by K'wan
Jonas was now completely sober. He couldn’t have possibly heard Mr. Hightower correctly.
“Thought that might get your attention. She didn’t want you to know because she isn’t sure if she’s going to keep it or not. Frankly, I don’t even know why I’m even telling you outside of the fact that despite everything you’ve shown me to the contrary, I still feel like there’s good in you, and you deserve the chance to at least try to do the right thing.”
“Mr. Hightower, I didn’t know. I’d never have let Alex go through this alone. Whatever she needs, I’ll pay for it. I’m not going to be no deadbeat.”
“Fool-ass boy, this ain’t about money. We’ve got that. What Alex needs right now is to know that you’re ready to step up to the plate and do what needs to be done. Now, it’s up to you to do whatever you feel with the information, but know this . . . With or without you, Alex is going to be okay. We’ll see to that.”
“Mr. Hightower—”
“I’ve said what I needed to, Jonas. What happens from here is up to you. Now, if you want to keep playing in these streets until you eventually die in them, I’m okay with that, but you won’t take my daughter down with you. Alex doesn’t need a dope boy; she needs a grown man. If you’re the man that I think you are, you’ll step up; if not . . . I’ll kill you myself if I ever catch you around my daughter again,” he said. He didn’t wait for Jonas to reply before he jumped into his car and left.
Jonas stood there for a long while after Mr. Hightower had gone, weighing his words. He couldn’t believe that he was about to bring a life into the world. It was surreal! Jonas had never had to take care of anyone but himself and had no idea how to be a father, but he knew where he needed to start. His mother and father fed the Rafferty children with dirty money, and it had been that which had cursed them. This was a curse that he had no intentions of passing on to his unborn child. He knew at that moment that he was done.
* * *
Alex was up and out early the next morning. She had been suffering from a terrible case of morning sickness and desperately needed a ginger ale to settle her stomach. When she came out of her building, she was shocked to find Jonas sitting on a bench. His eyes were clear and sober, and he had finally changed his clothes. He was starting to resemble his old self again.
“Hey,” Jonas greeted her.
“What the fuck do you want?” she asked angrily.
“Alex, I know I have been a real asshole lately, but—”
“Asshole is an understatement. Do you know how worried about you I’ve been? You haven’t been taking my calls, and you ignore me when I come to the house.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I’ve been going through something,” he told her.
“And I haven’t?” she shot back.
“Your dad told me about the baby. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Maybe I would’ve if you hadn’t shut me out. Besides, I still don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m leaving for London next week to start this next chapter in my life, and I don’t know if a child has a place in it.”
“What do you mean? Alex, you’re going to have this baby . . . We’re going to have this baby,” he insisted.
“Jonas, I told you from the beginning that I didn’t want to be involved with a man who was in the streets, but the heart wants what the heart wants. I allowed myself to love you, even knowing you weren’t good for me. Us running around and living on the edge is one thing, but bringing a baby into this . . .” She shook her head sadly.
“You don’t have to worry. I’ll be there for you,” Jonas promised.
“Be there for me? You can’t even be there for yourself! Look at the way you live, Jonas. Gun in one hand, a bottle in the other. I love you so much that I couldn’t even begin to imagine a life without you, but this isn’t about us. It’s about what’s best for this child. Whatever world I create for him or her, Wrath will have no part in it. Now, if you’ll excuse me . . .” She began walking off.
“I’m done,” he called after her.
“Spare me the bullshit, Jonas.” She continued walking.
“I’m serious.” He caught up with her. “If it’s a choice between the people I love and the streets, I choose love.”
Alex stopped walking. “Jonas, I appreciate that, but we both know you’re in way too deep. You think Ace is just going to let you walk away like that?”
“Fuck, Ace. Shit, he’ll probably be glad I’m stepping down. He’s been wanting to be the boss for years, and I’m going to grant his wish happily.”
