Charming a Jamaican Kingpin's Heart

By Vivian Blue

Messiah Clarke is facing some of the biggest challenges of his life. He has great money and power, but he can’t stop his beloved wife, Paisley, from dying from stage 3 breast cancer. They’ve been married for 17 years and Messiah has made a conscious decision to walk away from his drug empire in Jamaica and move to the United States in hopes of getting her treatment.

Alfie Clarke, Messiah’s little cousin, is due to inherit the family’s empire when Messiah steps down. Alfie is young, reckless, and has a lot to learn. Messiah wants to leave his best friend and right-hand man, Kensie Saint James, in charge while he figures out his wife’s situation, but his uncle is pressuring him to let Alfie take his rightful place as head of their Rasta clan. However, Messiah isn’t convinced that it’s the best course of action.

Charming “Charm” Backster has found herself in one hell of a predicament at the age of 22. Her choices are to go to jail for the next 20 years for drug trafficking and money laundering, or be a nanny for her father's good friend, Messiah, and gather intel on him and his organization. She doesn’t have anything to lose being that the feds took everything that her family owned. To make matters worse, her uncle is the FBI agent that’s pressing her to do it. But when she finally meets Messiah, will her emotions get in the way of the job she's been sent to complete?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Royalty Publishing House
• Release date: Nov 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781648403194

Book preview

D o you tink it is wise to leave Alfie in charge of everyting, mon? Kensie asked, frowning.

You know dat bouy can’t take care of da small part of da island dat he’s in charge of already, so wat makes you tink dat he can keep all of our territory secure?

I know Kensie, but my uncle is applying pressure to have his son take my place while I’m in da states, Messiah replied.

He said dat our bloodline should always sit at da head of da table, and those were my father’s words.

Dat is bullshit mon and you know it! Is it written somewhere dat states dis is for true? ‘Cus if my memory serves me correctly, didn’t dat nigga cause a war between us and da Renegades?

Messiah simpered at his long-time friend.

Indeed mon, Messiah replied. But in da end, it benefitted our family. We gained more soldiers and land that has proven to be lucrative. We have acres of poppy and gunja fields under our control mon. Wat could be betta den dat?

Messiah got up from his desk and walked over to the couch where Kensie had been sitting. He sat down across from him in a leather armchair and reached for his already rolled blunt. He grabbed the butane lighter sitting next to it and fired up the stuffed cigar. He watched as the end of it turned bright orange and a pungent smell engulfed the room.

Montey ova everything. I guess dat’s wat ya sayin’, Kensie said, scratching his head.

Exactly mon! Messiah agreed. And the end result got da nigga Alfie far away from me, mon. I don’t have ta see his mug except once a month when we meet. He presents his earnings and pays da bank den his ass is gone away again.

Dat sounds all good but he’s not fit ta run shit, I’m tellin’ ya mon. You know as well as me dat he’s gonna fuck sum shit up and I’ll have ta clean it up.

But dat’s your job, Kensie. You are my trusted confidant and I expect you to accept any decision dat I make wit’out question mon.

Kensie stared at Messiah unconvinced.

Besides, ya gonna be right dere to help keep order anyways. I can’t blindly leave wit’out considering da day-to-day operation. Niggas would see it as an opportunity to cause anarchy and we can’t have dat shit, mon. I’ll come back home just to personally deaden any bumbaclot dat goes against my word!

Does dat include your cousin? Kensie questioned, lifting an eyebrow. Because ya know he’ll com’ fa blood if tings don’t go his way.

Messiah sat back in his chair hitting the blunt. He contemplated Kensie’s words but wasn’t worried about any threat that Alfie might pose. It would be best to keep all unnecessary bullshit at bay if at all possible; however, shit happens and Messiah had a difficult decision to make. Should he follow his first mind, or go along with his uncle’s suggestion?

I’ll only be gone temporarily, mon. Paisley has to undergo six months of treatment and I need to be present and by her side at all times.

I understand Messiah, and I pray Jah grants resolution over da cancer. I hate to see da bot’ of you go tru dis shit, mon. Paisley is a good wuman and da last person who deserves dis fuckery.

I know right, mon. My wife has been tru a lot and we thought da chemo and radiation would have gotten all of it. Shit, she gave up her tits mon on da strength dat dey got all of da cancer out, Messiah explained.

Da drugs dey was pumpin’ tru her body had her losing her hair, not eating, and she lost a bunch of fucking weight, mon. Do you know wat it’s like to listen to ya wife crying out in pain an ders nuting you can do about it? It ate at my soul mon for da longest time.

I can only imagine, mon. Ash told me dat it was hard to be dere for her sister as well because she had to fight back da tears whenever she visited Paisley, Kensie explained.

