by Frank, S. W.
Looking around, the environment hadn’t changed, only the players. He could never forget those cold nights, selling shit on the streets, scanning the block for DT’s and watching his back for junkies or rival drug-dealers looking to rip him off. He scoffed, thinking about it. Frankly, he wasn’t granted immunity from crime. Money isn’t strong enough to shield a man from a bullet. Paper is too motherfucking thin!
Sometimes being wealthy felt like a different world –but it wasn’t. The illusionary affect is reserved for the naïve. The rich fed off the poor and crime offset goodness. They were inexplicably linked, brought together in a world where money afforded a person certain advantages, however unless a person lives in a bubble, crime is a reality. To have a false sense of security or belief crime is an urban problem, is a condition of the ignorant. A state-of-mind Alfonzo opined is reserved for fools. Harlem served as his reality check.
He found a parking spot two blocks away on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and walked along one hundred and twenty-fifth to mingle with a crowd of pedestrians, stopping along the way to give dabs to some familiar faces before moving on.
Several attractive girls smiled and he politely returned the flirtatious greeting.
“What’s up Fonzo?”
He checked over his shoulder. Quickly coming up to his side in a jog was a dude he hadn’t seen in years. He’d gained some weight but the face was unmistakable. “Shit. What’s up Danté?”
“Man, it’s all good…all good!” They exchanged a brotherly hug and Danté pat Alfonzo’s shoulder. “Man I haven’t seen your ass in a while.”
Alfonzo stepped back to get a good look at his childhood friend and smirked. The two were like Siamese twins in Junior High School. They lost contact when Alfonzo was sent to PR after getting in trouble and the last he heard Danté was living in Florida. “How the fuck you been?”
“Blessed man. I’ve been down in Jacksonville, doing my thing. Working, doing me. I’m back though, promoting my cousin Kiki in her singing career. Anyway, forget that, what the fuck is going on with you…I heard crazy shit. You some top mafia guy and shit, what?”
“Don’t believe everything you hear.”
They were standing near the sliding door of the pharmacy, it opened and a female he recognized emerged. She noticed him there and came strutting over. “What’s up Alfonzo?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets, “Hey.”
Danté smirked.
“Looking good papí.”
He couldn’t return the compliment. Neglect and drug abuse took an obvious toll on the once pretty Latina. Her dress was tramp tight, legs blotted and thin. Her eyes danced; an ecstatic gleam indicative of someone under the influence. His jaw clenched at how different she appeared. He was saddened, “How’s things going Antonia?”
“I’m doing good, got myself a real man, his name’s Miguel. You might know him and his brother Juan.”
Alfonzo showed no outward emotion in response to her acerbic remark. Juan was Carlos’ cousin. The same dude Domingo took-out. “Yo no sé.”
“Anyway, I gotta go,” she said and sashayed away.
Danté smiled, “She’s flying high.”
“I know.” Alfonzo said then pointed to the pharmacy, “Look we got to catch up but right now I have to run.”
“No, that’s cool. I’ll be down at the Silver Lounge tonight. If you want to hear Kiki sing, stop by, alright?”
“For sure, man.”
They pumped fists then went their separate ways. Alfonzo grinned. Damn, seeing Danté brought back fond memories. Yeah, he planned to touch base with him tonight and catch-up, but right now he had an emergency on his hands. He emerged from the pharmacy with the white prescription bag and hurried home.
CHAPTER FOUR
Emilio Nieves drove the expanse of the highway bopping his head to raggaeton music. He was on his way to Bayamón Universidad. The chica’s there were fine. He didn’t mind this assignment at all, it meant he got a chance to see Jessica again.
Besides, it was great to get a break and relax a bit. Every time he walked around the grounds of the Diaz estate, he thought about what happened in San Juan. Someone let their guard down and paid for it with their life.
