by Rose Marie
There starin’ back at me was a damn near life-like drawin’ of Jazz sent over from me Captain, with the caption statin’ that the daughter gave a detailed description and this drawin’ would be circulated over the news immediately. Me heart drops from me body as me fears were confirmed. She’d been the one tu make the assassination attempt. At the same time, her breathin’ became erratic and her body started tu turn blue.
“NO! NO! NO! STAY WIT’ ME SHORT STUFF! BREATHE! OPEN YER EYES!” I lift her uncarin’ of her wounds, tryin’ tu get her breathin’ again. Thankfully, it doesna take much, and I dinna need tu perform CPR and risk breakin’ any ribs from the pressure I’d have tu apply. While she was breathin’ calmly now, I take the time to finish lookin’ over her body notin’ she’s got at least two broken ribs. There are cuts and bruises all over and her back is damn near cut to ribbons where her butterfly tattoo is. The slices are deep enough fer me tu put the first joint of me thumb inside. How was she not dead?
“I…it h-hurts.” She shakenly breathes out with tears falling down her face, causin’ me tu choke up and swallow back me anger and tears. I turn her on her stomach careful tu not cause her any more harm, cursin’ at me blood-soaked bed. I’ll have tu find a way tu get rid of this bed without the neighbors seein’. I look at her back, flinchin’ when I see it start spasmin’ and gushin’ blood. Those bastards whipped her until there was damn near no flesh left. I’ll feckin’ kill them!
I run tu the bathroom, grabbin’ everything I could find tu doctor her up. It’s crazy how I was trained fer these kinds of situations, but all that trainin’ failed me at this moment.
“FECK! I NEED TU GET ME SHITE TOGETHER!” After I gather gauze pads, towels, and a big bucket of warm water, I go back over tu her and do me best tu clean her wounds, finding that it’s not workin’. Bloody feckin’ hell this will take forever and cause her prolonged pain because I will not be able tu get everythin’ out. Shite! “Jazz! Listen tu me Short Stuff. I have tu clean out yer wounds, but they are tu deep, and they have tu much dirt and debris in ’em. I’m goin’ tu have tu take yu tu the shower and wash yer back out with the showerhead. It’s goin’ tu hurt like a son of a bitch, but it’s the quickest and most effective way tu prevent infection. Do yu hear me Short Stuff? Tell me okay if yu understand.”
Her response was a slight nod tu me, but it was enough for me tu act. I pick her up and carry her tu the bathroom. Once there, I turn the water tu cold and set the showerhead on the floor so I could reach it, prop her up on me, then pick up the showerhead.
“Short Stuff I’m goin’ tu wash yer back off now. The water is cold so as not tu burn yu. Are yu ready?”
“N-no, but… do it.” Swallowin’ I make a face and aim the showerhead on tu her back causin’ her tu scream out.
“I'm sorry Short Stuff, bear wit’ it. Unfortunately, there’s no way to be gentle wit’ this.” When I start diggin’ into her back cleanin’ out the dirt and debris, the ear-splittin’ scream she lets out is horrifyin’ yet gratifyin’ because it told me she was alive. “I’m almost done Short Stuff. Please bear wit’ me. I’m so sorry I have tu hurt yu like this.”
Once I’m done with cleanin’ out her wounds, I get a towel laying it flat on the floor and place her on her stomach. I then run to the emergency supplies, grab the disinfectant and sigh knowin’ this is goin’ tu hurt a hundred times more.
“Jazz, are yu listenin’ tu me? Answer me”
“Y-yes.”
“Good girl. I’m about tu do somethin’, and it’s goin’ tu hurt like nothin’ yu’ve felt befer. I need fer yu tu stay strong and not go into shock. Do yu understand?” When she doesn’t say anythin’, I start tu panic, but soon her voice came out in a small whisper, but I got the yes, I was lookin’ fer. “Okay, I’m goin’ tu count tu three… One, two-” befer she could tense up and make things worse on herself, I pour the hydrogen peroxide on her back. The scream she lets out is loud enough tu have the cops called on me fer suspicion of murder.
