by Carl Weber
I grabbed her hand, intertwining her fingers with my own as we lay there in satisfied silence. After a few moments, she was the first to speak.
“You were amazing. I have to reward you, so I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving. Anywhere we can order this late?” I asked.
“Order? Oh no, after the way you made my body feel, I’m cooking you something good.”
“You cook?” I leaned up on one arm, liking this woman more by the minute.
“Eggs, pancakes, country ham, grits, home fries, sausage, biscuits, and gravy. Whatever you want.”
“You got country ham?” I was impressed.
She smiled at me, leaning over to give me a kiss. “I will go down to the butcher and cut up a whole pig myself if that’s what you want. After the way you took care of me it’s the least I can do.” She laughed, sounding truly happy. I grabbed her face and pulled her back down for a kiss.
It was starting to look like we were going for round two, until we were interrupted by my phone. We both turned to the clock on the nightstand. It was two o’clock in the morning.
“You got to answer that?” She seemed worried, but I knew I wasn’t hiding another woman who’d be calling me. It had to be family, and at this time of night, they weren’t calling to make small talk.
I grabbed the phone. It was Harris.
“It’s work,” I told her as I hit the button to answer the call. “Harris, what’s up? I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“Well, whatever it is, drop it and head on home. We’ve got an emergency.” His voice was shaky.
I sat up immediately. “What’s going on?”
“It’s—” He stopped for a second, making this sort of choking sound, like he was holding back tears. “It’s Orlando, Junior. He’s dead. He’s been killed.”
I winced. “That’s not funny, Harris. Don’t play like that.”
“I’m not laughing, Junior. You need to come home. The family needs you.” Now I could hear that he really was on the verge of tears.
“I’ll be right there.” I hung up, but I was so numb I couldn’t move from my spot.
“You all right?” Sonya grabbed my arm. “What happened?”
“It’s my little brother. He’s been killed.” As I said the words, tears began rolling down my face. “They killed him, Sonya. They killed my baby brother.”
LC
21
Time seemed to stand still as I sat in my office staring at a framed picture that was hanging on the wall. There were at least a hundred different photos of family and friends on that wall, but this particular one seemed to speak to me for the very first time. It was a picture of Orlando, Chippy, and me after he’d won the science fair in high school. He was truly in his glory that day.
Orlando wasn’t anything like his brothers Junior and Vegas, who were both standout stars in football, basketball, and track in high school. No, Orlando did things a little differently. Where they excelled in sports, he excelled in math and science. I used to love listening to him explain to his mother the difference between electrons and protons, or the way he would watch Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom like it was a cartoon. I don’t even think he knew I was paying attention, but I was. I was so very proud of him. I just wished I had told him that when he was alive.
“LC, they’re all here. We’re just waiting on you,” Harris said, interrupting my thoughts. He was standing in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. “You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I was just thinking.” I sat up in my chair.
“About Orlando?”
“Yep.” I got up and walked to the door, patting him on the back. “Make sure you tell your kids you love them, Harris, and make sure you spend time with them. It goes by so fast.”
He nodded as we walked down the Duncan Motors corridors to the boardroom. I walked into the room and everyone was sitting in their seats. There was no hiding the aura of depression that loomed in the air. Harris and I took our seats.
I took a hold of Chippy’s hand, thankful that this time she didn’t pull away, that she finally allowed me to comfort her in even the slightest way. Since Alejandro’s fateful phone call, my wife been on overdrive, taking care of everything and everyone at the expense of her health. She wouldn’t take a moment for herself.
There was little point in trying to change things. I knew my wife, and this was how she grieved. She went silent, took care of the others, and saved her pain for last. But today I wasn’t sure she’d be able to contain it anymore and her receptivity to me was a hint that she felt that way too.
A few years ago when I made the deal to send Vegas away she retreated into her shell the same way she had this past couple of days. While Chippy had always been an incredible wife and partner, fiercely protecting and loving her children came first. After Vegas left, her reaction had been to become distant, quietly grieving alone in our bedroom until one day the dam burst. She cried for our son for days, until she’d emptied herself of every single tear. Then she became strangely calm, almost as if she’d found a place to lock away those sad feelings.
I took sole responsibility for Orlando’s death, but I knew even that would offer them little comfort. I would give anything to spare my wife and family the hurt they were experiencing, but I was powerless to do that.
It was hard looking across the table at Orlando’s empty chair. I did everything I could to avoid it, but that only meant I had to look into the faces of my family members, who were in pain as a result of my decisions. Each one’s face told a different story. Junior’s face was lined with fury. I was sure he was running scenario after scenario through his head, plotting how he would make Alejandro pay. London’s face was full of blame, but not for me. She blamed Paris for Orlando’s death. She’d made it very clear she believed that this would never have happened if Paris hadn’t killed Alejandro’s son Miguel. Rio just looked lost. I think he’d taken Orlando’s death the hardest so far. Paris, like Junior, had channeled her grief into rage. She was ready to seek revenge. She’d already asked several times if she could jump on a plane to California to kill Alejandro. Forget about having a plan; she just wanted to go kamikaze on him and his people. Then, of course, there was Chippy, who just looked cold. She wasn’t hard to read at all. She was just plain old pissed the fuck off, and not just at Alejandro either.
