Lawless

by K'wan

  “Time has a way of healing certain wounds. Be the bigger person. Go to your brother, bare your soul, and beg for his forgiveness,” Bernie urged.

  “And if he isn’t willing to forgive me?”

  “Then at least you tried.”

  Keith and Mad Dog had been on the outs for far too long. Keith loved his brother, and though Mad Dog didn’t always show it, Keith knew Mad Dog loved him too. Bernie was right. It was time to fix things.

  “I’m going to start making amends for the things I’ve done. To my family . . . to you.”

  “Keith, this isn’t about me,” Bernie told him.

  “Yes it is. I was wrong for lying to you, Bernie. No matter how I thought you would react, I should have told you the truth. I’m sorry for that.”

  “I know you are, Keith, but it’s going to take a bit more than words to make this right. I need to know that you can be honest with me, like I am with you. What do we have if not trust?”

  “You’re right, Bernie, and moving forward, I’m going to do everything I can to show you that it wasn’t a mistake for you to give your heart to me. That’s if you’re still willing to have me.”

  “Keith Savage,” she said, calling him by his real name for the first time, “I can’t imagine a life without you, jacked-up family and all.”

  “Thank you for understanding . . . and forgiving.” He hugged her.

  “I understand, but forgiveness is going to require you putting in some major work.”

  “I’d do anything for you, Bernie. Just tell me where to start,” Keith told her.

  She opened her robe, revealing her nakedness beneath it. “I’ve been in New Orleans for a whole day, and you’ve yet to give me a proper welcome. How about you start there?”

  CHAPTER 26

  Keith and Bernie were up bright and early the next morning. He’d changed his flight so that he and Bernie could fly out together later in the day. The plane wasn’t scheduled to leave until 5:00 p.m., so he had more than enough time to go by the house and make peace with his family.

  When they got downstairs, Ulysses was waiting for them. He was driving the Maybach again. He helped them load their bags into the trunk and then opened the back door for them. Keith was surprised when they got inside the car and found Max waiting.

  “Hey,” Keith greeted.

  Maxine didn’t respond. She was still mad at him. She looked at Bernie. “So, how was your time in New Orleans?” she asked Bernie.

  “It was eventful, I’ll say that,” Bernie joked.

  “Well, hopefully, it won’t take somebody dying to get you down here again. You’ve got an open invitation. With or without my brother, you are always welcome here.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be sure to take you up on that invitation, Maxine.”

  “Maxine is for my employees. You are family, so call me Max.” She patted Bernie’s knee.

  The rest of the ride was spent with the girls talking among themselves. Keith tried to engage his sister several more times, but she continued to ignore him. He may as well have been invisible. When they got to the house, the girls walked ahead, but Ulysses motioned for Keith to hang back. He had something he needed to say to him that wasn’t for everyone’s ears.

  “You know you hurt her, right?” Ulysses told him.

  “Yeah, I know,” Keith said shamefully.

  “Do you really? In all the years I’ve been working with Max, I’ve never seen that woman cry until after you embarrassed her at the house. That was some real foul shit you said.”

  “I know. I guess I was just in my feelings,” Keith admitted.

  “I guess you think you’re the only one who has them, huh? You know, when you first showed up in town, I wasn’t sure how I felt about you. Everyone has been telling me these stories about the notorious Killer Keith, but you haven’t really lived up to my expectations.”

  “Sorry to have disappointed you,” Keith said sarcastically.

  “My opinion ain’t worth too much shit. It’s Max who you should be sorry for disappointing. The whole while you’ve been in Atlanta, I’ve watched Max defend you to everyone else who seems to have written you off. Can’t say nothing bad about Killer Keith without Max jumping in your shit. I thought you would be a stand-up dude, but you’re nothing but the spoiled brat with Mommy issues that everyone has made you out to be.”

  “You don’t know me well enough to judge me.”

  “I don’t know you, but I know your type. You run around like it’s your family that’s all fucked up, but there’s going to come a time when you have to take responsibility for the part you’ve played in all this. I’d suggest you start with making things right with Max.”

  “Why does hired muscle care so much about what goes on between me and my sister?” Keith asked.

