by Brick
“Bring me Andrew,” he demanded again, “and I’ll clean up the mess behind Micah. Then you tell Shawn that he owes me. He owes me because of his wife. Make sure you tell him that, too.”
I didn’t know what else to say after that. It was simple. If I wanted Caltrone to help me then I had to find a way to do what he asked. There would be no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I agreed and felt that, in the long haul, it would be the biggest mistake I’d ever made.
Hours later, I jumped awake when I heard the door of the condo open. It had been almost twenty-four hours since I’d seen the man who stepped over the threshold. He had on a trench coat, hands in his pockets, as he walked forward and scowled at me.
“What are you doing here?” he asked me.
“Waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to. Where you been?”
“Working the graveyard shift,” he replied.
“Is it done?” I asked him cautiously.
He didn’t answer. Tossed me a gift box wrapped in a blood red bow. I opened it curiously. I blinked slowly as I looked down into the box. Blood soaked the bottom with male genitalia that I was sure belonged to Micah. I thought I would be disgusted. Instead, I smiled. I smiled and then I rushed over to hug the man who’d been forced to marry me. Micah had stolen the little bit of humanity I’d had left. So fuck him. I hoped that in death he was in hell with Dame and I prayed they were burning together.
I kissed Enzo long and hard, just to show him that I appreciated what he’d done. “Thank you,” I whispered to him as I pulled back and looked into his eyes.
He didn’t say anything, just smirked. In that moment, I saw the evil that sat just beneath the surface. There were two sides to the man I could finally admit I loved. And I loved both sides equally. He’d promised me that there would always be a balance, a methodical ratification to his madness. I believed him. Stood by him. Trusted him.
“I need to tell you something,” I told him as he moved to the kitchen where I’d lined the floor with plastic just in case he’d come to me needing to get rid of evidence.
He tossed the trench coat and I could see he was still covered in blood. “Tell me,” he said as he stripped down to his bare minimums.
“I went to see your grandfather.”
He stopped moving around and gazed down at me. “And?”
“And he says you owe him.”
“For what?”
“I asked him to make sure your name and Micah’s disappearance didn’t show up in the same sentence on any news outlet.”
Enzo scratched his five o’clock shadow. “Why did you do that?”
I shrugged, feeling a bit nervous. “I wanted to make sure you were covered on all fronts. Better safe than sorry.” I didn’t know what to expect as he watched me. Didn’t know if he would snap on me or renege on his promise not to ever put his hands on me again.
But what I didn’t expect was for him to kiss my lips and pull me closer to him. “So you really got a nigga back then, huh?” he asked.
I nodded. “For as long as you let me.”
He nodded once. “I ain’t saying I’m happy you did that shit, though. Don’t ever go back to see that nigga like that without me. Ever. Will never trust that nigga. And, just so you know, he already assured me he would look out for me once I took Micah down. I just had to take over the DOA empire.”
I kept quiet. Flesh started to crawl at the fact that Caltrone had played me. I listened to Enzo and had already made up my mind that Caltrone would never get that close to me without Enzo being there again. My chances of survival were slim to none, but since Caltrone wanted me to do something for him, he’d let me leave. I told Shawn everything Caltrone had told me, from wanting him to know the real reasons the Orlandos and the Tribe were beefing to the fact that the old man didn’t care about being the evil he had come to be.
“Shy was going to let Drew talk to Caltrone at first but then she changed her mind. Said Drew had a lot of growing up to do before he would be able to sit in the presence of evil and come out sane,” I said. “But, Caltrone wants Andrew. In order to help you like I asked him to do, he said he needs to see Andrew. I didn’t know you’d already spoken to him. I’m sorry.”
“Nah, don’t be sorry. It’s cool. When all this shit settles down, when the dust clears, we’ll give Caltrone what he wants,” Enzo said calmly. He was almost too calm. “And no, you won’t take Andrew to Caltrone. If my mama said no, then no. She has her reasons.”
