by K'wan
“Diamonds,” Buda began, “before you start in, let me explain. It wasn’t my fault.”
“It never is, Buda,” Diamonds said sarcastically.
“Don’t you even wanna hear my side of the story?” Buda asked, not feeling the way Diamonds was looking at him.
“Ain’t no need, because whatever you got to say is likely only gonna make my mood worse. This shit is a never-ending saga with you, Buda. Go with Hank and wait by the car while I finish cleaning up your fucking mess!” Diamonds spat.
“So you’re just gonna dismiss me like I’m some kid?” Buda asked angrily.
“Buda, with the shit you been pulling lately, you need to consider yourself lucky that all I’m asking for is your absence and not your life,” Diamonds growled. The minute the words crossed his lips, he knew he had crossed the line, but it was too late to take it back so he stood on it.
There was a tense moment between them. Both men locked eyes, ready to react to whatever the other was contemplating.
“Buda,” Hank called out. He felt a storm coming and wanted to defuse it before the situation exploded. “Take a walk with me.”
Buda gave Diamonds one last hard look. “A’ight.” He backed away, keeping his eyes on Diamonds.
When Buda was out of sight, Diamonds let out a long, fatigued sigh. He and Buda both knew how close they had just come to throwing blows. It wouldn’t have been the first time since they had known each other, but this time it was different. The stakes were higher, and a simple fight amongst friends could affect the balance of power. Buda had been his right hand for a great many years, but there was only room enough for one ass to sit on the throne. Putting his frustration with Buda to the side, Diamonds got back to focusing on business.
He ambled across the street and entered the bodega. In back, near the deli section, the detective who’d come out behind Buda stood, ordering a sandwich. He spared Diamonds a brief glance before turning back to the man behind the counter and commanding that he put more mayonnaise on his hero. Diamonds stopped short of him and began perusing the rack of potato chips as if he were having trouble making a selection.
“If your friend is any indication of the kind of dysfunctional niggas you’ve recruited into your little army, you ain’t gonna last long in this city,” the detective said over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on the man making his sandwich.
“Your counsel is always appreciated, Detective Wolf, but who I keep company with is my business,” Diamonds said.
“Your business becomes my business when I have to convince my watch commander to give a pass to a guy who put two people in the hospital,” Wolf retorted.
“What the fuck happened?” Diamonds asked.
“According to the uniforms who brought him in, he got into a head-busting contest at this spot uptown. The unofficial word is that there was some kind of dispute between him and another dude over some broad, and your boy went postal and started busting the place up. He sent two of the bouncers to the hospital. The only reason your friend is getting just a slap on the wrist instead of charged with something heavy is because the place he trashed ain’t exactly legit, and the owner pays the cops handsomely to look the other way when shit like this occurs. I know the owner personally, and despite his flamboyant appearance, he’s an extremely dangerous man. It’s a wonder Buda ended up in the tank instead of the morgue. But Christian ain’t gonna let this rest without some type of compensation. I can squash it for you, but it ain’t gonna be cheap.”
Diamonds cut his eyes at Wolf. “I see that badge ain’t took none of the larceny out of your heart.”
“It’s the larceny that keeps me from digging into my pocket to pay for a bridge every time somebody like you comes along, trying to sell one,” Detective Wolf capped, accepting his sandwich and making his way to the register to pay for it.
Diamonds followed, carrying a bag of onion-and-garlic chips and a soda. “Your envelope will be in its usual place, waiting for you,” he said to the detective’s back while he waited his turn in line. “When you come up with a number to squash my boy’s mishap, just push it through to my people and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
The detective nodded. “That’s why I like you, Diamonds. You and your crew are about as big of hillbillies as I’ve ever met in my life, but you pay like you weigh when you want shit done. I don’t have to haggle over paper with you like I do with some of these local shit-birds.”
“Chalk it up to my Southern charm,” Diamonds said.
