I Am Your Brother

by Jaimy Reynolds

  DESTINY: (Moves in closer to his face and stares into his eyes) Take me somewhere.

  RON: Right now?

  DESTINY: We can take the party to my room. Or to your place, or we ditch this place and go kiss on each other in the car like we are young again.

  RON: You naughty woman you.

  DESTINY: I understand if I intimidate you, I attend to have that effect on men.

  RON: Oh no babe you met your match tonight. And I’m going to be the one to bless you once it’s all said and done.

  DESTINY: Oh I have that feeling daddy, but only thing is, you still talking.

  RON: Are you calling my bluff?

  DESTINY: And I’m pulling yo card. Talk about it or be about it.

  RON: Damn. Are all Texas girls like you?

  DESTINY: There is only one of these that you will find. Consider this a night you will never forget.

  RON: You talk a good game, but I got something for that. Let’s ride out. Did you drive?

  DESTINY: No I took a taxi.

  RON: You can ride with me.

  DESTINY: Oh I’m a ride alright.

  Ron makes up a story of why he was leaving the party early. Destiny sends King a text while they both leave the club together. Ron sees the readiness in her eyes while walking to the car. He moves in closer and puts his arm around her waist. She moves away from him by walking a few steps ahead just so he could see her booty move. She turns her head back while still walking forward and gives him a seductive look. His desire for her rises while watching her move from behind. He catches up with her and guides her to his car. She made sure to have his eyes on her before he opens the passenger door, speaking meaningless nothings in his ear. He walks around the front of the car and gets into the driver seat. Ron leans over and tries to kiss Destiny but she shields away from him by saying, “let’s save it all for the hotel room.” He asks what hotel they were going to and she gives him the wrong name. Out of nowhere King rises up from the backseat and points a gun at the back of Ron’s head.

  KING: Move and I’ll send a bullet to your brain!

  RON: (Scared and shook while raising his hands) DON’T SHOOT!

  KING: Relax, if you cooperate you will go home tonight safe in all one piece.

  RON: (Looks at Destiny) You set me up bitch!

  Destiny quickly grabs ahold of his testicles and squeezed. Ron jerked into a paralyzed freeze and lets out a squeal of pain. While at her mercy, she tells Ron to give up his cell phone and wallet while King presses the barrel of a silencer on a 22 handgun. In a calm manner King addresses Ron, “that was your one and only pass, the next time you decide to get fly, I’m going to cripple you for life. Do I make myself clear?” Ron squeals out a painful yes, before Destiny releases her grip on his testicles. He lets out a sigh of relief while clutching his crotch. King sits back in his seat while still holding the gun at the back of Ron’s head. “Why me man,” Ron cries out. “You have been chosen, consider us to be your karma,” King replies. Once Destiny has both his cell phone and wallet is when she gets out of the car and gets into the backseat.

  KING: Here is the deal. Before I give you two options, I’ll tell you what brings me here. There is a woman by the name of Remy you put your hands on. And it is my duty to protect her.

  RON: I’m sorry. I’ll never see her again.

  KING: Here are your two options. One, Remy has five marks on her body that were caused by you. I counted while making love to her. Which means I take a finger for every mark. And have you drive me to your home and I rob you blind.

  RON: (In a helpless manner) Oh my God! Please no, please!

  KING: Partner in crime, what is the name of this weak man?

  DESTINY: (Holds up his driver’s license while taking a picture of it with her personal phone) Looks like we have, Ron here.

  KING: Ron. Don’t worry Ron, because I’ve been told, when you call on that name God, there is hope. Which brings me to your option number two. You donate to our charity and go home tonight with only your feelings hurt.

  RON: Option two! I have money, we can go to the ATM machine right now.

  KING: Naw Ronnie, bank is closed at this time of night. You have to think of all the money that would add up to missing fingers, surgery, and precious valuables in your home.

  DESTINY: Don’t forget about this car we’re in, a chop shop cold break this sexy thing down and pay out some real cash.

