by K'wan
As he drove, Ulysses reached between the driver’s seat and the center console and produced a silver flask. Keeping one hand on the wheel, he unscrewed the top of the flask with his teeth and took a deep swig. He noticed Keith watching him from the passenger seat. “Care for a taste?”
“You think it’s wise to be drinking while driving?”
“Dealing with your family, a stiff drink from time to time is how I make it through my days.” Ulysses sighed. “Go on and take a swig. I ain’t got cooties,” he teased.
“Fuck it,” Keith said, taking the flask. There was no way he could show up at the house totally sober, given what he was about to deal with. He took a drink and damn near choked. He wasn’t sure what was in the bottle, but it was nothing they sold in local liquor stores. “What the hell is that? Gasoline?” He handed the flask back.
“Close. It’s my own special vintage. I brew it in a still in the woods behind my house,” Ulysses told him. He hit the flask one more time before putting it back in its hiding place.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What’s up, Killer?”
“Keith,” he said, correcting him. “What’s your story?”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean, what is someone like you doing mixed up with my family? Is it a ‘rebelling against Mommy and Daddy’ thing by hanging out with gangsters?” Keith meant it as a joke, but Ulysses’s reply was serious.
“If you must know, my mama died when I was a kid, and my daddy is spending the rest of his natural life in prison. As far as hanging out with gangsters, I grew up in Fifth Ward, Houston, not counting the time I spent busting heads for a guy named Hog in Dallas. I been the cream in the coffee all my life. It was actually a black woman who pulled me out of the cold and raised me to a man.”
“I didn’t mean any disrespect,” Keith said, clarifying matters.
“I don’t get offended easily. You think you’re the only person who wonders how my white ass ended up on retainer to a female pimp with the last name Savage. It’s actually a funny story, if you know it.”
“I’d say we got at least thirty minutes before we reach the house. I’m all ears.”
The story of how Ulysses had come into Maxine Savage’s employ was something that Keith would have to fact-check later, because it sounded like a work of fiction. She had been playing in a high-stakes poker game down in the Quarter. Her stiffest competition was a gangster from out of Texas who was known as Hog. Hog was well known in the underworld circles throughout the South and fancied himself criminal royalty. He loved cocaine, money, and fast women. Except for the cocaine, Maxine fit the bill.
The whole time they were playing cards, Maxine had one eye on the pot of cash and the other on the handsome white boy who had come to the game with Hog. He never strayed too far from the hustler, and his cold blue eyes watched everything and everyone who came within spitting distance of Hog. A time or two, Maxine caught Ulysses checking her out in her too-tight dress, but he never let his eyes linger for too long.
Though Ulysses hadn’t remembered at the time, the card game wasn’t his first brush with Maxine Savage. About a year or so before, she had been in Texas on business. She had been looking to diversify her portfolio and had decided to dabble in moving cocaine. The coke in New Orleans was lacking, to say the least, so she followed a lead she had gotten from a friend, and that lead brought her to an associate of Hog’s. Maxine was a good pimp, but a poor drug dealer, and she ended up getting burned on the deal. With Hog’s reputation on the line, he dispatched his pet guard dog to make it right. Maxine was not only refunded her money and given a fresh package, but she was also gifted with the index finger of the man who had tried to dupe her. The way she heard it, the finger had been Ulysses’s idea. When asked his reasoning for dismembering the man, he simply said, “It was a matter of honor.” Maxine admired the man’s methods, and she had been keeping tabs on him from a distance ever since.