Ya know da bond dat sisters share, and wen one hurts, dey bot’ hurt.

For truth, Messiah agreed, shifting in his chair.

Thoughts of his beautiful queen surfaced in his mind. He thought about how they were married young because he got her pregnant at sixteen years old. Messiah had graduated from grammar school and his father sent him to the states to go to college at the University of Georgia. He had come home to the island for a summer break, and that’s when he met a very shy young lady named Paisley at a party. He was nineteen, but age didn’t matter to Paisley. She was in love with him at first glance because Messiah possessed a certain presence that commanded the room. The way his mountainous stature towered over Paisley’s petite body made butterflies flutter in her stomach. She wasn’t aware that he had butterflies as well, because he seemed so arrogant and cocky.

Her delicate features brought a smile to his face when he introduced himself to her. He thought she was the most beautiful creature that he’d ever laid eyes on, and it was imperative that he got to know her better. Messiah took Paisley’s hand and found a quiet corner for them to talk. He occupied all of her time the entire night, and even took her home afterwards with the promise to call her as soon he made it in. It was an instant love affair that moved quickly, and by the week’s end Messiah bedded Paisley, taking her virginity as his prize. There were other girls he was dating at the time that knew his father was the ruthless drug lord that controlled most of the island’s illegal activities, but none of them could hold a candle to Paisley. She possessed a certain innocence that intrigued him.

The more he was around her, the more of her he wanted to consume. They would go to the docks, where Paisley’s father’s fishing boat sat, and make love under the stars as they hid away from the world. Messiah knew that his time was precious with Paisley because he would be leaving to go back to the states in a matter of weeks before classes began. His father, Michael, constantly rode him because he felt something, or someone, had Messiah distracted. He never let Messiah go anywhere by himself, so he sought out his son’s bodyguards to find out what he’d been up to. The guards informed him that Messiah had been dating a girl who lived on the west side of the town, but he would slip them and disappear only to show up hours later with a big smile on his face.

Michael didn’t like what he was hearing and made it his business to find out everything about Paisley and her family. What he found out was that Paisley came from a humble background. She came from a long line of fishermen and her mother was employed as a seamstress. This wasn’t the type of wife he envisioned for his son. He felt a good American girl would be the best choice. He could get citizenship without having to go through a lot of red tape, and they could branch their business across the waters with his son spearheading the entire operation. However, when Michael brought this information back to Messiah and pointed out the fact that he couldn’t have a serious relationship with Paisley because he was leaving for college, Messiah blew his father off and continued to see the young woman who had slowly taken over his heart. When it was time for Messiah to leave to go back to college, he found it difficult to part ways with her. Paisley had become pregnant and he didn’t want to leave her to have their child alone, so he made the decision to marry her and bring her to Georgia with him.

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Do ya tink it was a good idea to buy David’s house since he got caught up by da federal agents? Kensie inquired, breaking Messiah’s thoughts.

Dey been tryin’ ta catch up wit’ da family fa years, but we’ve managed to allude dem wit’out incident.

I understand ya concern Kensie, but I’m safe, Messiah replied. I had my broker buy da house under a false name, but he set it up as if I’m renting da house for six months.

And wat about his daughter? Why did you agree ta bring her into ya home?

Cus David asked me tu, Messiah replied, sounding a bit annoyed. And I owe him mon.

He had grown tired of Kensie questioning his every move, but that was his job.

She will be taking care of da kids while I tend to Paisley. She will be cummin’ here fa a few weeks in order fa me to feel her out mon, Messiah explained.

I need to know dat she’s trustworthy if I’m going to have her around my seeds. I owe David a boat load of gratitude cus he didn’t fold on me wen dey captured him. He has shown me great loyalty wen niggas my family has fed for generations tried to sell me out for dere freedom. Did you know dat dey offered David life in prison cus he wouldn’t tell on me? Now dat’s loyalty! And da only ting he asked of me is to look out fa his only child. C’mon lil’ baby. Messiah’s got ya.

Dat bouy David is a special kind of crazy mon. I remember da first time we met his ass at da port in Miami. He had dat bright ass yellow truck dat had balloons an’ shit painted on da sides. I recall tellin’ ya dat dis was a bad idea, and dis nigga was going to get us caught mon.

Kensie looked at Messiah and laughed.

I told you dat David was a solid muthafucka mon. And look at how much montey we made fuckin’ wit’ him. I made my first million dollars doin’ bidness wit’ him mon, Messiah said proudly.

I owe dat man so much respect.

And we made several more millions fuckin’ wit’ him too! Kensie added.

