“In and out. Just like you said. I want this to be done as fast as fucking possible. I never want to see these streets again,” I tell Edward.

“What’s the matter? You don’t like me?” he laughs.

“Just shut up and keep walking,” I smile.

Hawk. Killing him is going to be like killing my father. It needs to be done, but there’s a level of sadness attached to it. I never wanted for everything to get this bad. All I wanted was a separate life. A new life. A man who works hard deserves that much.

“You sure you can do this?” Edward asks me. “You can go through with it?”

“I can do it,” I nod mindlessly. “How hard will it be? I pull the trigger and run.”

He slaps my shoulder and rubs his head. “I’ll take care of the rest.”

We get to the old bar and I feel my stomach turn. “Fuck,” I sigh. All my memories. My broken childhood. It all comes to this. I feel numb as my hand touches the door. My eyes glance to both of the side windows. Inside, there are men watching the game. I can hear glasses clinking, slurs being yelled, and some laughing along with it. Good riddance.

I walk in and everyone turns to me. Edward stays outside, smoking and on the lookout. I don’t say a word, and I keep walking.

“What are you doing here?” someone I can’t recognize asks me.

“I’m looking for Hawk,” I say. My gun placed strategically in my pants, but I still worry they’ll find it.

“I’m not sure he wants to see someone like you,” he says, standing up. The other guys stand with him.

“I’m sure he will.” I smile. “He’s been waiting for me, or so I’ve been told.”

The man turns and gives an arrogant smile to his crony’s. “You know the rules,” he laughs. “Arms out. Feet spread apart. No one sees Hawk without a proper search.”

Fuck. I’ve never been searched like this before. Usually, Hawk just guided me through. I had privilege back then. Now, I’m like a wanted criminal, making his way into a courtroom. The man’s hands search throughout my body. Nothing so far. Nothing, until, “There we are,” he smiles. “Trying to get through with this?”

Another man says, “Undo your trousers.”

I take off my belt and pull the weapon out. I slide it across the floor, along with my heart. There’s not much hope for me now.

“Alright, he’s clean now,” he says.

His friend smiles and asks me, “You ready to see the boss? You’re right about one thing. He’s been waiting for you. Though, I can’t say the meeting will be all too friendly.”

“I don’t give a damn how friendly it’ll be,” I say. “I’m ready. Let me the fuck through.”

“Fantastic, mate.” He keeps his smile wide and leads me through he dim hallway to Hawk’s office. My whole life flashes through my eyes. When I was a boy, walking through this narrow hallway felt endless. I knew something was awaiting me at the other end. I always thought it was the future I wanted. Turns out, it was far from that. It was the future I would end up wanting to destroy.

Three knocks on the door is all it takes. Hawk coughs and the man opens the door. “I’ll leave,” he says. Hawk nods. He’s holding a lit cigar in his hand. He barely evens looks at me before motioning for me to sit down.

He looks much older than he did when I last left him. He looks feeble. I start to actually feel bad for the man, but then I realize all of the horrible things he’s done to people. I may have grown up as a hooligan, but I never killed anyone. This man has murdered hundreds for money and power. His reign needs to be extinguished.

“I’m not surprised you came back,” he says. “In fact, I prepared quite vigorously for it.” He starts coughing violently.

“You look sick,” I say. “Am I your last conquest?”

He laughs. Still coughing, he holds onto his chair with all his might. “I suppose you could call it that. I’m old. Yes, I’m sick. I’m probably on the last of it. It’s a shame, innit? I never thought it would be this way, but you never know how life will surprise you.”

“That’s true,” I nod. “Enough of the small talk, Hawk. Tell me what you want with me. Are you out to kill me or bask in memories?”

“You were always a smart boy, leagues ahead of everybody else. I knew I couldn’t just throw you onto the streets, but I figured you’d be my successor,” he says. “Now, it’s obvious that you’re my match. You came here with a weapon, no doubt?”

“It has been taken from me,” I say.

I wait to hear the scuffle happening outside the door. Edward should have come in at any minute, but I’ve yet to hear anything.

“You’re waiting for Edward?” he asks. My stomach sinks. I feel lost and numb. What the fuck is going on here? “He won’t be coming. I’m afraid you’ve been duped.”

“Duped,” I reply. “What are you telling me, Hawk?”

“I’m telling you that your time is up. Yes, I’ve come to kill you. There’s no way out. I’m terribly sorry.” He smiles and coughs some more. He spits out a glob of blood onto the floor and sighs.

“Not if I kill you first,” I say, knocking the table over. I completely black out. All I feel are my hands around his fleshy neck. I can hear the choking sounds coming from Hawk. He doesn’t even try and fight it. It’s almost as if he’s ready…

“Get your bloody hands off him!” Suddenly, the door bursts open and I’m face to face with Edward and the men from the bar. There are at least three of them, but they have blades and my gun. I take my hands off him and feel myself get shoved onto the floor. A boot lands straight across my face and stomach. The air immediately gets knocked out of my body.

“Fuck you,” I manage to spit out. “Fuck you all to hell.”

“Ha!” Edward claps his hands together and kneels down, so we’re looking at each other face to face. “You’re bloody easy to fool, my lad,” he says. “Did you really think we were on your side?”

“You helped me,” I say. “You helped me escape. I paid you.”

“True,” he says. “But of course, I had to get you back here, right? Hawk’s orders.”

“I don’t blame Edward,” Hawk steps forward, clutching at his neck. “He has paid for his mistakes.”

When I look back at Edward, he takes his hands out of his jacket pocket. I notice huge burns trailing up his wrists. I imagine they extend all the way up his body. One of his fingers is missing, as well. He scowls at me and puts his boot against my foot.

“And now, lad, it’s time for you to pay for your mistake,” he says.

“I have a son,” I say out of desperation. “He’s five years old.”

“Keep your mouth shut,” Hawk says. “I don’t have any feelings toward children. They’re like cockroaches to me. They fiend. That’s all they’re good for.”

Hawk stands up from his chair, wobbling a little bit and making a strained noise. He grabs his cane and stares down at me. “Oh, my little protégé. It’s time,” he says. He brings his cane down across my face and I feel the blood trickle down my cheek.

“Aidan,” I whisper. “His name is Aidan.”

“Shut up!” he screams.

But he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. I’m not going to shut up. If I’m going to die, I’m going out with the memory of those I love. Fuck the rest.

“His name is Aidan,” I say. “Her name is Erica.”

“Get him out of my face!” Hawk screams.

“Aidan!” I yell. They try to pull me out of the room, but I grab onto the door. I rip the door off the hinges. “Hawk, I’m going to kill you, you son of a bitch.”

They all start beating on me at this point. I have no idea who is hitting me when, but I hear Hawk scream, “Rough him up all you want, but leave him breathing. I want him alive.”

Why? A boot hits my teeth. I feel a few crush against the steel toe boot. I spit them out and feel another blow on my kidneys. They’re killing me. The pain is immense. All I can do is try and block them, but eventually, everything starts to fade.

They’re killing me. I swear, they’re killing me. “Stop!” Hawk screams, but it sounds far away from where I am.

Erica. They’re killing me. I’m so fucking sorry for everything. I tried my best.