by Eureka
She stood right in front of me with my body towering over her, and she pointed the gun right at my Adam’s apple in my throat. It was close enough to when I swallowed my saliva, I could feel the tip of the gun. I knew then my life would be over. The look in her eyes was as cold as ice as if she had long ago lost contact with her emotions.
“Come on, sister-in-law, we can fix this. I swear I do—”
“Shut the fuck up! I wanna know one thing and trust me, I will know if you’re lying. See, dealing with your snake-ass brother all these years has changed me. I trust no nigga! I can see shit for real now. Did you send Rasta to my son?” She waited for my response; then she stepped up closer as my heart pounded hard against my chest.
At any moment, I would be breathing my last breath. Everything was like it was going in slow motion. I discreetly raised my hands. In a split second, I dove on the floor. I heard the gunshots ring out as I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. Dutchtress opened fire as I dove behind a table, then a booth. I didn’t have my gun. I had one chance to get to the door. I lifted my head up slightly and watched as she held a gun in each hand, firing away. She hit any and everything. I noticed Slynn in the corner balled up in a fetal position. I crawled over toward her and snatched her up. Using her as a human shield, I ran toward the back door. Every bullet landed in Slynn’s body. All I heard as each bullet ripped through her flesh was her bloodcurdling screams. Dutchtress never let up. She continued firing away.
Chapter 38
Us against We, Death before Dishonor
“Man, I need to go back right quick. I lost my chain. It’s back on Mona’s desk. I must have lost it when I saw that video and started throwing shit around.”
“Dude, fuck that chain. Buy you another o—” Vell said as Knight cut him off with a look that would scare the hardest man.
“He need to go back, so let ’em,” Knight sternly said as he shifted his body to face the road.
Knight could see that chain meant a lot to me. It was the last thing Dutch gave to me before our world became so full of hell. It was the only thing I clung to besides our son. I had nothing left of her. I couldn’t even say goodbye to her. No service—nothing. That chain was my lifeline to her. I wasn’t going to leave the last thing I had of her. I got to an open field and made a U-turn to go back to the club. We weren’t too far from the club, so we arrived back there within fifteen minutes.
“Y’all wait right here. This should only take a minute. I’ll be right back.”
When I jumped out of the truck in the front of the club, all I could hear was gunshots. I quickly grabbed my snubnose. 38 I kept on me at all times. The only way I could get it here was to fly a private plane over to the island because of the tip Peanut gave me . . . only to find out it was a setup. I rushed inside, hoping that Naheri hadn’t come back to kill Slynn. Knight was right behind me. I could see that Vell had Peanut and Netta out of the truck and walking toward the hotel across from the club. All I could think of was Slynn. She was the last one connected to me besides Mona. I rushed in gun drawn and spotted Brandi dead on the floor. Then I heard another gunshot. When I got closer, my eyes laid on a female holding two guns sending bullets anywhere they could land. She pulled the trigger of one of the guns, and it was empty. The glass behind the bar was exploding all over the place as she freely released her bullets. I snuck up behind her ready to splatter her brains all over the wall until I saw a guy with long dreads ducking and dodging out of the back of the club. She took a step to chase him, and I grabbed her. She tried to shoot over her shoulder, but her gun was empty now.
She kicked and screamed, “Let me go, let me the fuck go now! As soon as I get loose, I’ma kill you, whoever you are!” I held her tighter, and her voice sounded just like my love. But I knew it couldn’t be her.
“Stop moving; calm the fuck down,” I said as I held her tighter. All of a sudden, she stopped. She just stopped kicking and moving and dropped her arms in defeat. I released my hold on her. She stood there with her back turned toward me. I lowered my gun but kept it by my side in case she got it twisted.
“Flex?” she said in a low, meek tone.
Her voice sent chills down my body. There was no way this was her—my love, my life, not the one who I would have died before I dishonored her.
“How do you know my name? What kind of sick joke Naheri got you playing? I swear to God, I will—” My words were caught in the air.
