Belonging Season

Chapter 7: Kiss me ass, for all I care.

ALICE POV 

8 DAYS BEFORE THE MARCH 

I knew the situation would be worst for Nicky after Jamir went disappearing all of a sudden, but how worst is something I didn’t know. When I went to Dead Street next day morning, everything looked a mess. People were in groups, whispering to each other. The usual women who would shut their doors when we look up to their dirty windows remained staring down, watching everybody with curiosity. Shops were opened but they were hardly any customers.  

When I reached B Block, surprisingly it was empty. I kept convincing myself that the real party is always when the sun goes down, but the air was thick with tension. When I entered the bar, the usual aura was not present. The cluttering of glasses was louder than the talks. The sweet waitress spotted and waved at me. 

‘Hey, you’re back again,’ She said cheerfully ‘What’s your name?’ 

‘Lucia. Lucia Rodriguez’ I finally said her my name. 

‘I’m Jenni,’ she replied with a smile ‘I’ll get your usual beer’ she said and went to the liquor shelves. I couldn’t help but look at her skeptically. She looks way to happier while everyone around are sober. 

‘Here you go, girl’ she chirped and placed a huge beer jug on the table.  

‘Morning girl, yeah?’ I asked and took a sip of cocaine free beer. 

‘Nope, not at all. It’s a bad day to everybody here but it’s a good day to me’ she replied softly, making sure no one’s hearing us in the almost empty bar. 

‘Tell me why it’s a bad day to everyone and let me guess why it’s a good day to you’ I suggested.  

‘There was this guy called Jamir, he has disappeared all of a sudden right after Nicky’s victory party and he’s taking all his frustration and anger on Lucky’ she said. 

‘Lucky. That guy tried to stop me from coming here when I first stepped my foot in Dead street.’ I said, remembering the short fat guy who was sitting on the jeep with kids around. 

‘He’s a complete asshole. His work is to train the new generation for the drug cartel. Kids not even...even 14 are spoiled and taken by him.’ Jenni said with a prolong look in her eyes before she cleared it and smiled brightly at me ‘He’s also in charge of keeping an eye on everything that happens here. Anything out of usual must be brought to the leader, as in Nicky’s presence and he failed to do so. Your turn to guess now and I already gave you the clue, so don’t ask me one’ 

I gave her a sheepish look and took a huge gulp from my drink before abandoning the rest of it since I’m on “duty” 

‘You hate Lucky’ I stated. 

‘Right. Absolutely right’  

‘Why?’ 

‘Because he r***d me’ 

‘I’m sorry, what did you say? I think I didn’t hear you right’ 

She gave an uneasy laugh and brushed her hand away.  

‘You heard me just right. He’s a f*****g r****t and I am not the only victim’ 

I stared at her hard and when I spoke my voice was so low and calculated. 

‘What are you saying, Jenni? He r***d you and you are working here, right where this asshole lives?’ 

‘I’ve lived here my whole life, Lucia. Dad was a drunkard and mother was a w***e. Me and little brother had each other’s back. Never got the opportunity to study and brother went out of line. I’m here for my brother, trying to bring him back in line before we leave this hell hole’ she said softly with tears brimming in her eyes. 

‘But...didn’t you tell the cops?’  

She chuckled humorlessly ‘That night, it was totally 5 men, and one of them was a cop’ 

‘I am ― 

'Hey, you the new chick behind Nicky, right?’ I was instantly cut off and turned around to look at the fine guy with dashing blonde hair. 

I immediately recognized him. 

‘You need something, Gus?’ asked Jenni to the blonde. 

‘Nothing, baby doll’ he replied ‘Nicky is really in a bad mood right now but if you want, you’re welcome to see him’ Gus said to me. 

‘Yeah, sure’ I replied and went away with Gus after making it clear to Jenni that we’ll talk later. 

Gus walked out of the dingy little bar, to a bright sunny morning.  

‘Why’s everything so quiet.’ I said. 

‘Nothing ever starts before the darkness arise’ Gus replied. 

We left the B Block and went to C. Though I am familiar with the Dead Street map, I don’t know the practical view of the area. The apartments are dirty and old, and the roads were narrow with vehicles parked everywhere. 

‘So, you don’t look like you’re from here’ Said Gus. 

‘Madrid’ I replied. 

Gus made an impressive expression before continuing down the narrow lane. We reached an age-old frat house. Across the street, with trees and grass covering the vast stretch, laid the Meat House. The red paint of the building was brightly visible from here and I tried not to think of the dreaded incident that happened 5 days ago. 

‘Meat House is shut down. Cops are gazing the area for a while before it comes back to us’  

I didn’t realize I was looking at the direction of the Meat House until Gus spoke out loud, bringing me out of reverie. 

‘What happened?’ I asked him, still looking at the mast of the Meat House. 

‘Some of our guys messed up,’ Gus replied. 

‘And?’ I urged, trying not to get angry. 

‘And what? The Cops found them and they were encountered. They say it’s a woman agent who encountered, but we’re still not sure.’ 

‘Don’t you have your men in the department’ I asked. 

‘We do, but it takes time to find out. Not everyone are with us’  

‘How many men are working for ya’ll in the department?’ I asked. 

