by Bobby Dennis
"Ran we need to talk." he said. "I know you probably heard about the shooting earlier this week uptown!"
"Yeah, I heard one of your boys shot Tab Williams." Ransom said. "He should've killed that skunk!"
"Baron, said the same thing. Anyway this is the thing, you know Baron and Lois had planned to get married. I just found out that they got a baby on the way and Baron wants to marry sooner. I told him to wait until this thing with Tab blows over because I didn't want to get him involved." Larry said.
Baron cut him off. "Excuse me Larry, but I'm already involved. It doesn't matter if we marry next year. I'm obligated to family and as of now you're family. By virtue of being your son, L,J's family too. That won't stop me from busting his ass, but I'll see to it that no one outside of the family harms him!"
"So will we!" Ransom said. "So what are you gonna do about Tab and the others. I don't think Chauncey and his group are gonna take this layin down. They're a ruthless lot, them Spires."
"I haven't really had the chance to give it much thought." Larry said. "I don't want things to get out of line, and that's what could happen."
"I heard that Pike and his boys were looking for L.J." Will said. "I don't know if there's truth to it, but you know Pike and his boys got their hands in almost every piece of pie."
"I don't think Carl Lee knows Pike is on the take. Carl Lee is a hateful man where blacks are concerned, but he's for damn sure honest!" Ransom said.
"Y'all gonna talk about me like I ain't here and ain't got no say in this?" L.J asked angrily. "Fuck Pike, fuck Tab and the whole bunch!"
Baron chuckled and L.J spun toward him, and said venomously. "Nigga you think something’s funny?"
"Damn right I do." Baron replied. I find it amusing that you're not taking them boys serious."
"I should kick that smirk off your face, you son of a bitch!" L.J shouted.
"L.J damn it!" shouted Larry. "I don't know what you got against Baron, but cease that bullshit this minute!"
"He done stepped over the line one time too many now, Larry." Baron said softly. "I told you, if you came against me I'd take you down a peg. Now we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. You're family, so I won't kill you, but I'm gonna beat your ass. No knives or guns, just feet and fist!"
L.J was a big strong man and was a rough and tumble fighter. He had engaged in his share of fights, but he had never fought a Kane.
"Pa, he's talking shit. So, I'm gonna teach him a lesson he won't soon forget!" L.J said menacingly.
"Hold on now boys." Larry said, trying to stop them before it got out of hand. "Ain't no need for us to be at each others throat, we're family!"
"Still gonna be family when it's over." said Baron. "We need to get this issue resolved in order to go forward!"
Baron stood up, looked in L.J eyes and pointed to the door. L.J turned on his heel and headed to the back lot with Baron behind him.
The other men followed them out back. The men formed a circle, as Baron and L.J removed their jackets and squared off.
"When this is over, it's over!" Ransom said with authority. "You boys hear me?"
Both men nodded as they stepped into the circle.
"I'm gonna prove you ain't man enough for Lois." L.J said.
Baron just looked at him and raised his fist. L.J rushed him and threw a looping right that Baron ducked under. When Baron ducked, he fired a right, left combination to L.J’s midsection. L.J took the two hard blows and stepped back his face screwed tight with pain.
Baron pressed the advantage and moved forward. He threw a left jab, that L.J easily dodged. And a right cross, that L.J blocked. L.J fired a straight right, that glanced across Baron’s left cheek. Then a left cross, that Baron weaved. The two men went around and around with no one landing a telling blow.
L.J rushed forward as Baron shot out a left jab. He slipped the jab and ran into the vicious right uppercut that Baron threw. Baron’s rock hard fist smashed into his chin with jarring force and L.J’s head snapped back. He stumbled and Baron’s left cross grazed the top of his head.
L.J, dazed, threw an over hand right, that smashed into Baron’s neck with numbing force. Baron’s head was cocked to the side, his left arm nearly dead.
The men backed off, warily circling each other. Baron looked in L.J’s eyes and saw new respect there.
“I think the point’s been made L.J, what say we end this here, no winners?” Baron said.