“Whatever, nigga.” Wolf laughed and walked out of the bodega. He stopped on the sidewalk to take a bite of his sandwich and allow Diamonds to catch up with him. “I’m usually not in the goodwill business, but I kinda like you, kid. If you don’t fuck around and get your head blown off before you can complete your hostile take-over, you might wind up being somebody in the world. That being said, does the name Eddie Costas mean anything to you?”
“I’ve heard the name, but can’t say I’ve ever met the man personally,” Diamonds lied.
“So then I guess there’s no cause for concern that his people have been asking a whole lot of questions about you?”
Diamonds shrugged. “People are curious about the unknown. I suspect that before long, I’ll be the topic of more than a few conversations.”
Detective Wolf nodded. “Just be sure they’re the right kinds of conversations. There’s a condo in Miami that I’ve had my eye on, and at the rate I’m cleaning your messes up, I’ll have the down payment in no time, provided you don’t get yourself whacked or locked up first.”
“Spoken like a true pig,” Diamonds capped. “In any event, thanks for the solid you did for Buda.”
“No problem.” Wolf took another bite of his sandwich. “One day I may call on you for a favor, and I trust you’ll pay me the same courtesy,” he said suggestively.
Diamonds read between the lines. Thanks to Buda, he was now in the detective’s debt. “You got that,” Diamonds assured him before walking off.
* * *
As usual, Diamonds’s chat with Detective Wolf proved to be both informative and frustrating. He hated the way the narcotics detective spoke in riddles. It was like you could never get a straight answer from him unless he was telling you how much you owed for whatever nasty little deed he’d taken care of for you.
The news about Eddie digging into Diamonds’s past was something he had expected to happen, but not quite so soon. He was content to bide his time and let Eddie continue to think he was just a country-ass nigga who was happy to be eating, until the time came to show his true hand. But once again TJ had altered his plans by running his mouth. He’d allowed his anger at his cousin to cause him to give Eddie a glimpse of the monster beneath the mask. Unlike TJ and the others who Eddie could twist to his will, Diamonds’s spine was made of steel and would not bend. Eddie was a lot of things, but you didn’t make it to his status by being a fool. He’d be paying closer attention now, so Diamonds had to move wisely going forward.
Then there was the issue of Diamonds’s latest business partners, or at least that was what he allowed them to think of themselves as. They were really just stepping stones to the next level of his dastardly plan. Had they been just any random New York cats who’d pitched him about the heroin deal, he’d have told them to fuck off, but their affiliation gave them credibility. If they could deliver half of what they had promised, then they’d indeed prove valuable.
As he approached the car where Buda and Hank were waiting, his cell phone rang. A cold chill settled in his belly, and he was hesitant to answer it. With the mood he was in, if he got one more piece of bad news, he was going to lose it. “What now?” he answered angrily.
Goldie’s voice came over the line. “Sounds like someone is having a shitty day.”
“Little brother, you don’t know the half.” Diamonds sighed.
“Well, I got a bit of news that might perk you up. That science experiment in your office fridge has taken a turn for the wors
e. Last I checked, it looked like it was rotting,” Goldie told him.
Diamonds knew he was speaking of the tongue. He smiled, as it was the first piece of good news he’d gotten all day. “The little birdie tried to sing but couldn’t finish the song. I guess that means we don’t need that insurance policy anymore either.”
“You want me to take care of it?” Goldie asked.
Diamonds thought on it briefly. “Nah, I got a better idea. Grab my gear and meet me at the storage unit. I think I just figured out a way to kill two birds with one stone.”
PART
V
LOVE AND CONSEQUENCES
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Up until the point Domo arrived at the address, he had been suspicious of Vita’s intentions for him. The fact that LA had gone on ahead of him and Raheem didn’t do anything to assuage his nerves. The whole ride on the train into New York, his mind played more than a hundred different scenarios, and he started to consider turning back, but reasoned he didn’t want Vita hunting him down if he blew her off. Against his better judgment, he answered the summons, preparing for himself for whatever she would throw at him. Of all the things he expected to find at the end of his journey, a party wasn’t one of them.
