Crimson Loyalty

Chapter 4- A Dark Alley

On Sunday nights, the bar bustles with the evening crowd, a mic of regulars and new faces. She somehow wonders if the whole of Chicago comes out to drink on this day. Elena was busy serving drinks and keeping an eye and ear out on everyone and everything when she noticed a commotion near the entrance. The hum of conversations and the clinking of glasses always created a lively atmosphere, but there was always an undercurrent of tension in places like these.

A lanky man, undoubtedly gassed and aggressive, was creating a footing. He was bellowing at one of the waitresses, his face red with anger. To avoid further escalation, Elena dropped the rag in hand and moved to the scene.

"What's going on?” Elena inquired, stepping in between the man and the girl.

The sweaty young lady, hid behind her, shaking like a wet leaf. "Sir, you need to leave." Elena deadpanned, after the lady gave her a rundown of what ensued. Apparently, he staggered into her and thrashed her tray on the floor. Instead of apologizing, he was trying to throw a fit? What to expect from drunk anyways.

The man sneered at her. "Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?"

Elena stood her ground, her eyes hard. "I am the one who’s going to make sure you don’t ruin everyone else’s night. Please leave.”

"Or else what?" The grossly looking man, took a step forward his breath perfumed with the stench of alcohol. "Feisty, is it? Just how I like them. Let’s see how tough you really are." He sneered.

Elena's hands were already in a fist, ready to give the man the beating of his life but she needed to play it cool and not draw more attention to herself. "You are walking on a thin ice here, please leave." She gritted, the tip of her nose red from the cool night air.

Just as she turned around to walk back in the lady, he pulled her back by the arm. That was the last straw for Elena.

Elena kicked him in the shin, causing him to stagger backward with a grunt of pain. Seizing the opportunity, she delivered a swift punch to his jaw, sending him reeling off her. As he tried to regain his balance, Elena ducked low, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground with a thud, and Elena quickly straddled him, pinning his arms to the floor. She leaned in close, her eyes blazing with fury. "Never you speak to a woman like that am I clear?"

"Ye.....ye......yesss." He stuttered, his face greasy with fear.

"I didn't hear that!" Elena bared her canines in face.

"Yes!" The man all but yelled. "Get off me!"

Before matters could volume any further, the door swung open and Nico walked in, flanked by his friend, Carlos. The atmosphere in the bar shifted instantly; conversations hushed, and eyes turned towards the entrance.

Nico’s eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him. He strode over, his presence commanding the room. "Someone care to explain what's going on here?" He asked, his voice calm but dangerous.

Tony, who was just stepping in from the back area, on seeing the chaos moved to answer the question. "It was just a little misunderstanding, Mr. Rossi. Maria here was handling it, right Maria?" He turned to a Elena with an aghast smile on his face.

Nico’s gaze shifted to Elena. "Is that so?"

Elena met his eyes, her heart pounding. His eyes were like the blue haze of tobacco, captivating all it looked at. "Yes, sir. Uhmmm thi....this man was cau....causing trouble, I was just asking him to leave. Why was she stuttering? She never stuttered. What was going on?

Nico looked at the drunken man, who was now visibly trembling. "You heard her. Get out."

The man didn’t need to be told twice. He stumbled out of the bar, muttering curses under his breath. Nico turned back to Elena, his expression undecipherable. "You, come with me."

Elena wanted protesting but, had to swallow back her words. She wasn't one to be commanded. The only command she adhered was from the Chief, the reason why she took on this job. Even Marcus, who was her partner and better advanced than her in the job, dare not order. Yet, remembering she was here for a purpose, she followed behind.

The room was a small, private office in the back of the bar. Bedimmed with dark wood paneling and a heavy, antique desk dominating the space, the only beacon of light was from a lamp. Nico took a seat behind the desk, motioning for Elena to sit opposite him. She cautiously looked from one man to the other, wondering what was going to happen. Was she going to be sacked?

"I am not one to be known for repeating myself, sit Maria." Nico said, exuding of impatience. Carlos leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, watching silently.

He studied her for a moment before speaking. "Where are you from, Maria? And what did you do before you came here?"

"Okay, here we go." She said to herself. Taking a deep breath and sticking to her cover story, she replied. "I am from Miami. I used to bartend there, but I wanted a change. Chicago seemed like a good place to start afresh.”

Nico leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. "You handled yourself well out there. Not everyone has the guts to stand up to a guy like that."

"Thank you, Mr. Rossi." Elena replied, keeping her voice steady.

Nico’s eyes seemed to discern her. “I need someone like you for a job. Something personal. Can you do it?”

Elena’s mind raced. "Count her in? Hell yeah I am in." She thought, unconsciously rolling her eyes. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for. Even though she wasn't aware of the nature of the job which undoubtedly will be a dangerous one, seeing who it was coming from, she was up and ready to take it on.

"Maria?" Nico's voice brought her out of her rivalry. For how long was she in her thoughts?

"Of course, Mr. Rossi. I’m here to help."

"You seemed to be doing a lot of thinking up there, perhaps you want to back out?" Those were Carlos first words since they entered the room. For a man with his demeanour, his voice was the total opposite. It tasted like pancakes dipped in hot syrup.

"My apologies Mr Carlos, but don't you think thinking is warranted in situations like this?" Trust Elena to dish it out hot. Carlos squinted his eyes at her, keeping mum.

Nico smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. She was not only bold but sassy. She probably was the first woman to shut his friend up. 'Good. I’ll give you the details soon. For now, just know that this job is important. You may return back to your duty post."

Elena nodded, a mix of anticipation and anxiety churning in her stomach. “Yes Mr Rossi, looking forward to hearing from you.”

As she stood up to leave, Carlos gaze held hers. In it, there was an evident mixture of distrust and skepticism. It was clear he wasn't buying the idea of her being involved in whatever this job was. Elena knew she was a target to him yet, as much as he might be a thorn in her path. He was nothing she couldn't handle. Her main aim was to gain Nico's trust and not his.

As left the office, her mind went into a calisthenic exercise. What was this personal job Nico had for her? She knew she was walking into a dangerous precarious situation, and one wrong move could bring everything crashing down. But she was intent to see this mission through at all cost. Failing, was not in her bulletin.