by T. Styles
“You sure about that?”
“Right now we are at war with the Russians, Race. The only thing on my mind is bringing resolution to this shit. I’ll worry about Kevin and his bum bitches later.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
BAMBI
Kevin stood before the cherry wood table in the dining room of the Bunker to discuss the status of our business. Just like other family meetings, at this one everybody was present.
“As you know, business has been down for the last three weeks,” Kevin said.
“Not to mention the fact that Larry has murdered more of our men and their family members than we can spare,” Race said. “This nigga has no heart.”
“To top it all off, some of our most loyal soldiers have jumped ship and moved on with other dealers.”
“If they jumped ship they weren’t loyal,” Ramirez said. “What I care about a fuck nigga if he has no respect for the brand?” He sank deeper into his chair with a glass of fine cognac in his hand.
He was snappy and I knew it was because of the conversation Race and him had earlier. I heard her screaming about wanting a divorce and that once there was resolution with the Russians she would be moving out.
With or without his signature.
“It doesn’t mean that they aren’t loyal,” Race said with her words slurring a little. I knew she was drunk and if I noticed that, it was major. If I looked one ounce of what she looked like while handling business, I had a new resolve to quit.
“At the end of the day they have families to take care of and if no money’s on the streets they still got to eat,” Race continued. “That’s why we have to get at the Reapers and the Russians, and end this shit once and for all.”
“She’s right,” Bradley said as he rubbed Denim’s shoulders as she sat on his lap. When I looked at Denim’s face she seemed annoyed by his touch and I knew why. “If we don’t make a move now we’re not going to have any men left. But we have to weigh the costs. Wars are expensive.”
“Yeah, what are we going to do?” Camp asked, his eyes heavy with bags from depression.
“We have to lay low until—”
“We can’t lay low,” I said cutting Kevin off. “We have to move now.” I pointed a stiff finger into the table.
Everyone looked at me and Kevin frowned before folding his arms over his chest. Since the fellas came back, I had no problems letting them run the business just as long as they moved the operation forward and not sideways.
“And how do we do that?” Kevin questioned me.
“We attack,” I said simply.
He laughed. “Bambi, you haven’t been in this business for long so let me school you right quick. These are Russians. They aren’t Bay-Bay and Mo Quick from east Baltimore. You don’t move on people of this caliber like it ain’t nothing. You must have a plan or don’t speak.”
“She might not have been in business long but under her leadership, we held shit down in your absence,” Scarlett said looking at the men. “So for sure she deserves the right to speak here.”
“Get off Bambi’s dick,” Ramirez said.
“Easy, brother,” Camp responded.
I winked at Scarlett and crossed my legs.
“To Scarlett’s point, we made a profit too,” Race added.
“Fifty percent higher at that,” Denim continued.
Kevin smacked is teeth. “Even if all that was true, under your administration there wasn’t an enemy who was directly attacking the brand,” Kevin said. “When you ladies held shit down you were doing business with the Russians with a mutual understanding. Now I have word that they have partnered with Vito, Derrick and Jim. Shit’s different now. It’s not just the Russians we have to worry about. Collectively they’re calling themselves the Russian Cartel.”
I stood up and took a deep breath. Stuffing my hands into my fatigue pants my mind wandered for a moment. For some reason, I imagined Kevin being with another woman and I wanted to snatch his face off his skull. Instead I brought my thoughts back to business and said, “Russian Cartel or not, they can still be brought down.”
“You saying the same thing, Bambi,” Kevin replied. “Anything can happen if we close our eyes and imagine,” he chuckled. “But this is not make believe. This is war.”
“You’re right, husband. And the last time I heard, I was the only one in this room who served time on the battlefield. If you were in my platoon you would be reporting to me, soldier. So where’s my salute?”
I heard Race and Scarlett giggle.
“Let me remind you of something that I think is important,” I continued. “Before I was a Kennedy, I was in the US Army. That means I defended not only America but also every last nigga in this room. And if there was one thing I learned it was the art of war.” I paused. “So what is my resolution? We bring them down by first dismantling their soldiers and any help they may have. Like they’re trying to do ours.”
“And then?” Camp said.
“We kill the Russians swiftly and without remorse.”
Kevin looked at me in silence. In fact, the room was so quiet you could hear blood pumping through their veins. When I looked at the fellas they didn’t seem excited about my idea. But each one of my sisters looked at me with grins on their faces.
If I had their support, I was good.
“You can’t be serious,” Kevin responded. “Who are we going to use to go at the Russians? We are losing five percent of our soldiers every week. Race just told you that. With the exception of the men guarding this property, we out of manpower.”
“We get the east coast bosses involved. We bring them here and stress the importance of banding together.”
“But you reached out to them already,” he replied. “And since the Russians are not directly threatening them they told you to beat it. Why do you think that would change?”
“Because I will give them a threat. One they can’t ignore.”
“Meaning?” Bradley said. He was no longer massaging Denim’s shoulders. Now his attention was on me.
Where it belonged.
