The Wicked End

New Jersey 2001

Frank winced at the crunch caused by a boot connecting with his ribs and tried to curl up even tighter against the two men who seemed intent on breaking every bone in his torso. Blood from a shallow cut above his eye spattered against the concrete floor and he tried to bite down on the groan of pain in his throat.
Mikey was faring no better, two large men had him pinned into a corner and were raining blows down as he frantically fought to protect his head. There was blood from a broken nose but his friend wasn’t about to go down easy and was lashing out with kicks that kept the men from being able to break his face. They had been expecting a punishment, failing to collect their bosses debt was not something that foot soldiers got away with but Frank was starting to think that the captains assigned the task were going to kill them.
Some fucking way to die : a rundown warehouse with nobody around to find their corpses but the local hobos. Would probably sell it or abuse it before anyone remembered to bury them. It wasn’t what Frank had imagined when he started dipping his toe into organised crime and had dragged Mikey along with him. Now he almost wished he’d stayed in school.
“Well now, what have we here ?”
“None of your fucking business. The boss said rough the kids up and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
Frank took the interruption as an excuse to draw some painful breaths and wonder what the hell Angel was doing here. Don Deforio very rarely sent his pet out on anything other than important business, he doubted that she even knew their names and yet she winked at him and lent back against the doorframe. People never realised by looking at the short, dark haired girl that she could kill them without breaking a sweat.
“The Don said give them a warning, not kill.”
Reardon, area captain and Frank and Mikey’s defacto boss, looked askance and smiled nastily. These boys had trouble written all over them, Way was fucking unstable and the short one was a smart ass, sooner they learned that they were fucking nobodies the better. Quite why the bitch was down here was unclear and it made him nervous.
“What’s it to you ?”
“Nothing other than the Don knows you sent the kids here to that address knowing full well the mark had long since left. You’re letting boys take the rap for you now ?”
Mikey had dropped his hands and risked a glance at Frank. They hadn’t even thought to question whether the beating they were taking was fair, had just accepted that the penalty for not getting the dues was going to be harsh. To know they were scapegoats was bad, to know the Don was watching them was almost worse. Frank watched the interchange closely, he hadn’t trusted Reardon since they had started working for him and wondered what this exchange would mean for him and Mikes.
“Fuck you, fucking grunts can’t even do a simple job right.”
Angel pushed off the wall and circled the taller man slowly, everyone had forgotten the two young men on the floor and they used it as an excuse to crawl over to each other and prop themselves painfully against the wall. The other thugs had backed off and were tense, they had all heard the stories and wouldn’t intervene in this argument on either side.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace. My advice to you is to go and confess your sins.”
Reardon visibly paled, last thing he wanted was to end his life with nothing to show but a bible verse in his own blood on the wall. It would be better to go and acknowledge to his Don that he hadn’t watched the mark for well over two weeks, the time spent swaggering around the neighbourhood and propping up the bars. To have a warning delivered in this way wasn’t a chance that could be passed up.
“Fine but you little shits need to know this ain’t over. Come on boys.”
Frank smiled around his split lip as they left, none of them looking back at the smiling woman or the two boys. Everything ached and he knew that a visit to the emergency room would probably be a good idea, the head wound probably needed stitches. Mikey was wearing his normal poker expression, only his eyes showing pain and the hint of the broken nose. Angel turned her attention back to them with a smile.
“You both ok ?”
Frank nodded and tried to look as charming as possible.
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
“No, you have the Don to thank. He’s been impressed with the way you handle yourselves and has certainly noticed Mikey’s…..talents.”
Mikey raised his head for the first time and looked at the woman in front of him. He enjoyed the more violent aspects of the errands they ran and the freedom it gave them to act out the frustrations that plagued his mind from time to time. He wasn’t like his brother, college and a regular job had never been in his future, the many shrinks and doctors had tried to cure him or at least fill him with pills. This job gave him an outlet.
“We’d like to thank him in person, show our gratitude.”
Angel laughed at the sincere smile on the bruised face of the shorter guy, he was cute under the bruises and Frank Iero already had a reputation as a charmer. Personally she didn’t give a shit if they lived or died but you had to admit the kid had balls and his friend had an interesting skill set.
“After you go see Dr Mills and get those faces fixed. You both look like shit.”
She extended a hand and pulled Frank to his feet, both of them assisting in rising before stumbling out into the dull sunshine of a Jersey afternoon. There were no other cars around apart from the two door convertible that Angel had arrived in. With a hopeful smile the two boys followed her towards the sleek car.
“Any chance of a lift ?”
“I save your asses and you expect me to be taxi service ?”
Frank heard the laugh in her voice and decided that he liked her despite the reputation. He had met a lot of interesting people since the Don had allowed them into the family and was keen to learn more. He didn’t want to be a foot soldier for long, he wanted the money and power that swirled around temptingly but still out of reach. His friend Ray was doing better, already proving adept at finding things the bosses needed before they realised they needed them. If Ray could stomach blood then Frank would have considered him competition.
“We need that doctor and now you saved us, well kinda makes you responsible.”
Angel choked up another laugh as even Mikey smiled.
“You really have got brass balls. Fine but only because I’m heading that way and you two would attract attention by walking.”
“We can handle ourselves.”
Mikey’s mumble caused another giggle and she put her arms around their shoulders as they covered the final hundred yards.
“I have no doubt of it but the first rule in this game is never attract attention. Blend in and keep yourself unnoticed. You’ll live longer.”
“Is that how you do it ?”
Angel unlocked the car and took a good long look at the two young men. Both of them were attractive, lean and muscled with the certain air of arrogance that turned her on. It had actually been their friend Toro that had worked on the old man to save them, he was a pretty good fuck if a little naïve. Maybe there was some entertainment to be had here.
“That and I never forget who I’m working for. There is no loyalty among thieves gentlemen, you’d best remember that.”
Frank nodded, the effort of getting in the car almost causing tears of pain to course own his cheeks. Mikey was silent and sullen, he didn’t like knowing that not only had they now made an enemy of their captain but they were now in the company of the mob’s assassin. So much for not drawing attention to themselves.
“We just want to learn and make ourselves useful.”
“Sure. The money has nothing to do with it and you can take or leave power.”
Now Frank did laugh at the mocking tone in her voice and allowed his aching body to enjoy the leather interior of the car. She was smart and he couldn’t help admiring the curve of her breasts under the tight shirt. He wanted her, to prove to himself that he could and that this life would lead to a way out of the grey desolate landscape around him.
“I will take whatever falls within my reach.”
She met his eyes as the car started and a power game was begun that would ultimately end in death and a different destiny for them all.

Notes