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

Chapter Thirty

CHAPTER THIRTY

Wedding Dresses and Combat Boots

T he wedding shop hostess stepped away to answer the phone. Genesis stood in the ‘I Do’ bridal shop that smelled like cinnamon and sage, trying on various wedding gowns, accessories and veils. She took a deep breath, struggling to fill her lungs with much needed oxygen due to her girdle being a wee bit too tight. Despite her slight discomfort, she was on cloud nine and even suffocating shape wear couldn’t dampen her mood. It felt like everything around her was glowing in the same way that she was, and she marveled at the beautiful store swathed in shades of pink and white. Pearls, rhinestones, diamonds and gold were featured in the paintings on the walls, and a platter of vanilla and strawberry macaroons awaited them, sitting along off to the side with a couple of fresh red roses as accents.

She felt rather important. This place accepted clients by appointment only, and it often took months to get a reservation. But Roman had pulled some strings—he had friends in high places—and here she was.

Roman had been adamant that she get whatever gown she wanted from the shop, no matter the price. Regardless, Genesis was frugal by nature. She still wished to find something beautiful, elegant and stunning, that fit her style, but didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Besides, she’d only wear it one time. Standing under the bright, sparkly chandelier, she felt like an empress. This is so pretty… it fits me like a glove. Look at this stitching and detail. To die for…

It was a simple dress but flowed like a dream. She slowly swayed from left to right, admiring her image from all angles. Her mother and best friend gushed over her and complimented the way she looked while she stood in front of a large floor-to-ceiling mirror. The sounds of ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You,’ by Kem, played softly throughout the space, making her feel sentimental and sore with love for her man. Her thoughts abruptly ended when she heard a door slam.

Her sister-in-law, Penny, returned from the restroom, cleared her throat, and sat down, tossing her body in her chair like some bean bag. Bouncy reddish brown curls danced on her head, and she smacked her teeth, looking around as if she were being inconvenienced in some way. Then, the ogre of a woman placed her little expensive beige purse on her lap like a bird needing to perch. Long, bright red stiletto nails tapped impatiently on the Louis Vuitton bag.

Genesis observed Penny from her reflection in the mirror, her irritation at the woman growing by the second. Penny hadn’t even said a word. Frankly, she didn’t need to. The way she sucked joy from a room should have been illegal. Finally, they locked eyes. Penny seemed surprised that Genesis was looking at her—all with the way her lips parted, and she blinked several times to then suddenly turn away.

“Have they offered either of y’all anything to drink?” She shot a look at Mama and Rosie, but didn’t wait for a reply before continuing. “Usually, they offer somethin’ to drink.”

“What do you mean usually , Penny? How many times have you been married?” Rosie asked, attitude dripping from each syllable she spoke.

“I’ve been the Maid and Matron of Honor at plenty of weddings.” Penny sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes, as if it should’ve been obvious. She made a sour face. “And let’s not take potshots at marriages. You have no room to talk.”

“Lady, if I wanted to take a potshot at your marriage, I would. It would have been cut and dry, no passive aggressiveness needed. I wondered how many of these bridal stores you’ve been to, because you tried to pass yourself off as some expert.”

“I didn’t say I was an expert. You just want to argue. Argue with your mama.”

Genesis felt her soul cave in… Rosie’s eyes bucked. Mama lowered her head and shook it. Penny, why in the hell did you say that?! It’s time for hurricane…

“I’d prefer to argue with your mama, but she’s too busy spendin’ your estranged husband’s money, with her broke ass, at another casino. Whore ass Mooch.”

“You had—”

“Shut up. I’m still talkin’, Ms. Rich by Proxy. You got some nerve tryna be slick with that tongue. Sittin’ over there lookin’ like a deranged Tisha Campbell. Put your money where your mouth is. Oh, that’s right, you can’t because you ain’t worked a day in your life.”

“You’re just jealous. Go to hell, Rosie.”

