Animal (3 page)

Moving as quietly as possible, he entered the room. Sitting in a wooden chair next to the bed was Tionna. She was hunched over the bed sobbing. Knowing how close Tionna and Gucci were, he knew Tionna had to be taking it hard, just as hard as he was. He and Tionna had never really seen eye to eye, but they both loved Gucci so they tolerated each other. Looking past Tionna, he saw Gucci’s sleeping form. Seeing her hooked up to all the machines monitoring her vitals almost made him cry, but he had to be strong for her.

Tionna must’ve felt his presence because she turned around and scanned the room nervously. Animal pressed himself further into the shadows behind the door and watched as she cautiously approached. She looked into the hallway before closing the door and turning to go back to Gucci’s bedside. Animal thought about calling out to her, but he didn’t want to startle her and risk drawing the attention of the hospital staff, so he moved behind her and clamped his hand over her mouth. Tionna struggled and tried to scream, but Animal had a firm grip on her.

“I’m going to remove my hand, and you are not going to scream, do we understand each other?” a familiar voice whispered in Tionna’s ear. She nodded. “Good,” he released his grip. As soon as he moved his hand she shrieked and broke for the door. Before she could get it open, she was grabbed roughly from behind and forced against the wall. “Damn it, Tionna, shut up before hospital security comes,” Animal told her.

Tionna turned as white as a ghost when she saw Animal.
“But you’re dead; everybody said you were dead,” Tionna blinked, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her.

“No, I’m very much alive, which is more than I can say for the men who did this to Gucci.” He approached her bedside and stared down at her. She was just as beautiful as he remembered her, if not more so. “How long has she been like this?”

“For over a week now. The doctors say she had a mild stroke during the last surgery,” Tionna explained.

Animal took her hand in his and kissed her cold fingers. “My poor baby.” Tears fell from his eyes and splashed on her arm. “Look what they did to you. Don’t worry. I’m here now, and I’m gonna make this right, I promise.” Animal leaned in and kissed Gucci on the lips before turning to make his exit.

Tionna followed Animal to the door. “What are you going to do?”

He looked over his shoulder at her. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

Tionna nodded. “Can I ask a favor of you, Animal?”

“I’m all out of good will, T,” he said seriously.

“It ain’t for me; it’s for Gucci . . . well, kinda. I know I might be wrong for saying this, but I don’t care. When you find the ones who did this, punish them.” Tears welled in Tionna’s eyes. “Make them suffer for what they did to my girl.”

“That I can do.” Animal agreed. “Get word to your friends and loved ones, T. Tell them that they might wanna stay off the streets for a time. The sky is gonna rain blood over Harlem, and I don’t care too much who gets wet.”

Tionna nodded. “Animal, I’m not gonna ask where you’ve been or what happened because I’m sure it’s a long story, but I’m glad you’re alive, and I know Gucci will be too.”

Animal cracked a half smile. “I hope so. I was afraid she wouldn’t want to see me after all that’s happened.”

“Boy, you know Gucci loves you more than anything. No matter how much we all tried to get her to go on with her life, she never gave up the hope that you might come back to her one day.”

Animal ripped a piece of paper off one of the hospital charts and scribbled down the number to one of the burn-out cell phones he had. “Here,” he handed it to Tionna, “this is for your eyes only. Try to only use it in cases of emergencies. Keep me updated on her progress, and I know I don’t have to tell you not to give it to anyone or tell anybody you’ve seen me.”

“Animal, I’m not stupid.” She put the piece of paper in her pocket. “I’ll call you the minute there’s a change in her condition. Now you better go before—” The words hadn’t completely left her mouth when the door to the room opened.

“Oh my God,” Ms. Ronnie gasped, her mouth falling agape. The bag of Chinese food she’d been carrying dropped to the floor. She had intended to surprise Tionna with the late-night meal, but she ended up being the one surprised to see her daughter’s boyfriend who had risen from the grave.

“Hey, Ms. Ronnie,” Animal said sheepishly.

