Dutch

  Simone.

  His heart skipped beats as his eyes traveled along every curve and contour of the ebony princess. He knew right away why Kazami had such a weakness for this beautiful creature, and he decided right there never to let a woman get as close to him as Simone was to Kazami.

  She looked at Dutch and smiled knowingly at his open admiration for her, then turned to Ray. Recognition flashed in her eyes and her pupils dilated at the sight of Sugar Ray, her coconspirator.

  “Now, I know you aren’t Mr. Carter,” Ray smoothly remarked.

  “No, not quite. I’m his wife. I ordered the satellite.”

  “Now we’re getting somewhere,” Ray said.

  Simone stood aside to let Sugar Ray and Dutch pass into the foyer. Ray picked up the satellite box, then he and Dutch crossed the threshold, past the point of no return. Dutch knew it was do or die.

  They made it no farther than the foyer when the African repeated his earlier order.

  “Now, open it.”

  Ray opened the box to reveal the satellite and its control unit. “Happy?”

  “And the toolbox,” the man said to Dutch.

  “Man, what is with you?” Ray asked as the African just glanced at Ray as he checked out the toolbox.

  After that, he reached for Ray to frisk him down, but Ray stepped back, “Hol’ up, partna. I don’t know what you into, but we ain’t no toolbox,” Ray said, looking at Simone questioningly.

  “It’s just formality. My husband is a very important man. So this is just routine for everyone.”

  Ray sighed loudly then turned his back to the man and raised his arms. After Ray, he frisked Dutch, then nodded to Simone.

  “Come on, I’ll show you where I want it at.”

  Ray could tell by her tone she wasn’t talking about the satellite. He picked up the box, and he and Dutch followed Simone while the bodyguard followed them. They walked down a short hall then made a left into a large living room. On the couch was another bodyguard, shorter and bulkier than the first. Next to him, bent over, was the man they had come to see, sniffing lines of coke off a small mirror.

  Kazami.

  Dutch had never seen him this close before. He was silked from head to toe, with the diamond in his ear reflecting a spectrum of bluish light. His hands wore only two rings, but around his neck was the biggest piece Dutch had ever seen. Two intertwining full-body dragons with rubies for eyes and diamonds for fangs hung from a cablelike, nuggeted gold rope. His eyes were glued to the chain until Kazami raised his head. He wiped the powder from the tip of his nose and looked up, annoyed.

  “Who the fuck is this?” he asked belligerently, in a Nigerian accent.

  “They’re here to put in the satellite, baby,” Simone said, her voice dripping with honey. To Dutch, however, her words seemed dipped in poison.

  “Yeah, well, hurry the hell up,” Kazami grumbled, then turned his attention back to his mirror.

  “Where do you want this, ma’am?” Ray asked after he cleared his throat.

  “Right over here,” she told them.

  “You see I’m busy, damn. Put that shit in the bedroom or somethin’,” Kazami said as he raised his head.

  “ ’Cause I don’t want it in the bedroom. I want it in here. They ain’t gonna be but a minute. Why you can’t take that shit upstairs anyway? First you say I can get it, now you act li—”

  “I-ight, i-ight, goddamn. Just hurry the fuck up,” Kazami said, cutting her off, tired of her nagging, which was blowing his high. He got up and left the room with his bodyguard right behind him.

  “I’m sorry about that. That’s the TV right there I want it hooked to,” she said, referring to the big-screen TV in the corner.

  Ray opened the satellite box, took out the control unit, and carried it over to the TV. Dutch followed him carrying the toolbox. When they got to the TV, Ray looked behind it and saw a .45 automatic and a snub-nosed .38. He smiled up at Simone.

  “Right here?”

  “Yup, there,” she said, smiling seductively at the guns lying on the floor.

  “Partna, come take a look at this,” said Sugar Ray, acting like he was working. “I ain’t gonna show you how to hook this thing up no more. And grab that toolbox.”

  Dutch just looked at him, approaching with the toolbox in hand. Then he saw the guns and had to fight back the rush of adrenaline that hit him. Ray slid in farther behind the TV and began to unplug the wires from the VCR, arbitrarily. He put the .45 in the toolbox and took out a screwdriver, closing the box.

  “Now, once you’ve hooked up the auxiliary cable to the transmitter…” Ray explained, using phrases at random, not knowing what the fuck he was talking about.

