The Black Kiss Of Death, page 18
part #1 of Montega Chronicles Series
“Mr. Budinov? I didn’t expect to get a call from you, being as though it’s not the end of the month. How can I help you?” she asked, brushing her hair behind her ear and crossing her legs on the edge of the bed.
“Please, Diamond, I told you to call me Semok. You make me feel like such an old man,” he said.
Diamond giggled as Hector watched, feeling a little jealous that another man had amused his woman. “I need you to come and see me at my estate. I’ve got someone who’s been dying to meet you.”
“Oh, yeah, who?” she asked, moving to the edge of the bed, re-crossing her smooth, succulent legs.
“I prefer not to speak his name at this moment. But, you’ll see when you get here.”
“Okay, Semok, I’ll be there tomorrow at, let’s say, seven o’clock?”
“Seven o’clock is perfect. I’ll see you then,” he said and hung up.
Diamond closed her phone, then looked over at Hector, who was trying to hide his jealousy with a smile. However, Diamond saw right through him. With a devilish smile, she unfolded her legs and said seductively, “Come on, poppy. Come to mommy and finish what you started.”
Like a trained dog, Hector got up and went right back to work. Diamond lay back, looking up at the ceiling with her legs spread as Hector’s head dove between her open thighs. She didn’t realize the evil smile that she had planted on her face proved that she knew how much power she had over a man. She was a man’s favorite drug. And, at the moment, Hector was on cloud nine. Right then, it was about pleasure. Tomorrow, it would be business. Big business.
Chapter 47
LAST OF A DYING BREED
On an early Sunday morning, Diamond awoke from her bed to find Hector gone. It was no surprise. She knew that he was a very busy man. She got out of bed, and walked into her bathroom, squirted some toothpaste on her toothbrush, and brushed her teeth on the way back to her room. She turned on the TV news to see what was going on in the city, and saw a story about a firebombing and the death of a sports agent. She frowned and then grunted with a mouthful of suds.
Hoping for a better way to start the day, she turned off the TV and went to get showered and dressed. She knew Bain was probably downstairs, waiting for her in the living room. She wondered at times if he ever got any sleep. Now, dressed in a black J. Mendel dress and Westwood Vivienne shoes, she grabbed her Michael Kors handbag and headed down the steps. Just as she expected, Bain was standing by the marble fireplace, sipping on a cup of straight black coffee. His Desert Eagle was resting on the counter, waiting to take its place in the holster.
Diamond took one last look at herself in the full-length mirror. “You ready to go?”
Bain picked up the Desert Eagle and stuffed it inside his jacket as Diamond tossed him the keys to her bulletproof, white Audi A8. She had a lot to do today. She wanted to get a head start, so she and Hector could have some playtime later on tonight.
As Bain pulled out past the mansion gates and headed down the street, two black vehicles began to trail them. As the sedan cruised past all the large palm trees on the strip, the vehicles following them began to speed up. Diamond noticed this when she pulled out her make-up kit to check her eye liner. Snapping it shut, she spotted two more vehicles barreling towards them.
Both vehicles skidded to a halt and blocked them from the front. Bain skidded to a stop, then put the car in reverse, but the two vehicles from behind hemmed them in. Diamond pulled out a chrome Beretta and cocked it back, while Bain whipped out his Eagle, waiting for a war with the Ape Gang. But nothing happened.
As the two waited, tense and confused, men with M-16s got out of their SUVs. Even though their skin was dark, they were not Africans. In fact, they looked Spanish. They weren’t pointing their guns, either. They just stood at attention, like royal guards, as someone in a cream-colored suit got out and approached them. Bain clutched his gun, but Diamond urged him to relax.
She cracked her window. “What’s with the circus act?”
“I apologize for the rude intrusion, but I thought this would be the only way to get your attention, Diamond,” the man in the suit said, bringing a frown to her face. “I am Jose Ramos, and I’m here on behalf of a man named Diego Elcano. He requested that I find you and bring you to his home. He has scheduled a flight for me to take you to--”
“Hold up for a second,” Diamond interrupted him, “Who does this Diego Elcano think he is? First of all, I don’t know you or him from the man on the moon. Second, I’m very busy, as you can see. So, you can tell this … this man, or whoever he is- -”
“He’s your grandfather,” Jose interjected, stopping Diamond in her tracks.
