by Tiana Laveen
Must be an early Christmas! I feel like Santa Claus delivering presents!
*
Koki glanced at his clock and blinked several times. For the first evening in a while, he was chilling on a Friday night. His crew was out conducting their typical mayhem while he relaxed after a fulfilling afternoon of torment. A slew of empty wine bottles spread around him like sunrays, reflecting light from the nearby candles, twinkling as if lifted and gifted with crushed cries of fallen stars. A dreamlike, surreal scene, and the sweet scent of freshly plucked pussy filled his nostrils as he rose, happy to see the woman in question had left as he’d requested. Then, he heard it again…
“Damn, it wasn’t a dream… Who the hell is that at my door?”
He got to his feet and slid on a pair of jeans that lay haphazardly at the foot of the bed. On his way out of the room, he paused and sniffed the air. He sneered, double backed in lightning flash speed and grabbed his gun, stuffing it in the back of his pants. Making his way to his front door, he stopped there, his eyes turned pure white.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
“Who is it?!”
“You know who the fuck this is… That’s why it took you so long. Now open the goddamn door.”
Koki chewed his inner jaw, gripped his gun and removed the locks on the damn thing, revealing Saint. The tall, golden skinned man stood there wearing fresh sweat around his brow and a smirk. He leaned against his doorframe while casually holding some plastic sack that swung back and forth from his loose grasp like a pendulum.
“You gonna invite me in or what? Your hospitality is pretty fucked up.”
“What business do we have right now, Saint?” Koki asked gruffly, still not fully alert but struggling to become so due to the dire situation before him.
Grinning, Saint lowered his head, scratched the bridge of his nose and crossed his ankles, as if he’d just happened in town and stopped by for a cup of cocoa. It chafed his fucking nerves.
“Our business is ongoing, Koki. Now, we hadn’t discussed the parameters, because things have a way of…” Saint looked off to the far left, as if summoning the right words, “…happening. I have something for ya.” He handed him the sack. Koki hesitated then wearily extended his arm, taking the bag into his grip. It was heavy and uneven, and a strange warmth emitted from it. “Go on, look inside… I bet when you see it, your head is gonna roll!” Saint’s grin grew disgustingly larger as he laughed at his quip, apparently feeling rather witty.
Untying the knot in the thing, he opened it and looked inside, catching his reflection in the dead man’s eyes. Koki swallowed down his reaction, borrowing all of his reserve to keep a semblance of peace, and delicately closed the bag back up, securing it just so.
“I see what you’ve done, and this means the rules have changed.” Koki gently set the bag beside him onto the floor, and directed his attention back towards Saint.
“I don’t play by your rules, Koki. I play by my own. The day you sent that mothafucka to mess with me and mine is the day all bets were off. You aren’t runnin’ shit in my world.”
Koki grinned, looked down at the bag then back at Saint.
“You killed Zoo, the curse is lifted…you should be happy, correct?”
“Nope. Not by a long shot.”
“And why not?” Koki smirked. “You won, right? You even figured out you needed to behead him within a certain time frame to eliminate his promotion possibility. That’s a centuries old secret that no Angel Child knows…until now. I wonder how you found out? Was it a creepy lookin’ half Angel, half Demon Child possibly whispering in your ear?” Koki’s eyes turned coal black as he took satisfaction in the thought of killing Cruz for his betrayal.
“I didn’t win shit…but I will.” Saint’s eyes turned bright red, like freshly drawn blood, as he pumped his finger in Koki’s face. “And don’t you worry about Cruz. He is the least of your problems. The day you messed with where I rest my dick is the day your life officially ended. You just didn’t know it had. You’ve caused all sorts of pandemonium and chaos, but you already know that. Now, I like to play somewhat fair in all this fuckin’ dirtiness, so tomorrow night, you and I will be gettin’ it in. That’s it. It’s a wrap. You did what you did and now…well, I’m going to do, what I’m going to do.”