“I want to believe you, Jonas, but it’s going to take more than words this time,” she told him.
“Then I’ll show you! When you leave for London, I’ll go with you. I have a passport now, and I’ve been saying I wanted to go check out our operation in person for a while. No better time than now.”
“Jonas, that’s a big move, and I know how much you love New York.”
“But I love you more,” he told her. “My mother and Sweets are dead, and Anette and Jo-Jo are on the West Coast. When Yvette is done with rehab, she’ll be joining them in California. There is nothing else to hold me here. We don’t even have to wait until your exchange programs starts. We can leave right after the grand opening and do some sightseeing before your classes start.”
Alex studied him for a time. She was searching for signs of hesitation or uncertainty on his part but found none. He was serious. “Are you sure about this?”
“Surer than I’ve ever been about anything in my life,” he said as he embraced her. “I love you, Alex. I always have and always will. Let me prove to you just how much. Me and you against the world, baby. What do you say?”
“I say that if you make me regret this, I’m going to kill you,” she smiled. As she was leaning against him, she felt something in his pocket vibrate. He pulled out a small, prepaid phone, and when he looked at it, his face darkened. “See, this is the shit I’m talking about.” She pushed away from him.
“It ain’t even like that. Look, I got something to do right quick, but I’ll be back to check on you later, and we can talk some more about our big move.”
“I love you, Wrath.” Alex kissed him.
“Wrath is dead. It’s time for Jonas to start living.”
Chapter Forty-one
After leaving Alex, Jonas headed to the address that had been sent to him in a text message. It was a steak house in midtown packed with the people who had come in for the lunch rush. Even through the sea of people, the man who he had come to meet wasn’t hard to spot. He was seated at a table in the back, bleached blond hair standing up like a beacon. When he saw Jonas, he waved him over.
“I see you’ve learned the benefits of being punctual,” Detective Ceaver said, cutting into a thick steak. “Please, sit.”
Jonas took the seat opposite him.
Detective Ceaver took the piece of steak he had just cut off and popped it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, savoring it before swallowing. “How do you take your steak, Wrath?”
“Huh?”
“Meaning, how do you like it prepared?”
“Well done, I guess. Same as everybody else.”
“Ah, and this is where you are wrong. Real connoisseurs of fine beef understand the joy of a good, rare piece of meat. There’s an art to preparing a good steak; no more than two minutes on each side. This way, you preserve the tenderness and its natural juices. Care for a taste?” he offered his steak to Jonas.
Jonas looked at the blood pooling on the plate. “No, thanks.”
“More for me, then.” The detective went back to his meal. He continued eating as if he had forgotten Jonas was even sitting there.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got a lot to do today, so if we could move this along?”
“Right. You’re planning a trip, aren’t you?” the detective asked, much to Jonas’s surprise. “No, I haven’t been having you followed or tapped your phones.” He read Jonas’s mind. “Your girl crossed paths with
a friend of mine when she was making your passport application. I’m glad you’ve decided to broaden your horizons. I had seen so many different countries by the time I was your age, touched so many different cultures. I was especially partial to Macedonia. Now, those were a lot who knew how to have a good time. Things got a little stale when that business with Persia happened, but I assume you aren’t here for a history lesson.”
Just then, One-Eye Willie appeared. He was carrying a wooden box under his arm. When he saw Jonas, he nodded in greeting, but there was a coldness to him that Jonas hadn’t experienced since they first met. Willie was usually warm and smiling whenever they were around each other, but today, his face was like stone.
“Right on time, as always, Willie.” The detective smiled. He then motioned for him to set the box down in front of Jonas.
“What’s this?” Jonas asked suspiciously.
“Only one way to find out.” The detective paused his eating long enough to watch Jonas.
Cautiously, Jonas opened the box. Inside, he found the most beautiful gun he had ever seen lying on a bed of velvet. Its barrel was made of chrome, but it had a rose-colored hue to it, and the handle was wrapped in a black rubber grip. Jonas slid his hand around the grip, and it curved to his fingers perfectly.
