(2012) Blood on Blood

by Frank Zafiro

  “To lead him on and then cut and run once you’re clear.”

  She nodded. A single tear rolled down her cheek. “I know that’s horrible, but it was a matter of survival. Patrik’s been looking at me in strange ways the last few weeks. And Andros, too.”

  “Andros?”

  “Patrik’s bodyguard. The big guy with a crew cut.”

  “Oh.”

  “I don’t know for sure what their intentions are, Mick, but I know they’re not good. So I took the opportunity when it came through the door.”

  “So you’re clear,” I said.

  “No. I don’t think so. In fact, I think I’m worse off than before.”

  “Why?”

  She let out a rueful laugh. “Why? He’s your brother, Mick. You know him. He’s more heartless than everyone in Ambrozy’s put together. He won’t keep taking it slow, no matter what I say. And now he’s told me things. Things about diamond earrings.”

  I paused. So she knew about that.

  Ania started crying in earnest. She didn’t make any noise, but her body hitched and jumped. Tears splashed onto my chest and rolled down my body. I held her close to me, my arms wrapped around her protectively.

  When her tears dwindled, she spoke in the dim light of the room. “He’s going to kill me,” she said, her voice full of dread certainty. “As soon as he has the diamonds, he’ll realize I know too much. And when he figures out that I don’t really want to be with him, that’ll be the end. He’ll kill me.”

  I tried to think about what she said, but I couldn’t. Or rather, it didn’t require thought. Her words rang true. Jerzy was a sociopath. If she kept refusing his sexual advances, he’d lose interest. Or simply take what she wouldn’t give. And if he thought she was a liability, he only knew one way to resolve that kind of problem.

  I kissed the top of Ania’s head. “He won’t hurt you,” I told her. “I won’t let him.”

  She started crying again, but this time it had a different tone to it. She squeezed me tight until her tears subsided. Then she slid up and kissed me gently on the neck.

  “That is why I called you,” she whispered hotly into my ear. “I knew you were for real. And I knew there was something between us, something that could be for good.”

  I swallowed. “Yeah,” I said. “I feel it.”

  She put her head on my shoulder and ran her fingers across my chest, stroking it. “I don’t want to be afraid anymore. And I don’t want to be afraid of this. Of us.”

  Us.

  That word made my chest soar.

  “I’m not afraid,” I told her.

  “Good,” she said.

  And it was.

  TWENTY-THREE

  Jerzy

  For fifteen minutes I’ve been standing under a low tree, in the shadows and watching my car, the street, everything. Nothing going on, really. A few cars have rolled by but they knew where they were going. This street doesn’t get much traffic anyway.

  My head is telling me to get going. I give each end of the street another look.

  Fuck it. If you’re out here, come get me. I throw my cigarette away and walk to the car. My right hand is in my jacket pocket and the Beretta is there, too.

  I start the car and pull out slow, heading down the block and out of the neighborhood. I leave the same way I came in; I turn onto Milwaukee Avenue and then get back on the Kennedy. I got no idea where I’m going, so I head north and take the first exit. There’s a stretch of fast food restaurants and chain hotels. I pull into a McDonald’s drive thru and get a coke, then I park in the back. I gotta think here for a minute.

  I start going down a little checklist in my head.

  This car will get made soon if it hasn’t been already when I got here earlier tonight. Tomorrow morning, before I meet Hero, I’ll turn it in and get another one.

  But it ain’t tomorrow yet.

  Need a place to stay and I guess I’ll use one of these hotels right around here. I still don’t want to stay at the O’Hare Hyatt. Showing myself around there too early and everything, you never know. Plus the diner and bank in the morning are so close from where I’m at I could piss on them from here.

  On my left now. A car is sliding into the parking place beside me. I take a drink of my coke and then give the car a quick, casual glance. Just two little pukes. They hop out, all drunked up, slam their doors and laugh their way inside.

