Tears of an African violet
Page 23
"Black Heart," I said calmly.
She stopped mid-swing and stared at me; her chest heaved. She was covered in blood spray. She dropped the bat, took Gio's hands out of the alcohol, and threw the rest in his face. He twitched a little; he wasn't quite dead. She realized he was still alive. She bent down and noticed the shotgun under the seat. The light bulb went off. She walked over to the trunk one more time and pulled out her grandfather's .357. She spun on her heels and put a bullet in between his eyes. His body slumped, and it was evident he was dead. I moved her tendrils of hair out of her face, took her in my arms, and kissed her softly. Her face slowly changed, and Kari came back into her eyes. They regained their natural color. She focused on me and smiled. She touched the blood on her face and marveled at the sight of it on her fingers.
"You good, baby?"
"Yes. I want to go home now." She pushed away from my grip.
She put the .357 and Big Gunz back in her trunk, still wet with his blood. She locked it up and rolled out of the room with it. She came back with a cart. She unlocked his body. He didn't slide out of the chair because the shotgun held him in place. Black lowered the gun. Kari helped the body slide into the cart. He rolled the cart back to the door.
"Incinerator, please and thank you." She smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and kissed his cheek.
"Have Dallas and Houston take a crew over to the Opal and give this bag to Akinyi or Seraphim only." I kissed his cheek as we passed him.
While Black disposed of Gio's body, we went to one of the locker rooms, changed out of our bloody clothes, and put them in the laundry chute. It went to the basement furnace, the same place Gio was about to go. We washed our faces and changed into some scrubs. When she came outside, she took a deep breath of the fresh pre-dawn air. It was so cold we could see our breath. I didn't think she felt anything. Her adrenaline was still pumping. Without a word, she got in my car and sat there. We drove home in comfortable silence, holding hands. She hummed along with the radio. Every time I looked at her, I couldn't help but smile and squeeze her hand a little bit. She was real and tangible. I pulled into the garage. I led her upstairs, turned on the water, and while it warmed up, I stripped her of her clothing. She stood there and let me treat her like my baby. Once she was naked, I led her to the walk-in shower that was steamed up. I was about to close the door, and she didn't want to let go of my hand. So I stripped my clothes off and got in with her.
First, I washed her hair, then her body, and paid careful attention to her bruises. She, in turn, did the same thing for me. When she was done, she stared at me. Her love for me was about to spill from her eyes. She cried softly. Her shoulders fell and shook. I caught her before she landed in a heap on the shower floor. I wiped her tears and kissed her lips softly. On my knees, I opened her legs and let my mouth relieve her tension. I slowly French kissed her pussy until she couldn't help but grind on my face. Her head was tilted back, and she bit her bottom lip. She held onto the bar for balance. I lifted her legs on my shoulders and buried my face into the center of her. Kari gasped as I turned her clitoris into a watermelon jolly rancher. She moaned softly and rode my face as the hot water washed over us. Slowly I sucked her soul out. As she orgasm for the third time, she finally loosened the grip her thighs had on my head. Her body relaxed. I turned the water off, dried us off, wrapped her hair up, and we went into the bedroom.
I pushed her back on our California king-sized bed and crawled up the bed on top of her. Kissed her from her neck to her navel. I gently nibbled and sucked her nipples until they throbbed in my mouth. Again spread her legs and took in the magnificent sight of her beautiful flower. It pulsed and begged me to taste her; I obliged happily. I dove headfirst into her flower again. I spread her legs back, opened her wide, and proceeded to suck, slurp and nibble her out of her mind. She tried to back up, but I kept moving wherever she went. Finally, Kari came so hard she flipped herself over on her stomach, and I dove right back in from the back.
I made sure she knew how much I loved and missed her with my mouth. She moaned and screamed in ecstasy and was about to orgasm. I grabbed her and held her in place. She had nowhere to go and squirted on my face. Then collapsed on top of me. Slowly I slid from under her and wrapped her in my arms. Then I pulled the covers over us and held her as she shook. I stroked her hair and placed butterfly kisses on her back. It caused her to have mini orgasms. Soon she snored slightly. I had my wife back, and soon, my family would be back together. I smiled to myself. The sun peeked in from behind my curtains. We settled into spooning, and all felt right with my world. I drifted off to sleep listening to her snore.
