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

Chapter Twenty-Nine

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Run, Forest, Run

G enesis listened to ‘Will Ya,’ by Sam Cuervo, on repeat. Roman had gotten her hip to it. She heard him turn off the shower water in her bathroom as she sat in the middle of her comfy bed. Her television was on mute while she worked on a jade necklace. She bobbed her head to the music, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. She moved and grooved a bit too much, causing the pink cloth to unravel and fall off the side of the bed.

“Shit.”

She leaned over to retrieve it, pushing Roman’s overnight bag a few inches over in the process. And then, she paused when she felt it. Hard. Heavy. Metal. In that brief brush of her knuckle against the fabric of his luggage, she recalled the time when she was at his home, and the first time they’d made love. He had a gun there, too. Right in bed with them. This time, she knew why… This time, it all came together. Roman was fighting for his life. He had dark secrets that would never come to light.

No longer in the mood to keep working, she quickly picked up her tools and gems, put them away in their little color-coordinated bins, turned the music up, and grabbed a new mystery book she’d purchased from an independently owned bookshop near her place of work.

She lay on her back while Thundercat’s, ‘Durag’ played, turning the pages, sniffing them every now and again, unable to resist.

Just as the book was getting good, the bathroom door swung open. Roman stepped out from a cloud of vapor, butt-ass naked and as beautiful as a brand new day. She turned back to her book, pretending not to notice as he approached her, running a towel over his locks. He glanced at the television screen as if not paying her any attention, either.

“Ahhh!” she screamed when the bed shook violently. He’d jumped on it and quickly looped his legs around hers in some sort of wrestling move, preventing her from moving.

“Hold on!”

“What are you doing? Stop it!” She giggled as she tossed her book aside and gripped her pillow to fling at him. He ignored her half-assed pleas of mercy, and before she knew it she was in the air, and landing on her stomach. Roman had flipped her over like a pancake on a griddle—from behind. Damn, that was sexy…

She clawed at her one remaining pillow as he pushed his wet body into the thin material of her white nightgown, forcing it to bunch up along her waist. His groin flattened against the curve of her ass as he humped her. A big, warm hand rounded her throat, forcing her head upwards—eyes to the ceiling. He deposited a sweet, warm kiss to the crown of her head.

Queened.

Her eyes watered as he claimed her lips in a seductive, all-consuming, wet kiss. Erykah Badu’s, ‘Didn’t Cha Know’ blended with ‘Freak n You,’ by Jodeci, in an amazing mashup by JP On Tha Beat.

He kept his eyes trained on her as he slid her gown off her shoulders and down her body. She regarded him from over her shoulder as he tossed her lingerie onto the floor. Leveling her with his weight, the warmth of his minty breath surrounded her ear as he kissed and licked her earlobe. The wet waves of his jet-black hair were cold against her cheek. She was half ice, half fire. Dripping wet like wine from an upturned glass. The soft moist curls of his pubic hair dampened her ass, as he slowly grinded against her. Sliding up and down her body. She felt his nature rising with each hip churn and soft thrust. The skin turning from soft and long to lengthier, thick and hard.

“I need you so badly, baby,” his deep voice rumbled, vibrating through every bone, muscle and cell in her body. “I need your mind, body and soul, Genesis. I wanna possess you, and make your body feel my magic.”

“Show me a trick, baby…”

He reached beneath her, skimming her body with an urgent hand until he’d reached her special place. She shuddered when he opened her oasis, spreading her wide, dragging his fingers up and down her slick pussy folds, working her over until she was a slippery, sweet mess. Waves of ecstasy crashed within her as he worked her towards an intensifying orgasm.

“You like how I touch you, baby?”

“Yes… yes… Keep on!” She grinded against his hand, humping his fingers as he touched her in just the right way. And then she gasped… She felt him inside of her… Not his finger, but his thick, lengthy dick…

He did it so smoothly, so undetectable. She inhaled. Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened as he slammed into her. The moisture of his body caused a loud smacking noise with each forceful thrust. His fingers roamed over her pussy until she was spent. She panted in sweet agony while he enveloped her neck with kisses, fucked her hard and mercilessly, and played with her pussy as if she were a guitar. She lay in a puddle of sweat and pussy nectar, her body inching towards the headboard as she shook and pulsed. He kept fucking her harder and harder.

“Uhhh! Stay right there, baby… right there. Fuck! Your pussy is so good!”

