The Reign of Rain Robinson

By Roy Glenn

Even though her title was underboss, Rain Robinson was The Boss of The Family now.
The Reign of Rain Robinson begins with The Model And The Madam (The Reign of Rain Robinson Book 1)
Waiting and watching never was Carmen Taylor’s thing. After Jada West killed the hit man that murdered two of her informants at the City Diner, Carmen rushed into something that may not only cost Carmen her life, but unbeknownst to her, would have far-reaching consequences in The Family. After becoming aware of a potential threat inside the organization, Jada uses all the resources at her disposal to deal with the situation.
Retaliation (The Reign of Rain Robinson Book 2)
It’s War!
After learning that her real enemy was David ‘DP’ Petty, Rain Robinson focused all of her attention on finding and ending him and Sterling, DP’s longtime friend and drug dealing business partner. But DP is dealing with problems of his own. DP’s girlfriend, Venus is in love with R.J. and can’t wait to be with him again. As for Carter Garrison, finding and killing Damián Custodio is still at the top of his list.
The Reign of Rain Robinson continues in Retaliation, and now it’s time to stop messing around and take the fight to them.
Punishment (The Reign of Rain Robinson Book 3)
Deep In It (The Reign of Rain Robinson Book 4)
Even though her title is underboss, Rain Robinson is The Boss of The Family now and to this point, The Reign of Rain Robinson has been a tale of unrelenting war. The betrayal of Jadonna Marian and DP’s attempt to take over, forced Rain to Retaliate and the actions of Barnes and Mobley brought on RJ and Marvin’s punishment.
Now, the assassinations of Chet Bright, Jerry Demet, Gene Hazelton and Irving Spencer have gotten Mike Black involved. While Black and Rain hit the streets to hunt down their enemies and end them permanently, things are not all dark in The Family. Nick is getting married to April, however, providing security for the event at a time of war is also source of concern for them. Needless to say, The Family is deep in it this time and it’s going to take everybody to get them out of it.
Dead On It (The Reign of Rain Robinson Book 5)
The Reign of Rain Robinson concludes in Dead On It.
The war is over, Barnes and Mobley are dead, and Hawkins is on the run. All that remains are the remnants of their once formidable crews. Rain is on a mission to shut them all down. ‘Kill everybody and burn the bitch to the ground’ so she can turn her attention to her real enemy, Rona King. She had orchestrated the entire war from behind the scenes, pulling the strings of her greedy, stupid but well-financed pawns that she sent out to fight her proxy war against The Family. With both Rain and the police closing in on her, Rona still has one more card to play that has the potential to bring an end to the reign of Rain Robinson.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roy Glenn
• Release date: Nov 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463537893

Roy Glenn

Multi-genre author Roy Glenn is best known as the Master of Urban Suspense for his iconic Mike Black Saga. A three-time AALBC.com Bestselling Author, winner of The Reader Warrior Choice award for Best Male Author and a B.R.A.B award for Best Duo, Roy Glenn always had a very vivid imagination. He began making up stories at a very early age, but his passion for writing those stories didn't come until much later in life.   His first novel, Is It a Crime, became a bestseller and gave birth to the popular character Mike Black. The Black series has spun off two other series, The Reign of Rain Robinson and a look into the past with The Vicious Black years. Roy was born and raised in the Bronx, and currently lives in Jacksonville, Florida, where he is working on the Above The Law series and Boss of the Family for television.  

Book preview

Chapter One

It was Thursday night and Rain Robinson was sitting alone in her office thinking. Even though her official title was underboss, she was the boss of the family now. Rain knew it, and so did everybody else.

Black hadn’t actually been in the city in months and she had only talked to him a few times since he and Shy got back from Italy and even though Bobby still lived in the city, she hadn’t seen or heard from him either. Wanda stopped by every now and then, but she never stayed long and then it’s only when she was on her way to see her secret, that wasn’t such a secret man, or on her way back from seeing him.

Since the day that Black took her to a meeting in Aruba with Bobby and Jada West and Wanda just happened to be on the island, Rain knew that she had a man. It wasn’t so secret because Rain believed that in her position, and for security reasons, she needed to know who Wanda was involved with. Rain put Monika on it, and she found out that his name was James Austin and she worked up a complete dossier on him.

It wasn’t that she felt that they had abandoned her; nothing like that, there was just no need for her to talk to them. For the first time since she became a part of The Family, they were at peace.

It’s not that there weren’t any problems in the house. With the exception of Doc, who had been with Black since the beginning, Rain had a set of new Captain’s and each of them had problems that they had to deal with.

After the death of Cynt, it was decided that nobody in her house was ready for that type of responsibility, so her operation was divided between Doc, Howard Owens, Sherman Williams and newly minted Captain, Jackie Washington.

Then Howard was murdered, and Carter Garrison was eventually made Captain of that crew. But by that time, Lyric Skye and his people had deeply infiltrated Sherman’s crew, which set off a chain of events that included the attempted murder of Bobby Ray.

Once Black and Rain restored order to the chaos their house had become, Sherman Williams took responsibility and announced that he was retiring and named Ed Weather as his successor. A move that Black approved, but pissed off a lot of Sherman’s people.

With Jackie, Carter and Ed Weather all having problems with their people, Rain wanted to get involved and whip everybody back in line, because that’s what she did. She was the hammer, and nobody wanted to see Rain coming. But as Boss of The Family, she had come to accept that she had to give them an opportunity to put their own house in order.

Even though Jackie made a show of Ramello’s execution in front of her entire crew in order to show them the consequences of fucking with her, she still had problems. Flip, who ran the high stakes poker game that Black and Bobby started, and Jackie once ran, was her biggest problem and one that she knew that she had to deal with.

When Black made Carter Garrison Captain of Howard’s crew, it was obvious that Jab Baldwin, who had appointed himself acting Captain, as well as Terrance Jackson; Kenard Turner and Howard’s brother, Richard, and even Ryder were disappointed by the decision. Each thought that they should have gotten the top spot, except for Ryder, since she was the mastermind behind Jab; she wanted him to be made Captain. Carter being made Captain represented a significant loss of power and money for her.

