Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Neo

A hatch opened in the floor of the old chicken coup, revealing a hole with a wooden chest containing various kinds of weapons. One of the kings and I pulled out the chest and spread the weapons out on the dirt floor. A feeling of nostalgia washed over me as I knelt and picked up a wooden nunchaku which reminded me of my father.

In my earlier years, I'd been a rebel, refusing to learn the business of my family. I thought that my brother was a more adequate candidate than I was, to inherit the company. I also thought we had many years before I would enter the family business. Little did I know exactly what would happen and how I would be the next one at the forefront.

I placed the nunchaku beside me on the ground and reached for a silver Glock, one like that of my mother's. This time a homesick feeling twisted my stomach into knots. I closed my eyes, longing for my mother's hugs.

Neeky stooped beside me. "Hey, I can see you miss home."

"Hmm."

"I know we can't replace your home back in Italy, but I was hoping that you'd consider this your second home."

I reached over and caressed her chin with my thumb. "Baby, wherever you are, is my home. I only miss my parents … and my brother."

Cupping my face, she leaned over and planted a kiss on my lips. "I can't make you miss them less, but I will make Jamaica everything you'd hope it would be, and more."

"I'll look forward to that."

Our eyes locked in for a few minutes as a forcefield swirled around us. The moment was broken only by one of the Kings who cleared his throat. Neeky and I both glanced at his way before chuckling happily as we continued to pick out the weapons we wanted to use. Our understanding was that Rusty's artillery was well stocked with the latest high-powered weapons. I wanted to laugh out loud at what I was staring at in this old shed. The battle between Rusty and us was going to be a test of skill and tactics, nothing more.

Neeky reached into the pile and brought a bowie knife, handing it to me. "I know this isn't what you are used to, but I know you will use it well."

"It will do mighty well. It will serve its purpose."

Whatever weapons were not selected by Uncle and his man, or Neeky and I, were returned to the chest and buried back in the hole. When we returned to the house uncle received a message from Mass Joe that he wanted to see me. I was surprised because I'd never met the man. But uncle reassured me that it was alright so long as we were careful. It could still be a trap even though Mass Joe wasn't known to be affiliated with any faction.

Since the last time we heard from Mass Joe, he'd been taken to a nursing home to receive care for rheumatic heart failure. It was good thing because we knew that Mass Joes house was being watched. Not only that, but there were also spies all over the community. That was the reason we were heading out. That night we left the city and headed for Constant Spring, which was just at the foothills of St. Andrew.

We moved house during the late-night hours for several reasons. Jamaica was a small island, and I was aware that I stood out like a sore thumb. My curly black hair, hazel eyes, and olive skin tone made me a prime target of suspicion for foreign law enforcement. I could understand that because there have been numerous occasions where the FBI or Scotland yard sent operatives to the island. Or so the locals believed.

The nursing home was in Smokey Vale, about six miles away from our location. Wanting to beat the seven through nine o'clock traffic, we left around six thirty. Today, we drove a dark blue Honda CR-V. It took s roughly ten minutes to get there with Neeky at the wheel. Sometimes I wonder if she was a race car driver in another life.

"This is it," she announced, pulling at the gate. "But isn't it too early for visitors?"

"Yes, some of the residents aren't even awake yet," uncle responded.

The security officer at the gate told us we were too early, but he was assured by Uncle that we were expected. The man called the main office but there was no response. We were told we had to wait outside until the visiting hours, but Uncle was impatient. Neeky pulled up the sidewalk while uncle alighted the vehicle.

"Let me go talk to someone. Where is the bag of goodies, the one for the office?"

"Trunk," I said, hopping out and trotting to the back of the vehicle while Neeky released the hatch.

Uncle took the bag and strode purposefully through the gate. The security guard stopped him, exchanging a few words, after which he allowed Uncle to go in. Neeky and I leaned against the car as a whiff of fresh air rustled the trees. Smokey Vale was on a hill, with a killer view of the city of Kingston. This hour of the morning had a cool temperature, and the early morning traffic was just getting started.

"I like this place," I leaned across and murmured. "It's beautiful."

"I like it too, but you haven't seen anything yet. We'll visit the other parishes whenever the mission is complete."

I reached for her hand and locked our fingers. "And I'll meet your brother, right?"

She gave me a hard stare. "I thought you didn't want to meet him."

"Who told you that?"

"You called him a slut."

I chuckled. "Was I wrong, though? He slept with several other guys while dating my brother."

"Nino and Ryan were not exclusive."

I let go of her hand and ran that same hand through my hair. "There you go again, finding excuses. He must've known how my brother felt about him."

Silence fell between us for a second before she took my hand in both of hers. "I know you think I'm finding excuses for my brother …"

"…Aren't you?"

"Not so. What you must understand about Ryan is that he had a lot to deal with growing up. We lost our parents and when people discovered his sexuality, he was bullied."

"I'm sorry your brother was bullied, but he's still a dick for what he did."

"Look Babes, those other people mean nothing to him. They are just a means to an end."

My brows furrowed in confusion. "So, he's a prostitute?"

"Not really."

"Then what is he then?"

I was making her angry again like before, but I wasn't backing down from this argument. At least she didn't drive off like that last time, and she was still holding my hand. Which meant she wanted to face the truth about Ryan, or rather stop defending his dirty action.