Last but not least was Harris, and his face showed patience. He’d been passed over for CEO last year, mostly because I didn’t think he had the heart for this side of the business; but he seemed to be a changed man after he made his bones killing Sal Dash. He wasn’t about to make any waves until things settled down, but I knew he was expecting a promotion. That’s probably why he was stepping up now when the rest of my family was still flailing around in their grief, unable to really pull themselves together yet.
“It’s time. I think we should make the call,” Harris said. I nodded and he hit the button to the speakerphone.
We heard the ringing through the speakers, and then a man answered with a Latin accent, “Hello.”
Juan Rodriguez had been a close friend and business associate for years. It was Juan who set up the meeting between Alejandro and Orlando.
“Señor Rodriguez, this is Harris Grant. We spoke earlier. I’m here with LC and the rest of the Duncan family. The line is secure, and we have you on speaker.”
“Greetings, Lavernius and family.”
“Juan, I’m going to get right to the point. Is it true? Did Alejandro kill my son ?” I held my breath as I waited for his answer.
I could hear Juan sigh before he spoke. “Yes, Lavernius, it is true, but I beg you and your family to refrain from taking any action. There are—”
Paris jumped out of her seat. “Are you out your fucking mind? I’m not going to refrain from shit! That motherfucker killed my brother. I’m going to put a bullet in his fucking skull, and there ain’t shit you or anybody else can do to stop me!” Paris had tears in her eyes and she was shaking. Juni
or took her by the arm and guided her back down to her seat, wrapping his arm around her neck to comfort his sister.
“Let the man speak, Paris,” Harris said calmly. “I’m sure there’s more to what he has to say. Señor Rodriguez, please continue.”
“Thank you, Mr. Grant,” Juan replied. “Young lady, I understand your frustration and anger over this senseless matter. I also know of your reputation and that you are very capable of your threat. I only ask you to refrain, to avert a war and so that I can make amends for a tragic mistake on my part.” There was silence on the line as Juan gathered his thoughts to explain. “You see, Orlando’s death is on my hands. I was the one who arranged the meeting between him and Alejandro, and in doing so I guaranteed everyone’s safety. By killing Orlando and his bodyguards, Alejandro has tarnished my reputation as a man of my word; thus, he has not only become your enemy, but mine as well. So, I insist you must let me make amends.”
“And what kind of amends do you plan on making?” I asked.
“Very simply, Lavernius, I plan on having Alejandro killed,” he replied.
“And what about the cartels? Won’t there be problems with them?”
“No, I don’t think there will be a problem with them. They agree that Alejandro has overstepped his bounds.”
“Juan.” Chippy spoke up for the first time.
“Charlotte.” Juan’s voice became soft. “You have Lola’s and my deepest sympathy. Orlando was a lovely young man, a son to be very proud of. I am truly sorry, my friend. I will take care of this. I promise.”
“Thank you,” Chippy replied. “But there is one thing I need from you even more than that.”
“Anything.”
“I want my son’s body. I don’t want it buried in some desert in California. I want it brought home, and I want it here yesterday,” she said firmly.
“I will take care of it right away, Charlotte. I will bring him to you myself. You have my word.”
“Thank you. Please say hello to Lola for me.” With that, she sat back in her chair again, her eyes glistening with tears, but her expression stoic.
“I will,” he replied; then his voice became stern again. “Lavernius, stay near the phone. I will be in touch.”
“I’ll await your call, Juan. Thank you.”
Harris hung up the phone, and I turned to my family, looking directly at Paris. “We let Juan handle this. Am I understood?”
There was a low “Yes” that came in unison. When I turned to Chippy, she was already halfway to the door.
“Chippy,” I called to her.
She turned to me. “I have nothing to say, LC. All I care about is getting my son’s body home. But if you wanna do something constructive, go get my grandson and his mother from that psychopath Vinnie Dash like you promised. Now that my son’s dead, that baby is the only part of Orlando I have left.”
Sasha
22
Once again I was tied up, this time to the four-post bed in my suite. Manny had only been able to stay one day before being called back to work, and I thought the rest of my vacation would be dry, if you know what I mean. Lucky for me, though, he’d returned last night, bragging about shooting some big shot drug dealer from back east in the head. We hadn’t wasted any time getting back to business. He had my body battered, beaten, and bruised as his dick beat up my booty hole something fierce. The sound and sensation sent me over the edge. God, there was nothing like the pleasure of pain, and there was no man who could give me that pleasure like Manny Calderon.
“Ahhh! Yes! Yes!” I screamed out. I was coming like I hadn’t in years. “Hurts so good! Hurts so damn good!”
“Goddamn!” Manny gripped me even tighter, pulling my hair as he erupted inside. He collapsed in a heap on top of me, both of us wet, sweaty, and satisfied, our musky scents all over each other.
My phone chirped in a specific ringtone, letting me know that it was work.