For a few moments, she didn’t quite know what to say. “My…my … grandfather?”
“Yes, and he is a very powerful man in Cuba. Most importantly, he wants to see his granddaughter immediately.”
Diamond looked away and took a deep breath, trying to think. This was all too unexpected. When she finally made up her mind, she looked back at Jose and opened the door to get out. “Take me to him,” she demanded.
After rescheduling the meeting with Russians, eight hours later, the leer jet landed on a private landing strip, not far from the jungle. Diamond was picked up by a black Hummer, escorted by other armored jeeps. On the way to the estate, she looked out the window, taking in the scenery. It was the most beautiful island she’d seen. Besides the gentle slopes and broad grasslands, Cuba was landscaped with towering mountains, deep bays, sandy beaches, and colorful coral reefs.
The driver traveled through the sultry climate of the Sierra Maestra range on the southeast coast.
As Diamond passed a huge field of steep terrain, she noticed people scattered about with buckets and farming equipment. Jose noticed her interest and leaned over. “Those are your grandfather’s farmers. These are his fields.”
“What sort of fields are they -- cocaine?” Diamond asked.
“No, your grandfather doesn’t deal with coca plant. He thinks they are a waste of time and money. These are opium poppies used for heroin.”
The entourage stopped at a warehouse hidden in the jungle and got out. When they walked inside, they found people hard at work. Jose continued, “These people also work for your grandfather. This is one of five warehouses he owns. What you seeing is one stage of the development of heroin. Inside the petals of the opium poppies are egg- shaped seed pods that are dripping with a milky substance. It’s called crude opium. Once it gets to a gum-like stage and turns darker, it is packaged into kilos.
“For years, your grandfather has been selling nothing but pure white powder and making a huge profit,” he said before pivoting to get into the car.
“I thought heroin was a brownish color,” Diamond said.
“It can be, depending on where it comes from. But, the purest heroin is white, with a bitter taste, almost like Chinese heroin. Out here, kilos get sold on the black market for less than $20,000 apiece. In America, they’re sold for $80,000. Your grandfather didn’t want to deal with smuggling, so he dealt with the black marketing,” Jose explained as they pulled up to a mansion surrounded by opium poppy fields and paramilitaries armed with AK-47s.
“So, what is it he wants from me?” Diamond asked as they stopped in front of her grandfather’s room.
Jose looked at her puzzled. “You understand that your grandfather is dying? He isn’t expected to see the sun rise tomorrow. You’re here because you are the sole heir to the El Cano Empire.”
“All of this is mine?”
“Yes, Diamond. All that you see and most of what you can’t see is yours to do with it as you please.”
“Why didn’t someone tell me all this when I was younger? Why wait until now?”
“To be honest, we weren’t sure you’d be alive. You see your mother was to marry Vernigo Castro and bare his child. That child was to link the two families and when your grandfather passed, Vernigo received everything. Obviously, that didn’t go as planned and as a result you were born. So you can see how that changed things and why Vernigo wants you dead. Even with you dead he still needs to have a child with your mother in order to claim the El Cano fortune.”
“That’s why he kidnapped her.” Diamond said to herself.
“Your father embarrassed one of the most powerful drug lords in the world. Vernigo Castor lost a lot of respect from some powerful men. He’ll never get that respect back until you’re dead.”
“That works out fine for me because I won’t stop until his head is severed from his body.” Diamond said calmly.
Jose gulped as he massaged his throat, “If you would,” he motioned Diamond into the room. “Please, he doesn’t have long.”
Diamond seen the concern in Jose’s eyes for her grandfather. He was loyal. She wondered what kind of relationship they had as she entered the room.
She had so many questions to ask him. Every chance she got she went over them in her head. Why did he abandon her mother? That was first but after hearing what Jose had to say, none of it was no longer important.