Epilogue
Sunny Days and Sunshine
-Kae and Kari-
“Ernie, my man! How have you been?” I moved around my kitchen.
“Dollface, you know I love to hear your voice. This old rust bucket is still kicking around the yard,” he laughed loud and heartily.
“That’s always good to hear, E. You think you can help me out?” I grabbed two bottles of orange juice.
“The sky ain’t even the limit for you. We can go to the moon! I take it that the queen has returned?” He chuckled like an old uncle.
“She has returned. I need a flight out of here tonight; I want to surprise the family. We should get there right before sunrise. Can you make that happen for me?” I loaded the tray of food.
“Y’all be here by nine tonight. I’ll have y’all there before the last stars of the night disappear from the sky.” His tone was smooth as cognac.
“There is no one better than you, E-man. You are the absolute best. Thank you so much. I sent your fee and a bonus for the short notice.” I used my phone to send him one hundred thousand.
“Dollface, the way you pay me when I retire, I won’t want for nothing,” he chuckled.
“There’s room on my payroll for a pilot. I’ve got a feeling after the last few weeks I’ve had, the business will be booming soon. So how about it, personal pilot? The hours are crazy, and you have to be ready to move at a moment’s notice.”
“I’m your humble captain of the skies.” He smiled through the phone.
“We’ll see you tonight. Welcome to the team officially. I love ya, E-man.” I hung up.
I balanced the tray and went upstairs to my bedroom. For a moment, I watched Kari sleep. I had not been in this bed since she had been gone; I couldn’t sleep here without her by my side. I sat the tray on the nightstand and kissed her gently awake. She kissed me back, half asleep, then her eyes fluttered open. She stretched and sat up. I placed the tray on her lap and crawled in on the other side of her.
“Good morning, wifey.”
“Good morning, baby,” I whispered.
“I won’t lie; Femi didn’t mistreat me. The cooks on his base can cook their asses off. I still missed your cooking though,” She kissed me and ate a piece of bacon.
“When I got that call from the morgue, I knew my life was over. My world fell down around me. I promised to burn the whole goddamn city down for it.” Plucked a little cluster of grapes from the plate.
“I’ve seen a lot of death in my life. Hell, I have caused most of it. But, I’ve never seen a mother kill her son.”
“She didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t imagine having to make that choice.”
“Not at any time. It was like Akyini knew, and she had already made up her mind; she was ready to put him down. She just wanted Zuberi back alive. I am glad you didn’t kill him.” She ate some fruit and sipped her juice.
“I still think it’s a hard choice to make. Why do you say that?”
“Zuberi had a twin brother named Zion; he died at birth. She did everything she could to protect her baby boy. When he was kidnapped, she hoped you’d honor Amare one last time and not kill him. Faraji tried to kill me. Seraphim stood in his way.” She had a faraway look in her eye and stared off into nothing.
“You can talk about it when you’re ready.” I rubbed her shoulders.
“We can d
o that some other time. That video of you pistol-whippin’ Zuberi was crazy,” Kari munched on her food and laughed.
“I’m not to be fucked with. Today’s a brand new day. I have plans for us. We have a private flight booked tonight to the island. They don’t know we are coming!” I smiled at her.
“I can’t wait to put my arms around my babies! What am I going to tell them?” she asked me with concern, a smile and a twinkle in her eye.
“We tell them the truth. You were working, and now you are home. The kids are not babies anymore; they will understand.”
She side-eyed me.
“Ok, ok, your mama will be over the moon. She took it the worst when they put you, well, her, in that wall.” I nudged her with my elbow.
“I can only imagine. Thank you for sending me off in the highest of class. My bitch is better than any bitch they ever had!” She laughed, snapped her fingers, and rolled her neck.
“You better know it. Now finish eating. I’m going to get dressed. We got people to see before we go.”