“I will as soon as you jump off a cliff, wit’ yo’ funny lookin’ ass. Jealous of what ?! You’re not cute, you’re not smart, and you have a bad attitude! Just a gold-digging cardboard-box-Rubik’s Cube built bitch!”

“Rosie. Stop it,” Mama snapped.

The two women drew quiet, rolling their eyes at one another. After a few moments, Penny went back to the original conversation.

“How in the world do these folks serve people cookies, but have nothing to wash them down with? How ghetto,” Paula said in a hushed tone. “My throat is dry.”

“It’s probably dry from you talkin’ a bunch of smack all damn day, complainin’ like you’re getting paid for it and acting put off, as if we’re taking up your time.”

“You can always leave if you don’t want to hear what I have to say!”

“Leave?! I’m the best friend. You better call 877-Cash-Now, and tell them, ‘It’s my husband’s money, and I need it now!’ , Ms. J.G. Wentworth! Don’t you have a bank account to raid or some credit cards to run up? If it ain’t some money, it’s some cookies and water. Greedy ass. What blows me, heffa, is yo’ ass wasn’t even invited,” Rosie snapped.

“Ladies, ladies!” Mama threw up her hands and tsked. “Rosie and Penny, that’s enough! I mean it. Come on. Not today. Let Genesis enjoy this in peace.”

Rosie sighed, flopped back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

Despite Penny’s negative energy—and Genesis never particularly liking her sister-in-law—a part of Genesis couldn’t help but feel a tad bit sorry for her. Tony had found out about more financial damage the woman had done: they owed a shit ton in debt, and she’d been hiding it well up until the night Tony discovered her most recent dirty deed. Her mother apparently had a gambling problem, and Penny was a bit of a hoarder when it came to high-end makeup, clothing, and purses. Genesis couldn’t bring herself to completely hate the lady. Penny was obviously trying to fill a void of some sort, and Tony wasn’t always the best conversationalist when it came to emotional discussions. Tony worked all the time, and she was beginning to suspect that Penny felt lonely.

She was the mother of her nieces and nephew, for God’s sake, and she and Penny, though not terribly close or on the best of terms, did have good moments every blue moon. But Rosie was right. She hadn’t been invited… Penny had found out that Genesis was going to try on dresses from her mother, thanks to a slip of the tongue, and being a bit of a fashion buff, she invited herself, stating that she could help a great deal.

Genesis was ready to refuse once she found out, but Mama pleaded with her to allow the lady to come—throw her a bone. Tony had moved out into his own apartment about twenty minutes away and was having visitation with the children every week. Genesis was no fool—their marriage had been in serious trouble apparently even before this latest blowup regarding the missing money, unauthorized loans, forged checks, and reckless spending.

From her understanding, they were finally starting marriage counseling, but it didn’t seem Tony’s heart was in it any longer. He said he was tired of her manipulation and lies. According to him, Penny resisted the idea of taking accountability. He also expressed concerns that if he divorced her, instead of trying to make their marriage work, she’d get half of everything he’d worked so hard to build, not including the alimony and child support he’d have to shell out.

I bet he wishes he would have listened to me now, when I warned him about marrying her a long time ago. He should’ve gotten a prenup, too. Things had gone from bad to worse. I still hope that they can work it out.

“You look just beautiful! So, how’s everything going, Genesis?” The hostess returned, a big smile on her face. “Would you like to try on another gown?”

“Yes, I have a couple more picked out, actually. I hung them up in the back.” She pointed towards the dressing room area.

“Perfect!” The chipper woman dressed in all red clasped her hands together. “I have another veil that would look lovely with this gown, too. Maybe you can get the total look, so you can better decide, and then try on the others.”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Cool. I’m going to get that veil and have you try it on. Be right back.” The woman was all smiles. Genesis couldn’t blame her. This dress wasn’t anywhere near cheap.

“Oh, before you go, can we have some water? I believe my family is thirsty.”

