The Viper and his Majesty by Tiana Laveen
CHAPTER SIX
A King’s Ransom
One of the boys screamed, and they all stopped and stared in horror, expecting he’d run over the ball and smash it to a pulp. Viper pulled over and parked his bike along the sidewalk, grabbed the ball, and tucked it under his arm. Brandishing a smile, he walked up the driveway towards the youthful trio.
“A, don’t worry. That’s my mama’s friend,” the handsome little Black boy said, as if he were responsible for putting everyone at ease. “His name is Diaper.” The other two boys burst out laughing, beating on their knees as their faces turned red.
“Diaper!” one of them kept repeating, barely able to get the word out before falling to the ground, totally taken asunder by the giggles.
“Viper,” he corrected, swallowing a chuckle of his own. “Vi-per.” He tossed the ball to Majesty’s son. “What are you playing?”
“Just toss. Bored. Mama is supposed to take us to the park, but she said she might not have time, so Sirus and Lou came to play with me. They wanna go, too.” He looked as if his feelings were genuinely hurt.
“I’m sure she’ll let you go another day.”
The boy nodded half-heartedly, then tossed him back the ball, engaging him in a bit of play. He caught it, then tossed it to the Asian kid, who passed it on to the dark-haired White boy. He recognized the children from the neighborhood and wondered if perhaps they were all the same age. They appeared to be.
“Tell your mother hello for me.” He smirked as he tossed the ball one last time to the kid. He caught it, and a mischievous gleam crossed the boy’s face.
“Maaaama! Viper said hello! He out here playin’ with us!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. Suddenly, the front door swung open, and there stood Majesty in a light gray crop top, long-sleeved cotton hoodie, and baggy gray jogging pants, pierced navel exposed. Her hair was parted on the side, flowing down past her shoulders and breasts.
“Mama, tell him I’m not lying. Didn’t you say his name was Diaper? You were on the phone and said that the big Cuban man across the street was named Diaper.”
Viper stared at the woman who looked completely mortified. He crossed his arms and sucked his teeth, pretending to be pissed, when all he really wanted to do was burst out laughing. She’s been talking shit about me to other people. That’s good, actually. Means I’m on her mind, too. Looks like she might like me after all…
“I never said his name was no damn Diaper, Troy. Now what sense does that make?!” Her face turned to a deeper hue along the cheeks.
“Yes, you did. You said, he ain’t S-H-I-T, and then you said that his name fits, ’cause it’s Diaper.” The two boys burst out laughing again. Boy did Majesty look angry.
“I’m a diaper, huh? Viper and Diaper. That rhymes. I get it. Good joke.” He flashed his teeth at her. “What brand am I? Huggies or Pampers? I hope I come with wipes, too.” This really got the boys giggling.
“Troy, I’ve got something special for you.” She pointed at her son, her threat loud and clear. She looked around, as if suddenly remembering she had company. “I’ll take you and your friends to the park in five minutes.” All three boys began to jump up and down, cheering, soon forgetting about the running joke. “Viper, what are you doing here?”
“Your son, I just realized his name was Troy since you’ve just now said it, lost his ball in the street. I was bringing some food home, stopped, and picked it up to give back to him.” She nodded in understanding. The boys began to laugh and chase each other around the yard. Holding herself as though she felt chilly, she inched closer across the porch, then looked both ways as though a train was coming before making her way down the steps. She now stood close enough for him to view all her beautiful imperfections. A smattering of beauty marks. A small scar on her chin. Her eyebrows were pitch black, natural, and arched to perfection. Her lips were full and succulent, and her neck was long and lovely.
And boy did she smell amazing.
“Damn, you look good.”
“What?” She rolled her eyes. “Look, Viper, I just wanted to tell you, thank you for what you did for my car, but you overstepped your bounds. I don’t need anyone bailing me out. Regardless, I know your heart was in the right place. I thanked your father, too, when I called over there. If you wait right here, I can give you a hundred dollars towards the bill.”
“I don’t need it.” Ignoring him, she walked in her house, the screen door slamming behind her. He watched the boys playing as he waited. They reminded him of him and his brother with their next-door neighbor. Those had been innocent times. Good times. Times long gone.
“Can I have some shoes like yours?” the White boy asked, bits of grass sticking to his sweaty face. Lust for the sneakers shone in his bright blue eyes.
“You like these, huh? These cost a lot. Maybe if you go to college and get a good job, you can have some.” That’s the politically right thing to tell kids, right? Maybe? Hell, who knows. I’ve never been politically correct. How would I know?