And then there was Ed Weather, damn near everybody in Sherman’s old crew had their knives out for him. The loudest voice of them all was Darius Wilkerson. He was pushing back hard against Ed and would have to be dealt with soon. So there was plenty of shit to do, but she knew it wasn’t her place, because Black told her that it wasn’t.

If and when you do have to get involved, it means that you need to reevaluate the person that you got sitting in the Captain’s seat.

So Rain was sitting it out, watching and waiting to see what happened. But for Rain, that wasn’t easy. She was an action junkie and needed to be in the center of things.

Black Threesome was on the flat screen, but she wasn’t really watching the two women taking turns pleasuring a man. Rain picked up the remote and switched the flat screen to display rotating images from each of the security cameras throughout the building. She looked at the empty glass in front of her and for a quick second thought about calling Yarissa Dash to come in to pour her a drink.

That’s just fuckin’ lazy, she said and stood up.

Once Rain had poured herself another shot of Patrón, she turned to go and sit down, but then she had a better idea. She turned around, got the bottle, and then she sat down.

It ain’t like I’m done drinkin’ for the night, she said aloud and sat down. This way you ain’t even gotta think about calling Yarissa.

The longer she sat there, the more Rain knew that she was bored. No! She drained the glass and picked up the bottle. I’m bored out my fuckin’ mind! Rain shouted and threw the bottle against the wall, shattering it on impact.

She had just gotten up to get another bottle when Yarissa, along with the two men that Black insisted she get, Omari and Nelson, busted through the door, nearly taking it off its hinges.

Is everything alright? Yarissa asked while she and the muscle inspected the office.

Yeah.

What happened? Yarissa asked, but seeing the wet spot on the wall and the broken glass on the floor, she had a pretty good idea.

I threw the fuckin’ bottle against the fuckin’ wall. Anything wrong with that?

Omari and Nelson dropped their heads, turned around, left the office and closed the door behind them, knowing better than to answer that question. Yarissa shook her head. She wondered how could they be scared to death of Rain, and protect her at the same time.

More likely, she’ll end up protecting them, Yarissa thought.

You want me to get you another bottle?

No. Rain sat down.

You sure?

Yarissa had been working in the office with Rain for a few months now. With things being so quiet, there were nights when she and Rain just hung out in the office, drank and talked shit. During those times, she had learned to sense Rain’s mood, and knew that she wasn’t in a good one.

Go ahead and pour me a drink.

Yarissa felt like they had sorta become something like girlfriends. If your girlfriend were the boss of a criminal organization that most people considered to be a murdering psychopath, Yarissa laughed and went behind the bar.

What’s funny?

Nothing? Yarissa said and got a bottle of Patrón from the cabinet.

Stop lyin’. Rain had gotten to know Yarissa just as well, and could tell when she was lying. So what’s funny?

Next time you feel like throwing a bottle at the wall … Yarissa walked over and pointed at a spot on the wall above the trash can. Aim for this spot right here, she said and then put the drink down in front of Rain. I’ll send up a barback to clean that up.

Let it sit where it sits. It will be alright until the club closes, Rain said as Yarissa picked up the bottle and sat it on the desk on her way to the door.

Let me know if you need anything, Yarissa said, and Rain watched her walk out.

Despite the amount of porn she watched, Rain never thought about having sex with a woman. In spite of that, and she wasn’t sure why, but there she was, watching Yarissa walk her fat ass out of the office. Rain had spent enough time with her to know that Yarissa was a sexual opportunist. Man or woman, it didn’t matter, if Yarissa wanted them, she would have them.

When Yarissa closed the door and Rain was alone again. Rain shot her drink, turned the flat screen back to Black Threesome and watched the action for a while and then Rain sat back and closed her eyes.

Yarissa walked back in the office, looking all honey brown and sexy in her off-the-shoulder jumpsuit. Rain stood up and Yarissa immediately pinned her against the bar. She began kissing Rain on her neck and squeezing her ass. When Yarissa dropped to her knees…

Rain’s eyes flashed opened and she shook her head to clear it. She picked up the remote and switched back to the security feed. You watch too damn much of that shit, she said and poured another drink. I need some dick bad.

Nick told her that it was lonely at the top, but at least he had her. Rain was bored, lonely and she wanted to fuck. For a brief second, she thought about calling Jeff Bezos. He would definitely come if she called, but she was tired of him. She had been dating − more like fucking − professional men; businessmen, bankers, doctors and lawyers, the type of men that weren’t involved in her business.

I don’t give a fuck as long as they got a big dick, Rain thought and laughed.

But other than slinging good dick, they bored her to tears. Rain had gotten her some new dick, but he was a young baller and wasn’t always available when she needed him to come fuck her. It was at times like this when she missed being with Nick the most. When it came time to get shit done, they were together. Always.

And then we had the best fuckin’ sex, Rain thought as her mind drifted back to one night when she was still with Nick and feeling some kind of way.

She went to Nick’s apartment wearing black thigh-high boots, a floor-length black leather coat with her guns in her pockets, her bulletproof vest and nothing else. When Nick opened the door, he looked at Rain and smiled.

Good, you’re here. I was just about to call you.

Rain walked in and headed for the couch.

Let’s go.

Rain sat down. Huh?

What are you sitting down for? We got shit to do. Nick opened the door. Now let’s go.

Where we going?

I’ll tell you on the way. Now come on.

Once they were in the car, Nick told her that they were going to kill Vincent Mason. The word was that he was going to testify in a special court hearing in exchange for his entrance into the witness protection program.

A fuckin’ snitch, Rain said.

When they got to the bar where Mason hung out, Rain approached him and quietly escorted him out of the bar. Nick was waiting outside, and they walked him into an alley where Rain promptly shot him in the head.

Just then, there was gunfire coming from behind them. Both Rain and Nick dove for cover. When Nick looked up, he saw that it was Mason’s partner, Jarek Clark. The exchange of gunfire between Nick and Clark continued until Clark’s gun was empty and he took off running.

I got him! Rain yelled, jumped up and went after him.

Rain, wait!

Nick started to go after her when two men came out of the back of the bar and opened fire on him. Nick turned, fired twice, hitting both men with one shot each to the head and then he ran after Rain.