“Destiny didn’t bring you bottled water?” The woman looked completely flabbergasted, throwing her assistant under the bus. “Oh, I am so sorry. I asked her to do that a long time ago. I will get right on it.”

“Thank you, we appreciate that.” Genesis turned back to her reflection, butterflies fluttering away in her stomach. Excitement. Nervousness. In love beyond the depths of the word itself… And then, that sinking feeling returned. The same one she’d felt when she watched Roman leave her apartment earlier that morning at damn near the crack of dawn. She could see in his eyes that he wasn’t completely there. His mind was somewhere else, dispersed like fallen tree leaves along the wilderness floor.

Broken thoughts scattered like salt and pepper shakers cast all over a room, and smashing into the wall. The gun in his bag had proved he had something planned alright, and her jaw clenched as she tensed just thinking about it. So many ‘what ifs.’ He’d maneuvered past her questions and curiosity, but she knew in her heart that pushing the issue for some sort of confession would only force him to lie to her.

It doesn’t have anything to do with me. This is all about him. He was doing so well, too, letting me in, dropping his defenses, and now I feel like we’ve taken a step backwards. And what about his cousin who was drivin’ past my apartment, and then parked across the street? Ms. Charlie told me all about it a few weeks ago… Roman is concerned for my safety, despite the reassurances he tried to give me, and there’s no doubt that he’s up to something. What if that something ends his life?

“Hold on one second, please.” She raised her finger and dashed into the dressing area, trying to appear as normal as possible, but everything became a watery blur as tears creased her eyes. I may not even get down the damn aisle to marry him… She blotted her eyes with the back of her hand, grabbed her phone from her purse and got ready to send that man a text message, demanding to know his whereabouts, but before she could type it, she realized that he’d recently sent her a rather lengthy text message himself while she’d been in the shop trying on dresses. He never wrote long text messages.

This is going to be a doozy… She closed her eyes and braced herself. Then, she read it:

Genesis, I’m sorry about leaving so early this morning. What’s done in the dark must come out in the light. YOU are my light. Because we’re so connected, I know you can feel when I’m happy and when I’m not. I could sense you knew I wasn’t happy as I was leaving this morning, baby, but it’s not you.

I have something to take care of today. All I can ask is that you trust me to do the right thing as I see fit. Trust me to be your husband, and the father to our future children. Trust me to be a provider, defender, and your best friend.

What I’m doing today helps solidify that you are safeguarded and secure. No looking over our shoulders. First it was my country, now it is YOU that I protect and serve. Trust that you can trust me—today and tomorrow. I want you to have an amazing day and I hope you find the perfect dress to wear for our wedding. I can’t wait to marry you, Gen.

I won’t let anything stop us. Before you, all I had was a love for superficial things. With you, I appreciate the little things in life, and the things that are so expensive, there is no amount of money that can ever buy them. Like true love. Like you. You’re the genesis of my new awakening. My beginning and my ending. I love you with all my heart. I will see you soon. Look pretty for me, baby.—Your Roman soldier

She mustered a smile and dabbed her tears away. When she emerged from the dressing room, she was ready to try on that new veil…

Roman twirled the sliver of twig between his back teeth, working it like a toothpick. Grandpa arrived in a black Tahoe. The windows were tinted, but he knew it was him. Besides, no one traveled through this area of the forest. It was remote, overgrown, and full of vermin. The Elk Trail had been long forgotten. The truck was moving at a fast clip towards him, and then abruptly stopped. The driver’s side door swung open, revealing one of Grandpa’s white-gloved drivers, who in turn opened the old man’s passenger side door and waited off to the side like a butler. He and Jasper emerged from the vehicle, their faces pale and lifeless. Grandpa walked cautiously, as if the ground were littered with landmines, a cigar in one hand. He paused at one dead body, cocking his head to the side as he reviewed it, then moved towards another. His face became tight as he smashed the cigar between his palms, extinguishing it with a loud grunt.

