The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale

by Santiago, Danielle

  John Doe pulled the gun that he’d taken from Donavan and aimed it at Isaac. “Don’t do no dumb shit and you’ll keep breathing,” he looked at the table. Eyeballing the money, John Doe could tell that is was a few hundred thousand. “Bag that paper up. Use that,” he pointed the gun at the soft leather duffle next to Isaac’s feet.

  Coldly staring at John Doe, Isaac slowly reached for the duffle. “Hurry the fuck up,” John Doe hollered.

  Isaac grabbed it, opened it wide, and using his forearm he raked the cash into the bag. Rushing, he knocked quite a bit of the money onto the floor angering John Doe.

  “Pick that bread up,” John Doe barked. “Don’t let anymore hit the fucking floor either.”

  Isaac squatted down and picked up two of the stacks that had fallen to the floor. He reached down to grab some more money and instead wrapped his hand around the handle of a P-89, jumped up and took aim.

  John Doe squeezed his gun’s lever, firing off three rapid shots. Two of the bullets tore gaping holes into Isaac’s abdomen, and the third ripped through the right side of his chest. His body fell back backwards between the couch and the table.

  John Doe gripped Donavan by the collar then slung him to the floor. “Don’t try shit!” he grimaced. “I will kill your ass too.” John Doe got the duffle and loaded the remaining stacks into the bag. He looked down at Isaac and shook his head, silly muhfuckas always down to die for shit that don’t even belong to them. With all the cash in the bag, he moved around the first floor checking the cabinets, drawers, and closets for additional cash. Pretty sure that the neighbors heard the gunshots and called the police, he settled for what he had.

  On his way out, John Doe knelt down next to Donavan, who was shivering uncontrollably from fright. He pointed the gun at Donavan’s temple. “Tell ya boss I’m going to keep hitting his spots until his wife and Evan pay me what they took from me.”

  ***

  At three a.m. Evan was stirred awake from her sleep by a freshly showered Reza slipping beneath the covers. He pulled Evan’s nude body toward him and kissed her.

  “Where have you been all night?” she asked

  “I hit a few bars and the strip club with Rhamel.”

  “You two have been hanging pretty tight since having that come to Jesus talk.”

  Tired of the constant verbal jabbing between Reza and Rhamel, Evan sat them down and made it clear that Rhamel was going to be her security and Reza was going to be around. Therefore, she forced them to converse until they came to some type of understanding. The little sit down went better than any of them could’ve expected. From that point on when Evan was at the L or tucked safely in the house, Rhamel and Reza would hit the streets.

  “Rhamel is cool dude,” Reza stated. “He has his corny moments but he isn’t too bad to chill with, especially since you don’t have time to chill with me.”

  “Sorry,” Evan raised her hands, making air quotes with her index and middle fingers she said, “I don’t have time to turn up every night because I have a demanding career. Not to mention I hung out every night your first week here.”

  “Hey I was only joking. I don’t wanna party every night either. I’m just enjoying this vacay, because when I go back to CT it’s going to be all work.”

  “What if you didn’t go back to Connecticut?”

  “Huh?”

  “I like having you around so I was thinking...”

  “I heard what you asked and I like being with you too, but my job that I have to keep to stay in compliance with my federal probation is in Connecticut.”

  “You could get a job here.”

  “It’s not that simple for me to get a job Ev. People with no felonies can’t get jobs right now. Me and my five felonies just can’t up and get another job that fast. I went through a special program in Hartford to get that job.”

  “Getting a job won’t be so hard if I own the company.”

  “Nah, un uh, I couldn’t.”

  Evan placed a finger over his mouth. Rising up, she straddled him. “In the midst of the madness I have going on around me. Having you here has made me happy in a way that I haven’t felt in a very-very-very long time.” She leaned in and with the tip of her tongue she tickled his earlobe and gently nibbled on it. Grinding her wet pulsating middle against his stiff main vein, she said, “I owe you, let me make it up to you.”