He groaned and cursed. Yelled and screamed. She came again when she felt a slight tug to her hair. A fistful of strands in his palm, she dared to look at him, only to be met with fire dancing in his eyes.

He could do magic. He could spin the world on its axis. He could make a girl fall in love and trip over reasoning, all in a day’s work.

“Genesis… Genesis!”

She braced herself for his torrent of warmth.

He lunged inside her over and over, shuddering at each pass, until he was fully emptied. He took a few moments to catch his breath, but it wasn’t long before he had her legs over his shoulders and was pumping away again. He played with her hair, curling it around his finger as he drew her into his dark, steamy world. Each second that passed, she fell more in love with him. He quietly came inside of her as he kissed her. Then, their bodies intertwined, they flirted with falling asleep. She gave in to the temptation, and floated into the lap of softness, seduced by a dream state. She found herself awake a couple of hours later with the urge to use the bathroom.

She slipped from the bed, trying desperately to not disturb him. Roman smacked his lips, then rolled over onto his side. She entered her bathroom and quietly closed the door behind her. When she was finished relieving herself, she washed her hands and came out to find him on his back, snoring.

She slipped back into bed, getting under the sheets to ward off the slight chill in the air. Much to her surprise, he was erect again! And yet, he was asleep. Was he dreaming of a porn star? Hopefully he was dreaming of her… Curious, she flung the sheets back, exposing his standing ovation. Wanting to get a closer look.

Heavy. Long. Juicy. Her pussy and mouth craved him all over again. She practically drooled at the sight of him. Disappearing beneath the covers, she made her way down his form. She felt around until she got between his legs, then wrapped her hands around his warm shaft. She moaned in delight when the first taste of him filled her mouth. A deep groan escaped his lips as she held on, sucking him slow and easy and lavishing him with seductive attention. He awakened, whispering her name.

“…Genesis… Mmmm…”

Small, gentle thrusts into her mouth… His hips pushed forward. She held on, sucking him harder.

And then Roman began speaking in a high pitched voice that sounded just like Mickey Mouse.

Oh no… He’s not doing this right now!

“Genesis! Gosh! You sure know how to serve the best home-made sloppy toppy! Oh, boy! Hot dog!” The Mickey Mouse voice was in full effect.

She burst out laughing, holding onto him with one hand and cracking up so much she couldn’t continue the blowjob.

“Roman, stop it! You’ve ruined it!” She cackled, and he started to laugh, too.

“I’m sorrrry. Please dooon’t stop slobbin’ my knob. I like it! Ah-hyuck!”

Now she was in stitches. His Goofy impression was just as stellar.

She rested on his thigh as he went through impression after impression, causing her stomach to hurt from laughing so much. Kermit the Frog, President Obama, John F. Kennedy, Darth Vadar and more. He uttered raunchy, hilarious things, sounding just like the characters he was imitating, and she had no choice but to completely give up the mission. She crawled back up the bed and flung the sheets over her naked body.

“Goodnight, you lunatic.” She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes before turning off the nightstand lamp. “Maybe a morning BJ instead. I’m going to sleep. You’re so silly.” She laughed, then yawned.

He took her hand and kissed it. “I just love makin’ you laugh. Seeing that pretty smile of yours. Even if I lose the opportunity to bust a nut. You’re worth it.”

He wrapped his arms around her, leaned in and kissed her. Then they fell asleep, draped around each other. A human braid. Flesh. Blood. Love. One accord.

Forever Soulmates. Two sides of the same tree…

Roman gave Genesis a kiss goodbye that fine Sunday morning. The sun hadn’t come up yet, but he explained that he needed to be on his way. Had something important to tend to. When he kissed her, he was present. Completely in the moment.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her again, looking hard into those big brown eyes of hers. “Baby, I love you. I love you more than all the love songs ever written. More than all the money in the world. You’re my precious angel.”

He memorized how her skin smelled: sweet vanilla and baby powder. Her hair—like fresh strawberries from her shampoo and conditioner. He etched in his mind how her lips felt against his. Plush and pillowy. Her breasts were soft and ample. Every curve of her body he knew from a mere glance or a light touch. Her hug was consoling and warm. They’d made love that morning—a quickie right before showering together. She insisted that he at least have a cup of coffee before running off. He obliged and fought the urge to vomit the truth. It wouldn’t serve her… he had to leave.