“He’ll be old by then, man, and they’ll be outta style, too!” Troy protested.
“Well, you have a point there. So, why don’t you ask for a pair for your birthday, or Christmas?”
“I did. My mother said they were too expensive for just a pair of sneakers. What I don’t get is she spends way more than that to make me take piano lessons! I hate playing the piano!” The little kid turned away, disgruntled.
Majesty came back out, money in hand. Taking his hand, she spread out his fingers and placed two fifty-dollar bills in his palm. When she touched him, electricity flashed through him. He slipped the cash into his pocket.
“This wasn’t necessary, but if it makes you feel better, that’s fine.”
“It does. I know that barely scratches the surface, but I’ll have the rest to you in the next couple of weeks. No such thing as a free lunch out here.” Silence stretched for a while. She looked awkward, as if not certain where to rest her eyes. Her stomach grumbled. Her cheeks turned deep red once again, and she burst out laughing. He followed suit.
“You’re hungry.”
“I have food in the house.”
“That’s not what I said. Check this out.” He grabbed his bag of grub from his motorcycle and approached her. “Look what I’ve got?” Grinning, he reached into the bag as if it were full of candies from Halloween and unwrapped one of the tacos from its greasy parchment paper wrapping. He knew the aroma alone would seduce her. “Best damn tacos in town. Taste this.” He brought it closer to her face.
“No, that’s all right. Thank you though.” She took a step back.
He stepped closer and her eyes widened.
“Open your mouth…” I want to put something tasty, warm, and heavy in there…
Her smile faded, but then, she parted her lips and bit into the taco. Her lips curved in a smile. He caught a bit of lettuce she was having trouble getting into her mouth with his finger, and let it fall to the ground.
“It’s good, isn’t it?”
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. What is that? Some kind of steak?”
“They’re called Birria tacos… Mexican recipe. It’s stewed beef with many different seasonings. Cooked real slow until it’s falling off the bone. Every now and again, you might go to a place that makes ’em out of goat meat, but these are the best.”
“It’s peppery, but sweet and flavorful all at the same time.” She patted the side of her mouth with the back of her hand. “Delicious.”
“Here… take another bite. Better yet, take it all.”
“No, no, I’m okay. I can’t eat your dinner, Viper.”
“I insist. Come on. I have three more of these. I’m really greedy, so I always buy plenty.”
“Thank you.” She took the taco and dug in.
“If you think this is good, you should try Cuban food. Ever been to Little Havana?”
“Driven through many times, but never stayed for any length of time. You told me you grew up there. What part did you live in?” She took another bite, then wrapped the remainder up.
“East Havana. The place everyone talks badly about.”
She offered a crooked smile. He could see in her eyes she’d heard the stories about East Havana, too. How dangerous it was with all the high crime, murders, rapes, and thefts.
“What about you? Where’d you grow up?”
“Allapattah.”
“What?!” He burst out laughing.
“What is so funny?” She looked somewhat confused.
“My boy asked if you were Dominican, Majesty. You said no, and that’s fine, he was just curious, but you grew up in a Dominicano and Nicaragüense hood! You better check your DNA. Oh my God! How dare you be offended. What the fuck?” He cackled.
She rolled her eyes, smirked, then giggled.
“It’s a coincidence, and there are far more Blacks and Cubans there than Dominicans. I have quite a few Dominican friends though, but I’m not one. You’d think I’d know Spanish due to having so many friends that speak it, but I don’t. Well, I know a little.”
“Un pequeño?” He brought his index finger and thumb close, indicating a small amount.
“Yes! Pequeño.” Her smile lit up the atmosphere.
“So, why’d you move away?”
“I moved downtown for a few years after I had Troy, tried to get a fresh start, but then went back to save some money.”
“I take it you didn’t like it where you grew up?”
“No, I didn’t. It’s unsafe, especially for me and trying to raise my son. Some parts are safer than others, but you know what I mean. I was afraid something bad would happen.” She hesitated, as if she wanted to say more, but stopped herself. She snuck a brief glance at her kid, playing with his friends. “So, speaking of neighborhoods, I also had wanted to tell you that I love your house, Viper. It’s one of the prettiest in the area. How do you pay the bills to keep it?”
“Damn, you’re nosey. You just come on out and say it, huh?”
“I am. Are you gonna answer or what? I might need another part time job, as long as it’s not something illegal,” she teased.