“ROOOOMAN!” he yelled, making the birds fly in all different directions. The man’s head spun from side to side, trying to figure out his whereabouts.

Roman stayed high up in the tree, leaning against a cluster of thick branches, staring down at Satan and his henchman. That twig still twirling in his mouth. He slipped his hand in his camo pants pocket, removed a remote control, and pushed PLAY.

All around the forest could be heard the sobs of a young boy from years ago…

Grandpa’s face twisted and contorted, looking rather confused. His movements were jerky, as if trying to see where the sound was coming from. He twirled around, seemingly becoming more agitated by the second. Haunted by the ghosts of his own blood.

“If you’re going to try to kill me, then just do it!” the old man yelled, gripping his gun and raising it in the air. The driver quickly got back in the vehicle, slamming the door behind him. Jasper approached Grandpa, cautious, and tapped his shoulder. Grandpa leaned in to hear whatever it was that the man wished to say, and then they both remained quiet, staring into nothingness. The men suddenly jerked when a loud click sounded in the air. Between two trees hung a large projection screen. On the monitor was young Reeves, out hunting with his father.

“SHOOT HIM!” came Grandpa’s voice from the video.

“I don’t wanna, Daddy! PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME!” Young Reeves pleaded.

“SHOOT HIM!”

“I don’t wanna, Daddy! PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME!”

“SHOOT HIM!”

“I don’t wanna, Daddy! PLEASE DON’T MAKE ME!”

This repeated, over and over and over… The video showed three males. One on the ground, two standing. What a difference a floorboard makes.

Roman turned on his microphone and turned down the sound of his video, but not completely off.

“Grandpa, fine day, ain’t it?”

Grandpa swung his body sharply, looking in all directions. Roman’s voice was bouncing throughout the forest. The old man stepped towards the tree he was in, then stepped backwards. Jasper pressed his back against Grandpa, both of them gripping their guns.

“He’s crazy,” he heard Grandpa say. “Roman doesn’t look like how he acts. Keep that gun UP!”

Grandpa darted around like some marble in a game. One eye appeared larger than the other, as if he were stroking out. Jasper pointed his gun up at the tree Roman was sheltering in, but then pointed it at another, and another. Having had his first bit of fun, Roman decided to lend them a helping hand.

“I’m over here in the tree… forty-five degrees to your right.”

Both men scanned the area like twin hawks, until their eyes landed on the correct tree.

“Tell Jasper to relax, or I’ll blow his head off, blast the tires out of your car so you can’t get the fuck out of here, then shoot your driver to death in five seconds flat. Two against one don’t mean shit when you were born ready like me. I’ve got nothin’ to lose. Besides, if either of you tries to shoot me and misses, well, I think you know the rest of that story.”

Grandpa kept his eye on him but moved his arm to the side and forced Jasper to lower the gun.

“Roman, let’s talk. Where’d you get that tape?”

“That’s not important.”

“It’s important to me. Look, I don’t know what you call yourself doing, bein’ in a tree like a damn chimpanzee, but I’ll give you your journal back, if that’s what this is about.”

“Grandpa, I’ve got someone else now that I can pour my pleasure and pain into. I don’t give a shit about that journal. I don’t give a shit about you. I don’t give a shit about Jasper, and anyone else who willingly does business with you.”

“Fine. You don’t care. Then why’d you kill these men?” Grandpa stomped, as if he and his delicate sensibilities were appalled at the sight.

“To get your ass out here. This is where I became the most afraid, and the bravest in my life, all on the same day.” Grandpa began to pace slowly back and forth like some panther. “This is not too far from the area where you destroyed my father. I wanted you back here on the land that is soiled with your evil actions. Where the blood trickled, and the emotional and mental innocence of a boy was lost. I want out of that contract.”

“It’s too late to cry over spilled milk now.” Grandpa laughed uneasily. “We have an agreement. You signed on the dotted line.” He waved his gun about.

“Did you bring the contract like my text message told you to?”

“Yeah.”