  For a second, I think about calling Ania, sneaking over to her place. But shit, I know that won’t work. Her place, or even somewhere else, would be a mistake. I think it’s a pretty safe bet the Russians are tracking her and even Patrik is probably watching her now. I mean hey, me and her being hooked up ain’t exactly a secret. They’ll use her if they can. I’ll just have to wait to grab her when we make our jump.

  Speaking of Patrik, I will get that fucker. Might take a long while, but it’ll happen. Oh yeah.

  I take another sip of coke and look to my right at a tall green sign for a Holiday Inn Express about two blocks away.

  As good as any other around here, I guess.

  My cell phone is ringing. Fuck me.

  I roll over and think it’s morning already but I can see through the curtains that it’s still pitch black outside.

  Cell phone again, where the fuck is it?

  The half bottle of Patrik’s Makers Mark that I drank, in like an hour, is not helping me here.

  I’m stumbling my ass around the dark hotel room but then I see the cell light up as it rings. Over by the TV. I lunge at it just to shut it the fuck up.

  The time on the phone says about three in the damn morning. The number calling is Ania’s.

  I stare at that number for a second. A short second.

  “Hey.” I sway to the left a little and put my hand on the desk to balance my drunk ass.

  “You don’t know how good your voice sounds.” Her voice was soft but it has that edge to it again, that sex edge.

  “You too, babe.”

  “I know things are dangerous for you right now but I had to call.”

  “I know. Believe me, I know.” My voice is slurred and my head is still swimming but I have a little more focus now. “Look, Ania, I want you, too. Real bad. Just another day or two and we’ll meet somewhere.”

  “No.”

  “What?”

  “I mean no, it’s not that…it is, but…hold on.” There was some rustling around on her end.

  “Sorry, had to switch hands. I’m driving.”

  “Its three o’clock in the fucking morning. Where you at? What’re you doing?”

  “That’s what I mean. Of course I miss you, want you, but what I’m calling about is I’m scared.” She sounds like she was crying now. “I need you to help me, baby.”

  I stand up a little straighter and start pulling on my shirt. This is not good shit.

  “What happened? Where the fuck you at? I’m on my way.”

  “Earlier, midnight maybe, after I got off work at Ambrozy’s, a car followed me almost all the way home. It turned off, though. Then when I drove up to the apartment building there was another car with its parking lights on about a half block down and there were two guys hanging around the front door of the building too. I just took off. I’ve just been driving since then. I…” She started crying again.

  “Take it slow and talk. Just breathe and talk.”

  “I’m scared, Jerz. Real scared.”

  “Slow down. It’s gonna be okay. Are you being followed now?”

  “No. No way. I lost them.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” She sniffs and coughs. ”I lost them on the Eisenhower. Took an exit real quick and they missed it.”

  “You sure?”

  “Jerzy, yes. Yes.”

  “All right, we shouldn’t do this but fuck it. Come to me. Holiday Inn Express, a block south off Damen and Armitage. Room 340.” I can’t believe I’m doing this but I am. She’s trouble, but she’s damn good trouble. I can smell her already.
“Be real careful and watch for things.”

  “Oh Jerz, I’m so scared. I’ll be there, I’ll be right there.”

  “Ania. Park around back. Keep your eyes open.”

  Twenty minutes later there is a light tap at the door. Damn, she must have been close.

  I carry my gun over, look out the peephole and see that it’s her. She shoots a quick look down the hallway both ways and then stares straight at the door. She’s scared, no doubt about that.

  I open the door, she walks in and I shut it right behind her. While I’m bolting the door she grabs me from behind with both arms around my waist and hangs on tight.

  Her hand feels its way around and then squeezes me hard.

  She turns me around to where I’m leaning against the wall. I rip two buttons on her blouse getting it off. She kisses me, hungry, with a vacuum lock and her breath is coming in quick bursts through her nose. Then both of her hands go to my chest and she breaks off the kiss.

  “Don’t ever stay away from me so long again.”

  I just look at her and smile.