As Diamond approached, Diego waved the nurses away.
“My child, look at you. You’re twice as beautiful as your mother.” He coughed a few times. “Come sit with an old man.” Diego patted the bed. “Come now I don’t bite, well, I don’t no any more,” he chuckled but ended up coughing more.
Diamond sat on the bed with the wrinkled, frail old man. Her eyes followed the tubes lodged in him back to the machines that were keeping him alive and then back to him. She smiled and took his hand into her own.
“You’re the last of a dying breed, my child. You’re the last Diego. Everything my father and his father’s father built is now yours.” He coughed so bad the nurses came back in the room, but he waved them off. “Vernigo Castor will stop at nothing to kill you and take what is rightfully yours. I should’ve killed him years ago. You wouldn’t have these problems today. He has your mother, you know.”
“Don’t worry Papa, I’ll get her back. And Vernigo Castor will neither kill me nor take anything from me.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead as she whispered. “I’m Diamond White, daughter of Charles White and Pearl Diego. The only granddaughter of Diego and heir to the El Cano Empire, I will kill him and cut his head off in the family name. I’ll throw it at the feet of the world’s most powerful drug lords and show them what awaits them if they dare come for me or my family. I promise you that ,Papa, they will fear us.”
“The Diego blood is strong in you, it skipped your mother. Thank you my grandchild for that peace of mind. I may go now, your grandmother is waiting for me. I hope she made my favorite soup.”
Diamond kissed his forehead and told him she loved him. As she rose he had taken his last breath. The heart monitor flat lined. Staring down at him with a smile on his face, Diamond felt a tear trickle down her cheek. She didn’t know him but knew it was because of him she was who she was and for that she was grateful.
The nurses tried to revive him but Diamond stopped them.
“What now?” Diamond asked.
Jose walked over to Diego and checked his pulse. “You’re the Heffe now. We do whatever you say.”
“Give my grandfather a king’s burial and allow all those who loved him to pay their respects. Then you cut off everyone we supply for now and cause a drought. Redirect the shipments to me and me only in California.”
“You do understand there’s going to be a lot of upset powerful men. And two that’s a lot of herion coming into one port how are you going to get it there.”
Diamond looked Jose in the eyes, “I am the heir to the EL Cano business aren’t I? You said all this is mine and that you work for me?”
“Yes,” Jose replied nervously.
“Then you do as I say and don’t ever question me again.” She held out her hand.
Jose looked at her then her hand and kissed it. “Yes, Ms. White.” Jose said as he submissively bowed his head.
“Good. Now I want to know everything in that head of yours about my business. Is that clear.”
“Yes, Ms. White.” Jose bowed again.
Chapter 48
A RUSSIAN MAFIA HIT
The meeting with Clyde and his whole commission was on a yacht docked by the harbor. The yacht was equipped with 15 armed men with HK MP-5s on guard. Seated at a table on the deck, Clyde parlayed with his 15-man organization. Reese Chubs, Cheeko Raw, and Shug were there, along with a few other big boys, like heavy-set self-made millionaire, Miami George, and the playboy gangsta, Tony Wright.
“I’m glad to see everyone here. It’s been awhile since we last saw each other like this. I must say, I’m proud to be a part of this new era for Great White. Before we get into other business, Shug, I need to ask you about our problem in Philly,” Clyde said.
“It’s all handled. I had my little cousin, Mike, take care of our problem,” Shug replied confidently.
“Did he?” Clyde inquired.
“Damn right, he got ’em. But, some clown who was there got booked on some bullshit charges and ratted him out. Now, he’s sitting in the county. I gotta get my little man back on the streets.”
“Don’t sweat it. I’ll have Scar’s shorty, Tanya, go down there and represent him. Tanya is the best. Don’t worry, she’ll handle it, trust me,” Clyde replied before turning his attention to Tommy. “What about the people responsible for my father’s murder?”
“Word through the underground is that the Russian mob boss, a guy named Zelinski, and the Colombian drug lord, Castor, were the ones who put the hit out. They said your father and Castor had been beefing since you were in diapers. There’s still no word on how the Russians came in the picture, but with two big empires joining up, they can do a lot of damage. We could either join them or try to take both of ’em down.”
