James E. Dellroy or "Great Ezomo” the venerable head of the Dellroy clan, is getting old. He has raised his family up to become one of the most powerful families in the U.S., certainly the most powerful black family…and the most dangerous. He is a man of tradition like his father and all who came before him and carried on a warrior tradition that goes all the way back to his most revered ancestor…and even further. But some of these traditions are under stress and his descendants begin to worry him.

When an obscure African slave dies in a slave revolt, he leaves behind a legacy of defiance, pride, and resistance to his children, over the generations, many defiant Dellroys have met a premature end in America…but none of them ever went down easily. Others survived to continue the line, but many bore scars to prove their defiance and continued warrior spirit.

Abiola left three other things behind that would shape the mentality and direction of his descendants. His name, Abiola, a small carving of his god, and a strict order obeyed faithfully by his children and children's children all the way to the present at all cost… "Never allow my bloodline to be tainted by that of the White Man!” The Dellroys' don't even marry other black people if they show any signs of white ancestry. Although the Dellroys' have mixed with Native Americans and even later, Asians, no Dellroy of the main bloodline has ever voluntarily mated with a Caucasian or at least given birth to a child of one if the opposite occurred, not if they wanted to stay a Dellroy…that is about to change. America is now a different place from what it once was and there are those who believe that some practices of the family have long outlived their day…but not everyone agrees, and there are those who may yet prove them right!

One of Tawanna's sons is about to cross a line that will challenge old ignorance's, but at the same time set in motion events that will cause upheaval in the Dellroy hierarchy, send war drums sounding throughout the African Diaspora from Harlem to Argentina and set the Dellroys' and their kin on a collision course with one of the most powerful mafia families in the country. Tawanna Dellroy must now earn the name that Ezomo gave her all those years ago…Queen Dellroy!

"Maybe I am getting too carried away with this Kevin,” said Dellroy, “But just remember, we are what and where we are today because of those outdated traditions you find so inconvenient. Others are not so old fashioned and astute to history, tradition, and culture as we. They have fully embraced the idea that being dependant and immoral is acceptable and harmless. Yet another lie to keep us in our place! As a result, they are now up to their eyeballs in bastards, debts, and everything that comes with them! And those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it! You would be wise to remember that.”

“Can I go now,” said Kevin sourly. Dellroy looked at Kevin closely and made his decision then and there. He would contact his mother later. He knew she would agree. The boy had been fucking up for some time now anyway. The white girl really wasn't even a factor…much.

“You know Great Grandson, I have been a little too hard on you. And I've put too much…Well, I've expected too much from you over the years. After all, you are the eldest, and as such was first in line to succeed your parents. Yes. You can go now. And don't mind me and my old…values. You are now free to date and mate with whomever you like, nor will you be obliged to be present at any important family discussions…you may leave.”

Kevin suddenly began to get a very uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. The word, "WAS” had not gone unnoticed by him. He wanted to say something, but Dellroy was already waving him off to leave…and he did.

Once Kevin was gone, Dellroy looked to Osei and said, “What do you make of your older brother?”

“I don't like to think about what will happen when HE takes over. But…maybe he'll come around.”

“I wouldn't worry about that my son,” said Dellroy nonchalantly, “What is this bukra girl like anyway?”

“She seems harmless sir, a typical white girl…nice.”

“What's she look like?” said Dellroy leaning forward with one eyebrow raised in a quizzical expression. Osei shrugged.

“She has a cute face.”

“And the rest?” Osei couldn't suppress a grin.

“Juicy. If nothing else, big brother has a good eye for women.” Dellroy chuckled. He would have been seriously pissed off if she was an ugly white girl.

Darryl T. Mallard is an African American author and illustrator from Bridgeport, CT. He originally started writing and illustrating books to bring attention to his artistic talents, but soon discovered a love of writing for its own sake as well. Although his stories are fictional, he has used his love of history and cultures, both his own and others, to create this series of books, as well as a book of Afro-American and African folktales. He chose Japan to begin his first novel because Japanese culture would fit well with something else he knew and liked…Martial Arts. There are few modern industrialized nations where swords and close up “Man-to-Man” fighting could still be used believably in combat today.

James E. Dellroy, the uncle of Harada Akio's Afro-Asian wife Reina, was so popular that Mr. Mallard was forced to remind people that Dellroy A.K.A. Ezomo, although a prominent character in the books following The Consequences of Lust & Spite, was not the main character of the stories, requests for a book about old Ezomo began to increase…the author has very happily complied.