“And early birthday gift,” the detective answered the question on his face. “There are only two others like it in existence. These are only entrusted to the most gifted killers. This one originally belonged to me, but now it’s yours.”
“I can’t accept this.” Jonas pushed the box away.
“Of course, you can, Wrath. You’ve earned this. When we first started working together, there were some among us who were afraid you wouldn’t live up to your full potential,” he glanced at Willie, “but I’d say you’ve exceeded our wildest expectations. You are as loyal as a dog but as dangerous as a viper. My own personal hybrid, so to speak. We have done some amazing things together, but the best is yet to come. Has Willie told you yet?”
“Told me what?” Jonas asked, looking back and forth between the detective and Willie.
“Of course, he hasn’t. Someone who owes me a debt has recently had a bump in political power in a third world country that most people wouldn’t bother to stop long enough to take a leak in were it not for one very valuable export that comes through there. Can you take a guess what that is?”
Jonas shrugged.
“Cocaine, Wrath! Pure, uncut booger sugar!” the detective said excitedly. “Now that my friend is calling the shots over there, we can run as much cocaine up the pipeline as we like, and it’ll cost us little more than a song and a dance. In six months, I’m going to be the biggest importer of cocaine since Ronald Reagan. Would you like to know the best part about all this? I’ve chosen you as the person to run the whole thing.”
“Wow,” Jonas said unenthusiastically.
“I’ve just told you that I am about to make you a god in the drug game, and all you can say is wow?” The detective gave him a disbelieving look. “Excuse me, but I had expected a little more fanfare for keeping good on my promise to change your life.”
“I’m sorry, Lou. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful at all. I’m honored that you have such confidence in me, but maybe I’m not the right man for this job,” Jonas told him.
“Not the right man? Who better than my Wrath? My angel of death?” The detective couldn’t understand it. His eyes narrowed to slits, and he looked over Jonas as if he had x-ray vision. “Something is different about you. Are you in some trouble? I’ve always told you that if you had a problem, then bring it to me, and I’d fix it.”
“I don’t have a problem, Lou. It’s just that, after all that I’ve been through lately, I feel like I need a break,” Jonas confessed.
The detective’s eyes softened. “Of course, you do. You’ve lost damn near your entire family and have barely had a chance to mourn your recently deceased sister, and here I am trying to dump more work in your lap. Forgive me for being insensitive, Wrath.”
Every time the detective called him that, it seemed to grate on his nerves.
“We all get a little tired sometimes,” Willie spoke up. “Take some time for yourself.”
“Yes, Willie’s right. You need time,” the detective agreed. “You’ve got your passport now, so do a bit of traveling. Take that little girlfriend of yours on a trip. A week or two in Cabo will do wonders for your spirit.”
“I think a week or two may not be enough. Lou, I—”
“Don’t say it,” the detective cut him off. “Whatever you were about to let fall out of that depressed mouth of yours, keep it to yourself. I don’t want to hear it.”
“Hear what? That living the way I have for so many years is beating me down?” Jonas challenged. “Listen, Lou. You’ve done a lot for me over the years, and I am truly thankful for it, but this shit is becoming too much for me. If you were worried about me leaving you high and dry, don’t. Ace can run the drug side of things, and Tavion can continue the arrangement that you and I have. He’s ready.”
“I like Tavion, a lot, and though he might be ready, it isn’t him who I made the deal with. I made you an offer, Wrath. You didn’t have to take it, but you did. I’ve done my part, and now you’re telling me you can’t keep up your end of the bargain? I’m sure you know that this will never do. I can’t let you walk away.”
“What you trying to say?” Jonas’s hand slid to his gun.
“Calm down; nobody’s threatening you, and we both know Willie would cut your fucking head off long before you were able to clear that pistol,” the detective warned. “What I’m saying is that you aren’t thinking clearly. You’re so weighed down by your past that you can’t see your future clearly. I can help you with that.” He slid a piece of paper across the table.
