CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

SCARLETT

 

Sitting at the dining room table with a vegetable omelet in front of me, I was slowly settling into depression. Another sat across from me on a beautiful cream plate with red strawberries around the perimeter. I prepared breakfast for two because I thought Camp would join me.

But after the meal was finished, he came downstairs in a hurry to break our meeting off. “I’m sorry, baby. But I have an important meeting with Swanson. I’ll have to take a rain check.”

“Can I go with you?”

He ran his hand from the front to the back of my hair before kissing me on the forehead. “Not this time, baby. He wants to meet with me alone.” Ever since he left, I wondered what they were talking about. Would Swanson tell him all of my secrets?

Without giving me a chance to be submissive to his will?

I was about to scrape both plates off into the trashcan when Ramirez came downstairs. His slippers scraped against the hardwood floor. “Oh, hey, Scarlett,” he yawned before scratching his belly. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, just grey pajama pants, and his muscles seemed to buckle as he moved. “Where’s everybody?”

“They went to take care of some business,” I sighed. “You know the saying. You’re not a Kennedy unless you have something else to do.”

He chuckled. “Tell me about it.”

“So why aren’t you gone?”

“Kevin told me he had everything under control. From what I’m told, the hit on the Russians was successful. So now it’s just a waiting game.”

I nodded. “Whose is this?” he asked pointing at the omelet.

“It was for Camp, but you can have it if you want.”

He quickly sat down and pulled the plate toward him. “Hell yeah I want this bitch. I thought I was going to have to eat some cereal. Good looking out.” He chuckled picking up the fork and stabbing into the omelet. “I can’t remember the last time I got a home cooked meal.” He swallowed and smiled. “Damn, girl. What you put in this?”

I grinned, pleased he enjoyed it. “Seafood, cheese, green peppers. Stuff like that.”

“Well you did a good damn job.”

Remembering what he just said, I asked, “So you haven’t had a good meal from Race lately?”

He stuck a piece of food in his mouth, chewed for a few seconds and put the fork down. It clanked on the table. “I know you know the status of our situation.”

“I wasn’t trying to be nosey, Ramirez. I’m sorry.”

“I know, ma,” he responded. “I’m used to dealing with the fact that we may be over. I mean, what can you do when the person you love doesn’t want you anymore? It’s just tough hearing it.”

I laughed. “You’re asking me? The woman who is married to your brother who wants a divorce? And is only staying around until we find Master?”

“I’m sorry, Scarlett. I didn’t mean to be insensitive.” He paused. “How you holding up with Master missing?”

I swallowed and tried to pretend as if I didn’t know where my son was. “I’m trying to make it. Things would be easier if I knew Camp would be with me no matter what.”

“You’re doing better than me. I don’t know how to deal with this shit, Scarlett.” He shook his head. “I love Race. I just want her to love me back.” He paused. “I feel like no matter what I do or say, she’ll never be able to see that. And the shit hurts. I’ve fucked many. I’ve had more orgies than I can remember. But I’ve never loved another woman before Race.”

I placed my elbows on the table and rested my face in my hands. “I don’t know if we can do anything about being rejected but deal with it.” I put my hands down. “Every day I pray that an idea comes to me. Every day I pray that Camp will see me for the woman I could be if he would just give me a chance. But nothing I say or do seems to work. He hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you.”

“That’s what it feels like, Ramirez.” Tears rolled down my face. “I wish I could take back every foul thing I did to him so that he would give me another chance at our marriage.”

“I feel the same way. Had I known bringing Carey into the picture would’ve compromised my shit, I would’ve never done it. But now it’s too late.” He sighed. “I guess we both have to deal with the fact that things may be finished in our marriages.”

Although what he was saying was true, I didn’t want to hear it. Suddenly I cried so deeply I couldn’t control myself. Ramirez pushed the chair back and ran over to me. Lifting me into his arms, I rested my face in the pit of his chest.

He smelled good.

Something like coconut and baked apples.

For some reason, I felt myself heating up and when I looked up at him, he was looking directly at me. Like I belonged to him.

Unhurriedly he lowered his head and kissed me softly on my lips. Electric jolts coursed through my body. Things were moving so fast and I couldn’t stop them if I tried. In a matter of seconds, he turned me around and my hands were pressed against the cool table. Thinking he was about to do the ultimate, push inside of me, I was sweetly surprised when he kissed me on the neck instead.