I jumped off the bed. Kari snuck in the shower with me, and we made love again. God knew I loved and missed this woman. We washed each other and got dressed. We balled out of control at the mall and bought stuff for us, the kids, and our mothers. We bought even more things for Chantall and Mahogany’s family too. After the mall, we drove to her sister Mahogany’s house. I was so sure Dallas and Houston had already made it there to tell them she was home. When we pulled up to the house, I didn’t see either of the nephew’s cars. Kari knocked on the door, our arms loaded with bags. When Mo answered the door, she screamed and passed out in the front door. Her scream made everyone run to the door. Chantall pushed them out of the way, stepped over Mo, and leaped on Kari. She picked her up and swung her around, and cried the whole time. Once she put her down, they stood there hugging each other and crying.
Sandoval helped Mo up, and when she had her composure, she screamed again and hugged Kari. I thought she might break her in half. She held on to her so tight. They hugged each other and cried together. The smaller nieces and nephews spilled out of the house, and they hugged her too. We went inside the house, and Chantall started cooking up a storm as only she could. She moved like a madwoman in the kitchen. When Sandoval handed me a drink, I gladly took and drank half of it. I didn’t know what it was, but it was damn good.
“Where are the boys, Kae?” Chan asked me with a smirk on her face.
“They ain’t dead, so I guess they are somewhere sleeping the night off,” I smirked back at her.
When the food was ready, we sat around the table. Chantall prayed a prayer so powerful it had most of us in tears. They laughed and joked like old times. Everything was balanced again because Kari was here with them. When we were done eating, the kids went downstairs. The adults went outside and smoked a few joints and had a few more drinks. We played cards and dominoes until the sun went down. We passed out the gifts we had gotten; everyone loved everything. Kari and I hugged everyone goodbye.
“Baby, that was the best time I have had in a long time. I really had fun, and not once did Chan, and I fight,” she beamed.
“I think she was so happy to have you back she didn’t have any fight left.” I jumped on the highway and headed towards home.
We got home and showered again, packed a few bags each. Finally, we loaded up the car with our bags and gifts for the family and secured the house. And drove to Ernie’s. I parked the car in the barn.
“Baby girl, baby girl, it sure is good to see you again!” He rushed over and wrapped Kari in a big bear hug.
“E-man, it’s good to see you too! They thought they were going to keep me down.” She laughed and hugged him back.
He loaded our bags on the plane.
“You ladies ready to see the moon?” he asked, taxiing away from the dock.
“Fly me to the moon, E-man,” Kari laughed.
Once we leveled, it felt like we were flying next to the moon. Soon the drone of the engine had lulled us both to sleep. Ernie’s smooth voice told us we would land in about ten minutes. I opened my eyes, and as he promised, it was twilight, right before the sun came and the moon disappeared. A few stars still twinkled. The excitement in her eyes was enough to soothe the beast in my soul. He descended and pulled up as quietly as he could so he wouldn’t wake anyone. He was damn good. When we pulled up, the Godfathers came over to get our bags. We crept inside and put our bags away.
“We should make a big breakfast to wake everyone up. What do you think, baby?” Kari asked as we watched the sun peek over the horizon.
“That would be a wonderful idea.” I kissed and nibbled her lips.
We started to cook as quietly as we could. We cooked a feast fit for kings. I think the bacon and cinnamon rolls had the kids up, and the premium roast French coffee tickled the adult noses.
“Zalan, are you in here trying to be Chef Ramsey again?” Mama G’s voice was the first to be heard.
She came down the stairs tying up her robe. When she hit the bottom of the steps, she looked into the kitchen and saw Kari and me. She let out a holy ghost holler, ran up to Kari, and grabbed her by the face. She stared at her eyes, searching. She touched her shoulders, arms, and hands. As you would check a newborn. Mama G fell to her knees and cried out.
“Thank you, Jesus! DaKari, my baby! You brought my baby home to me! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She rocked on her knees.
“Get up, Mama. It’s me in the flesh.” Kari scooped Mama G up and hugged her tightly.