Koki sucked his teeth and nodded as he contemplated how to play his next move. “You do realize, that ridiculous group of fucked-in-the-head idiots that were waiting for your arrival will be wiped out as soon as I say motherfuckin’ go.” He laughed. “Why would you sacrifice them, hmmm?” Koki threw up his hands and chuckled. “That’s not very Angel Child-like of you. Besides, you know they’d never do the same for you, come up against me. You left New York for some pussy, man.” He shook his head. “Don’t try to roll back in here and stake claim, man. You got your pussy back, now be happy about it and trust me, the next thing I do to you will be far worse. It doesn’t even have to be this way. Shit, I understand you being a bit pissed off, but hey, you killed my main man, you got your woman back and for the most part, I’ve stayed out of your way. Don’t make me have to kill more people, Saint. That would be such a pity and really…if I do, it will be all your fault.”
“Name the place, and I’ll be there…” Saint ignored him, not taking the bait as he gripped a cigar, lit it, and blew smoke in his face.
Koki grinned and moved his bare foot to and fro across the softness of the white rug.
“The Brooklyn Bridge. Tomorrow. Three in the morning. That’s the witching hour.”
“Leave it to you to pick a place such as that. But!” Saint’s brow rose as he grinned and pointed to the man, the cigar tip barbed in his direction. “I’m not one to say no to a reasonable challenge, Koki. Brooklyn Bridge it is.”
“Oh and Saint, leave your guard dogs behind… You know, Tonto and Goliath. It’s just one against one for this undertaking.”
“Absolutely. No problem.” Saint traced a silver medallion wrapped around his neck, then pulled out his dark sunglasses and placed them on his face. “I have a request; no actually, it is a demand of my own. I’m going home as I’m sure you already suspected and if you do anything, and I mean anything, to intervene, I will give you what you came here for.” He tapped ashes onto Koki’s head as if he were a human ashtray but Koki didn’t feel one damn thing as he swiped the embers away. “If you send anyone, even whisper a plan inside that skull of yours to try and circumvent what I want under my own roof, I will toss all the bylaws aside and gut you from your fuckin’ feet to the top of that silly face of yours in three seconds flat—and not give one single fuck about it.” Even through the sunglasses, he could see the man’s eyes turning bright red, almost blinding him. Saint bit into his bottom lip so deeply, it almost bled as the two stared darts into one another.
“Do something, mothafucka.” Saint’s upper lip lifted in a sneer. “I want you to…”
“Saint, let me ask you something. Do you like art?” Koki burst out laughing. “That was a close call, huh?” He giggled.
“I love art, Koki, and I will enjoy the beautiful, artistic designs your stinking blood makes when I squeeze you like a damn grape with my bare hands.”
Koki’s smile faded, though he tried to hide his growing annoyance with the man.
“One more carrier pigeon, one more sneaky transaction, and you will not die fighting, Koki, as you planned. You will croak in the most dishonorable of ways. It will be your bequest. The choice is yours. And as for me? You need not worry about Lawrence and Jagger jumping in to get a lick or two. Besides,” he shrugged and leaned in close to him, his warm breath tickling his flesh, “I want you all to myself.” Saint smirked and straightened his jacket, pulling at the black, leather sleeves. Then he tossed his head to the side, causing his tresses in the front to fall in front of his eyes.
“So be it…”
“And so let it be…”
Then, Saint turned his back and walked away, like his cock was a gun barrel and he was fucking untouc
hable. Koki laughed lightly and closed and locked the door, then shot a glance at Zoo’s severed head, neatly tucked away in the plastic bag. He picked it up and walked into his living room, lighting the fireplace with his eyes. Reopening the sack, he gripped the head by the black, silky hair at the crown. Zoo’s mouth was still slightly ajar, and dried blood lined the corners. Koki looked into the eyes, and saw the terror the man experienced during his last seconds.
“I’m sorry, Zoo. It looks as if your sacrifice may have been in vain, but it wasn’t. Regardless, I shouldn’t have gotten you involved, accepted your offer for assistance. I’m not disappointed in you, but you will pay for failing, regardless.” He tossed the head into the flame and watched it burn, the flesh falling from the skull like freshly carved meat. He took a seat in front of the fire, and tapped his fingers along the arm of the blue velvet chair.
