La Bella Mafia (8 page)

Breeze stepped out of the chauffeured Maybach with oversized Bulgari shades hiding her true emotions from the cameras. She was the surviving child of the infamous king of Miami, Carter Diamond. She was a living legend and everyone wanted a piece of her. Controversy circled the family like vultures waiting for death. The news reporters stayed on her particularly. Everyone wanted a comment, an interview; even Time Magazine had offered her money for a sit down. Street fame was turning into actual fame for Breeze; she wanted none of it however. The only thing Breeze craved at the moment was Zyir. Loneliness consumed her days while the only companionship she had at night was grief. Leena and Miamor were lucky. They had the seeds of the men they loved to cultivate. Even in Carter and Monroe's absence, the children they left behind provided comfort. Breeze was alone. Breeze was not a mother. She had no piece of Zyir, besides her memories and even those weren't enough. She wanted her man. She was skeptical about his well-being. A part of her didn't believe that he was alive, but Miamor seemed so sure that it kept a tiny spark of hope blazing in Breeze's chest. Breeze was the weakest link but she hid it well. Sunglasses were a permanent veil to cover her red, puffy, eyes. Her expensive clothes distracted the masses from her hunched shoulders. She disguised her burden well because she made sure she was always put together right. It was how her mother, Taryn had raised her. “You have to always be a bad bitch.” It was words she had lived by her entire life, but in the absence of all the people who had sworn to be her protectors, they never rang more true. The hired goon stood suited in Italian threads while concealing American metal in his holster. His six foot five inch frame pushed the reporters out of the way as she trailed him into the building to meet the federal prosecutor.

“Ms. Diamond, how does it feel to be the last member of The Cartel standing?”

“Is it true that your family is responsible for seventy percent of the murders in Dade County?”

“Ms. Diamond can you comment on the mysterious plane crash that killed your brothers and live-in boyfriend?”

Breeze kept her head low as she held onto the back of her bodyguard's shirt. The thirsty media was so focused on breaking open the story of the largest crime family in the South and they were relentless in their tactics. Relief came as she stepped inside of the rotating doors.

“Wait here for me,” she instructed.

The average person would have been shaken by a request to meet with the law, but Breeze was fully prepared. She had a pit on a chain in the form of her attorney, Rosenberg and like a loyal dog ready to bark he stood waiting for her in the lobby. He had represented the family for years, dating back to Big Carter and Polo. He knew of their dealings intimately and had protected them from persecution for a few decades. He had attended family barbecues, holidays, and birthday parties. Breeze felt completely safe in his care.

“Breeze, how are you?” he asked as he greeted her with a firm handshake.

“I'd be better if I didn't have to be here. What is this about?” she asked as they made their way to the elevators.

“This is a fishing expedition,” Rosenberg replied. “You can let me do all the talking. That's what you pay me the big bucks for.” He gave her a wink and she smiled, feeling relaxed as she followed one of her father's oldest friends into the lion's den.

Rosenberg led her directly into the office of Daniel Broome, the P.A. assigned to take down her family. Her internal alarm immediately went up.

“Rosenberg, I didn't realize you would be joining us,” Broome said.

The two guests took a seat without being asked and Breeze folded her legs, making herself comfortable.

“You should know better by now Daniel,” Rosenberg replied, showing disrespect by using his first name.

Daniel Broome was an American bread golden boy. Son of a senator and an ivy-league grad, he came out of law school with a readymade position. He had assisted on many cases, including the original case that the Feds had brought against Carter Diamond. When they didn't convict, Broome had a hard-on for The Cartel and now that the children of the man whom had eluded the law were in his clutches he was determined to bring justice. He was a young, ambitious, lad . . . too ambitious for Breeze's taste.

“Why am I here?” Breeze asked.

“Breeze as you know I've been following your family for quite some time. This case is strong, completely rock solid. Before the death of your brothers and your boyfriend my focus was on convicting them. Their deaths don't mean that this case goes away. Someone still has to pay for the damage that has been done to the streets of Miami.”