  “Because the hired muscle is also her husband.” Ulysses walked away, leaving Keith standing there with a stunned expression on his face.

  * * *

  Things were quieter in the house that morning. Most of the relatives that had descended on the Savage house either had gone or were in the process of leaving. He searched the house for Fire Bug and found him in his bedroom. He was sitting at his worktable, scooping what looked like gunpowder into empty ink-pen cases.

  “What you doing?” Keith asked as he entered the room.

  “Working on a new project,” Fire Bug said without bothering to turn around.

  “Can we talk for a second?”

  “Talk. I’m listening.” Fire Bug continued his work.

  “I’m sorry,” Keith began. “Not sorry for failing to live up to the great expectations placed on me by this family, but for failing you. Regardless of what my personal feelings toward Mama are, I should have been there for you.”

  “It’s all good, Killer. I had Big John and Mad Dog to raise me up while you were off living the high life.” Bug snorted.

  “And that’s exactly what I mean. Kids grow up to mimic what they see. If all you had around you were people doing wrong, then how could you possibly know any better?”

  “So, you saying there’s something wrong with my brothers teaching me how to survive out there in the world?” Bug asked defensively, stopping what he was doing.

  “I’m not saying that at all, Bug. A man needs to know how to survive in the world, but he should also have an idea of just how big the world is. There is so much more to life than just the trap.”

  “What if that’s all I know?” Bug asked seriously.

  “Then it’s up to me to teach you,” Keith replied. “Bug, I know I missed out on a lot in your life, but if you’re open to it, I’d like to change that. After we get past all this, I’d like you to come spend some time with me in Atlanta. Maybe you can even hang around my office a few days and watch your brother work.”

  “I don’t need your pity, Killer.”

  “It’s not pity, Bug. It’s love,” Keith said sincerely. “Just think about it, man. When you decide you’re ready, I’ll fly you up.”

  “Sure,” Bug said unenthusiastically.

  Keith hung his head and headed out of the room. He knew repairing his relationship with his brother would take time. But he was willing to put in the work.

  “Killer,” Bug called after him. “I’m glad you’re back, even if you are a square now.” He smiled and went back to his work.

  Keith went into the kitchen, where he found his mother and Big John sitting at the table, drinking coffee.

  “Morning,” Keith greeted them.

  “Morning, Killer,” Ma replied. “Are you and Bernie hungry? I could whip you up something if you like.”

  “No. We’re good. And we can always get something at the airport later.”

  “Well, it’s been good having you home, and I hope it doesn’t take another dead body to get you to come back,” Ma joked.

  “No, I’ll be back again soon. I miss being around you guys, and I promise not to stay away so long the next time,” Keith said. “And about the way I’ve been acting . .
. I owe all of you an apology.”

  “You don’t owe us any apologies, Killer,” Ma told him.

  “No, I think I do. I’ve been acting like a real brat.” He thought back to his conversation with Ulysses. “We haven’t always gotten along, but we’re still blood. That should trump any petty differences that we’ve had over the years. Being here again made me realize how important family is.”

  “Sounds like you’re finally starting to grow up.” Big John slapped him on the ass playfully.

  “Better late than never.” Keith smiled. He looked over at the broken china cabinet, and memories of the night before came flooding back. “Say, is Mad Dog around? I’d really like to talk to him before we leave.”

  “Mad Dog is long gone. He left sometime in the wee hours,” Ma informed him.

  “Really? He only just came back. I thought he’d have stuck around for a while this time. Where did he go?”

  “To New York City. Got some family business that needs handling.” Big John flashed a sinister grin.

  Keith was shocked. “Ma, you gave me your word that you would talk to Big John about not sending an army into New York.”

  “And I kept my word. We ain’t sent no army. Just Mad Dog,” Ma said, clarifying matters.

  Keith felt dizzy. Sending Mad Dog to New York was like taking the leash off a rabid pit bull in the middle of Times Square on New Year’s Eve. An army of Savages going to New York would’ve been bad, but Mad Dog’s wrath would be one thousand times worse.

  “Ma, you’ve got to stop him!” Keith told her.