  “Hmmmm shit,” he moaned. “If you put it like that,” lifting Evan by her hips, Reza raised her up slightly, enough for the tip of his rod to tap at her dripping wet entrance. “I just might have to stay, but it all depends on how well you’re about to perform.” Evan bucked her pelvis enveloping his dick inside of her warm pocket. She performed four times in a row and each time she gave the performance of a lifetime.

  Chapter Nine

  “I’m so glad y’all talked me into going to KOD’s,” Cee slurred standing on the Yacht’s upper deck. Barefoot, Rose’ bottle in hand, wearing a floral backless romper she swayed side to side. “That was the first adult fun I’ve had since Petey died.”

  Extremely inebriated— Zay, Jason, and Joey were chowing down on a small feast prepared by the yacht’s staff in attempt to soak up the mounds of liquor that they’d consumed. Joey tried not to laugh, but her best friend was pure comedy in her drunken eyes. More than anything Joey and the guys were laughing from the joy of seeing their friend having a good time.

  Cee raised the bottle to them. “This one’s for you, my family, thanks for showing me a good time.” Turning the bottle up she guzzled it down.

  “You still drinking Cee?” Joey questioned amazed that Cee was still going so hard.

  “Like the pee wee say, I’m turned up, heeeeeeeey.”

  “Bitch it’s five-thirty in the damn morning you need to turn all the way down before your ass get alcohol poisoning. You need to sit and eat some of this food so you don’t get sick.” Joey thought back as far as her intoxicated mind would allow. “You didn’t eat lunch or at the gala. How are you drinking all night with nothing on your stomach?”

  Jason looked at Cee to catch her response. There was no doubt in his mind that she was high on cocaine and the drug was enabling her to drink like a fish without passing or vomiting.

  “I dunno,” Cee sobbed as tears cascaded down her face.

  “Don’t cry,” Joey said bewildered by Cee’s sudden mood shift. She picked up a white cloth napkin and drunkenly stumbled over to Cee. “I’m sorry I won’t say anything about you eating any more. I was just worried.”

  “I could give two fucks about you saying something about it. I feel like a fool.” Cee cried looking to the sky.

  “Why?”

  “I’m out here,” Cee said waving the champagne bottle around. “Screaming about the good time that I had and my husband is dead. He can’t have any more fun. I don’t deserve to have any more fun.”

  “Now, you do sound foolish.” Cradling Cee’s face in her hand she told her, “If anyone deserves to have a good time it’s you. After all that you’ve been through in the last four months. Petey loved to have fun and the last thing that he would want for you to is to stop enjoying life.” Joey pressed her forehead against Cee’s and stared into her eyes, “Do not beat yourself in the head or feel guilty over having a good time. Okay?”

  “Okay,” she hugged Joey. “I love you Joe, I swear I do. You’re always in my corner since we were kids. If no one else is there for me I know my bestest bitch is.” Cee let out an infectious giggle that passed on to Joey. Their laughter filled the pre-dawn air as they held onto one another swaying side to side until they fell onto the deck floor.

  “It’s time for y’all drunk asses to go to bed,” Zay announced.

  Jason came over to assist Cee up off the floor. “Come on I’ll help you to your room.”

  “And that’s all you better do,” Joey spouted sitting up. “I’m watching you nigga,” she pointed at her eyes with her index and middle finger then at Jason. “Don’t be taking advantage of my friend because she
’s drunk.”

  “Whatever Joe,” he laughed, pulling Cee up by the waist.

  “I ain’t playing,” Joey shouted behind them as they walked down the side of the deck and disappeared inside of the yacht. Joey got up and flopped down next to Zay.

  “I don’t know what you sat down for,” he said. “I’m ready to go to bed so I can take advantage of you.”

  “The sun is about to rise that’s why I wanted to eat out here.” She picked up a blanket from the floor next to her feet. Kicking her feet up on the bench she stretched and rested her head in Zay’s lap. Zay looked down at her face.

  “I love you.”

  “Awwww, I love you too.” she clasped his hand between hers.

  “No. I mean really love you.” he said in an emphatic tone.

  “I know you do,” Joey kissed the back of his hand.

  “Every move that I make right or wrong is for you and the kids. I’m glad that you’re my wife; more than that I’m happy that you’re the mother of my kids.”