He walked to his car, her borrowed tumbler full of hot coffee in hand, and got inside. He sat there for a moment, gathering his thoughts, looking at her apartment every so often, as if using it in some fashion to encourage him—cheer him on.

At last, he reluctantly drove away. Time was ticking. He drove and drove, her smell on him and his mind a maze. He turned on a bit of music. ‘Black Dog’ by Led Zeppelin blared through the speakers. He popped his hand against the steering wheel, rocking out. The perfect distraction.

He drove a long way, until he reached the tree made of death and lightning. Creatures of habit find what works and stick to it. Grandpa was becoming more and more unpredictable, but on Sundays, he always went to church. He kept his phone off, and gave big church offerings. These three things were true.

Roman made a final assessment, sat on an adjacent large, jagged rock, and set his duffle bag beside him. He rummaged through it, shoving a few guns aside until he saw the burner phone. He picked it up, cleared his voice, and dialed…

“Jasper.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m leavin’ service a little early this mornin’ to see what’s going on with some land I was trying to purchase. Seems there’s a competitor gettin’ in the way. I need to have words with him. See if we can come to an agreement.”

“Okay, I can be at the church in—”

“No, no. I need you to stay at the house. Send three of the guys to meet me out at The Big Thicket National Preserve. Tell ’em to not ask any questions or blow up my phone. I don’t want him to get paranoid. Then meet me at the start of the Elk Trail. I just want backup in case negotiations don’t go smoothly.”

“Got it.”

Roman disconnected the call, stood to his feet, and placed his hands on his hips. He enjoyed imitating his grandfather and had done so many times behind the old buzzard’s back since he was a kid. Daddy laughed like a loon when he’d first imitated him many years ago and told him he sounded just like him. That was all the encouragement he needed. A badge of honor. This had been rather easy to pull off, seeing as how he was able to spoof Grandpa’s number on the untraceable number with no issue whatsoever. He surveyed the land around him, then began to set up shop. After he placed the equipment, speakers and whatnot where he needed them, he disrobed. Once he was in his underwear, he pulled out his Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) from his bag that he’d worn during training a long time ago.

Time for war…

Grabbing two serrated hunting knives, a Glock 19M, and a 12 gauge shotgun, along with a shitload of artillery, he headed to the tree of life and death. Birth-marked by lightning. He patted the side where the bolt had struck, leaned in, and kissed it.

“You remember me, old buddy? I’m back once again.”

Covering the carrier with brush, grass and twigs, he settled behind the tree that he’d known since he was a child. They sat together, like old friends. Another game of waiting. Another game of Hide and Seek. Only this time, he was neither running nor lost. He knew exactly where he was and what he wanted, and he was standing tall, like the tree…

Grandpa read a strange text from Roman.

The boy wasn’t right in the head. But he’d checked his account again that morning and smiled at the money growing interest in record time. Roman was also a financial wizard. A miracle worker. No way could that sort of skill go unnoticed and not be put to good use. He read the text again:

Contract in hand. Meet me at the Promise Land. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and some can’t see the forest for the trees—The Book of Black Sheep. Romans 17th chapter. 21st verse.

Grandpa didn’t bother writing back, figuring it was a set up to get into some verbal sparring match, or for Roman to find a slick way to regain his lost power. Stupid riddles. Stupid games. Roman was a bit of a sore loser, and competitive to his twisted, foolish core… He smirked as he recalled his grandson as a teenager, throwin’ a fit after losing a basketball game in high school.

I won’t give him the satisfaction of a response. He’s trying to play head games, like the mind fucker that he is. Slick weasel. Not taking the bait.

With a sigh, he placed his golf club down, took a seat near their clubhouse, and cracked open an ice cold bottle of seltzer water. It had been at least four months since he’d last gone golfing, but it felt good to return to something he enjoyed after a hiatus, especially after church service. Reverend Avery had gone on a long-winded tangent, and he was rather tired after a night of tossing and turning.

In the distance, he spotted the detective approaching, who he’d invited to join him for a match. They’d start their game soon. Detective John Garrison shook his hand, then sat beside him, patting sweat from his brow as the sun stung their faces with a searing, heated kiss.

“It’s hot as Hades today, ’spose to cool down I thought,” Detective Garrison stated as he grabbed a bottle of water from the golf cart and opened it.

