Keisha’s large brown eyes watched his heart-shaped face as his pudgy two-hundred and thirty pound frame squeezed onto the seat. His eyes were bloodshot and clashed with the burgundy leather of her custom-painted hot pink 1997 Mercedes two-door convertible sports car. The 2-karat diamond encrusted tennis bracelet quivered and sparkled in the sunlight when her slender chocolate arm trembled as the small car shifted under his weight. Keisha’s eyes peered in the rear view mirror. Her hand released its tight grip on the steering wheel. Her fingertips drummed against the burgundy leather padded steering wheel cover as her mind became lost in thought. Del caused constant problems for her because of his cheating and staying out at all hours of the night. Now, he had gotten on her last nerve. However, in spite of everything, for some strange reason she loved him.

“Who’s looking for me?”

Keisha knew Del had no ideal that his foolishness put his life in danger because he had been out all night with his crew. Her teary eyes examined his eyes as she replayed the words of her brother in her head – ‘if you don’t handle this, I’m gonna kill him myself and if you get in the way, I’ll….’ Her lips pressed gently against his as she looked into his small blue-grey-eyes.

“Tyrell’s looking for you; he found out a few hours ago. Just a few minutes ago, Delores called and said he put a contract out on you. He is going to kill you. Now, get in the car because I’m not going to let anyone hurt my man.”

Not shocked by the news, Del closed the door, pulled the seat belt across his massive chest, and buckled it. Mentally, he patted himself on the back. He was proud of his game; he had Keisha under control. He married her three years ago but never was faithful. He stayed out all night and she never said a word. Now, she came to the rescue to save him from her own brother. Without warning, Keisha’s hand slapped the back of his head. His thick brown ponytail swept across his broad shoulder as he swung his head around and peered into her large brown eyes.

“What the fuck! Keisha, why did you hit me?”

She looked at the wrinkles lines in his forehead as he stared at her. Taking her right hand off the steering wheel, Keisha stroked his olive colored cheek with her fingers.

“Cause, boo, you make me so mad sometimes, I could just kill you. Why you have to act a fool all the time? Now, Tyrell’s mad at you and y’all got me stuck in the middle.”

“Woman ain’t nobody scared of Tyrell. Remember, I introduced him to C.S. Deuces. Shit, if it wasn’t for me he wouldn’t be underboss today.”

Del stared deeply into Keisha’s brown sultry eyes and he leaned toward her. He slightly lowered the volume of his throaty bass voice as shoved his large finger at her.

“Remember, I was the one that killed Bruno Machala so your brother, Mr. Tyrell Riggers, could take over the ninth ward. Besides, Keisha, I can handle mine.”

Del reclined the back of the seat, looked out the window, and closed his eyes. Turning on the right blinker, Keisha turned the wheels, changed lanes, and drove up the expressway ramp. The 2.3 liter supercharged engine of the brand new SLK 230 Kompressor came alive as she merged into traffic.

“I know, Boo; still, I can’t believe you would do something like this? What’s wrong with you? Do you realize that Tyrell will kill you and me for this? I don’t care if you made Tyrell, you can’t go around disrespecting him like that. It just ain’t right; it just ain’t right.”

Tears welled up in her big eyes as she drove toward their home. Del retrieved a folded brown paper bag out of his shirt pocket. He removed a pencil thick cigar and a small clear plastic sack. He stripped the cigarillo and poured the tobacco into the paper bag.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, woman. I didn’t do anything stupid.”

Next, he plucked a few large green buds from the sack, stuffed the sack into his shirt pocket, and separated the weed in the palm of his large hand. He looked at Keisha.

“I’m doing what it takes to survive.”

Carefully, he poured the loose weed into the cigarillo paper and continued to talk.

“Tyrell’s just blowing steam like he always does. He’s trying to look good for Tony and the rest of the bosses. This is all apart of the game, Keisha.”

His fingers slipped under the brown paper as he gently twirled it between his fingertips. He stopped and licked the exposed end of the paper then finished rolling it with his fingertips.

”Anyway, I got plans and by tomorrow, this will all be history.”

