Church Boyz 1 (Rod of the Wicked) Read online

  Leroy made certain that she wore nothing but the finest. Her embroidered big-brimmed hats were flown in from London. Her custom-made suits were shipped in from New York, and by his choice, she only wore shoes designed by Pedro Garcia or Marc Jacobs, so expensive that they would cost the average person a two-week salary. Leroy showed her off every Sunday morning on their newly owned TV station. And to seal his good fortune, they were blessed with three fine-looking kids. What more could a man ask for?

  Handsomely arrayed in his red cassock that irresistibly hugged his body, he took to the pulpit at 11:45 a.m. – which was his preferred time to begin a sermon. He would scan the massive audience, lingering on the rows of people who had come from all over to hear him. He broke out into that trademark smile that softly revealed a pinch of gratefulness. To the right, his millionaires sat and to his left were his political supporters. They all had his back.

  “God has been favorable to us all, my fellow laborers,” Leroy said in that James Earl Jones voice. “The abundance of His blessings is evident in us and in this place.”

  The congregation responded, some with a sanctified nod, others with a reverent wave.

  “Yes, my brothers and sisters, we could have been wasted in the market square of life. Our virtues lost and our hope destroyed. We must always recall where the Lord has brought us from, unless we forget where He’s taking us. We cannot forget His hand, which has sustained us over the years. That’s why we ought to show love one for another. Be kind to one another; live peaceably with all men. Because if it wasn’t for God’s mercy, most of us would have been buried six feet under by now. Well, I know I would have been. But our God…” Leroy paused, stirring some of the people to their feet. They knew when his voice struck a certain pitch; he was on the home stretch. “I said our God, my friends, is worthy to be exalted. His hand of mercy has kept us alive!”

  His voice was now filled with emotion as he paced away from the pulpit. It suddenly became hard for him to remain at ease, because his mind unexpectedly went back to the incident five years ago that had nearly cost him his life. It was a miracle that he survived the worst experience a man could endure. He pushed the memories aside and got back on track as the final minutes of his sermon swung into high gear.

  “Shout hallelujah!” he yelled. “Shout hallelujah, church!”

  Dominic pumped the organ along with Leroy, making the Hammond b3 croon like a nightingale, but it didn’t match Leroy’s excitement as the chords toddled between two full octaves.

  Leroy hadn’t a clue about the first note on the pipes, but he knew when a key was off and he knew when his voice wouldn’t go beyond a certain range. On top of that, Dominic was ignoring all of Leroy’s attempts to get his attention. That was because his eyes were parked somewhere else, like a predator ready to turn his prey into an afternoon snack.

  The prey must be close by, Leroy thought, as he followed Dominic's gaze across to the ministers’ section. But there were too many of them for Leroy to single out which cassock was causing the disturbance.

  Assistant minister, Shaniece Bryant, took the microphone from Leroy and rode upon the waves of excitement that he had created. Her feet, which were firmly snug in six-inch stilettos, stomped to the pulse of the soca medley. The band was known to be eclectic, and unpredictable – their ethnic jingles sweetly flavoring the atmosphere. Shaniece appreciated her position and took pride in the way she prepared her sermons. Her presentation was powerful and effective, which at times, stole a bit of Leroy’s spotlight – but the people at Mount Moriah would have it no other way. It was one of the decisions that’d forced Leroy to install her as his assistant – a decision that he had soon regretted.

  Obviously, that didn't sit well with Michelle at all, and after five years, she still threw it up in Leroy’s face. How dare he make Shaniece assistant pastor over his wife, humiliating her image each time that woman stood up to speak? It was an ecumenical slap in the face. If her decision to punish Leroy had been made solely upon vendetta, she would have left Leroy with only the shirt on his back. But thank goodness, for the grace of God, and for the fact that every woman in Hillsborough County was just waiting for her to make one stupid move, she decided to stay.

