Zero Degrees Part 3: Miss Murderess

by Leo Sullivan

  I searched his face to see if what I was saying was getting through to him.

  He leaned back in the black, leather chair and nodded. “Yeah, I understand my nigga. You think a nigga done got soft after that shit wit’ Peaches, but that ain’t the case, at least not no more. You’re my brother and you know me best. Maybe I am struggling a little too hard to get over her, but I do want to hear her side of the story-”

  “Her side of the story?! Nigga ain’t shit that bitch can say. Come on man, don’t get soft on me over no fuck ass bitch,” I said with a plea in my voice.

  Buff just gave me a look of defiance as I watched his nostrils flair when he said, “Nigga, why you all up in my grill about Peaches? So what? I still got feelings for her, but that ain’t never came between us. I do know one thing. There is always two sides to every story-”

  “Nigga fuck that bitch. I feel like you got some other shit you want to get off your chest.”

  “You damn right I got some more shit I want to get off my chest. It seems like you feelin’ yourself and shit. Like you’re flexin’ on your boss shit. This is supposed to be an equal operation bruh. I know that you been doin’ business behind my back. I can handle me, but you on some other shit,” Buff said with an icy glare.

  “I don’t know what you can or can’t handle right now and I can’t afford to fuck up what I’m doin’ while you on some sucka for love shit.”

  “Sucka for love? You still fucked up over Zero,” he shot back.

  “Because I know in my heart and soul that Ze’s alive and I found somebody who can help me,” I explained.

  He had a look on his face that said he didn’t believe she was alive too. “Give it up Zeus. Ze is dead and you know it. You talking about me, but look at you chasing a ghost. God bless the dead. I loved Ze too, but unlike Peaches, Ze ain’t never coming back.”

  I flinched uncontrollably and almost swung on my brother. He had struck a serious nerve. Buff saw the anger brewing in my eyes and took a tentative step back prepared to go to blows. I had to catch myself and control my anger. My fists were balled up tight as I took a deep breath to calm myself.

  “Listen man… Ze is not dead… I can feel it. I know it. Besides, let me explain this to you.”

  I filled him in on what Mundo had told me about Roberto, but he still gave me a blank stare like I was losing it.

  “Her mother was found dead. She was at her house when it happened and you haven’t heard from her since. Where do you think she is man?” His facial expression told me that he didn’t have the same faith that I did in believing that Ze was alive.

  “They haven’t found her body and until then I have hope. Don’t take that away from me man. That’s all I got,” I said feeling a pain in my chest. It was like the air had been knocked out of me, so I took a deep breath to get myself together.

  “What about me my nigga? I lost my girl and my best friend.” Buff banged his chest with his fist so hard it sounded like a bass drum. Then he added with emphasis in his voice, “At least Ze didn’t leave you by choice man. Imagine that shit! I gave Peaches the world and she just walked out on a nigga. Fuck that relationship shit. I’m goin’ fuck every bitch I can just because I can, but if she ever does show up we goin’ hear her side of the story first.”

  “C’mon Buff. I need you to get that shit wit’ Peaches out of your system man. You wit’ me or not? I gotta get my lady back and I need you to help me do it.” The look in his eyes disturbed me. It was like we were drifting apart. That nigga really was fucked up over that bitch.

  Suddenly there was another tap on the door. That time it was Cynthia. She stepped in looking sexy as hell in a black pencil skirt, white, long sleeve button down blouse that had a ruffled collar, and some sexy, suede, gray ankle boots. Her classy, sensual style was definitely a turn on. She seemed to be the only woman who got anything stirring in me. Because of that I kept my distance from her.

  “I’m sorry to bother you two, but there’s some guy who said his name is G out there asking for you Zues,” she said with pouty, red lips. As she blinked I noticed the long, thickness of her lashes. Damn, she had some sexy ass eyes.

  “Who the fuck is G?” I asked out loud trying to ignore my attraction to her.

