Black is the Color of Beauty

Chapter 15

Bo's POV

March 14, 2019 

11:15 a.m.

WM Public Housing Projects

Cleveland, Ohio

        Magically, a deep chuckle erupted from Ke'on. " You got some fucking nerve Jackie Chan," his shoulders shaking as he continued to laugh. I glance over at Leo just to see the cold blooded look morph into a look of confusion. Good, so he is just as confused as I am. Hearing Ke'on's continual laughter, pisses Leo off. In retaliation, he digs the gun into Ke'on's temple. That should do it? Ke'on is looking staring death in its face, so it makes sense that he will fold. Instead,  Ke'on tilts his head to the side and smirks. " Like I said before, you got some fucking nerve," as his medium brown orbs pierce me. Then, he goes back to laughing as if we told him the funniest joke in the world. His deep chuckles, lazy smirk, confident yet relaxed posture reminds me of one of NiNi's favorite actors - Denzel Washington.

    " Boss, let's just shoot him," Leo say to me through his gritted teeth. Something tells me to not let that happen. Ke'on must've sense my hesitation to allow Leo to shoot him. " How about this, we all walk away and act like this ain't never happen?," he comments in a serious tone. Although his confidence disarms me, I can't just walk away. I have too much to fight for.... plus, I am not some "spineless ass bitch" Ke'on makes me out to be. " Now, why would we do that?" I say in a cocky tone similar to his from a few moments ago. Now, its Leo turn to laugh. Because Leo knows when I have my mind set on something, I am too stubborn to change it. NiNi said that the Taurus in me... its my astronomical sign or whatever the fuck it is. " Let's all take two steps back, Leo will lower his weapon and we will have a conversation like adults," Ke'on scoffs at my suggestion. " You are a bitch just like I thought." Something about his words anger me. " Mhmmmm, Mariah Alexus Lee aka MiMi. She works at a hair salon off on Harvard Ave. Her busiest days on the week Monday, Friday and Saturday because that's when she runs hair special. She takes her lunch break from 12:30- 1:45 everyday. On her break she drives to a nearby daycare to check in on your child. Then, on her way back to the salon MiMi stops at a Chinese food spot where she orders either a shrimp lo mein with extra duck sauce or beef and broccoli with a side of white rice. Am I missing anything?," my knowledge of MiMi's whereabouts have that lazy smirk slide right off of Ke'on's face. Check mate.

   " Man, the about to find your body at the bottom of the Cuyahoga River," Ke'on voice is shaking. Good, now I have his attention. " I'm here to talk. Either we can have a conversation or not." Silence passes between the three of us for a few moments. The cold air slicing my face. I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot how cold it was outside. Damn, it all the more reason why I need to return home. Ke'on nods his head. " I don't know what that means," I say to him. "Go ahead..." he replies. Is he dismissing me? " I already told you I'm not leaving." There, he must think I'm some kind of pushover. " Listen here, Chun Li go ahead means continue talking," he sucks his teeth. My face turns warm for a second with embarrassment. I really need NiNi to teach me about Cleveland slang. " Okay, cool. NiNi has already been deemed as my wife in underground Chinese community. So, she can't get married to your boss. By marrying NiNi, I can protect her, her family and stop the Greeks from coming to Cleveland. I just need you to pass this message off to your boss." Damn, I hate repeating myself. " I won't pass that message on to the boss. The boss mind has already been set on marrying NiNi and nothing will change that." Ke'on shrugs. Fine, time for plan B. " If this message is not pass along, then I will tell NiNi you sold her hand in marriage solely for your own personal gain and I will make sure your child never sees you again," he freezes up at my threat of never seeing his child again. Ke'on's eyes were filled with pure hatred, I swear the temperature dropped a few more degrees as I look at into his eyes.

   " Let's go chat in the car, its cold af outside. And, I don't want any snakes to hear what we talking about." Ke'on's suggestion to go into my car arouses my suspicion. "Boss, should we trust him?," Leo questions. Normally, I would do the opposite of whatever Leo's questions. But, something in my brain is nagging me. " Let's go in the car its freezing out here." Ke'on mouth gapes open at agreeing to going into the car. Once in the car, Ke'on instructs us to go into a nearby fast food parking lot. " The more public the place, the less suspect." he answers my unasked question. I turn around facing my body towards the backseat where Ke'on is seated. "So, what do you want to talk about that couldn't say there?" He intakes a deep breath. Here we go. " NiNi is the child of well known druglord that was prominent in the 1980's," Ke'on words stumbles out of his mouth like mush. Hold up what? "Yeah, her father and his twin brother were born in the Bronx, NY. Growing up, they had it rough and shit. Their mother was working two jobs just to make ends meet since their father wasn't around. When they was ten years old, their mother fell in love with this guy named Norman Brown. She thought he was a guy who owned a plumbing company. But, to the streets he was known as Slick Red a ruthless kingpin that had authority over numerous neighborhoods in the Bronx. Once the brother caught wind of Slick Red's true identity, they decided to tell their mother. But, Slick Red threatened to kill her unless the brothers did his bidding. Boom, Slick Red trained them up to be apart of his business. The years the twin brothers turned 20, Slick Red was murdered and at the time of death childless. Naturally, the business was passed down to the brothers. The brothers finally free of Slick Red's control decided to leave the Bronx and move to Cleveland for a fresh start. But, their mother refused to move. NiNi's father didn't have the heart to tell her the truth about everything. So, they decided to leave their most trusted friend to manage the organization and to watch over their mother. After moving to Cleveland, her father and uncle changed their names. Her father decided to start over, fresh and clean. He opened up a soup kitchen and shelter for endangered teens. There, he met NiNi's mom who came in frequently to volunteer at the soup kitchen. And ya know, he fell in love with her, they had NiNi, etc." Ke'on finishes this rant on a breathless note. Wow, could it really be true? 

    My scrunched up eyebrows upsets Ke'on. " See, this is why I ain't want to tell you uppity people anything. You already judging us. You over there thinking, typical black people shit. Single mom, her son started selling drugs, probably was criminals, etc. But, NiNi's father and uncle wasn't like that at all. They was forced into that lifestyle. You have to play the hand you're dealt. Feel me?," his eyes shining with shame and disgust. " Play the hand you're dealt. I don't understand? You Americans and your crazy phrases." My confusion catches him off guard. " It means that you have to make the best out of the worst situation. It means you can't run away from life and the problems with it, you have to boss up and deal with it.  And, that's what NiNi's father did then eventually turned his life around. He didn't want that lifestyle, but he had no choice but to protect his moms." Ah, now I get what Ke'on is saying to me. But, one thing still doesn't make sense to me. " I wasn't judging, I am just confused as to what does this have to do with your boss and wanting to marry NiNi?," my question hangs in the air for a few moments. Theafter a moment, a slow look of realization and horror came across Leo's face. " Don't tell us that...." but, his surprise stops Leo from finishing his sentence. Ke'on nods his head. " Yeah, NiNi is set to inherit to run the drug game of those neighborhoods and own some properties in New York. But, she doesn't know about any of this yet.  And that's why the boss wants to marry her." Ke'on guilty states. How? How could someone so vibrant, selfless and pure as NiNi be given such a harsh life. All NiNi's hard work to help others, to be her own woman just for fate to catchup and cage her like a beautiful bird.