  KING: You sho right. But you know what, if he cooperates, we could work out a reasonable deal.

  RON: Option two it is, what do I need to do?

  KING: Is that your final answer?

  RON: Yes, for crying out loud!

  KING: Lower your voice. Tha hell is wrong with you, put this business transaction on pause and beat your ass.. Is that how you conduct business? Now that we have a deal, it is only wise of me to protect myself. Because who is to say you won’t go to the police and turn us in. Give details to a sketch artist, or have someone to come after Remy. There will be consequences. Tell us a little more about that my partner in crime.

  DESTINY: We have a Ron who lives at address, 206 Pathway Drive, Las Vegas Nevada. Two little daughters, and aww their sooo cute, who live with the baby mama. I have the numbers here. I will call her, and you will apologize it’s late, but you need her address now so you can send the girls a surprise. I will have you on speaker phone, if you try anything funny, the deal is off and you will suffer the consequences. So straighten up and quit crying.

  The phone rings while Ron clears his voice. The baby momma answers the phone out of her sleep and Ron does as he is told. She tells him the address while Destiny collects the data.

  KING: Now Ron, I know where you live. I know where your kids live. I have your driver’s license and credit card information that will be sent by text to a number of someone close by. And if anything were to happen to us, or you were to contact the police, the person will come and kidnap your children if he can’t find you. But I am pretty sure he will find you. That’s what he is trained to do. But if we never hear from you again, you will never see us again. If you manage to move to another location and rat us out later, my client has retrieved the contact numbers to your parents, relatives, and friends. We will take out people just to get to you. Do you understand? (King didn’t have a side client, but he wanted Ron to believe that he did)

  RON: Yes, I understand.

  KING: Well, let’s get this transaction started shall we.

  RON: How about ten thousand.

  KING: You know what Ron, I have even a better idea. How about you tell her the password to your bank account on your phone.

  DESTINY: I’m ready when you are, I already have the screen up.

  RON: (Putting his head on the steering wheel) aww shit man. This is a nightmare.

  KING: I’ll show you a real nightmare if you don’t stop playing around. Let’s get to it before I change my mind and take your money, yo car and five fingers.

  RON: Ok! Alright.

  Destiny holds the phone up towards Ron to where all he had to do is type his password on the screen. Ron regretfully types in his password and the amount in his account displays on the screen. Ron wore a defeated look. Destiny looks at the displayed number on the phone and leans back in the seat. She looks at King and he stares back at her in a brief moment of silence. She lifts the phone up to King so he could see the amount. He witnesses the amount, looks back at Destiny and they both just smiled at each other.

  KING: You thinking what I’m thinking?

  DESTINY: Maybe, what you thinking?

  KING: It’s time for church. Followed up by receiving a generous offering from brother Ron.

  DESTINY: God loves a cheerful giver. But first things first. Since the bank is closed they have invented this wonderful thing called, money transfer. Where you can send large sums of money by phone in the matter of seconds. Technology, technology.

  KING: It’s a fool ain’t it.

  RON: (Trying to hold back tears) This is messed u
p man.

  DESTINY: Correction, what’s messed up is you putting your hands on a woman. You are lucky my partner is giving you options, because if it was up to me, I would take your money, car, and leave you crippled while tattooing the word coward on your forehead.

  KING: Yea, I second that, she would indeed. Maybe I’m getting soft. But hey, you know what Ron, I haven’t had to pistol whip you yet. And you have been cooperating, so I’m going to cut you a break. I’m not going to break the bank, but I am going to take a lump sum. But don’t worry, it’s going to a good cause. So wipe those tears away and hold your head up for being a part of a good cause. You are a good cowardly man Ron.

  DESTINY: With some weak ass game.

  KING: He can’t help it, he’s just doing what’s in him.

  DESTINY: Let’s get to this business transaction. I see you already have your account set up to be able to send large amounts of money. So I’m going to hand you your phone back and give you the information to this anonymous account to send the money to.