“But, he won’t help if I don’t.”
“So? We’ll find another way. You did good, but nah. This nigga likes to be in control. I wanna see what he’s like when he’s not in control, feel me?”
I nodded. “So what now?”
“For now, we wait. We act like ain’t shit changed. We control what the media says about us. You get to tell the world that you’re a survivor. You get to show your strength.”
“And you?”
“Me?” he asked with a slick smile. “I get to keep playing the game as if I never stopped.”
I tried to get a handle on his emotions, on what he was really thinking. Tried to see if he felt anything after killing Micah and I saw nothing. Micah had taken him there. Had turned him into the monster he never wanted to be.
I asked him, “You okay?”
“Never been better. Just wanted to be left alone. He wouldn’t leave me alone and this is the end result. All that nigga had to do was let me be and all would have been well, but you know how niggas are in this shit, B. They don’t believe shit stank until they in the shit.”
“What happened to Lilith?”
Enzo smirked. “My pops probably fucking her in hell,” was all he said as he walked down the hall laughing like he knew something I didn’t.
Chapter 21
Shy
It appeared that my role was never over, nor did I wish it to be. This was for my children and their future. It stopped being about me once I gained Shawn and Drew back in my life. Therefore, I stood listening to Bianca speaking to my son, who was now her husband, at his condo. A knowing smile slid across my face.
Before standing at this doorway accidently eavesdropping, I had to beg Mirror to take me and Drew to my son’s condo to wait for him. Both Mirror and Drew wanted me to rest but I was hoping that Shawn would show up at his home first, which he did. I was busying myself folding his laundry and cleaning with both Mirror and Drew fussing at me when he came in. He walked right past me in a daze I was very familiar with, so I let him unwind on his own. That had me later going to check on him and Bianca when I overheard their conversation.
Bianca loved him deeply. In her eyes I saw a young me, with that familiar fear of the Orlandos I once had; but with her I saw something else, something grander. Bianca could see the good in him, and love him past the evil. It was even possible that she loved even that darkness. That meant I did all I could in raising Shawn to grow into a balance where he became his own man, his own version of an Orlando and a Banks. If she could continue giving him balance then I was at peace.
All my agenda’s purpose had been was to give him and Drew normalcy and never this crime life, but I always knew they needed to be prepared in case my past, or the past of his ancestors, reigned over him, which it ultimately did. So now it was my agenda to fight for his normalcy, but also to fight for him to be his own man in this world he had been forced into.
It was several weeks later, after my son ceremoniously offed that bastard Micah. I sat reflecting and stressed out for my children’s safety. It didn’t help that I’d also received a phone call from Caltrone within that stressful week as well.
“So my grandson is more like me than I previously believed,” I heard Caltrone drawl into my ear as I sat healing up in the sunroom.
A simmering hatred settled in my stomach but I kept it in control before responding, “It would appear so. This should make you very proud. Any thoughts that he wasn’t can be shelved for now?”
> Caltrone gave a deep chuckle then gave a satisfied rumble. “For now. It pleases me how he bestowed my Lilith upon me. Very skillful. I see your touch in his finesse with the blade and I see my mind in how he disposed of her without my blessing.”
“I don’t know what you’re speaking about,” I lied, and then reached for a blunt.
“I’m sure you don’t,” Caltrone coldly responded. “This leaves an opening for a new Lilith and you and I are due for a meeting.”
Smoke trailed from my lips and I gave cold laugh. “But of course. After my son’s arraignment, we will discuss where we are going in this new world of yours.”
“We better. I’ll see you in the courtroom, my queen. Until we see each other again. Also tell my grandson to keep up the good work. Sí? It might make a good tactic in prison, unless we have a deal? No? Bye, Iya,” Caltrone rumbled then hung up with a laugh.