“I know this is wrong,” he said as he ran his tongue along the side of my neck and up toward my ear. “But I need you right now, Scarlett.” His breath was heavy and heated up my lobe. “Can I make love to you? If you don’t want me, all you have to say is no.”

“Yessssss.”

Without delay, he eased into me.

“Fuck,” he moaned. “Judging by how wet you are, I can tell that you need me too.”

He was right. I hadn’t been with a man since Ngozi. Camp refused to sleep with me or like he said, “Give me the wrong idea.” Although it felt good, I knew the guilt about what I was doing would stay with me forever.

But for now, I would enjoy every second of this moment.

 

****

 

Sitting in my car, I was trying to figure out where to go. I was ashamed I fucked my brother-in-law and ashamed to have betrayed Race. All of my life I seemed to allow my feelings to lead me.

I was lonely.

I was confused and I was scared.

Knowing that I may have destroyed a marriage beyond repair caused me to hate myself. Should I tell her? Or keep the secret moment that Ramirez and I shared private?

I was clutching the steering wheel, trying to figure out what to do when my phone rang. It was Swanson. “I just met with your husband.”

My heart thumped wildly. “And what did you tell him?”

“I told him that I might have some very important information.”

“And what is that?”

“Come now, Scarlett. Don’t play coy. You know exactly what I’ll tell him. Unless I can be convinced otherwise.”

I leaned back in the seat and put my hand on my head. My pussy was still moist from my indiscretions with Ramirez. I just wanted all of this to end. To go away.

And suddenly running away from everything sounded like a good idea. I had enough money to bounce and I decided that would be my plan. But first I would meet with him.

“What do you want, Swanson?”

He exhaled and said, “I’m going to text you an address. When you get there you’ll see a black sedan behind the building. I’ll be inside of that vehicle with my dick in my hand. You’re a smart girl. You’ll know what to do from there.”

 

****

 

When I arrived at the address, I spotted the car right away. I could hear soft jazz music playing from the car and my stomach flipped. Slowly I approached the vehicle and he unlocked the door. I slid inside and he adjusted the volume of the music, making it lower. I looked over at him and for a second he refused to say a word.

“So how does it feel to fuck a nigger every night?” he asked. “To be married to one? Do you feel dirty?”

My jaw dropped because I couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You tell me, Swanson. Aren’t you fucking one yourself?”

He laughed. “It’s different for a white man. We own everything about the black race, including their women. But to sleep with a nigger and have his children as a white woman is unacceptable.”

I could feel my forehead tightening.

“Tell me, my beautiful redhead,” he continued, “is the rumor true? About them having big dicks?”

I was getting frustrated and angry at the same time. “I’m here, Swanson. Now what do you want from me to keep my secrets safe?”

“Why would you give your son up?” He positioned himself so that he was looking directly into my eyes. “It’s obvious how much Camp loves him. Why give him away when his father wants to be in his life? I’m curious.”

I looked down at my shaky hands. “I did what I thought I had to do at the time.”

He unzipped his pants and released his dick. Stroking it to a thickness, he said, “Fuck all of that. Get over here and top me off.” He paused. “And I don’t want none of that lazy licking shit either. I want you to suck it just like you do for that nigger, redhead. How do the blacks say? Let me see what that mouth do!”

When I saw his little limp stick I tried to determine how I was going to prevent myself from throwing up. Slowly I eased toward him. I guess I was moving too slowly because he grabbed the back of my head and pushed my face down against his penis. It rubbed against my cheekbone and smelled like rubber. Like he was wearing a condom and took it off earlier.

Did he just have sex with someone else and now he was using me?

I was just about to open my mouth when the window on his side came crashing in. Shards of glass sprinkled against the top of my head and in his groin. When I looked up, I was staring into the green eyes of Roman.

“Duck,” she said before pressing the gun to his head and blowing his brains out.

Although I could feel his limp body press against me, I didn’t raise my head immediately. I wanted to be sure it was over.

Then I heard Roman whisper, “Goon.”

That was all the assurance I needed.

