The Black Sheep, Part 2: Greed (The Seven Deadly Kins #4)

Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

A Telephone Call and a Phoenix

I t was a gorgeous day. A cool nip danced in the air, the trees swayed back and forth, and only a few clouds dotted the sky. Clad in scrubs, Genesis sat with her legs folded beneath her on an old wooden bench outside the dentist’s office in the back, with the word ‘Cock’ etched in it. Folks seldom ventured here, an area populated by two green dumpsters, a few cars, and the back of a daycare center in the far distance. She’d just completed three cleanings and helped calm a hysterical seven-year-old boy with big brown eyes, who believed—thanks to his eldest brother—that getting his newly discovered cavities filled would involve an actual construction drill, and a bucket of cement.

The chicken nuggets and diet Pepsi settled in her tummy as she strung one golden bead along another, working diligently to finish a seven bracelet order for some bridesmaids. She’d just gotten a much needed and deserved raise at work, too. With the extra income she was making, she was able to put a good portion of it aside for savings and investments, a percentage for inventory to build her new one-woman business, and she’d even begun tossing around the idea of going house hunting in the near future. Something small and cute, with a nice, fenced yard in case she decided to get a dog and have cookouts.

Her phone buzzed, and she answered it on the third ring.

“I thought you were in a meeting, baby,” she answered, a smile on her face. “I didn’t expect an afternoon chat today, Roman.”

“I am, but we broke for lunch and I wanted to take a couple of minutes to see how your day was goin’.”

She loved this man’s deep, sexy voice. She loved how he treated her… She loved how he allowed her to be herself, with no explanations or judgments.

“It’s not sizin’ up too bad. Can’t complain. I’m just outside enjoying some fresh air and putting together some jewelry. How ’bout you?”

“Well, I have back-to-back meetings and whatnot all week, but that’s okay I suppose. As long as I get to see my baby this weekend.” She smiled at that. “You miss me?”

“Of course I do! Oh, and I almost forgot. Rosie said she has her eye on you, but you’ve passed phase two.” She threaded another bead on the golden string, knowing that she was poking the bear. Sometimes it was fun to see Roman get agitated. He always did it in a comedic way, and she was here for it.

“Now what in the apple tree-pickin’ hell is phase two? Am I in some damn video game?”

“Phase two is the background check.”

“A background check? Well, don’t this beat all! Why don’t I look her up, too ?! Go all the way back to the third grade when she stole a piece of bubblegum!”

“Roman.” She paused, squelching the desire to laugh as he got his own dander up. “A background check is customary. I usually do it with all the guys I date, but you were a friend of Tony’s for so long, I didn’t bother. I probably should’ve anyway,” she said with a smirk.

“The worst things about me ain’t documented, and I already told you my dirty deeds and filthy secrets, anyway. Well, most of ’em. You know, Nosy Rosie has a lotta fuckin’ nerve. Is she gonna have someone following me next?”

“She probably would if she could afford it.”

“Well, tell her to send me the bill, so she can get a thrill of a lifetime! Have ’em start checkin’ on me in the public bathroom at the movie theater to see if that sex change rumor about me is true.”

She cackled from the depths of her soul. During Tony’s impromptu visit at her apartment when he was licking his Penny-coated wounds, her brother had stated that one night Roman had gotten into a bar fight with another Marine who was tellin’ folks that Roman was too pretty to be a biological man and had a sex change.

“Did she catch me removin’ my prosthetic penis and my spectacular set of big, bouncy balls? The craftsmanship is impeccable.”

“I can vouch for that.” She was all hot in the face now, her voice catching in her throat as he gave her the show of a lifetime.

“They’re suctioned on with a damn plastic cup, and clamped down with a clothespin for extra security, and when you squeeze the left one, it plays, ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’. When you squeeze the right one, it plays, ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ by Jerry Lee motherfuckin’ Lewis! Go run and tell your little Ring around the Rosie friend that !”

She burst out laughing so hard, her stomach hurt. Her entire body vibrated as she fought to catch her breath. Finally, she managed to respond to the man’s antics.

“I know Rosie can be a bit much. She is insane, and evidently, so are you based on this episode you just had with me on the phone. Nevertheless, she really is a great person.”

“I’m sure she is.” He didn’t sound convinced. “’Bout as great as a zombie apocalypse, where the livin’ dead can only be killed if you recite the Kawishana alphabet backwards while wearin’ a five pound sombrero from Tepoztlán, Mexico, and twerkin’.”

