by B. B. Blaque
I had to just go in and see what was up, so I dropped that double shot, lit a smoke, and turned to Hazard. “Well, lemme go check on what this is all about. Wish me luck and say a prayer.”
I didn’t give him a chance to answer, just turned and walked to the back. My heart was racin’ as I walked through the beaded curtain to find her sittin’ with her hands clasped. She was prayin’ like Hazard thought she’d be.
“Hi, sister . . . I’m Giovanni. No disrespect, but I don’t go by that name anymore. You can call me Crucifix.” She didn’t seem startled when I said it. Shocking. “Can I get you somethin’ to drink? We got coffee, soda, water, whatever . . . just no communion wine.”
“No . . . I mean, yes. Can I have a glass of Irish whiskey . . . neat? Thank you . . .”
She trailed off and didn’t say my name—it was a safe bet she wouldn’t. I hoped she didn’t go back to the Giovanni thing. I left him behind at the orphanage, along with Gingersnap and any stupid ideas I’d had about life as a priest. Like that ever woulda worked out in my favor.
“Gimme a second, sister, and I’ll have one of the waitresses bring some drinks. From the looks of ya, I think you’ll need it.”
Is that the nun from earlier?
She shook her head, lowered her eyes, and then looked back to me. “You might wanna get one for yourself. I think you’ll need it if what I heard is true.”
What the fuck did she hear?
I ducked out and waved over one of the girls to grab some drinks. I woulda been lyin’ to myself if I said I wasn’t nervous and chompin’ at the bit to find out what was goin’ on. When the chick came in with our drinks, I took the nun’s advice and slammed one.
“Well . . . get on with it, sister. This suspense shit is killin’ me.” I crushed out my smoke and lit another one right behind it. “Is it Fi?”
“Yes . . . I’m afraid it is.” She sipped her drink and fidgeted uncomfortably. “Sister Fiona confided something in me today . . . we’re close and she trusts me . . . and well, I know about . . . about . . . what you’ve done together . . . what you did this morning. It’s not my place to pass judgment, but I lit candles for you both.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“Lemme guess, she’s pregnant and didn’t tell me . . . they wanna send her away? Is that it? Is that why she was tryin’ so hard to reach me?” She’d always been adamant about no condoms, but we’d used the rhythm method forever. It’d worked up to then and we figured it always would. I was good at pullin’ out long before I popped. We said if there’d ever been an oops kid, we’d keep it. They’d never look for her with the Bastards and, honestly, I’d thought of knockin’ her up on purpose just to have her with me. I could never bring myself to trap her like that, but damn, the selfish prick part of me woulda done it in a New York minute.
Maybe this is it.
It hasn’t even been a day. I’ll take her back.
“No . . . I’m afraid that would be too simplistic.” She took a good swallow of the drink and continued, “I know you truly love her . . . she loves you too even though . . . She’s in real trouble that goes well beyond anything you might imagine.”
“You’re damned right I love her! Madly and truly as hell! Now, tell me what the fuck is goin’ on. You pulled me out of an important meeting, so unless you wanna tell me what you were hellbent on tellin’ me, I’ve got things to do. I just came in from Los Angeles last night and I’m wiped out.”
She took a deep sigh and turned directly to me.
“Okay, I’ll get to it then. We heard rumors . . . we fully believe them to be true. Horrendous things about some of the priests and wealthy parishioners who are supposedly auctioning . . .” She looked like she was crumbling inside but pulled the stiff upper lip thing and kept goin’. “They’re selling nuns’ virginity. The purest of the pure are being sold to the highest bidders. We don’t know how deep it goes or how many are involved.”
Get the fuck outta here! It was like I’d been hit by a bus. I grabbed my drink and tipped it up until it was gone. She’s not a virgin, though. Not by a long shot.
The sister finished hers, shook, and made a face like it’d gone down hard.
“Sister Fiona has been with the church her whole life and a nun for quite some time. She’s not old, but she’s got longevity that makes them believe she’s one of the purest in our parish. Her relative youth also makes her appealing in a carnal way as I’m sure you know. We heard stories that they want to take her to them . . . As you can see, there’s a big problem given your relationship.”
