A Previous Day
Nik sat on a chair in his living room. Michelle, Valerie, Gale and Maya all squished together on the lone couch. The three educators were dressed coming from work, Maya from a night shift at the hospital, and Gale in her gym clothing, drenched in sweat. Nik called the impromptu meeting, telling them all it was urgent.
"I'm glad you could all make it here. What I'm about to tell you has nothing to do with sex. It has to do about us and our future together."
He looked intensely at all four girls, leaning forward, as his words came out measured.
"I care about all four of you, and one reason for that is you're all your own woman. I don't have a bunch of princesses I need to save. You can all take care of yourself, even if your personalities flare up against each other. This is why I have to tell everyone this decision.
I told Suzy I'd help solve her problem. The school needs a cleaning, and I can't sit on the sidelines while gangs go and cause problems..."
Nik raised his hand, stopping Michelle from interrupting.
"I've also been targeted. Whoever is pulling the strings, they won't stop until I'm dead. Leaving the school won't solve any of the problems, just make a new target. This is why, right now, is your last opportunity to turn back. I'm doing this one hundred percent. If our relationship is found out, you will become a target. If any of you were to be harmed because of me, you all know what I'd do, Gale most of all. If you stay with me after this conversation, it is with open eyes. No turning back. We're all in this together."
"I've heard worst marriage proposals," Rai joked, flicking her hair. "Take on the mob and hope the women don't run away on you, Nik?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"I share a white man with three other non-white women. Honestly, I think it'd be a bigger shock to us if you brought home a white girl than taking on the mob. We know Gale will say yes. I'm in for a penny, why not go for the pound?" she smiled.
Gale nodded. No words needed.
Michelle looked concerned, tapping her knee.
"All I wanted was a harmless affair. I didn't think I'd get so attached to you, Massa. Just some white stud to light my fire. Do you think it'll get bad?"
"I don't know. High chance for more hospital visits. I could get killed. You could get hurt."
A single tear rolled down Michelle's cheek. Valerie cleaned it up with her finger.
"You're taking a big risk, Massa. You're assuming I'll let you play Punisher in my school. I'm still the boss in that building, if you haven't forgotten."
"Yeah, Val, I know, which is why you'll never know anything I do. It'll be underground. Worst comes to worst, and I go to jail, you'll be clean."
"Like we'd let you go to jail," Michelle interjected.
"I'll be embracing my past. All four of you know the story. I won't say more to protect you, but you know what I'm referring to."
"You're our Massa, Nik. We'll stick with you on one condition. If it gets too dangerous, you ask us for help. We deserve the choice," Valerie demanded.
Nik nodded his head but sighed deeply.
"Now the harder part. For my plan to work, I need muscle and connections. The only way to do that is to request help from my former clan, and that requires marrying Kelly."
The other three women gasped loudly, shocked at his statement.
"Marry her? Are you serious, Nik?" Michelle asked.
"You can't be serious? Why her instead of one of us?" Valerie questioned.
"She is the Yamato clan heir and leader."
"So? Ask one of your associates in the clan, Nik?" Valerie asked.
"It is a convoluted and complicated situation," Gale said, calmly. "I'm the heir by blood and name only. My power is limited because I'm a woman. My clan follows tradition. Men lead, women follow. As the only surviving blood member, I can appoint regents to rule in my stead. I can give suggestions but not commands. Most suggestions are followed because I can change regents at whim.
Our marriage is a loophole allowing him back into the clan. As the man, he'll be the defacto leader. He can then appoint me to run everything."
"But you're still a woman. Wouldn't it be the same problem?" Valerie asked.
"No because he is a man. Supersedes everything. Convoluted situation, I know. Besides, they all know his reputation. They wouldn't dare cause a fuss, husband or not. Don't look pissed, Valerie. He can still marry you in a church, wedding dress and all the bells and whistles. It is only a clan marriage. Nothing legal outside the clan."
"The clan can help put their muscle to good use to help my plans," Nik said.
"I won't let you use the school as a yakuza playground, Nik," Valerie commented. "I won't allow that kind of gang war."
"They won't go shooting up the school. Besides, an influx of Japanese into a ghetto school would get suspicious quickly. I only need them for info off school territory. Gangs in schools are breeding grounds for gangs outside schools. Someone is pulling strings that we don't see. The clan will investigate for me, and deal with them."