“Oh, it’s just how it is here in Houston. I’m used to it.” Grandpa glared at the sun, daring it to get a degree hotter. “Texas heat is a special kind, indeed.” No match for the heat between me and Tina. “How long you think she’s been gone?” He took a gulp of the refreshment.

“’Bout three weeks or so from what I gather. I have her family’s phones tapped, but no mention of her callin’. If they’re communicating, they must be using encrypted emails or snail mail.” The man took a hard gulp of his water and looked around as if he were waiting for someone. “They appeared to be telling the truth though. Didn’t seem to know where Tina was when I questioned them, and there’s been no obvious contact that I can gather.”

“And how sure are you that it was in fact her livin’ in New Mexico?”

“Oh, on a scale of one to ten, I’m giving it an eight.”

“No photos?”

“Nope. Just descriptions… I showed them the age progression photos at the condominium office. Everything else lines up. Seems she left in a hurry. Packs light. Wipes everything clean. She’s an expert at disappearing by now. This is what she does. When she gets suspicious, she takes off. She’s gettin’ older now, though. She’s going to slip up, be careless. Slowin’ down. Her time is almost up.”

“Her time was up a long time ago.” He took another sip of his water.

“We’ll get her. Don’t worry. I’m going inside to use the restroom.” Garrison patted his shoulder like an old crony, got to his feet, then headed towards the clubhouse.

Grandpa Wilde sat there looking out towards the golf course, with its perfectly cut grass and beauty.

Everyone wants to play games it seems lately. Roman is toying with me. I’m about to play golf. This is a game to you, ain’t it, Tina? He chugged the rest of his water, then crushed the bottle in his hand. This is Hide and Go Seek, right? I’ll eventually beat you at it. I don’t mind doing the chasing. You hide well, but not well enough. I’m a damn good hunter. You stole from me… What, you may ask? You took my heart and ran off with it. At first, I was just kinda sad about it. I understood that we had hit a rough patch, and things had gotten rocky, but that’s no reason to turn your back on me. Lovers fight. Besides, you knew what I’d been through, and every hoop I’d jumped through to get you, make you mine… I gave you everything, woman.

My heart and my soul. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe I spoiled you too much, and you no longer respected me. I don’t know—I don’t have all the answers, but you best believe you’re going to give them to me soon enough. Now, I’m not sad anymore. That emotion has come and gone. I’m a hundred percent pissed. I’m split between wanting to kiss you as soon as I find your ass, and wanting to shoot you in the fuckin’ feet for running away to ensure you never do it again…

Each day that passes, the madder I get. You better hope that I find you before we’re at the point of no return. As long as I still have love for you, I won’t kill you on sight.

He stood up, walked over to the clubhouse, and tossed the empty bottle in a trashcan…

Roman could see what felt like the entire forest from this vantage point. He was posted high up in the trees, looking through the spaces between the long, twisting branches. A coolness skated across his teeth from the slow but hearty wind as he smiled in wonder. He turned his head just so, tuning in to the sound of a vehicle slowly approaching the all but forgotten Elk Trail in the distance as he sat perched and waiting in the obscurities forming a crown of twigs and misshapen branches. A car door opened, then closed… then another…

The light chatter of men could be heard, their shoes smashing twigs and disrupting the grassy path. Roman’s heart played an off-key tune and the sound of drums thumped in his ears. He salivated as his body heated with sweet anticipation. He could not see them just yet…

A man yelled out, “Sir, we’re here! It’s me, Huey. Ted and Josiah are here, too.”

These men weren’t any kin to Roman but simply hired hands. Inferior products. Human acts of desperation on Grandpa’s part. Filler. Something Grandpa used to be opposed to, but it seemed he’d given in to hiring outside blood once he realized utilizing his own lineage for every damn thing wasn’t to his advantage at this stage in the game. There had to be guinea pigs and front liners. He’d learned that the hard way after fucking around with Lennox.

Roman raised his rifle in the air and aimed. The trees gathered light and shadows, and the birds flew away. A man emerged from the darkness of the trees, then another right beside him. They called out for Grandpa once again. Then a third looked at his phone. They were so close…

“He ain’t here. I’m gonna call him,” one said.

“Gotdamnit. I hate being out here… It’s fuckin’ creepy. If he’s buying land, why would he come here ? Who in the hell buys a forest?”

“Hell, the whole world was a forest at one point. He might be. Anyway, he’s not here, so he might be in another location. Didn’t Jasper say come to this spot? Elk?” another stated.

“Yeah. I think—” BANG!!