After I do that, I make quick work of dryin’ her off and bandagin’ her up. I carry her tu the couch, laying her down before going tu clean the front of me door because blood is everywhere. Guess I’ll have tu let the blood dry on the bed and put on a slipcover, then take it somewhere and either burn it or have a professional come to dispose of it. It’s a good thing that damn near everyone in Japan is big on minding their own business.
When I’m done bleachin’ everything down, I wash up, change her already bloodied bandages, forcing her to take some antibiotics along with strong pain medicine as I monitor her fer the rest of the day. It wasna until I see the pain medicine start tu kick in where I felt comfortable enough tu go tu the market up the street.
I make the trip quick, grabbin’ more bandages and some microwavable rice porridge, miso soup, and puddin’ fer her tu eat later. When I make it home, I check her breathing and her head fer a fever then gets the food together. As I watch the news, I see the controversy caused by her assassination attempt as well as her picture. Bloody hell, Short Stuff yu’ve caused a huge feckin’ mess. I might need help cleanin’ this up. Sweepin’ up me private phone, I make a call I havena made since I lived back in Ireland and hope that the number hadna changed. When the call goes through, I sign knowin’ there is no goin’ back. I’m about tu step in’ the world I wanted tu get away and stay away from.
“Who is this?”
“O… uh O’Malley, its Ackman.” The silence on the other end of the call has me thinkin’ he hung up.
“Wat are yu callin’ fer? Dinna yu leave Ireland and promise tu never reach out tu me because I joined the mafia?”
“I know, but yer the only person I can ask this favor of. I have a problem wit’ the Yakuza, and it needs tu be dealt with under the table.”
“Yu think yu can cut off ties, run off tu America and live happily ever after then call me because yu have a problem? Feck that. Last I heard yu were in the military and yer on the straight and narrow.” He spat bitterly.
“I know. I ju-”
“I dinna care. I have me own problems. I’m still tryin’ tu get close tu the monster that killed me family.” Feck, I pull the phone from me ear, pissed I left when he’d suffered the worst loss of his life.
“I'm sorry, but I need this. I need yu tu go tu Conner and get a message tu him fer me.”
“Hold on… do yu mean Conner O'Shea? Yer nephew?”
“Aye, it's important.” He paused again, waitin’ fer him to respond.
“I'll do it fer yu. Wat’s the message?” The relief I feel is undeniable.
“Tell him that I need Balor.” O'Malley snorts on the other end.
“Everyone is tryin’ tu get tu Balor. Wat makes yu think yu can just call and have him come tu yu at yer beck and call. Yu think he gives a damn that yer his uncle?”
“Honestly, I’m hopin’ it will mean somethin’. If yu can get in contact wit’ him, have him call me on this line. It’s a private line with no interference from any government entity.”
“I’ll do me best, but there is no guarantee he will respond. He’s that much of a fecker who just doesna give a feck.”
“I know, but still do that fer me.”
“Fine.” After we hang up, I go over tu wipe Jazz down tu cool her hot skin. After I kiss her lips and lay a blanket over her, and whisper in her ear. “I'm going tu kill everyone who did this tu yu, Short Stuff. Dinna worry.” I knew Conner would come through. He had a thing about family, and though I fecked up by leavin’, few things would keep him from helpin’ his family members, and even if he dinna help because of that, he’d do it because tu him killing was a sport. He wouldna pass up an opportunity to feck some shit up.
It’s a feckin’ shame when a fifteen-year-old boy is more savage than even the men that work within the Navy SEALS. Whoever did this tu me Short Stuff was about tu learn a hard lesson, and I’ll make sure it’s one they won't ever ferget.
Chapter Six
Jazz
I Choose
You
A loud and intrusive knock woke me from my sleep. Why do I still feel so weak? It’s been over three days since I’ve come here. I’m built of tougher stuff than this. Groaning, I sit up wincing when the makeshift stitches the Commander gave me are stretched slightly. The knock comes again, and this time the Commander jumps up, kisses me, and goes over to the door.