When he got to the corner, Nick could hear automatic weapons fire. He looked around the corner and could see Rain sitting on the ground behind a car as Jarek Clark fired away with a semiautomatic weapon from across the street. Nick dropped to the ground and crawled on his stomach to Rain. That was the first time that he noticed that she didn’t have anything on under her coat.

Nick looked at Rain and shook his head. What?

Do you at least have your vest on?

Of course, I got my fuckin’ vest on. Now cover me.

Rain got to the hood of the car and when Nick opened fire, she circled around and killed Clark.

When Rain started thinking about how she made Nick pull over three blocks from there so he could fuck her in the car while police cars sped by, Rain knew that she had drank enough and it was time to get out of there. She decided to make the rounds like she used to in the old days.

Rain stood up, drained the glass and put on her vest. Once she had armed herself, she stepped out of the office.

Yarissa looked up from her tablet. You out?

Yeah. I’ma hit a couple of spots.

When Omari and Nelson stood up. Rain shook her head. It just won’t be the same.

On the way out of J.R.’s, Rain saw Fantasy at the bar. It made Rain wonder if Jada West was in the city. She thought for a second about going over there and asking her, but decided that it wasn’t that important and kept making her way toward the door.

Once they got outside of the club and walking toward her car; a car came speeding down the street with its bright lights on.

Get down! Rain yelled as she reached for her gun and ran for cover, but it was too late.

When the shooting stopped and the car had driven off, her bodyguards were dead. Rain was hit several times and her vest didn’t catch them all.

Chapter Two

Self-made men are the men who owe little or nothing to birth, relationship, friendly surroundings; to wealth inherited or to early approved means of education; who are what they are, without the aid of any of the favoring conditions by which other men usually rise in the world and achieve great results …

Those elegant words were taken from Self-Made Men, a famous lecture Frederick Douglass first delivered in 1859. They were also words that influenced a young Milton Petty over a century later. He was a self-made man.

Although he grew up dirt poor in Coldwater, Mississippi, Milton Petty had developed himself into a legitimate businessman with widely varying interests, which included Abbate Construction, a general contractor specializing in public, commercial and private works. Essco Construction Materials, an equipment supplier, and Milton Real Estate. But it didn’t stop there.

In the early days of the tech bubble in the mid-nineties, Milton bought a startup IT product and services company called Castor Technology and rode the wave to millions of dollars. He had invested in Truckload Freight Transportation and Recycling, Ingram International, a paper product distributor, and a chain of Fish and Chicken fast-food restaurants, with locations throughout the tristate area. He had an ownership interest in an automotive parts company in Detroit that sold to the auto industry.

Once he gained influence in the construction industry, he was able to impact the union that controlled the building materials so members would buy from him. Petty joined the Towne Services Credit Union where he had so much money on deposit that it wasn’t long before Petty was asked to become a member of the board of directors.

By every measure, Milton Petty was the definition of a self-made, legitimate businessman; but sometimes things aren’t always as they appear.

Milton never married, but he did have one son, David ‘DP’ Petty, and when his mother died of cancer when the boy was sixteen, he came to live with his father. As soon as he arrived, Milton enrolled his son at the best private school he could find. When DP graduated high school, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Finance degree from Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business.

So, there they were, father and son, who really didn’t know the other, who lived in the same house together for eight years before they were truly introduced to one another.

It happened early one morning before the sun came up. Milton was in Detroit on a business trip, when his cell phone rang; it was DP calling from jail. Milton caught the first flight out in the morning and arrived at court in time to see his son arraigned on drug charges.

Once bail was set and paid, father and son left the courthouse together. The ride was understandably quiet until Milton broke the ice.

So, you wanna tell me about it?

About what?

What you been doing.

It’s nothing, DP said and went back to staring out the window of the moving car.

Nothing, huh? Milton nodded his head. Okay, he said and pulled the car over and parked his car on the street. Once he was parked, he looked at DP and punched him in the face so hard that his head hit the window.

Nothing my ass. I just paid a million fuckin’ dollars for you to be looking out that window instead of bars. So you need to tell me − right now − what the fuck you’re into.

DP laid out his drug operation for his father, but that wasn’t all that he had going on. He had a small gambling spot, he did a little loan sharking, and he ran a crew that specialized in high-end car theft.

Anything else? Milton asked and put the car in drive.

No, Pop, that’s it, DP told his father.

You sure?

Why, you gonna hit me again if there’s anything else?

Milton laughed. No. But it’s time I told you a few things about me and what I do.

For the rest of the trip to their house, DP listened in awe as his father revealed his criminal organization to him. Like his son, Milton had a few gambling spots, but he worked white-collar crimes involving embezzlement and construction schemes and wire fraud businesses.

The shit that makes real money. Not like that nickel and dime shit you’re doing, Milton said.

He went on to tell DP about the porno film studio that he owned, which had worldwide distribution and brought in millions of dollars each year. As well as live online porn and video sales that ran out of a strip club called Enzo's Palace.

That conversation took place seven years ago, and over the years, Milton used his position at the Towne Services Credit Union to launder money for DP, who now had a healthy income from dealing drugs.

Before long, DP was working as a manager in one of the credit union branches and had several loan sharking businesses running that were making hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It was getting close to midnight and DP had just come in the house. Milton was in his office still working as usual. DP came into the office and sat down on the couch.

What’s on your mind, David? Milton asked and stood up.

There’s something I got going on that I need to tell you about, DP began.

This sounds serious, Milton said as he headed for the bar. Can I make you one?

Thanks, DP said and relaxed before he told his father what he should have told him months ago.

When Milton handed DP his drink, he said thank you and Milton sat down in the chair next to him.

So what you got going?

I’m gonna take over Mike Black’s organization.

Milton laughed at him; laughed so hard that he nearly fell out of his chair, he was laughing and choking that hard. But not DP, he sat there stone-faced until his father regained his composure.

I’m serious, Pop.

You been smoking that dope you’re selling if you’re seriously considering going up against Mike Black and Bobby Ray.

That’s the thing; I won’t be going up against them.

So what’s your plan? You planning on walking up to Black and asking him nicely to hand over his organization? That shit ain’t happening. Them niggas done killed enough mutha fuckas to fill up a small country. Milton laughed. And before you even get to Black, you’d have to get through guys like Howard Owens and Sherman Williams.