  “How? Mad Dog ain’t exactly the cell phone–carrying type. Besides, even if I could reach him, you know once Mad Dog has been loosed ain’t no calling him off.”

  “We’ve got to do something.” Keith began pacing nervously.

  “Ain’t much we can do at this point but stay out of Mad Dog’s way,” Big John joked, as if it was all a game.

  “I’m not just gonna sit by and watch while my brother gets himself killed or thrown in prison,” Keith vowed.

  “Tell you what. Since you’re in the business of saving lives instead of taking them these days, I’ll give you a sporting chance.” Ma looked at the clock on the wall. “Depending on how big of a head start he’s got on you, I’d say you’ve got about forty-eight hours to find Big Money’s killers before Mad Dog does.”

  EPILOGUE

  New York City . . .

  New York had been hit with thunderstorms for the past couple of days, but now the sun was finally starting to shine again. The minute the sun reappeared, the business of selling drugs was back in full swing. It was Genesis’s first day holding down the block.

  When King James had mentioned giving him a promotion, Genesis had figured it would entail selling drugs directly or bagging up drugs in one of the stash houses. Unbeknownst to him, King had had something more sinister in mind. Genesis had agreed to complete the mission, but he hadn’t been sure he’d be able to go through with it when the time came. Surprising himself and Lakim both, he had completed the task. He had taken a life.

  Genesis had thought initially that he would be haunted by what he had done, but he wasn’t. Lakim hadn’t been too thrilled at the prospect of taking Pam out, but it hadn’t mattered to Genesis. To him, she was a nameless face . . . a stepping-stone to where he needed to be. He didn’t feel much different after killing Pam, except for experiencing a feeling of liberation. Holding power over life and death made him feel like a god, and there was a part of him that couldn’t wait to experience it again.

  Dee walked up on him. He had a new position as shift manager, so he was the kid whom Genesis answered to. “How we looking?”

  “Five packs gone and five to go. We’re gonna need another re-up before the night shift comes on.”

  “Damn! You’re a hustling little muthafucka,” Dee said proudly. “At the rate you’re going, you’ll be in off the block in no time.”

  Their conversation was broken up when an addict approached. He was a bearded man wearing a baseball cap, tattered jeans, and an overcoat that had holes in it. Genesis had never seen the man before, but he knew he had to be a drug user because of the unmistakable crazed look in his eyes. They were the eyes of a man jonesing for a fix. “Say, man, y’all up?” he asked in a voice that carried a hint of an accent.

  “Yeah. What you need?” Genesis asked in a tough tone, trying to impress Dee.

  “I got about fifty to spend, but it’s gotta be good. The last time I copped from one of you boys, the work was weak.”

  “Fuck is you talking about? King James don’t sell no bullshit,” Genesis declared.

  “Oh, so you hustle for King?” the addict asked.

  “Everybody in this neighborhood hustles for King James. Where the fuck are you from? Mars?” Genesis teased.

  “No. New Orleans, actually.” The addict’s coat flew open, and he produced a sawed-off shotgun.

  “Oh, shit!” was all Genesis was able to blurt out before Mad Dog Savage painted the side of the building with his brains. Just like that, his run in the game was ended.

  Dee moved to run, but Mad Dog turned the shotgun in his direction, and Dee froze him in his tracks. Mad Dog walked up on the boy and pressed the hot barrel of the shotgun to his chin. “I’m gonna ask you a question. Answer true and you live. Lie to me and . . .” He glanced over at Genesis’s corpse. “Where can I find King James?”

  “I don’t know, man. Nobody has seen him in a few days,” Dee told the gunman.

  Mad Dog searched Dee’s eyes for signs that he was lying. The boy seemed to be telling the truth. It confirmed the information he had gathered. King James had gone underground. “Listen, tell your boss that all your operations are shut down until he comes out of hiding and dances with me. Every corner, every trap house . . . I’m on your ass for all this shit. You understand?”

  “Yeah, man,” Dee said nervously.

  “Oh, and one more thing. Tell King James that Big Money Savage sends his regards from hell,” he told Dee before knocking out his front teeth with the butt of the shotgun.