“I can’t stand you!” She howled with laughter. “Oh boy.” She held her stomach and tried to settle down, feeling the heat all along her face from laughing way too much. “Roman, why are you like this?!”

“I don’t know.” His tone was filled with mirth. “I don’t mind you laughin’ at my expense, but I’ve spoken to Rosie about her concerns. I understand her, but she is free to ask me questions versus snoopin’ around. That was a waste of time, money, and energy. Anyway, I wanna talk to you about something, honey, but it’ll be better face to face.” Suddenly, he sounded rather serious.

“Is something wrong?” She sat up straight and placed her beads down.

“It’s not somethin’ you discuss on the phone. And it doesn’t have anything to do with us, so please just relax.”

“Why’d you even bring it up then if you’re not going to tell me now? I don’t want to wait until this weekend to—”

“Okay… you’re right. Please swing by later tonight, if that’s okay. ’Round 9:30?”

“…Yes. I’ll be there.”

“Good. I love you, Gen. I gotta go.”

“I love…” He ended the call before she could fully respond.

The night air was sweet. Roman glanced at his watch, knowing he had to leave his office soon and meet Genesis at his place. He’d given her the key to get in for times like this, but he didn’t want her there by herself for too long. Phoenix sat back on his motorcycle under the lights of the empty parking lot that spanned the tall buildings. His cousin’s straight dark brown hair waved in the breeze, and the large lion ring on his finger sparkled. Phoenix was the perfect combination between preppy and hippy. He looked easy going, but had a temper on him like one wouldn’t believe. He had the perfect beard—silky, dark and thick in all the right places. Perfectly trimmed. His face was angular, his cheekbones prominent, and his eyes a glimmering light gray, slightly slanted like a cat’s.

“It’s only a matter of time,” Phoenix cut into their momentary silence. “So, if Uncle Reeves wrote that, then you know what it means.”

“Yeah… I do. I know you worked for Grandpa for a short period of time, then bailed. Was just tryna pick your brain a bit.”

Phoenix shrugged. “He’s a maniac. Deranged.”

“That ain’t no new information. Stevie Wonder can see Grandpa is crazy as can be.” He laughed dismally, then pulled out a letter from his pocket.

“What’s that? Your contract?”

“Naw. It’s an email from my father. I printed it out.” They both stared at one another, not saying anything.

“When did you get it?”

“Yesterday. It kinda makes some things clear, but on the other hand, it makes things worse.”

“I gotta go visit Uncle Reeves. He’s a real one. One of the few that stood up to the old man.”

Roman nodded in agreement, turned on the flashlight on his phone so he could see better, and unfolded the letter…

Roman,

I get released from this hospital next week. I have to go into a rehabilitation center, then I’ll be back in that hellhole prison. I spoke to the lawyer, well, not spoke obviously, but emailed the lawyer that you recommended to me. He can help you, he said, but just you, because he is only licensed in Texas. He recommended someone else to me who practices in Louisiana. Hopefully, it’ll help me with getting out of here sooner. I promise you that if I survive this shit, I’m never coming back to prison, son. I can’t afford to.

I had to have another surgery the other day. My lungs had started filling up with water, and I was bleeding. I believe your mama told you. I don’t know how much time I have left, so I am giving you a gift. Roman, I’ve never told anyone what I’m about to tell you. This email is comin’ from a private server. Another inmate showed me how to do it, so the staff here can’t read or see it. Something about encryption, too. Not sure how that works, but you should know. After you read this email, tear it up and throw it away.”

He paused, glanced at his cousin who was hanging onto his every word, then continued.

“You told me that your grandfather, my son of a bitch father, has the goods on you. Your journal. He obtained it illegally, but that’s beside the point. The law turns a blind eye to my daddy. They always have. They always will.

Police may let him get away with murder but we, his ostracized sons and grandsons, do not. I have something I have always kept as a sort of ‘get out of jail free card.’ What I mean is: I have something from your grandfather that could shut him down. I always figured that if he came after me, or tried to threaten me into doing some shit, I could use this to make him back off. It’s a silver bullet for a wolf. If nothing else, it could buy you some time. At least for a little while. You need help. The police won’t help you. Most of the cops are crooked around those parts, and accept bribes, but there are a few good guys left, like Officer Newton and Lieutenant Marshall.

They always treated me fairly, even when I was out shooting my gun and behaving in a disorderly way. Anyway, I hid it inside of there when y’all was just babies. My father don’t play fair. You need something to even the scales. I am not going to put in this letter what it is, but I will tell you where to find it.