I laid eyes on her. To say I was in disbelief would be an understatement.
“Kajaun, babe, is that you? They told m—I heard them pronounce you . . .” She couldn’t complete a full sentence. Her tears started streaming down her face. I had no words myself. I stepped closer to examine her face, hair, and those eyes. Everything screamed Elana. But they told me she died.
“Elana, they said you were gone, babe . . . . That you?” At this time, my tears were welling up in my eyes. I didn’t wait for an answer. I picked her up in my arms and kissed her so deeply, my tongue almost touched her tonsils. If this was a dream, I didn’t want to be woken up. If this was a cruel joke by Naheri, I didn’t want to end this moment, this second, with her.
She pulled back with tears flowing down her face more than before. “Babe, it is you. I heard them pronounce you dead. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe without you. Kajaun, babe, I missed you.” She planted soft kisses all over my face. I was so lost for words, all I could do was kiss her again, and again, and again.
“Babe, I have missed you. When I tried to find you, they said you were dead. After the explosion, as I lay on the floor semiconscious, I heard them say you were DOA. I went so deep in depression, I didn’t even see the setup they had for me. Naheri paid one of his doctor friends to kill me. But instead of murdering me, she nursed me back to health. She thought she and I would be a couple. Babe, I was so messed up without . . .” She kissed me again and touched my face, chest, and head . . . anywhere on my body to make sure I was real.
“Dutch, it’s me. If this a dream, don’t wake me. Babe, I’ve been searching for over a year for our son. That’s what led me here.” I paused for a second to look her in the eyes one more time. I was in such shock I forgot about Knight and the rest of them. “Dutch, they said you died, and you’d been cremated. My whole world has been nothing. Every day, all I could do was think of you. I even have the chain we bought each other. That’s what made me come back to get it. That muthafucka killed Mona. Man, he killed my cousin like she was nothin’.” My eyes fell to the floor.
“Who killed her, Flex?”
“Naheri. He did this, and he still has Junior. I went to his estate, and it was a setup. Our own did it. You remember that li’l nigga Peanut?” I asked. I could see her mind working.
“Flex, look, I’m so happy to have you in my arms right now. I’ve missed you so much. Every day was like living in hell. When I first got—” Her emotions started to get the better of her. “When I found out that you were gone, it hurt to breathe.” She stared into my eyes once more and touched my arms. Then she rubbed my face again.
“I can’t believe this. It’s really you. Standing right in front of me! Many times during my recovery I thought you were standing there, but you weren’t. I would open my eyes, only to find out you were gone, and the hurt was far worse than any pain I have ever felt in my life. The only hurt that could equal up to that was the day my son was stolen from me.
“Flex, baby, I need to make sure you’re real. I feel you and hear you, but do you know how long I have dreamed of this day? I longed for this day like I need air in my lungs.” The smell of his favorite cologne was a welcomed invasion in her nostrils.
“Yes, Dutch, I do know what it feels like. Babe, living without you was torture. I missed that smile, your laugh, and the way your round hips would jiggle like Jell-O whenever you’re in a hurry. Or the way your nose would crinkle when you would get pissed off. I even missed your singing. I had days when I would have given anything just to hear you hit a note like you do. So, yes, I do
know what it felt like. Losing you was as if I lost my sight and I lived in darkness. I love you,” I said as I pulled her closer until there was no room in between us. Not even the air in the room could seep in the embrace we held. If I could have wrapped my body inside of her at that moment, I would have.
Time and space knew no boundaries . . . that was, until “Ayo, Flex, let’s be out. What you doing up in here? The people have been tryin’ to—” A now bigger and much-taller Knight came through the door. His eyes widened in shock as he laid eyes on Dutch. “Dutchtress, is that you?” he said stammering through his words. He cautiously walked over toward us and stared at her from head to toe as Flex held her in his arms. “Bu . . . But my people, our people, said you were dead. I mean, the whole city was on lock trying to find out where they had taken you, or shall I say, your body. I mean . . . How? When?” He touched her arm to see if she was there in the flesh. He looked at Flex, then back at her.