He rubbed his hand across her thigh then turned on the radio. He did know; he just didn’t want to tell her. Del knew he was greedy but he figured the world owed it to him. He was unfaithful because he loved women. Both of these bad character traits probably would cost him his life. Three miles later, they took the Paris Avenue exit and followed it to Harcourt Drive. Del lit the blunt and cracked the window. The wind coursed through the window and rushed through Keisha’s long hair throwing some of the long black strains across her face. She swept it away with her right hand.

“I don’t understand. You’ve done some mean things to me before but why this and why now? You’re putting us in danger. It is not as if we needed it. We control Mid City and Gentilly Terrace.”

She looked at Del as he acted as if he didn’t have a care in the world. For years, she thought that he cared about her.

“Del, you’re just selfish and childish. Yeah, you and Tony controls C. S. Deuces and you might have made Tyrell; but why treat him like this.”

When the cheating started, strangely, it really didn’t bother Keisha because she grew up knowing about her stepfather’s many affairs. She remembered how in spite of the hurt and shame from his infidelity, her mother would just say, “Honey that’s just what men do. The most important thing is Carl keeps a roof over our head and food on the table.” Nevertheless, men just don’t do this. They don’t try to destroy the brother of the one they’re married too.

“Del, you know for yourself that Tyrell never did anything to the Family but good. You fools are rich and untouchable because of my brother; then you go and diss him on his own turf at that. That’s just stupid, Del.”

They drove up the long drive to the stately four-bedroom house. Del poked the garage door opener out the window and pushed the button. Seconds later, Keisha parked the car in the garage. Del got out and walked into the house followed by Keisha, who pushed the button on the wall to close the garage door and thought to herself. ‘I can’t believe he wants to kill Tyrell.’ Del’s voice interrupted her thought.

“Well, I’m going to watch some TV in the den. Fix me something to eat; I’m starving.”

He pulled his pants up on his chunky waist and sauntered through the large kitchen into the hallway then into the den. Keisha walked to the master bedroom, pulled off her shoes and slipped out of her sundress. After a long hard day of being in charge at work and her run in with Tyrell, the touch of the silk from the negligee she selected soothed her nerves. As she slipped the robe over her shoulder, it made her feel uniquely girly. She put her makeup, lip-gloss, and most of the things from her purse into her makeup bag inside the medicine cabinet and washed her hands in the master bathroom sink.

Keisha wore glasses at the office and at home to read and to watch TV. She didn't need them, so she claimed, but in private, they were a constant presence. She retrieved them from the mission style table in the hallway, placed them on her face, and checked her reflection in the large mirror. She screamed at him.

“Damn it, all that you can think about is Delbert Allen McGhee. You’re acting like nothing’s wrong. Everyone’s mad and you want to watch TV and eat. That should be the least of your worries.”

Returning to the kitchen, Keisha retrieved a slate blue plate from the cabinet, placed it on the counter, and opened the stainless steel refrigerator door. Maybe she could just persuade him to go away somewhere, like to New York, Paris, or Hong Kong. After placing two slices of wheat bread on the plate, and a slice of deli cut honey ham on one slice, she dismissed the thought. She knew no matter where she sent Del, Tyrell would find him and when he did, Tyrell would kill him. Carefully, she smeared sandwich spread on the other slice of bread, added some lettuce, a slice of Colby cheese, and poured a glass of beer.

She placed everything on a tray and carried it to the mahogany table in front of the white embroidered oversized couch in the den. As Del relaxed on the couch, Keisha strolled over to the mahogany roll top desk and took a seat in the white leather chair. She loved Del, but she had grown tried of his cheating. Now this problem with her brother could get both of them killed. Keisha interlocked her fingers, twirled her thumbs, and leaned against the desk. Her eyes drilled invisible circles into his body as her mind worked feverishly on her plan. Forced into the middle of their fight, her only option was to handle it herself. A tear flowed down the side of her cheek and she brushed it away with her fingertip.