Sitting in the courtroom on the hard bench as the time ticked away was the most nerve-racking shit I have ever had to endure. Over time, more and more people filled the courtroom. Some of them had family members there to be arraigned. Most were there to see Shawn, including Caltrone, who sat in the back watching with fire in his eyes. I could tell by the manner in which he sat that he was making plans to off everyone against my son.
The judge sat in his big chair overlooking us all with glasses sitting on his nose as he thumbed through a folder in front of him. He was balding and his head appeared to be too big for his neck. His skin was pale, ashy, and blotchy. It seemed as if hours had passed before they brought my son out, when it was really only thirty minutes at the most. When he finally came out, I had to put my hand over my mouth to keep from verbally reacting the way I wanted to. He was shackled around his waist, hands cuffed in front of him, with shackles around his ankles. Even in death Micah still had power, the investigation he had going on before his death still a thorn in Shawn’s side.
Enzo looked tired. His beard was growing in, and his normally cropped, razor-shaped haircut looked unkempt. Blood seemed to be seeping through the gauze on his face, which told me he had been in a fight that opened the wound back up. There were new cuts on his face and he moved slowly as if his upper body was sore. Drew blew out air as if blowing out steam, as Bianca’s legs started to shake. My grip tightened on both of their hands and we all held it together as best we could. Enzo knew we were there, but he wouldn’t look at us. I desperately wanted him to so he could know his family was in his corner.
Bianca, Drew, and I sat in that courtroom and watched as it seemed like the DA had tried and convicted Enzo before the trial. After Enzo pleaded not guilty, the DA instantly asked that bail be denied. The name Orlando had been a blessing and a curse in the end. The DA used the fact that my son was tied to the crime syndicate DOA to argue that he could jump ship and they would never see him again. The judge bought it and Enzo was set to be locked away until his trial.
When he did finally glance at us, they were taking him away again. Anger flickered through me.
I sat with Bianca and Drew for days waiting for my people to make a move, to do something, but reality finally set in. There was just no way in hell the good guy always came out on top. I didn’t know what was taking my people so long, but seeing the way my son had been handled while he was in custody fucked with me.
After going back to my private home to finish my treatments with the healing I was going through I realized that as a mother, as a warrior in these streets, and as a survivor I just couldn’t sit around, wait, and do nothing.
“Where are you attempting to go, love?” I heard Mirror ask me, which caused me to turn around.
Grabbing my purse, I exhaled. “My sons need me. Shawn needs me. I have many aces, but there’s one that I need to force to help us in our favor.”
Mirror walked up to me, rested his hand on my shoulder, then moved his hand to grip my chin. “Yuh know you got to keep a cool stress level, or the surgery you had will be for nothing. You need to be patient and not throw the Orlando name and power around, love.”
Frustration had me moving out of his touch to grab more items. “I understand that, Mirror; however, time is of the essence. But Micah’s hold is still on my son. We need to get him out so we can get him back on the field and also finish what we started with Caltrone.”
“Yes, we do, love, but you need to put all the rubbish shit to the side, think clearly, and let me work my magic too. I’ll take you to where you need to go but, trust, whatever happens he’ll work it out, too. He’s got your survival tactics in him; both of your sons do,” he explained with a light kiss to my lips that had my anger melting away.
My hand reached up to touch his face then I dropped it. “Take me to the car. I’ll direct you, but you have to stay in the car and wait for us when we leave.”
“A’ight, I’m used to that role. Let us go then,” Mirror said, leading me out of my room.
After blowing off steam with Mirror, Drew, Bianca, and I all sat in silence while we listened to every radio station in Atlanta go ham about Shawn’s arraignment. Tears stung my eyes from what they spoke about, from his past in the Trap dealing with Dame, to the steps he took to being a rising young rookie in the game. My baby had put his heart and soul in his aspirations and goals of getting to the NFL. I was proud of him, proud of how hard he worked to get there. His dedication was everything. It had him having the Midas touch in some ways, from his success in school to the streets and football.
