by Keon Smith
When her assailant’s body lay still, she turned around and was staring down the barrel of an assault rifle. “Don’t move,” the masked man warned her.
Diamond slowly dropped the knife and put her hands up. She had no more tricks up her sleeves. The man took a step forward into the bathroom. Out of the darkness of the hallway, Bain came from behind and bashed him in the back of his neck. The assailant stumbled forward, dropping the weapon right before Bain wrapped around him like a python with a chokehold. The assassin was no match for Bain’s massive arms.
Within two minutes, he too was a corpse. Bain dropped his body and picked up the Cobra M-11, checking the thirty-two-round clip to make sure it was fully loaded. He then turned for the door, peeked out of the bathroom, and then gave Diamond the nod to follow him. Suddenly, all the lights went out in the mansion. Diamond picked up the MP-5 and followed her bodyguard.
Both crouched low along the dark hallway. They hugged the walls tightly and headed for the steps. Diamond thought of Samuel down in the guestroom. If they found her, then most likely he was already dead. As soon as Bain saw the red laser beams aimed at them, he fired. The rifle blasts flared up orange and yellow in the darkness. Out of nowhere, more of Diamond’s henchmen appeared like trained soldiers with assault rifles.
Diamond stood on the wing and fired at will into the darkness. Before she could react, one of the assassins grabbed her from behind. She slammed the back of her head into his nose and broke free of his grip. He stumbled back. Diamond twisted her body and elbowed him in the nose again before plowing the rifle butt into his scrotum. The man folded up like a hundred-dollar bill.
As Bain gunned down the last of the intruders downstairs, Diamond put her assailant in a headlock, threatening to break his neck if he didn’t talk. The rest of the henchmen began to gather around, including Bain. It was then she saw the priest balled up in a corner, covering his head from any stray bullets. The only reason he hadn’t been spotted was because of the black dress suit he wore. When he saw that she had regained her control of the fort, he slowly rose to his feet. Embarrassed, he fixed his suit jacket and approached with his eyes on Diamond’s captive.
“Who sent you?” Diamond demanded while tightening the hold she had on him. The man gasped in pain.
“Some… some Columbian guy,” he moaned as he struggled for breath. “He said… he said if we kidnapped you, there… there would be a million-dollar reward.”
“And if you kill me?” Diamond shouted, twisting his neck a little more.
“We… ah… we would only get half.”
Diamond then released him. He toppled face-first to the floor.
“Okay, here’s how this is going to go,” Diamond said, aiming the gun at him. “What’s this guy’s name? Tell me, you live. Don’t tell me, you die. It’s that simple.”
“Okay, okay,” the assassin said, putting his hands up. “His name is Carlos.”
When Diamond heard that, she frowned.
What beef does Carlos have with me? She thought. “I’m only letting you walk because I want you to deliver a message to Carlos. You tell him Diamond White lives. And if he wants to kill me, he better send the fucking Navy Seals next time. Now get out.”
The man quickly fixed his collar and made his way to freedom as Bain looked at his boss like she was crazy. “What are you doing?” Samuel asked. “You’re just going to let him leave?”
She shrugged and said, “What? Am I not compassionate?”
“Forgive me if I may speak harshly, Madam White, but these men.” He pointed at the fleeing assailant. “Him. They are the Blood Hornets. The same Blood Hornets that tortured me in that dungeon.”
“Relax, Priest. These men are mercenaries. They are not sworn to one man.”
“And who told you this? Because I was told that they are all loyal to the one who put their collars on.”
“Collars?” Diamond repeated, looking down at the dead assailants lying on her floor. They all wore collars around their necks. She had seen these exact collars before when Clyde hired a group of men to abduct her a couple years back. Was Clyde involved in this too? If so, why would he want to abduct her again?
“Pack your things after you guys clean up this mess,” Diamond said before walking away. “We’re going back to Cali.”
Sacrifice
“Would you accept my offer?”
SAMORAH MORIN
That night, after a session of lovemaking in the hot tub, Montega and Samorah dried off and lay comfortably on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Samorah couldn’t believe the two thunderous orgasms she had fifteen minutes apart. It was something that she would really miss when she left for Miami. However, the short time they did spend together would never be forgotten.
“Kenny, why haven’t you ever spoken about your parents? You told me about your brother, sister, and Rodney, but never your mother or father,” she said as she lay on her side, propping up her head with her hand.
Montega continued to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling. He never really liked to talk about his parents, but because Samorah was basically in the same boat as he was, he felt like they shared a bond.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “They’re both dead. My father committed suicide when I was only a few years old.”
“Oh my God, that’s terrible,” Samorah gasped out.
“Yeah, I know. But then, a few years ago, my mother got killed in a crossfire. On top of that, my godmother, Stacy, told me I have another brother I’ve never seen in my life. He’s floating around somewhere. I feel like every day I wake up is the day that draws me closer to meeting him,” Montega said, deep in thought.
“I guess all that makes you feel alone, huh?” Samorah asked.
