by T. Styles
She looked at me and then out at the blank movie screen. Standing up she wiped her hands on her thighs and sighed. “I gotta go check on the baby. I’ll talk to you later.”
Wow.
Guess that was her answer.
I was still in the theater when Bradley walked inside and plopped next to me. “I saw her leave.” He sighed. “So you’re watching a blank screen now?” He asked.
I smiled. “Not really. I’m just envisioning how tomorrow gonna play out. With Abd.” He looked at me but remained silent and I knew what he was waiting for. “Yes, I already know, Bradley. It was all my fault that them gang members died and I let Scarlett take the rap for it.”
“You made a mistake out of anger. It happens.”
I looked into his eyes. “I love you, Bradley. And I know I shouldn’t love you but I do.”
He swallowed. “Wow. Didn’t see that coming.”
“I’m sorry…”
“No…I love you too, Race.”
I felt as if the breath had been removed from my body. “But…but we—”
“I know what you’re about to say. And you’re right. We can’t point fingers at Ramirez and Scarlett and stay together.” He paused. “It’s over. We’ll always have these moments and the ten days we were locked down. It will be our secret.”
I nodded and a tear fell down my cheek. He kissed it away.
“I can’t do to Denim what Scarlett did to me and live with it. I didn’t expect to feel this way for you but its too late. You’re the best and the worst thing that has happened to me at the same time. How is that possible?”
He smiled at me, kissed me on the lips and walked out.
I missed him already.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
THE KENNEDY’S
The soft overhead light glistened against the elaborate table settings around the perimeter of the wedding hall. Just one silver fork alone was worth enough to pay a hood nigga’s rent for a month. And yet it was just one of the many finishing touches in place for Abd Al-Qadir’s descendent, who was marrying his new bride via an arranged marriage within an hour.
The ceremony had yet to take place but everyone who was anyone in Saudi Arabia was invited to the mystical celebration in a small suburb of Washington D.C.
All were happy.
Arabic music played quietly in the room and was intermixed with popular American tunes, as Jawad was a fan of the culture.
Finally it was time.
The door opened and Abd, Jawad and his groomsmen walked to the front of the hall and awaited the arrival of his bride. Mixing the Middle East with the West, the audience was in awe at the multi-million dollar ceremony unfolding before their eyes.
The celebration was moving art.
A spectacle to behold if that’s what you were in to.
Jawad was handsome but Abd was striking. Standing over six feet tall, he possessed rugged good looks that appealed to women of all nationalities. The hairy beard that connected to the lower half of his face was coal black and resembled a mink coat.
Dressed in a white suit and a red and white Keffiyeh, Abd strolled over to his son and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. From a far he noticed that Jawad was jittery and feared he would walk away from his destiny, as he threatened to many times before. “Don’t worry, she’ll make you happy, Jawad,” Abd said as he looked down at his son, before smiling in a fake manner at the crowd. He was doing his best to calm the suspicions of the guests whom he was certain noticed his son’s anxious mood.
The man looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but in that bitch, locking his life with someone he barely knew.
Jawad smiled although it only lasted for a moment. “I know, father. She’s beautiful and—”
“Our family needs this marriage to go off without a hitch,” Abd said harshly. “You know Rana’s father is powerful in Saudi and here in America as well. With their support we can do many things, son. Do not destroy this for our family because you are unwilling to do your part and make her your wife.” His voice grew deeper. “It will be a grave mistake.”
He nodded. “I understand father,” he whispered. “And I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Maybe it’s the nervousness you detect and I will do my best to rid myself of this weak emotion at once.”
Abd placed a firmer hand on his shoulder. “Good. You are my son and we are never fearful about a future we control. Don’t worry; even as your wife you will have many women but also many heirs.” He pointed at him. “The choice will always be yours unless it conflicts with mine.”
Jawad shook his head. “Yes, father. And again, I will pull myself together.”
Just then the music grew louder as everyone in the room rose to show respect to Jawad’s veil covered wife. A small smile spread across Abd’s face as he looked at her henna decorated hands holding an elaborate bouquet of colorful roses speckled with gold, red and white.
Standing in the wrong place, Abd walked away and reclaimed his position as Jawad’s best man and waited as the others did for the ceremony. This wedding would net the once over billionaire more money than he could spend and he needed it to go through seamlessly.
But something was wrong.
Where was Rana’s father who was supposed to walk her down the aisle?
Why was she coming to enter the next phase of her life alone?
His question was answered when suddenly the bride lifted her veil and Abd was gut punched when he realized he was staring into the eyes of Bambi Kennedy. It was a takeover of an amazing kind. Something he had not prepared for.
Speckled in several other positions Bambi’s crew rose with powerful assault weapons aimed at Abd and his guests. “I am Bambi Kennedy,” she announced, as she dropped the bouquet that was used for nothing more than a cover for her weapon. “And I am here to right the wrongs that have occurred to me.” Her focused moved toward Abd who was throwing her looks that could kill. “Sadly enough, most of you will die tonight. So I suggest you say your prayers.”