‘Couple of ‘em’ He said and made way to the frat house. 

‘In which sectors?’ I asked. 

‘That’s for us to know’ He cut me off and rung the bell. 

The huge oak door was opened by a beefy man.  

‘Hey, Gus. Who’s this new chick?’ 

‘Nicky’s’’ Was all Gus replied and the man moved away. 

The stench of cigarettes and alcohol hit me like a wave as soon as I got inside. The living room was big enough to accommodate fifty people and was filled with couches and sofas. The windows were closed and draped in dark sheets, giving a dark look to the room. The walls were void of pictures and everything looked plain. 

‘Stay by my side’ Gus said softly.   

 We walked through the hallway on the floor, and finally stopped at the stairs that was descending down to the basement.  

We waked down and the place was dusty and filled with old materials with spider webs on it.  

‘What’s that noise?’ I asked, listening to the muffled noise of cheers. 

Gus only smirked in replied and walked towards a piano. He pushed the instrument with all his might to reveal a small keyhole on the dirty wall. Taking out a small key out of his pocket, he opened the wall door. Another flight stair descended down and the noise was even stronger and I could clearly hear the screams and cheers. 

‘What’s happening down there?’ I asked Gus. 

‘Let’s find out’ He said excitedly. 

We walked down the stairs and I finally looked around to see a huge crowd of people surrounded around something or someone. 

Gus held my hand and walked us among the crowd. Everybody were cheering and howling Nicky’s name and it didn’t take me long to realize there’s a fighting circle in the middle. 

When we squeezed our way towards the front, I saw Nicky and Lucky fighting like bulls in the circle. In spite of the situation, I found Nicky to be attractive and hot as he smashed Nicky’s bald head on the ground with no remorse. He is angry and it’s clearly evident on his face. 

I watched the fight with great delight. The fight was dirty and unruly, nothing like the way we agents fight during our leisure times. Koa has always been the best fighter among us. He knows even the slightest weak point of his opponent and uses that to his great advantage. It’s the second day living a life of Lucia and I already miss Alice and her buddies.  

I watched as Lucky flipped Nicky without any effort and rammed his elbow on his stomach making the crowd howl, but the howl was more like a death warning to Lucky and not sympathy for Nicky. The very crowd was drinking and enjoying the day before yesterday night for Nicky’s victory over Nix and there’s another fight for no reason. 

I chuckled loudly. I’m the reason these two idiots are fighting. Two men always end up fighting because of one woman, be it in a relationship or criminal-ship.  

Nicky got to his feet with much difficulty, clutching his gut. His bleeding nose is flared as he breath fire at Lucky. Lucky surely looks intimidated, but his life is more important to him.  

Nicky ran towards his opponent, who stood ready with his legs wide open but Nicky was clever and did something which made all our eyebrows raise up. He kicked Lucky in his knee, making him lose his balance and threw one hard punch on his jaw, letting his teeth tumble out. It was a clever victory, Lucky couldn’t wake up and the cheer went louder and louder, hitting the ceiling but Nicky was not done. He gripped Lucky by his throat and lifted him up. He started throwing angry punches on his face, turning the cheer into screams and then complete silent.  

With dead silence, Nicky’s anguish sound and punches were loud and clear. He finally lifted Lucky by his chest and boxer before throwing him out of the ring and walking away. The silence disrupted to murmurs and the crowd started to clear slowly. 

‘I thought he’ll kill him’ I heard Gus say.  

‘Me too’ I replied. 

Gus appeared in front of me with a sly smile. ‘You weren’t into criminal stuff in Spain now, did you?’  

‘What?’ I asked confused. 

‘You’re not even afraid to see someone kill. That’s unusual’ He explained. 

‘No girl courageously walks up to this side of the city alone and catches your beloved Boss’s interest and demands for drugs either’ I replied back. 

‘Why didn’t I think of that before?’ He said sheepishly. 

‘Cause you’ve got a pea sized brain,’ I said ‘If you’re done, can we leave?’ 

He bowed and stretched his hand towards the direction Nicky left.  

We exited the underground boxing area through another way and came back to the house above. The crowd that came from down, occupied the hallway and the rooms as we made our way to Nicky. 

‘What happens to Lucky now?’ I asked. 

‘Nothing. He’ll be extra careful from now on. Whip his men, r**e his women to teach them a lesson for a mistake he committed and train them hard so they keep observation in and out of the area’ He replied. 

I bit my knuckles, controlling anger and followed him closely without making further conversation. 

When we reached the room where Nicky was, it was crowded. I could hear Nicky screaming inside as Gus made his way through the men, with me following closely behind. 

‘Who will deliver the drugs? What am I going to answer when Bolt asks me? The King cannot know this, else we’re all dead!’ Screamed Nicky in frustration as we made it inside the room. 

‘Calm down, man,’ Said one of his men ‘We’ve got six days until the shipment arrives. We can manage’ 

Nicky wasn’t listening. He was pacing around, clutching his hair in frustration. His face is bruised and his hair and body were glistening with sweat. Regardless of the situation, I couldn’t help but check him out. 

‘That’s right, Nicky,’ Gus said ‘Six days until the shipment’