You’re information is dated, old man, DP said and finished his drink. He picked up his father’s glass and went to the bar to refill their glasses. Black is retired to the islands and Bobby found God or some shit like that, DP said and handed his father back his glass.

What about Wanda Moore? Wasn’t she running things for a minute?

DP took a swallow of his drink. She was.

She’s just as dangerous … Milton laughed. If not more dangerous than Black and Bobby.

Gone back to working on the legit side of their business.

Who’s running things?

A woman named Rain Robinson.

Ain’t that the little young trick Nick Simmons used to fuck? Milton laughed.

Trust me, Pop, Rain Robinson ain’t no joke.

If that’s the case, why are you in such a hurry to take her on?

Because they’re weak now. All those people you were talking about are gone. Howard Owens and Cynt are dead and Sherman Williams is out.

Those were his Captains.

That’s my point. They got new Captains and they all got problems with their people.

Power struggles. Milton thought for a moment. You know who the new Captains are?

Ed Weather, Jackie Washington and Carter Garrison.

Carter Garrison? I remember him. He might be trouble.

Even so, now’s the time. We hit Rain Robinson and start hitting their spots.

What about Carter Garrison?

We’ll hit him next.

Milton sat back in his chair and thought for a minute about what his son had proposed. Go ahead, he said, still thinking that it was a bad idea. But as long as DP’s plan didn’t interfere with their upcoming overseas shipment, what real harm could it be?

DP looked at his watch. It’s already in progress.

Chapter Three

El Decreto de Guerra, translated to mean The Decree of War. They were a gang of Colombian gun smugglers that had an extensive history with The Family. It began one rainy night in Nassau, when three were bound, gagged and shot in the back of their heads and their throats were cut at Shaggy’s gambling house. Once the perpetrators were identified to be members of a Vincentian drug gang known as The Grenadine Boys, Jada West sanctioned their termination.

The Grenadines attacked Paraíso in retaliation at the same time that Mr. and Mrs. Black were on the island. When Bobby and Rain arrived on the island, not only did they kill everybody, but Black arranged for the DEA and the ATF to intercept a large shipment of guns coming from Miami that were being exchanged for cocaine and marijuana from Venezuela. Since they were his guns and drugs, this did not go unnoticed by Rodrigo Iñíguez.

With his Vincentian middlemen in Nassau now dead, Rodrigo Iñíguez began looking at Mike Black and his organization. He wanted to use Black’s organization to take over for them because of Black’s influence with the DEA and the ATF. But it was too late for that.

By that time, Black had discovered that The Grenadines in New York were backing Lyric Skye in his plan to take over from within. It took the entire family, including Black’s father and brothers in Saint Vincent, to put a stop to it.

You know how we do it.

Black and Shy traveled to Caracas, Venezuela for a meeting with Rodrigo Iñíguez. During that meeting, Black made it clear his desire not to be in business with Rodrigo and a gentlemen’s understanding was reached between the two men that Black would have no involvement in, nor would he use his influence to interfere with Rodrigo’s business coming through Nassau as long as they respected the island.

But that gentlemen’s understanding did nothing for the ties, both good and bad, that now existed with El Decreto de Guerra. With the approval of Damián Custodio, the head of El Decreto de Guerra, Herminio Leoncio ordered the hit that killed Reese and injured Smoke and Geno at Mar Y Tierra. But being a businessman, Custodio wasn’t opposed to anything, or anybody for that matter, that would make him more money.

It was almost four in the morning and Carlito Munoz and Edmundo Camacho were at Salsa Con Tarifa waiting to meet with Lucus Hill and Garson Anderson to make arrangements to sell them weapons.

On the way to the meeting at the club, Anderson was texting with his girlfriend while Hill drove. After a while, Anderson got tired of typing and began using the voice to text feature. Hill just shook his head and kept driving.

Because that’s what you say! Anderson shouted into the phone, pressed send angrily and then stared at the phone awaiting her response.

Yeah, well, it ain’t gonna be like that. Not no more, he said and laughed. He looked over at Hill. I don’t know who the fuck she think she dealing with?

Your dumb ass. That’s who she thinks she’s dealing with. You let her get away with too much shit. She does the shit she does ’cause you let her, Hill said, but Anderson wasn’t listening. He had gotten a response and was shaking his head.

’Cause I fuckin’ said so! Again he was shouting at the phone.

Hey, man.

What? Anderson barked without looking away from his phone.

Why don’t you text her, ‘it ain’t about you’, exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point, Hill said and laughed.

Anderson laughed. Have you lost your fuckin’ mind?

In all caps.

Shit, no! Anderson dropped the phone he was laughing so hard. I can just imagine the onslaught of furious texts she’d send as she tracked me down so she could get in my face askin’, ‘what the fuck you mean it ain’t about me?’

’Cause you know it’s all about her, Hill said, now laughing hysterically as his phone began vibrating in his pocket. Once he got the phone out, Hill looked at the display.

Hey, Sexy.

Hello, a sultry female voice said. May I ask, what is so funny?

Nothing, Sexy. I’m just fuckin’ with the Big A, that’s all. What’s up?

I was calling to see where you are?

We about to get to the spot. Why?

Your people had inquired about where you and Mr. Anderson were, so I said that I would be happy to call and find out for them.

Tell them that we’re there now, Hill said as he parked down the street from Salsa Con Tarifa and they got out of the car. I’ll call you when we leave.

Am I going to have the pleasure of your company when you have concluded your business?

Depending on how shit go.

Outstanding. I will look forward to speaking with you when you’ve finished your business.

Bye, Sexy, Hill said.

Goodbye.

Hill ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket as he and Anderson walked back toward Salsa Con Tarifa.

I may be stupid and let Deshondra get away with too much shit…

Long as you admit it.

Yeah, I admit it, but you a fuckin’ fool.

Why?

You know she fuckin’ that nigga, right?

So.

So you two was all hugged up, lovey-dovey before we left. Now she over there fuckin’ that nigga.

No she ain’t. Not unless they havin’ a threesome.

I’m just sayin’.