Alfonzo’s home was completely monitored with every security device imaginable, even fucking Drones. That shit bugged him out. He thought they were real birds flying overhead but they weren’t. The small surveillance equipment captured an aerial view of the property in real time. After what happened, his boss went all out to protect his family and he didn’t blame him.
Currently, things were uneventful. The Diaz’ were in New York for the summer and the house was quiet, except for the occasional shenanigans by co-workers. Overall, he remained mindful, any day holy hell might break loose. The job was definitely an occupational hazard but hey, the excitement and pay were well worth the risks.
After passing the campus sign he pulled in front of the entryway and called Jessica’s cell phone.
“I’m outside the gate.”
“I’m coming now.”
He disconnected and leaned against the head rest waiting patiently. He’d gone through this before and Jessica’s ‘be out in a minute,’ always came closer to an hour or more. What the hell took women so long, anyway? He shrugged, he wasn’t in any hurry. He swiveled his head to absorb the beautiful scenery.
He considered going to college but passed on it when he got this job. The exceptional pay and opportunity to utilize his mechanic skills were enticing benefits. Anyway, having a college education didn’t guarantee a good paying job. Take what’s going on in the economy; highly educated people are out of work and losing everything. He got his mechanic’s license at a technical school and got paid a great salary. A college education is nice but not the singular pathway to success. Finding your niche, being good at it and smart financial planning is. So far, he managed to save a nice chunk of money by taking his boss’ suggestion to invest a portion of his salary in stocks. The ambiguous future appeared much brighter, at least financially.
He owed Mr. Diaz a debt of gratitude. In the span of three years, he’d gone from doing odd jobs for Mr. Diaz’ to lead mechanic. He was responsible for repairs and maintenance on his custom designed vehicles and loved it!
“Hey!” Jessica waved running toward the car.
Emilio slid up in his seat. Jessica’s exuberant personality was infectious. He smiled; his boss’ cousin was also very pretty. She was modelesque with sun-kissed skin and long brown hair which highlighted a perfect oval face.
She climbed in the front seat throwing her backpack in the rear then buckled her seatbelt. “Thanks for picking me up Emilio. I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there after my exam.”
“Have you called your mom to let her know you’re coming home?”
Jessica’s brown eyes flashed mischief, “I didn’t say I was going home.”
Emilio frowned. He didn’t like where this was going. What game was she playing? One thing for sure, he didn’t want to be in the middle of it. “Listen, I’m not taking you anywhere except to the airport and putting you on a flight home.”
She leaned against the seat pouting and folded her arms, “Emilio come on, everyone’s on summer break and I got stuck here, the least you can do is help a chica out.”
“Maybe, if you hadn’t fucked around and did your assignments you wouldn’t be taking the professor’s summer class, did you think about that?” Frustrated, he grit his teeth, “Besides, I’ve helped you out too many times.”
She made a face, “Yeah, I know but I swear I’ll pay you back, soon.”
“Yeah, when?”
Her small white teeth flashed a smile, “Maybe we can work out some type of installment agreement.”
“Hell no, I’ll be ninety when it’s paid off. Forget it, call it a gift, mami.”
“C’mon lighten up, you act so damn old. How old are you anyway, twenty-six…seven-ish?”
Actually, he was only twenty-four. “Wh
at difference does it make, I’m older than you?”
“You should understand where I’m coming from. I’ll be twenty-one in four months. All I want to do is have some goddamn fun but my mom keeps treating me like a kid, tú sabe?” Her lip tugged down at the corner contemplating how to phrase the next part. “I was thinking…”
He rolled his eyes. The girl was going to get him in serious trouble. He felt it. “Jessica, whatever it is the answer is no!”
Then she did it. She smiled flirtatiously, hoping to influence his decision with her feminine charms, “I thought maybe you’d come with me to Miami. I’m supposed to meet my friends tomorrow.” She put her hands together pleading, “A week, that’s all then I’ll go home for the remainder of the summer.”
