CHAPTER ELEVEN

BAMBI

 

Kevin stood before the cherry wood table in the dining room of the Bunker to discuss the status of our business. Just like other family meetings, at this one everybody was present.

“As you know, business has been down for the last three weeks,” Kevin said.

“Not to mention the fact that Larry has murdered more of our men and their family members than we can spare,” Race said. “This nigga has no heart.”

“To top it all off, some of our most loyal soldiers have jumped ship and moved on with other dealers.”

“If they jumped ship they weren’t loyal,” Ramirez said. “What I care about a fuck nigga if he has no respect for the brand?” He sank deeper into his chair with a glass of fine cognac in his hand.

He was snappy and I knew it was because of the conversation Race and him had earlier. I heard her screaming about wanting a divorce and that once there was resolution with the Russians she would be moving out.

With or without his signature.

“It doesn’t mean that they aren’t loyal,” Race said with her words slurring a little. I knew she was drunk and if I noticed that, it was major. If I looked one ounce of what she looked like while handling business, I had a new resolve to quit.

“At the end of the day they have families to take care of and if no money’s on the streets they still got to eat,” Race continued. “That’s why we have to get at the Reapers and the Russians, and end this shit once and for all.”

“She’s right,” Bradley said as he rubbed Denim’s shoulders as she sat on his lap. When I looked at Denim’s face she seemed annoyed by his touch and I knew why. “If we don’t make a move now we’re not going to have any men left. But we have to weigh the costs. Wars are expensive.”

“Yeah, what are we going to do?” Camp asked, his eyes heavy with bags from depression.

“We have to lay low until—”

“We can’t lay low,” I said cutting Kevin off. “We have to move now.” I pointed a stiff finger into the table.

Everyone looked at me and Kevin frowned before folding his arms over his chest. Since the fellas came back, I had no problems letting them run the business just as long as they moved the operation forward and not sideways.

“And how do we do that?” Kevin questioned me.

“We attack,” I said simply.

He laughed. “Bambi, you haven’t been in this business for long so let me school you right quick. These are Russians. They aren’t Bay-Bay and Mo Quick from east Baltimore. You don’t move on people of this caliber like it ain’t nothing. You must have a plan or don’t speak.”

“She might not have been in business long but under her leadership, we held shit down in your absence,” Scarlett said looking at the men. “So for sure she deserves the right to speak here.”

“Get off Bambi’s dick,” Ramirez said.

“Easy, brother,” Camp responded.

I winked at Scarlett and crossed my legs.

“To Scarlett’s point, we made a profit too,” Race added.

“Fifty percent higher at that,” Denim continued.

Kevin smacked is teeth. “Even if all that was true, under your administration there wasn’t an enemy who was directly attacking the brand,” Kevin said. “When you ladies held shit down you were doing business with the Russians with a mutual understanding. Now I have word that they have partnered with Vito, Derrick and Jim. Shit’s different now. It’s not just the Russians we have to worry about. Collectively they’re calling themselves the Russian Cartel.”

I stood up and took a deep breath. Stuffing my hands into my fatigue pants my mind wandered for a moment. For some reason, I imagined Kevin being with another woman and I wanted to snatch his face off his skull. Instead I brought my thoughts back to business and said, “Russian Cartel or not, they can still be brought down.”

“You saying the same thing, Bambi,” Kevin replied. “Anything can happen if we close our eyes and imagine,” he chuckled. “But this is not make believe. This is war.”

“You’re right, husband. And the last time I heard, I was the only one in this room who served time on the battlefield. If you were in my platoon you would be reporting to me, soldier. So where’s my salute?”

I heard Race and Scarlett giggle.

“Let me remind you of something that I think is important,” I continued. “Before I was a Kennedy, I was in the US Army. That means I defended not only America but also every last nigga in this room. And if there was one thing I learned it was the art of war.” I paused. “So what is my resolution? We bring them down by first dismantling their soldiers and any help they may have. Like they’re trying to do ours.”

“And then?” Camp said.

“We kill the Russians swiftly and without remorse.”

Kevin looked at me in silence. In fact, the room was so quiet you could hear blood pumping through their veins. When I looked at the fellas they didn’t seem excited about my idea. But each one of my sisters looked at me with grins on their faces.