Sayin’ what? I don’t give a fuck what she do with that pussy when I ain’t in it. She a hoe. Hoe’s fuck everybody; that’s why they’re hoes, Hill said as they reached the door to Salsa Con Tarifa and went inside.

Since it was closing time when they got there, there were only a few people left in the place, and security was herding them toward the door. When Anderson and Hill looked around, Carlito Munoz and Edmundo Camacho were coming toward them.

Caballeros, Martínez shouted over the music.

Carlito, Anderson said and shook hands with both Munoz and Camacho. Hill just stood back with his arms folded across his chest.

Why don’t you two have a seat at the bar, Munoz said as he moved in that direction. Once we get the place cleared out, we’ll play show and tell.

Fine by me, Anderson said and followed Munoz to the bar still looking at his phone.

Cervantes, get these men whatever they’re drinking, Munoz said and then he and Camacho went in the back of the spot. Once Cervantes had taken their drink orders and left the pair alone, Hill turned to Anderson.

You trust these guys? I mean ain’t these the same guys who shot Smoke and Geno and killed Reese?

I don’t know nothing about that. All I know is that is what the man say do…

You mean the woman, don’t you?

Whoever, Anderson said anxiously as Cervantes returned with their drinks. Once he had placed the drinks on the bar, he disappeared.

Look, man. I hear what you’re sayin’. But they wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t cool with our new Skipper, Anderson said sarcastically.

I don’t think he even knows about this, Hill said.

Why you think that?

It’s the look that bitch-boy gets on his face when anybody mentions his name.

Yeah, I noticed that too, Anderson cosigned. I just thought it was…

Shut up, here they come, Hill said as Munoz and Camacho came out of one of the back rooms of the now almost empty club.

There was only one other man in the club, but he was just sitting quietly at the bar, sipping tequila and watching boxing on TV.

Camacho was carrying a metal case, which he placed on the table. Munoz signaled for Hill and Anderson to come over and Camacho opened the case the second they stepped up.

Slow down, Cowboy. Hill turned and pointed to the man at the bar. What about him?

Don’t worry about him, he’s harmless, Camacho said.

But he was far from harmless. The man was actually Damián Custodio. But the head of El Decreto de Guerra wasn’t the only one listening to the meeting.

FBI Agents Matthews and McCullough were listening because of El Decreto de Guerra’s ties to Marietta Dynamics. The company is suspected to be involved in the theft of the schematics for an electromagnetic pulse weapon.

Munoz stepped to Hill. You don’t trust me, do you?

No. I don’t trust none of you.

Munoz nodded his head. Good. Because I don’t trust you either.

Good. I think a healthy amount of distrust is a good thing in any business relationship.

I agree one hundred percent. But I cannot trust you, Cabrón, and be nice about it.

Good for you, Hill said. Now let’s see what you got.

The QBZ-03 assault rifle, Chinese gas operated, selective-fire weapon, Munoz said as Camacho handed the weapon to Anderson.

Two-piece receiver made up of forged aluminum alloy with the stock, pistol grip, and handguards made of a polymer compound.

Anderson looked over the weapon. That’s lightweight.

About eight pounds, Munoz said as Anderson handed the weapon to Hill.

The gas block has a two position regulator, one for firing standard ammunition, the other to allow the use of rifle grenades, Camacho said.

Hill looked it over, pointed it in Munoz’s face before handing it back to Camacho.

The sights are of a hooded front sight with a flip up rear diopter sight similar to the American M16 rifle.

What do you think? Munoz asked.

Nice piece of hardware, Anderson said. I think we might be able to work with these. I’ll talk it over with my people and get back to you, he said, and Camacho closed the case and took it to the back. When he did, Damián Custodio got up from the bar and followed him to the back of Salsa Con Tarifa.

Anderson shook hands with Munoz. Sounds good, he said and then Anderson left with Hill. Go back and report, errand boy, Munoz said and went in the back.

Hill and Anderson left Salsa Con Tarifa and walked back to their car in silence. Once they were in the car, Hill started it up and then he took out his phone.

Hey, Sexy.

How did it go?

Fine.

Excellent.

Tell him we on our way.

I will convey that information to them immediately.

Thanks, Sexy.

And now that you have concluded your business, I will be able to see you, right?

Right, Sexy. Have that thang wet and ready for me when I get there, Hill said and ended the call.

He put the car in gear and drove down the street right past Detective Bautista.

Chapter Four

It was almost seven o'clock that same morning and Carmen Taylor was in the interrogation room with her lawyer, Gary Walden, answering questions about the murder of Larry Brin and Katana Jackson, as well as Kenneth Castellano, a known hit man, earlier that morning at the City Diner.

Carmen had hoped that her friend, Detective Mitchell would be the one asking the questions, but she was on vacation, so Carmen was being interrogated by her partner, Detective Jack Harmon. He was putting pressure on her, asking tougher questions than Carmen was prepared for. At this point, she had told her story twice, once to the officer on the scene and once more to Harmon.

Okay, Ms. Taylor, Harmon said and took a deep breath. Take me through it again.

I got a call from one of my informants, Carmen began.

Tell me his name again. Harmon said and glanced at his notes.

Larry Brin.

And he was one of the victims, right?

Yes. He asked me to meet him at the City Diner.

Is it usual for informants to call you at that time of day?

No, it is not. But Larry, I mean Mr. Brin, said that it took that long to convince her to talk to me.

Go on, Ms. Taylor.

When he got there, he told me that Katana Jackson said that she needed to talk to me about what was going on at Abbate Construction.

What did she want to talk about?

I never got a chance to speak to her.

Okay, Detective Harmon said. So you agree to meet him, and Brin shows up with Jackson; what happened then?

A man came in the diner and looked around for a second or two and then he saw Katana. He walked up to her, raised his gun and shot her twice in the head.

She didn’t tell the detective that that was when Jada removed the Browning Black Label .380 from her clutch.

That’s when Larry screamed no and then the man shot him twice in the chest.

What happened then, Ms. Taylor?

That was when I shot him, Carmen said instead of telling the detective that when Castellano turned to leave, that it was Jada that shot him in the back of the head before he made it out of the diner.