The P.A. pulled out a manila folder and began to pull out still photographs. “Your family, your father, your brothers have destroyed this community,” he said. He placed a picture of a young boy laid out in his own blood before her. Breeze didn't flinch. He then placed a picture of a young toddler who had been hit by a stray bullet. Again, Breeze was unmoved. There were casualties in war. “Innocent people have lost their lives behind the melee of The Cartel.”

Breeze felt badly for the people in the pictures, but she was raised up in a game where death was an everyday factor. She had lost everything and no one was sitting back mourning for her . . . feeling sorry for her. Breeze had experienced it all and she was still here, standing tall. She gave no fucks about anybody who was outside of the scope of The Cartel family. If her brothers had executed anyone, they had deserved it. As many losses as The Cartel had taken, she felt no qualms about the losses of others.

“These are sympathy tactics you use on a jury Daniel. Cut to the chase. What do you want?” Rosenberg asked.

“I would like to put a deal on the table,” Broome said. “When I get the jury to convict, you will go away for the rest of your life. You are a young woman Breeze. You don't want to grow old in prison. If you give me the cocaine supplier we can shift the focus of this case to a larger entity.”

Breeze remained stoic as she sat back judging the suit and tie, white-bred, lawyer.
He has no idea what he is up against,
she thought.
I'm never going to cooperate. This is a waste of my fucking time.
Snitching wasn't an option. Emilio Estes supplied The Cartel so she would only be freeing family to enslave family. It was a catch 22.

“Can I have a moment with my client?” Rosenberg asked.

Breeze raised her hand. “We don't need a moment. There's nothing to talk about. We'll pass,” she said.

Breeze stood to her feet, signaling that the meeting was over. Rosenberg followed her lead. “See you in court.”

Breeze walked out of the office and bumped directly into a girl.

“Excuse me,” the girl said. She quickly turned her head and kept walking but her presence made Breeze freeze in her steps as she watched the girl make a hasty retreat.

Goosebumps formed on her arms as her heart beat rapidly as her fight or flight instincts kicked in. It was as if she had seen a ghost. The girl had only spoken two words to Breeze but that was all that was needed for Breeze to recognize the voice. There was a murder mama in town and as Breeze high tailed it out of the office fear chilled her to the bone.

“Breeze! Is everything okay?!”

Rosenberg didn't even get a response. All he saw was Breeze's shaken facial expression as she disappeared behind the closing elevator doors.

 

 

“Miamor!!!”

Leena and Miamor stood to their feet in alarm as they heard Breeze's distressed voice break through the mansion.

“What's wrong?” Leena asked as Breeze entered the kitchen, where they had congregated for lunch with the children.

“Ask her,” Breeze said as she pointed toward Miamor.

Miamor frowned as she withdrew the bottle from baby Carter's mouth. “Lower your voice please before you scare the kids,” Miamor said with authority. “Have a seat, pour yourself some wine, and calm down before you talk to me.”

“Fuck the wine. I saw your friend today at Daniel Broome's office. She walked different and she talked different but it was her. The bitch who helped kidnap me was in his office! I bumped right into her.”

“My bitch,” Miamor said with a smile.

“What? You knew she was here?” Leena asked distressed.

“Let's pour some wine. Let me explain,” Miamor said. “But first are you absolutely sure it was her?”

Breeze shot Miamor a look that could kill. “It was her but why is she here?”

“I went to visit Aries to see if she could help me get to the P.A. She turned me down, but I guess she's had a change of heart,” Miamor replied.

“Listen Miamor, I forgave you because my brother loves you but I don't fuck with your clique. I don't know them. They brought harm to the people I love. She is not welcome in Miami. If I have to I'll put money on the problem to make it go away,” Breeze said threateningly. Had Breeze been any other person making any other threat Miamor would have bodied her, but Breeze was her sister. She had to remedy things between Aries and Breeze in order for everything to work.