The back bedroom, under the floorboard towards the closet. I’ll be more specific later. You cannot tell your mama what you’re doing. Not because I care about her knowing, but because of that husband of hers. My daddy may have bought him too, for all I know. Whatever you do, don’t try to get the item while her husband is home, in a house that I bought. FUCK HIM. I don’t know the man like that—and he may squeal and fuck everything up. I don’t trust him. He was a crooked bail bondsman, and now he’s a crooked jail house officer. That bastard stole my wife. I hope he rots in hell.

“He ain’t steal your mama. They was already divorced.” Phoenix chuckled. “Uncle Reeves is somethin’.”

“I know. He still loves her though.”

Phoenix twirled his cigarette around between his fingers, two of them caked in dirt from a car he said he’d been working on earlier that evening. I thought he’d stopped smoking.

“I can understand that… Lettin’ a good woman go is something not everyone can just get over,” he stated solemnly, then tapped ashes onto the asphalt. “Is that all to the letter?”

“There’s a bit more.”

Just be discreet about it. Don’t tell your brothers, either. When you get the item, I want you to review it and then call me when time permits. Obviously I won’t be able to respond back to you. I just want you to tell me if you found it or not. I love you. One day I hope to talk to you again soon. I took my voice for granted. I used it to curse out people, hurt my children and my wife with verbal cruelty. Now, I just want the chance to tell my boys that I love them again and not have them only read it in an email.

Love,

Daddy

Roman folded the letter and placed it back inside his jacket pocket. Phoenix tossed the butt of the cigarette down and stomped it with his black boot.

“So, I imagine that you’re reading me this confidential letter because you need my help in some fashion?”

“Yup, that and I missed you, and I know you can keep a secret. You’ve never betrayed me.”

“And I won’t ever betray you. Listen to me. My advice is to do exactly what your father says. No deviations. You say Grandpa has your journal?” He shrugged. “Well, you definitely need some leverage. He’s playin’ dirty, so you gotta get filthy.”

Roman nodded in agreement. “I spoke with Kage and Lennox, knocked around some things. Garnered some ideas. Now, I’m speakin’ to you . I have a plan. Just giving it the final touches. Depending on what this is that my father is talking about, I may have to revamp that plan accordingly.”

“You’d better. Never go against him without thinking it through, and having a back-up in case something goes wrong. That’s how I was able to quit working for him fairly unscathed. I worked it out well in advance. Now he wants me back, unfortunately, and I have to go through this shit all over again—only this time, it’s ten times worse because he has a point to prove.”

“Everything is a magic trick or an illusion when it comes to our grandfather. Appearances. How things look… What’s seen with the naked eye. I might need you to be an extra set of eyes and ears during the final curtain call, too, Phoenix. You worked directly with him at one point, and I need some more answers.”

“Shoot.”

“Do you remember Grandpa’s national banking information?” Roman crossed his arms.

“Of course I do.” His cousin lifted his chin and glared at him as if he were semi-insulted.

“Do you recall Grandpa’s contacts for some of his overseas accounts? The ones he likes to use for his money laundering in particular?”

“You don’t even have to ask. I was in there like swimwear. He kept me close. He trusted me.”

“Perfect. Let’s meet for lunch tomorrow. The steakhouse near your home. I know you’re not hurtin’ for cash, but it’ll be my treat. Time for a business meetin’ amongst thieves, saints, and cousins.”

“You’ve got it.”

They bumped fists, then embraced one another tight. He could feel Phoenix’s heartbeat beneath his open leather jacket. It wasn’t fear, but anger. Even that old man’s name caused Phoenix to practically taste blood. Of that, he was certain.

Roman glanced down at his watch, then unlocked his car that they were standing by.

“Hey, my girlfriend is on her way to my place. I gotta go. I know you’re in the middle of something right now anyway, too. Thank you for meeting me here on such short notice.”

“Not a problem. Roman, you be careful, ya hear? Watch your back.” Phoenix pointed at him. “If he’s willin’ to hurt his own son to spite his grandchild, then there is nothin’ that he won’t do to make you squirm and beg for mercy. The devil don’t take no naps, sick days or vacations, sir. He’s always on fire, so you gotta drown his ass with the flood of a billion tears pourin’ from the icy eyes of fierce and fed-up angels.” Phoenix winked at him, then waved.

“Rub a fuckin’ dub… there’s an old man in a tub… Duly noted.”

He opened his car door and slid into the driver’s seat while the motorcycle engine roared. By the time he’d collected his next thoughts, Phoenix was flying like a bird, his rock music loud and his long hair blowing in the wind…