Carmen smiled to herself when she thought about Jada, who she remembered as not being a very good shot, blowing the smoke from the barrel and saying in typical Jada West fashion, I’ve had a lot of practice lately.

Call the police, the cook yelled immediately, and the waitress picked up the phone.

Not yet, Carmen said quickly. She looked at Jada. You need to leave.

What about you?

I’ll be alright. Give me the gun.

Jada took the scarf from around her neck and wiped her fingerprints from the gun before handing it to Carmen.

Now get out of here, she said and then looked at the cook and the waitress. What about them?

I’ll take care of them, Jada said and then she went to get her clutch.

She took out the ten thousand dollars in cash that she had on her and walked to the counter. Jada stood in front of them and without making eye contact, began counting the money she had in two piles. When she was finished counting, Jada looked at the pair.

I was never here, Jada said.

When the cook reached for the money, Carmen very quickly placed her palm on top of the crisp bills.

Tell the police exactly what you saw. After he shot the two of them, I shot him. Understand?

That man walked in here, shot them two people and then you shot him before he could getaway. Ain’t that right, George? the waitress said and looked anxiously at the cook.

George looked at Carmen and Jada and then to the pile of money. It happened just like that. You shot that man, he said and then Carmen moved her hand.

Exactly what you saw, Carmen said and then she turned to Jada. Why are you still here?

I’m going, Jada said and headed out the door.

Now you can call the police, Carmen said and took out her phone to call her cameraman, Max.

As the phone rang, Carmen gave some thought to the fact that it was now four thirty-five in the morning and maybe she should have just called the station and have them send a crew, which she was going to end up doing anyway. But she knew that if she did that, Max would be mad at her.

Do you know what time it is? a half-sleeping, half-angry Max answered just before it went to voicemail.

Yes, Max, I know what time it is, and I’m sorry, but…

What is it, Carmen?

I’m at the City Diner on Broadway. Grab your gear and get down here.

You’re supposed to be on vacation.

I was … I mean I am. Just get down here, Max.

I’m on my way, Max said, and Carmen could tell that getting out of bed at that hour was the last thing he wanted to do.

Max.

What?

Thanks.

You can thank me by buying me breakfast when I get there, Max said as he quickly began getting dressed.

I am at a diner, Carmen paused and looked at the three dead bodies on the floor, But you might wanna eat somewhere else.

When the police arrived at the diner, the cook and the waitress told them exactly what they saw. That man walked in here, the waitress said and pointed toward the bodies. He shot them two people and then Carmen Taylor shot him before he could getaway. Ain’t that right, George?

It happened just like that, he pointed at Carmen. That woman there shot him.

Once the police had taken their statements, one of the cops walked over to Carmen and held out his hand. I just wanted to shake your hand and say thank you.

Carmen shook his hand. Thank you for what?

You saved a cop’s life. I respect that.

Not knowing what else to say and always being embarrassed by the attention, Carmen simply said, You’re welcome.

It was then that Max arrived with his camera. The cop stopped him immediately. You can’t be in here.

He’s with me and he has no intention of recording anything in here. Right, Max?

Right, Max said as he flipped the on switch on the camera and held it by his side, being sure to scan the room as he slowly turned to leave.

If you’re finished with me for a while, I’m going outside, Carmen said.

Just don’t leave. I’m sure the detectives will have some more questions for you when they get here, the cop said and walked away.

Come on, Max, Carmen said and started for the door. Tell me you got some of that, she said quietly.

What’s my name?

You’re Mad Max, Carmen put her arm around him, The best cameraman in the world.

Damn right, I got it, Max laughed. I just have no idea what I got.

When they were outside, the news truck had arrived from the station. Carmen and Max wasted no time reviewing the footage that he caught. While the footage was edited, Carmen thought of something important.

Gunshot residue. I don’t have any.

Carmen looked at her watch. It had been at least thirty minutes since the shot was fired. She had read somewhere that gunshot residue deposits on the hands decline rapidly during the first hour after firing the weapon.

But what if they want to test the clothes? Carmen shook her head. This isn’t gonna be as easy as I thought.

Don’t we keep an outfit for me in here? Carmen asked.

I think we do, Lacara Krisella, an aggressive, young associate producer said.

I need that outfit and makeup, Carmen said.

Quickly people, Lacara said, clapping her hands. We’re live in ten.

And I’m gonna need a little privacy.

Everybody out!

Once Carmen had changed, and her makeup was touched up, especially her hands, a good spot was found, and Carmen went to work.

So much for the vacation, she said.

In three, two, one.

This is Carmen Taylor, coming to you live from The City Diner on Broadway; the sight of a triple homicide and you know what? Carmen paused for effect. I was involved.

Ms. Taylor? Detective Harmon said and her lawyer touched her hand to get her attention.

I’m sorry, detective. What did you say?

Am I boring you, Ms. Taylor?

Not at all, Carmen said.

You said that was when you shot him. Why did you shoot him?

So he wouldn’t get away.

One shot, back of the head. Harmon sat back in his chair. That was good shooting.

Carmen shrugged her shoulders. Lucky shot.

I don’t believe that for a second, Ms. Taylor. You saved my partner’s life, remember? Or was that a lucky shot too? Harmon paused. The point is this. You shot him in the back of the head. That means that when you shot him, he was leaving, and you weren’t in any danger.

Her lawyer put his hand on Carmen’s stopping her from responding. Is there a question you’d like to ask, detective?

Tell me again how it happened after the gunman came in.

I didn’t really pay him any attention when he first came in.

When did you first notice him?

I noticed him look around and then he walked up to Katana, raised his gun and shot her twice in the head.

What did you do then?

I took out my gun.

Why?

To protect myself.

Go on, Ms. Taylor.

Larry screamed and then the man shot him twice in the chest. Then he turned to me and I fired.

And your shot hit him in the back of the head.

Like I said, it was a lucky shot.

Chapter Five

Jada was looking out the window at the dazzling view of the rising sun from her suite at The Peninsula Hotel. Since the new management didn’t know that it was her and Shy that shot up the Salon de Ning, they welcomed Jada back with opened arms.

