KY looked up as the blonde walked toward him. He was sitting on the porch of the Brass Monkey bar. He jumped up and smiled his best, charming smile, complete with missing teeth.
“Hello, Ms. Lovell. What brings you here to this lovely establishment?” he said, while trying to take her arm, like a gentleman.
She pulled it away, angrily, “Don’t touch me. Where’s Whitey?”
KY pulled his hands back, holding them high to show her he meant no harm. “He’s inside, Ma’am. I’ll escort you inside.” He stepped in front of her to try and slow her pace, but Darla was pissed, and walking fast and with purpose, even though her shoes were being destroyed by the parking lot’s gravel.
“No need. I know exactly where I’m going.” She pushed KY out of the way with a stiff arm and stormed into the bar. She ignored all of the other bikers in her path and went directly back to the back office. She placed both hands on the heavy wooden doors and shoved them open.
Whitey was at the head of the table having a meeting with several other bikers. All of the eyes in the room turned to stare her down. The infallible Darla did not flinch or move. She stared back, her hands on her hips, clearly illustrating that she wasn’t leaving anytime soon, nor was she sorry for interrupting. Her eyes burned flames at Whitey, and her nostrils were flaring.
“Fellas, what do you say we take a quick recess. Clearly, Darla has a bug up her ass about something, and you know these head-strong women.” Whitey was grinning at Darla, and she knew he was just trying to make her angrier. Whitey could be such a troll.
Even as the bikers walked past her in the doorway, she stood her ground. Some of them bumped into her and gave her disparaging looks. Others were careful about how they passed her, minding her body.
Once the room was clear, she turned to shut the big heavy doors, but Whitey was quick, and he pinned her against the ornately carved wood, her body hitting the door with a thud. He held her wrists and pressed his entire body against her back.
“Now, tell me exactly who the fuck you think you are … to walk into my office, unannounced. Tell me, Darla. Do you honestly think I give a fuck about that piece of paper that hangs on your wall?” He was talking about her law degree from the esteemed Harvard Law.
Darla winced, and when she tried to move, he just pushed her against the door again, and tightened his hold on her wrists, “Whitey, please.”
Whitey tsked at her. “Please, what? I think that you’re getting a bit too big for your britches, Darla.” He moved her left wrist within the vicinity of her right wrist, so he could hold both in one hand. Then, with his free hand, he slid his hand under her skirt and yanked it up, exposing her ass. Then he leaned back a bit to create some distance between their bodies, and he spanked her ass hard.
Darla whimpered as her ass stung, “Whitey! Wait. This is important!” She gritted her teeth as he spanked her a second time.
Whitey growled against her ear, “What’s important is that you know your place. You do not walk your ass in here, uninvited, and throw a temper tantrum in front of my men.” He spanked her again and she bit her lip.
“Whitey, I’m sorry, but it’s Lauren Holden. She has a video of you taking the money from Lucas Jackson!” After she said the words, she pressed her face to the door, expecting another slap. It never came. Whitey pushed off her and let her go.
“Pull your skirt down.”
Slowly, she turned to face him as she pulled her skirt down. Her ass was stinging against the fabric. She said nothing more and just waited for his response.
Whitey stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“That dirty fucker, Jackson. We searched him.” Then Whitey started laughing. He loved a good challenge.
“Whitey, this is not funny. I heard part of the tape. She played it for me. She wants Jasper released immediately.”
Whitey spun to look at Darla, “Oh, is that all?” Then he laughed again. His laugh made her nervous. It usually meant something terrible was about to happen.
He put his hands on her shoulders and smiled, “Darla, call Lauren Holden. Tell her to bring the video here tonight at 11:00pm.”
Darla opened her mouth, “You have the other meeting at 11:30pm.”
Whitey shushed her, “Don’t you worry about my time management. I know what I’m doing. Just get her here. Tell her to bring the video. She can exchange it for Jasper. He’s out of jail already. Not legally, but my guys are bringing him over now. They should be here any minute. Stick around and you’ll get to say hi.” He pressed his hands to her face and pulled her into him, so he could kiss her.