“How can I be alone when I got you?” he asked, kissing her on her forehead. “Truthfully, if my father was alive, I would probably have more confidence, more discipline. A mother can’t keep you in line the way your father can, you know? You need a man to teach you about manhood. Me, I found manhood on my own.”
Samorah turned over on her back. As much as she wanted a relationship with this man, she knew that his type wouldn’t last, especially dealing with people like her brother. She thought, if this guy were just a small-time hustler, maybe I could turn his life around.
Growing up under the same roof with Carlos, she learned more about the drug business than any girl her age. The main thing that stuck with her was the saying, ‘Get rich, or die trying.’ Even with odds like that, there was no guarantee. Few people were able to dodge the chains of bondage or the barrel of a gun. She just couldn’t sit around and wait to see the outcome with him.
“Kenny, you know that I leave tomorrow, right?” she asked.
“Yeah, I know,” Montega replied. “You’re going back to Florida.”
“That’s right… I just want you to know the time we shared together was fantastic. You showed me more than what I deserved for backstabbing Tasha. I’m not gonna lie; at first, I thought you were just going to be a one-time thing, then I would get over you. You fooled me. You even compelled me to fall in love with you…” she admitted, then paused.
Montega turned to look at her. “Why do I sense a but at the end of that sentence?”
Samorah took a deep breath. “If I asked you to leave everything and come live with me in Miami with no worries about money, clothing, or transportation, would you accept my offer?”
Montega looked over at the beautiful woman beside him and sighed with disappointment. “Look, Samorah. As tempting as that offer is, I can’t accept it. If I do that, then I would be abandoning all I stand for. My goals in life would never be accomplished. My dreams and hopes would never be fulfilled, and the people that are depending on me will lose faith in me. I would be lying to myself if I told you yes.”
Samorah knew this would happen. She cursed herself for making him choose between her and the life of a drug dealer. Her eyes started to tear. She wanted to cry but just wouldn’t allow herself to be e
mbarrassed any more than she already was. “So you’re sayin’ you don’t want to be rich?”
“No, I’m saying I don’t want to be rich in that way. I want to be proud of myself at the end of the day because I earned my success, not because it was given to me. That’s cheating. It’s just like school in a way. When you smarten up, the money you earn ends up being like a report card. I’ve been getting F’s all my life. It’s time to start earning some A’s for once.”
“And if you don’t earn it? If somebody just so happens to kill you along the way?” Samorah said.
“Then I’ll just die trying. Look. I fucks with you heavy, shorty. I’ll even admit I have strong feelings for you, but I also have dignity and pride, and most importantly, a destiny. And that destiny is in Philly, not in Miami,” he replied as he softly raked his fingers through her silky hair.
As much as Samorah disliked his decision, she respected it and didn’t speak about it anymore.
The next morning, Montega drove Samorah to the airport. Carrying her two suitcases, he followed her through the crowded terminal. It was a sad day for them both. Neither knew the next time they would ever see each other again. Samorah made it even harder for him in their last moments together. Watching her ass bounce in the blue Donna Karen sundress made it even more tempting to just say ‘fuck it’ and roll out to Miami with her and never look back, but he wasn’t a quitter, nor did he care for a handout. He was used to suffering before he could earn anything, and suffering built character.
As the two made it to the check-in counter, Samorah turned back to look at him. He could see the sadness she was trying to hide behind her sunglasses as he leaned forward to give her a kiss. At first, it was just a peck, then it turned into a burst of passion that felt like an eternity. Their tongues danced one last time before the announcement was made.
“Attention, passengers. Southwest Flight 157 to Miami will be boarding in five minutes.” On hearing that, the two slowly released each other, panting for air.
“I guess nothing lasts forever, huh?” she said, bringing a smile to his face.
Montega reached at and brushed a strand of hair from her face and touched her cheek. “Only our names and the destiny we fulfill,” he replied, stroking her cheek and pinching her chin.
She fixed his shirt collar for him and said, “If you somehow reach it to the top of that barrel and you find yourself alone up there, don’t look down. I’ll be up there with you somewhere, so don’t be a stranger. Look me up.”
Montega watched as a tear trickled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it before turning and walking away. Just like that, she was gone. Montega sighed. He could have avoided the drama altogether by just getting on that flight with her and living happily ever after, but he knew he had important things to do. He then headed for the escalator. The thought made his chest harden.
When he got to the ground floor, he noticed a huge, muscular man in a gray, tailored suit, leading at least five men in his direction. One looked to be a black priest. The whole ordeal looked weird. A priest, five dangerous-looking men, and a giant. Montega thought the guy was a wrestler from his size and the way people gawked at him and the others. Then he saw the woman they were protecting. He slowed his pace as the guys approached.
He wanted to get a better look at the cocoa butter beauty with long, dark hair that flowed in swirls down her back. She had a fascinating figure smothered in a blue Roberto Cavalli dress with a matching belt wrapped around her waist. Her blue five-inch Christian Louboutin heels displayed perfectly pedicured toes, and judging by her hourglass shape, he knew her ass had to be fabulous. He made eye contact with her for the moment and noticed the long, curled length of her lashes and the caramel color of her eyes.