“I suggest you take another look at that contract then, Grandpa.”

Grandpa stopped his pacing and reached into his pocket. He removed the contract and appeared to be looking it over. When he got to the last page, he paled, white as a ghost. His eyes narrowed, and Roman smiled with an air of anticipatory pleasure.

“How? HOW?!”

“Now, if my memory serves me correctly, in order for a contract such as that to be binding, it needs the signature.”

“I saw you sign this!” Grandpa waved the contract about as if it was on fire or suddenly covered in shit. As if it disgusted him from the first page to the last. “I saw it with my own eyes!”

“Grandpa, one thing about your son Reeves is that his sneaky ways flow through my blood like a red river on fire. I inherited it and then some. Now, I’m personally for the shits, but for this special occasion, my signature wasn’t built to last. See, that was a magician’s pen I used. Invisible ink. Shows up, then fades away within hours. You can get one from almost any magic shop. Ain’t that somethin’?” Roman chuckled.

Grandpa sneered, then burst out in a maniacal laugh. He waved his gun about and contorted his body in such a way that it seemed he was debating on running up that tree himself.

“Well, goody gumdrops for you, Roman. Are ya proud of yourself? You killed a few good men… you pulled a childish magic trick with the contract… But I still have your journal, you snakish motherfucker, and there’s proof that you moved a large sum of money from one of your clients to your own bank account, but no proof that it was moved into mine. You’re still on the hook, Roman!” He cackled. “The motherfucking contract still stands!” he screamed, angry as a hungry, venomous serpent. “Now all you’ve done is gone and made me mad.”

Roman spit the twig from his mouth and slowly climbed down the tree. As he drew closer to the ground, gun in hand, Grandpa and Jasper spotted him. They raised their guns at him in unison.

“Here’s the son of a bitch! Come here, kitty, kitty! Throw any weapons you have down, Roman, and put your gotdamn hands up in the air!” Grandpa ordered.

Roman chuckled slow and easy like, facing Grandpa, and tossed his knife in the direction of the car. It landed in the back tire, and the sweet song of hissing air began. “I got more where that came from. I have on bullet proof gear from head to toe, in case you get any ideas. You ain’t no cop. Neither one of ya. I gave you specific instructions, Jasper. Let me save both of you some time while you try and remember what those instructions were.” Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. A bullet zipped past Roman’s head, but he dropped to the ground in the nick of time and fired back, striking Jasper in the leg.

“GAAAHHHH! Fuck! MY KNEE!!!” Jasper screamed out before tumbling down onto the soil, holding his leg and rolling back and forth. His yells of agony echoed, blending in with the screams and crying from the ongoing video that kept playing in the background.

Grandpa took a step towards him.

“Remember that time that you told me that if you were in my face right now, you’d put a bullet in my leg and make me walk it off? Now Jasper can give you a first-hand account on how that feels. Oh, and by the way, your driver just slid out the passenger’s side of the car and ran off.” Grandpa’s ice blue ices pierced his. “We’re so far away from anything and everything, he won’t get far. I’ll track him down and send him to his maker if you push me too far today. I’ll finish Jasper off and make peace with my pending prison sentence by takin’ you out too, but it’ll be a slow torture—startin’ with your throat like you did my father. Then I’ll gut you like a pig, like you called my mother. Motherfucker, slacker on a cracker, if you come any closer, that’s going to be the outcome. Show me where I threatened someone’s life, and didn’t mean it. The magic show is over… It’s reality TV time.” Grandpa sucked his teeth.

“After what you did to my daddy, in the past and recently, how you talked about my mama, caused stress in my relationship with my lady because of the pressure you were putting on me, and the peril you put my life in, I will take my chances with the court—regardless of how many fans and flunkies you have. I’m an ex-Marine who was in foster care as you seem to enjoy reminding me about. You’re looking at a man that gives to charities, looks like an innocent sweetheart, has a drug addicted father and was dirt poor. I can pretend to be remorseful for snuffin’ you out cold. Sit there on the witness stand, blubberin’ and all, play the role like I’m Chris Pratt, and get a sympathy sentence. I’ve got enough money to probably bribe my way into getting treated like a king behind bars… get conjugal visits with my lady, too.” He smiled and winked. “That’s of course after they see the other copy of this VHS tape I got floatin’ around, ready to be hand-delivered to my lawyer. So that everyone can see what type of monster you REALLY are…” He turned and spit in the brush.