“Damn, nigga, what’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” I said with a slight chuckle. She still held on to me tightly. “Okay, babe, you can let go now. I won’t move.” I started laughing.
Knight was right. We couldn’t stay here. It was getting late, and we had to find that bastard before he left the island.
“Where are you staying?” I asked, anticipating the answer. I didn’t want to leave her side. I wanted to stand there forever and a day, but with Kainmen and Naheri on the loose, there was no telling when they would strike, so we had to stay a step ahead of them. “Naheri’s brother knows we’re alive, so I know he’s forming some retaliation right now. We have to find out where Naheri and Kainmen are.”
“Dutchtress, where have you been?” Knight said, still in shock.
“If there is one thing I taught you when you were coming up in your ranks, that is you never underestimate me and how far my reach extends. Not to be counted out, but be unexpected.” She gave Knight a wicked smile.
“Flex, baby, we have to leave this place, but this is where I am. I’ll be at the hotel across the way called the Knutsford. Room 520. Meet me there in an hour,” I said as my anger began to resurface. I thought about the hell I went through this past year and the hurt I suffered at the hands of those fucking brothers.
“Wait, Dutch, I can’t let you out of my sight. Please come with us, babe, please. I have to take Mona’s body and lay her to rest. And we still have this matter with Peanut to deal with. As a matter of fact, Knight, can you drive the truck and . . .” I wasn’t about to let her out of my sight. “I know you like the back of my hand, and I know you got a whip outside, so let’s do this tonight. Knight can drive Mona’s truck, and we trail him. I’m not letting you go, not now, not ever again.” A serious expression was on my face. I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I could see her looking around the bar and felt her pain when she looked toward the back office. “It’s not your fault.”
All of the glass and blood, Slynn and Brandi’s bodies lying on the floor underneath all of the debris was more motivation to do whatever was needed to get our son back and kill those two bastards and all members of their family. It was time to wipe their bloodline from the face of this earth.
Knight, who was now focused, said, “I can drive. Are we ready?”
“No, I don’t have a ri—” Dutchtress began to say until I picked up some keys off the floor.
I noticed a huge crest emblem on the key chain.
“Oh, I do now. Meet us outside in front. Knight, be careful, brutha. That means that fool is lurking about.” Knight nodded his head in agreement and rushed out the door.
Our eyes met once again, and we both smirked, almost as if we had the same thought. When love is as deep as ours, no matter how much time passes, we will forever know each other’s thoughts, moves, almost the pattern of the way each other breathes. Without spoken words, we both grabbed the unbroken liquor and started throwing the bottles everywhere. After the last drop was drenched on every piece of furniture, we walked to the front door. I turned and took one last look at Slynn and Brandi’s bodies on the floor and said a silent prayer for Mona. Without so much as a flinch, I struck my lighter, showing nothing but a high flame. Just when I was about to toss it in the room, I remembered something.
“Wait, wait a second. I forgot something,” I said and took off toward the back to Mona’s office. In a split second, I was back holding the chain in my hand. “Okay, we can bounce now.” I kissed her lips. “I couldn’t lose this—or you—again.” I struck the lighter once more and tossed it in the room. The fire started quickly, and within seconds, the room was engulfed in flames.
When we got outside, I spotted Kainmen’s 2012 Land Rover parked across the street. We jumped in and got directly in front of Mona’s truck so they could follow us. I told her the destination. I remembered it from my many visits, and I agreed it would be a perfect low-key resting place for Mona.
After an hour of driving, we arrived at Mona’s final resting spot. Vell and Knight, and even Peanut, helped get her body out of the back of the truck, and we all carried her closer to the sound of the rushing water. It was dark, so the only light shining was the full moon and the headlights of our rides.
“Sorry, my friend. Rest in heaven, Mona. Ms. Ruby, take care of her for me,” Dutch said aloud as we let her body go in the secluded part of the island.
