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(Love never hurt this bad...)
“She’s safe. Where’s the cash?” The bearded man stared with glowering eyes that have found their way through the darkness. He took a step forward. His long coat stirred the dust off the floor.
“It’s with me. ‘She there?” Victor nodded towards that same door. He was waiting for a facial expression that could give it all away. The bearded man said nothing and stared straight at him. Nothing. No sign.
“Gimme the cash,” the bearded man retorted “stick wit’ the deal, Holden. I’d stick wit’ it if I were you. Now, give it here!”
Victor suddenly realized that he’s being watched by two - no, four other people in this forsaken warehouse. It appears that no one really held out their end of the deal...
“I thought you were gonna be alone?” Victor said. He was much louder this time. He knew it’d come to this. “Thought there’s only the girl and the money and the two of us?”
“Insurance, Holden,” the bearded man replied, “Can’t let them cops come and take me away for nuthin' you see.”
“No cops. I remember. And I didn’t take any with me. Now, what about you and these guys?” Victor paused for an answer or a sound of commotion anywhere in the dim, silent warehouse. There was a scratching on the floor. A shifting of weight. A cocking of a handgun of some sort.
The bearded man came closer and light from the distant vents struck his bony cheeks. He looked more menacing than the first time Victor saw him. “Come on, now, Holden. You know I’m a man of my word. You just gotta gimme the cash and the girl’s free to go.”
For a moment, Victor weighed his options. He can give the money and get the girl or die trying... or he can save himself from this fix, leave the girl, and live to tell about it. If all else fails, he can keep the money to himself and pretend that he got screwed by these gangsters.
Yeah, he thought, he could tell her parents that these gangsters took the money and killed the girl before he got to her. He could tell on these folks right here and get them arrested for something they never planned to do. He didn’t care if her parents hated him this time - they never liked him anyways! They were always telling her to stop seeing him for months on end. She wouldn’t listen. She was crazy for him. And all he had to do was smile at her and tell her how much he’d loved her...
When in fact, he never really did.
“Boy, I'm talkin’ to ya! What’s it gonna be, ‘ey?” The bearded man slowly reached under his coat. Then he stopped and took his hand out again when Victor held out a black bag in front of him.
Victor said “Here, take it. All 200 gran of it... Where’s Emilia?”
The bearded man took the bag. Victor felt a shuffling behind him. He stood still.
One man behind him grabbed his left arm and dragged him towards that door he’d been looking at since he got here. So she’s here alright, he thought. He looked over his shoulders for a sec to see what the bearded man was doing. The pig couldn’t take his eyes off the money. He’s probably thinking of a way to get rid of these other numbskulls so he could have it all for himself, he thought. Selfish bastard.
He then looked at the knob of the door. He remembered staring at the knob of the door that led him into the bearded man’s office in Northwood Street. It was their first meeting. And hopefully, this is their last. He wouldn’t need his services now, would he?
He’d finally become the hero. He saved this girl and he knows for a fact that her parents are gonna kiss his ass for doing so. He’s gonna have everything: the girl and the cash. The 200 gran was such a waste, though, he thought. Could’ve been his, too.
“Well, now,” he sniffed. He took a deep breath and touched the cold knob. He twisted it. The door creaked open.
And there she was, crying - well, sort of - her cries were being muffled by a gag. Her hands were tied to the back. And her tear-drenched hair was all over her fair face. The red dress he’d seen her wear three days ago had been torn at some places. By the looks of it, she was awfully disturbed.
He knelt beside her and took the gag off her lips. She sobbed like a child. She dug her face into his chest while he loosened the tapes on her wrists. She grasped her wrist in pain.
“Hush, now, I’m here. I won’t let them hurt you. It’s over.” Victor calmed Emilia down and caressed her deep black hair. “We’re getting outta here.”
He picked her up and got her by the waist. She had all her weight on him but managed to stand. In the badly lit room, her features were almost serene. She looked relieved.