“Wait, what does a Colombian drug lord have to do with some Russians?” Clyde asked in confusion.
“Verningo’s got the whole U.S. southeast on smash. This guy is supplying a lot of people. Could be supplying the Russians, too,” Cheeko Raw added.
“How do we find this guy?” Clyde inquired.
“This nigga has spots all over Miami. Not only that, he has a Colombian army of die-hards. The motherfucker’s a dangerous dude. I suggest we stay in our lane and worry about these Russians, because if you’re not willing to start a war in Colombia, I think you should leave them alone, ya feel me?” Tommy advised.
Clyde nodded. There was no way he would get his hands that dirty. “And, what about this bitch running around the city, tearing shit up with some crazy war with the Ape Gang?” he asked, looking around for answers. There were none.
“If anyone knows who she is, it’s that fucking nigga, Steel. Word on the street is Steel was part of the plot that got her boyfriend killed. I think Iceman and a few other dudes were a part of that, too. That’s how they got smoked,” Chavo mentioned.
“Damn, she was the one that killed Iceman? He was a street sweeper himself,” Reese Chubs said, amazed.
“Man, the bitch puttin’ work in on whoever gets in the way of her drug operation. And, let me tell you, I don’t know where she’s gettin’ it from, but her heroin is 100% pure white powder.”
Clyde rubbed his chin as he did some thinking. “I think we just might have to pay Steel a visit so we can find out who this bitch is and who she deals with. Now, if there--“
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The gunshots had come from the harbor, causing everyone to dive to the deck. “What the fuck?” Shug shouted with his head crouched low as he crawled to the window to see what was going on.
When he stood, he saw an army of gunmen dressed in black suits with HK assault rifles, firing at his security. “Oh, shit, it’s the fucking Russians. “They’re here!” He reached for his .40 that was tucked on his hip.
Clyde popped up like bread out of a toaster, firing out the window at the assassins. While he battled, Justin ran for the door, out to the edge of the deck, to bust off at the Russians. Shug and the rest of the men took a position on the yacht and joined the gun battle. With the bullets flying, Clyde dove for cover.
While the Russians were spread out along the parking lot, beyond the harbor, taking cover behind some vehicles, Mad Max held his fully auto AK-47 with the scope, picking off men like they were ducks in a pond. He got Reese Chubs in his sight and fired.
On deck, Clyde watched as Reese caught bullets in the chest and neck. He slumped down into the dark water. Clyde stayed low, with his arms shielding his head helplessly, while Shug crawled to the cabin door and went inside. Cheeko Raw then got hit in the stomach and leg. Clyde almost shitted on himself when he saw that. Shug came back out with massive firepower. Holding a 47 mm grenade launcher with a 10-round drum, he took aim. Mad Max had Clyde in his scope, but then he saw something fearsome hurtling right at him.
“Oh, fuck!” he gasped as he took off running, just as a grenade hit the side of the car he was hiding behind.
BA-BOOM!
The explosion knocked Mad Max to the ground. But, he popped right back up and sprinted for safety. Clyde quickly picked up a gun after seeing Shug cock back another grenade into the chamber and fire.
BA-BOOM!
Another car got torched and several Russian goons went down. Shug’s arsenal was too much for them. The Russians beat a hasty retreat, just as Clyde got up and joined Shug. The Russian piled up into their cars and peeled out of the area.
When Clyde turned and saw Cheeko Raw dead on the ground, the anger inside him started to boil. Someone would pay for this. He wanted to scream in anguish but that showed weakness, and Clyde refused to show his hand in front of his men. He knew then that the Russians weren’t playing games. They wanted him dead.
Chapter 49
THE MEET
Diamond rode in the three-car entourage full of armed men, including Bain, Butch, 4-5, and Butta. On the way to Zelinski’s mansion, Diamond marveled at the humongous ranch that featured cattle, tall trees and armed guards. The mansion was also huge, occupying almost 26,000 square feet.