I prayed that no matter what I have done in this life that my prayer be heard. Dutch caressed my hands as we walked back toward our rides. I lifted her hand up to my lips and kissed every finger on it. “I’m never letting you out of my sight, ever again. Once we get our son back, we will be that family,” I said kissing her hand.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
We got into the trucks and drove out of the area. I was happier than I had been in a long time. I wished this feeling could last forever, but I had to be realistic. Shit was about to get real. On the outside, I smiled, but inside, I was preparing for a battle that could end with both of us dead for real this time.
Out here, my ties were limited. When I faked my death, it was easier. After the explosion at the house, I was fucked up for real. My body was bruised internally and out. I remembered when the EMTs came into the office moving debris around me. I thought the fight was over, and I would never be able to be the father I knew Junior needed. As they moved the debris from me, someone felt for my pulse. The voice wasn’t familiar at first, but then he spoke again. I was fighting hard to move. To make them aware that I was alive and needed medical attention. Without seeing or hearing Elana, I felt that maybe death was best for me if I couldn’t help her.
Suddenly I felt hot air by my ear. “Flex, don’t worry, I got you.” Then I heard the same person say something about a DOA. I tried to move but couldn’t. I must have passed out due to my injuries ’cause it all went black.
When I finally did wake up, all I saw was darkness and smelled the odor of plastic. Then I felt the heat of light over me. I could barely open my eyes. I thought I was dead. I could feel someone touching my body, and I tried to make a loud sound, but only a soft moan escaped.
The light was causing my eyes to hurt, and I could no longer hold them slightly opened. Although there was some ringing in my ears, I heard that voice again.
“Yo, get him right. He in bad shape. I pulled him out of that explosion you been hearing about.”
“You know this dude?”
“Yeah, he helped me when I was down, and now I can pay him back. The life I used to live was never a nice one, and when I didn’t want to do bad anymore, he allowed me to leave without consequences. Just get him right.”
“Who is he?”
“It doesn’t matter who he is. Just get him right.”
I remembered that conversation like yesterday. Come to find out, it was my right-hand man back in my early days. We broke bread, robbed, killed, and hustled years before Dutch and I linked back up again. When he lost his newborn baby and girl to some shit we did, he vowed never again to pick up a gun or weapon in his li
fe. He came to me like a man, and I respected him for that. My crew didn’t like it and thought he would turn snitch on all that we did. I wouldn’t let that go down, so I sent him to school and made sure he kept his promise by never coming around him again.
I realized that he was the EMT on the scene, and he was the one who got me out of there, knowing the life I lived. When I could sit up and talk, he told me he was forever indebted to me, and he had fixed it so whoever was trying to kill me would think they had been successful. I was grateful. I knew that not everybody was cut out for the life I lived.
Chapter 39
Naheri
The vibrating cell phone on the nightstand kept going off, back-to-back, for over an hour. I picked it up. Each time the name Kainmen was displayed on the screen, I slid my finger across it to ignore the call. “Ugh,” I said as I placed the pillow over my head to block the sunlight.
I hadn’t gotten much sleep. Junior tossed and turned all night. After I murdered Mona and got into bed to get a little sleep before we left in the morning, I finally got Junior settled; then my cell kept going off. I put it on vibrate after the fifth call. There was no way I was letting the sound wake Junior up.
“Damn, what the fuck does he want?” I was way past pissed at my brother. I was out of here; I needed to find Netta. She didn’t deserve any of this. I almost threw my phone into the wall because I heard it vibrate once more. This time, I picked it up and turned it off. Then I cut it back on again because I didn’t know if Netta was trying to call me. I was in no mood to hear Kainmen’s threats or the speech on how Junior’s not my son, and he’s the reason our father was dead, blah blah blah. I didn’t have the energy to deal with him, not right now. I finally eased myself from under the cover to sit on the side of the bed. I gained my composure enough to get up and open the curtains. The sun hit my eyes immediately. I looked at the view of the ocean in amazement and peace. Then I slid the window open a little to smell and hear the ocean breeze. I took in a deep breath, just appreciating the moment.