Grandpa visibly swallowed and stopped in his tracks.

“We can all leave here alive, or everyone but me can end up dead. It’s your choice. Drop your gun. I’ve got enough tricks ’round here, traps and whatnot, that all I have to do is move a certain way or push a button at my fingertips, and an arrow will come flyin’ right for your heart. Don’t fuck with me.”

Grandpa’s eyes seemed to turn blood red. He let the gun slip from his hand. Roman kept his gun trained on Grandpa, then made his way to the men. He patted down Grandpa and retrieved the bastard’s second gun, and a switchblade. He gave Jasper the same treatment.

“Jasper, I’ve known you since I was a child… I hate that it came to this.” He made his way back towards Grandpa. “Before anything else bad happens, before you make me turn this entire Jungle Book into the Red sea, you better listen to this information I have for you and listen good.”

“What do you have to say, boy?”

“I learned from the masters, you and my father. Only difference is, my father actually has a soul, and cares about other people besides himself. Because you’ve pissed off so many people at once, it wasn’t hard to get a little backup. Lennox, Kage, Phoenix, and Maddock know that I’m here. But guess where they are?”

Grandpa’s face turned a million colors as he stroked his beard. Silent.

“One of ’em is close to your house. He’s prepared to go in, get your safe, and blow that entire mansion up. He has help of course, if need be. He’d never take on such a thing solo. Another one is trailing my woman today. Just in case some shit pops off and you’re feeling froggy. Another is with my boss. I’ll elaborate on that more in a second. And the other one is parked right outside my attorney’s house, waiting to interrupt his early Sunday dinner with a vintage horror movie with you as the main star. Yeah… I’ve got the only lawyer in Texas who ain’t afraid of you.” Grandpa shifted his weight. His hands clenched as he cracked his knuckles. “Once you threatened me with a bad time, I tucked my tail ’tween my legs and hopped on a plane to Vegas. I laid my cards down, pun intended, and told the owner of the casino what I’d done, how I’d done it. I paid back restitution, with interest. Do you know why? Because it was the right thing to do.”

Grandpa’s complexion reddened within seconds. He must’ve felt mighty defeated with that bargaining chip removed from the table.

“You can call my bluff if you want. I don’t care. Right before that though, I marched to my boss’ office and told him the whole sordid truth about me.”

“I doubt that.”

“Oh, I promise you that I did. The stealin’. The casino incident. The fucked up childhood that I rarely talked about so I could pretend to be someone I wasn’t. I told him about it not so that it could serve as an excuse for my bad behavior, but so he could understand how my unhealthy relationship with money had started young. I even told him about my situation in the Marines, and why I was dishonorably discharged. How hurtful and embarrassing that was for me… how you held it over my head to humiliate me. But it was my truth. The truth that you blackmailed me with. I was certain, like you apparently, that I would be out on my ass, reputation ruined, and in big legal trouble. Instead, he and I decided to have a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment and continue business. We worked something out.”

“…What did you work out?” The old evil man’s brain was constantly twirling and whirling… needing answers. Curiosity killed the cat.

“You see, Grandpa, those accounts you saw on my computer, and the money transfers and such? Those were ghost accounts, sir. I figured you’d make me do that right in front of you. You’ve made it clear for most of my life that you didn’t trust me as far as you could throw me. That’s why I took my mother’s advice. I had to think like you, in order to survive this ordeal… Bonnie is a smart lady. Don’t her Julia Child voice, and buttery sweet demeanor fool you. She told me: The demon becomes the demon. The mountain becomes the mountain. The tree becomes the tree. To put it simply, those accounts were fake as a three dollar bill, but made to look real.”