  “You take this blue wire, which is the ground wire, and hook it to the C output.” He acted like he was doing something and plugged a wire from the VCR into the control unit. “Now, you go outside and set the satellite up like I showed you on the last installation.”

  Dutch nodded, grabbed the toolbox, and lifted the satellite box.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Simone offered.

  The bodyguard watched Simone and Dutch walk out of the living room.

  “You got it?” Simone asked as they turned the corner.

  Dutch pulled the .45 out of the toolbox and checked the clip.

  “Yeah.” He smiled.

  “He’s upstairs,” she whispered, looking over her shoulder furtively.

  “Go unlock the front door and leave it open,” he said. She nodded, and he watched her hurry to the door, almost regretting the fate her treachery had bought her.

  Part of the game, he thought to himself as he saw Craze tiptoe in the door, gun in hand. Dutch pointed upstairs, then jerked his head for Craze to follow. They tiptoed down the hall, back to the living room door. Dutch peeped around the corner into the living room to see where the bodyguard was. Ray had him squatting next to him by the TV talking about satellite installation, even though Ray himself didn’t know what he was doing.

  Dutch and Craze hurried by, then slowly headed up the stairs. Nearing the top, they heard voices. They traveled down a long hallway, peering in each open door they passed. They heard the sound of a toilet flushing, and Dutch nodded to Craze to go ahead of him.

  Dutch looked into the next room and saw Kazami standing with his back to him bending over a baby’s playpen. Dutch looked down the hall at Craze up against the wall. He pointed to himself then turned the corner into the baby’s room.

  “Kazami,” Dutch articulated slowly, savoring each syllable.

  Kazami spun around quickly at the unfamiliar voice. His eyes widened at the sight of Dutch and the .45 barrel pointed at him.

  “Don’t scream, don’t yell, don’t even fuckin’ breathe, or I’ll send your son where his grandfather went,” Dutch stated firmly.

  “Wh-what do you want?” Kazami stammered.

  “You, but if you cooperate, I’ll settle for the money.” Dutch gave Kazami his trademark smile.

  “Who sent you?”

  Dutch was impressed with how quickly Kazami regained his composure. But he knew Kazami was a thoroughbred too, and Dutch imagined himself reacting the same way if he were in the same predicament.

  “That’s not important, but steppin’ away from the crib is,” Dutch ordered.

  Kazami backed away, watching as Dutch picked up his small child. Dutch never took his eyes or the gun off Kazami. When the child was safely in his arms, Dutch arrogantly lowered the gun to the baby’s side while cradling the child in comfort.

  “Please, please, man, please don’t hurt my son,” Kazami begged. But because of his cold heart, Dutch didn’t see a caring father… only a weak man.

  “Of course not. I mean, why should I when his father is so cooperative?” Dutch responded as he kissed the child.

  Just then, Dutch heard a muffled thump. Craze appeared at the door with the bodyguard down on all fours and a gun to his head.

  “I got his dog on a leash,” Craze whispered as he saw
Dutch. “Who’s the baby?” Craze asked, knowing his best friend too well.

  “Let’s go downstairs. You and your dog first,” Dutch told Kazami. The bodyguard stood up slowly, and he and Kazami descended the stairs with Craze and Dutch, still holding the baby, behind them. Simone saw them as they entered the living room, and Kazami could see by the look in her eyes that she was the one who had brought all this about.

  In a rage, he forgot about the danger he was in and rushed Simone, smacking her to the floor. “Fuckin’ bitch! You did this! You!”

  The bodyguard with Ray turned around in surprise. But before he could react, Craze stepped forward and fired twice into his chest, dropping him as Kazami, Simone, and the entire room fell silent.

  “Hold up, Craze. Let’s everybody be cool, i-ight,” Dutch said, looking at Kazami as he snuggled his son.

  Simone slowly stood up, catching her balance, holding her bruised and swollen face, while Kazami glared at her with death in his eyes.

  “Everybody get down on the floor!” Dutch suddenly announced, waving his gun around as they all kneeled down. The bodyguard Craze had shot moaned out his last breath. Ray pulled out the other .38 and stood up with Craze and Dutch.

