitable.
Carlo had got Baron involved in hijacking shipments. Not shipments of drugs, but anything that was in trailers. Kanes shipping and storage was now Kanes Trucking. Raven had left the company to Baron and Will, at Celia’s insistence. Celia knew that when Raven died things would change and she knew that Baron’s future was tied to Will and Carlo, so she made arrangement for the three men to work closely before Raven passed.
Celia had grown a great deal under Raven’s hand. She had sat at his feet as he spoke of times gone by and their connection to times to come. She saw how he handled situations and always tried to think ahead. In 20 years or so she had learned to think as he did. And even though she was younger than many of the Kane women she was looked at as the matriarch. She was respected for her wisdom and her one thought was for the survival of the family.
Nelson was her constant companion, as he was Raven’s. There was still time for him to engage in other pursuits. He met and married a beautiful dark skin girl named, Annette Ray.
Bobby Kane married Doris Mack and Sha married her sister Linda. Bobby and Doris had a stormy heated relationship. When they fought, they fought hard and when they loved, they loved hard. Sha and Linda weren’t the perfect couple, but they knew how to keep their problems behind their doors.
Dennis and Roger had made a pick up for the Don, as Carlo was now called in Miami. They spotted two black men there and after they found out who the men were, they came to Miami with their brothers. They robbed and executed the men who they found out were drug dealers. When they came home they moved all of their families out of LaVilla into what at the time was called Sweet Water and set up shop. After their product ran out they brought product from Baron and Will because none of the other family would deal with them.
It was Celia, who convinced Baron, Will and Carlo to do business with them. She told them that if the family’s future was what they wanted to insure, then doing business with them could only inrich the family. The more money they made, the more they’d spend. After the men thought it out, they saw that she was right.
When the other young men saw what happened they all wanted to branch out and do their own thing. But, unlike Dennis and Roger they didn’t have the capital.
Baron called a meeting of all the Kane men. The farm was crowded with cars as the men met in the big barn like structure. Kanes, Maces, Jensens, Sumners, yet all under the Kane banner. Baron brought up what the young wanted to do and with the help of Will and Carlo convinced Ransom and the elders with Celia’s philosophy. After the men thought it out and saw how large the family was and in time would be. They agreed to set aside funds for the young men to branch out.
Celia had told Baron, Will and Carlo, that things had to change for the family to grow and prosper. There would always be a first family and they were the ones Raven chose. She had told them time and time again how far ahead Raven thought. She pointed to the time he spent with them,( Nelson and young Bishop). She urged them to think back to the conversations and when they did, his words came to them. And they saw her words were true.
She explained their places in the scheme of things. Baron, youngest male son of King Raven and Queen Celia. Will, son of Prince Drake and Princess Lisa. Carlo, Crown King of the Torronelli’s. She used archaic terms to describe the present, and Carlo was into history so he understood her perfectly. He explained to Baron and Will a monarchy. Showed them the co-relation between it, and their situation. It clicked and all three men looked at Celia with new respect. She became their counselor and they prospered.
In the years up until Raven’s death, Baron had fathered three more children, Brandon, Celia and Lola.
Will Mace had fathered three more besides he and La Vern’s first born, Lil Will. And they were Denise, Donna and Erik.
Carlo had fathered two more, Gianni and Ann Maria. As they grew, so did the others and soon a whole new generation of Kanes were coming.
America bombed Japan and soon the war was over in 1945. It seemed the economy picked up and suddenly the car companies were pushing out new models. It wasn’t long before America got involved in the Korean Conflict. In 1950, the U.S. sent troops to assist the South Koreans. Congress never declared war on Korea, but American soldiers fought and died there.
* CHAPTER # 28 *
In December of 1958, Murphy and Esther Johnson moved to Jacksonville from Douglas, Georgia. They brought the whole family and it was a scene straight from the Beverly Hillbillies. Murphy drove a big truck with all of their worldly goods strapped to it. The truck looked like it shouldn’t have made it that far and wouldn’t go another mile. With Murphy and Esther came their brood of children, Junior, Bopete, Ulyssess, Merlie, Anna Mae and Tyrel.