There was an awkward silence, and then Ms. Ronnie moved cautiously toward him wearing a shocked expression. She touched his arms, then ran her hands along his baby face to make sure what she was seeing wasn’t some warped dream. Ms. Ronnie’s lips began to tremble, and she tried to speak but couldn’t. She smiled at Animal, before slapping him viciously across his face twice. She raised her hand a third time, but
instead of slapping him, she pulled him into an embrace and broke down into tears.

“Do you know how worried you had us?” she sobbed into his chest. “We all thought you were dead.”

“I was for a time,” Animal said honestly.

“Well, at least tell me where you’ve been.”

Before Animal could answer Ms. Ronnie’s question a portly, dark-skinned nurse came into the room. She was so focused on the clipboard in her hand that she literally walked into Animal. When she looked up at the wild-haired young man she took a cautionary step back. “What’s going on in here? Visiting hours were over at 8 p.m.” She was talking to all three of them, but her eyes were locked on Animal. He looked familiar to her, but she couldn’t place him.

“Sorry, Nurse Jenkins.” Ms. Ronnie stepped up. Nurse Jenkins had been Gucci’s attending nurse over the last few weeks, so she knew Ms. Ronnie and Tionna and let them bend the rules from time to time. “I was just checking in on Gucci and bringing Tionna some food because she’s been here half the night.”

“That’s fine, Ms. Ronnie, but you know we can only allow immediate family in here after a certain time.” She cut her eyes at Animal.

“Oh, this is Gucci’s—”

“Cousin Mike,” Animal cut Ms. Ronnie off. He flashed his winning smile at Nurse Jenkins, and she softened a bit.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Cousin Mike, but like I said, only immediate family can be here after visiting hours. I could get in trouble if one of the doctors finds all of y’all in here.”

“We wouldn’t want that, now would we? My apologies,
Nurse Jenkins, and thank you for letting me check on my cousin,” Animal said.

“You’re welcome, sugar, but you got to be going now. As a matter of fact, I need all of you to step out so I can check on Gucci and change her dressings.”

Animal took one last look at Gucci and walked silently into the hallway, followed by Ms. Ronnie and Tionna. He could feel tears welling again, so he placed his head against the wall and closed his eyes to compose himself. A few seconds later he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. When he turned around and saw the sadness written across Ms. Ronnie’s face he couldn’t hold it back any longer, and the tears rolled freely down his cheeks. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“It ain’t your fault,” Ms. Ronnie wiped the tears off Animal’s face.

“But it is. If I had been here, then Gucci wouldn’t have gotten shot. I could’ve stopped it,” Animal said emotionally. “I gotta make ’em pay, Ms. Ronnie. My heart won’t let me rest if I don’t make this right.”

Ms. Ronnie took Animal’s hands in hers and spoke softly to him. “Tayshawn, I know you’re hurting; we all are, but flying outta here mad at the world ain’t gonna change nothing. Let go and let God.”

Animal laughed menacingly and snatched his hands back. “God? Where was God when they hit my baby up?”

“Tayshawn, even when it seems so, God never abandons his children.”

“Then I must be adopted because he sure left me for dead when I needed him most. Ms. Ronnie, I respect your faith in the higher power, but I’m gonna put my faith in
firepower
.” He
patted his waist. “I gotta go, but Tionna knows how to reach me if y’all need me.” Animal redonned his hood and started for the exit.

“Tayshawn,” Ms. Ronnie called after him. Animal stopped but didn’t turn around. “I’m gonna pray for you.”

Animal nodded. “Thank you, but I think the ones who done this are gonna need those prayers more than I will.” And just as silently as he had come, Animal was gone and the wheels of murder were set into motion.