  KING: This is all happening so smoothly like it was all meant to be.

  DESTINY: Look at God.

  KING: Won’t he do it!

  DESTINY: (Hands Ron the phone to make the transaction) Now, while you be a blessing to our charity, let’s have church.

  RON: What’s the amount?

  DESTINY: I already entered the amount. Just add the rest of the information it asks and hit send.

  RON: (Looks at the amount and shakes his head in disgust)

  DESTINY: Since the amount is so large your about to get a call any second from your bank to make sure you authorized the transaction.

  KING: (Lowered his gun) You see Ron, even with what you will be giving away, you still are well off financially. I know men who would love to be in your shoes by having plenty of money, an expensive car, and living in a high rise. But you have lost sight by taking all that you have for granted, due to selfishness and thinking you are above the law. Thinking you can walk around and beat on women. You let all that money get to your mind. You could lose all that you have behind one moment of a lack of self-control. Luckily you caught a break and will only lose half. But this here will cause you to check your pride and ego, which is entirely out weighing your heart. Life check homie, time to reevaluate yourself and make the proper changes that won’t hurt others. Partner do you have anything?

  DESTINY: It makes me sick how you handle us women. Like we’re some piece of meat or a punching bag. No sir, we are the mother of us all. None of us would be here if it wasn’t for the woman. Ask yourself the question, would you want a man like you to date your daughters when they are older? That’s something to think about.

  Ron’s phone rings. He answers to hear the voice of a 24 hour representative of his bank. King points the 22 to the back of his head. Ron answers a couple of questions to confirm the transaction and hangs up.

  KING: And to bring this message to a close. Look on the bright side Ron, you still have your health, career, your daughters, wellbeing, possessions, and unharmed. You just lost something that really carries no value. Take the money away, then who are you? Not so big after all huh, over there crying. But tonight that changes, and you have an opportunity to wake up and realize what’s important. You just lost out on some money, but you can bounce back. Don’t think of this as a loss, think of it as you taking a business hit. And that hit brought about a valuable life lesson.

  A sound alerted Destiny’s phone that read, transaction complete. She checks the anonymous account to confirm the money was there. King looks at Ron through the rear view mirror and says, “let this be the last we hear from each other. Pleasure doing business with you. Both King and Destiny get out of the car at the same time. Ron watched both vanish off while he cried in his car. The brother and sister walked calm and collective to the Cadillac and drove off. Once they pulled away from the parking lot they both looked at each other and started shouting in celebration. While driving away from the clubs parking lot, there was a big strobe light that waved into the sky to bring attention to their clubs establishment.

  From looking outside his window of his near roof top hotel room, Seven can see the moving strobe light. He follows the light weave in and out of the dark sky and continues to write. Once King and Destiny made it back to the hotel is when they carry on to their separate room. Soon as King walked into his room, their laid a naked Remy awaiting him. He walks over to the edge of the bed and lives in the moment. Glass house view, eye level with sky scrapers, while looking at the masterful work of God’s creation laying there. She awakes after hearing him remove his clothes. Love making in a luxury suite, high above ground with neon lights surrounding down below.

  When Destiny walks into her room, Seven could hear that she made it back. She takes all her clothes off and lays in the bed. She puts a pillow in between her legs while looking out the glass house window that shows the city. Seven puts his pen down and sits at the edge of the bed while looking in the direction of Destiny’s room. At the same time, they both quietly walk over to the wall that separates each other’s room. They both gently place their ear up to the wall. They both carefully listen for any sounds that could enhance their imagination. Little did they know, they both stood in the same spot in separate rooms, doing the same exact thing. Only a wall divided them from standing within a foot apart.

  Chapter

  8

  THE COAST OF CALI

  The trio eat brunch together while sharing their stories of the night before. Destiny insists that their work in Vegas is done and now ready to go visit her favorite place on Cali coast. The plan sounded good to King and Seven so after eating they packed up and hit the road. All three souls are alive and full of life while cruising down highway 15. The sun roof was open, the music was jamming, and expectations were high.