Though L.J had new respect for Baron, still he was driven to beat him, and he replied. “Oh no, you ain’t gonna weasel your way out of this ass whipping!
“I gave you your only chance!” Baron said. Baron closed the distance and feinted with his right.
L.J bit and he launched a vicious front thrust kick to L.J’s midsection that caught him completely off guard. L.J folded forward and baron’s hand slashed down in a wicked chop to the back of his neck. L.J, fell to his hands and knees dazed. He shook his big head to clear it and Baron stepped back.
"I'm giving you quarter, cause you're family!" Baron said firmly. "Anyone else, I'd destroy!"
L.J struggled to his feet and rushed Baron, who side stepped him, and fired a right to the back of his head. L.J stumbled forward and Will caught him and held him upright until he regained his balance.
"Enough damn it!" Larry said.
L.J looked at his father, his eyes blazing with anger, and said. "Not yet Pa!" Then he turned back to the fight and Baron gave him a sound whipping.
Baron didn't mess up his face, except for a few lumps. Ransom looked at the young men, and said firmly. "That's the end of that. No more, ever! If you two disobey, the family will discipline you. And I promise, you won't like it!"
The men filed back into the club and sat in a big circle in the main area.
"I'm gonna go talk to Chauncy Spires and see if I can stop this before it turns into a shooting war. If it comes to us having to make some concessions to prevent bloodshed, then we'll concede. If he dishonors us, then we'll deal with it. Anyone disagree?" Ransom asked.
"Why do we have to seek peace with them?" L.J asked. "It seems kind of cowardly to me!"
"Watch your mouth there boy!" Larry said angrily. "Respect your elders!"
"I didn't mean any disrespect Ran. I'm just saying that it seems that way to me." L.J said.
"He's got a point Ran." Baron chimed in.
"And well he may." Ransom said. "But what are the rules of engagement?"
"I know Chauncy and his crew and they are men without morals or scruples. They may ambush you, or attack you while you're with the women. So what I want to do is prevent that. If I can't, then like I said, we'll deal with it!"
"I agree with Ran." Larry said. "Let him talk to them before we take any other action."
All of the men looked at Larry and Ransom and nodded.
"Ran, remember I asked you to come in with me on the heroin thing?" Larry asked.
Ransom nodded his head, and Larry said. "It's still open and there’s money to be made!"
"What would we have to do?" Ran asked.
Before Larry could answer, the front windows of the club exploded inward. Bullets and shards of glass showered the room. Luckily the men were seated, and the rounds buzzed over their heads. The men all fell to the floor and most pulled guns from their jackets.
Lefty, Drake, Trace and Will, crab walked swiftly to the shattered windows. Carefully they peered out. Two cars were parked and men outside of them were firing round after round into the building. Jack Lee rushed to the front door and nudged the door open and fired at the cars.
Lefty and the others opened fire and the men hurried into their cars and sped away.
"Brant and Elmore were in that group. I think I saw Son Kellum." Jack Lee said angrily.
"Ain't no need for talk now.” Ransom said. "Will, Baron, take L.J, and a couple of the others and pay them Spires boys a visit. I'm gonna call the others and get some more of our people over here."
Baron nodded, then looked
at L.J, who looked to Jack Lee. The young men cautiously left and loaded up.
"Chauncy got to go down." Ransom said.
"That's gonna leave a void in the heroin trade. One you can fill." Larry said.
Before the two men were finished, they heard the sound of sirens approaching.
Put the weapons away. "Ransom said. "Ain't no need to kill Pike and his men, at this point!"
The men put their weapons away, as they heard two cars squeal to a halt outside. Pike Richards rushed thru the door, followed by Haney Burch, Slocum Lewis and Step Harvey. The men all held their service revolver in hand.
"What the hell is goin on here Larry?" shouted Pike.
"Some assholes decided to redecorate the place." said Larry sarcastically. "What the hell do you think happened?"
"Nigga don't get smart with me!" Pike said. Pike wasn't a real big man, but he was well put together and fast on the draw. He was a medium brown complexioned man with piercing eyes and a big voice.