  She loops her arms around my neck and hops up, crossing her legs behind me. I take about three long steps to the bed and then we both pile drive into the mattress.

  I park the new rental about a block away and walk down to the diner. The awning says Picco’s. I mean hey, I was close. Hopefully, Hero will figure it out. It’s only about eight forty five so it’s likely he ain’t here yet.

  I should be dragging my ass, what with what went on last night and all, but damn if I don’t have a little spring in my step. Amazing what a good night will do for you. Taking that kind of risk had been worth it. If Ania had been any hotter, I would have gotten third degree burns. I hope she gets scared like that again soon. Real soon.

  I walk inside Picco’s and it’s a pretty good morning crowd. Noisy, clinking plates and the food smells damn good. There’s a few empty tables and booths scattered around. I walk to a booth along the back wall.

  “Morning.” A voice says from behind me as I start sliding into the seat.

  “Hey, morning.”

  I look up at her and she’s maybe forty. Has that ‘take no shit, I’m so bored with life and bored with you too’ look. She’s got the most fucked up looking hair I’ve ever seen. It’s spiked up in every direction, dyed jet back and sections of that mop have bright red streaks running through it. Forty, trying to look twenty one. Nothing worse. Name tag says Kiki.

  Kiki. I mean that’s just perfect, isn’t it?

  “Sign says wait to be seated.” She rolls her head to the side and stares at me some more.

  I look at her and smile. She stares back at me with a hand on her hip.

  “I tried Kimmy, but when I saw your fucking hair it made me run over here to you. I just couldn’t help myself.”

  Her eyes narrow, chin goes out and her mouth tightens up but she doesn’t say anything.

  “Coffee, black.” I smile at her again.

  “It’s Kiki.”

  “Sorry, right.” I wink at her. “Thanks Kinky. Coffee, black. ”

  She gives me a pissed off glare over her shoulder as she storms off.

  I look around the place just in case I didn’t see Hero when I first came in. I’m way more calm this morning, not so damn paranoid. Smoothed out and I have a certain little blonde to thank for that.

  The fact that I’m not carrying should be bothering me too, but I left it at the hotel with Ania. She’s gonna be scared shitless all over again when she wakes up. Left her a note saying stay there and if you need it, my gun is in the drawer by the phone. Only if she needs it, I told her, otherwise leave the drawer closed. She hates guns but I figure it will help a little just knowing it’s there.

  Up front now, I see Mick walk in and sure as shit he stands there like a goof waiting for the hostess to seat him. He even sees me and still waits.

  Finally, some other waitress leads him over to the booth and he sits down. He looks like shit, tired and groggy.

  “Morning, sunshine.”

  “Hey.” He checks his phone, frowns and looks at the one page breakfast menu.

  The bitch waitress comes back and plops my coffee down with a soft clang. She looks at Mick.

  “Coffee, juice?”

  “Sure.”

  “Which?”

  “Both please. I’ll have the number two, scrambled, bacon, white toast.” He points to it like she don’t know what the number two is.

  She looks over at me.

  “I’m not ready to order yet, honey bun.” I give her the smile again.

  Off she goes, really pissed now.

  “Why do you have to be that way?”

  “What? She fucked with me before you even got here.”

  “Right. Like she’s going to mess with a big badass like you.”

  He’s looking at me like he wants to rip my head off or something. Things are good. I don’t need this shit.

  “Hey, what’s a matter now, Hero? Your boyfriend dump your or something?”

  “Fuck you,” he growls, but there’s not much bite there. He looks out the window. I don’t say anything this time but he’s starting to piss me off with his whiny ass attitude.

  “Think about the password?” I ask him, deciding to change it up a little.

  “Yeah, I thought about it and I’m sure you didn’t.”

  “Okay, my turn. Fuck you, too, Hero. Jagoff.”

  I keep looking at him but he just stares out the window.

  “I think I know it.”

  I thought on that for a second. He just gives me a kiss my ass kinda smirk.

  “Okay,” I say. “Well, then, let’s hear it.”