  DESTINY: I can’t wait Seven, you are going to love this place. It’s my favorite of them all.

  SEVEN: What do you love about this place Destiny?

  DESTINY: I love how it makes me feel. It’s on the beach, but it’s kind of ducked off about a mile away from the area where the people are. It’s like a hidden heaven. A home away from home. The Cali weather is just so wonderful, and the sound of the ocean is therapeutic. I went to school with a friend of mine and her husband owns the beech house where we will be staying. It’s nice, kind of secluded, great scenery, and location. The beech house is perfect for a couple. I can see you writing on the balcony or on the beach.

  SEVEN: That sounds lovely. How often do you visit this place?

  DESTINY: Once a year, sometimes two. I like to go on 4th of July and stay for a week. My friend and her husband live right outside LA. This is their getaway spot. They always said I can rent it out whenever I like.

  KING: Yea she’s ready to leave her brother by my lonesome.

  DESTINY: Boy please, you know I’ll be flying to where ever you are on the regular. You need to come live out here while you playing. It’s time to retire and start a family.

  SEVEN: What if you are already there, but it’s just being accustomed to the lifestyle makes it harder to leave?

  KING: Maybe. It’s a rush like no other, to have nothing, to use your mind and make a move that covers all your expenses for a year. To not have to work or answer nobody. That fast money is addictive man.

  DESTINY: I agree, it’s so easy once it comes natural. Beats sitting in traffic, punching in a clock, and slaving.

  SEVEN: Easy, how so?

  DESTINY: I can show you better than I can tell you.

  KING: (Looks at Destiny and she looks back) You thinking what I’m thinking?

  DESTINY: Maybe, what are you thinking?

  KING: It’s almost time to get gas and there is a station coming up less than ten miles.

  The black Cadillac pulls into a busy gas station and parks at a pump. King tells Seven to sit tight and watch Destiny work. He gets out of the car first and walks into the store to pay for gas. Destiny informs Seven to lean back in his
seat so it will look as if shes alone. The tinted windows were enough shade to have Seven go unnoticed. Destiny gets out of the car and takes the window cleaner brush in between gas pumps and begins wiping the window down on all four sides. It only took a couple of minutes for a man to spot her at a distance. The young man pulls his car up to the gas pump on the opposite side of the Cadillac. When Destiny begins to pump gas is when she makes eyes contact with the intrigued man who looks to be in his mid -twenties. She gives him a flirtatious look to draw him in.

  YOUNG MAN NAMED MIKE: Hey pretty lady.

  DESTINY: Hey handsome.

  MIKE: You sure are looking mighty nice.

  DESTINY: (Smiling, but not responding back)

  MIKE: (His back turned away from his car from checking out Destiny) Are you from around here?

  DESTINY: (Starts to clean the window slightly leant over) No, but I’ll be in town for a few days.

  MIKE: Can I get your number and call you sometime. Sure would like to talk to you.

  DESTINY: (She stops and gives him a look as if she isn’t sure) I like your confidence.

  MIKE: There is more to me.

  DESTINY: (Walks up to the man and looked in his eyes) Alright. You ready?

  MIKE: (He pulls out his cell phone out and types in her number) What is your name?

  DESTINY: Nefertiti.

  MIKE: My name is Mike.

  DESTINY: Nice to meet you Mike.

  She turns around while still making eye contact and gets into the car. Mike smiles while saving her number in his phone. He gets into the driver’s seat and closes the door. King was sitting in the back seat with his 22 hand gun pointed at Mike.

  KING: Don’t move or I end your life.

  MIKE: (Drops his phone when throwing his hands in the air)

  KING: Relax, put your hands down and don’t look at me. If you listen to me, I won’t hurt you and you’ll be on your merry way.

  MIKE: Okay, I’ll listen, don’t shoot, I have kids.

  KING: (Looks over at Destiny and she shakes her head no) Oh is that right. How many kids do you have?

  Mike: Two boys.