  “Let me find out that Henny Priv got you sappy.”

  “My mom always said a drunken heart speaks a sober mind. It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten to spend time like we have on these trips the last two weeks.”

  He wanted so badly to tell her that he’d killed Dawhar for attacking her. As with his thriving heroine distribution business that he hid from her, Zay felt that it would be best to keep the murder a secret. He only hid these things from her so that she couldn’t be hindered by the law if something ever happened. He caressed her face.

  “There is really nothing that I haven’t done for you except die and you already know I’m down to die for you and our kids.”

  “Instead of dying for us, why don’t you concentrate on living for us?”

  “What does that mean?”

  Joey usually didn’t question Zay too much when it came to his street business. She was a little nervous to bring up what Kisa had told her, but the liquid courage inside of her gave her the push that she needed to mention it. “I kind of heard that you’ve been getting money on a level ten times beyond what I ever imagined.” She stared at him to see his response, but there was none. Although he was plied with liquor, he had his poker face on. “Okay, let’s talk hypothetically then. Hypothetically you’re getting major king pin money, plus the money from your trucking company and the yacht rental business. I know how much we have in the bank accounts and the safes that I have access to. You have more than enough to leave the streets behind.”

  “Hypothetically if what you’re assuming is true, I was due to leave it all behind in the next few weeks; in time for my brother’s release. I was looking forward to it too. Hypothetically speaking of course,” he warned.

  “Why did you say was?”

  “Because it can’t happen like that now.”

  “Why not?”

  “Someone that I love more than anything got into a bad situation. I had to call in a favor to correct the issue. Now to return that favor, I must continue to play my position for just a while longer; hypothetically speaking.”

  ***

  In a stark white tank, blue denim hot pants, brown leather gladiator sandals and eyes covered in oversized brown Chanel tortoise shades, Joey walked through the maze of tables at LaCote’s outdoor beachside deck. The sun was shining, the temperature was a perfect balmy seventy-eight degrees and the rolling blue ocean waves were pristine. Unfortunately, a banging headache and a gripping bout of nausea were keeping Joey from enjoying it. Kisa took one look at Joey as she approached the white linen draped cabana and knew that she was hung over.

  “Sunglasses and Advil, last night must’ve been mad real,” she teased Joey.

  “Girl, I told God that if he stops the room from spinning for five minutes I would never ever drink again.” Joey took a seat and was instantly repulsed by the foods that she normally adored. Occupying the center of the table was a chilled seafood platter of king crab legs, prawns, oysters, and clams next to a pitcher of Cote De Provence Rosé Sangria. Joey covered her mouth and swallowed hard to keep from dry heaving.

  A waiter appeared and asked Joey, “Would you like for me to pour you a glass of sangria?”

  “No! I need a ginger ale and saltine crackers.”

  “That shit is not going to help,” Kisa jumped in and took over. “Bring her a Bloody Mary, that will cure your hangover. And can you bring me a lobster thermidor please?”

  “Yes,” the waiter replied and turned his attention to Joey. “Would you like to place your order also?”

  “Yeah I need to get something on my stomach,” she scanned the menu. “Let me get the Vegetable Pissaladiere, my stomach can’t take any seafood right now.”

  The old friends kicked it about their children, reminisced a little, and made plans to attend the upcoming fall fashion week in New York. After two Bloody Mary’s, some ginger ale, and food; Joey felt anew so she moved on to the topic that she was there to discuss. Joey disclosed everything to Kisa from finding Evan passed out in front of the L-Room to Evan revealing her former life as a robber.

  Kisa was floored by what she’d heard. “I knew that Evan had some shit with her. Back in the day when we used to make little moves when she’d come through with the cocaine, I’d wonder if we got popped would she hold up or would she rat. Evan has that selfish type of energy sometimes. You couldn’t have told me in a thousand years that this bitch was robbing niggas.”

  “Zay had a feeling that dude she was with back then was robbing or they both were robbing.”

  “What did he say when you told him that you found out she was robbing?”

  “I haven’t told him yet.”