At first, she didn’t have the nerves to do it. In spite of everything, she did care for him. She stayed with him regardless of the women and everything. Then, the beatings started and she refused to be anyone’s punching bag. After that, Tyrell told her that Del wanted to destroy him; but she still couldn’t do it. Later, she viewed the recording at Tyrell’s office. Upon seeing and hearing the confession, she remembered not so accidently overhearing a conversation he had with one of his men. Del told him ’…since that punk’s turf brings in so much money, I want it for myself. The man has gotten too weak and has become a problem. I’m gonna take his ass out of the game a little at a time until I destroy him.’ Well, that evidence convinced her and really changed everything.

“Del, they’re saying that your crew beat up four of Tyrell’s men, took over one of his dope houses in the ninth ward, and dissed him at the meeting in front of everyone even the bosses.”

“Shit, woman, the motherfuckers deserved it. They got caught slipping, all drunk and flashing their cash everywhere. If I didn’t jack them fools, someone else would so why not me. You know the rules of the hood; game knows game. But, don’t worry; it’ll blow over.”

Keisha bolted from the chair as she briefly stood to straightened her dress, and sat down again.

“It’ll blow over; yeah it’ll blow over alright. Damn, we don’t even need the money. Every time Tyrell gets paid from any of his deeds, he makes sure we get paid more than enough gratitude.”

Keisha’s eyes glanced at Del, and repositioned her bottom in the chair. Leaning forward on the sofa, Del picked at the sandwich and leafed through it.

“Woman, what in the hell is this. Where’s the rest of the fucking food.”

“Del, you know Dr. Reed said you gotta go on a diet because of your weight.”

He slammed the plate down then pushed it away, sat back on the couch and crossed his long legs.

“Shit, I ain’t going on no diet regardless of what you or that doctor says. A man got to die doing something and I’m going to die with a full stomach.”

Keisha slammed her hand against the padded leather arm of the chair and stared at Del.

“Del, why are you trying to push my brother into a corner?”

He waved his hand through the air as if he swatted an annoying fly.

“Look, I said don’t worry about it. Besides, it’s not like Tyrell lost any money. He makes millions everyday. His crew runs all of the ninth ward and most of Chalmette anyway, so why can’t they share.”

“I know my brother makes a lot of money and because of him so do we; but why would you do something as stupid as take over one of Tyrell’s dope houses?”

Del wrinkled his forehead, stared at Keisha, sat up on the couch, and pointed his finger at her.

“Look bitch, I told ya fat ass not to get involved in my business with your brother years ago and I still mean it.”

Keisha braced herself in the cherry red upholstered office chair and stared at Del. She thought about how she would work him. She would play with his emotions like a puppet on a string. She intended to get him furious enough to hit her a few times then take the gun she stashed inside the drawer in the living room table, shoot him, cry self-defense, and collect his life insurance policy she’d invested in when she married him. Keisha raised her hands up to stop his words and tried to reason with him.

“Alright Del, you know that I am not gonna let you hurt my brother. So, what are you going to do, I mean how do we fix this thing between Tyrell and you?”

Del raised his head and looked into Keisha’s calculating eyes as she slowly got to her feet and approached to the table.

“When I killed Bruno to make Tyrell underboss, you weren’t complaining then. FIX IT BY SHUTTING YOUR FUCKING MOUTH and letting me watch my show. I ain’t got long ‘fore I gotta go and make some mo’ money.”

Desperate, Keisha slapped Del hard on the face and walked to the bookcase. She had to get him to hit her before she could call the cops but Del wouldn’t take the bait. Therefore, Keisha took drastic measures.

“I should’ve known a stupid ass bitch like you wouldn’t act right. I should’ve gotten married to someone else that had the smarts to play this game out so Tyrell could become the only boss of New Orleans.”

Keisha figured out how to get Del mad and she pushed every button. She flung some more degrading and crushing words at him as he continued watching the show.

“Del, you’re one stupid ass bitch. I can’t believe you graduated from college because you’re the stupidest motherfuckers I’ve ever seen in my fucking life.”

As she talked, he stared through her like she was an invisible piece of glass. Keisha grabbed three books from the shelf and pitched them one by one at the dead space beyond Del's head. Veins punctuated his thick neck as he shifted on the couch to avoid being hit. She could almost hear the heartbeat in his heavy breath. Then he grabbed the remote to the television and increased the volume on the television as she taunted him.

