“I know it all sounds baffling, but you’ll get it.” Annette squeezed his hand and let go. “We’re going to stop here today. You did well, Suave.”
“Thank you.” Suave did feel lighter now that he had gotten that dark secret off his chest. “I’ll see you on Friday?”
Annette smiled. Yup, they were certainly making a lot of progress.
* * *
Over the next few weeks, Suave’s life was like a roller coaster. He met with Annette twice per week for counseling, attended Men’s Fellowship on Thursdays and church on Sundays. He was also running back and forth between his businesses as time allowed, dealing with his soldiers, attending to his children, and working on “The Plan” with Detective Stone. It was just chaos—physically and mentally.
“What’s really going on with you?” Daddy Lizard finally asked Suave one afternoon when he stopped by the bar. “I know you have to do the church thing with that lawyer, but there are some days you just disappear without a word.”
Suave knew Daddy Lizard was overwhelmed with Cobra gone and him slacking off. While Daddy Lizard knew about the agreement with Alwayne, he didn’t know about Suave’s counseling sessions with Annette. Suave decided to come clean about some things. “I’ve been going for some therapy too.”
“Huh? Say that again? You mean like a shrink?”
Suave nodded and held Daddy Lizard’s stare. He wasn’t ashamed anymore. “She’s my lawyer’s wife. You know that my father killed my mother and himself when I was a child. That thing had always been on my mind, man. I’m just now talking to someone about it, so I can let it go. You know what I mean?” Daddy Lizard didn’t know about Pastor Ralph or Pat, and Suave decided to leave it at that. Some things were better left unsaid.
“That’s cool. I didn’t know it bothered you like that,” Daddy Lizard replied. “Is that all, though? Maybe it’s just me, but you don’t seem that interested in business like you used to.”
Daddy Lizard was right. Suave was rethinking his life. He was even reading the Bible scriptures assigned in Men’s Fellowship and was actually looking forward to going to church. “I’ve been thinking about that too. To be honest, I’m getting to that place where I want to make some changes in my life.”
“It’s that church thing getting to you, Suave. We’re at the top of our game. We can’t give that up now.” Daddy Lizard looked at Suave like he was crazy. “You’re just getting nervous because of that murder rap hanging over your head.”
“My lawyer is on top of that, so it’s all good,” Suave replied. “I’m wondering if it isn’t time for us to go fully legit. We already lost Cobra, and I almost lost my son. We’re getting too old for the game.”
Daddy Lizard eyeballed Suave and saw that he was serious. “What about me?” Daddy Lizard had money in the bank, but to him, it wasn’t enough for the rest of his life.
“I’m offended you asked me that. You, Cobra, and I built all of this. I’d split up everything between us and make sure you get your fair share. We’re wealthy men, my friend.”
“And our soldiers? That would be a big move,” Daddy Lizard said. “I bet King Kong and Queen Bee will celebrate if we do that.”
“We’d make sure all our workers get a good piece of change. The businesses we can sell, or you can decide which ones you want to keep.” The more Suave talked about it, the more he was feeling compelled to quit dealing drugs. “I know the cops are watching all of us like hawks with all the killings that have been going on. The ‘bee’ may lose her sting, and the gorilla may be caged. I’m only thinking about you and me right now. I want us to quit while we’re ahead.”
“Hmmm, I think a lot of this is the church getting to you,” Daddy Lizard responded. “No,” he held up a finger when Suave opened his mouth, “you have changed since you started hanging with your lawyer friend. I think that’s good, Suave. You used to get so mad whenever anyone talked about God. Now you know I’m no Holy Roller, but a brother believes in the Almighty.”
“I was going to tell you that you’re right,” Suave replied, grinning. “I’m trying to figure out God, although it seems as if He already figured me out. What a thing, huh?”
The men shared a hearty laugh... one signifying changes to come. Would it be according to their plans... or those of their nemeses?
Chapter Forty-seven
“World dance a done by di kings an queens,” King Kong sang along with Beenie Man blasting on the CD player, kicking out one leg in front of him, then the other, his potbelly jiggling side to side. “Brand new dance run di scene.” He flung one flabby arm to the right, the other to the left, dipped his big head, and shook his fat behind.
Saddam roared with laughter. “Give us the Bogle dance now, Boss,” he yelled, taking a gulp of his Courvoisier and a puff on the marijuana spliff in his hand.
King Kong obliged him, pushing his head all the way back, sweat pouring down his face, with his hands rotating at his sides like mufflers. Then he started to dip forward, but King Kong’s back couldn’t cooperate from that angle, bearing all the weight it had. Like Humpty Dumpty, King Kong collapsed backward, his two short, stubby legs up in the air.
Saddam spat the drink out of his mouth, hooting with laughter. King Kong joined in as he lay on his back. It was a celebratory night for the men. Two hours ago, they had met Mr. Dapper’s men down at the wharf for a huge shipment of cocaine.
The drugs were taken to Saddam’s grandparents’ house in Spanish Town. After Elder Bloom’s death, Mother Bloom was so distraught she moved to St. Mary to live