The address brought them to a two-story house in a part of the Bronx that Domo had never ventured to. It was on a quiet, tree-lined street with manicured lawns. Most of the houses were almost identical in make and color, but Domo had no trouble picking out the one they were looking for. It was the only one with colorful balloons tied to the fence, and men who didn’t look like they belonged in the sleepy neighborhood loitered in the front yard. Several sets of eyes turned to the approaching strangers.
“You sure we good out here?” Raheem asked, inching his hand toward the .38 in his back pocket.
“Honestly? Nope, but I ain’t about to turn back like some pussy.” Domo continued toward the house.
One of the men peeled himself from the group. “You boys lost?” He was a tall brown-skinned fellow with thick lips that currently held a smoldering blunt between them. Tied snugly around his neck was a black bandanna.
Domo stood there for a few ticks, not really sure how to reply. It wasn’t like he had a formal invitation to whatever they were celebrating—he only had the text message.
“Goldie, stop being a dick and let them boys pass,” a feminine voice called from somewhere in the front yard. Vita muscled her way through the cluster of men. Her eyes were glassed over, and a blunt bobbed between her lips. She was wearing a short denim skirt and a tight T-shirt that showed off erect nipples.
The man she had called Goldie cracked a sly smile. “Sorry, V. Didn’t know these pups belonged to you, seeing as how they ain’t wearing collars.”
Vita exhaled a cloud of smoke into Goldie’s face. “Collars are for dogs, and this here is a pure-bred wolf cub.” She draped her arm around Domo.
“We’ll see about that.” Goldie turned and walked around the side of the house to the backyard.
“Pay Goldie no mind. He’ll warm up to you eventually—or try to kill you,” Vita said half jokingly. “Glad you made it out, even though you brought company.” She eyed Raheem.
“Rah, is cool.” Domo assured her.
“I wasn’t sure you were going to come.”
“I wasn’t sure I was going to come either,” Domo confessed. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect, especially not a party.”
“Well, what did you expect? That I’d bring you all the way out here to whack you?” Vita said as if she could read his mind. “Lighten up, pretty boy” She patted his cheek. “Of all the things I might take from you before this night is said and done, your life isn’t one of them … provided you know how to play your position. Now, stop standing there, looking like a tourist, and come on in the back so I can introduce you to the rest of the crew.”
* * *
As it turned out, the party wasn’t a party after all. It was a baby shower thrown for a guy Vita introduced as TJ and the mother of his pending child. The backyard was laid out with tables full of food and a fully stocked bar in the corner. Boxes and bags of gifts seemed to take up every bit of available space, with a revolving door of people dropping more off every time Domo looked up. TJ was cool, but Domo wasn’t sure how he felt about Teisha just yet. It was obvious she was a hood chick, but she went out of her way to play the role of ghetto fabulous. She sat perched on a wicker throne in the corner, receiving guests and giving orders like she was the Queen of Sheba. When Domo and Raheem had first come in, she assumed they were the help and tried to send them to take out the trash, but Vita set Teisha straight. She let her and anyone else wondering that Domo was family.
Vita made sure Domo and Raheem were situated with plates of food and drinks before heading back out to make her rounds through the shower. Teisha was the one having the baby, but it was Vita who moved amongst the guests, making sure everyone had what they needed and that the event proceeded smoothly. She had a way about her that put people at ease, and had Domo not seen firsthand the murderous fury bottled up inside that small frame, he, too, might’ve believed her façade.
Domo played the background, picking at his plate and sipping a plastic cup full of Hennessey. They had been there for nearly an hour, but there was still no sign of the mysterious Diamonds, or LA either for that matter. Vita had stressed how bad Diamonds wanted to meet Domo, but he wasn’t about to wait around all night for him to make his grand appearance. He would give him a few minutes more, and then he was heading back to Jersey.
