Cobra watched until the car disappeared down the road, the same sickening feeling in his gut. It was the men he hired who had screwed everything up.
“Cobra, close the door and let’s talk,” Suave instructed.
Cobra did as he was told. Then he and Daddy Lizard joined Suave at the bar.
“We’re in a tight spot.” Suave stared solemnly at his two right-hand men. “What happened the other night shouldn’t have gone down like that.” It was the first time that Suave was talking to Cobra and Daddy Lizard about the shooting.
“Look, Suave. I’m sorry about—”
“No need to cry over spilled milk, Cobra.” Suave looked from Cobra to Daddy Lizard. “The fact is crazy Saddam and King Kong are going to seek revenge against us. The question is, how do we prepare to fight them and avoid the police at the same time?”
“I say we hire more men and wipe out King Kong and his whole crew.” Daddy Lizard locked eyes with Suave.
Suave shook his head, knowing that Daddy Lizard was the hotter tempered one. “We are not killers, Daddy Lizard.”
“Okay, so we wait for them to kill us?” Daddy Lizard scanned his companions’ faces. “I’m not going out without a fight, Boss. You know King Kong and Saddam will be coming at us hard.”
Suave looked away. Daddy Lizard was right. Things were about to get crazy. “Let’s think about—”
A hard knock sounded at the door. All three men stared at it, then at each other before pulling their guns. Everyone was on edge.
“Brother Suave, it’s me,” Reverend Stanford’s voice came through the closed door. “I have an urgent message for you.”
Suave fired off a few curse words. “I swear one day I’m going to hurt that pest.”
“Ignore him,” Daddy Lizard spat.
“He won’t go away.” Suave looked at the closed door again. “Cobra, let him in.”
Cobra took a deep breath before unbolting and pushed open the door.
“Brother Cobra,” Reverend Stanford greeted in a serious tone.
Cobra turned and walked back toward Suave, leaving Reverend Stanford to follow him.
Reverend Stanford entered the bar and nodded at Daddy Lizard, who was glaring at him before he approached Suave. “Brother Suave, I’m glad I caught you. I have a very important message for you.” He sat on the stool that Detective Bird occupied earlier, facing Suave.
Suave stared at him without speaking.
“You guys are getting in over your heads,” Reverend Stanford began. “I’ve been trying to get you to turn away from what you’re doing, but you ignored me. Now you can’t ignore the Lord.”
Daddy Lizard rudely sucked his teeth loudly. Cobra, who was leaning against the bar counter, snorted. Suave remained silent, a pissed-off look on his face.
“There’s going to be a war. People are going to die, others are going to prison, and innocent lives will be in danger. The Lord wants you gentlemen to put a stop to this now!” Reverend Stanford glanced from Suave, to Cobra, to Daddy Lizard, and back, his brows knitted in a frown. “I see lots of blood, I see...” Reverend Stanford groaned deep in his throat, got up off the stool, and started pacing the floor. “I see weeping and wailing. Oh Lord, have mercy! I see pain and God’s people hurting.” The reverend began speaking in tongues, his hands and eyes raised to the heavens, tears running down his dark, handsome face. “Lord, spare your people,” he prayed aloud.
Cobra rolled his eyes in disgust, Daddy Lizard went behind the bar to fix the men some screwdriver cocktails, while Suave lit a joint, blowing a puff of smoke into the air, not the least bit concerned by the reverend’s words.
Reverend Stanford concluded his prayer and looked around to see that his message had no impact whatsoever on the recipients. Suave, Cobra, and Daddy Lizard were drinking and smoking and looking at him as if he were crazy. This grieved the reverend very much. “Galatians 6:7 says, ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’”
“Cheers, Rev.” Daddy Lizard lifted his glass, chuckling, before taking a long sip.
“You better take heed of God’s words before His words—”
“Enough!” Suave slowly got off the stool and closed the small gap between him and Reverend Stanford until they were face-to-face. “Get out of my place. Now.” Suave hissed through closed teeth. The veins in his face were at attention.
Reverend Stanford opened his mouth to speak but closed it when he saw the anger shimmering in Suave’s eyes. He felt some satisfaction inside. At least he had gotten some reaction from the cold kingpin. “You gentlemen know where to find me when it becomes too much for you to bear.” With that said, Reverend Stanford turned on his heels and walked to the door. At the entrance, he paused and spun around to look at the three men sadly. “The Lord is always here waiting for you.” He strode away with a heavy heart.
Daddy Lizard laughed and mimicked, “The Lord is always here waiting—”
“Stop it.” Suave glared at Daddy Lizard. “I’m tired of all this crap.”
Cobra and Daddy Lizard stared at him without another word.
Suave tried to hide it, but the reverend’s words had hit a few nerves. Why, he wasn’t sure because he had no dealing with that so-called God. Not only did he have to contend with that annoying voice that still plagued him from time to time, but now this. “Let’s put together a plan to get the pigs, the gorilla, and his bulldogs off our backs.”
But Suave soon found out that was easier said than done.
Chapter Thirty-two
Cobra’s laughter filled the motel room as Bubbles nibbled on his earlobe. “You are a very naughty girl, you know that?” He lightly slapped her on her naked