“What kind of fool do you think Tyrell is anyway? He’s already onto your scheme, Del. You’re gonna get you and me killed.”

She had him right where she wanted and she continued demeaning him. Keisha stormed to the front door, crossed her arms, and glared down the hall toward the den. She needed to get him away from the television, out of the den, and closer to the living room.

“Motherfucker, I’m through with your sorry ass. You’re the poster child for what a no good man is like. I want out of this sham ass marriage. Did you hear me, Delbert Allen McGhee; I want a fucking divorce. Now, get your good for nothing ass out of my house.”

Del continued to act as if Keisha’s cunning scheme wasn’t going to work. She’d screamed down the hall at him and said everything she could imagine to make him angry but he remained in the den on the couch watching television.

“I said I want your homosexual, good for nothing, cheating ass out of my house right now, Del. I knew I never should’ve married you. Tyrell was right; you’re weak and stupid. You don’t care about anything but yourself. He said you were fucked in the ass too many times in prison. You ain’t got any balls left, BITCH. Now get your shit and get the fuck out of my house.”

Keisha turned, grasped the doorknob, and opened the front door so the neighbors would hear the fight. At that instant, her plan worked and Del bolted from the den. His muscular hand came down across her cheek and knocked her against the door. It slammed shut. Her one hundred thirty pound, teary-eyed frame slithered to the floor in a fetal position.

Keisha wrinkled her forehead, narrowed her eyes, and stared at him. However, she now had the bruises she needed. Del knelt down over her, shoved his large hand under her dress, and violated her. She tried to jerk away but Del held her shoulders so she couldn’t move. As she grew up, her brother often punched and kicked her as they played football and tag. Then her stepfather made her do things. He came in drunk after being out all night with his friends and battered her helpless mother’s injured body in their bedroom. Next, he entered her room and raped her. At first, she struggled, scratched, clawed, and hoped he would stop his unwelcomed advances; but soon, she learned to surrender to the brutal molestations and escaped the abuse in her mind. Keisha shook the cobwebs out of her head, sat up on the floor, and looked at Del.

“Let me up off this floor, Del and get out before I call my brother and tell him you’re here.”

“Oh, you think Tyrell got enough heart to mess with me, huh, bitch.”

Del narrowed his already small eyes as stared at Keisha and rubbed his hand down her thigh. He clasped his left hand around her neck.

“Well, Keisha, I tell you what; I should kill you and your brother;”

Del’s strong plump fingers squeezed tightly around Keisha’s neck as she gasped for air.

“but, I’m gonna kill Tyrell and make you watch him die. Then after he’s dead, I’m gonna turn your fine ass into one of my street hoes for the rest of your fucking life.”

He shook her and slammed her head against the wall. Instinctively, Keisha clawed at his face, but he punched her hard in the eye with his right fist.

“Keisha, I’ve grown tired of you; that’s why I started seeing other women. I thought black women loved to fuck. I guess you just don’t or you don’t know how to fuck, bitch.”

Del shoved her head hard against the door, pulled her head close to his lips, and kissed her on the cheek before he stood over her.

“For the whole three long years we’ve been married, you’ve been nothing but a whiny ass bitch. I’ve wanted to get rid of you for a while but I couldn’t.”

Del’s foot slammed into the side of Keisha rib cage and she moaned. Del laughed, looked down at her, and stepped back.

“See, I needed you. You got brains. I needed you to work your magic and get my crew as big your brother’s. Now my crew is stronger than his and we’re gonna take him out.”

Keisha stood up, and turned around to face him. Horrified by what she heard, for a moment, Keisha didn’t know what to think.

“Look, you can beat me all you want; I can take whatever your bitch ass got. But, I’m telling you, you ain’t gonna kill my brother.”

Then she remembered the game plan. She decided that the best way to do it was to kill Del in self-defense. Keisha knew that the police were going to question her, but if she did it right she wouldn’t go to jail for killing him. Keisha shouted loudly at Del.