by T. Styles
“Any idea on how much this mothafucka wanna charge?” Kelsi asked.
“I’m not sure but I hear it’s as high as forty percent,” I said. “Way more than Mitch charges.”
They moved around a little and I could see the agitation. “Why is all of this happening now?” Rasim asked. “The Russians haven’t wanted in on our business before.”
“They’re doing this now because they want to deal directly with Mitch,” Race replied. “And we won’t let them.”
“So why not let the niggas cop from Mitch straight up?” Lil C asked readjusting his gold chain on his chest. “Seems like all our problems would be eliminated with that.”
“That’s a good point,” Snow responded. “We purchase directly from Mitch. So why can’t they?”
Yvette frowned. “Oh, so ya’ll get to go straight to Mitch?” she asked looking over at the Namis. “Because we gotta go through Bambi with a markup.”
I could feel the tension in Yvette’s voice and I didn’t like it. “You deal through me because I brought you in when your other supplier dried up.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right,” Scarlett said. “What was his name?”
“The nigga’s name was Saint,” Denim responded.
“Didn’t he want to fuck you?” Scarlett continued. “And when you refused, he kidnapped you for three days before our men saved your life?”
Yvette rolled her eyes and sat back into her seat.
“Are you saying my prices aren’t fair?” I asked returning to the subject now that my sisters put her in her place. “Because I know for a fact that I’m giving you a better deal than your first connect, Dreyfus. Who, by the way, was getting his product directly from Mitch.”
“I’m not saying that your prices are unfair,” she responded.
“Then what the fuck you saying then?” Denim snapped.
“Hold up, why you coming at my friend all hard and shit?” Carissa barked, slamming on the table with a closed fist. “She got a right to ask questions. Isn’t that why we were all called? To weigh in on the matter?”
“Wasn’t nobody even talking to you anyway,” Mercedes said to Denim.
“Bitch, you sound crazy,” Race said as she stood up. “This our mothafucking house! Check the Kennedy name on the door!”
“Sit down, bay,” Ramirez said tugging on her elbow. She looked at him and took a seat. “I know it’s a lot of tension in this room right now but we shouldn’t be fighting each other.” Ramirez looked at everyone and then his eyes rested on Yvette. “You don’t have to use our coke if you don’t want to, shawty. If you can get a better price, then so be it. The door is over there. Use your wings…they work.” He pointed.
Yvette looked at Carissa, Mercedes and Lil C. I guess she didn’t get the permission to walk out that she was looking for because she sat back in the chair, crossed her arms over her chest and stared at me. “I’m listening,” she responded.
I liked Yvette. I really did but if she came at me sideways again I had intentions on snatching her heart out. But when I did, she wouldn’t see it coming. It wouldn’t be in a meeting with all of the bosses present, so that they would think that I couldn’t control myself. It would be in private, within a dark alley.
Just her and I.
“Let’s say the Russians do want war,” Nine said bringing me back to the meeting at hand. “And let’s say they try to dismantle our operations if we refuse to use their coke. What is your plan?”
“Yeah, why we here?” Kelsi asked.
“You’re here because the Russians have connected with other bosses,” I said. “Together they are calling themselves the Russian Cartel and they command a big army. I was hoping that we could do the same. Combine our soldiers and fight back. Together we are a legion.”
“And where’s Mitch again?” Rasim questioned.
“We have him held up for his protection,” I responded. “Once we deal with the Russian Cartel then we’ll let him go. But don’t worry, while we have him in custody, business will still move as usual. Bricks are still being sold.”
“And how does one deal with the Russian Cartel?” Snow asked.
“We kill them,” I responded.
Silence.
Nine smiled and said, “War is a necessary evil.”
I nodded. “Yes it is, friend.”
“So when do you think they’ll make a move?” Nine asked.
“One of their fiancés was murdered today,” I said looking at Race. “The order was given by us in response to the men they killed in our organizations. We also took out their best soldier. A man by the name of Larry. And I’m sure because of it, they’re angry and disabled.” I paused. “I reason that they’ll make another move on your camps any day now.”
“Well if they do,” Nine said with a smile on her face, “we will be ready.”
“So are you all in?” I looked around the table. “Because I need an answer tonight. Can I see a show of hands?”
Starting with Nine Prophet, one by one, the bosses raised their hands. In my family, Race was the first followed by everyone else. And when I looked down at my husband he raised his hand too.
My pussy jumped.
I don’t know why the small action caused my heart to pump rapidly but it did. Finally, he had my back.
“Thank you,” I said to all of them, especially the nigga whose name I chose. “As you know, I invited you all to stay here in the bunker tonight and I hope that you will take me up on my offer. In the event the war is extra bloody, you and your families are welcome to come here for protection. This place is off the grid to everyone, including the police.”
Nine stood up and Leaf went to grab her fur coat from the butler. “I appreciate the offer, friend, but my husband and I have a war to plan for in the privacy of our own home.” She strolled over to me. She reminded me of Cleopatra. Strong, bold and elegant.