When he opened the door, a boy with very identifiable red hair walks in, and immediately I wanted to shrink back and hide. Who is this guy? His presence is so menacing. I stand on high alert and wait for the Commander to close the door, but the guy looks around the room, and right away, I could see his guard was up. If either Commander or I tried to attack him, he’d kill us without even blinking… I want no parts of dealing with him. When his eyes land on me after his initial scan of the room, a red brow raises in question.
As we examine each other, I notice that he’s younger than me and extremely handsome, with a larger than life presence. Still, the evilness I felt radiating from him made chills run up and down my spine. I have never been one for shying away from anything. I’ve killed more people than I care to remember, and though those bastards deserve to have died, I still wouldn’t say I love killing. On the other hand, this guy seems to like killing people but seems the type who will do it most brutally and horrifically with a smile on his face. He’s the type of killer even an assassin wouldn’t touch. From one glace, you could see he didn’t care who he killed… race, gender, maybe even age, no one was off-limits. He’s got the energy to be the rumored Don’s Don. His dead eyes showed not an ounce of light or compassion in them. He terrified me. As if finding me lacking, he snorts, turning away from me to the Commander.
“Wat do yu want?” Is it humanly possible for someone to sound so soulless?
“Conner, do yu remember me? I’m yer un-”
“Who yu are tu me is irrelevant. Wat exactly is it that yu want from me?”
“Okay fine. I want them dead. I want every single one tu pay fer wat they did tu me girl.” The boy who I now know as Conner raises a brow and looks me up and down with critical eyes, examining my wounded form.
“Yu want me tu kill people because of this thing?” This is too embarrassing. I crouch down averting my eyes, ready for this to be over.
“Hey, watch it.” I hear him walk over to me and come down to my level, making me curious as to what he wanted. I look up to see Conner smirking at me, and his face transforms into one so sinister, it leaves me paralyzed.
“Boo.” The only thing that could describe how I feel right now is one of those cats that get scared, in American cartoons or Anime, and the hair on their body stands up, and they run away. That was me. Jumping back, I fall on my butt wincing in pain as I scramble over to the corner furthest away from this Akuma (Satan).
“That’s not funny, Conner. She’s been through enough already.” The Commander said, patting my shoulder and kissing my head.
“Tell yer woman it’s impolite tu fecking stare then.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, face going blank again. “Anyway, isna she in the Yakuza? Why canna she handle her own shite? And are’na yu a US trained military officer? Why are yu even involved wit’ her when her face is plastered all over the feckin’ world?”
“Yer right but look at her. She’s in no position tu do shit; Yakuza or not.”
“She looks fine tu me. She’s a feckin’ assassin. She should be used tu getting hurt and bouncin’ back.”
“Her back was ripped tu feckin’ shreds.” The Commander yells, getting heated at Conner’s flippant attitude, but that devil was unphased.
“Uncail (Uncle) yu seem tu have me confused wit’ someone else. Let me extend a courtesy that I never give tu others and offer yu two pieces of advice. One, DO. NOT. FECK. WIT’ ME. I will kill yu and Onefishtwofish cowering over there in the corner without thinkin’ twice about it. And two, the only person I take orders from is me da, and I can guarantee yu that even those days are numbered.” I don’t know if the Commander felt how serious he was, but I could. I need to say something.
“Uhm… Commander, I can-”
“Jazz, rules of the house… let's not forget them simply because we have a guest.”
“Sorry, Commander.”
“Look I get it, that yu’ve become some bigshot in the Irish Mafia, but can you put that shite aside and just help me!” Conner's eyes went wide, and his face softened. Yes! He’s going to help.
“No.” oh…
“Conner yu fecking brat! I-”
“Look, I told yu I dinna care who, wat, when, where, or why. I dinna do shite without some kind of gain fer meself. So, if yu want me help, tell me wat’s in it fer me.” The Commander looks at me, his jaw clenches as he balls up his fist.
“Fine. Yer right. It’s only fair. If yu help us wit’ this I will pledge me life and service tu yu, and… I’ll do so immediately.” This time I stand up, pain forgotten, and fear be damned.