“Nah, I make my money above the table. I train dogs. The kind no one else can. Many of them are in danger of being put down without an intervention. I have rich people coming to me due to little FiFi tearing up their shoes, all the way to your average guy who can’t control his dog and if he doesn’t get help, his pet will be taken away by the city. I train them here at my home, and I also teach a class out in Wellington every now and again, at one of the training centers. I want to eventually own my own instruction facility, and have staff, then have it be a franchise all over south Florida.”
“That is a big goal, but I bet you’ll pull it off. You seem passionate about it.”
“I’m passionate about a lot of things. If you only knew…” Silence lingered in the air as she scratched her neck, then cleared her throat.
“I, uh, saw one of your blue Pit Bulls the other day. Gorgeous animal.”
“Yeah, I have three of them, actually. So… while we’re on the topic, how did you come about renting this house?”
“How’d you know I rent?” She grimaced, as if she’d somehow been violated.
“There was a ‘For Rent’ sign in the yard before you moved in, Majesty,” he stated dryly, mirroring her expression.
“Oh… that’s right.” She laughed. “Um, well, it’s a long story.”
“I’ve got time,” he lied. In fact, if he didn’t get home soon, he’d be late for his appointments, but this was the chance of a lifetime. That ball rolling into the street changed his fortune. Majesty had come out to play.
“Well, my mother knows the guy who owns it. I had been wanting to move. I had saved up a lot of money, but I wanted to move into a house. No more apartments. I wanted Troy to have a yard, and a good school district.” He nodded in understanding. “So, on my behalf, my mother asked if I could rent it, since the guy was having trouble keeping good tenants in it. They always stopped paying rent or left it in shambles. The owner lives in Texas now. He just wanted it occupied, and well taken care of.”
“Yeah, I’d heard he moved to Texas.”
“He and I spoke, worked out an agreement, now, here we are.” She shrugged. “I work, take good care of my child and go to school. I budget. I work hard, and I will work even harder to make sure we’re good. Better than good.”
“The night you came by complaining about my music, you said you were in school. What’s your major?” He knew he was pushing his luck by asking her personal questions, but he had to try. He wanted to know every damn thing about her.
“I’m going into Human Resources and I’ll be finished soon.”
The more she spoke, the more turned on he was. Her determination, love for her son, goals and fiery personality hit all of his buttons. She set him ablaze with desire and hatched sinful fantasies of him doing all sorts of sordid things to her. He loved her get-up-and-go attitude, and how she refused to fail. She was like him, resilient, and he’d hardly ever met anyone that could match his ambition.
“I did say your name was Diaper to my friend.”
“I know you did.” He laughed lightly. “Your son couldn’t have thought of that on his own. He’s too young to have reached that level of smart-ass just yet. That was a grown woman move.”
She pretended to swipe dust off her shoulder then grinned proudly.
“I meant what I said earlier. You look so damn good. Definitely my type.”
“You need to stop.” She shook her head and sighed.
“I can’t stop. You’re sexy to me. Now that we’ve spoken for longer than one minute, I see you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, too. That’s good. I like that. Motivation and determination are a big turn on to me.”
“Well then, let me drop out of school right now, stop payin’ rent, neglect my child and play video games all day,” she teased, making him laugh.
“Stop playing hard to get and let me take you out. Can you dance? We can go dancing, get a bite to eat.”
“You’re probably married with fifteen children, Viper.”
“Fourteen. Only fourteen kids, and three wives. Looking for a fourth. If you’re lucky, that’s you.”
She twisted her lips and put her hand on her hip. But soon, they succumbed to mirth all over again.
“Nah, not married… never been married.” He scratched his elbow and glanced at the children for a moment. “I don’t have any fruit of my loins, so to speak, either. If I did, I definitely would claim them.”
“Really? No children, huh? How old are you?” She looked unconvinced.
“I’m thirty-one. You?”
“Just turned thirty.”
“Well then, happy belated birthday. So… you gonna let me take you out or what? No Netflix and chill. A real date.”
She took a deep breath, looked away at a passing car, then eyed him again.
“You know that’s not going to happen. I know what you do, how you operate, and the circles you hang in. I can’t have that sort of thing around my son, Viper.”
“Mmm, I see.” He licked his lower lip and absently cracked his knuckles. “You think a guy like me makes it to age thirty-one by bein’ stupid?” He narrowed his gaze. “I’ve had plenty of women, baby. You can ask anybody about me, and they’ll tell you I’m not the one to try shit with. None of the women I’ve dated or been in a relationship with have gotten into any shit on account of me, or the company I keep.”
