for a
second. 'Ain’t he the guy you were gonna get to defend me for killin’ Cassandra?'
'That’s him. He’s moving to New York from Atlanta and opening a practice here.'
'What brought that on?'
'He said that he needed a change, but he didn’t really go into any details. I guess I’ll find out tonight.'
'I don’t think so, Wanda. You two have a good time.'
'That’s the thing. It won’t be just the two of us. He’s bringing somebody with him. Somebody you know.'
'Who’s that?'
'Carmen Taylor.'
'Carmen Taylor,' Black said.
He hadn’t thought about Carmen in years. Black had met her years ago on the train one day when he and Freeze were going to kill a Rasta named Desmond Kelly, who had been sent by Vincent Martin to kill him.
That day on the train Carmen told Black that she was a model and Black introduced her to a modeling agent named Calvin Cummings. That introduction was what started Carmen’s career on the road to becoming a super model.
Carmen always had a thing for thugs, and she fell hard for Black. He was feeling her, too, but Black knew that Carmen had a future modeling. A future that would be better served if she didn’t have, 'A thug nigga like me in your life,' Black told Carmen on their last night together. After that, Black avoided Carmen until she finally gave up and got serious about her career.
'What time?' Black asked.
'I’ll send a car for you at six,' Wanda said as CeCe walked up.
'I didn’t mean to interrupt anything,' CeCe said as Wanda passed her.
'You’re not,' Wanda said and frowned. 'I was just leaving anyway. I’ll see you tonight, Mike.'
'I didn’t mean to run her away,' CeCe said.
'You didn’t. She was leaving when you walked up. And besides, Wanda doesn’t like you.'
'Why not? She doesn’t know anything about me. Or is it because she and your wife were close?'
'No. It took a long time before the two of them got on good terms.'
'So why doesn’t she like me?'
'I never asked. But you’re more than welcome to ask her.'
'Don’t think I won’t.'
'But I don’t think now is a good time.'
'I’m not gonna step to her now, but I will at a more appropriate time. I never did anything to her for her not to like me,' CeCe paused. 'She ain’t one of those bitches who expects everybody to kiss her ass, is she?'
'No, she’s not like that. Wanda is just very protective of all of us; that’s all.'
'Protective of you, you mean. Your whole crew is, but I guess they have to be with a man in your position,' CeCe said as Nick approached them.
'Got a minute?' Black asked.
'All the time in the world,' Nick said.
Black turned to CeCe. 'Would you excuse us for a minute?'
'Sure. I’m getting used to it,' CeCe said and kissed him on the cheek.
Black watched CeCe as she walked away. Once CeCe was out of hearing range, he turned to Nick. 'Kirk says that Rain is still alive. They got her in intensive care. Doctors don’t know if she’s gonna make it.'
'He say anything else?'
'Bobby was right. Kirk put it together. He was about to question her about those drug murders. So what I need to know from you is, if Rain comes out of it, is she gonna stand up, or is she somebody we gotta worry about?'
'Rain won’t talk,' Nick said confidently. 'I’m sure of that.'
'For your sake I hope so.'
'I want you to know that I’m sorry for letting things get so out of control with Rain.'
'You should be. You shoulda known what she was doin’. Shit, I knew Rain was dealin’. I didn’t know it was on that level or that she was buying from Stark. But you should have. I told you once before, you need to know everything that’s goin’ on in the organization you’re runnin’. But you let that young pussy blind you to who Rain really was.'
'You’re right, I did.' Nick started to walk away, but then he stopped. 'Wanda told you about us?'
'What’s up with that?'
'She was lookin’ for me while I was tryin’ to get on top of this thing with Rain. She wanted to know what I was doin’ and who I was with. I know you didn’t want Wanda to know anything about your deal with Stark and Angelo, so-'
'So you kept your mouth shut and let Wanda believe what she wanted to believe.'
'Which was the truth; I was fuckin’ Rain and it cost me.'
'I’d talk to her, but I don’t think it would do much good at this point,' Black told Nick and signaled for CeCe and Victor to come back. 'I appreciate you takin’ a hit like that. But losin’ Wanda over Rain Robinson is the consequence of your actions. You just gotta man-up now and accept it,' Black said as he opened the car door for CeCe.
Black and CeCe got in the back seat and Victor drove away. As they drove away, Black thought about Carmen Taylor.
