went back inside. Knowing that there were at least two more of Cristobal’s men as well as Cristobal himself, Black moved through the house slowly.
Cristobal’s men separated and began going room to room looking for CeCe. One had just checked a room and came back into the hall when he spotted Black. But Black saw him first and let loose with both guns. The man went down. Black took his gun and shot him twice in the head before moving on.
'CeCe,' he called again, but got no answer. Though he tried not to think about it, his mind drifted to thoughts of Cassandra. He couldn’t let another woman die because he wasn’t there to protect her. He gripped his guns a little tighter and continued his search, hoping that he wouldn’t find her dead.
Cristobal’s man finally made it to the room where CeCe was hiding under the bed. She held her breath and tried to remain as still as possible. She had heard Black calling for her, so she knew he was coming. She just hoped that he would get there before it was too late.
CeCe watched the man’s feet as he moved through the room looking for her. She closed her eyes when he stopped in front of the bed. 'There you are, bitch.'
CeCe opened her eyes and saw the gun pointed at her. She shut her eyes tightly, and then she heard the shot, then another, and then a loud noise. She opened her eyes and saw the man lying on the floor next to the bed.
Black turned the bed over and held his hand out to help CeCe get up. 'Are you all right?' Black asked.
CeCe got up and threw her arms around him. 'I’m okay.'
'Come on. We gotta get out of here,' Black said and dropped to his knees.
CeCe looked at him and saw the blood on his shirt. 'Oh my God! You’ve been shot!'
CeCe struggled, but was able help Black to his feet. She draped his arm over her shoulder and helped him walk out of the room.
'Where’s Kevon?'
'He’s dead,' Black said as he walked. He could feel himself starting to get light-headed, most likely from the loss of blood pressure. By the time they got to the door, he felt like his legs were about to give out on him.
CeCe could feel the weight of his body increase on her shoulders. 'Hold on, baby. I’m gonna get you outta here.'
As they got closer to the door, they could hear what sounded like more shots being fired. They stopped. Black took a deep breath and raised his weapon. 'Get behind me,' he said.
'It sounded like it was coming from outside,' CeCe said, and they continued making their way through the house. When they reached the door Black leaned against the wall and looked out the window. 'Do you see anybody?' CeCe asked.
'No. But it’s hard to tell with all that rain. Wait here.' Black opened the door and stepped outside with his gun raised. CeCe followed him out, having to step over Xiang Yong’s body.
'We got to make it to that limo,' Black said. He started to walk, but his legs were giving out and he had to steady himself against the wall to keep from falling.
'No,' CeCe said and took Kevon’s gun from his waist. 'You stay here and save your strength. I’ll get the car.'
'You know how to use that?'
'No, but it will come to me,' she said and ran out into the pouring rain toward the limo.
Black kept his gun raised and watched as CeCe made it to the limo. She stopped in front of the limo and looked back at him. Then she moved around to the side, and then around to the other side. CeCe opened the driver’s side door and stepped back quickly. When Black saw her running back toward the house, he knew that something was wrong.
'The driver is dead. All four tires are flat, and there’s a big hole in the front.'
'Cristobal. That was what that shooting was,' Black said and CeCe helped him back inside.
'What now?' CeCe said.
'Get the phone from Kevon’s pocket. Jamaica’s number is programmed. Call him and tell him to come get us.'
'That could take a while, especially in this weather,' CeCe said.
'You got a better idea now’s the time,' Black said to CeCe and they waited for Jamaica to come with a doctor to save his life.
Maybe Bobby was right, this was just the natural order of things. It was the same in both of his worlds. People will do anything to get what they want, even if they have to kill to accomplish their goals.
CHAPTER NINE
Black looked out the window as Bobby drove to Luke’s house, and his mind drifted to Kevon. He thought about Jiang, one of the Chinese businessmen. After he was shot in Freeport, they talked at Kevon’s funeral. 'How are you feeling my friend?' Jiang asked.
'Much better.'
'That is good to hear.'
'I am sorry about Chang, Mei Ai Bao and Xiang Yong,' Black said.
'They will be missed. Chang was like a brother to me. I will feel his loss for many years.'
'I hate to ask at a time like this, but how is Chang’s death going to affect our business with the Cubans?'
'I’m sorry to say that without Chang, there is no business with the Cubans. The contacts were his; contacts he spent years developing. With Chang dead, the Cubans will most assuredly turn to Cristobal to do business.'
'Cristobal knew that, and that’s why he killed Chang.'
'I agree.'
'Where is Cristobal now?'
'I know what you are thinking, my friend, but Cristobal also killed Clemente Eustaquio.'
'I know. He told Chang that before he shot him.'
'He has consolidated power in a town called El Peronil and has a small army protecting him, which makes him almost impossible to get to.'
'Nobody is impossible to get to.'
'This is true. However, now is not the time. Now is the time for patience. But I assure you, this act of dishonor will not go unpunished. In time, we will have our revenge,' Jiang shook Black’s hand and walked away.
'Fuck Bruce Lee,' Bobby said. 'When we going down there?'
'Jiang is right. If he is protected like that, gettin’ his ass is gonna take time and planning. And I know the perfect person to set it in motion.' Black looked at Bobby and smiled as Monika walked up.
For the next two weeks, Black remained in the Freeport, recovering from his wounds and enjoying being with Michelle and CeCe. When he felt that he was well enough to travel, Black and CeCe went to his new house in Nassau. But after a few days they both agreed that they missed being with Michelle. The next morning Black got up and left early and came back that night with Michelle. Over the next three months, Black enjoyed his life with his girls until a visitor arrived.
'Hello, Monika,' CeCe said when she answered the door. She led Monika through the house and out to the pool. When they got outside, Black was with playing in the pool with Michelle.
While Monika took a seat at poolside and set up her laptop, CeCe got in the water to play with Michelle and Black got out to talk to Monika.
'Y’all just one happy family here,' Monika mused.
Black looked at her then continued to dry himself. 'What you got for me?'
'For last three months, I’ve had an operative in El Peronil keeping an eye on your boy Cristobal. He lives on a three acre compound,' Monika said and pointed to the satellite image on the screen. 'It’s surrounded by an electrified fence, and he’s protected by a militia of at least thirty men.'