The two managed to make it a few steps out of the room and into where the conversation took place. The bearded man and the others were still there - right where Victor had left them. They had not moved an inch. And they weren’t going anywhere.
“You’ve got the money. Is there a part of the deal I didn’t see to?” Victor demanded.
“The deal’s good…” the bearded man replied. He grinned. Almost cunningly.
Victor grinned cunningly back. It was his way of saying “thank you.” Holding Emilia in his arms, he turned his back to the group and slowly made his way to the exit.
They were only a few more steps to it when the bearded man exclaimed, “Of course…” he coughed, “there’s something else you oughtta know, Holden.”
Victor stopped. He had no idea what the man was hooting about. He felt an unreasonable lump on his throat. He thought: the deal’s good... what else is there to talk about?
He turned around. Emilia rested her body against his warm back. “Humor me,” Holden said.
“Did you really think you’d get away with the girl that easy?” the bearded man asked. The menace that was his face seemed unreal this time. It’s nothing Victor had seen before.
Victor remained silent. The bearded man went on, “Nuthin' seemed funny to you, boy? Didn’t ya notice anythin’ unusual?” The bearded man was almost ready to laugh.
Victor was getting more frantic by the minute. What? he thought. What did I miss?! What the fuck is he saying?! “I couldn’t tell. Why don’t you fill me in?” Victor said as calmly as he could. He hoped that his trembling didn’t affect his voice.
“This place. A warehouse. With silverware all over. Don’t ring a bell to ya?” the bearded man said.
Of course Victor noticed the warehouse and the silverware. He just didn’t pay attention to it. He knows that it’s owned by some rich couple who lived a few blocks away. Some couple in the silverware business or something. Down the street where Emilia…
OH MY GOD, Victor thought. Flashes of memories and still pictures hit him all of a sudden. Emilia’s parents had plenty of business ownerships. This was one of the businesses! It’s theirs! How could he have missed that?! Is it possible that…?! He was just about to turn to the girl who rested on his back when...
The girl had stuck something sharp into his right flank then took it abruptly out. A knife. He couldn’t breathe. He was stabbed. And he was bleeding. “Ackh--” he mumbled. He’d gone down on his knees.
Emilia knelt in front of him and dropped the knife at her side. She stared blankly at his baffled, diaphoretic face. “Tsk, tsk. Now, now, Victor,” she touched his cheek with the bloodied hand, “Hush, now, I’m here. I won’t let them hurt you. It’s over.” Emilia teasingly repeated what Victor said minutes ago. Then she clapped her hands and said, “Great performance, love! Never been more amused in all my life!” She laughed. The she stopped.
Victor finally understood. She’d known all along. She was playing. She’d been in cahoots with these guys all the while. But how...?
“I did love you, you know. We could’ve been good together,” she sniffed. “But why’d you have to ask myGODFATHER to do your dirty job for you?!” she shrieked.
“Em...” Victor tried to spew the words out. He couldn’t.
“It was the money, wasn’t it? Wasn’t it?!” Emilia covered her face with her hands and wept. “How could I have been so stupid?!” She took the knife off the floor, grabbed Victor by the shoulder, and swung the knife to his stomach.
“Ha--” went Victor. Emilia twisted it and felt his guts break. It didn’t feel right. But it sure took a lot of pressure off her shoulders. She left the knife where it was and caressed his face again. “Did you ever love me?” she asked while tears fell off her chin.
Victor was choking in his own blood. He stared aghast into his lover’s eyes. He’d gone numb but the pain was unbearable.
“I’d take that as a NO,” Emilia whispered in his ear. She kissed him softly on his cold, trembling lips. She looked away, sobbing, then stood up. Victor could only watch as the bearded man came closer and gave Emilia a revolver. Emilia cocked. Aimed. Pulled.
-
-
-
Then there was deafening silence.
1. If your parents didn’t like him once, there’s probably a very good reason why.
2. Pick a mobster for your kid’s godfather.
3. Do a little more research on the family background.
4. Don’t make a deal with the devil.
5. Never turn your back on a girl.