  Buff shrugged his shoulders and Cynthia looked like she had no clue.

  “I haven’t seen him before. He’s tall and brown skinned with locks. He has an accent like he’s from up north,” she spoke up.

  Buff and I exchanged quizzical expressions.

  “Lemme see who the fuck this nigga is” I said walking out behind Cynthia.

  Buff followed us and sat down at the bar with his female companions.

  Old boy was standing by the entrance with

  his hands in the pockets of his dark blue jeans. He had on a New York Nets fitted cap slightly pulled down over his eyes. His massive shoulders were broad and he had a wide chest like a football player. The gold grill in his mouth sparkled sinisterly when he spoke with grit in his voice.

  “You Zeus?” He asked when I got closer.

  I nodded. “Why, what’s up?” I raised my chin.

  “Can we talk outside?” He nodded, gesturing with his hand as he looked around.

  “It ain’t hardly nobody in here. We can talk right here. Who you supposed to be anyway?” My guard was up because I had no idea who that fool was.

  “My name is G and I need to talk to you in private my nigga. Let’s step outside,” he said all antsy as he looked me up and down like he was measuring me for a casket. There was something about his character that put me on alert.

  Instead of replying to his request, I led him through the back of the club to the exit. We ended up in a dark area walking through the dimly lit exit where I and Buff would usually conduct business. The memory of the shoot-out we’d had with the police was still vivid in my mind. I had lost a few of my niggas that night, but at least I and my brother were still standing. We had got rid of Money and his brothers and that was all that mattered.

  My hand was reaching for the .45 deep in my pocket when I heard the door close behind me. The chill of the evening wind made me shiver, there was something about dude that made me suspicious.

  Once we were a few feet away from the door, I spotted a stray black ally cat that startled the both of us as a siren blared in the distance.

  “Yo, what you wanna talk to me about? Let’s get this shit over with, because I got business to handle.”

  “You know a chick named Lexie?” The look on his face showed that the shit was personal as hell.

  I sucked my teeth and laughed mockingly.

  “So this shit is about her? I don’t fuck with that broad yo’. No disrespect, but been there done that my nigga, Na’mean.”

  “Nol, I don’t know what you mean. I’m her muthafuckin’ brother,” he said with a scowl. His face twisted like he had so much hatred for me as he took a step closer. His hand eased toward his strap. Just that fast the moment became volatile.

  “Okay, what da fuck that got to do wit’ me?” I asked as my fingers slid onto the handle of my burner. Unfortunately it was in my pocket and it was going to be hard to get a good grip on it without him noticing the movement. It was too bad that his was in his waistband for easy access. I had got caught slipping, unless I could beat him to the draw. Shit, that would be taking a big risk since his hand was already on his weapon.

  “She told me about what you did to her nigga!” He raised his voice. The sound echoed, making my pulse race as he inched closer to me. The look in his eyes suddenly become venomous. He had murder on his mind. I knew I needed to go for my strap, but we were standing too close.

  I needed to move fast!

  Tiny eyes glowed in the darkness. The black cat had scurried away next to a trash can to watch us.

  “What did she say I did to her?” I asked keeping my eyes on his hand and on the strap as I tried to ease the burner out of my pocket. It was important to be careful, because the slightest wrong move could resul
t in a blood bath with us both getting shot, or worse.

  “She told me you raped and beat the shit outta her. My sister’s all fucked up and she called me a few weeks after it happened. She ain’t wanna tell me at first.”

  He narrowed his eyes into slants and continued with malice in his voice.

  “I came all the way here from Brooklyn just to holla at you son.”

  “Man your sister’s lying! I ain’t touch her. She just trying to get some shit started because I don’t fuck wit’ her. Dawg, I got bitches galore. I ain’t gotta beat up no chick, nigga. I’m rich.” I tried to talk some sense into dude.

  “Don’t nobody put they hands on my baby sister. For real,” he said.