Suddenly within the crowd, Race, Kevin, Bradley, Ramirez, Roman and Owen all rose holding assault weapons aimed at Abd and his son. It was a takeover Abd didn’t see coming.
They gained entry from an insider that Roman connected with, along with the proper credentials and outfits to make them blend in with the ceremony. Being African-American meant their dark skin and partially hidden faces, went unnoticed amongst the Middle Eastern attendees.
Now on their feet, they fired into the crowd killing men and women with their extreme gun power. The plan? Total destruction.
Bambi was about to shoot Abd when he yanked her and held her in a one-armed headlock. Every time she tried to move he would press against her throat with his bicep, tightening his grip on her oxygen.
“If you kill me I will break her neck! Do you hear me? I will crack her throat!” Abd yelled out loud at Bambi’s entourage. “You declare war on the day of my son’s wedding so trust me I’m serious! Put the weapons down! NOW!”
“GET THE FUCK OFF MY WIFE, MAN!” Kevin yelled. In that moment with all of her errors he realized he needed her. If she died a part of him would go too.
“I said put the fucking weapon down!”
Abd squeezed Bambi's neck harder and Kevin could see her face reddening. “Okay, man, okay, you have it.” He paused. “Just don’t hurt her please.”
“You come into this celebration for my son and you do this to me?” Abd yelled. “Do you know who I am? Do you know what I am capable of? PUT THE FUCKING WEAPONS DOWN! I’m in charge! Not you!”
“Father, let her go.” Jawad begged. “Please.”
“SON, STAY IN YOUR PLACE! This is between me and the Kennedy’s.” Abd continued, ignoring his son’s pleas.
“Okay, okay, you have it.” Kevin relented. He looked at his entourage. “Put the weapons down.” He was willing to die for his woman because there was no life without her.
Slowly everyone complied except Roman.
Kevin frowned as he looked over at he
r. “Fuck you doing? Put the gun down! You gonna get Bambi killed.”
“Calm down, Kevin,” Roman said softly. “Everything’s cool here. I’m gonna put my hammer down right now.” She slowly lowered her body until she was halfway bent but instead of releasing the weapon on the floor she rose and with sniper accuracy fired once, hitting Abd in the center of the head. Blood splattered on Bambi’s face as Abd released the hold along with his last breath.
The big bad threat was gone.
Kevin and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing his father killed, suddenly Jawad turned around and focused on the murderous army. “I will not say anything if you let me go.” With the largest peril being eliminated, the Kennedy Klan picked up their weapons and moved closer to Jawad. “My father and I were not close and I will walk away. I promise.”
“I’m sorry,” Roman said. “Your death was in the deal too.” Without another word she shot him in the face.
Race, Bambi, Ramirez, Bradley, Kevin, Roman and Owen stood outside of the wedding hall with Rana, Jawad’s fiancé. She was the secret to their success. Realizing she would rather die and live alone in America, she sacrificed the lives of her husband, his family and even her own to be free and help Roman.
Jawad’s constant abuses and disrespect made her feel dead inside and she was willing to do anything for freedom.
It was Roman who watched from a far while doing her investigative work on Abd and his family. She saw how Jawad treated her with disdain when Abd was not watching. The woman looked miserable. Having been abused for some part of her life she knew first hand what it was like to be fed up and was positive that with the right words she could convince Rana to take sides with them and with a little effort she was correct.
So during a fitting for her wedding dress in Washington D.C., Roman approached and the rest was history. After details on who was coming and where they would be seated, she was able to help her partner in crime and win her freedom.
“You don’t know how much this means to me,” Rana said shaking Roman and then the Kennedy’s hands. “Finally I can live my life. Without being worried about if I will live or die any minute.”
“How will you survive?” Bambi asked. “Everybody you know here is dead.”
She sighed. “Yes, this is true, but it’s better to be alone than to be in a relationship with a mad man. Marriage isn’t what it’s cracked up to be if you hate one another as much as I did Jawad.”
Bambi, Kevin, Race, Bradley and Ramirez all looked at one another. Considering the things that went on in their family recently they realized they had a lot of thinking to do.
“Well, I must go, to begin my new life. I wish you all luck and thank you again, Roman, for everything.” Rana smiled, walked toward one of the many white Bentley’s in the parking lot in front of the hall and rolled off.
Bambi turned to Roman. “Thank you so much, Roman. You saved our lives.”
“Yes, and my debt is finally paid.” Roman said firmly as Owen stood at her side.
Bambi frowned, confused at her statement. “What you talking about?”
“The contract we had together indicated I owed you a hundred lives. I’ve paid that sum two times over with the massacre that occurred inside this building.” She pointed at the hall. “I’m no longer indebted to you or the other Kennedy’s.”
Bambi looked at her family and back at Roman. In the heat of the moment she forgot all about the agreement. “Is there nothing we can do to put you back on? We’ll double your salary if that’s what you want.”
“Money is not an issue,” Kevin said. “You know that, Roman.”
“I know, but I think I’m gonna go at it alone. I appreciate the offer though. Don’t worry about it. You’ll be hearing from me sooner than later. That you can believe.” She tapped Owen on the shoulder and they walked to a white van and pulled off.