Haney Burch was a giant of a man, 6'5" and at least 350 pounds, of which very little was fat. Step Harvey was a tall thin man, that resembled a living scarecrow.
Slocum Lewis was a round man, whose appearance always appeared jovial, but underneath, just below the surface, was a sadistic streak that was barely detected.
"This got anything to do with the shooting that took place uptown the other night?" Pike asked.
"What shooting?" Larry asked feigning surprise.
"Don't play with me nigga, if you don’t want no problems!" Pike said menacingly.
"You're a police officer and you expect us to do your job for you?" Ransom asked.
Pike finally took a good look around and saw the Kanes. "Well I'll be. If it ain't Ransom Kane himself. The man who thinks he and his, are above the law!"
"If you're the best example of law in this town, you're damn right we're above your brand of justice." Ransom said.
Slocum moved close to Ransom and looked at Pike.
"Come a step closer Slo and I'll bust your ass!" Ransom said softly.
Slocum stopped a few feet away.
"I don't want you niggas takin the law in your own hands." Pike said. "You can only make this worse."
“Choose your side Pike.” Ransom said
authoritatively. "Choose wrong and we'll ride thru you, or over you!"
"You got a big mouth for a nigga that ain't armed!" Pike said smiling.
"Touch me and I promise you'll regret the day you were born!" Ransom said sternly.
"I just wanna do my job and if you niggas get in my way. I'm gonna come down on y'all like a pallet of bricks!" Pike said. "Come on boys, let's go before I shoot one of these smart mouth niggas!"
Pike and the others, walked from the club, got in their cars and left.
* CHAPTER # 23 *
“Did you kill any of the Sumners?" Chauncy
asked his eldest son Brant."
"I don't know pa." Brant replied.
Chauncy Spires was medium sized, maybe 5'10" and
185 pounds. He was a high yellow man with silky black hair, that was plastered to his head. He had sharp grey eyes that spoke of his mixed ancestry.
Brant and his younger brother Elmore were high yellow men too, but both were much larger than their father. The family resemblance was strong, except both of the sons had red hair.
Sonny Kellum was a cocoa brown skinned man, that stood about 5'6", and weighed 140 pounds, but was mean as an agitated rattlesnake.
Ace Washington, was Son Kellum’s cousin. He was a tall well built man, who ran Chauncy's whore houses with Brant and Elmore's mother Big Maggie. Ace mostly provided security along with Tab Williams, who was Maggie's cousin.
Tab was a big dark skinned man who stayed getting into scrapes because he was a bully. Maggie was a big boned, red woman, with a freckled face and red hair.
The men sat in the office of the Tip Top Bar and Grill, which served as Chauncy's head quarters. "I think them Sumners gonna be running scared after that incident." said Elmore.
"I don't think so." Chauncy said. "It takes guts for them to even have shot Tab in the first place!"
"Wasn't nothing but a flesh wound Chauncy." Tab said. "L.J gonna be dealt a much worse hand when I catch up with him!"
"You boys stick around for a few days I want y'all here. I can get Rollie and Punch to watch the front of the place and Lex and Mac to keep watch on the back. I just wanna see what they do. If they don't come at us, we'll hit them Friday night when the club is in full swing!" Chauncy said.
Baron had gathered all of his cousins and told them what had happened and they were in the process of loading their gear.
"This is what we're gonna do." Baron said. "We'll hit the Tip Top when night falls. L.J, Will, Chance, Bobby, Sha, we'll go inside. The rest of y'all split up and get the front and back."
"What about me?" Nard asked. "I wanna go in too!"
"Me too," said Leo.
"Alright then, y'all can go with us, but follow my lead. They're gonna be in the back of the place like always and we'll rush in and take them out!" Baron said.
* * * * Pike and his brother Bill Lee walked into the Tip Top, and stopped just inside the door. They let their eyes adjust to the dim light in the room. They spotted Chauncy and his group at the back of the club in their customary spot. They walked quickly over to where the men sat. Pike looked down at Chauncy, and asked. "What the hell was that shit you boys pulled across the river?"
"I don't pay you to ask questions Pike. I pay you to smooth the way for me and to knock out my competitors. So far you've proved you're worth the investment, let's keep it like that." Chauncy said.