“Who’s the friends?” He asked like a concerned parent.
“Beth, Vicky and some more girls from the sorority. They’re down in Miami for Summerfest.”
Oh yeah, he met Beth. The wild one. Vicky, now she was nice, a bit quiet, but nice. “Absolutely not.”
“Come on….please…please…please.”
“No.”
She changed tactics, “Okay, well then I guess you’ll have to explain to Alfonzo how I dipped out on you because I’m going anyway.”
His eyes twinkled, “Yeah, how, you’re broke, remember?”
This drew an exasperated sigh, “Ah come on. Damn, Emilio cut me a break!”
He chuckled, “I can swing a plane ticket to New York and nothing else. No more IOU’s.”
She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for her backpack, “No thanks old man, I’ll stay in my dorm. Peace!”
He wasn’t buying it. He felt bad for her but his hands were tied. “You better not leave the campus. I’m serious!”
“Whatever shit-head, you’re not my father!”
She was out the car and rushing toward the campus grounds. He fumed, “Goddammit!”
He called his boss. Alfonzo came on the line, “What’s up?”
“Your cousin wants to go to Miami to meet up with her friends instead of going home. What do you want me to do?”
“Let me talk to her.”
“She’s gone to her dorm room.”
“Stay put, I’ll call you in five.”
Five minutes went past then another five before his cell rang and he answered, “Yes, Mr. Diaz?”
“Okay, use the company card. Escort her to Miami and keep an eye on her. I called Lou, everything’s covered. Consider it a paid working vacation.” There was a pause followed by, “Nothing better happen to my cousin while she’s there, you feel me?”
“Si, yes, Mr. Diaz.”
“Alright, I expect a call every day. If a day goes by and I don’t hear from you, your ass better be dead!”
The call ended and Emilio released the air from his lungs wondering what the fuck he’d gotten into, now!
CHAPTER FIVE
The Silver Lounge was jam packed for open mic night. Alfonzo spotted Danté at the bar talking to an attractive woman with dyed blonde hair and a tight dress that showed off her hourglass figure. He approached the duo, “Who’s your lady friend?”
Danté turned around on the stool, “Yo, you made it man…” he pointed to the woman, “this is my cousin Kiki, remember she use to come over and wanna play videogames with us and shit?” He chuckled hard, “She had that annoying whine that sounded like a injured cat we laughed at all the time.”
Alfonzo leaned in to kiss Kiki’s cheek then smirked, “Damn, I wouldn’t have recognized you chica. You look good.”
Kiki’s painted red lips spread into an attractive smile as she took in Alfonzo’s appearance. The black V-neck designer shirt displayed his muscular arms and torso. His long legs were encased in a pair of D&G slacks, she knew her men’s designer wear. His clothes were understated but cost more than the expensive outfit she wore which took two paychecks to buy. Her eyes discreetly admired the inconspicuous Vacheron Constantin wristwatch. You had to have deep pockets to afford one of those. The timepiece cost over three hundred grand. Her eyes roved over his hand and noticed the platinum band on his finger.
Damn, he’s married!
“You look even better than I remember, too.”
“Yo, let me go cop a table!” Danté exclaimed getting off the stool and disappearing through the crowd.
Alfonzo leaned over the bar, “Celia, let me have a mojito.” He said to the female bartender who finished serving a customer.
She smiled wide, “Hola, where you been ‘Fonzo, I aint seen you in a while?”
“Around. How’s the kids?”
“Bueno, y tú familia?”
“Un poco enfermo, pero bueno.”
“I hope they get better, tell Selange hello.” She said then turned to mix his drink.
“So, Kiki, I hear you’re a singer.” He said swiveling around on the stool.
“Yep, doing this singing bit and hoping to get signed. That’s why I’m here, ten thousand dollars is a nice piece of change, plus I hear there are industry people in the mix.” She wiggled her shoulders playfully, “It’s like show and tell. Show ‘em what you got then tell ‘em what you want.”