This mothafucka really thinks I’m just going to let him waltz back here in my city, and have his way. I haven’t come this far to fail. And I have a little surprise for Cruz. That half-breed is finally going to get what his confused ass deserves…
*
Chapter Thirty-Five
Xenia sat in the parlor, in a daze. She ran her hand over her long, sheer sea green gown with lavender trim, waiting for what felt like an eternity. Saint had returned fairly quickly, just as he promised. Earlier, it had taken all of her remaining strength to lie to her mother’s face, to tell her she was fine though she was clearly shaken up from the evening’s disturbing events. Jagger was rather attentive on the ride back, explaining to her that she did nothing wrong…though it sure as hell felt like it. What disturbed her most of all, however, was that, despite what had transpired, the moral weight of the situation, she was lusting heavily for her husband…
Filled with fermented shame, she looked down at her lap, wondering how she could think of sex at a time like this. She’d pulled a trigger and killed a man and though her back was turned and her sight inhibited by Jagger’s barreled chest, she knew Saint was doing something absolutely horrific. Her soul told her so; therefore, she’d heeded Saint’s advice to look away until it was all said and done. Jagger didn’t blink an eye; nor did Lawrence, the peaceful one of the bunch. She was astonished at how methodical the three men moved about afterward, as if they’d only played a spirited game of ball, and now it was time to retreat. As she tumbled through her emotions like a pile of Autumn leaves, she’d never forget the power, pain and love thrust upon her when that man, her husband, pressed his body hard against her, almost toppling her over. He’d held the gun and intertwined their fingers, making them both responsible for that murder. Saint told her it was not homicide but suicide on Zoo’s part…
Regardless, Saint refused to let her take the fall by herself, and since she had to do it, he’d be damned if she’d do it alone. He was her Clyde to her unwanted position as ‘Bonnie’, but he’d stepped right in and taken control. She smiled at that notion, and swiped a tear away from her eye while Sons of Funk, ‘Pushin’ Inside of You’, played all throughout the house. Saint had put it on, and she trembled deep within, wondering what he was up to. She sniffed and brushed another tear away.
The tears were no longer on behalf of the man called Zoo, who came like a wrecking ball and tried to destroy her bond with her man. The tears were for Saint…the thought that this was the everyday life he lived, and he had to do it, in order for balance to be restored.
In the car, Jagger had compared it to animals in the wild—how someone has to die in order for others to survive. When the balance is unequal, sometimes a great flood comes and wipes out the ones taking over, or a fire moves through the brush, or a great drought overtakes the land. These are checks and balances—and Saint, was definitely a one-man check and balance.
“Okay, baby.” His deep, silky voice shook her from her thoughts. “I’m ready.” He extended his hand towards her as he stood barefoot at the bottom of the steps with only a pair of silky black pajama pants on. His skin looked oily and slick, and a scent permeated off of his flesh, one of musky masculinity mixed with the perfect amount of aftershave and cologne. He’d even brushed his hair just how she liked it, and those luscious, dark waves, flawlessly tapered sideburns and shiny, golden eyes lured her in hook, line and sinker. She could tell by the gleam of his smile, he knew she was back, and she was ready. A dam of wetness accumulated between her thighs in that very instant…
Getting to her feet, she walked towards him. She couldn’t get to the damn man fast enough. He wrapped his hand snugly around her neck, firmly bringing her lips to his, and laid a kiss on her that made her weak at the damn knees.
“Ahhh….” She whimpered as he shifted positions and lifted her up, placing one arm around her waist and the other under the backside of her knees, to cart her up the steps. Strangely enough, he practically floated up the damn things, all the while looking down at her, unblinking, his eyes on her. Once they arrived at their bedroom door, he pushed it open with his shoulder to reveal his romantic masterpiece.