Mama G slid back to the floor. She held on to Kari as if she couldn’t let go. Then, the thunder of feet above my head signaled the troops were on the way. It sounded like a herd of buffalo. They saw Mama G on the floor as she hugged Kari. They ran over, piled on top of them, and screamed her name except for my daughter, Ta’Lynn. She ran directly to me and hugged me tighter than she had in a very long time.
“You came home, Mama.” She squeezed me.
“I keep my promises. Brought your mommy home.” I hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.
My mama, Zalan, was the last to come down in a rush. I was sure she put herself together before she walked out of that room. She saw me and ran over, sidestepped the pile on the floor, and hugged Ta’Lynn and me. Her tears ran on my cheeks, and her body shook as she cried.
“I didn’t know if I’d really see you again,” she said as she held my face in her hands.
Then, she kissed me on both cheeks. Ta’Lynn ran and joined the pile on Kari.
“Mama, I’m home, and I brought her back like I promised. So my family is whole again.” I kissed the palms of her hands softly.
“Yes, you did, and yes, we are. I don’t know if it’s your father’s determination or my stubbornness that makes you do the things you do. But, I do know I’m proud of you. I’m happy you’re home.” She hugged and kissed me again.
Her body relaxed in my arms like she had been holding a breath she couldn’t release until now. In my arms, I realized how fragile my mama really was; I held her a little longer. The kids helped Mama G off the floor. She hobbled over to me.
“DellaKae, you’re one helluva woman! You brought my baby home to me. I’m beyond grateful and will be until my last breath. You’re the best daughter-in-law I could’ve asked for.” She hugged and rocked me so tightly I could barely breathe.
I wrapped my arms around her and gave her the same love back.
“You’re very welcome, Glorianna. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. She’s my biggest heartbeat.” I wiped my eyes and hers.
The kids rushed over and hugged me. They almost knocked me down, but I held my ground. I hugged and kissed each of them. When we calmed down and cleaned our faces, we ate.
Kari opened the wall to the dining room; the smell of the ocean filled the house. We sat down at the dining room table, and Mama G said grace. If you had any doubt about where Chantall learned to pray, Mama G was the master. The room was soon filled with laughter an
d lip-smacking. The forks and knives tinkled as they scraped the plates.
The joy on my kids’ faces as they laughed and joked with Kari swelled my heart because these were the moments I lived for. These were the times that reminded me why I did what I did. We did it so we can have more good times than bad with the family we created. But, after this ordeal, I’d have to be prepared for anything when it came to those four. My phone rang, it was Black. I walked away from the table before I answered.
“Hey, Black. What is going on, love?” I put the phone up to my ear.
“Sounds like good times out there. I can’t wait to see them,” he said warmly.
“They’re so damn happy right now. The kids will be happy to see you too.”
“Word on the street is someone looking for Cian’s money. He stole from the Widows, Fangs, and Skulls. Seems he owes quite a few people money, including the Jamaican Mafia.”
“You can’t collect shit from a dead man.”
“No, you can’t, but you can hunt down the people you think have it. And that’s what they’re doing.”
“Let them come. Black Heart and Black Ice are back in the game, and we never run from a fight,” I said with ice in my voice as my wife caught my gaze; I smiled and blew her a kiss.
Kari already knew what time it was from the smile on my face. She smiled and nodded back at me like she was ready to go to war. I winked at her, and she winked back. We hit the unhittable, touch the untouchable and take out the most notorious. We weren’t afraid of the Jamaican Mafia, or anyone else, for that matter. We’d paint our path with footprints of their blood.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jessica Gereaux was born, raised and educated in Birmingham AL. She began writing poetry when she was 6 years old and fell in love with words due to Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. Her favorite poem Phenomenal Woman hung in her childhood bedroom. She continued to write all the way to high school where she worked on the school’s literary magazine. Jessica received her associates’ degree in business management and has worked for the past 20 years in some form of customer service. Jessica has had various experiences from being a supervisor in call centers to a senior server in dining facilities of an army base. Her experiences and travels have taken her from coast to coast. Jessica’s novels are crafted from dreams, visions of possibilities and the people she meets on a daily basis. Jessica’s favorite pastimes are writing, painting, reading, gaming and playing with her 2 dogs Snoop and Bossi.