“You can’t guarantee that. There’s no way to guarantee that.”
“You really have no idea who you’re talking to right now. I don’t have to tell you anything, explain anything. Just ask around. My reputation precedes me. I’m well known. Not here, but in the dark corners of Miami. Ask people who my brother was. My family. I’m not what you think I am. Not by a long shot.”
“But see, I bet none of the women you were with had—”
“Some of ’em had children. I knew what you were about to say. I’ve dated women with children before. I’m funny about family, Majesty. I’m protective of children. I keep my lifestyle away from them, and when dating a woman who isn’t a Latin Queen, I keep it away from her, too. It’s really not that difficult.”
She regarded him long and hard.
“Are you active? Because let me tell you, Mr. King Viper, I don’t want that shit around me either.” Her smile was soon replaced by darkness… Hurt swelled to the surface, as if she’d stood by a motherfucker like him before, only it was a different face, different race, and different place.
“Do you know why they call me Viper?”
“No, but I bet you’re about to tell me.”
“They call me Viper because I lie low. I plot. I plan. I stand on my own two feet. Ten toes down in my own honor. Years can pass, and the prey can think it’s gotten away. But then, I strike. I’m slow. Then fast. Methodical, until it’s time to attack. I’m never in a rush. I take my time, then build up… keep it steady…” He scanned her sensual form from the top of her head to her feet, real slow, then looked back up until he met her eyes once again. “I speed up, bit by bit, moving around and around in that garden until I’m fully engulfed in the brush, deep in the jungle… deep in that bush… A snake, dipping in and out… in… then out… over and over, never getting enough. The earth around me grows warm and wet with rain as I move with precision within it. I go faster… and faster… and faster… until the whole damn world around me explodes. Pulsing. Nothin’ but stars. The earth vibrates, as a grand finale, and then, I make my way out, leaving nothing but satisfaction.” He winked at her as he waved his hands about in the air.
She sucked her teeth and her face twitched.
“And last but not least, Majesty, I rest there. Held close by Mother Nature. My cold, reptilian heart beats slower as I curl against the wet warmth of the oasis. I lie there and reminisce, still tasting my prey on my forked tongue… Because you see, before the chase, and all of that moving around in that sweet rainforest, I ate what was in my way. It was a tiny, succulent pink flower, a beautiful bud, sitting in a little sailboat all by its lonesome. Gulp!” He burst out laughing as she turned a million colors.
“Uhhh…” She sighed, her face beet red now. Black girls definitely blush… And he loved it. “You’re nasty.” She waved her finger at him and laughed.
“Nah.” He threw up his hands. “I’m just talkin’ about being a Viper is all.”
“Satan was a snake in the garden of Eden,” she chided. “Just like you.”
“And Eve just couldn’t resist temptation. Just like you…”
“Mama!” Troy called out from across the yard, the ball now cradled under his arm. “Can we go to the park now? Dang. We been waitin’.”
“Okay. Yeah, let’s go. We’ll walk over. Well, it was nice talking to you, Viper. Thanks for the taco.” She waved the food in the air and turned to hurriedly walk away. Reaching out, he gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her. Her eyes fixed on his fingers wrapped around her arm.
“Talk is cheap. I want to spend some time with you. Call me.”
“As charming, resourceful and, dare I admit, sexy as you are, Viper, you know I’m not calling you.”
“My number is, 305-555-0100. Remember that, and keep in mind what I said. Family preservation is crucial. I would never allow anything or anyone to mess up my plans, hurt something, or in this case, someone that I want.” He glanced at Troy who was sitting on the porch, retying his shoelaces.
“Like I told you, there’s no guarantee, even with the best of intentions.”
“That goes for everything and everyone, Majesty. You think you’d be safer dating an accountant? He could get robbed, and you could be killed in the process. I’m not dealing drugs, I’m not dealing weapons anymore, either. I protect my brothers. Period.”
“Everyone thinks they’re different until it’s proven they’re not.” He stood close to her, so their bodies almost touched. As he drowned in her beautiful dark brown eyes, the lashes lush and thick, he could see the worry, pain, trauma and hurt in her face. She had no idea it was tattooed on her, but he could smell and feel it, too. Practically taste it.
“I’m not like the rest, baby, but I am the fucking best. Give me a chance. Don’t stereotype me. Not all Kings play chess the same way. Some are newbies, then there are professionals. Like me. I know how to work the board, and your jungle. Latin Kings do it better…”
And then, he turned, got on his bike and rode the rest of the way home…