His little complication 18+ ddlb

Chapter 4

JACK

It all happened so fast

I finished my scheduled performance around a quarter past ten in the evening. The crowd at the Velvet Room asked for an encore. I asked them what song they wanted me to dance to. The answer was almost unanimous. YMCA by the Village People. Heh. I knew that was coming. I gave them what they wanted and exited the stage some five minutes later to a round of cheers and about a dozen Andrew Jacksons dangling along the garter of my thong.

I went straight to the lockers, dressed up, proceeded to the manager’s office, collected my pay and left. I greeted Billy, the bouncer by the main entrance, a good night. He told me to stay safe.

Stay safe.

Yeah, those words are easy to dismiss as simple gabber between people who aren’t really strangers but aren’t also close enough to be friends.

I’ve known Billy for two years now. He wasn’t really someone I could consider as a friend. But I should’ve taken what he said seriously, especially under the circumstances I was currently embroiled in.

I strode through second alleyway from the club, a shortcut that cut across Mooreshaw Avenue and Dawson Street. I always took this route on my way home. It saved me a good ten minutes of walking.

And that’s where it happened, in the shadows of the massive walls that sandwiched that narrow passage.

Three guys emerged from the darkness and blocked my path. I immediately recognized one of them. Short, stout, curly-haired, thick brows and a distinctly wide forehead. It was impossible to mistake him for someone else.

“Hey, Vinny Mac!” I greeted him.

“Hello, Jack,” he slurred with a thick Italian accent.

“Is this about the deadline?” I asked, trying my best to keep my composure. I had to be alert. I had to stay alert. I was in a very precarious situation. “I sent you a text yesterday, yeah? Did you get it?”

“Ovviamente,” he answered. “I did.”

“Oh,” I muttered, feeling relieved. “So, we’re good then?”

“No, we’re not,” he coldly said. The two guys he was with scoffed simultaneously, as if on cue. They were much, much, much bigger than Vinny Mac. One of them was even larger than I was. They both looked menacing, like thugs that came straight out of a mobster movie. They stared at me furiously, with clearly evil intent.

Still, I reminded myself to play it cool.

“What do you mean, Vinny?” I chuckled a bit as I sought some clarification. “I asked for one more week, right?”

“A deal’s a deal, figlio,” he said, still devoid of any kind of emotion. “You don’t pull through, we lose cred. And cred is very, very importante in our line of work, kid.”

I started to break down. I knew what was about to happen.

“Listen, Vinny... I promise you,” I started to beg, “next week... no more delays. I just... miscalculated... certain collections. I’ll pull through next week. I can guarantee that.”

“Your word is your bond?” he wanted to know.

“Of course, Vinny. You have my word.”

“Pietà. Your word means s**t,” he countered. “You gave your word that you’d have it ready yesterday, and all I got from you was a text. And now, you want me to trust your word again?”

“Come on, Vinny,” I continued to plead. “We’re not talking about a small amount here. I just need a little more time. Just a little bit more. I’ll pay you back. I promise.”

Vinny Mac laughed. That made me think that we have come to an understanding.

Then his snigger suddenly turned into the most terrifying scowl I’ve ever seen.

“He’s all yours, boys,” he told his companions.

Quickly, the two men walked towards me.

I had a good idea about what they were going to do, so I put up a fighting stance. If I’d go down, I might as well go down fighting.

The smaller thug was the first to throw a punch. Given my frame, I was never quick on my feet. I wasn’t able to avoid his strike, but I took the brunt of it with my chest. It hurt, but it wasn’t enough to put me down. That allowed me the chance to retaliate. I pummeled him with an elbow straight to his jaw. The blow sent him reeling backwards. One down, one to-

I wasn’t even finished relishing the fact that I was able to ward off the smaller goon when the other guy - the bigger one - punched my face. It was a savage wallop that almost knocked me out. My vision started to dim. My knees began to weaken. My gut began to turn topsy-turvy. I felt like vomiting and shitting on my pants at the same time.

I tried to recover, but before I could, another blow - a kick - struck the side of my body. I felt immense pain on my ribs. They were probably broken.

That strike got me down on my knee.

Still, I tried to get up.

But I was prevented from doing so by another kick. Followed by another. And another after that. Soon enough, I felt like a herd of elephants was marching all over me.

Eventually, other things began to hit me... harder things... heavier things... more violent things. The clanking sound that accompanied each thud was enough to tell me that they were battering me with metallic objects... steel pipes most probably.

They drubbed me for a couple of minutes, showering me with brutal strikes and spits and curses.

I’m a big man, a strong man... but my body could only take so much...

I began to lose consciousness...

And that’s when they stopped.

I felt a hand grab a handful of my hair, pulling my head up to meet the assailant I could no longer see.

“About that text,” I heard Vinny’s voice speak. “Okay, now I agree,” he continued with a mocking laugh. “You can pay next week. But remember this, paraculo... if you won’t have the money, me and my boys won’t just beat the f**k out of you. We know what you used that money for. We know where she lives. And we’re gonna make sure she, too, will suffer for your failure.”

He pushed my head down, causing the back of my skull to crash against the pavement.

I felt my hair moisten... with blood, most probably. I felt like my bones were shattered everywhere. I tried to move, but I couldn’t.

I didn’t hear them anymore. They’ve left, and I was alone. Alone to endure the consequences of my sin. Alone to wallow in anguish, thinking about all the bad decisions I’ve made that led to this. Alone, as everything was quickly fading to black, as every bit of sound was receding towards a deathly silence.

I could die here, I thought.

Perhaps that would be a fitting end for someone like me.

Before my hearing completely disappeared, however, I heard footsteps. They were getting louder and louder with every second that passed.

Then I felt a hand over my nape.

I felt someone’s palm caressing my face.

And I heard a voice...

A freshly familiar voice...

One that I just encountered a night ago...

“Oh my God! Jack? Jack! What happened to you? Oh f**k! We need to get you to a hospital!”

It was him.

Luke.

Luke Galoway.

The groom.

A smile formed on my face as I came to a crazy realization.

Fate could be so cruel with its perverse sense of irony.

Last night, I felt sorry for him.

Now, it was his turn to pity me.