  “Did not our hearts burn,” Shaniece bellowed in that sanctimonious voice. “Did not Pastor Paxton preach, how my God, the Word, came forth with boldness and with simplicity. I was enriched by it. How many of you were blessed? I could listen to Pastor Paxton all day. My God, he was so good. At this time, I will invite Pastor Abraham Winder to make an announcement. Following which, he will assist me in presenting this child back to the Lord.”

  Abraham took his time climbing up the carpeted steps in his black, ankle-length cassock, trying to appear as reverential as his fellow clergymen. He prayed to God this silly thing he’d been forced to wear, didn’t trip him, and send him down on his face. Part of him longed for that life of solitude he had enjoyed before taking on the task of serving as Youth Minister in Charge. He would have been quite content to remain as Leroy’s chauffer. Now he was a chauffeur with a never-ending portfolio. He offered Shaniece a smile as he took the microphone out of her hand. When he turned to face the congregation, he suddenly felt uneasy. Public speaking was not something he took pleasure in, but that didn’t mean he was short on words.

  “Greetings, church.” His voice teetered a bit before it found its natural authority. “Beginning next week, on Friday, the mentoring classes will now be held in the newly-built gymnasium at 5 p.m. Our program is geared to teach young men how to live a life of integrity and accountability. We are pleased to anno–”

  To everyone’s surprise, Dominic jumped off the organ and hurried alongside the wall, heading toward the nearest exit. Shaniece immediately took mental note of his disrespect, and vowed to chastise him as soon as the benediction was done. Leroy, on the other hand, had figured out the identity of the prey. Dominic wasn’t the type to lose his cool like that, and was not a neophyte in ecclesiastical matters, but one who displayed a fine example of Christian maturity. He would not have walked away from that organ if the circumstance had not been serious.

  But Leroy was no fool. When it came down to matters concerning his congregation, any information was crucial information. One scandal could dismantle the strength of an organization. It’d happened to several of his contemporaries, all of whom were now contending with the demon of regret. He too, joined them in their misery, as he was pressed to think of his own secret indiscretions. He dabbed the beads of sweat that’d formed on his forehead, and then released a smile of displeasure. Shaniece wasn’t the only one waiting to have a word with Dominic.

  Chapter Three

  It was customary for the clergy to take their positions at the exits as the people came through the vestibule. It was Leroy’s way of showing his affection to first-time visitors.

  “Powerful sermon, Pastor! I sure did enjoy myself up in there this morning.”

  “Yes, thank you my dear mother,” Leroy beamed, clutching the hands of one of his long-standing members.

  Abraham took his position opposite Leroy, still attired in his black cassock. He would rather wear a suit and tie, but Leroy’s demands were decisive; no room for debate. His way or the highway was mutually understood by all members of the clergy. Their qualifications didn’t matter to Leroy. He was simply satisfied with them showing up every Sunday to make him look good in the eyes of the people. Abraham pitied Leroy. A man who lived his life by such means would not have many friends.

  “Excuse me, Pastor Winder, did you see where Dominic disappeared to?” Shaniece gently rubbed his arm, which was an annoying habit that Abraham hated.

  “He took one of the back exits. Check the convention halls.”

  Leroy turned toward Abraham’s response. “What’s going on with him?”

  Abraham shrugged. “I am empty of reasons, as you are, sir.”

  “He’s trying to avoid us,” Shaniece barked, as she gently squeezed the hand of a man in a wheelcha
ir. “We should corner him and rebuke the color out of his skin. He hasn’t any respect for the house of God. What has gotten into him, walking away from that organ in the middle of Pastor Winder’s announcement?”

  Abraham wisely kept his mouth shut, knowing Shaniece thrived on drama. However, he too wanted to know what was going on with Dominic. Two nights ago, he and Sanchez had played Chess at his place and both of them appeared to be in good spirits. What had transpired between then and now?

  “I will handle this one, Shaniece,” Leroy told her. “No need to bombard the boy.”

  “Don’t you dare be soft on him,” she pointed at Leroy. Her stilettos gave her enough height to meet Leroy eye to eye, which added to her commanding presence. “Stamp the fear of God back into him! These young people these days have no understanding of protocol.”