Raheem clung to Domo like a shadow. His friend was trying to play it cool, but Raheem couldn’t hide the nervousness in his eyes. They were out of their depth and they both knew it, but they were playing the roles anyhow. Raheem gabbed into Domo’s ear constantly, and every few minutes Domo would nod as if he were really listening, but he was more focused on the cast of characters surrounding him. He hardly knew anyone there besides Vita, but he did recognize a few faces from being around Stoney’s family. One in particular was a dealer named Born. He had seen him at the house once with Knowledge. He didn’t know much about Born, except that he was one of the men Big Stone supplied. With him was another man who Domo wasn’t familiar with. He was slightly older than Born, but he dressed like a man half his age, in baggy clothes and rocking a do-rag. Studying his face, Knowledge couldn’t help but to notice how much he resembled Big Stone. The older man looked uneasy being there, but Born had made himself right at home. Domo watched as he shook hands with and hugged TJ as if they were old friends. As far as Domo knew, Vita and her crew were new to town, so he wondered what Born’s affiliation was.
“You good?” Vita startled him. She moved so quietly, he hadn’t heard her approach.
“Yeah, I’m straight. Thanks,” Domo replied.
“Well, if you’re done stuffing your face, come with me inside so I can introduce you to the rest of the boys.”
Domo and Raheem followed Vita through the back door and into the house and found it almost as crowded as the backyard. Children were ripping and running all through the house, laughing and knocking things over, while their parents acted like they didn’t see them. Sitting around the table were four older women engaged in a card game. Domo had to do a double take when he saw the silver-haired old broad sitting at the head of the table, peeking at him over the rim of her violet bifocals.
“Well, well,” she said, plucking a cigarette from behind her ear and tapping it on the back of her hand, “ain’t this a small world.”
“How you doing, Ms. Sweets?” Domo greeted her respectfully.
“You two know each other?” Vita asked in surprise.
“Shit, everybody in Essex County knows Carolina Sweets!” Raheem added.
It was true. On the other side of the Hudson, Carolina Sweets was something like a living legend. She had a track record of putting in work that went back to the sixties and consisted of everything from armed robbery to selling pussy. She was an OG for real. Domo knew h
er because she was sort of like a godmother to his mom, and she had looked out for them a few times. It had been a minute since he had seen Sweets, but last he heard, she was working as the madam at a cathouse in East Orange.
“How’s Lisa?” Sweets asked after his mother.
“She’s good,” Domo replied.
“When you see her, tell her I’m gonna come by for a touch-up next week.” Sweets fluffed her curls.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sweets eyeballed the two boys suspiciously. “What y’all two young-ass niggas doing this far from home?”
“They’re here with me,” Vita answered.
“Damn, V. I enjoy a young piece of meat from time to time, but these boys still got titty milk on their breath,” Sweets joked.
“I don’t know about the chubby one, but from what I can tell so far, Domo is man enough,” Vita said suggestively.
“Ha!” Sweets slapped the table hard enough to rattle the glasses on it. “You just be mindful not to break your new toy, because he’s kinda on the scrawny side. I’d hate to have his mama come ’round, looking for you.”
Vita sucked her teeth. “Sweets, why you acting like you don’t know my résumé?”
“Oh, I know you’re thorough, Vita. In fact, I’d put money on you against most men, but Domo’s mama ain’t no slouch. Back in the day, she did her share of slaning and banging. You kinda remind me of her, which is probably what got Domo sniffing around you. You know they say every boy wants a woman who reminds him of his mama.”
“Whatever.” Vita laughed it off. “Where’re the boys?”
“Them hooligans down in the basement, probably tearing up some more of my niece’s shit. Them fools are like bulls in a china shop. I swear, Vita, I never understood how such a sweet young thing like you hooked into such a group of classless men.”
Vita shrugged. “They ain’t the most prized bunch, but they’re all I have. Catch you later, Sweets.” She started toward the door to the basement, Domo and Raheem following.