I got up and started to pace. Jesus, Mother Mary, and Joseph. Evil motherfuckers! I didn’t know what to say or ask—my ability to say a fuckin’ thing was on a long pause. I only knew if she was in that kinda trouble, I’d protect her like I always had.
Hold your shit together and get some answers.
“Okay, sister . . . say this is true . . . why doesn’t she just come hide with me? She said nothin’ to me about it. We could keep her safe. She knows damned well I’d kill for her . . . no disrespect, just the truth.” I took a long drag on my smoke. I felt hollow, and anger like I’d never known was building inside me. “Why’d she send you?”
‘Cause you gave her walkin’ papers, dummy.
She ran both hands over her gown and tried to smooth it out. The fear in her eyes was clear even in the darkened club. I didn’t like what I was feelin’ off her vibe.
“I know you and your club have a rough reputation. We know who you are and what you are capable of. That being said, you’re no match for the Catholic Church, even if it is a rogue group of vile priests. This is serious, Giovanni, and they sequestered her away from the rest of us this afternoon.”
Giovanni.
This afternoon?
Knowin’ the kinda freak Gingersnap can be in the sack, I wondered why she couldn’t just play the virgin and give into whatever they wanted. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but if she was cornered, there was a way out.
“First, how the fuck . . . hell . . . are they gonna know she’s not a virgin anymore? She can pretend, believe me when I tell ya.” I snapped at the waitress when she looked in on us and motioned for another round. If the sister wasn’t gonna drink hers, I definitely would. “Also, why would you come here if it’s hopeless for us to go up against the big machine? Ya lost me on that.”
“From the whispers we’ve heard . . . the group of men has a doctor who proves a nun’s virginity with an exam. Face it, as soon as they see the marks you left this morning, they’ll want to look even further. Some of the sisters have gone away and didn’t come back . . . sisters we heard were impure. If they find out Sister Fiona isn’t a virgin, I’m terrified of what will happen. I may have some semblance of innocence, but make no mistake, I’m not stupid. Her life is in danger. If she’s put up for auction and dishonors God and those men publicly, they won’t take it lightly.”
My mind was reelin’ and I couldn’t believe what I was bein’ told.
“Okay . . . that’s the first part of my question answered. What’s the rest? What makes you think we can stop the unstoppable Catholic Church?”
“Because, Giovanni . . . you love her. From what she’s said, you love her so fiercely that if anyone is capable, it’d be a man like you. Not just a man, like you . . . only you. Only a man who knows the ways of the church and who is madly, truly . . . deeply in love . . . one with your newly acquired skills since leaving us . . . could have a shot at getting her back. If you can’t do it, it’s hopeless.”
For the sister to come into our bar durin’ business hours and walk by thirty or more naked bitches just to tell me all of that, it had to be as bad a situation as she thought.
“Let’s get one thing straight before we go any further. I didn’t leave the church. Those cocksuckers threw me out on the street in the middle of winter. I was a homeless teenager for Chrissakes . . . one of the poor unfortunate souls we always prayed for and tried to help. Don’t get me started on the added grand
prize of becomin’ an addict. So, excuse me if I’m bein’ crass, sister, but I got no love for any of those motherfuckers. I’d slit their throats on general principle. Just know goin’ in, this ain’t gonna be pretty. I’ll take care of it my way. Because she’s involved up to her tits, it’ll be barbaric and I won’t promise you anything less. You’ll see just how deep my love runs.”
Bone and blood deep.
“Giovanni . . . Crucifix . . .” She stopped and did the sign of the cross. “What you just said is why you’re the man for this. You have a very dark history with the church, especially Sister Antoinette from what Fiona told me. Your love . . . pain . . . rage . . . those are the things that will make you a force to contend with. You don’t know what you’re walking into so don’t try to do it alone. Please tell only your closest allies about this. I have faith in your heart to get it done, no matter the cost.”
Of course you do. You think I’m already goin’ to Hell.
8
Sympathy For the Devil
“So what was up with the penguin? I saw her leavin’ and she didn’t look quite as unsettled as when she came in, but you were still MIA. Strokin’ your dick or what?” Hazard was sittin’ at the bar countin’ money for Casket. Last call had come and gone and transformation station was probably down to a couple stragglers. “You two were back there for a while . . . did you get her to break her vows?”