Hog was a skilled poker player, and he had been getting the better of everyone in that poker game, including Maxine, for most of the night. This had built his confidence, and he decided to raise the stakes. There was one hundred thousand in the pot. It was too rich for the blood of most of the other players, so they folded their hands, but not Maxine. She saw his hundred thousand and raised him an extra fifty grand. Hog’s hand was strong, and he reasoned there was little to no chance of losing against the girl, but that was because he didn’t know Maxine. When the final cards were laid down, Hog found himself in debt to Maxine for nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
As it turned out, Hog was more flash than cash. Paying Maxine everything he owed that night would’ve hurt him financially, but not paying her would’ve hurt him physically. Everyone in that room knew that Maxine Savage wasn’t someone you wanted to cross. After some bartering, Maxine came up with a solution that would both allow Hog to save face and ensure that the debt was paid. She would take his bodyguard on retainer until they were square. Hog got up from the table and left New Orleans, feeling like he had fleeced Maxine, but little did he know that his money was never what had motivated her to place herself across the poker table from him that night.
“It wouldn’t be until years later that I would find out it was never Hog’s money Maxine was after in the first place. She’d come for me. I had been exclusively on retainer for Hog for over a year by that point. Maxine knew there was no way he was going to let me go, so she played on his sense of greed to trick the contract away from him,” Ulysses explained.
“Leave it to my sister to figure out how to win a man in a poker game.” Keith laughed. “So, I’m guessing Hog never had a chance to come back for you?”
“Hog skipped out, owing Maxine Savage a quarter million. What do you think happened to him?”
“Knowing Max, I’m sure she didn’t let him die easy.” Keith shook his head.
“No, I actually made sure he died quick and clean.”
“Wait, so you’re telling me you took out your former boss?” Keith looked at Ulysses in a whole new light.
“Hog was never my boss. He was a client, until he wasn’t.”
“And what is my sister to you? Just another client?”
“Max will never be just a client to me,” Ulysses said and turned his attention back to the road, letting Keith know he no longer cared to talk about it.
Ulysses was an interesting character, that was for certain. From the moment Keith met him, he knew he was no regular street dude. He could read it in the way Ulysses carried himself, always on guard, always respectful, and never saying more than what was necessary. If Keith had to guess, he’d say the man was ex-military or possibly law enforcement. A dangerous man, indeed, but no more dangerous than at least a dozen others who were loyal to the Savage clan. What made this outsider so special, to the point where Max would put such trust in someone who wasn’t family? Keith wondered. Something about the man didn’t sit right with Keith, and he planned to keep a close eye on him for the remainder of his trip. If Ulysses proved to be anything more than he let on, Big Money’s killers wouldn’t be the only men hunted by Savages.
CHAPTER 21
Genesis found that he had trouble sleeping that night. Tomorrow was to be the first day of his new life, and he was both excited and nervous. Since moving from North Philly to the family’s new home in the General Grant housing project in New York City, he had been admiring King James and his crew from a distance. The first time he saw King, Lakim, and Dee posted up in the courtyard, there was no question as to who the controlling factor in the neighborhood was. Everyone, from the soldiers to the residents, treated King James’s inner circle as if they were royalty. Genesis would watch dudes younger than him drive nice cars and creep in and out with women who were way out of their leagues. All because they were with the winning team.
Sometimes Genesis would fantasize about being a part of King James’s crew, being doted on with free pussy and favor. He had been a nobody all his life, and he saw
getting in with King James’s crew as an opportunity to change that. To get next to King James, Genesis would first have to find a way to put himself on his radar. He started subtly, making sure he was around whenever the crew was on the block. Often King or one of the others would need someone to go to the store or run some other errand, and Genesis was always the first to volunteer. The day Lakim first approached Genesis and asked if he was interested in making a few dollars was the day that Genesis had been waiting for and scheming about for a while.
Genesis leaped at Lakim’s offer and got right to work. He hated the shitty job of watching the exits, but he knew that it would be a means to an end. If he stayed down and showed he was loyal, bigger opportunities would come, and they did, sooner than later. When he was offered the promotion, he jumped on it. Though King was not clear about what his new responsibilities would entail, it didn’t matter to Genesis. He was ten toes down. The bump in pay would help, but more importantly, King James had finally taken notice of him. He was finally on his way to becoming somebody.