Darla slid her hands around his waist. She could feel him hard against her. “What if she turns the tape over to the authorities before then, or brings them here with her?”
Whitey smiled, “Tell her we have Jasper here … and Peter. She comes alone, she gets them both back. Granted, one is already in pieces.” Whitey grinned wide, and Darla felt a sickness overcome her whole body.
Just then, the wooden doors flew open again and Big Stu came barging in, “Boss, I’m sorry to interrupt.” Big Stu glared at Darla, then looked back at Whitey, “There’s a guy outside. He’s wearing one of our cuttes, but he ain’t ours. Said there was some kind of shootout with the transport van and Jasper got away.”
Whitey pushed Darla away and turned toward Big Stu, “What the fuck? Get him in here right now.” Whitey put his hand on the ivory handle of his knife and waited.
The pseudo-biker came in with a cutte in his hands that looked just like a Brass Bonds vest. Whitey swiped it from his hands, “Where did you get this?”
The guy put his hands up, “Listen, man, I’m sorry. I was just hired to do a job. It’s me, man. Old Smokey from the Twisted Sinners.”
The guy flinched as he looked at Whitey with one eye closed, sure that he was going to get hit, or worse, killed. “Your guys screwed up. The whole thing was a mess. He took down three of my guys. It wasn’t supposed to go down like that, man.”
Whitey didn’t hire the sinners. He hired the guards, “What the fuck were you even doing there? TELL ME!” He was shouting now, his temper about to blow.
“Listen man, it was ugly. One guard shot another, then two guards opened fire on my guys! I was the only one that got outta there. I hid out and heard some more shots. When the fire stopped, I saw your guy, Jasper, fly past me. I went back to check it out. All of them were dead. Even the old guy. When the sirens started coming, I got the fuck outta there and came here.”
“WHY ARE YOU WEARING OUR PATCH?” Whitey’s face was an inch from Old Smokey’s. The spit flew from his lips as he yelled.
“Because, man. We were supposed to make it look like the Bonds high-jacked the van and took Jasper for a ride. That way the cops would come sniffing around here, but we weren’t gonna do that! Your guys were supposed to just take out the two witnesses, and then we were all gonna bring you Jasper!” Old Smokey was shaking now.
Whitey was livid. He growled, “How is it possible that you thought this was a good idea?”
“It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. We only wore the cuttes to get the dough from the first guy that hired us. But your guys were supposed to kill the two legit guys. It never would have gotten back to you. We were gonna bring Jasper back to you and that’s it! I swear!”
Whitey looked up at Big Stu, “Take this piece of shit down the back road and bury him … alive.”
Big Stu nodded and reached for Old Smokey, “Let’s go!” Old Smokey was kicking and screaming until Big Stu’s choke hold shut him up. Then, he hoisted him up over his shoulder and took him out back. Darla stood frozen.
Whitey looked at her, “Darla, you may want to get Lauren Holden here right now. Jasper Connor is coming for dinner. It would be nice for him to see some familiar faces, don’t you think?”
Darla nodded without saying a word. Her eyes were wide after watching Big Stu put Old Smokey to sleep and carry him off. She turned and headed out the double wooden doors, her legs shaking as she walked.
Whitey pulled his knife and watched the light glint off of the shining sharp blade. “Ok Jasper. Let’s settle all business tonight, shall we?” He was talking to himself, but he was more than prepared to take Jasper down, once and for all. Jasper was a loose end that needed to be tied up, once and for all.
***
Jasper Connor sat on the getaway bike, looking down at the lights of the Brass Monkey Bar. He was at the lookout where Lauren Holden was essentially kidnapped. He had no intention of killing Whitey within 48 hours. Jasper knew he didn’t have that kind of time. He was going to have to kill Whitey tonight.