“I saw the money in my account, you son of a bitch!”

“They even functioned as if they were real. A common scammer trick. Secondly, that entire conversation you and I had at my workplace was being scrutinized—my boss was observing and monitoring the whole thing from the comfort of his office. He heard what you said, and what you did. All of it. He knows who the fuck you are now, and being who he is in this town, that won’t bode well for you. See, he’s an ex-Marine, too, and we tend to stick together in times like this. One thing he hates is exactly what you are: an extortionist.

“If I have children one day, and Lord willin’, I will, you’ve served as the perfect lesson in what NOT to do. You are a repugnant father. A poor excuse for a human being. A monster. Somethin’ straight out of a living nightmare. You make my daddy look like father of the gotdamn century.”

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT! GIVE ME MONEY, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!”

“You made a young boy kill a grown man. Not in an act of self-defense, but self-annihilation. You killed my daddy on that day… he was never the same. You wrecked his virtue, his zest for life, his willingness to dream and believe in magic. Real magic. Like unconditional love. You set it on fire.”

“You know nothing about loyalty. Of course you wouldn’t understand!”

“Loyalty ain’t what that was at all… He wanted your approval and to be loved, but he didn’t want to become someone he wasn’t, in order to get it. He couldn’t deal with life after that. You were the only parent he had left, and you destroyed his trust in mankind and in the one person on this planet who was supposed to protect and love him, come hell or highwater.”

“Your fucking father was a defiant and whiny child who grew up to become a bitch that couldn’t hack it! What you see on this video is completely out of context. I raise boys to be MEN! Not mice!”

“You can’t piss on me and tell me it’s raining, do a Nazi salute and tell me it’s just a wave, or put a grenade in my mouth and tell me it’s chocolate. I’ve played games on people my whole life. I recognize a con, a liar, a miscreant when I see one. I’m not goin’ back and forth with your delusional ass about this. Now, that contract may be blank, but you best believe, everything my father is today has your signature on it. I wanted to kill you today, God knows I did, but I didn’t do it.”

Jasper groaned, then drew quiet once again.

“I know you, Roman. You don’t have the—”

“I didn’t do it because I value my freedom, more than I value you being worm food. BUT LIKE I SAID, MOTHERFUCKER, I’LL DO IT IF YOU PUSH ME. I lied. I do have somethin’ to lose. I got someone who loves me. She’s waitin’ for me to come back home to her, keep her warm at night. I have a best friend who needs my support during a tough time in his life. I’ve got a mama who is my world and needs her son to help remind her of how special she is. I’ve got a father who needs my prayers, financial support for his legal matters, and companionship due to his new disability, thanks to you. Oh, and that fucker you sicced on him…the one that sliced my daddy’s throat? He’s dead. I made sure of it. Grandpa, my daddy ain’t been a good father, but at least I can say in the last few years, even behind bars, he tried the best he could.

“If I offed you, people would put two and two together. You’ve been at my job. At the restaurant. There’s been tension. Problems. Some folks, your little cult members that you’ve hoodwinked, couldn’t fathom Mr. Cyrus the Wilde Bull bein’ anything but an upstandin’ Christian citizen. That’s why I’d have to pull the sympathy card, but I imagine some people would be doing a little jig when you were finally dead, too. At least behind closed doors. You’ve got some folks believing you’re one of the good guys. But the rest of us,” he pointed to himself with a sharp smile, “your grandsons? We know better.”

“You don’t know anything about me, Roman,” Grandpa said cooly. Death in his eyes. “You just think that you do.”

“I know enough. I can’t have you looking like no martyr. But I’ll take my chances if you make it so.”

“You might walk away today, but there’s always tomorrow. Nobody is going to help you, Roman. NOBODY.” Grandpa smirked.

