The Reign of Rain Robinson

by Roy Glenn

Ebony smiled. “Me and Dominica went to J.R.'s for the first time Saturday night. The One was there and he tore it up.”

  “Never seen The One. He doesn’t do a lot of concerts, but I heard he puts on a good show. You ladies have a good time?”

  “Yes, definitely. We had all access VIP passes. Free food and drinks and we got to go backstage, and we met The One.” Ebony laughed. “He kissed Dominica’s hand and told her to call him Earl.”

  “So, what’s on the agenda this week?” Ramel asked, not really interested in chit chatting with her this morning. Ebony had gotten comfortable and she liked to talk.

  “The biggest thing, of course, is Dominica getting the books in order, you and Serek have meetings with the architects, engineers and subcontractors to review their submitted budgets for the property that Marvin plans to develop, and in case you haven’t realized it yet, I am not your personal assistant,” she said with a smile.

  “I know, and if I came off like I thought you were, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention.”

  “Apology accepted. Are you prepared for the meetings or did you need me to go over some things with you beforehand?” Ebony offered.

  “No, while you and Dominica were VIPing it at J.R.'s, I spent some time this weekend getting up to speed on the job requirements and specifications.”

  “Really?”

  “You seem surprised.”

  “I am. I was under the impression that you didn’t know anything about construction.”

  “Where’d you get that impression?”

  “Serek.”

  Ramel laughed. “Well, Serek can believe whatever he likes. I ain’t here for him. I’m here to watch Money’s back and do whatever he needs.”

  “So, you do have a construction background?”

  “I do.”

  Ebony laughed. “I just assumed that you were … you know … muscle.”

  Ramel sat back in his chair and looked at her. “Really?”

  “Really,” Ebony said shyly, hoping that she hadn’t said the wrong thing.

  “How much do you know about the people you work for, Ebony?” Ramel asked.

  “Not much. Of course, I heard the rumors, but other than that, no.”

  “Would you like a little advice?”

  “Sure.”

  “Stick to your job as a lawyer and don’t concern yourself with anything else. It’s better for you that way.”

  “So, what you’re saying is that the rumors are true?”

  “No, Ebony, I’m saying that you should stick to your job as a lawyer.”

  “I heard you. It’s better for me that way,” Ebony said, and it made her feel a bit uncomfortable. After all, Ramel had basically just threatened her. It scared her, but her fear captivated her.

  “Right,” Ramel said, and with that, Ebony left his office to do her job as a lawyer, but she was more intrigued with Ramel and the people that she worked for.

  As for Ramel, he watched Ebony swing her hips out of his office, knowing that what he said to her only poured fuel on the fire that was her curiosity. But it was good advice. He found out the hard way who he was working for and what they were capable of. Ramel sat back in his chair and thought about his construction experience and how he began working for The Family.

  His father and uncle were the proud owners of Quincy Brothers Construction. The business was started by his grandfather; back then, it was called Quincy and Sons, the name changed when the old man died. He grew up in the business and started working there full-time after high school. But his father insisted that Ramel go to college and get a degree in construction management. He worked the business by day and went to class at night, but he made it.

  Business was good for the Quincy Brothers and with Ramel running the business, it grew, and they began bidding for bigger and bigger jobs. Their fortunes changed when his Uncle borrowed money from Nick. The next day, Jack Weaver showed up in the office and he took over. Under his leadership, the business’s credit was used to buy items to sell on the black market. If didn’t take long before the business was forced into bankruptcy and was forced to close its doors.

  With what was his family legacy destroyed, an angry Ramel went to see Nick at J.R.'s. In retrospect, he thought it was both stupid and dangerous, but he wanted to look Nick in the eye and ask what was he supposed to do now that there was no more Quincy Brothers Construction. Nick laughed a little at the question, but he respected Ramel for stepping to him like a man.