Valerie nodded. The conversation went better than Nik anticipated, despite Valerie's principalness flaring up. Good thing they used Massa affectionately, and not the extreme definition, considering her current tone towards him.
"Just don't consider showing up on my surgery table a romantic date, Rajah. I'm not that kind of girl," Rai joked.
"I think we're all in agreement. That leaves the marriage ceremony."
"I'll set it up and it'll be a surprise when. But you'll know what to do the moment it happens," she cooed, happy.
A bright smile, from ear to ear, lit up the Asian's face. The other girls saw it. Valerie tried not to scoff, but they all knew her special feelings towards Nik.
Present Day
Nik sat next to Suzy in the hospital room. Her friend Sammy stood next to the bed too. The mulatto girl drank from a water bottle, sore all over, and bandages covering fresh scars.
"Jimmy Jack is still there, isn't he?" Suzy asked, sullen.
"Maybe. I don't know. Our mutual friend said you can keep staying with her for the time being, so you're not going to be homeless."
"You can drop the spy act, Mistah Cracka-man, Sammy knows everything. I told her I was staying with your chink girlfriend."
Sammy nodded in agreement.
"Fine, let us get blunt and quit the act, Suzy. A couple of your girls asked me to be their pimp. I turned them down, and you created this machination to get me to help by proxy. Jimmy Jack needs to be reminded his place at the bottom of the food chain. I'll be your pimp, but under certain conditions."
"This would swing the power in our favor, Suzy," Sammy piped up.
"What kind of conditions? Couldn't you just shiv the nigger? You know where he lives now."
"I need to know the entire power structure, top to bottom. I need to know all the players, the up and comers, everything. After that, you and your girls are going to run a special study group."
"Study group? That code for fuck place?" Suzy asked.
"No, it is legit. Your big problem is security. Working out of a bathroom isn't safe for transporting money."
"Right about that, Mr. Knight. Big piles of money make us big targets," Sammy said.
"My classroom next to the gym allows for a lot of foot traffic. No one would suspect the comings and goings. But students coming and going still need a reason, thus, a study group. You, Sammy, your girls stick around at lunch every day and study. Legitimately study. Working girls come and go, handing off envelopes hidden in your books."
"And we get a rep as teacher's pets," Suzy said.
"Better to put your brain to work than dead. You wanted my protection; this is how you get it. I can't do running the halls like a street pimp. Other than the obvious, anyone in Jimmy Jack's crew would get charged trying to shiv me again, and I'm not going to jail. But not even they are stupid enough to start something in my classroom...maybe once, but not every day. Hallways are too vulnerable for me."
"What do we do when it isn't lunch time? Some of the girls skip classes to go to the stalls for quickies," Sammy asked.
"Use a portion of the cash to get them work binders with tight pockets. Hide the envelopes in them and pass in their school work to me. I'll take out the cash and store it in a safe place."
"What if you're caught with the cash?" Sammy asked.
"Bribe for that A. Worst is I lose my job and license. Stick to that story if anyone is caught."
"It could work, Suzy. It'll be safer than hanging out in washroom stalls daily. And Mr. Knight's reputation should keep all but the big crews at bay."
"Why are you taking pity on me, Mistah Cracka-man?"
"Strange words from someone who called me after they were whipped. Let's say I've taken a liking to you, Suzy, and that punk needs to be put in his place. So, what do you say?"
Suzy looked up at Sammy, her best friend and number one. The black girl nodded yes.
"What do we have to lose? Sammy, tell the girls we move spots, but keep a couple there in the stalls to work so we don't lose the location outright."
"Righto, Suze, I'll get on it immediately."
"I'll see you when I see you, Suzy. Rest up. I'll work out the details with Sammy at school tomorrow. Show up before classes, okay?"
"Sure thing, Mr. Knight," Sammy answered.
Nik walked out of the hospital room, waving before the door shut.
"Before you go, how is the boyfriend?" she asked.
"Great. He is going to take me out to a fancy restaurant later tonight. His treat. He makes me feel like a queen."
"You're not worried he is using you to cure his jungle fever?"
"Maybe he is, but he isn't showing it. You need to learn to trust a little, Suze. I know it is hard considering everything that happened, but not everyone is out to get you. Look at Mr. Knight, he is helping us now."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Hey, this is me you're talking to, Suze. What is really the matter?"
"I think he is fucking that chink I've been living with."
"And?"