Jonas opened it and read over the address. “What’s this?”
“That, my friend, is the map that will lead you down memory lane. An old friend of yours will be waiting for you at the end of it. I’m sure Mula would’ve wanted you to go see him sooner than later.”
Jonas knew just who he would find at that address. “Thanks, Lou.”
“Of course. That’s what friends are for. So long as you look out for me, then I’ll always look out for you. After you’ve handled your business, come back and see me, and we’ll discuss our futures further.”
“Right.” Jonas got up from the table.
“You’re forgetting your present.” The detective pointed to the box.
“Hold on to it for me until I come back to discuss the future,” Jonas told him and left. He had no intention of ever seeing the detective again. Once he handled one last piece of business, he was gone. Lou had been an important fixture in his life, but not more important than Alex or the life she had growing inside her. Regardless of whether he had Lou’s blessing, the game was over.
Chapter Forty-two
The sun had just set when he and Ace hit the New Jersey Turnpike. He had denied him his revenge with Flair, but on this, he wouldn’t. Ace had just as much right to this as anyone. This would not only be his opportunity to make things right for Mula but between Ace and Jonas as well. This trip was to be Ace’s baptism of fire.
During the ride, he told Ace everything . . . about Juan, about him seeing Black at the assisted living home, and what he had done to Flair right after. He even told Ace about his relationship with the detective. After hearing Jonas’s story, Ace felt like his head was going to explode. There was so much to process!
“Wrath, I had always known you were keeping secrets, but this shit . . .” Ace shook his head in disbelief. “Why didn’t you ever tell us about this cop?”
“Because I wanted to protect you. One thing I’ve learned about Lou Ceaver is that he is dangerous and suspicious. I couldn’t risk him thinking one of you would open your mouths; then he’d do something to you or one of your families. I’m sure that dude has files on all of us.”
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing I go
t one on him too.” Ace went on to tell Jonas about how he had spied him with the detective one night and followed them. After Jonas had left, he continued following the detective to his apartment. “I thought I had a line on your plug and was planning on robbing him, but when I found out he was a cop, I fell back.”
“And you call me sneaky,” Jonas joked.
“Hey, man, we all thought you were about to get ghost on us, and I wanted to make sure if you did leave, we’d still land on our feet,” Ace admitted. “So, now what?”
“My plans haven’t changed. We’re going to do this thing, and that will be my last official act as the leader of this team. Once I leave for London, all this shit is yours,” Jonas told him.
“So, you just gonna up and move to London?” Ace asked.
“For a little while. At least until I figure things out. I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life, but it won’t be this,” Jonas vowed.
“And what about the detective? You said yourself that he don’t wanna let you walk,” Ace reminded him.
“To a man like Lou, a nigga like me ain’t nothing but a tool. Lou damn near raised me, so he knows how far I’m willing to go. He ain’t trying to go to war over this. It’d be bad for business. I’ve offered him a capable replacement that he can either give my position to or go fuck himself. I’ve always lived life by my own rules, and nobody is going to change that. Not even Lou,” Jonas said confidently.
“If you like it, I love it. I’m gonna ride out with you regardless. We take care of our own, right?”
Jonas looked at his crime partner. “Right.”
A few hours later, they were coasting through the streets of West Baltimore. That was where the address he’d gotten from Lou had brought him. When Cal disappeared, they had all assumed he was in a witness protection program. As it turned out, after he had dropped a dime on Ace, he turned rabbit on the police and ran off instead of showing up at court to put the final nail in the coffin. If he had been smart, he’d have at least moved to a different coast. Maybe then, he’d at least have had a fighting chance. Hiding in Baltimore might’ve put him out of reach of the Richmond police—but not Wrath. He would root him out no matter how deep he tried to bury himself. He owed Mula that.