"Is he a prostitute or not?" I demanded. "Because I can accept that more than the other story you gave me."

"He's not a prostitute," she replied quietly. "He's a sugar baby."

I slipped an arm around her shoulder. "That wasn't so hard, wasn't it?"

She snapped her head around to look at me sharply. "Why you have to emphasize that word?"

A smirk lifted the corner of my lips. Neeky nudged me and tried to pull away.

"Sheesh, man. Yuh cyan behave yuhself?"

My hand slid from her shoulder down to her waist as I pulled her closer to me. "Why do I have to behave?"

The street was getting busier with traffic, and I could see stares from cars passing by. I didn't care and I hope Neeky wouldn't care either. We were now facing each other with her palms against my chest, pushing me away. I gripped her waist tighter, our bodies' warmth seeping into each other.

"Let me go. Yuh think dis is Italy? People a watch we."

"Let them watch. Who cares?"

"Cho man, Neo. Let me go no man."

"Not before a kiss."

"If yuh think yuh bad kiss me right now," her voice sounded threatening. "If yuh think yuh bad, do it."

I chuckled and pulled away as I wasn't about to get a knee up my crotch for a kiss. Neeky sucked air through her teeth and mumbled something under her breath. Just around the time I leaned back on the car, the security guard came to tell us we were needed inside. He opened the gate to allow us to drive in. The security directed us where to park and told us which building we should visit. Five minutes later, we met Uncle at the dormitory where Mass Joe lived.

This dorm was not a unisex dorm as it hosted only males. The female dorm was on the other side of the property and only on rare occasions did both sexes meet. Most of the men were still asleep while the cleaning staff got to work. We smelled breakfast being cooked from the kitchen and it sparked a bit of a hunger pang in my belly. I liked Jamaican breakfasts which was mostly ackee and saltfish with boiled yams and bananas, or roasted breadfruit, or some nice fresh fried dumplings. A mug of sweet chocolate would accompany that.

"Damn, I'm hungry," I muttered. "They cooking my favorite."

"How'd you know what they cooking?" Neeky inquired.

"I smell saltfish cooking."

She rolled her eyes at me. "They not cooking ackee and saltfish."

"You wanna bet?"

"Yuh not going into the people's kitchen today, yuh hear me?"

"Can't I just…?"

"If yuh think yuh bad, gwaan no. Do it."

I held up my hands in surrender. "Alright ma'am. We can stop on our way back to get breaky."

"The two of you bicker like children," Uncle said, shaking his head. "Come. Joe is in this room."

Mass Joe was sitting on a chair beside his bed. His face brightened as we entered, his smile toothless. Although the man was blind, his eyes seemed to bore through me. He beckoned me over and I went over to him. Uncle left us to go talk to someone in the adjoining room while Neeky stood by the door. The room smelled of stale urine and dirty socks. I took a seat on the bed with rumbled sheets, taking his hand in mine.

"Hi, I'm Neo. You wanted to see me?"

"Yuh must a wonder why this old man wanted to see yuh," he said, his voice cracking. "I must tell yuh plain and straight. I think yuh might be my great grandson."

I thought Mass Joe might be losing his marbles and I decided that patience was the best remedy for an old mind. "What makes you think that?"

"Many years ago, yuh great grandmother was my girlfriend. She was fifteen at the time when she migrated to another parish. I was also a kid, we were both attending school. I heard later that she had a baby boy, but I was a coward."

"Oh, my mother's father?" He nodded and I continued. "So, you never confirmed it this was true or not? I mean, that if he was your child."

"Back then, I was a coward. Her father was a policeman. I feared the man."

"I understand. Thanks for telling me, but you're still not sure if I'm your great grandkid."

"It doesn't matter now that I'm dying. What I really want to tell you is this," he stopped and blinked, asking me if there was someone there. I told him that my girlfriend was there, and he ask to see her as well.

She eased from the door frame and closed the door behind her before walking over. She came to stand next to me. "I'm here Mass Joe."

He pulled his hand away from me and felt for Neeky's until he found it. "My girl, I so sorry I was a coward who couldn't tell yuh what happened to yuh parents. All me life I afraid a everything, especially wicked people."

"Don't worry about it, Mass Joe."

"No, I worry about it, especially now me time soon come. Yuh father was a good man, not giving in to the wickedness of those that snuffed out his life."

Her brows knitted fiercely. "You know exactly what happened and why?"

"I know everything me dear. I was just afraid a di gang leader. Him have a habit fi kill anybody who rat him out."

"Can you tell me why they were killed?"

"I have a spot I always go meet a girl who go to the same church yuh parents went to. I normally wait behind the big East Indian mango tree until she come round the corner. That night she never come church, so I was about to leave when I see Rusty and him man dem cut the throat of a woman, and throw her in a car trunk. Him never see me, but you parents were coming round the corner same time."

Neeky's eyes opened wide. "They saw the murder?"

Joe shook his head. "I don't think so. But Rusty must have, because that night they killed your parents. I know it was Rusty because the girl I was seeing lived next door to you. I went there that night and saw Rusty and gang leaving your house."

Neeky stepped back, withdrawing her hand from Mass Joes. "My parents were killed for a crime they probably didn't witness."

Mass Joe turned to me. "Yuh going get that damn murderer, right? The streets need to be clean of people like him."

"Don't you worry Mass Joe, that's what I'm here for. We'll get that scumbag and his minions."