It was after eight o'clock and Jada still hadn’t heard anything from Carmen and that worried her. She had killed a man and then left Carmen to face the police. But she knew that Carmen was right when she insisted that she leave. Her lawyer, Patrick Freeman was working hard to get the promoting and compelling prostitution charges against her dropped. Jada knew that regardless of the circumstances, the police would charge her with manslaughter. Despite that, when Jada left the diner, she still felt badly about leaving her friend.

Jada stepped away from the window and began pacing around the spacious Fifth Avenue suite that once suited her needs perfectly, with its expansive living room, elegant dining room, majestic master bedroom, gourmet kitchen and private study. Now, it just seemed too big and empty as she waited for her phone to ring.

The later it became, the more Jada was left to believe that Carmen had been arrested and charged with the murder that she had committed. Even though it was early, Jada needed a drink, so she went to the bar, poured herself a French 75 and sat down on the couch. Her mind began replaying the events that happened earlier that morning.

It all happened so fast.

Since each accused the other of being an obsessed workaholic that refused to take a vacation, Jada and Carmen were going to Paris. But before they left on the charter Jada had arranged, they went out for dinner and cocktails.

Their evening began with dinner at Daniels on East 65th, and then the ladies went to Session 73 on 1st Avenue. By two o’clock in the morning, Jada and Carmen found that they had drank and danced the night away and were thinking about leaving Session 73 and either calling it a night or going someplace else. When Carmen suggested that they go to J.R.’s, Jada told her that she was drunk.

You must be if you think I’m going to dance at J.R.’s, Jada said and signaled for the waitress. I have a reputation to maintain, and so do you, she said and practically fell in her chair.

You’re the one that’s drunk, Carmen said and then she practically fell in her chair. That was when she got the call from Larry Brin and they went to meet him at the City Diner. Carmen had just gotten up from the table to talk with Brin and Katana Jackson.

Jada laughed when she remembered thinking, Carmen is doing what Carmen does and we are not going to Paris, Jada thought as she sipped the drink that she thought she needed, but no longer wanted.

When Katana was shot twice in the head, thinking that he was going to kill Carmen next, Jada quickly removed the .380 from her clutch. Then Castellano shot Brin twice in the chest and as he turned to leave, Jada fired one shot that hit him in the back of the head.

I’ve had a lot of practice lately, she may have said, but Jada knew it was a lucky shot. She just pointed the gun and pulled the trigger. Aiming the gun was not involved.

When she walked away from the diner, Jada walked by a man that she thought that she recognized. She stopped and looked back at him.

Excuse me, sir.

Yes. He stopped and looked at Jada as she walked back toward him.

I saw you earlier this evening at Session 73, didn’t I?

The man said nothing, and Jada smiled.

You’re Carmen’s bodyguard, aren’t you?

Yes, Ms. West.

There was a shooting inside, Jada informed him.

Is Ms. Taylor all right?

Ms. Taylor is fine. However, the police are coming, and I need to get away from here.

I understand, Ms. West. I’ll get you a cab and then I will check on Ms. Taylor.

Thank you.

Jada watched as he stepped into the street to flag down a cab. She remembered thinking that in her position, if she asked his name, he would tell her.

But where’s the fun in that, Jada thought as he held the cab door open while she got in.

She put the glass down and thought about how far she had come. She was a killer now, something that Jada never thought she’d be. However, if she chose to be honest, that was the definition of her life. Jada wasn’t who she thought she’d be, and hadn’t been since the day she got in the car with Diane at Fat Larry’s.

That day, Jada West became somebody else. She never expected to be a dancer, never imagined herself as a high price escort or as a madam and never in her wildest dreams did she think that she would be running a criminal organization on several Caribbean islands.

She had certainly come a very long way from the night that she went after Bullet. Jada laughed as she thought about how the recoil from firing the weapon put her on her ass that night. If it hadn’t been for Chanté showing up when she did, Bullet would have certainly killed her.

That night, Jada resolved herself that gunplay just wasn’t for her. That lasted until the night Shy paid a visit to the Salon de Ning. She had just put Shy on notice that she’d be around, when a group of men came to kill her.

Fucking around with that damn Carmen Taylor.

Jada remembered that she and Shy were pinned down behind a car and they were taking heavy gunfire. Men were approaching from both sides. Shy stood up and fired on one until the PLR-22 was empty and the man went down. When Shy took cover to reload, Jada saw the other man coming around the car. She raised the Beretta that Shy had given her and fired three times; each shot hit him, and he fell to the ground.

Jada laughed aloud as she thought about how she looked at the dead man and then to the gun in her hand and took a second to marvel at her work.

Jada also remembered Shy yelling, Don’t get cocky!

That was her first kill, but it certainly wasn’t her last.

She thought back to when she, Johnny, Rain and Black went to stop the Grenadines from moving a shipment through Nassau. Jada remembered lying on the ground as the last one came toward her. She raised her .380 Mustang, fired and hit him with two shots to his chest and he fell to the ground beside her, ruining her outfit.

That’s what I get for wearing an Escada pinstriped suit and Jimmy Choo crystal-coated pumps to a gunfight, she smiled and laughed.

But after that, killing became easier to her. When two of her women were murdered and the killers had been found, Johnny was beating the man trying to get information when Jada grew inpatient.

This is getting us nowhere, Johnny.

Jada put the barrel to his temple. You will tell me what I want to know. And you are going to tell me now.

When he told Jada that she wasn’t going to shoot because she needed him alive, she promptly informed him that she actually didn’t need him and pulled the trigger.

Then Jada looked down and saw the blood splatter on her five thousand-dollar Akris outfit. She shook her head in disgust and shot him again. When Johnny asked why she did that, her response was simple.

For getting blood on my dress.

Jada had become a cold-blooded killer just like the people that she surrounded herself with. But in that, she realized something. Being cold-blooded is necessary, necessary to survive.

When her cell phone rang, Jada bounced up from the couch and rushed to answer it. Hello.

It’s Carmen.

Are you all right?

I’m fine. Everything is fine. I just left the police station.

So they didn’t charge you with murder?

No. It was looking like they were going to for a while there. And he said that he still had questions. So, I don’t know. Carmen paused. The detective kept going back to the same point over and over.

What was that?

Why I shot him.

Because he had just killed two people, Jada said excitedly. The knowledge that Carmen still could be charged for a murder that she committed was unsettling.