"Nigga, what the hell do you think I am, a trick pony?" Pike asked angrily. "I'm the only thing between you and a stiff prison sentence!"
"Calm down man." Chauncy said. "Don't take it personal."
"Personal my ass, do you know who was in the Velvet Club when they attacked?" Pike asked. "No you don't, so I’ll tell you. Ransom and some of the other Kanes and Maces. Those boys are real trouble, if you believe some of the stories!"
"Fuck the stories Pike." Chauncy said. "If they stick their noses in my business they can get some of the same!"
"I'm just warning you." Pike said. "Be on your toes!"
"Already am," Chauncy said. "I got Rollie, Punch, Mac and Lex on the front and back. They'll warn us if trouble comes."
"They'd better cause if the Kanes get involved, that's what it's gonna be. Trouble and plenty of it!"
"If I didn't know you better Pike, I'd think you were afraid of them Kanes!" Chauncy said.
"If you had any sense, you would be too!" Pike said turning and walking back towards the front door with Bill Lee behind him.
* * * * “Well Celia, it's that time again." Raven said. "It's almost like a replay of nearly 20 years ago. What's a man to do honey?"
"All we can do is like we always have!" Celia said. "We gonna keep on going forward. The boys learned from some of the best and they still have the benefit of your knowledge!"
"Yeah, but for how long?" Raven asked. "All of the others have passed, but not me. I see them sometimes Celia just like it use to be. This isn't meant to cast a bad refection on you honey, but I miss them!"
"Baby don't talk like that, you know I need you!“ she said. "It ain't like Ran and Baron don't need you. We all need you, you're the tie that binds us to the old ways, you're the symbol of the clans longevity!"
"Can't you see I don't wanna be a symbol, I wanna live out my last few years in peace.” he said. “That’s all we really ever wanted from the start. Baby so much has changed and it seems like my mind is getting clearer rather than dim. I see and smell the familiar sights of my youth!"
"Honey, you're scaring me." Celia said seriously. "Are you alright? Think you need to see the doctor?"
"Doctor can't cure what ails me woman!" He replied.
“I got something that might bring you back to the present." she said seductively.
"What you got in mind?" he asked.
"What say we go to bed early tonight, I got a surprise for you!" she said smiling impishly. Celia was still fine and good looking and Raven though being elderly still desired her after all these years.
"I think I can manage to do that." Raven said as he reached out gently and caressed her cheek.
"Yeah Ran, we're a block away now and we've been by the Tip Top several times. They got a dude watching the front, and another the back!" Baron said into the phone.
Ransom's voice floated thru the line. "Listen brother, you've got to be decisive and ruthless. If you don't get them all it could come back to haunt us!"
"I got it Ran." said Baron. "We're about to move now, so I'm hanging up!"
"Be careful Baron!" Ransom said and hung up the phone.
"Well fellas this is it!" Baron said. "Y'all be careful and shoot who we came here to shoot and not innocent bystanders. Remember we got to live here too!"
The young men all wore long dark car coats. They looked at Baron and nodded.
"Let's go!" Baron said, and lead the way to the Tip Top.
When Dennis and Roger Kane saw Baron and the others headed in their direction, they immediately went into action.
Punch and Lex were leaning against the side of the building. Their eyes glancing back and forth down the road. Dennis and Roger drunkenly stumbled across the street and stopped several feet away from the two men. Neither was a trained observer, but still they didn't pick up the tell tale signs that the long car coats sent. They never thought that the two young men looked too clean for the role they were playing.
Dennis and Roger grappled with each other. And Roger managed to spin Dennis toward the men who chuckled at what appeared to be the men's drunken antics. The two men managed to conceal their right arms. And when they stumbled into the two laughing men there were two flashes, as the silver of the long blades slid from their sleeves.
With cat like agility and speed they turned ferociously on the men. Dennis 's forearm slammed into Lex's neck and pinned him to the wall. Dennis's blade streaked in and slid between his ribs and punctured his heart. Lex's eyes glazed over slowly as they starred into the night sky.