“Oh my God, Saint.” She gasped, her eyes looking on in amazement. In the middle of the bed sat a large, clear bowl of fruit. On the nightstand, a chilled bucket of wine with two flute glasses, a strawberry on each rim. All around the room, the place was aglow with soft, purple candles and the fireplace roared, danced and flickered. Across from the bed, the wall-mounted television sported a scene of the ocean. It looked as if she could jump right into it from the shore. The waves moved back and forth, and the sound of the water crashing did something strange to her…filled her with peace.
He gently placed her down on her feet, removed the bowl from the bed and set it to the side. He sat down and motioned for her to do the same.
“Come here, I need to talk to you for a second.” He huffed, as if a lot sat on his mind.
She did as asked, and grasped his hand. He gave a smile full of melancholy as he traced the side of her face with his fingertips. “I know there was no way around it, but I’m sorry for tonight. I can’t stand that you were involved, in any capacity. And I hate to bring this up right now, but we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. How are you feeling?”
“I’m all over the place.” She offered a half-smile. “I know in my heart that I had no choice. I made peace with that while waiting in the restaurant actually.” She looked down at her lap then back into his eyes. “It all seemed to come together. I was still scared though…not of doing it, but of getting caught and the repercussions behind that. I never wish to repeat the experience though. Even though he was evil, a terrible person, he was still a human being…but do I regret that he’s dead?” She looked at him thoughtfully. “Not really…not with everything that was at stake. I had to come to grips with the fact this was not just about sex, it was bigger than that, and he knew it, too. But I meant what I said to you…”
“And what was that?” He leaned in closer to her, laid a delicate kiss across her temple.
“I would let you go before you remained endlessly miserable. Because I really love you, Saint. My love for you never ceased, even during all that we endured. That is what made it all the more unbearable, actually. The curse didn’t take away my love for you, only the physical manifestation of that love. It was so upsetting, distressing.”
“I thought about that, too.” He swallowed and looked at her seriously. “I thought about how you were suffering just as much, if not more than I was. You wanted to make love, too… just not to me.” He paused, a pain deep within him obviously agitated by the current conversation. She caressed the side of his face as he stared down at her lap and his jaws tensed. “I thought about how selfless you are, to try to tell me you’d leave me before you let me suffer due to this. Woman, you’re crazy!” He cracked up laughing as he gently cupped her neck, tilted her head upward, and kissed her forehead.
“That’s not crazy, that’s love!” she protested with a smile.
“No, you’re crazy if you thought you were getting away from me that easily.” His eyes darken
ed as he moved a few curly strands of her hair out of her face. “I was in this, I am in this, Xenia, with you for the long haul. I’d just be a masturbating fool.” He chuckled. “No…I wasn’t going any damn where, regardless. If I had to spend my entire life trying to get to the bottom of it, I just would have…but without you, Xenia, I’m not happy. You’re more to me than what’s between your legs, baby.”
“…But sex is important. You couldn’t be in a sexless marriage, Saint. And a woman like me knows this.”
“Sex is important, Xenia…but to me,” he said, touching his chest. “What’s worse than a sexless marriage is a loveless marriage…and we had plenty of love between us before.” He kissed the side of her face as he slowly lowered her down onto the bed. “During…” He landed a perfect kiss across her lips. “…And after all of this confusion.” He sucked on her neck as he pinned her down, making her damn groin quake with the heat of his mouth.
“Mmmmm!” She couldn’t help but moan. “Saint, you smell so good.” She relished in the moment, grateful that she had her mojo back. She’d missed him so much! This almost felt like the first time… It had been so long, and she didn’t want the man to leave her side. He kissed down her body, dragging the sheer layers of the fabric of her gown as he went, messing her up, making her feel how much he wanted, no…needed her.
Without warning, he rose to his feet.
“Stand up for me, baby.” She rose from her seated position, clasping her hands together, then paused in bewilderment as he pointed across the room. “Go over there, please.”
He stroked his chin, and a rascally sparkle gleamed in his eyes. She did so, looking over her shoulder every now and again, wondering what he was up to. She arrived at her new location and turned to face him, planted her feet on the carpet.