Genesis climbed out of bed before sunrise, ready for whatever awaited him. He had just finished dressing for the day when his prepaid cell phone vibrated on his nightstand. He didn’t recognize the number but answered anyhow.
“Be downstairs in five minutes,” said the voice on the other end. It was showtime.
When he came out of his bedroom, he found his mother and his little sister on the couch. His sister was watching television, while his mother had nodded off. She was still wearing her MTA uniform. She had worked a double shift the day before and appeared to have passed out before she could change her clothes. He was glad she was asleep. It meant she wouldn’t have a chance to press him about where he was going. Genesis crept to the front door, careful not to wake his mother, but his sister had other plans.
“Hi, Genesis!” his sister greeted, loud enough to disturb his mother. When she stirred, his sister gave him a mischievous smirk before turning her attention back to the television.
“You going somewhere?” his mother asked him sleepily.
“Oh . . . I was just gonna run to the store right quick,” Genesis lied.
“Funny, you always seem to be going to the store, but you ain’t never got no money,” his mother said in a suspicious tone. “Did you ever fill out that job application I brought home for you?”
“I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Then when do you plan on it? You can’t expect to go through life living off the mercies of others.”
“I ain’t living on nobody’s mercies. I’m a man!” he declared.
“Men go out and work. They do not keep late hours with hoodlums.”
“C’mon, Ma. Why you sweating me?” Genesis sighed.
“Because that’s what parents do. They sweat their children to try to keep them out of trouble,” she shot back.
“I’m not in any trouble.”
“Not yet, but you’re likely to find some with that crowd you’ve taken to running with. Those boys ain’t nothing but gangsters.”
“You think everybody who lives in the hood is a gangster,” Genesis retorted. He laughed it off.
“Not everybody, just the ones who make their living by breaking the law.”
“You tripping, Ma. I ain’t into none of that.”
“Not yet, but you don’t think I see the path you’re walking down? Genesis, I know you may think that because I’m old, I don’t know what I’m talking about, but it’s the fact that I’ve lived to be this old that makes me an authority on this. I used to be out there in them streets too, thinking I had it all figured out, until reality hit and the streets took everyone that I loved, including your father.”
“I ain’t my father,” Genesis spat.
“That’s obvious to a duck. Your father knew how to play them streets, and still, he got himself killed. So imagine what could happen to someone like you,” she said.
“You trying to say I don’t know how to handle myself?” he asked defensively.
“No, baby. I’m sure you’d stand tall if your back was against the wall, but why even bring it to that? The streets are merciless and will eat you alive if you get in over your head, which is what you’re doing by throwing your lot in with those neighborhood boys.”
“You’re right. I’m not.” “I’m better,” was what he wanted to tell her, but he kept it to himself. “I gotta dip.” He headed for the door.
“You do what you feel you have to do, son. Just remember that trouble is easy to get into and hard to get out of.”
* * *
Genesis was in a sour mood when he came out of the building. He was sick of his mother being on his back, like he was some punk kid and not a man of eighteen. Ever since he had opted not to go to college, his mother had been on his back about looking for a job. He had been filling out applications and dropping off résumés, but other than being offered low-paying gigs for short hours, he hadn’t gotten many hits back. They could keep their shitty jobs, because Genesis had bigger plans. It hurt him that his mother didn’t have confidence in him to do what needed to be done to provide for their family, and this had only motivated him to hit the ground running on the streets. Once he started making real money with King James, he would show his mother and everyone else who had doubted him.
Once he was outside his building, Genesis started looking for Dee, as he was the one he was supposed to meet this morning, so he was surprised when he found Lakim waiting for him. He was posted up on the avenue, leaning against an idling Ford Explorer. Genesis headed over.
“Peace, God.” Lakim gave him dap.
“Sup?” Genesis replied. “Where’s Dee? I thought I was supposed to be meeting him so he could show me what I’m supposed to be doing on the block.”
“Been a change in plans. You ain’t hitting the block today,” Lakim told him before jumping behind the wheel. Genesis climbed in on the passenger side, not sure what to make of this.