  Leroy waved her off. “Yes, thank you, Shaniece. I will have my chance with Dominic.”

  “I am not through,” she said, pushing her body in front of Abraham in order to face Leroy. “There is something urgent I need to discuss with you.”

  “Now, Shaniece?” Leroy asked.

  “Yes, right now.” She pointed to a vacant spot in front of them. “Let’s talk over there; away from everyone.”

  Leroy wanted to tell Shaniece to take a flying leap out of his face, but saying no to her was like screaming at a dead dog to get out of the street. “Abraham, prepare the SUV for First Lady Paxton,” Leroy spat. “I will join you all shortly.”

  Abraham pulled the black Escalade under the stone bridge that connected the two main towers of the church. The asphalt ran through the middle, spreading out at the rear to a massive parking area. The congregation had several ways to exit to the facility. Through the rearview mirror, he noticed Michelle had chosen the exit farthest away from the main entrance.

  Her body swayed with an air of daintiness, gracing the asphalt as if she were a famous catwalk model. She paused when she spotted Shaniece talking with Leroy, which concerned Abraham, because normally, whenever she saw them together, she would walk past without the slightest interference. The woman had class, but Abraham didn’t know what to make of it when she glided past the Escalade.

  He opened the door and jumped out. “Lady Paxton, are you okay?”

  “Oh, I’m quite fine, my dear Abraham. Wait a minute. This will only take a minute.” Her voice had an excellent timbre, one she could have used as a commentator in another life. Now, she was about to use it on Shaniece. “Leroy,” she called out. “It’s time to leave now. It’s getting late.”

  “I’ll be with you shortly, hon.”

  When she got close to him, she wrapped an arm around his waist. “Shaniece, do you mind? You’ve kept my husband long enough.”

  “Well, he is yours.” Shaniece wanted to blast Michelle with a few choice words, but she smiled, reverently instead. “How can I contend with the woman of the house?”

  “You can’t. Just as long as you remember your place, our problems will remain manageable.”

  Shaniece had a tendency to smirk when a remark rubbed her the wrong way. She glared at Michelle with those big almond-shaped eyes. “I don’t need to remember anything. You seem to be the one that needs reminding. In case you forgot, I am the assistant pastor of this church–”

  “And I am Leroy’s wife,” Michelle spat, putting a lot of attitude in her body language. “I mean, just in case you forgot…”

  “You don’t want to exchange words with me, Michelle,” Shaniece warned. “We’ve been down–”

  “My husband calls me Michelle. For you, it’s First Lady Paxton…”

  Leroy hid his face in embarrassment. He knew if he didn’t get his wife away from Shaniece immediately, he would be wedged in the middle of a nasty catfight and then he would have to do some explaining to the congregation. His wife was not an aggressive woman, but based on her aura today he was forced to rethink his assessment.

  “Come on, hon, walk with me to the SUV.” He held her, gently putting her in front of him. “This is not you.”

  “I don’t care, Leroy. I’ve told you repeatedly how I feel about this situation.”

  “I understand; let’s talk about it on our way home.”

  Several minutes into the commute on I-75 heading north, Leroy seized the opportunity to address the impertinence of his wife.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Do you need an explanation?”

  “You have never done that, Michelle.”

  “I thought you would have been proud of me.” Michelle looked at Leroy for the first since they’d gotten into the Escalade.

  “You were rude.”

  “Excuse me?”

  The edginess in Michelle’s voice gave Abraham the perfect reason to crank up the radio.

  “That’s not necessary, Abraham” Leroy told him. “You’re no stranger to us. Michelle knows she has the freedom to speak her mind.” He fixed his eyes on her, showing her who was in charge. “Please, continue.”

  “Who do you think you’re talking to, Leroy? You left your boys at home.”

  “That’s what I thought, but that silly stunt you pulled back there left me thinking you’ve lost your respect for me.”

