King of Ashes: A Novel
by S. A. Cosby
Contents
Chapter Six
Overview
While working at the crematory, Neveah voices her belief that their father murdered their mother, deeply unsettling Roman. Later, the meeting with the Gilchrist brothers turns brutal: Roman is pistol-whipped and his teeth shattered, and to save Dante's life, he strikes a devil's bargain to triple the Black Baron Boys' money in a month and turn the crematory into their body-disposal service. Torrent still maims Dante by cutting off his pinkie finger.
Summary
At the crematory, Neveah works alongside Roman, who has come to help as promised. They discuss Dante's worsening drug problem and their father's nihilistic devotion to the business. Neveah confides her growing belief that their father killed their mother, citing his behavior, the rumors of their mother's affair with Oscar, and the fact that their mother has never touched her bank account in nineteen years. Roman defends Keith, but Neveah leaves shaken, heading off to drink rather than meet a man named Chauncey.
Roman showers and reflects on his father's worldview—'everything burns'—and his own carefully constructed wealth, most of it locked in long-term investments. A UPS driver delivers a package: $200,000 in emergency cash that Roman had Khalil send from Atlanta. Dante arrives, having confronted Getty, who confirmed he and Cassidy used much of the drugs and blamed Dante. Dante warns Roman about the Gilchrist brothers' brutality, recounting a story of them feeding a rival's organs to the man's baby mama.
Torrent and Tranquil Gilchrist arrive with three associates—D-Train, Splodie, and Yellaboy. Roman offers the $200,000 plus $50,000 by month's end and proposes managing their money. Torrent rejects this, demanding $50,000 monthly indefinitely as a 'playing-in-our-face tax,' citing 40% interest that brings the original debt to $420,000. When Roman pushes back, Tranquil pistol-whips him, shoves the gun in his mouth, and shatters his teeth.
With Splodie about to shoot Dante, Roman desperately offers a new deal: he will triple their money in one month and grant them full use of the crematory to dispose of bodies—no DNA, no evidence. Torrent accepts. As partial punishment for Dante's disrespect, Torrent uses garden shears to sever Dante's pinkie finger while Roman, held at gunpoint, vomits and watches helplessly.
Who Appears
- Roman CarruthersReturns to crematory work, negotiates with the Gilchrists, is pistol-whipped, and bargains the crematory as a body-disposal service to save Dante.
- Neveah CarruthersWorks the ovens with Roman; confides her belief that their father murdered their missing mother, then leaves shaken to drink.
- Dante CarruthersConfirms Getty betrayed him; arranges the meeting; loses his pinkie finger to Torrent's garden shears as punishment.
- Torrent GilchristColdly composed Black Baron Boys leader who demands escalating payments, accepts Roman's tripling offer, and amputates Dante's finger.
- Tranquil GilchristTorrent's expressionless, ruthless brother who pistol-whips Roman and shatters his teeth with the gun barrel.
- YellaboyLowest-ranking BBB associate who pats down Roman and Dante and helps restrain Dante.
- SplodieBBB enforcer who holds a gun to Dante's head awaiting orders to execute him.
- D-TrainBBB associate who helps pin Dante's arm for the finger amputation.
- Keith CarruthersComatose father, recalled through Neveah's suspicions and Roman's reflections on his nihilistic 'everything burns' philosophy.
- GettyDante's friend who, when confronted, blamed Dante entirely for the lost drug money.
- KhalilRoman's Atlanta associate who shipped $200,000 in emergency cash from his condo safe via UPS.
- ChaunceyMan texting Neveah for a hookup; she declines, citing family matters.