  “You got heart, Ramel, I’ll give you that.” Nick paused. “I think I can find somethings that you could do for me.” And he’d worked for The Family ever since, doing whatever Nick and then Rain needed done. Therefore, when Marvin told Nick that he had taken over Pearson Construction, and he told him how to handle things, Nick told Marvin about Ramel and what an asset he’d be.

  When he was introduced to Serek on that first day, he wasn’t impressed with Ramel. He was under the impression that he knew nothing of the business and would just be there taking up space.

  “What’s your background?” Serek asked.

  Ramel glanced at Marvin before answering. “I get things done,” he said and that seemed to satisfy Serek.

  That was also the first day that the hot and heavy flirtation between Marvin and Sataria began. After that, she began coming to The Four Kings almost nightly to flirt with Marvin. After weeks of him asking, Sataria agreed to meet him for dinner. The pair met at Artie's Steak & Seafood, an intimate and laid-back local eatery on City Island Avenue and dined on chargrilled calamari salad with mesclun greens and lemon basil vinaigrette, Chardonnay poached salmon with littleneck clams and Caribbean jerked mahi-mahi with sautéed spinach and mango sauce for the lady.

  Over dinner, Sataria admitted that she was nervous, and Marvin admitted that he was too. “Which is silly, because we talk all the time.”

  “No, Sataria, we really don’t talk. We flirt with each other when you come to the club to see me.” Marvin paused. “So, this is really the first time we’ve been able to talk without having to compete with the music.”

  “And I’ve been looking forward to having this time with you, Marvin.”

  “I am too. I’ve wanted to be alone with you since the first time I saw you. But I have to ask you a question,”

  “What’s that?”

  “If you’ve been looking forward to seeing me as you say, then why did you keep telling me no every time I’d ask you to go out with me?”

  Sataria’s back stiffened a bit. “I like you, Marvin Simmons, I want to know you and I want you to know me. But I’m a married woman and I didn’t want you to think badly of me.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “Why are you nervous?”

  “Because you are so beautiful its intimidating, and I want you and you’re married to my business partner.”

  “I don’t know why you insist on calling him that,” Sataria said and pointed at Marvin. “You own him. You know it and he knows it. You own him because he’s weak and you’re strong. I think strong men are very sexy and I find them to be very attractive,” Sataria all but purred and caressed Marvin’s hand.

  He looked into her cat-like eyes, thinking how flat-out fuckin sexy she was, and it made him want to clear the food from the table with one arm while throwing her fine ass on it with the other. Then he would tear away whatever clothing was necessary for him to be inside her.

  Fact: Marvin wanted to fuck Sataria.

  Conjecture: Sataria wanted to fuck Marvin.

  But whether it was conjecture or not, there they were, sipping cocktails and holding hands in an intimate, out of the way restaurant.

  With that excellent icebreaker behind them, the conversation began to flow back and forth as Marvin revealed a little about himself, then Sataria revealed a little about herself. She told him that she was originally from Jacksonville, Florida.

  “I got married to my first husband when I was twenty-one and we moved to New York ten years ago,” Sataria told him
and from that, Marvin knew that she was at least ten years older than he was and that added to her allure.

  They talked about their favorite foods, and the things they enjoyed doing and who doesn’t like talking about the things they love. Soon they found that they both seem to love chocolate chip ice cream.

  “I just may have to go out with you again,” Marvin said.

  “Likewise, but that depends on how you answer my next question.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Do you like lemon meringue pie?”

  Marvin leaned forward. “I love lemon meringue pie.”

  “I just fell in love with you,” Sataria sat back and said.

  “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Marvin laughed.

  “I haven’t?”

  “No, Mrs. Pearson, wait until you’re in my arms and our lips have met.”

  Just then, three men came in the door at Artie's with guns drawn and Sataria screamed. Marvin grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the floor as they opened fire at them.

  “Keep your head down,” Marvin said as he took out his gun. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “You promise?”

  “I promise,” he said and returned fire.