However, I still feel dat dis is too close fa comfort mon. I don’t tink dis girl will be able to hack it. I remember da last time I was in da ATL, she had a booth across from me. Dat lil’ gurl had niggas runnin’ in and out of her spot like she was sellin’ pwussy mon.

Messiah laughed heartily.

I know she wasn’t sellin’ no pwussy mon! David would kill her ass if he found dat shit out mon. I remember him tellin’ me a story ‘bout catchin’ some lil’ nigga in da house wit’ her, Messiah said laughing.

He say he pulled out a twelve-gauge shotgun and blew a hole tru his front door as da kid ran out of it!

Messiah chuckled as he told the story and began to choke. He could hear David telling him the story with all the theatrics he liked to throw in.

He say he was gonna put a chastity belt on her! I didn’t realize how he felt until my baby girl turned sixteen mon!

Dat won’t stop her from givin’ a little head, Kensie pointed out.

I’d take da head ova pwussy any day mon.

Here an’ now lately, dat’s wat I’ve had to deal wit’ here. Paisley ain’t been in da mood to fuck and it is really starting to get to me, Messiah confessed. I enjoy makin’ love to my wife. Her body is pure, and I am da only man who has ever laid by her.

I’m sorry my friend, Kensie replied. I couldn’t imagine Ash not givin’ up no ass, mon. I would probably kill her, but not if I were in your situation.

Messiah looked at his friend and shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t believe some of the shit that came out of Kensie’s mouth, but then again, he could. Kensie didn’t have a filter and Messiah definitely didn’t have a filter, and even if he did, he wouldn’t use it.

Charm will be fine mon, Messiah assured him.

And you’re going to make sure dat she stays out of trouble while she’s here.

So, I have ta babysit da babysitter? Kensie questioned.

Yes you do, Kensie, Messiah replied.

It shouldn’t be dat hard and I bet it won’t be dat bad mon.

I beg to differ, Kensie replied.

And your first order of business is to fly out tonight and go to Atlanta. The plane is waiting for you to arrive at da airport, Messiah explained. You have a bag already packed. I took the liberty of having Paisley go shopping for you. You’ll find everting you need for your trip.

Why am I going to Atlanta? Kensie asked, staring at Messiah strangely.

Let’s just say you’re going to do a job interview, Messiah replied smiling. And I expect a full report by the time you arrive back in Jamaica tomorrow.

Kensie cut his eyes at Messiah because he wasn’t happy with this decision. And wait until he told his wife. She was going to flip her lid and he’d have to hear about it for the next six months while they were gone.

Messiah was sitting in his office when his wife, Paisley, came in. She wanted to speak with him about the new nanny that was coming to stay with them. She had some reservations after the last one who worked for them, and she wanted her husband to hear her out. Maybe they really didn’t need a nanny and she could continue to care for them like she’d always done. Paisley found it difficult to talk to her husband sometimes. He could be stubborn and set in his ways. Whatever Messiah said, went, and Paisley never spoke up for herself.

Excuse me Messiah, can I have a word wit’ you? Paisley asked, walking up to his desk.

Of course, but you need to make it quick mon, Messiah replied.

I have to go into town to handle some business.

Paisley sat down in a chair across from him. She didn’t know how to begin, so she just hopped right to it.

Messiah, I’m having some reservations ‘bout the new nanny. She’s not from here and I don’t know if she’s gonna be able to relate to da children. She’s merely a child herself, can she do da job? Didn’t you say she was David’s daughter and has no experience wit’ kids? Isn’t he in prison back in the states mon? Wouldn’t dat be dangerous to even have her here in da house wit’ us? How do you know dat she’s not working wit’ da drug enforcement agents?

Messiah looked at his wife and smirked.

I see you’ve been talking to Kensie my dear, Messiah said, placing a piece of paper down on his desk. Charm is going to do whatever I tell her to do mon, and if that means nannying our children den that’s wat she’s going to do. Her father asked me to look out for her and dat’s what I’m going to do mon. I gave David my word.

I understand Messiah, but—

But wat Paisley? Messiah asked, cutting her off. Are you questioning my judgement mon?

Paisley looked off to the side because his judgement had nothing to do with it. Paisley saw a picture of Charm and felt a bit threatened by her beauty. She already had to deal with a hormonal teenager who’d learned about the joys of sexual intercourse. And her husband had a wandering eye that she had to worry about.

No, I’m not questioning your judgement Messiah, she replied quickly. You know wat happened wit’ da last nanny and I don’t want da same ting to happen again. Do you tink if we gave Rambo the responsibility to look after Jayden, we’ll have more success wit’ him listening and following da rules?