  “Now we gonna keep this real simple. Niggas here for the money, all of it. If you try and hold back as much as a fuckin’ wooden nickel, I’ll turn this baby into Swiss cheese,” Dutch said, emphasizing his point by putting the gun to the child’s head.

  “What are you talkin’ about? What the hell are you doing?” Simone questioned, jumping up to aid her baby, who was in danger. “Ray, stop him, tell him to give me my baby!” Simone cried.

  “Don’t worry, sugar, ain’t nothin’ changed. Let’s just go get the money and get this here over wit’. Dutch… he ain’t gonna hurt your son,” Ray assured her. But he glanced at Dutch nervously, because he knew what the man was capable of.

  “Listen to him, baby girl. Go ’head and get that,” Dutch said to Simone as he turned to Craze, “Go wit’ ’em.”

  Craze looked at the faces of Kazami and the other bodyguard, seeing the motors in their minds spinning at breakneck speed, waiting for an opportunity to turn the tables.

  “You straight in here with them two?” Craze asked.

  Dutch looked at Craze, then at the bodyguard. The guard returned Dutch’s nonchalant gaze with a hard stare. Dutch stepped closer and shot the guard in the head, point-blank range. The baby began to cry at the sound of gunfire filling the air. The bodyguard slumped to the carpet.

  “Yeah, I’ll be i-ight,” Dutch said, turning to Craze, then back to the baby. “Shhh, hush now, it’s okay. Uncle Dutch got you,” he said as he bounced the baby gently and watched Simone, Ray, and Craze leave the room.

  “You got a fly lil’ cat here, Duke. What’s his name?”

  “Please, man, just take the money. Just take it and go,” Kazami pleaded, trying to sound as authoritative as his precarious situation would allow him. Dutch ignored him and again started talking to the baby, who had calmed down in Dutch’s embrace.

  “Look at you, you a big boy? You a big boy like your daddy, ain’t you? You know who your daddy is? Kazami, the African who was untouchable. Yo’ daddy is a big man, even the mob couldn’t catch him,” Dutch told the baby as he turned the child around to see his father. “Now look at ’im.”

  The little baby boy reached out his arms to Kazami and blurted happily, “Daddy!”

  Dutch laughed as he saw the pain and agony in Kazami’s eyes and wondered how such a weak man could be feared for so long. Kazami had commitments that made him weak and Dutch had none, which made him stronger.

  “What do you think I should do? ’Cause you know you gonna die, right? Of course you do. But I tell you what I’m gonna do for you, like one last favor. I’ma let you kill yo’ ho. You like that? I know you know she got you set up. I seen the way you flipped on her, and since I respect the game, I’ma let you handle you,” Dutch said as Kazami eyed him curiously. “So when my man comes back, I’m gonna hand you a gun, deal?”

  Kazami didn’t know what to think.

  “Yo-you… you gonna give me a gun?”

  “Why not? You kill her, then I kill you. Of course I could do it. I’ll blast the bitch then blast the kid, then blast you, but you don’t want that, do you, Zami? It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime offer,” Dutch said, smiling at him.

  Kazami dropped his head in defeat and slowly shook it, no.

  “Okay then, so we got a deal or what?”

  “Yeah… yeah, we got a deal.”

  “I-ight now, I’ma hold you to your word and if I think you tryin’ some funny shit, I’ll make it so you’ll have to bury this kid in a cup,” Dutch threatened, meaning every word.

  The tears began to creep down Kazami’s cheeks. He knew the man in front of him was colder, hungrier, and sharper than he was. He knew this young wolf wouldn’t hesitate to do what he said. Kazami knew it was over. He knew this man would take his life, and his only revenge would be knowing that Simone would pay with her life, for her deception.

  Simone and Sugar Ray entered the room with Craze, who was carrying a bulging garbage bag. Kazami’s eyes blazed with rage when he saw Simone, and she returned his stare with a defiant smirk etched on her face.

  “Check this, Craze. While y’all was gone, me and Zami over here made a deal. Didn’t we, Zami? Nothin’ major, just a lil’ surprise for Simone here. So check this, Ray. How ’bout you give Zami yo’ joint,” said Dutch.

  “Give him what? Nigga, is you crazy? Give him… Craze, what the fuck is wrong wit’ this nigga?” Sugar Ray exclaimed.