“When Sarge gets back from handling business in Mexico for Mitch we’ll use a few of his men. He has access to about fifty of them. Then we give them a command to kill a few key people in the east coast bosses’ organizations and blame it on the Russians. This will bring them to their knees and then I’ll call them again with another option to band together. I’m sure they’ll pledge allegiance at that time.”
“How do you know this will work?” Camp questioned.
“Trust me, it will. I believe they already know that this Russian shit can trickle downhill. This will give them the permission they need to make a move. With us.”
Kevin laughed hysterically. “Do you know how ridiculous you sound?” He paused. “You talking about killing Russians who have supporters in other countries you know nothing of.”
I stared at him with pity. “Why are you scared? You are more powerful than them and yet you can’t even see it,” I said. “But when I look at you I see a boss, which is why I agreed to be your wife. If they were as solid as you claim they wouldn’t want the nigga downstairs so badly.” I paused. “We have Mitch so we have the drug industry.”
“This is a dangerous plan,” Bradley said. “Have we weighed the cost?”
I rolled my eyes. This nigga was always talking about money.
“What did you gentlemen think I meant when I said we were at war?” I asked skipping the subject. “That we were about to play the board game Battleship?”
“Don’t be disrespectful,” Kevin shouted slamming his fist into the table, temporarily stopping my heart.
“This is not about respect. It’s about moves.” I paused. “And if you don’t like my plan, counter it with a better one.”
“Come on, Bambi,” Bradley said. “Slow down.”
“I’m serious! Ya’ll act like ya’ll want us to stay holed up in here while they bring down everything we worked so hard for in the outside world.” I pau
sed. “This place is sweet but what happens when the cash runs out? And we don’t have enough money to pay the soldiers? Bradley, you always talking about paper but what about that?”
He nodded.
“I mean we’re good for at least ten years if you consider food and supplies but if we hide out forever, what does that make us?” I continued.
“Cowards,” Denim responded.
“I’m not saying that we should stay here forever,” Bradley replied. “I just want to make sure shit works.”
“It will work but I need the support of our family.” I looked at everyone. “Say that you’ll help me. Say that you sanction my moves because I can’t do this without ya’ll.”
Kevin looked around at everyone. “Well let’s put it to a vote,” Kevin said. “Who here is with Bambi’s plan?”
Race, Scarlett and Denim raised their hands instantly and I winked. Camp looked at Kevin and Bradley but he pushed his hand up too, followed by Bradley and Ramirez.
With everyone in agreement, we all looked at Kevin. “I guess it doesn’t matter what I choose,” he responded walking away without weighing in.
“I hope this will work,” Camp said. “For all of our sake.”
“It will work. Trust me.”
****
I walked into Kevin’s room and hung in the doorway. “I can’t believe after everything I’ve done to keep this family going that I still don’t have your support.”
He moved the pillows to the other side of the bed, pulled down the comforter and sat on the edge of the mattress to take off his shoes. “What do you want, boss? The family is on your side. Isn’t that enough?”
I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell him how much I needed his support but pride would not allow me. “I don’t trust Mitch,” I said skipping the subject.
He looked up at me.
Now I had the nigga’s attention.
“Bambi, you already have a lot on your plate with the Russians. Don’t go and get us all killed by doing something to Mitch.”
“Who said I was going to harm him?”
“I can see it in your eyes. He’s our connect, Bambi. And if your plan works, nothing we do matters if he’s gone.” He paused. “Because contrary to what you believe, Mitch is the drug industry.”
I smiled at him and turned around.
“Bambi! Bambi,” he yelled as I ignored him and walked down the hall. “Bambi, are you listening to me?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
DENIM
After the meeting and talking to Bambi and Race, I walked into the large kitchen to get a sandwich. My mother sat at the table with a box of donuts in front of her and the rim of the milk glass pressed against her lips. She placed it down and thumbed through an Essence Magazine sitting in front of her. “So what was the meeting about?” she asked me before flipping another page.
I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, slogged toward the table and flopped down next to her. “Nothing you need to worry about.” I twisted the cap off and took a swig.
“Then how come I’m hearing the word Russian brought up every five minutes in this house?” She closed the magazine and grabbed another donut. Stuffing it into the center of her jaw, white powder sat in the corners of her mouth as she chomped.
“Mama, right now I’m not in the mood.” I took another sip of water and laid my head on the table. I was sicker than ever and it felt as if I had the flu.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” she responded with her mouth full.
“You’re safe here, mama. Trust me. Nobody knows where this place is and even if they did, you can’t get past the soldiers we have surrounding the property.” I paused and put my forehead back on the cool table. “You can’t even use a cell phone except the one we assigned you on the property.”
“I know. That’s why ya’ll gave me this bullshit ass phone,” she said sliding her Samsung Galaxy S5 across the table.
“That’s a five hundred dollar phone, ma.” I gave her a new phone because I wanted her to stay away from her old crowd. I destroyed the other one and claimed I lost it.
“But it’s not mine. Now I have to try and remember all of my friends’ numbers and give them my new one. Ya’ll cutting me off at the legs.”