He says that since he was shot in the back of the head, that he was leaving the scene, therefore I was in no apparent danger.

I see.

I’ve got to go to a meeting at the station with my lawyer so we can talk about this with management.

I understand.

I’ll call you later, Carmen said.

Thanks for calling and letting me know that you’re all right. I was worried about you.

I’m fine for the time being, Jada, but I gotta go, Carmen said, and she ended the call.

Secure in the knowledge that Carmen was all right, Jada took a long hot bath, put on a La Perla silk nightgown and got in bed.

Chapter Six

Ahhhhh, damn.

That’s it; work all the details.

And she did. She swiveled and swirled and bounced and shook all over his length. She loved it when he talked to her like he did when they were out working a case. But here, right now, all that mattered now was him working her case.

His palms gripped her ass tightly as she began to slam down onto him, using the strength of her thighs to push up and down as she watched him grimace to hold onto control. But she was working the hell out of him, so much so that when she felt him swelling inside of her, her body reacted and set off a set of spasms. One rolling into the next until she was shouting.

Fuck, I’m cumming, Papi!

He held her tightly against his chest as they both began to breathe evenly. As much as she wished she could have stayed there, she had to get up. One, because she had to work; and two, because she had fallen in love with him and didn’t know what to do about it. Staying would only make it more complicated than it already was.

As she pulled away and gathered the sheet to cover herself, Kirk sat up in bed.

I’ve seen all of that pretty ass, detective. You might as well let me watch it shake on the way to the shower.

Laughing, Bautista dropped the sheet and moved into his bathroom to shower. She made quick work of washing, rinsing off the lather, drying off, and then dressing in a total of fifteen minutes, and she was out of there.

I love your style. No waiting for you to get dressed.

Well considering I gotta go home to put on some fresh clothes, I didn’t think taking all the time in the world in the shower made sense.

Is that a hint?

Bautista stood in the doorway. What do you mean? she asked innocently, even though it was a hint and not a very subtle one. She didn’t want to move in, not really. Not unless he wants me too. Bautista thought since they slept at his place all the time, that leaving clothes there made sense.

Kirk looked at his sexy-ass partner.

She was smiling and so was he.

He had really begun to like her and more than a little bit.

Maybe you should leave something here, he thought of saying but quickly decided not to. Must be nothing then, he said and got out of bed. He still wasn’t ready for that.

Bautista pecked him on the cheek. I’ll see you later.

And it wasn’t much later when she was in her car and on her way home to change that Bautista’s mind shifted from thoughts of love and moving in, to the conversation she’d listened to and what she saw the night before. If the woman had really got where she said that she was, and based on the conversation, she was, this could put her one step closer to Rain Robinson.

When Bautista arrived home, she changed into a clean outfit and headed back out to the precinct, arriving at her desk thirty minutes later. It was about fifteen minutes after that when Kirk arrived, and sat down across from his partner.

Good morning, detective. Kirk said to her for the second time that morning.

Good morning. Bautista leaned forward. I liked your first good morning better, she whispered.

You usually do. Kirk said and took a sip of his coffee.

I do. Bautista paused for a second or two and looked at Kirk and wondered if this was finally the time to tell him. She scanned the room before leaning forward. I got something that I need to tell you about, Bautista said in a voice barely above a whisper.

What’s that?

I’ve been working a case on my own and off-book.

Kirk said nothing at first, he just sipped his coffee. Then he looked around before leaning forward. I know.

You know?

Of course I know. I know everything about you.

You do, huh? Bautista said smiling.

I know when you have a hair out of place, Kirk said and got up. You want another cup?

No, thank you, she said slowly, wondering why the revelation that she was not only working a case without him, but she was doing it off-book, didn’t seem to garner any type of reaction.

So, if you already know, what am I doing? Bautista asked the second Kirk came back to his desk.

Kirk sat down and lean forward. You’re investigating Rain Robinson and you’re running a snitch.

Confidential informant, Bautista smiled.

But you’re running her off-book too. Kirk shook his finger at Bautista. You already know how many things can go wrong with that, so I don’t have to tell you.

So you’re not mad?

Oh, yeah, I’m mad. Mad as hell. As a matter of fact, I’m outraged. What could you have possibly been thinking, detective, Kirk said as he calmly sipped his coffee. But you show me a cop, a good cop that hasn’t worked a case on their own time or ran a snitch − excuse me − confidential informant.

Thank you, Bautista smiled, and she gave him a bit of her accent because she knew he liked it.

What I am disappointed about is that you didn’t come to me.

I’m sorry I didn’t come to you. This was something that I had to do on my own. I thought that you would understand, Bautista said and dropped her head.

Oh, I do understand. You know that I do. But the difference is, I went after Black on my own because I had to. I didn’t have a partner that would go to the wall with me. You do, that’s all I’m saying.

There was a part of him that wanted to include the fact that they shared a bed, but he thought it better it he kept it on a professional level.

And we’re sleeping together, Bautista whispered saving him the trouble. So far, they had managed to keep their personal relationship to themselves.

There is that too.

I’m sorry, Bautista said and then she thought about a question that she needed answered. How’d you find out?

Kirk put down his cup. You really wanna know?

Yes, I would really like to know.

Rain told me.

What?

Rain Robinson. Kirk laughed because the dumbfounded look on her face was priceless. You know, the subject of the off-book investigation you’re running.

Where did you see her?

If I told you, you wouldn’t believe it.

Bautista laughed. Where did you see her?

She was in line behind me at the bodega.

What did she say?

She said, I hear your girlfriend is coming after me. I said, She’s a cop, you’re criminal, that’s her job.

What did she say?

She gave me a message for you.

What was that?

She said, tell her I ain’t hard to find and I’ll be waiting for her when she comes.

That little bitch.

Remember, Black didn’t put that ‘little bitch’ in charge of his house because she’s a stupid bitch. So, if you’re gonna get her, you have to be smarter than her.

Bautista got up.

Where are you going?

She picked up her half-empty cup. To top this off, she said and walked away, but her thoughts weren't on the coffee; her thoughts were on that bitch, Rain Robinson. Not only was she smarter than Rain, but she would bring that bitch down.

Excuse me, a female