“Don’t worry about us,” Nine continued. “We will be ready for them.” She extended her hand. “It is such a pleasure to be in the company of a real king. A real woman. I look forward to doing more business with you in the future.”
I shook her delicate hand. “Same here.”
I walked them to the door after they said their goodbyes to everyone. When they were gone I looked back at the table. “So is everyone else staying?”
They all nodded.
“I guess it’s a celebration,” Rasim said raising his wine glass in the air.
“The party before the storm,” Lil C added.
I smiled and when I looked toward the back, I saw Sarah. She grinned at me and walked away.
I wondered how long she was standing there.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
DENIM
Sitting by the fireplace, I was sipping a glass of wine after dinner when someone walked up behind me and said, “So how do you think this will all work out?”
When I turned around I was looking into Kelsi’s handsome face. I shrugged. “I’m not sure but I think we will reign. But…”
“But what?” he asked refilling my glass with the expensive red wine I was drinking that he brought.
“But there will be a lot of blood.”
He sighed and poured himself a glass before sitting the empty bottle on the ground. “From us or them?”
“From both organizations,” I said.
He shook his head. “Spilled blood is never a problem unless it comes from your camp.”
“I know. I just—”
My sentence was cut off when Bradley came from behind Kelsi and pushed him against the bricks next to the fireplace. Kelsi outstretched one hand, gripped Bradley’s throat and squeezed. I tried to break them apart when Race, Scarlett, Kevin, Camp and Ramirez tapped Kelsi on the shoulder and pointed their weapons at Kelsi’s head.
Kelsi released Bradley’s throat and raised his hands in the air. “I was just defending myself. No harm done. No harm gained.”
“That may be true but you need to leave,” Bambi said firmly.
&n
bsp; Kelsi walked slowly toward the door, confident and unmoved. He grabbed his jacket. Not one gun lowered. “If you’re that insecure over your woman, maybe you don’t deserve to have her.”
Bradley made a move for Kelsi but Kevin stopped him. Kelsi laughed, shook his head and walked out of the door.
****
Chilling in my bedroom, I was smoking a blunt and looking at myself in the mirror. A second later, Bradley walked in. Everyone else was in the living room, sitting around the fireplace talking about the upcoming battle with the Russians and how Bradley played himself in front of Kelsi.
I was embarrassed.
I needed a break.
My marriage was not what I wanted it to be or what I knew it could be and I didn’t understand why.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were in here,” he said. “I’ll come back later. I wanted to take a nap.”
Before he left, I said, “Baby,” I stood up, “please don’t leave. We need to talk because right now I’m confused.”
“Confused about what?”
“Us. You. And the way you’ve been acting.”
“I apologized to the nigga,” he said waving it off. “Just like the rest of the bosses, he put the call in to have his available men meet at our other property to go over details.” He paused. “He’s not even tripping.”
“That ain’t the point, Bradley!”
He stood by the door with the knob in his grip. Looking down at the floor, he said, “What do you want from me, Denim? Me to change? Because I’m the same man I’ve always been. Maybe now you’re just realizing it.”
I shook my head because if that was true I was more horrified.
“Bradley, I’ve never, ever stepped out on you in our relationship. Or our marriage. But it seems like since you’ve been home, you don’t realize that. All I want is for us to get back to us. Back to the way things were. Back to trusting and believing one another.”
“We have a long way to go before things get back to normal, Denim.”
“Can you at least tell me where to start?”
He sighed and released the door. “I told you what I needed to happen.” He looked over at me. “For your mother to go.”
Slowly I raised my head and looked into his eyes. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll tell her she has to bounce. If that will let you know how much I love you, it’s done.”
He strolled over to me. When he reached me he stared down and said, “Are you serious?”
“Yes, Bradley,” I said standing up before walking away. “I’ll arrange for her to rent a new place until hers is finished. Just give me a few days and she’ll be gone. That’s all I ask. ”
“Thank you, baby.” He kissed my lips. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“Bradley, did something happen to you in jail? That you don’t want to tell me?”
He separated from me and walked toward the door. “Just focus on your mother, Denim. Everything else will work itself out.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
RACE
I was sitting at the fireplace with Bambi and she was giving me a cold stare. It seemed like ever since Bradley laid hands on Kelsi, shit had gotten out of control. The only good part was that each boss present gave us ten percent of their available soldiers.
Now I had to clear the air with Bambi.
“I have to tell you something,” I whispered. “Because I hate keeping secrets from you. But I’m afraid that you will judge me.”
She looked at me and wiped her hand down her face. “Mellvue is still alive?” she asked.
Instead of going with the out she gave me, I got scared. “No,” I said clearing my throat. “I told you I took care of it.”
“Race,” she said through clenched teeth. “Why are you lying to me? I haven’t heard one thing about her murder. How come?”
“I don’t know, Bambi.”
“Do you realize how you’ll make me look if this bitch is still breathing? The least you can do is be honest.”
Before I could answer her, my phone rang. I pulled it out of my purse and saw it was Sarge. Without responding to Bambi, I said, “Do you see Roman?”