Damn, she is super bad, he thought.
Ummm, he is so cute, Diamond said to herself as she strutted by the handsome, almond-brown-skinned brother, who stood out in a green and white striped Lacoste shirt. Both looked back at the other as they passed, but neither spoke.
After coming from the airport, Montega prepared himself for the long ride back to Philadelphia. Before his departure, he did a little shopping at Phipps Plaza across the street from the Lenox Mall. He bought a few outfits and some footwear and then called it a day. He had seen enough. Atlanta was a beautiful place with a lot of space and opportunity, but like Dorothy said in ‘The Wiz’, There is no place like home.
It was time he got back and began planning his takeover, which meant he would have to face Shug. After spending close to $10,000 of Kev’s money on clothes, he headed for his final stop in the city to see Carlos. Montega wasn’t the only one leaving ATL. Carlos was also preparing to head back to his hometown in Florida. Thanks to his new lieutenant, his mission was complete.
Castor now had control of Georgia again. Montega shook Carlos’s hand. “Thanks for everything,” he said.
“No. Thank you. You make sure you call me as soon as you enter Pennsylvania. I will send the shipment through FedEx and UPS. Just make sure you find that address I gave you. And remember what I said. Always be ready because there will be a time when I call on you again; only it will be for someone more powerful than myself,” Carlos promised.
“I need to ask you something,” Montega said seriously. “I’m lookin’ for a gun connect. Do you know anyone I can deal with that’s close to home? I’ve got a little problem in Philly that I must face, and he goes by the name of Shug.”
That name sent chills through Carlos. Rodney had spoken of Montega getting into trouble with Shug, who was actually another target on Castor’s list. Carlos failed to mention this for the simple fact that if Montega was as smart as he thought, then all would go well. If not, then maybe he wasn’t as good as he made himself out to be.
“Can you get access to an eighteen-wheeler when you get back?”
“I should be able to,” Montega replied. “I know a smoker who owns a semi. Maybe he’ll let me rent it out.”
“Okay, then when you get back to Philly, there’s an import/export dock by Delaware Avenue. Are you familiar with that dock?”
Montega nodded his head as Carlos dug into his pocket for his keys.
“Find the crate with the number 358 on it. I keep one available in every major city. It will have everything you desire and more.”
He searched his key ring and pulled off a master key then handed it to Montega.
“This particular crate once belonged to a friend of mine. He used to run the Gulf cartel in Mexico, so some of the things you’ll find in there are probably worth more than the life you plan to take. However, it should keep you busy for a while. We’ll be in touch,” Carlos said, letting him go on his way.
Montega got back into his Impala and headed for I-95 North. He had already learned to become a man. Now it was time to show his strength. It was time to go back to Philly to face the rest of the wolves.
Afterlife
“Welcome back from the dead…”
SKI-MASK
The clicks and clacks of Diamond’s tan, patent-leather Gucci shoes echoed throughout the gallery of the White family’s L.A. mansion as she headed for Clyde’s office. Pushing open the French doors, she walked in, dressed in a white, cotton, sleeveless, collared blouse with a sheer scarf tied in a bow and a red umbrella skirt that stopped just above her calves.
Bain followed not too far behind with Samuel. Clyde was on his stomach with just a towel covering his rear, with a topless Brazilian chick, who wore nothing but a G-string, sitting on his back, massaging him. She paused the moment Diamond entered. The priest turned his head from sight as Clyde looked up.
Clyde could practically smell her perfume and said, “Don’t you ever knock? And why the fuck is that priest still alive? For God’s sake, Diamond. I told you to get rid of him.”
“Why? Because your Blood Hornets have no more use for him?” she asked. “Or is it you who has no more use? Is that why you sent them to kill me in Atlanta?”
“What the hell are you talking about? I did
no such thing. Don’t go putting words in my mouth, Diamond.”
“Then explain why a fucking mob of assassins that you had abduct me before raid my hideout and try to abduct me again?”
“Do you hear yourself? I had you abducted before because I didn’t know the Black Kiss of Death was my own fucking sister. Why the hell would I want to abduct you now? Can you answer that for me since you’re so fucking smart? For your info, the Blood Hornets are mercenaries. Anyone could have hired them.”
Diamond folded her arms but had nothing to say. Clyde shook his head before resting his face back down. He was disappointed she came back from her vacation so soon. Diamond watched as the woman returned to her work.
“Funny. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you didn’t even care about what happened to Tommy yesterday,” she said, folding her arms over her chest.
“Diamond, Tommy was my best friend. Of course, I feel some way about his death, but make no mistake about it, just because I don’t show my emotion doesn’t mean anything. I’m not you,” he shot back as the girl continued.
“Ouch, that hurts,” she said sarcastically.
“Look. You see I’m busy here? Why don’t you and your dickless preacher or priest go find a man or something? How long has it been, huh?” he asked with a smirk.
Diamond caught on to his sarcasm and tensed up.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Well, why don’t you tend to yours and let me finish mines? I’m sure you’re tired of buying batteries every other week.”
“Fuck you!” she spat.