  Michelle felt her entire body heating up at Leroy’s response. “You’re kidding me! You felt disrespected because I wanted the attention of my husband! Every Sunday, rain or sunshine, that woman is up in your face. She won’t leave the premises until she pulls you into a corner. And you have the audacity to call me rude? How rude and disrespectful that must look to the people? You and her. Every Sunday! How long you expect me to stand by and allow that woman to do what she wants to do?”

  “That’s not the issue. I told you never to approach me when I’m meeting with my clergy!”

  “Now Leroy, you stop with that nonsense! I am your wife. I deserve the attention!”

  When Leroy leaned forward and snatched his black-rimmed bifocals from his face, Abraham knew the argument was about to hit the roof. He was tempted to pull the SUV to the side of the road and jump out while he had the chance.

  “Must you be thwarted from protocol? It is your duty to obey me!”

  “What?” Michelle’s jaws dropped open. “Okay. You’re upset, but why are you speaking to me like I’m one of your parishioners?”

  Leroy continued. “Do you see the wives of other ministers disrupt them the way you did this afternoon? I was mortified by your behavior. You embarrassed yourself in front of Shaniece.”

  “Embarrassed, Leroy? My God, it sickens me how you run on with that woman!” Michelle finally lost her tolerance. “If anything, I should feel embarrassed by the way you let her talk to me – throwing her position as your assistant in my face. Do you know how much that hurts –hearing her say that? And now you’re defending her? I will not stand for this, Leroy!”

  “And I will not stand for your lack of respect and outright disobedience!”

  “Abraham, please take the next exit to Bruce B. Downs and let me out at my mother’s house.”

  Leroy snickered; annoyed by his wife’s attempt to end the fight when clearly he was just getting started. “Abraham, you will do no such thing. Take me and Lady Paxton directly to our home.”

  “For you to finish insulting me? Abraham, don’t you dare listen to him!”

  Abraham looked in the rearview mirror at her, unsure of what to do. “Lady Paxton…”

  “Now, Abraham! I don’t want to be near this man for another minute!”

  Leroy’s voice became stronger. “Do as I say, Abraham. My wife and I will continue this conversation at our home.”

  “I am not going home with you.”

  “Of course you are.”

  “Leroy, you will not get your way this afternoon. I’ll jump out of this vehicle if I have to.”

  Leroy laughed in disbelief. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Then, don’t push your luck.”

  For the sake of staying on Leroy’s good side, Abraham intentionally
drove past the exit to Bruce B. Downs, but he was soon to regret it when he saw Michelle lean away from Leroy and push open the door. She thrust out her right leg so that it dangled about a foot above the road. The sound of a thousand tires suddenly exploded around them. Motorists gave into their anger, and honked their horns violently as they zipped by. Some even offered them a few gestures of profanity.

  On reflex, Leroy grabbed Michelle and wrestled her against the seat. “What in God’s name has come over you? You could have gotten yourself killed.”

  Abraham pulled the SUV off the Interstate and onto the shoulder. He regulated his breathing and then turned to face Michelle. “Lady Paxton, don’t give me a heart attack at such an early age. I will take the next exit to your mother’s house.”

  Chapter Four

  “Can I have your thoughts?”

  Dominic glanced up and was relieved to see it was only a waitress, but when she started getting up into his business, he was tempted to bash her feelings.

  “You look a good mess, honey,” she drawled. She was known for striking up conversations with strangers, acting as if she’d been friends with them for years. “Let it go. Right here. Right now. She ain’t worth it.”

  “My thoughts have nothing to do with a woman–”

  “OMG! You’re gay!”

  “What?”

  She looked at him from head to toe. “You don’t look like you have a gay bone in ya, but who knows these things? Let me see your hands—”

  “No, I am not gay,” Dominic spat, pushing her hands out of his face. “Men are depressed over a lot of other things. Not just over a woman.”

  She pumped her fist in the air as if she’d been nominated for the Nobel Prize. “With a body like yours, it’ll be a crying shame to waste it. Keep it that way, honey. ‘Cause ain’t much of y’all left. Now let me fix you that coconut martini—”