“I gotta get that. It’s work!” I shouted, the urgency in my voice. He climbed off me and unshackled me as fast as he could, but it was too late. I had missed the call. I got up, grabbed my phone, and hit redial. A bland Indian voice from the call center answered.
“Good evening, Sasha. Can you hold for your employer,” he asked, but it was definitely not a question.
My employer! my head screamed in fear, excitement, and concern. I stepped out onto the balcony and closed the door. I hadn’t spoken to my employer since he hired me.
His voice came on the line, his Latin accent strong and sexy. This man was in control. Powerful and mature. He always reminded me of that guy on the Dos Equis commercial, the most interesting man in the world.
“Greetings, Sasha,” he said. “I have some rather personal work for you.”
“Anything, sir,” I responded, feeling for a second like that nervous twenty-one-year-old he’d hired two years ago.
“This is a double contract, and it pays four times your normal rate. It’s going to be much more dangerous than usual, but I’m sure you’re up to the challenge. I want these individuals exterminated with extreme prejudice.” Now I was beginning to understand why he needed to speak to me personally. Whoever these people were, they had really pissed off my boss.
“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll take care of it.”
“I’m sure you will. And you can start right now.”
“Right now, right now or—”
“I’m under the impression that you’re with Manny Calderon?” he asked, but he obviously already knew the answer. I turned and stared through the glass door at Manny, who had taken out his iPad and was scrolling through, reading something.
“You’re following me?” My tone was rife with indignation. I had always insisted on my privacy. That was why I steered clear of real relationships or situations that left me exposed.
“No, we’re following him,” he assured me.
I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Oh my God. What did Manny do?”
“You need to eliminate him. He’s a problem, a big problem.” His voice had turned to steel.
I hesitated, holding the phone in silence as I watched Manny through the glass. A million questions went through my mind, and they all boiled down to one: What the fuck could Manny have done to get my boss to want to kill him?
“Is this going to be an issue, Sasha? If so, let me know now.”
It took me a second before I could answer, “No, sir, this is not going to be an issue.”
“Then you can fulfill the contract?”
We both knew the answer before I responded.
“Yes.”
I turned back to my luxurious view of the Pacific. It had been calming me into a peaceful state since my arrival, but now the beauty of the shimmering ocean had simply faded and all I saw before me was a whole bunch of water.
“Good. We’ll be sending a cleanup crew to your room in half an hour. We expect the job to be completed by then,” he barked into the receiver. Suddenly his voice softened, if you can call it that. “We’ll tell you the second half of your assignment when you get in the car that’s waiting outside.”
Manny lowered the iPad as I stepped back into the room. His eyes were eating me up, ready for more. Damn shame the time constraints left no window for play. It would have been nice to go one last round.
“Everything all right?” He leaned up onto one arm.
“Great. I just got my biggest contract ever.” I smiled down at him, giving him a kiss.
“Seriously? How much?” His eyes lit up with curiosity then dulled with reality. We’d never discussed the fees for our work, and it seemed in bad taste to start now.
“A lot. For the amount they’re paying me, I’d even kill you.” I laughed as I crossed the room to my purse.
“Wow! That must be a lot of money, because we both know how you feel about me,” he said arrogantly. “They must really respect your work.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to think they do,” I acknowledged sadly. “Hey, Manny. Do you remember the firs
t time we made love?”
He smiled. “Are you kidding? I remember it like it was yesterday.”
“Think you could reenact it?”
“Sure. I can take you down memory lane if you want, but isn’t that taking backwards steps? Instead of wallowing in your past you need to look to the future. I mean, you’re a woman with an unrelenting sexual appetite. You should be trying new things, taking it to the next level.” He was grinning like he had some new crazy idea to twist my mind and body with.
I shook my head. “You know, now that you put it that way, you’re right. I do need to move forward without looking back.”
“Now that’s the little freak I know and love.”
“Love,” I said. “That’s a new one. You never said you love me before. Is that a metaphor?”
“No, it’s the truth. I do love you.” He sat on the edge of the bed smiling at me. “I was going to wait until tonight, but now is as good a time as any.”
“As good a time as any for what?” I didn’t like where this was going.
“Sasha, I’m going to be running my uncle’s business soon. I was hoping you’d come work for me and move in. We’d have our own little villa on the compound. Hell, I’ll even set up a sex room just for you where we can have swingers parties.”
“Oh my God, are you asking me to be your woman?” I wasn’t sure I was hearing him correctly—or at least I hoped I wasn’t.
“Yeah, I guess I am. I really love you, ma. I’ve always loved you, and I want us to be together.”
Tears began to well up in my eyes. We’d never talked about our feelings for each other, but deep down I’d always loved Manny too. He was not just a lover; he was a friend, the closest thing I had to a confidant now that my father was dead.
“Manny, I’ve never said this to a mark before, but I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
“Mark? What do you mean? I’m not a—Oh, shit.” His words fell off, although his facial expression spoke volumes as I leveled my gun at his head. I genuinely felt bad as he shook his head in disbelief. “Come on, Sasha. Don’t do this, baby. I love you. I really love you.”