Lakim pushed through traffic and jumped on the northbound lane of the Henry Hudson Parkway. They were headed to the Bronx. To Genesis’s knowledge, King didn’t have any territory in the Bronx, so he wondered why they were going there. Then an idea hit him. Maybe King was looking to expand, and Genesis’s new responsibilities would include looking over their new territory. This filled Genesis with a sense of excitement. He had already started planning in his head how he would run their new turf when Lakim broke the silence.
“Yo, I wanna tell you that the hard work and dedication you’ve shown to this crew hasn’t gone unnoticed. Both me and King are proud of you, son,” Lakim told him.
“Thanks, La. It’s like I told you when you recruited me, I won’t let you down.”
“And so far you haven’t. I know shit can’t be easy for you, watching your mom struggle with working all types of hours. What she make an hour? Eleven . . . maybe twelve dollars an hour? That’s hardly enough to take care of y’all.”
“I know, and that’s why I’ve been busting my ass day and night, trying to get this money up. I want to help my mom out,” Genesis said.
“And I respect that. It was the same way for me. I got tired of watching my mother struggle, so I had to go out and do what I had to do. I felt like less of a man when I was watching my old earth break her back for peanuts. Feel me?”
Indeed, Genesis did feel him. It made him feel like shit, having to watch his mother work such long hours. Sometimes when she got in from work, she was so tired that she didn’t even have the strength to feed them. Those were the nights either Genesis or his sister had to cook dinner.
“Yeah, it’s been rough, but I ain’t complaining. I’m just happy y’all put me in a position to put a few dollars in my pocket,” Genesis said.
“So long as you keep doing the right thing, you’re going see more than a few dollars. I can see you with your very own seat at the table,” Lakim told him.
“Really?” Genesis asked excitedly.
“True indeed. I was just telling Kin
g how much you reminded me of myself when I was your age. I was down to do whatever, wherever, when it came to my team eating.”
“And I feel the same way,” Genesis said.
“I believe you, but unfortunately, I’m not the one who needs convincing. You got people who been down with us longer than you who ain’t happy about you being promoted so quickly. They feel like maybe you haven’t done enough to deserve a seat at the table. Their gripes have made it back to King James’s ears, and I’m thinking he might be second-guessing your promotion.” Lakim cut him a look to make sure he wasn’t pouring it on too thick.
Genesis was suddenly filled with dread. His promotion was to be his opportunity to show his mother and everyone else that they had been wrong about him, and now some haters were threatening to snatch it away. “Lakim, just tell me what I gotta do, man. I’m with you. I promise.”
“Those are strong words, but this crew is based on actions.” Lakim paused. “How far are you willing to go to prove yourself?” he asked, already knowing how Genesis would answer.
“All the way,” Genesis said with conviction.
The trap had been baited, and the mouse had gone for the cheese, just as King James said he would.
* * *
Pam was feeling restless, which was nothing new. For the past few weeks, she had been holed up at her sister’s house. Her sister lived in a one-story house on Allerton Avenue in the Bronx. It was a nice neighborhood, and it was quiet there, but Pam missed her beloved Harlem and longed for the day she could go back.
The exile on Allerton Avenue was a self-imposed one. A while back she and her friend Tiffany had been on a double date with these two country dudes that hadn’t gone so well. Pam and her guy, Big Money, had gotten along fine, but Tiffany and Fire Bug, Big Money’s cousin, had gotten into an exchange of words over his sexual performance . . . or lack thereof. Things had got heated, and more words had been exchanged, which resulted in the two guys throwing Pam and Tiffany out. Pam had been embarrassed and hurt. Not because she had gotten thrown out, but because it had happened in front of Tiffany. Tiffany was like a little sister, and she looked up to Pam. She took everything the older girl said as gospel, so it had made Pam look bad when she got handled that way by the bumpkins. She had to get them back, but how?