  I was thinking about trying to shoot him through my pants pocket so I wouldn’t risk the movement of pulling my banger and him beating me to the punch. Suddenly he pulled out on me and aimed a 44. Desert Eagle at my face. The barrel looked as big as a cannon. I remember thinking, how in the fuck did this nigga get past security with that big ass gun on him?

  “I ain’t rape your sister man.” I stood my ground, but I could feel my body go stiff as a board. “If anything she’s been beggin’ me to hit, but I ain’t fuck wit’ her. We used to fuck around years ago,” I said as calm as possible, but my right leg had started to tremble as fear crept in my gut tying it in knots.

  “Shut up nigga. Lemme get that heater up off you and if you buck I’ma blast yo’ fuck ass right here,’ he said and placed the barrel of the gun to my head.

  There I stood stuck on stupid. If I gave him my burner it would be like participating in my own homicide, so I hesitated and stalled for time like sand slowed in a bottle. I watched his meaty finger caress the trigger anxiously. I tried ghetto diplomacy.

  “Man if you shoot me… you know you’ll never make it out of here alive… unless you’re on some suicide mission. I ain’t never did shit to your sister.”

  “Nigga, didn’t I tell you to shut the fuck up and pass me the banger. I ain’t goin’ ask your fuck ass no mufuckin’ more!” He barked in a sinister sneer. The diamond grill sparkled in his mouth. My heart was pounding in my chest a mile a minute as my life flashed before my eyes. At that moment I thought about Zero.

  Just as I reached to pass him my burner and submit to my own execution, there was a loud noise behind me. A door opened with a whoosh of air as music blared mixed with the sound of voices. It was obvious that somebody had just walked out to look in on us.

  G’s face lit up with the luminous glow of light and he squinted his eyes. Looking over my shoulder, I was startled by the intruder. That’s when I saw him and wondered had he been there lurking the entire time.

  “Yo, Zeus, you good out here?” Buff asked. My heart pounded faster in my chest when I saw the fear on the dude’s face turn into a fiendish scowl. He was going to kill me and my brother. There was no doubt that he was about to start squeezing on both of us, so that’s when I did the unthinkable. There was no other choice, because I didn’t want me or my brother to get shot. Fear will make a man do some crazy things.

  I reached for the gun.

  It exploded!

  Blocka! Blocka! Blocka!

  The sound of gunshots resonated loudly as a rainbow of colors burst like bright stars exploding behind my eyes.

  Chapter 6

  ZERO

  My “sexy” lesson lasted for a week and by the time Amore’ was finished with me, I was ready. Sexiness was oozing from my pores as I looked at my reflection in the full length mirror. It was the day of my first “job” and my adrenaline was pumping through my veins like a drug. I had only smoked a joint since I finished training, but murdering my first mark would give me a high like nothing else.

  Amore’ was in her mid-thirties and when Black said that she had sexy down packed he meant it. She had explained to me that sexiness had nothing to do with looks. She was beautiful, with a beauty mark under her eye, nice, full lips and a prominent nose. Her face wasn’t flawless, but she was definitely a woman who could have any man she wanted. Black had explained to me that she used to be a model, but was now a Madame. That was interesting.

  “Sexy is a behavior. Even an ugly motherfucka can be sexy,” she had said with her hand on her voluptuous hips.

  Her skin was smooth and was the color of coffee with just a drop of cream. She had honey colored eyes that were decorated by what I believed were fake lashes. She was about 5’10 and built like a brick house. Her thighs were thick and toned and she had that hour glass figure that every woman wanted. She stood in front of me in stiletto heels, a leopard print cat suit and a long, light brown weave like an older version of Beyonce.

  In a week she had taught me how to be sexy without giving it a thought.

  “You should be able to catch a man’s eye without even doing anything. He should be able to sense that sexy aura just by looking at you,” she had explained.

  She taught me how to walk and how to talk soft and low. I even learned how to laugh sexy and what to do with my eyes to seduce a man. It was a fact that I had worn high heels before, but she taught me how to walk in them like I owned it. By the time we had our last lesson Black was sold.