If I had their support, I was good.

“You can’t be serious,” Kevin responded. “Who are we going to use to go at the Russians? We are losing five percent of our soldiers every week. Race just told you that. With the exception of the men guarding this property, we out of manpower.”

“We get the east coast bosses involved. We bring them here and stress the importance of banding together.”

“But you reached out to them already,” he replied. “And since the Russians are not directly threatening them they told you to beat it. Why do you think that would change?”

“Because I will give them a threat. One they can’t ignore.”

“Meaning?” Bradley said. He was no longer massaging Denim’s shoulders. Now his attention was on me.

Where it belonged.

“When Sarge gets back from handling business in Mexico for Mitch we’ll use a few of his men. He has access to about fifty of them. Then we give them a command to kill a few key people in the east coast bosses’ organizations and blame it on the Russians. This will bring them to their knees and then I’ll call them again with another option to band together. I’m sure they’ll pledge allegiance at that time.”

“How do you know this will work?” Camp questioned.

“Trust me, it will. I believe they already know that this Russian shit can trickle downhill. This will give them the permission they need to make a move. With us.”

Kevin laughed hysterically. “Do you know how ridiculous you sound?” He paused. “You talking about killing Russians who have supporters in other countries you know nothing of.”

I stared at him with pity. “Why are you scared? You are more powerful than them and yet you can’t even see it,” I said. “But when I look at you I see a boss, which is why I agreed to be your wife. If they were as solid as you claim they wouldn’t want the nigga downstairs so badly.” I paused. “We have Mitch so we have the drug industry.”

“This is a dangerous plan,” Bradley said. “Have we weighed the cost?”

I rolled my eyes. This nigga was always talking about money.

“What did you gentlemen think I meant when I said we were at war?” I asked skipping the subject. “That we were about to play the board game Battleship?”

“Don’t be disrespectful,” Kevin shouted slamming his fist into the table, temporarily stopping my heart.

“This is not about respect. It’s about moves.” I paused. “And if you don’t like my plan, counter it with a better one.”

“Come on, Bambi,” Bradley said. “Slow down.”

“I’m serious! Ya’ll act like ya’ll want us to stay holed up in here while they bring down everything we worked so hard for in the outside world.” I paused. “This place is sweet but what happens when the cash runs out? And we don’t have enough money to pay the soldiers? Bradley, you always talking about paper but what about that?”

He nodded.

“I mean we’re good for at least ten years if you consider food and supplies but if we hide out forever, what does that make us?” I continued.

“Cowards,” Denim responded.

“I’m not saying that we should stay here forever,” Bradley replied. “I just want to make sure shit works.”

“It will work but I need the support of our family.” I looked at everyone. “Say that you’ll help me. Say that you sanction my moves because I can’t do this without ya’ll.”

Kevin looked around at everyone. “Well let’s put it to a vote,” Kevin said. “Who here is with Bambi’s plan?”

Race, Scarlett and Denim raised their hands instantly and I winked. Camp looked at Kevin and Bradley but he pushed his hand up too, followed by Bradley and Ramirez.

With everyone in agreement, we all looked at Kevin. “I guess it doesn’t matter what I choose,” he responded walking away without weighing in.

“I hope this will work,” Camp said. “For all of our sake.”

“It will work. Trust me.”

 

****

 

I walked into Kevin’s room and hung in the doorway. “I can’t believe after everything I’ve done to keep this family going that I still don’t have your support.”

He moved the pillows to the other side of the bed, pulled down the comforter and sat on the edge of the mattress to take off his shoes. “What do you want, boss? The family is on your side. Isn’t that enough?”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell him how much I needed his support but pride would not allow me. “I don’t trust Mitch,” I said skipping the subject.

He looked up at me.

Now I had the nigga’s attention.

“Bambi, you already have a lot on your plate with the Russians. Don’t go and get us all killed by doing something to Mitch.”

“Who said I was going to harm him?”

“I can see it in your eyes. He’s our connect, Bambi. And if your plan works, nothing we do matters if he’s gone.” He paused. “Because contrary to what you believe, Mitch is the drug industry.”

I smiled at him and turned around.

“Bambi! Bambi,” he yelled as I ignored him and walked down the hall. “Bambi, are you listening to me?”