“What! No! You can’t abandon your post! You can-”
“Jazz it’s my life and I’m choosin’ yu. If I let those feckers get away wit’ wat they’ve done tu yu, I’ll never be able tu forgive meself.”
“But they onl-”
“They beat yu feckin’ bloody and raped yu!” My heart fell at that. I swallow, looking to the side where Conner was then back to the Commander, surprised that he knew I’d been raped when I thought I’d cleaned all the evidence away before I snuck out of the house and stumbled here without being seen, but I guess I didn’t do enough.
“Commander, I-”
“No, I dinna want tu hear anythin’ from yu because if yu try tu defend those bastards, I’ll lose me feckin’ mind. Conner, help me make those feckers pay, and I’ll hand yu me life.” Why? Why is he willing to do all of this for me? I’m not worth it. I’m not worthy of such love and devotion. All my life, I’ve been nothing but a burden to the people I love. I don’t want to be the same for him. I can’t allow this to continue. Squaring my shoulders, I hold my head up high and look the Commander in the eye, showing him my fortitude.
“Fine, if nothing I say will change your mind, and since you’re so adamant about doing this for my sake, then I have the right to do the same. Since you’re willing to go AWOL for me, I should be willing to renounce the Yakuza for you.” I turn to Conner and look him in the eyes, then drop to the floor, performing a Dogeza (bow), and show my utmost respect for his position.
“O’Shea-Sama, please, I beg you to make it so that the Commander sees the least amount of damage done to his status. The Commander is adamant about pledging his life to you for my sake. I pledge to use my skills to cut down anyone you deem necessary. I’ll pledge my loyalty to you.” I finish, and to my utter surprise, I hear a chuckle making me look up, and once I do, I feel as if I handed my soul off to the devil.
“Get up and cut out that Sama shite. We have a deal. Let’s go.” He goes to the door to open it, but the Commander tries to stop him.
“Wait, she’s wanted and-”
“I already took care of that. Just cover her face, and let's go.” The Commander raises a brow in question but jumps into gear, grabs his fatigue military jacket, throwing it over my head then goes around throwing things in a large duffle. Once he was done, he held my hand, and we left the apartment. We see Conner get into an all-black, suspicious as hell looking SUV out on the street. Following his lead, we get in and I immediately feel out of place. Conner had some muscles that befit his teenage body. The other guys, including the Commander, were just large. I’m not accustomed to being around men that are this large or this tall. Most Japanese men are of shorter height, and where it is not uncommon to see tall men, the men in my branch of the Yakuza only range around the five-foot-eleven mark. These guys have all exceded that and then some.
“O’Malley? Adam? Wat the hell are yu doin’ here?” He looks back, his face forming one of shock, causing me to look back as well. On the other side of the street is a cleaning company and a moving van, all headed upstairs into
the Commander’s apartment.
“What’s happening?” I can’t help but ask, confused. No one says anything. I’m just handed a beautiful bag from the man the Commander called Adam. Opening it, I see an American driver’s license, Social security card, and passport. “What is all of this?”
“That is the start of yer new life. Conner moved tu America so that’s where we will be goin’. Dinna worry about yer thin’s it’ll be taken care of properly.” Adam shrugged. “By the way, Ackman, you asked what are we doin’ here? The bottom line it’s the same as you; we’re pickin’ the sides.” After that, the conversation turned serious, and everyone started talking tactics. It was all too much for me, and I started getting a headache because I’m not used to being a part of the planning. I usually just take orders and make sure the target is handled.
“Are yu okay? Are you in pain?”
“Just a bit but nothing I can’t handle.” Ignoring me, he reaches into his bag and pulls out pain medicine and a bottle of water, handing it to me.”
“Thank you.” Taking it, I lean against his shoulder, listening to Conner give orders on things he’ll need for the hit.
“Take a nap. I’ll wake you when we get to wherever we’re going.”
“Okay.” He kisses the top of my head and gently squeezes my shoulder.
“This is it, Short Stuff, there is no going back. I’ve no doubt we made the right decision. Just from seein’ things here, I can tell my nephew will take over the world one day, and we will be there together with him.”