“Mama, please,” I said, not feeling like arguing with her. “Can’t you see that I don’t feel well?” I paused. “I just want to relax.”
“Have you told him yet?” she asked stuffing another powdered donut in her mouth. “That you not having the baby?”
“Who said I’m not having my child?”
“You would be stupid to have that baby. You don’t need that shit right—”
“Why you talking to my wife so recklessly?” Bradley asked stomping into the kitchen. His fists were clenched as he approached my mother from behind. “Huh? Didn’t I warn you about that shit?”
When I saw his face I stood up and blocked his path. This was the second time he looked like he wanted to do my mother harm and it was making me nervous. Placing my hands on his chest, I said, “Baby, come with me to our room.”
I felt his body soften but his gaze remained fixated on my mother. “I want you to stop putting bullshit in my wife’s head.” He placed his hand on my belly. “This my baby in her body and you don’t have a say so about what we do.”
“Nigga, I don’t care about that shit!” my mother snapped. “You killed my child,” she paused, “and now I want to kill yours.”
My heart stopped when I heard my mother’s hateful words. I turned around and faced her. “What the fuck do you mean by that shit, mama?”
The anger washed off her face and guilt replaced it. “Nothing, I was just…I was…”
Bradley grabbed my shoulders and looked at me. Tears rolled down my cheek as I realized my mother was trying to get me to abort my baby just to hurt Bradley.
“I told you, Denim,” Bradley said softly. “Your mother is here to try and ruin us.” I was still looking at her until he raised my chin so that my gaze fell on him. “Don’t you see that? Are you going to stand by and allow her to destroy everything we built?”
I looked at my mother and my stomach rumbled with disgust and rage.
“Either she goes or I do,” he said to me. “Make a decision soon, Denim. Because if you don’t, I’ll make it for you.” He walked out and I felt heavy.
“Don’t listen to him, Denim,” my mother said softly. “He’s just—”
“Fuck you, bitch!”
I stomped out of the kitchen and down the corridor before she could finish her sentence. I was sick of her. Sick of him. And sick of the Russians.
I needed to get away from her. I needed to take in what was happening around me.
As I walked aimlessly down the hallway, for the first time I took a real look at the design of our new home. The bunker was beautiful but there were so many rooms it was easy to get lost within the walls.
When I finally made it to my room I plopped on my bed, not knowing Bambi was behind me. “You heard the argument?” I asked.
“Yes,” she responded.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” I replied.
“You going to hear what I have to say whether you want to or not,” she said. “I know you love your mother. I love mine too. But I’ll be damned if I let her come in the way of my marriage.” She paused. “Bradley is right, Denim. He’s also right for you. So if he says your mother has to go then maybe you should listen.”
“I’m not feeling Bradley right now, Bambi. And I know you know that.”
She sighed. “I know it’s fucked up. But once we make a decision on who we choose to be in our lives, we have to stick to it. We have to honor it. Being a Kennedy ain’t for everybody.”
“You should listen to your own advice with Kevin.”
“That’s different,” she sighed. “We talking about you and the fact that it’s probably not a good idea for your mother to stay here anymore. All she’s doing is stirring up shit at the wrong time.”
“We got money, Denim. It’s nothing for us to put her somewhere where they can’t get to her.”
“But what if she doesn’t stay? I’ll be worried sick.”
“You already had the other house you bought her bulldozed down so she can’t go back to that nasty mothafucka. That’s the last house the Russians knew about. She doesn’t have a job so they can’t get her there. She has no choice but to stay where you put her.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said rubbing my throbbing temples. Everything on my body seemed to ache. “Until then, I need you to get one of Sarge’s men to take me into the city.”
“For what?”
“To have an abortion.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
BAMBI
I felt relaxed as I sat in our living room and talked to Quartz, one of Sarge’s soldiers. He was there to have an audience with Mitch and advise him on Sarge’s progress in Mexico. Sarge was there to handle the day-to-day operations for Mitch since he couldn’t physically be there.
Make no mistake, although Sarge may have been managing the cocaine crops in Mexico, it was Mitch who was running the show. Sarge didn’t do a thing without his approval.
After speaking to Mitch, Quartz sat with me to give me an update. Although this was business, I couldn’t help but notice how Quartz looked at me. His light brown skin glowed and his hazel eyes seemed to peer through my soul. He’d always looked upon me that way, even before I had a bigger hand in the operation.
A lot of men find women in power sexually attractive but today I noticed him too. Maybe it was Kevin’s betrayal or maybe it was just the man before me.
Who knows?
And who cares?
Whatever it was, for the moment, I decided to give him my undivided eye.
“Mitch looks good,” Quartz said as he leaned back in the large, plush leather sofa. “And I know he wants to be back in Mexico but you’re taking good care of him here.” His eyes rolled away from mine, down to my thighs that were laced in a pair of tight jeans and then up at my eyes again. “I see you’re taking care of yourself too.” He licked his lips and looked at me seductively. “Then again, you always do.”