  “It had to be when he talked to both of us, right? Or at least, that’s what I’m thinking. Something that we both heard. There was a word in there at the end.”

  “I already know what it is, smartass.”

  That got him and he looks at me with his eyebrows all scrunched up. I look at him and smile. Take a slow sip of my coffee.

  “The fuck you do,” he says, but I can hear the worry in his voice.

  “Birthright.” I say to him and wink, not having a clue but also thinking he was onto something.

  His turn to smile now. “Nope. It was something like that but he said it twice. Said it was important.”

  I do know it now. I got a fuck of a lot better head and memory than Hero here thinks I got. I give him the blank confused look, though and frown. A look that says ‘dammit, I thought I had it’.

  “I’ll tell you when we’re done eating here,” he says, “and I’m going take my time, too.”

  I finish my coffee and wave at Kinky. “Whatever you say, Hero. You’re the brains of the outfit. I got no choice.”

  The waitress comes up walking up with Mick’s coffee and juice.

  “Be right back with your eggs,” she says to Mick.

  “I’ll have another cup.” I slide it out to her slow. “Oh, and I’ll order now too. What he ordered, except runny eggs and put some hash browns on there for me. ’Kay?”

  As soon as she walks away I slide out of the booth.

  “Gotta take a big, nasty dump to make some room for breakfast. I’ll be back, sweetheart.” I stop and tap the table. “Don’t eat my hash browns.”

  I walk down along the long lunch counter but instead of going left towards the restrooms, I go right. There’s been a slight change of plans. I’m going banking. I start cutting through the tables towards the front.

  Mick’s back is to the front door so he’ll be clueless. I’m two steps from the front door and I hear her. Loud, too.

  “Hey! Where the hell you think you’re going?”

  It’s the bitch waitress and she’s weaving her way towards me. People look up. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mick look over his shoulder.

  She walks up on me quick.

  I look down at her and lean in with a soft voice. “Get the fuck out of my face, skank.”

  She tries to grab my shoul
der and I shrug her off. The stupid bitch loses her balance and falls against a table, knocking shit all over the place. A guy, I don’t know, maybe twenty five or so, stands up quick with orange juice all over his pants.

  He looks down, looks at me and I look at him. Fucker comes around the table and bows up on me. He starts to say something but I just grab him around the throat with both hands, walk him back to his chair and plant him there. He can’t breathe and I loosen up. Some woman gasps from in back. I hear somebody yell a half hearted “Hey, what the…”

  “Listen up, pussy. Sit the fuck down here and eat your breakfast before I hurt you bad…got it?”

  I still have him around the throat and the bitch waitress in back of me hauls off and kicks me in the leg. Now, I see a cook coming from behind the counter. I catch his eye and point at him with one hand.

  “Tell you what, cookie. You take one step out from that counter and I’ll bang you up so bad you’ll be spitting blood till Friday. I’ll knock you the fuck into the middle of May.”

  He freezes, but shit is getting out of control here.

  From behind I get hit in the head with something but luckily it gives a little. I let go of the mope’s neck and turn around. Kinky is standing there, holding a big, plastic Heinz ketchup bottle like it’s a little club. She’s pissed but scared. The cap must’ve popped open when she hit me. Ketchup dribbles down her forearm like blood spatter.

  I gotta admit, I just kind of lose it now. I go off.

  I can see Mick in the background, getting up and out of the booth. So I decide what the fuck. This bitch is gonna pay.

  She never sees it coming. I just shoot out a quick jab to her chin and cold cock her. I mean, she goes over like a light pole. All stiff and straight legged. Takes out another table full of shit on the way down. Pancakes and syrup, coffee, eggs and toast fly everywhere.

  There’s a short, quiet scream and a few more gasps from the people in the diner. I glance down at her and she’s sprawled out in the pile of broken plates and spilled breakfasts on the floor.

  I straighten my jacket and then hear Mick off my left shoulder.

  “Where the fuck were you going, Punk?”