When Swanson called earlier and told me to meet him, I decided to contact Roman and ask her to return the favor I did for her. She didn’t let me down and the moment I saw his bloody head busted open, I felt relieved.

Quickly I got out of the car and walked toward her. She was with another guy who was pulling Swanson’s bloody body out of the car and to the ground.

“Who’s he?” I asked referring to her partner.

“My right hand,” she said. “Don’t worry. He’s safe.”

I looked over at her partner and back at her. I wasn’t in any position not to believe her. So far, she’d proven to be trustworthy. “I heard your son is back home,” I said to her.

She grinned. “Yes and I’m so grateful. I thought my boy was dead and he was alive.”

I smiled. “Thank you for this.” I paused looking down at Swanson’s corpse. “I don’t have to stress to you how important it is that you keep my privacy.”

“I didn’t get this far in the business by not being able to hold water. Your secret is safe with me, Scarlett. Now go, I have it from here.”

 

****

 

When I got home I walked straight to the laundry room and removed my bloody blouse. I grabbed one of Camp’s “Find Master” t-shirts and slogged toward my room. When I got there Camp was sitting on the edge of the bed waiting on me.

The moment I saw his face, I was shook. His eyebrows were tight and he was glaring at me. Did Ramirez tell him that we fucked? Without even giving me a heads up.

“Are you okay?” I asked with a half-smile on my face. Guilt all over my body. I tossed my purse on the dresser.

He looked at it and said, “Why you got blood on your bag?”

I looked at my purse and screamed inside. I did such a good job of covering my tracks and I still left a clue. “I think that’s ketchup,” I lied.

“Where were you, Scarlett?” he asked standing up.

I backed up into the wall. “What are you talking about?”

“I asked where the fuck were you?” he screamed pointing at the floor.

Judging by his actions, I could tell that he knew about me and Ramirez.

I was sure of it.

“Baby, I had to make a few runs,” I lied. “To get my toes done and shit like that. Why?”

“I know about my son, Scarlett. I know everything.” Tears rolled down his face and he was trembling. “How could you stand by and watch me struggle when you know how much I love my boy? What type shit is that?”

“Baby, what are you talking—”

He yanked a fist full of my hair and pulled me down to my knees. “Bitch, don’t lie to me!” he screamed as if I weren’t his wife. “I fucking know! I know everything!”

He released my hair and I scooted away from him. My back pressed against the wall and I brought my knees to my chest. I was crying but my voice felt caught in my throat.

“I will never forgive you for this shit.” He grabbed his keys and wallet off the dresser. “Swanson is setting things up to go get my son after he handles whatever he has to later.”

I figured Swanson was talking about fucking me. The thing was, he was dead now.

“But when I get my kid, I’m going to hold a meeting with my family,” Camp continued. “And in that meeting I will make sure that everyone knows I want you out of here.”

“But where will I go?” I sobbed. “I don’t have anyone but you.”

“That’s not my problem anymore!”

 

****

CAMP

 

Camp was driving his silver Aston Martin and thinking about his life. Tears rolled down his face because he knew his marriage was officially over. His wife was sicker than he ever imagined and he couldn’t see sharing his bed or his life with her. His only priority was his son and he didn’t care what anyone thought about how he would handle his marriage.

“Who are you really, Scarlett?” he said to himself as he continued to drive down the street. He was trying to understand why he didn’t realize how sick Scarlett really was.

Thinking about his son, he picked up his cell phone and called Swanson. When he got his voicemail, he left a message. “I know you out handling business now. But when you return I want to take you up on the offer to read Scarlett’s file. I didn’t want to know about her past before but I changed my mind. Hit me when you can.”

When he arrived at the light, he punched his steering wheel in anger. He knew his family wouldn’t take his dismissal of Scarlett well but he hoped they’d stand by his side, especially when they learned what she did with Master.

He lowered his head for one second when suddenly it felt like time stopped. A hail of bullets rained from all directions into the car. He tried to reach for his weapon in the glove compartment but he was unsuccessful.

He already took bullets in his shoulder and thigh and was doing his best to slide into the backseat. But he only made it halfway when the rest of the Reapers gang moved in closer to the vehicle and emptied their automatic weapons into the car.

When they were done, Camp lay lifeless.