Esther had been a child bride and was only 13 years older than her oldest son Junior who was 23. Her children were born almost a year a part. Bopete was 22, Ulysses was 21 and that’s where it changed. Merlie was 17, Anna Mae 15 and Tyrel was 14. Anna Mae had just turned 15 on Dec. 22nd ,and hated the move.
Murphy had gotten a job at a paper plant in Jacksonville after the one he worked for in Douglas had closed. Being a good worker, his former boss had helped him secure work at the plant, since he was going to be managing it. It was a good paying job for the time and he moved his family into a nice two story house on Dellwood. They lived only three doors down from where Baron and Lois lived with their children.
Bishop at the time was 17 and he was a ladies man to the core. Bishop had dropped of out school in the 10th grade and was working for Baron and Will at the trucking company. He was also involved in the drug trade. Bishop was driving trucks and in on the hijacking of goods. He made good money, yet still lived with Baron and Lois in their big house.
One day when Bishop got off work his brother Brandon was standing in the yard waiting for him. Brandon was 15 and he idolized his big brother.
“Man, some people just moved in a few doors down. And the two girls I saw are out of sight.” Brandon said excitedly.
“Oh yeah?” Bishop asked slightly interested. “You got to see them bro.” Brandon replied. “I ain’t got time to now.” Bishop said. “Cat, is waiting for me.”
Cat, was Catherine Drew, a fine red bone, who was Bishop’s off and on woman.
“Can I go out with you tonight?” Brandon asked hopefully. “It’s Friday night, I don’t think daddy would care.”
“We’ll do something tomorrow Bran, I promise.” said Bishop.
Brandon knew Bishop would keep his word, so he reluctantly agreed. “Still,
you got to see them broads man!”
“I will bro, but not right now.” Bishop said as they walked into the house. “Is ma home?”
“Nah, she’s at the store with Grandma Celia!”
Bishop playfully punched Bran on the shoulder, then went to his room to get dressed. Bishop thought of himself as a fashion plate, and he was meticulous in his dress. He had a full length mirror in his spacious room and he used it often. He put on a navy blue pinstripe suit, a robins egg blue shirt and to add a dash of color, a crimson tie and pocket square. He put on lace up cap-toed shoes, that were shined to the point that they almost looked like patent leather. Then he grabbed his fedora and put it on. He looked at himself in the mirror, then cocked his brim at a rakish angle, smiled at his reflection and stepped from the room.
His father’s voice stopped him. “You looking pretty sharp Bish, got a hot date?”
Bishop turned to his father, and smiled. “Yeah, I got a hot one!”
“Know anything bout them folk just moved in down there?” Baron asked. “I hear the daughters are lookers.”
“You see them yet?” Bishop asked.
“I asked you first nigga.” Baron said laughing.
“I bet we getting our information form the same source.” Bishop said laughing.
Baron laughed too, then said. “The boy a Kane, he got good taste so you might wanna check them out!”
“You got that right.” Bishop said. “ I got to go daddy, me and Cat just got back together. And I don’t wanna have to put up with none of her mess!”
Baron laughed, as he watched Bishop walk out the door. Bishop wasn’t as tall, or as big as most of the Kane and Sumner men. He only stood about 5’11, but he weighed about 215. He was built well and had played football and basketball in high school. He was quite an athlete.
As Bishop walked out onto the porch he saw two fine cocoa brown skinned girls coming towards him. They were dressed like it was still in the 1800’s. Long dresses that fell well over their knees, stockings, hard buckled shoes and they were bundled in thick jackets to combat the cold. He looked at their faces and thought they must be twins because they looked so much alike. He bounded down the steps and stood next to his Ford Fairlane. He waited until they drew near, then he spoke. “Good evening ladies, enjoying the brisk weather?”