But now that was going to be washed away. I glanced at my baby boy, my other heartbeat. My arm reached around him and I kissed his temple watching him blush red. My gaze focused on Bianca, and I reached for her, doing the same. We all sat in our car outside of a simple blue bungalow-style home with a wraparound porch and a red oak door. A blacked-out armored Escalade sat in the drive, and I sighed. We were in Roswell and, how I had Bianca take us, we were hidden in a quiet, closed-off neighborhood we could not be trailed to.
Undoing my seat belt, I looked at them both. “I have one more ace up my sleeve, something I’ve kept from you all with good reason, that I had no control over.”
A flash of concern and annoyance flickered in Bianca’s warm brown eyes. I took her and Drew’s hands in my own and squeezed. “Listen to me: this was out of my control, and for good reason.”
“What are you keeping from us now, Mama? I mean damn! What we got to go through now?” Drew asked. His tone made my heart flutter in uncertainty.
“Just listen. I am a gatekeeper. Many of the secrets I keep are not my own to share, and many of them are. When I say I have resources I mean it and you all need to remember this one because it may be your saving grace one day,” I explained.
Bowing my head, I went back to the past long ago when I was pregnant with Drew. His creation was the last straw for me, I explained. That day I had called every single living cousin, aunt, and uncle I had and said my good-byes. I was determined to leave this earth after Drew was born. I couldn’t and wouldn’t allow that man to damage me anymore. I was done. It was one day when I was about four months pregnant and hiding out in Prince George County, Maryland, in my mother and father’s old vacation home, when my world changed.
Anika and the African Queens had been combing the streets for any intel they could get about the Orlandos, anything to take them out with, but it was no good. We had to change our scope on how to get that nigga Lu, and here I was, the only woman besides that nigga’s real wife who knew every little thing about that man’s operation. Hell, there were times when in order to keep him off me I had to help him build his kingdom up. So, here I sat with all that knowledge, not able to do a thing about it, until I felt a hand on my shoulder and a familiar nickname from my past.
“My Iy-Iy,” I heard whispered low.
Turning their way, old tears spilled down my face and I wiped them away. “Only my father called me Iy-Iy. It had me abruptly standing to see the man who had been buried next to my mother, so I had thought. When I gasped that man moved to stand bes
ide me. He was dressed to the nines, but what killed me to my core was the FBI badge he had on his belt.”
Both Drew and Bianca stared at me in shock. “All that time, I had thought he was dead. All that time I thought I was alone. That I had to be the devil’s sex doll and wifey. Yet there he stood. My heart broke and I hated him instantly, almost successfully put a bullet in his skull. But it was the fire that brought me back to life and gave me what I needed to fight for my sons.”
“Damn,” I heard Bianca mutter.
Drew shook his head and glanced at the house. “Is this that nigga’s home? Our Grandpop Banks?”
“Yes. He has been my in. He became my in back then. He was the reason why Lu ended up locked up. I was his eyes, and I gave the testimony that brought that nigga down. My daddy picked up a drugged-up cokehead who was close to Lu’s world and had her be my mouthpiece. We used her to help in the testimony then my father sent her off into hiding once his trial was over. The case was locked so tight that Caltrone couldn’t use his own resources to save Lu, but at that point Caltrone didn’t even care. Word has it that Caltrone even helped put his son away, but there has been no proof. So yes, I learned my father married my mother . . .” I gave a weak laugh and shook my head.
“He married into the game on purpose. To get close to your Great-grandfather Kulu. He wanted to take down the Tribe. But, like Micah, my father lost himself due to loving my mother and me and due to respecting what King Kulu’s real agenda was. Anyway, after, Caltrone began cleaning out everyone in my family. It resulted in the death of my mother and father in a car accident, so I had thought. The FBI was able to come in after and pull them out. He explained that they hid him while he was in a coma, but they weren’t able to save my mother. Then the rest became history,” I explained.