I’m going to beat Jayden’s ass again if he continues to be disobedient. After the last incident and I hit his ass four good times, I believe he has a better understanding of wat is and isn’t appropriate mon. And wat about da girls? Who’s going to look after them?

I can continue to look after dem. I am their mother, after all. Kelly can assist me and make sure dey stay on their schedules, Paisley offered.

But half the time you don’t feel well my sweet. Why would I put dat type of pressure on you when we can hire someone to tend to the children mon? The cancer has come back and your health isn’t the best. We’re on our way to the states and I think having an American nanny will help the children adjust to living in Georgia. And I can keep an eye on Charm to make sure she’s not gonna roll over on us, Messiah explained. I’ve made my decision Paisley, and you’re not gonna change my mind.

Paisley looked up at her husband with apprehension across her face. She didn’t agree with him, but if that was what he’d decided then she had no choice but to go along with it. She would have to make sure that this Charm girl could keep up with her duties because the person who took care of her children would have to be able to support them when she was dead and gone.

Messiah, it’s time ta go mon, said Joe, one of the guards.

Okay, I’ll be there in a minute mon, he replied. Is there anything else you want to talk about?

Wud I be heard if I did? she asked, standing to her feet.

Paisley stormed out of the room and Messiah watched her as she left. He wasn’t sure where this attitude had come from, but it really didn’t matter to him. He’d made the decision and it was final, whether Paisley agreed with it or not. She didn’t understand the particulars of the drug business, so she had no idea that having Charm under his roof was a good way of making sure David stayed silent. Messiah would have his long-time friend’s most precious possession. Messiah knew how he felt about his own children, and he knew that Charm meant more to David than life itself. She was the only thing that he had after the death of his wife, so Messiah knew the type of power he would possess over David. And if David or his daughter decided to go against him, he would kill the both of them and continue living his life as usual.

Messiah went to write something down, but found his thoughts wondering off to his wife. It was difficult for him to accept his wife’s input since he felt she was merely going off emotion. Allowing a woman to make decisions for the family is out of the question. It was frowned upon by his father, because a woman’s place was caring for the children not making decisions for the family. He hasn’t been as loving and forthcoming with his feelings about her diagnosis, because he didn’t know how to handle it, nor did he know how to. It is his job as a man and the head of the family to focus and maintain control of his empire. He couldn’t allow himself to look weak or vulnerable in front of Paisley since he wasn’t raised to be that kind of man. His father said men don’t have time to sit around and tell their wives their feelings. How could she respect him as a man if he’s showing her that he was not strong or tough enough to endure this situation. Whenever Messiah would show compassion or kindness towards someone that was deserving of it. His father would berate him and criticize his actions as weak and cowardly. His mother knew not to interfere with this because she believed the same thing. Her father was strong and prideful as well. Messiah’s mother died before his father, and he was not allowed to mourn her in front of his father. He would have to go off and cry silently to himself, because Paisley wasn’t even allowed to see him grieve. Even at his mother’s funeral Messiah never shed any tears. He had a stoic look on his face like his father. They couldn’t let anyone know that they were affected by the loss. Sadness would show weakness, and there was nothing week about the Clarke men. Paisley understood that men from the islands viewed masculinity in a different light. They had to be the roughest and toughest out of everyone. In the drug business you can’t have feelings or be empathetic, because that could make the difference between life and death. Messiah was the king sitting high on the thrown and no one was going to take it from him.

Messiah had gotten word that a few of his workers may be undercover federal agents. David sent word that his contact on the inside verified a connection with the men to David’s brother-in-law, Richard, who was an FBI agent. Richard had been trying to take down David and Messiah’s operation for a long time, but never got enough intel or evidence to do so. He attempted several different strategies and tactics to incriminate both of them, but David always managed to stay ahead of Richard. It wasn’t until recently that Richard was able to obtain some recordings of David and arrest him on conspiracy, money laundering, fraud, and tampering to start with. Richard had a lot more he wanted to throw at David and hoped that the evidence would be enough to get David declared a drug lord. However, if David agreed to cooperate and give up his Caribbean partner, Messiah, he could in turn ask the court to go easy on him.

The meeting was taking place at one of Messiah’s farms on the far end of the island. He had an import business where they sold exotic fruit to the US, but he also used it as a front to get his marijuana and cocaine through customs. It wasn’t until recently that one of his shipments had been intercepted and David was arrested for the crime. He wanted to know how

Reviews for Charming a Jamaican Kingpin's Heart

[Due-And Drummond · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Thought Charm was a bit too much, I mean who disrespects their employer like that when just meeting them? And he is a Jamaican Don at that!! No Jamaican Don would allow anyone to talk to them like a punk; especially in the presence of others