“I have her in my sights.”
Through clenched teeth, I said, “Keep her there. I’m about to call her cell phone right now.” I hung up with Sarge and dialed Roman’s number. This bitch played too many games and now I wanted her gone. Besides, I boasted heavily about this chick to the family only for her to be unworthy of my attention. Maybe I needed to step out of the family business after all.
But who was I if I wasn’t in this game?
Her phone rang twice before she answered. “Yes, Race.”
“Why is she still alive?” I asked getting straight to the point.
“Because I—”
“I think you’ve allowed my kindness to give you the wrong impression about me,” I said cutting her off. “About who I really am. So let me be clear. I am the most dangerous woman you know.”
I could hear her heavy breathing as if she was irritated but I didn’t give a fuck. Something was up with this chick and I was tired of trying to figure out what.
I could feel Denim, Scarlett and Bambi looking at me so I stepped further away from everyone to keep my conversation private.
“You want that bitch dead?” Roman yelled through the phone.
“I want you to do your fucking job!”
“Is that what you really want?” she said getting louder.
I could hear the car revving up but I didn’t know what she was doing.
“Then I’ll give you what you asking for!” Roman continued.
“What are you about to do?” I asked. “Roman!”
Although she wasn’t answering, I could hear her driving in the background so I stayed on the line. Suddenly the car was cut off and I heard her open the door. Not even a minute later, I heard screaming followed by a gun firing four times.
I knew what she was doing without her even telling me.
She killed Mellvue in broad daylight.
I was trembling. This bitch lost her mind. “Bambi, let me use your cell right quick,” I said walking over to her. With one phone still on my ear, I dialed Sarge’s number on Bambi’s line and pressed it to my other ear. “Did she do what I think she did?” I asked him.
“Yeah.”
“Did anybody see her?”
“Everybody there saw her. The chick was outside having a barbeque when your girl walked up on her and killed her in the open. Not sure why Mellvue was on the grill since it’s cold as shit out here but she was.”
I sighed. “Bring Roman to me.” I hung up on him and handed Bambi back her phone. Bambi’s forehead was wrinkled and she was glaring at me. I knew I couldn’t lie to her anymore.
Patiently but angrily, I waited on Roman to return to the cell phone. When she did, Roman asked me, “Satisfied?”
Breathing heavily, I calmly said, “Meet me. Now.”
“I got shit to do. I can’t do it today.”
“That’s not an invitation. Look in your rearview mirror.” I paused for a while so that she could see the trail of Hummers I knew were following her. I figured Sarge pulled up next to her car because I could hear the Temptations CD he always played in the background.
“Follow him, Roman,” I said. “He’ll bring you to me.”
****
I stood in front of Roman as she sat in a chair inside of one of our buildings. Sarge and five other men stood behind me and they waited for my word. “Before I kill you, I need you to tell me what the fuck were you thinking today,” I said calmly. “I’m a good judge of character but I must admit, I didn’t see your unprofessionalism coming. First time for everything.”
Instead of answering the question, Roman focused on the army of men behind me. “Let me ask you something. If you have all of them, why did you want my services? It’s obvious anybody could’ve done the job.”
“I don’t answer your fucking questions!” I yelled stepping closer to her. I loo
ked back at Sarge because I was done with this chick. She’d humiliated me for far too long. “Kill this bitch. I’m done with her.”
They were about to put her out of her misery until Roman yelled, “My son was kidnapped. And now he’s…now he’s dead!”
Upon hearing Roman’s words, I raised my hand, stopping the bullets seconds before they zipped through the air and toward her body. Turning around, I strolled back up to her and asked, “Who kidnapped your son?”
“Her name is Yoko Lighthouse.”
“You mean that little bitch?” I asked raising my hand like I was measuring an invisible child’s height. I knew of the woman but she was not any real threat. At least I didn’t think so. “Who lives in Magnolia Gardens apartments?”
“Yes.” She paused. “She wanted me to kill some people. Some witnesses involved in a case against her brother. When I refused, she took my son and then…and then killed him.”
For the first time, she broke down in front of me. She was so tough that I never knew she could be hit emotionally.
Sarge and the other soldiers exhaled. I guess everything now made sense to all of us. Sarge liked the hotheaded killer as much as I did but neither of us understood her recent moves until now.
“You should’ve come to me earlier, Roman,” I said. Killing a child was already bad but killing a child on purpose drove me up a wall. “I could’ve helped you!”
“I wanted to do it on my own,” she said as tears rolled down her face. “I was afraid that the more people were involved, the harder it would be to get him back. And I rejected your friendship in the process. I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I just wanted my baby.”
“Are you sure he’s dead?” I asked calmly.
“Yes…I mean no. Yoko said he was dead but I haven’t seen his body yet.”
I exhaled. “Carey trusted you. So I will too.” I paused. “What do you need?”
“I want my son back, so that I can bury him.” She looked at my men. “But if I can’t…if I can’t, I want Yoko’s life. And then I want out of this contract.”