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"Every time we step back a little, somebody sees that as weak, and they try us."
"Then we kill them; and everything goes back to normal. It’s the natural order of things," Bobby said.
"Yeah, I guess so," Black said and looked out the window.
The fact that he couldn’t keep living this way was never far from his mind. Black thought about how he was shot and almost died at a meeting with legitimate businessmen.
It began when Congressman Martin Marshall called and said he wanted to meet to talk about a new business opportunity. Black and Martin usually met on the corner of 34th Street and 7th Avenue. They blended into the crowd and talked. "I’m thinking about making a little investment, and I need a partner."
"I’m listening."
"How much do you know about sugar-based ethanol?" Martin asked.
"Not much."
"I’m thinking about making an investment in Cuba."
"Isn’t that illegal? Like treason-type of illegal?"
"That’s why I need partners. You being one, and some Chinese businessmen," Martin announced.
"That supposed to make me feel better about it?"
"With its huge potential for producing clean, renewable sugar-based ethanol, Cuba represents a significant source of energy that will remain unavailable to American consumers unless we undo the embargo."
"Is our new president moving in that direction?" Black asked.
"He’s already relaxed some restrictions," Martin told Black that day. Martin went on to explain how the huge potential for profit would be if the Cuban ethanol would become available for export to its nearest neighbor.
"I see your point. What’s the next step?" Black asked.
"I’m going to arrange a meeting with my Chinese friends and some enterprising members of the Cuban government."
"When?" Black asked.
"I’ll call you in a couple of days, and I’ll let you know where and when."
"I’m going to the Bahamas day after tomorrow," Black said. He had made arrangements to meet Jamaica in Nassau to talk about expanding and to look into buying some property on the island.
"Bahamas, huh? Business or pleasure?"
"Little of both."
"How long are you planning on being gone?"
"Couple of days. I’ll keep in touch."
"Do that," Martin said and the two separated.
One advantage to meeting Martin on 34th Street was that it served a dual purpose. It was far from Martin’s Congressional District in the Bronx, and it was close to a high-end boutique called The In-town Experience, which was owned and operated by CeCe. Her real name was Cameisha Collins. She used to be with a baller that called himself Cash Money. After Cash was murdered by Mylo’s hit team, CeCe made herself very useful to Black. Anything he’d tell her to do got done.
Since he was going to the Bahamas, Black decided to invite CeCe to join him. "That is if you’re not too busy," he said, looking around the practically empty store.
"Just you and me?"
"You, me, and Kevon."
"Of course I want to go with you. How long are we staying?"