“You know damn well that I’ve got six cousins who will go to bat for me up in that courtroom, a ballroom, a restroom, or your tomb, in a heartbeat. I might even just injure you like I did Jasper here. Then let the world see that shameful shit on that tape. That way you can make it to prison, too. Old and crippled.” He gleamed.

“You’re living in a fantasy, boy.”

“Seein’ as how you’re on tape soliciting a BOY TO COMMIT MURDER, I doubt it! Your own gotdamn son! That tape alone is enough to get some serious prison time, not to mention, ruin your precious status in the community. You think any judge in the land is going to let what you did fly?! I don’t care how many of them you’ve put in your back pocket, how many police officers and lawyers you’ve given hush money to! Every dog has its day. Took your own boy out huntin’ on a human prey excursion, just to appease your fragile ego. You’re weak, motherfucker!”

Grandpa’s features hardened. “I regret the day you were born. I regret the day your father was born, too. Neither of you should be in existence.”

“I’m certain your mama felt the same way about you, Grandpa. We know your father did.”

Grandpa’s eyes turned pitch black. His fist clamped, and a strange gurgling noise ebbed from his tight lips. Like some demon drowning in their own spit.

“You’re in deep shit, old man. You’ve always enjoyed throwing my past in my face. Well, yours ain’t so squeaky clean, either.”

Grandpa laughed at this and shook his head.

“You hear this shit, Jasper?”

Jasper groaned and rolled onto his other side. “I need to get to the hospital, Roman…” the injured man murmured in agony.

“Jasper, I’m sure you do. When that happens is up to your boss, though. Grandpa, who do you think they’ll believe? Some psychotic, rich, white-haired redneck bastard affiliated with the Southern mafia, who was never fully accepted by the upper echelons of society, or a decorated, silver star awarded, Gunnery Sergeant named Eric Dearborn? The successful money mogul and businessman, retired Marine with a stellar reputation who’s been on the front cover of at least five prestigious financial magazines and the ABC mornin’ financial news hour?” Grandpa’s smile faded. “It’s all clicking now, isn’t it? It won’t be a courtroom about you and me. A jury of your peers. No, it’ll be about you, against society. This cruel country hates poor folk…No matter how rich you are, old man, in someone’s eye, you’re STILL poor, white trash.”

Grandpa flushed in dark hues of crimson.

“Big boss man from Goldman Sachs who was born from that good ol’ old money, versus some poverty stricken, White southern menace with a ferocious father who raised hell and sired a boy with a Godfather complex. Eric ain’t about to roll over for the likes of you, and you can see by today’s events, I won’t either. Your new money is sprinkled with blood from your own kin. Sacrificing us all. Grandpa, I might resemble him a little, but I ain’t Jesus.” Roman cracked a smile. “You ain’t puttin’ me on no cross to die for your sins. No, sir. Jasper is losing a lot of blood, and I’ve got shit to do. Now that I’ve had my say and explained to you in great detail what is at stake, it’s time to make your choice. Hurry.”

Grandpa stood there for a moment, seemingly letting it all sink in. The birds began to return, resting in the trees. Looking down upon them.

“…It’s over.” Grandpa hung his head for a brief moment, as if unable to look him in the eye. “You’re out of the contract, Roman. My business with you is done.”

Roman felt his jaw constricting. Clenching tight as a clam. He pushed the remote in his pocket and ‘He Walked on Water,’ by Randy Travis, played from a speaker he’d hidden in the brush. He blinked back angry tears. Sad tears. Pent up tears.

“It’s on a timer. You better duck.”

Grandpa looked rather confused at his request, and then his eyes grew wide.

“SHIT!”

Grandpa dropped to the muddy ground, yelling curses as an arrow came whizzing towards him from clear across the forest. The dart whooshed past the tree of life and death, then over the old man’s trembling body…

There is always a boy, a woman, or man—

Who underestimates the black sheep of the clan.

He plots, he plans, all while dancing and humming—

No one sees, through the trees, the big horns coming…