  “Ray, Ray, calm down, man. Didn’t you say you couldn’t trust the bitch? If this ho set you up, wouldn’t you want some get back, too? Least we can do is give the nigga that much. Respect the game, baby,” Dutch told him.

  Simone’s head started turning from side to side as she listened to Dutch, her eyes widening with fear at his every word. Trembling, she turned to Ray. “Ray, baby, what is he talkin’ ’bout? You can trust me, I swear you can!” Simone was terrified.

  She tried to hug Ray. Ray just looked down at her hanging on his neck, then at Kazami, then finally at Dutch. It was at that moment that he started to fear Dutch himself. Dutch was a madman and Ray wanted no part of him anymore.

  He handed the gun to Kazami. Simone watched as the piece of metal exchanged palms. As Kazami took the gun, Simone tried to run out of the room. Craze stopped her, grabbed her by the hair, and threw her back in front of Kazami.

  “No, Ojee, please! Let me explain, please, I love you!”

  The audacity of her plea, the madness of the moment, and the hurt of betrayal filled Kazami beyond capacity. He raised the gun, pulled the trigger, and hit Simone in the chest. The baby screamed at the sound and sight of his dying mother, but Kazami fired again into her head. She lay lifeless in a pool of her own blood, nerves still twitching.

  “Now before you give the gun back, I want you to meet my man, Sugar Ray. See, Sugar Ray, he the type of man no woman can resist, they love this nigga. Don’t they, Sugar Ray?”

  It was at that moment Sugar Ray knew he had made the worst mistake of his life. He had never thought Dutch would kill him, but faced with the reality, he saw it all too clearly. He was the link between the hits, and he cursed himself for not seeing it before.

  “Dutch! Come on, man! What you doin’? Craze,” he said turning to Craze with a plea for mercy in his eyes. He knew Craze was the only one who could stop Dutch, but Craze shrugged his shoulders as if there was nothing he could do for him. Ray turned back to Dutch while Craze kept his gun on Kazami.

  “Don’t do this, Dutch, man, please. Is it the money? It’s all there—take it man, it’s yours. Just don’t do me like this.”

  “Come on, Ray. You remember fifty-fifty? Partnas? I can’t take your dough. Man, you earned that. Tell Kazami how you sang his girl to sleep and set all this up. Even got on Kazami’s ring. Go ’head, show him,” spoke Dutch calmly as he instigated
. Ray stared at him coldly.

  “Show him,” repeated Dutch as Kazami looked at Ray’s hand and saw his ring. “Yeah, Zami, it’s yours. The bitch who shared yo’ bed, who bore your son, was behind your back, suckin’ Ray’s dick, takin’ it, lovin’ it, and comin’ home drippin’ his nut. Goddamn, nigga, you got the gun—fuck you gonna do?” Dutch urged as Kazami raised the gun. Ray turned to Dutch and smoothly drawled his last words.

  “I’ll see you in hell, nigga.”

  The blast caught him high in the chest and he crumpled to the carpet. Before Dutch could move, Kazami turned the gun on himself. All in one motion, he raised the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. He fell beside Simone; his bloody head rested on her thigh.

  “Damn!” Dutch said as he looked down on Kazami’s lifeless body. “Fuck he do that for?”

  “What you expect, the nigga to wait on you? Shouldn’t have gave the nigga no gun no way.”

  “Now how we suppose to find the real paper he got stashed?”

  “Serve yo’ dumb ass right,” Craze said as he held up the bag. “Ain’t nothing but a couple hundred thousand in here.”

  Dutch cocked his head to one side, aggravated. His glance fell on two large swords above the fireplace, crossed in the shape of an X. He smiled, then handed the baby to Craze. Craze watched as he pulled the swords down and examined the blades.

  “What you gonna do with that?”

  Craze found out soon enough. Dutch rolled Simone’s body away and took aim at Kazami’s neck. After the second hack, Craze was forced to look away. It took several blows for Dutch to hack through the muscle and bone of Kazami’s neck until his head finally detached. Dutch picked the head up and placed it in a bag with the money. He then turned back to Kazami’s body and pulled the bloody dragon rope from Kazami’s neck stump and slung it around his own neck.

  “Now, we set this shit on fire,” he told Craze.

  “What about him?” Craze asked in a concerned tone, referring to the baby.