  “Now you’re ready,” he said with a smile of approval stamped on his face.

  So as I stood there looking at my reflection in my stiletto heels and short, black dress, I felt more confident than ever. My thighs and calves stood at attention and when I stood to the side there was all that ass. The work outs and training sessions with Black had my body at its best. I wasn’t too defined, but I was looking like a trained dancer. Damn, if Zeus could see me he would eat me alive. The thought made me smile. I suddenly flexed doing a couple Jujitsu moves.

  ****

  Black arrived at my room unannounced. That night his demeanor was all business. He was in his militant mood when he put some Russian pervert’s file on the table in front of me.

  As I stared at it, I thought of my mark and the smile faded. He was the scum of the earth and I couldn’t wait to put a hole in his head.

  “His name is Gregory Moskv. He is a Russian billionaire with ties to the Russian mob and also a double agent that we discovered has been trading secrets with Iran to plan another terrorist attack somewhere in the United States. We just don’t know where. He earned his billions in human slave trafficking and prostitution. His specialty is child pornography with some of the exploited children being as young as two years old. They film them being molested and then that shit is sold on the black market.”

  “Ugh!” I cringed. “The man sounds disgusting.”

  “He is and that’s why he has to be exterminated.”

  Black passed me a glossy photo of the Russian billionaire. Gregory Moskv was a short rotund man of three hundred and ten pounds who stood a mere five feet five inches tall. He had a mane of ruffled gray hair that looked like bird feathers scattered across the top of his dome. He was in his late fifties, with a huge head, and droopy hound dog eyes. His pink lips were thin and ashen like a serpent. The man resembled the pig that he was. I could tell that there was something evil about his fat ass just by looking at him. A chill ran down my spine.

  “He has ties to Russian organized crime and politics,” Black’s voice chimed in.

  As I looked at the file that read like something straight out of a mafia crime novel, something suddenly occurred to me.

  “Just how am I supposed to terminate a man of that statue?” I asked baffled and slightly intimidated.

  “It’s simple and that’s another reason why the agency wanted to recruit you so badly. Gregory Moskv is like many wealthy white rich man. He has a secret fetish for attractive black woman.”

  “And?” I huffed incredulously.

  “That’s where you come in with all the training I’ve taught you, and not to mention you’re drop dead beautiful.”

  “But I don’t even speak Russian. Well, not other than the little bit you taught me,” I protested.

  “You don’t have to. This is n
ot the old days. He speaks fluent English like most of his comrades. Times have changed. This is not the cold war.”

  “Humph…oh, but it looks to me like this Gregory dude is all the way in Russia. I am in Miami on a semi vacation.”

  “Was in Miami. Your flight to Russia leaves at ten PM tonight from International.”

  I stood up as fast as a human rocket and knocked over a chair. Fuming mad, I snapped

  “Get the fuck outta here! Are you serious? Why are you just telling me that the mark lives all the way in fucking Russia!?”

  “Because in the event if something was to happen to you and the enemy wanted to abstract intelligence, you can’t tell them what you don’t know. This man is dangerous. Welcome to the world of espionage Zero.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked and kicked the chair. He continued to look at me unfazed like he was accustomed to my tirades before he responded.

  “As serious as all the time and money the agency has invested in you.”

  “What money?”

  I scuffed as I looked at Black, hoping that this could be another one of his corny ass jokes. It wasn’t. He reached into his suit coat’s inside pocket and slid three fat envelopes across the hotel table, then continued.

  “There is fifty thousand dollars in each of these envelopes which gives you a total of one hundred fifty thousand. You will receive the other half if you make it back.”

  He then glanced down at his watch and said, “Your flight to Russia leaves in three hours.” He cocked his head at an angle as he looked at me. If I didn’t know any better I’d swear he enjoyed our little cat and mouse mental head games. My eyes reverted to the fat envelopes on the table and then back to him.