“Why do I have a feeling she’s gonna be more trouble for us than anything we could have imagined?” Bambi asked the group.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Race said. “Although I don’t know why she would be beefing with us. We ain’t do shit to her.”
“If she does make a move we’re Kennedy’s,” Kevin replied. “We’re ready for anything.”
EPILOGUE
TWO MONTHS LATER
RACE
Race turned off the shower and stepped out just as Ramirez was coming inside the bathroom. “Bambi said breakfast is ready. You coming down?”
Race grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her damp body. “She still into the Everybody-Eating-Every-Morning-Together kick?”
He chuckled. “Yes…I’m kind of glad she’s forcing us to eat together though. It’s the only time we all spend some time alone. Since Abd has been taken care of we all so deep into the dope game again we hardly see each other.”
“I’m still not sure about everything. She put the vodka bottles up but exchanged them for Mimosa’s. She acts like we don’t know she’s drinking harder. I’m getting worried about her, Ramirez.”
“And I’m getting worried about us. And our marriage.”
She giggled at that nigga. “You so used to getting things when you want them that you don’t allow anybody else a chance to go through their process. I’m not ready to connect with you, homie.”
“I just don’t want you to leave me. You got me sleeping in the guest room like some fag only to let me into our bed when you want to be fucked or have your pussy eaten.”
“You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want. I can play with my clit and still get the same satisfaction.”
“I will lick every part of your body, Race, you know that. But I’m a man and you trying to make me feel like I’m your—”
“Side chick? Hoe? The other woman?” she laughed. “All the things that you’ve done to me and to other chicks? How does it feel? Like it much?”
He wiped his hand down his face in frustration. “There’s no getting through to you is there?”
“I’m doing stuff on my time and right now I’m not feeling like being your wife. You slept with my friend, Ramirez. If you don’t like the way things going on sign the divorce papers I stuck to your door last night. Either way I don’t give a fuck no more.”
“I would’ve never hit Scarlett off if you would’ve responded to me. If you would’ve let me know you cared.”
“I WANTED YOU TO FIGHT FOR ME! I WANTED YOU TO FIGHT FOR OUR MARRIAGE! Not sleep with someone just because you could. You have a way of making me feel disposable and I’m tired of the drama, Ramirez. Tired of the games and tired of the emotional tug and pull loving you brings. So you can do whatever you want but you won’t bully me into forgetting that you fell in love with Carey or fucked Scarlett. That is where it all started. You may have forgotten but I didn’t. I will never let you hurt me again. That is one thing I’m certain of.”
Race slipped into her red sweat suit.
“Wow, you really are gonna drag this out huh? You really plan to make me feel guilty for the rest of my life?”
She giggled and he was about to walk out until she said, “Aye, Ramirez, I forgot to show you something right quick.”
Things may have quieted down but she was still on her revenge shit. She knew there was one thing he would hate more than anything and it was time to reveal her secret.
He walked up to her. “What is it?”
She removed her cell phone from her pocket, skipped to a video and hit play. He snatched it from her and his eyes widened when he saw Race sucking Bradley’s dick as he begged her not to stop. Bradley had two hands on Race’s head and everything. The video had been taken when Bradley was inebriated and they were in the movie room. He had no idea she had filmed them. Ramirez continued to watch the video until Bradley came into her mouth and she swallowed.
The phone dropped out of his hand and he stole her in the stomach. “You dirty bitch!”
She giggled and doubled over in pain. “I knew about you two way before Bambi caught
you. So my question is, handsome, how does it feel?”
He scratched his head as a tear ran down his cheek. He was certain that she’d never been with another man before him and to find out the man after him was his brother cracked his world. “Why would you do this to me?”
“Because you deserved it.” She rubbed her stomach that was throbbing.
“I’m about to step to this nigga right now.”
“No you won’t.” She flopped on the bed.
He turned around. “Fuck you talking about? If you think I’m letting this go you don’t know me.”
“I showed you for revenge but this video puts us both in a bind. You step to him and Denim is going to find out. Denim finds out and the same fate will reach me and I will be forced to leave. Now I’m okay with going at life on my own. Unlike Scarlett I got some cash saved up but you don’t want that do you? I will rip this business apart from the outside.”
“Race, I loved you and you fucked my brother?”
“And you fucked Scarlett.” She paused rubbing her gut. “Consider us even.”
“I will never forgive you for this.”
“And what does that mean?”
He smiled at her and walked toward the door. Throwing her a sinister stare he said, “Don’t worry, Race, your secret is safe with me. Believe that.” He walked out the door.
What does that mean? She thought.
DENIM
Master was playing happily on Denim’s bed when Bradley shuffled inside the room. She had cut her dreads and because of it her natural short mane retreated into tiny soft curls that complimented her face. She sliced her hair to symbolize letting her mother go because she was done being filled with regret for not being the daughter Sarah wanted. In her mind Sarah made a decision to leave and she would have to live with it, wherever she was in the world.
What she knew was this…she would not go looking for her, no matter what.
“Bambi said breakfast is ready,” Bradley announced as he stuffed his hands into his black sweats, his dick print visible. “Hungry?”