“AHHHH!!!” Bullets filled the air like a hailstorm. Roman’s arms burned like fire as he reloaded and shot again. BANG!! A man tumbled like prey, lying on a bed of leaves. Stuck in one spot as blood poured from his chest. The other two scattered like roaches, firing their guns all over the place, shooting at an invisible opponent. Roman blinked one eye, focused as he looked through the scope… BANG! BANG!!!

Another hit the ground, while the first one lay bloodied, now trying to crawl away. Slowly he moved… like a pathetic snail. He heard the third scamper away, leaving the other two soaking in their own bloody juices. Roman quickly climbed down the tree and hit the ground, giving chase. He was running on pure adrenaline. Pure revenge. Pure hatred. The same motherfuckers that stole my journal that the old fucker used to blackmail and extort me… the same motherfuckers that have helped the old man continue destroyin’ this family… You took my daddy’s voice? I’m gonna take your lives. Y’all gone learn today. If you ain’t a Wilde, you can’t pretend to be one. Here’s a message ol’ Grandpa will understand…

He raced like greased lightning through the brush, the branches whipping past his arms, sharp blades of grass grabbing at his ankles. Every bone in his body reminded him that he belonged there—that it was his forest, and these were trespassers. He heard the engine of the vehicle starting. The motherfucker was taking off—but then, he noticed the droplets of blood in the dirt, and on several rocks…

He ducked down behind a tree, and as the truck sped past, he managed to shoot two of the tires. A burst of air was heard instantaneously. The man kept driving, though he slowed down quite a bit after the blowout. Roman glanced at the two men on the ground about twenty feet away. One was clearly dead. The other barely hung on, clinging to the stomp of a tree. Clinging to life. They made eye contact. Roman winked at him, then aimed his gun…

“No… no, please!”

BANG!

…A bullet to the head.

He got in his car and gave chase to the one getting away. “IT AIN’T NO FUN, WHEN THE BLACK SHEEP HAS THE GUN!”

He didn’t have to go far. The bastard had been hit in the arm from gunfire and lost control of his truck, now in a ditch, turned on its side. Wheels spinning. Roman approached the wreckage and looked into the busted driver’s side window. Glass was everywhere, sparkling like tiny diamonds splattered with red wine. The sounds of Five Finger Death Punch, ‘Wash It All Away,’ played from the truck’s radio. The guy inside was breathing erratically, his eyes hooded. His shirt sleeve was soaked in blood.

“…Why?” the man managed to utter.

“You’ve been playing a dangerous game. I know that you know who I am. I saw you at the restaurant. That was your first and only warning. Now, here you are again. You are aware your boss is huntin’ down his own kin, his seven grandsons, flesh of his flesh, and you still signed up for this. You’re so blinded by greed, the money he’s payin’ you, that you follow orders like a dog.” Roman looked around. The birds had flown away. “There’s another reason. It’s the only way the old man learns. You have to take somethin’ away from him, or he’ll take you for a fool. Gotta take somethin’ he wants. Something he sees as fit to be used. He doesn’t see you as human—only a tool. A means to an end. You’re a sheep. He’s led you to slaughter, and now, you both gotta pay.”

Roman aimed his gun, blasted the man twice in the heart, and walked off the path, back into the forest…

“I said what ?! I said no such thing. What do you mean, ‘What am I doing here?’” Grandpa handed his driver his golf clubs as Jasper stood in the parlor of his home, dumbfounded. Surely this was a prank, some practical joke.

Jasper appeared as if he’d seen a ghost. “So, you didn’t call me from church and ask me to send a few of the guys to meet you at The Big Thicket National Preserve? The Elk Trail?”

“No! I left to golf after church service was over and met up with the detective I told you I’ve been speakin’ to for a little golf game to blow off some steam. Why in the hell would I want to meet in the gotdamn forest?” Grandpa grimaced. And then, his blood froze in his body…

The text message… The damn weird ass text message from Roman about the woods!

“But I heard you, Cyrus! It was your voice. It was your number, too.”

“I didn’t call you—that was Roman! We have to go to The Big Thicket National Preserve right fucking now!”

Jasper snatched his phone from pocket and began making calls.

“Shit. None of ’em are answerin’ the phones!”

Jasper grabbed his rifle and snapped his fingers at Grandpa’s driver. Grandpa then raced to his study, grabbed a few things, including another pistol, and headed out the door…