  “Wait a minute- wait a minute, you haven’t told him?”

  “Kane, honest to God I was going to tell him the night that I found out, but then we fell out over a text message some bitch sent him. Then Dawhar attacked me and plus I really didn’t want to say anything until Evan found out who was stalking her and if they was the person that killed Petey.”

  “From what you told me there is no question that the shooting at the L is tied to Evan’s bullshit. Everyone around her is at risk until this shit gets resolved. That is so crazy that you haven’t told Zay though. He could’ve had this shit handled.”

  “You’re right,” Joey sighed. “I can’t even argue with you.” Joey looked left and did a double take when she saw Cee speed walking toward her.

  “Hey Kane,” Cee bent over out of breath.

  “What’s up Cee? Why are you breathing so hard?”

  Holding up her palm, Cee took a few moments to catch her breath. “I ran all the way from the valet stand at the front of the Fontainebleau to back here.”

  “Why?” Joey asked.

  “Because, your husband is not too far behind me and he is on fire. I have never seen him this mad before. I mean his whole aura is red right now.”

  “Mad for what?”

  “From what I could make out on the other side of the door he was hollering about a robbery, his cousin was shot, your name and Evan’s.”

  Taking a deep breath, Joey exhaled, “Oh my God it’s always some shit.”

  Looking in her phone, Kisa picked up a pen, and wrote on a napkin. She folded the paper and slid it across the table. “This is a number for my people. She’s good at tracking people.” Kisa stood, leaned across the table, and whispered in Joey’s ear, “The murder game is her thing too.”

  “Uh oh,” Cee said. “Here he comes.”

  A visibly angry Zay was headed straight at them. He didn’t acknowledge anyone. He grabbed Joey’s arm, “The fuck is up yo.” Joey yanked her arm from his grasp.

  “Don’t curse at me like that.”

  “Don’t do that,” he warned. “I’m so heated right now I can barely contain myself. Unless you want to be embarrassed in ways that you never been, I advise you to get your ass up so that we can leave.”

  Knowing he meant every word that he said, Joey got up, quickly hugged Kisa goo
d bye and left the restaurant.

  The walk from La Cote to the front of the Fontainebleau was a bit lengthy to begin, but at that time it felt endless for Joey. Not a word was exchanged between the trio until they reached the valet area. Jason was waiting in a chauffeured Mercedes S600. Joey followed Cee to the 600 and was about to get in when Zay yelled out, “Ayo you riding with me.” He got into 2013 ice blue Lamborghini Aventador with cream interior. It belonged to a luxury vehicle rental company that his yachting business partnered with to provide vehicles to his yacht renters. Zay had borrowed the Lambo for a romantic excursion he’d planned to take Joey on later in the day. Those plans were out the window now.

  Guiding the car out the lot Zay said, “Make me understand why three of my stash spots got hit last night. My cousin was shot and nearly bled to death and the cock sucka who did it is screaming you and shiesty ass Evan owe him money!”

  Perplexed Joey shrugged. “I don’t know why anybody would say that I owe them anything. I don’t have anything to do with that shit!”

  “What shit Joey?” Zay roared, shifting gears increasing the car’s speed.

  “I meant to tell you this a long time ago,” Joey began nervously, “but then we fought about the text message, Dawhar attacked me, and I kinda wanted to wait until Evan found out.”

  “Yo,” he yelled. “Stop talking in fucking circles and tell me what the hell is going on.”

  “The night of the funeral Evan told me that her and Gage were sticking up drug dealers back in the day and not regular ones— king pin type dudes. For a while now she has been getting stalked and she believes that it could be one of the people that she robbed.” For the second time that day, Joey recited what Evan told her.

  Zay listened silently in gross disbelief for the twenty minute ride. By the time they arrived at Kendall-Tamiami Airport, Joey was finished. He parked the car next to the awaiting ten passenger luxury chartered jet. For five minutes he didn’t speak he just watched as the luggage was loaded onto the jet. Joey could tell by his throbbing jaw muscle that he was thirty-eight hot. She didn’t dare to open her mouth until he indicated that he was ready for her to talk.