I was still tryin’ to put shit together in my mind before I let it out with Hazard or anyone else. Part of me wanted to go it alone, but that probably wasn’t the best idea. I had a whole crew of brothers and we’d have a better chance at takin’ them on.
What about Brooklyn?
It’ll have to wait.
“Eh . . . I’ll fill ya in when I figure it out. It’s way too much to process at 4:30 in the mornin’.” I walked behind the bar and poured myself a rocks glass of Jack. There was a time comin’ that I’d have to be totally on the ball. That night I needed to calm my mind down enough to wake up and figure shit out. “It’s probably gonna end up in a war you’d never expect. Get ready, bro’.”
I didn’t wanna be around anyone and decided to sleep in the office. The clubhouse party would probably be in full swing and I wasn’t in the mood for that shit. I needed space.
Why the fuck didn’t you just stay with me?
I coulda taken care of you.
“Night, Hazard. Man, I’m just gonna go upstairs and close my eyes for a while.” I hugged our road captain and headed for the stairs. “Do me a solid and don’t tell the guys where I am. I’ll be unreachable. If you need me . . . life or death need . . . you know where I am.”
We never turn our phones off, so it was a big sign that I was fucked up. I didn’t just ghost everyone, and they’d been handlin’ everything while I was out west anyway. Hazard knew how to find me.
I was just comin’ up on my office when I heard noises from inside. What the fuck is that about? When I walked in, Rattler was slammin’ Candy from behind. She was wearin’ the silly nun costume and holdin’ on to the sides of the St. Andrew’s Cross. Blind rage took over instantly when I thought of Gingersnap and what could happen to her. I grabbed Rattler by the shoulders, ripped him outta that skank’s pussy, and pulled him toward me. He was still wearin’ his jeans in the middle of his legs, so he fell back and I pounced hard on his chest and started to pummel his face. After the first hit, I got nothin’—no memory of how many times I hit him. I just kept seein’ Gingersnap bein’ poked and prodded by the greedy priests as they examined her to see if she’d been tainted by the unholiness of my cock. I could see disgust and shame on their faces when they realized she wasn’t a virgin in front of a room full of high-bidding scumbags. In the midst of the horror show in my head, I felt hands yankin’ me away and Hazard was up in my face, yellin’.
“What the fuck, man? I thought you were gonna crash out when Candy came screamin’ down to me that you lost your mind!”
I wasn’t thinkin’ straight—lost my mind a long time ago and left a huge chunk on the floor of the champagne room. I couldn’t be held accountable for any of the shit I might do after what I’d heard about Fi. When I spun around and saw blood comin’ outta Hazard’s mouth, my face musta given my thoughts away.
“Yeah . . . you caught me with an elbow in the face. Crucifix, bro’, you gotta chill the fuck out!”
That wasn’t the time for me to walk into my office and see a nun gettin’ her cork popped by Rattler or any other motherfucker. I wouldn’t have fucked her at that moment even if ya paid me.
“Everyone get the fuck outta my office! Tend to your battle wounds anywhere but here. Spit-roast the bitch if the three of ya wanna, I don’t fuckin’ care. Just don’t do it here! I’ve seen enough fuckin’ nuns for one night!”
I didn’t apologize to Rattler. Motherfucker shoulda never been in my office—he has his own fuckin’ corner and coulda gone just about anywhere else in the whole club. Fuck him!
Thank God I had a bottle of JD in my file cabinet ‘cause I spilled the whole fuckin’ glass when I lost my shit. I needed to drink and knew I wasn’t gonna sleep anytime soon. I kept tryin’ to think back over the sister’s words for somethin’ that might help. She said she’d give me more info when she got it, but it didn’t sound like we had time to sit and dick around. I told her I’d handle it my own way, and that’s what I was gonna do.
Wealthy parishioners.
B.I.N.G.O. and FOCUS was his name-o.
I lit a smoke and pulled out my phone. It was 1:13 AM in California and FOCUS would still be up and causin’ someone grief. I dialed and waited for him to answer—two rings. Dependable as fuck.