  As Artie’s customers dove for the floor, while others took cover under the tables, Marvin stood up quickly and turned over the table just as they opened fire again. With all that was going on in The Family, it was decided that no king would go anywhere alone. So, even though it was a date, Kelsey, who worked security at The Four Kings, was there watching Marvin’s back. He raised his weapon and shot one in the head.

  The two remaining shooters continued firing at Marvin and Sataria. Kelsey stayed low to the floor, trying to make it to a spot where he could get a clear shot at one of the shooters. When he stopped firing to reload, Marvin stood up and hit him with two shots to the chest. Two more men came in Artie’s firing and once they found cover, Marvin stood up and fired while Kelsey made his way to him.

  “We gotta get outta here,” Kelsey said, fired and took cover.

  Marvin looked at Sataria, her eyes were red, tears were rolling down her cheeks, and she looked terrified.

  “We’re goin’,” Marvin said and Sataria’s eyes opened wide. “Try to stay behind me.”

  When Sataria nodded her head, Marvin stood up, and he and Kelsey fired at their attackers as they made their way to the door with Sataria.

  Once they were outside, Marvin ran to the car, while Kelsey stood at the door blasting away. The second he and Sataria were in the car, Marvin started it up and headed for Artie’s fast.

  “Put your head down,” he told Sataria as he drove the car between Kelsey and their attackers. Marvin kept firing while Kelsey dove in the backseat. As soon as he was in, Marvin drove off.

  Chapter Six

  Since they didn’t make it to The Four Kings the night they went to Pago’s, and since finding and killing them niggas was still the only plan, Black, Rain and Jackie arrived at The Four Kings.

  They hadn’t been there long enough to have a look around before they were approached by Ayisha. She told Black that while she was in the gambling room not long ago, she and Monique overheard two men talking about Mobley doing a deal to buy guns that night at the Red Hook Terminal in Brooklyn.

  “Are they still here?” Rain wanted to know.

  “They left about five minutes ago,” Ayisha informed.

  “Have you ever seen them here before?” Black asked.

  “They’ve been here a few times,” Monique said. “But I can’t say for sure whether they’re with Mobley.”

  “I know the one guy used to come here with Evander all the time,” Ayisha said.

  “Every inch of this place is covered by cameras,” Pills began. “There isn’t a blind spot in here. If they were here, we got them,” he said and started walking toward the office.

  “Let’s go see what he got,” Black said and followed Pills to the office with Rain, Jackie, Ayisha and Monique trailing behind them.

  When they got to the office, Pills went to the surveillance computers and pulled up the footage of the gambling room.

  “How long ago was that?” Pills asked.

  “I guess about ten minutes now,” Ayisha said and Monique nodded in agreement.

  All stood behind Pills, looking over his shoulder reviewing footage, until Monique shouted, “Wait!”

  Both she and Ayisha leaned forward and took a closer look. “That’s them,” Monique said.

  “Ayisha?” Black asked.

  “Definitely,” she said and took the mouse from Pills. “And if you look at them from this angle …” Ayisha paused and then pointed at the screen. “There.”

  “That’s how close we were to them,” Monique said of the image of the two men sitting at a table and her and Monique standing behind them.”

  “That’s Icon and that one is Bowie,” Pills said and leaned back. “Bowie used to come up here with Evander and Big Frank. I know Icon just got outta jail a few days ago. I can’t say for sure if he was with them or not.”

  “Thank you,” Black said and went to sit down at the desk.

  “We gonna need the room,” Rain said and sat down at the monitor, while Jackie followed Pills, Ayisha and Monique to the door and locked it behind them.

  “Rain?” Black asked.

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Jackie?”

  “I don’t like it either. Why would they be talking about it here?” Jackie asked and sat down across from Black.

  “I don’t know. Niggas do dumb shit.” Black laughed. “But I don’t like it either.”

  “Did they know Ayisha and Monique were standing behind them?” Rain asked. “If either of them been here before, they gotta know they work here.”

  “And even if they didn’t know, that still takes us right back to why would they even be talking about it here?” Jackie asked, pounding her fist into her palm.

