“Babe?”
Suave blinked rapidly and turned toward Monica’s voice. He glanced around the dining table, realizing everyone was staring at him.
Suave forced a smile. “I’m good. My mind just went for a walk.” He scooped some rice on his fork and placed it into his mouth. Chewing dramatically, he winked at Monica, his dimples flashing. “Come on, you guys, eat up.”
Joel and the kids laughed and resumed their eating, but Monica stared at him a little longer than necessary before she began to eat again.
After dinner, Suave took Joel, Raven, and Rayden to Devon House for their well-loved ice cream known as “I Scream.” He left with the kids licking huge cones of the deliciously flavored ice cream, while he carried a few pints of takeout.
Suave pulled up in front of the house, the engine still running, dropping off the children. He watched as they walked into the house, carrying one of the ice creams for Monica. Once the door was closed behind their backs, he drove off.
Minutes later, Alissa and Janelle were squealing with excitement when Suave gave them ice cream and to the other kids living there. Darlene’s and Charlene’s bedroom invitations were turned down, to their surprise, but they didn’t complain because Suave left each lady with a huge wad of cash.
Suave traveled over Kingston, paying visits to his three other kids and leaving money with their mothers. He was always a good father, but for some reason, he felt like he had to see all his children that night. He had this sinking feeling in his gut that after tonight, his life would never be the same.
* * *
The doorbell sang like a violin throughout the house. Pat eagerly rubbed his hands together, taking another quick glance around the semidark living room lit by a single tapered candle. The rest of the house was covered in darkness.
“I’m coming,” Pat crooned when the doorbell sang again, sashaying toward the door in a white silk bathrobe and a pair of matching high heels.
Suave angrily pressed the doorbell again, thankful that Pat’s veranda light was off but still uneasy by the streetlight close by. He tugged the baseball cap lower on his forehead, looking around warily. Luckily for him, it seemed as if all of Pat’s neighbors were asleep because their houses were plunged into darkness.
Suave peered through dark sunglasses at the Rolex on his right wrist and saw that it was 12:04 a.m. He was growing angrier and angrier by the second. It was bad enough that this fool had blackmailed him to come to his house, but Pat even had the nerve to keep Suave waiting. He touched the 9 mm in his waist and kept his finger on the buzzer. He wanted to get this over and done with as soon as possible.
“My, my, aren’t you anxious to come inside,” Pat greeted Suave after he opened the front door. Smiling flirtatiously, he stepped aside for Suave to enter.
Suave stormed past Pat without a word and entered the living room. His hands folded into tight fists as he took in the seductive scene that Pat had created. But Suave, in fact, welcomed the lack of light for what he was going to do. A sinister smile worked its way onto his face as he backed against the wall and waited for Pat.
“Thank you for coming.” Pat closed the door and stood in front of Suave. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier, but I just wanted to see you again.”
Suave’s cold eyes met and held Pat’s, but he remained mute.
Pat shivered slightly. The last time Suave was like putty in his hands, but tonight, he looked like the devil from hell. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.... “You know I won’t say a word to anyone, right?” Pat nervously nibbled on his glossy lips.
Suave’s nostrils opened up like a funnel, his eyes narrowing into slits. “You think you can threaten me and get away with it?” The temperature in the room felt like it had dropped to minus two degrees. “You think I’m going to allow you to molest me again, huh?” There was a very thin line separating Pat and Pastor Ralph, merging them as one in Suave’s mind.
“I... I... Hmmm, see—”
“Shut up!” Suave backhanded Pat hard across his face.
Pat staggered back from the blow, rubbing his burning cheek, tears stinging his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He stumbled over to a corner of the living room, his back facing Suave, cowering in fear.
Suave became empowered as he followed Pat. Now he was in control of the situation. “I was a child then, but I’m a grown man now,” he hissed in Pat’s ear. Just then, Prophet’s words popped up in Suave’s head. “You can’t run from your enemies, Mr. Suave. You have to beat the life out of them, or they will beat it out of you.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Prophet,” Suave said aloud, raising his foot to kick Pat in the behind, sending him to the floor. “I’m not gay.” Kick. “Leave me the hell alone.” Kick.
Pat curled his body into a protective ball as Suave rained blows all over him. It was painful... but in an exuberating kind of way.
Suave had his demon just where he wanted him, at his mercy. Huffing and puffing, now fully exhausted at whipping Pat’s behind, Suave paused to catch his breath. “Next time, I’ll kill you if you ever mess with me again.” Suave leaned over, his gun pressed firmly against Pat’s head. “Leave me alone. You got that?”
Pat didn’t respond, his smile hidden in his hands.
“I asked if you got that!” Suave screamed, hitting Pat in the head with the butt of the gun.
“Yes,” Pat mumbled, tucking his legs farther into his chest.
Suave stared down at Pat for a moment before he stood to his feet and marched toward the door. He peeked outside. He glanced up and down the street, but the upscale residential area remained void of any human activity. Throwing one last