“Hey, brother! What’s shakin’ in the big ol’ Rotten Apple? Ya miss my hillbilly ass or what?”
I slammed a mouthful of Jack and said a prayer that he could help.
“Of course I miss ya, that goes without sayin’, but this ain’t a social call. I got an issue.” I took a drag of my smoke and sipped at the whiskey. “You been talkin’ with Bish at all lately? That guy’s like smoke and I can never get a read on what’s happenin’ between you two.”
The Bishop—Bish—was one stealthy and sly motherfucker. I wouldn’t want him anywhere but in my corner. He could kill a guy and sit down, pour a drink, and use the guy’s head like a table. If I have less than zero fucks to give—The Bishop just never had any to begin with.
“Of course, I’m always in touch with Bish. You should know that, brother. Why? Whatcha got goin’ on?”
I turned my chair to look at the monitors and saw the rest of the place was dark and empty. I didn’t want any surprise guests and maybe I shoulda checked before callin’ FOCUS, but at least I was actually alone.
“I won’t go into it in any great detail on the phone . . . but you’ve said he has some kinda special boardin’ school upstate, right?”
Read between the lines, motherfucker.
The Bishop buys, sells, and trains slaves at his place, Rosethorne Academy. Even though that cold-blooded, sadistic, combat vet has a colorful rep, he’s still well-known and respected in the BDSM community. Although it sounds bad, he doesn’t do anything without full consent. It’s all straight up. He’s not like the fuckin’ priests even though he seems to be lacking some fundamental pieces inside.
“Umm . . . yeah. That’s a strange thing to call about at one somethin’ in the mornin’. You lookin’ for someone to beat? Don’t you have enough chicks to punish at the Mounds?”
There was too much that could come back to haunt us if I said too much, but I’d give him just enough. I wish you wcere fuckin’ here, man.
“Yeah . . . yeah, nah, it’s nothin’ like that. All I can tell ya, and I’ll trust you to catch my meanin’ here, so pay attention, ya thick hillbilly.” I was startin’ to get a little hope just talkin’ to him. FOCUS knows a lot of people and Bish knows even more. “This has to do with Gingersnap . . . my ol’ lady . . . she’s lookin’ for an auction or somethin’. Lots of rich motherfuckers.
Capiche?
It was quiet on the other end and then he answered flatly—it sounded like he’d been punched in the gut, mixed with surprise.
“Oh.”
“Yeah . . . oh. Ya got any other letters for me there, Wordsworth?” I refilled what I’d already drank of the JD and took a drag on the smoke. “Can you talk to your guy and see if he can get his ear to the ground or what? He’d know about fancy shit like that, right?”
FOCUS started tappin’ on the phone or somethin’ He musta been thinkin’ and I shot back to him. “Yo, fuckface. Don’t gimme Morse code. Can you have Bish get in touch with me or not? She’s really into this auction thing and it’s freakin’ me out. If ya got anything other than caveman to add to the conversation, lemme have it.”
Somethin’ musta bit him in the ass because he woke the fuck up fast.
“Listen, ya dumb yank, I’m tryin’ to decipher this pile of shit you’re dumpin’ in my ear in the middle of the night. You’ve been gone one day and you’re already makin’ me wish you hadn’t left. At least when you were here, you had slits to occupy your time.”
I couldn’t believe it’d only been a day since I was buried in a piece of California pornstar ass. I didn’t even get to punish Candy’s and hell was already breakin’ loose. God help me get through this.
“Ya know . . . I was thinkin’ and I might’ve heard somethin’ . . . I can call out to Bish tomorrow and see what’s up. He’ll call ya. I can guarantee ya that.” I heard the sound of the cigar lighter hissin’ in the background and then he got serious. “Tell me . . . is this somethin’ about the untouched collection?”
How the fuck does he know?
“Yeah.” I swallowed hard on my drink. “What do ya know about it?”
My hands were runnin’ through my hair and I hung my head down to the desk. If FOCUS knew, it was because of The Bishop. If they knew—it was real. It was big.
“Just sit tight, brother . . . I know it’s easier said than done, but Bish has an in. He can help y’all with that issue. You’ll either see his face or I’ll call ya to help y’all figure out the where and when.”