  “I say again, niggas do dumb shit,” Black laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

  Rain laughed and shook her head. “Wearin’ a vest and you got jokes too.”

  “Yeah,” Jackie said laughing. “The whole vest thing is still blowin’ me.”

  “He say Shy’s making him wear it,” Rain said in his defense.

  “Just sayin’. It’s good to know that you’re mortal like the rest of us.”

  “But fuck all that,” Black said. “Is it worth us ridin’ out to Brooklyn to find out?”

  “Red Hook’s a pretty big place. What’s the chances of us finding them?” Jackie asked.

  “Pretty slim,” Rain said.

  “And if we did find them, we all know that it would be a trap,” Black said.

  “I agree,” Rain said.

  “Me too,” Jackie said. “Definitely a trap.”

  “But I still think we should ride out there,” Rain said.

  “Even though it’s a trap?” Jackie had to know.

  “Even though it’s a trap,” Rain said nodding her head.

  “Why?”

  “I think … no, I know we can handle whatever trap these niggas got for us, right? This time we don’t kill everybody and get one of them to tell us where we can find Mobley and end him.”

  “Really can’t argue with her logic,” Black said.

  “I guess I can’t either,” Jackie said.

  “Let’s go,” Black said and stood up.

  “I still say it’s a trap,” Jackie said as she and Rain followed Black out of The Four Kings. Rain tossed Jackie the keys to her reinforced Lexus GS 450 h F Sport and she drove them out to Brooklyn.

  Jackie had just turned onto West 9th Street and was about to turn right where it ended onto Columbia when a truck came up behind them, rammed into their rear-end and drove them into a parked car.

  “Here we go!” Rain said, as men on both sides of the street opened fire at the vehicle.

  “Get us outta here, Jackie.” Black said as he leaned over and released the catch on
the back seat to get in Rain’s trunk to get weapons. Because she hated being outgunned at any time, Rain had two AR-15’s, two of her favorite HK433’s, and two IWI Galil ACE’s, an Israeli Weapon that she'd become fond of that fired 7.62mm rounds that did serious damage and a Barrett M82 sniper rifle.

  “They’ve got us wedged in.” Jackie put the car in reverse and floored it. “But if I can get enough room to cut the wheel—”

  “Just do it!” Black shouted as bullets continued to pommel the car from all sides.

  “We gotta find a more defensible position,” Rain said as she checked her weapons. “This glass ain’t gonna last long.”

  “Defensible position … you been hangin’ around Monika too long,” Black said and handed Rain a HK433 and got the two ACE’s for himself, along with some magazines.

  “Hand me a couple of grenades,” Rain requested as she checked her weapon. She also had a box of concussion grenades, a box of M67 fragmentation grenades, and enough C4 and detonators to blow up anything she needed gone.

  “Which one; concussion or fragmentation?”

  “Both.”

  Black handed Rain the grenades as the truck behind them began to give way. Jackie began turning the wheel.

  “If I can cut the wheel enough … got it!” Jackie slammed the Lexus in drive. As she did, Rain tossed a couple of M67’s out the window on one side and Black threw two out the other as Jackie sped away.

  “What was you sayin’ about us handling whatever trap these niggas got?” Jackie said.

  “Whatever, Jackie; just get us outta here,” Rain said. “And yes, yes I do. I just don’t think it’s necessary to prove it to them this time.”

  Everybody laughed until a truck sped out in front of them and Jackie had to slam on brakes to avoid hitting it. Black handed Jackie an AR15. “Guess they’re gonna make us prove it to them one more time,” he said and got out firing with both ACE’s at their ambushers as they ran toward them.

  Rain pulled the pin, then she got out and threw a concussion grenade in the truck. When the driver opened his door to get out, Jackie shot him in the chest before she turned and open fire with the AR15.

  Since the ambushers were running down the middle of the street, Black and Jackie got most of them. The five that survived had taken cover and had opened fire.