His blue eyes smiled, “I hear that.”
“So, you got married, must be a pretty special woman to curb your bad ass.”
“Yeah,” he grinned thinking about his wife, “she’s pretty bad ass, too.”
Celia sat his drink down and he slid her a rolled hundred.
Kiki noticed, “Why didn’t you bring her, it’d been nice to have some female company?”
“She’s sick or I would’ve.”
Danté returned, “Come on. Got us in the VIP section.”
They made their way through the crowd over to an exclusive section with an unobstructed view of the stage and DJ booth. This was where the movers and shakers were or those with cash to spend. He scanned the faces for any familiar ones and found a couple. One in particular got his attention. Juan and his boys. From the size of his entourage and the bottles of pricey champagne atop the table he’d come up in the drug game. Alfonzo frowned, he couldn’t bring his piece in the spot, so he left it in the concealed compartment in his car. Damn!
Either way, tonight’s festivity became a tension filled atmosphere. Their eyes locked. Juan’s face contorted into an adversarial scowl as he watched Alfonzo sit. Alfonzo’s gaze never wavered. The steely glare held a threat which eventually caused Juan to look away.
“You know that fucker?” Danté enquired, noticing the strain between the men.
“Once upon a time.”
Kiki broke up the conversation as one of the acts exited the stage, “Boys please put your pelotas back in your pants for a minute and wish me luck.”
Danté guffawed, “Go break a leg cuz, literally.”
She pushed his shoulder then rose smoothing the sides of her tight dress. The men in Juan’s party eyed her as she passed but none exhibited any sign of disrespect.
“So what’s been going on?” Alfonzo asked as Kiki climbed the stairs.
“Not much action in Jacksonville. New York and L.A are the spots if you want to break out big in the music business.”
“How long you’ve been managing her?”
“Five months now. Her last manager wasn’t doing right by her, so I stepped in.”
“Yo, that’s what family’s about.”
“What about you, from the shit I heard, you’re up in the stratosphere?”
“All legit, though. Constructing commercial and residential buildings.”
Danté peered toward the dudes, “What’s his deal?”
“Frenemy, like they say. Old news.”
The emcee hyped the crowd, they fell silent.
Kiki cupped the microphone, “What’s up everybody?”
Everyone hooped and whistled. Alfonzo grinned. The chica definitely knew how to work the crowd.
“I’m singing an original song, entitled, Healing and I’m dedicating this to everybody who’s going through a ro
ugh time in their lives. So, hear it goes!”
She waved her hand for the DJ to play the instrumental track then moved from side to side humming softly. She began singing and her voice reminded him of the late Whitney Houston. Her sultry tone was amazingly identical.
“I’ve been hurtin’ so long –seems pain’s been my name,
It’s been a rough time goin’ –yeah…yeah…yeah…yeah but I’m back in the game…”
Kiki’s performance brought people to their feet. Alfonzo smirked when Danté slapped the table in excitement, “Yo, that’s my cuz!”
Alfonzo checked his watch. It read two a.m. He decided to end the night and get home. He stood, “I’ll check you later, tell your cuz she sounded great, all right?”
“Alright man I’ll hit you up later.”
“Do that.”
Alfonzo exited the crowded lounge. The night air was still warm and humid; a contrast from the air-conditioned club. There were people mingling outside, smoking weed and having a good time. He hurried across the street to his car, which sat partially hidden on the southwest corner beneath the shadow of a solar powered streetlamp. The latest in the city’s energy saving initiatives. He smiled, it seemed the city was finally catching up with the rest of the world in utilizing solar power.
Footsteps from behind, caused his hand to fall from the door handle in an abortive response. The key slipped discreetly in his pocket during the three quarter turn; he ‘humphed’ when Juan and his entourage converged upon him.
“Yo, Alfonzo what’s poppin’?”