THREE

PRESENT DAY

T
HE CORNER OF 114TH AND
B
ROADWAY WAS
lit up like the Times Square strip. Expensive-looking cars were double-parked as far as the eye could see, while people dressed in their Sunday’s best crowded the sidewalk in front of what had once been a small bistro until it had come under new ownership and undergone its grand transformation. The entire front was covered in a black tarp and guarded fiercely by rough-looking men in black suits. Drivers of passing cars rubbernecked, and residents of the neighborhood stood around talking about what was going on. The solemn look on the faces of the staff of the neighboring pubs and restaurants said it all. It was last call and all their asses were out.

Two cars pulled up to the curb, the first being a sleek black Benz and the other a black stretch limo. From the passenger’s side of the Benz emerged a well built young man wearing black shades and a black silk shirt. Dangling from his neck was a white
gold and diamond cross. He braced his cane on the ground and took a step onto the curb where he was immediately swarmed by paparazzi. The young man smiled and adjusted his collar as his picture was taken from all angles.

The second man to step from the Benz was older and slightly taller. He wore a smoke gray suit and simple gray fedora. From beneath the brim of his hat he scanned the crowd of people for familiar faces and old scores. When one of the cameramen snapped his picture he barked something that made him clear out so fast that he almost fell. Unlike the younger man, Holiday, Angelo did not crave the spotlight. He had lasted as long as he had in the game for flying under the radar and didn’t intend to change it, no matter what the rest of his crew chose to do. Both Angelo and Holiday positioned themselves at opposite ends of the limo just as the valet was opening the back door.

Swann stepped out first, sporting a red Armani button up and a pair of shades. That night he wore his hair out and pulled into a ponytail as opposed to his signature braids. He gave a nod to his partners and extended his hand to help his lady Marisol out of the whip. She was dressed in a cute red strapless number and some mean heels that were killing her feet, but she endured for the sake of making a good show of it. Through her man she was a member of the royal court and had to be on her A-game at all times. Swann escorted Marisol to the front of the establishment, where security was posted up, before returning to the limo and taking up his position as the third guard. This was the inner circle, and all three of them had pledged to live and die for the man who was just climbing out of the limo.

To say that Shai Clark stepped onto the curb would’ve been an understatement. He moved with such fluidity that his body
appeared to be missing bones when he walked. He wore a three-piece black suit that hugged his wiry form like a second skin. There were more people out that night than Shai had thought there would be, but Sol had told him as much and he didn’t listen. No matter, the more that were on hand to witness it the better it was for his rapidly growing legacy. The streets knew what time it was with Shai, but he was still fighting tooth and nail to strengthen the Clarks’ stronghold in the legitimate business world. The move he was making that night was a power one, and he wanted everyone to know it.

Making it a point to avoid the cameras he busied himself helping Honey from the limo. She was wearing a cute black dress that was trimmed in sequins along the shoulders and around the waist. As usual, her golden silk locks were flawlessly curled. Around her hairline was a handmade headband that was sprinkled with little yellow and white diamonds. Honey’s face was so flawlessly made up that she looked like she had just stepped off a television set. The cameramen swooped in and started snapping pictures of her. From the crowd she heard someone shout, “Madam Queen,” to which she just smiled.

As Shai pulled her through the wall of flashbulbs, she placed her hand protectively over her ever-growing stomach to try to sooth the child growing inside it, who was reacting to her nervousness. Honey knew how important this was to Shai, and she wanted to make sure she was the epitome of the perfect fiancée, supporting her man. Shai must’ve picked up on her nervousness because he squeezed her hand and gave her a little wink, letting her know everything would be fine.

Shai continued to ignore the cameras and walked Honey to the entrance, with Angelo, Swann, and Holiday in tow. Looking
like a gray dot in the middle of the black-clad security guards was Sol Lansky, an old friend and business partner of the late Poppa. He had once sat at the table as Poppa Clark’s advisor, and now he whispered into Shai’s ear. The gray-haired old man gave Shai a proud smile, the tension immediately drained from Shai’s chest, and he was ready to address the crowd. Shai raised his hands for silence and the clambering people quieted like the president was about to give the State of the Union address. He might not have been the president, but in Harlem, he had just as much power, because he was the boss.