“I need you to trust me Breeze. You are my family and I love you as such. She is not here to bring any more harm to you. I promise you on my son's life that she is here to help,” Miamor reasoned.

“I don't care what she is here for. I don't rock with Aries,” Breeze said. “And I don't deal with people who deal with my enemies.”

Breeze stormed out of Miamor's home livid as hot tears burned at her eyes.

“Breeze?!” Leena called.

Miamor sighed. “Go after her. Make sure she's okay. Li'l Money can stay here with us. You have to meet the accountant tonight anyway. You can pick him up in the morning.”

Leena kissed Miamor on the cheek. “I hope you're right about your friend being in town to help. We don't need anymore betrayal amongst us.”

Miamor watched as Leena departed. She immediately picked up her phone and dialed Aries' number. Her presence could only help bring Carter back home . . . that's if Breeze didn't put her newfound power into play first.

 

 

Candles flickered and the scent of sea salt filled the humid air as Leena walked into the five-star restaurant. White clothed tables and couples in love filled the space as Leena made her way to the table where Odom was seated. She was conservatively dressed in a flawless vintage Chanel pant suit. She didn't want to give the wrong impression, but her beauty made it hard to hide her appeal. Her curves were sharp and as she walked she turned the heads of everyone around her. She came up behind Odom and said, “I have to say, I don't appreciate the change of venue. I was expecting a more appropriate environment.”

She shifted uncomfortably, visibly displeased. Odom stood and placed his hand on her back as he guided her to her chair. He pulled it out for her before reclaiming his own spot. “I'm a fan of the steak,” Odom dismissed.

“Hmm,” Leena smirked. “We're here to talk about business. Lets be clear.”

“Relax Ms. Devereaux . . . Leena, I understand your position. That doesn't make me any less intrigued by you. I must be honest. You seem more like a woman who prefers legitimate money.”

“Money is money,” she responded.

“I guarantee you Leena it isn't. No cop, no district attorney, no enemy can come and take my money away,” Odom said. “My wife will be secure forever.”

His words evoked something within her because she completely understood what he was saying. Just because it was truth didn't take the sting out of the words.

“An accountant's money can't afford me,” she replied, slightly offended.

Odom smirked as the waiter walked up with a tray full of food. “I took the liberty of ordering.”

“You don't even know what I like,” Leena said.

“That's why I got a little bit of everything. It's good to try something new every once in awhile Ms. Deveraux. You never know, you just might like it,” Odom answered suavely. She cut her eyes at him but the scent of the five star-cuisine invaded her senses as the waiter set the meal out in front of them. If this had been a date, she would have surely been intrigued by Odom. He was an eligible bachelor . . . charming, handsome, and well-off but he was too slow for Leena. The white-collar job was too safe to ever make her panties wet. While his efforts were flattering, they were in vain. In the end, all she wanted was the money. Odom though that Monroe was deceased, otherwise he would never have the moxie to push up on his lady. While Leena was determined to draw a professional line clearly in the sand, Odom seemed insistent on crossing it.

“Tell me Leena, how does a woman like you end up in such a delicate predicament?” he asked.

“What's delicate about it? I have access to more money than people see in two lifetimes. Monroe left no stone unturned. My son and I will be well taken care of,” she reminded. “Once you hand over the funds that is.”

“It is very hard to produce that much money in cash without implicating myself. It would be much easier if I could arrange a trust for the three of you and your children,” Odom said seriously.

“We want cash. Cash is untraceable,” Leena said.

“Liquid cash is also dangerous. A trust makes you legitimate. That's what you want for The Cartel am I right? Legitimacy,” Odom countered. Leena's mental wheels turned as he spoke. She was savvy when it came to business and she knew that he was right. If he set up the trust correctly, he could make it appear as though it was earned from legal sources. Cash would be risky. Every purchase would be scrutinized and they would be able to secure no lines of credit. The cash would make them hood rich but Leena and the girls were trying to establish an empire that could rival the likes of the Trumps and the Rockefellers.