Marcus

“Did I see Melissa coming out of there this morning?”

My head shook and though what Kevin seen was true, I knew that I didn’t want to admit to that fact. I was the idiot that had brought her back over and I knew that Kevin was thinking I was an idiot at the moment. Maybe I was. I should have known better. Really I should have.

“Yeah, that was her.”

“Damn Marcus, I thought you had gotten rid of that crazy ass woman.”

“I did.”

“She tore that house up, didn’t she?”

“Yeah I still haven’t picked some of it up.” The things that I was talking about was still in the yard and on the porch. It looked like she had thrown a lot of my things out in the yard. At least I didn’t live in a neighborhood where this would be a big problem.

Kevin just shook his head like I was crazy and maybe I was. I don’t know what I was thinking about, but I wanted to forget about Angela. I hadn’t expected her to come over and want to mess with me and Melissa. That was what she had done and the more she had drank, the louder she had become. At one point, Angela had let it slip about us dating and Melissa had picked up on it. She didn’t say anything, but I had seen her face twitch. I hoped that it was nothing, but I had a feeling that hope wasn’t going to help me. Nothing was going to. I had messed up again and I was even more eager to do a couple of runs for Lucas. It would get me out of the city for a while.

“I hope you know what it is you are doing.”

“Of course.” I had no fricking idea what I was doing. That much was clear by the way that last night went down.

“So you two are back on again?”

I shrugged and told him that I didn’t think so. “It was one night and I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Kevin laughed and opened his car door. “You weren’t thinking Marcus, at least not with your head my friend.”

I hated that he was right, but I wasn’t going to mention how that was wrong as well. We hadn’t even done anything and even just lying there hadn’t been enough to calm my mind. It was just like when she first left. I couldn’t think and I was a damn mess. Why the hell could that woman get to me like this?

Forgetting her and the drama that I had unleashed by the name of Melissa, I went back to Lucas’. He had some runs to do again today and even though it wasn’t usually my job, I jumped at the chance. If I didn’t stay busy, then something bad was going to happen. I knew the feeling and I couldn’t afford to get into any more trouble right now. Not after last month’s fiasco.

When I got to Lucas; house, there were a lot of people there and I was able to forget my troubles for a bit. David was there and I hadn’t seen him in a week. He had just gotten married and it seemed to be like a disease sweeping through the gang. No one knew who was next, though we all joked about whom it would be. It wouldn’t be me that was all that I knew.

“Hey David. Long time no see. How is married life treating you?”

He grinned and I wanted to hit him in the face. He just looked too damn happy. It made me sick and I wanted to knock the look off of his mouth.

“Great man. When are you and Melissa going to tie the knot? I heard that you two were back together.”

I looked to Lucas, the only one that knew anything about her and had to wonder if he was blabbing his mouth. I wouldn’t doubt it, but there wasn’t anything I could do. I was being an idiot and though I didn’t want them to know that, it appeared that everyone already did. I would never let them know about Angela. Then I would have the reputation that Joel had.

“We aren’t really back together. Just needed a woman to keep me warm last night was all that was.”

David grinned and told me that a heater may be better than a girl like Melissa. Everyone knew what she was and I was the moron that they thought didn’t seem to see it for how it was.

“Yeah, I should have gone that way. I don’t know what I was thinking, but she still gives good head, so why not?”

David shook his head. “I am ready to get back to work, aren’t you?”

“I am. I don’t mind doing runs, but I am better at bashing heads together. Ever since you came here though, it hasn’t been that necessary. Almost sad when I think about it. I used to have enough work to keep me busy before and now it is too quiet. I am getting restless.”

“Well it is good that people have learned not to mess with the Devils. I hear that the Arc Angels are trying to press in from Atlanta. We may have to go to task soon enough about them.”

I wasn’t really listening. I had heard the rumors and I had seen a few of them at the bar, but so far they hadn’t made a move. It was anticipated, but I wasn’t going to worry about it until that time came. For now, it was just like any other day.

“We will see David. I think you are a little too excited to get your hands dirty. I thought married life was good for you?”

“It is, but that doesn’t mean that I still don’t want to smash a couple of faces every now and then too.”

“Are you coming with me on the run to St. Bernard Parish?”

“Nah, I think you are going solo. I am going up to Chicago for a few days. Now that Carlos and Lucas are working together, I am the go-between man.”

“What about Joel?”

“Well you know that Joel isn’t really too active here. He does a little work, but stays to himself with the complex. He has his hands full of that woman and all of those tenants.”

I almost guaranteed that the woman he was with was harder to deal with than all of the renters combined.

“Alright man, I will see you around. Hopefully not too soon, but I think you are right about the Arc Angels. They will make their play soon and we are going to have to be ready for them when they do.”

***

The run was one that I had done many times before. I was only dropping off and picking up some money. Since the order was the same for almost a year now, the weekly drop off was not one that I was worried about. I knew that it would go like it always did and all I had to do was wait for the duffel bag of money after the purity was checked. It was a simple in and out situation that I didn’t expect any problems from.

That was the problem with expectations though. It was too close to assumptions. When I got to the old U-pull it junkyard, there was no white Escalade awaiting me like there always had been in the past. Out of the many times that I had done this run, Santiago was always waiting for me. He was always on time or early enough to beat me. I should have known something was up then, but I was just thinking that everyone had a right to be a little late sometimes. Even Santiago.

So I parked by the gates and got out to open the padlock so that I could wait inside. I didn’t like being so out in the open with all of the drugs I had on me. The bag in my hand was full to the brim with coke. I didn’t need to get seen by the police and have them sniffing around asking questions. I needed to stay out of trouble.

The shot rang out and I saw the cling of the bullet hitting the gate right next to me, before the sound of the shot had reached my ears. There were only a few moments to really think before I felt a burn in my side. I didn’t have to hear the gun fire to know that I had been hit. It wasn’t the first time and the fact that I was still moving was a good sign.

Getting back into the car, I looked down to see blood all over my shirt and more was appearing before my eyes. I had to get out of there fast.

I slammed the car into reverse and backed out, whipping the car around. I still couldn’t see who my assailant was but I had a feeling it had to do with who I was talking to David about earlier. Maybe this was the Arc Angels way of starting something. I didn’t have time to wait around and find out though. All I was worried about was getting out of there in one piece. The way I was losing blood, I knew that I had to get back to base and find the Doc. A few more shots hit the metal side of the car and one went through the back window, shattering the glass into small little square pieces that sprayed the back of me. I felt a few bite into the back of my neck, but I couldn’t feel it to the throbbing pain in my side.

Calling up Lucas, I told him what was going on and asked him to get the Doc to his place. I was going to need him. I couldn’t go to a regular hospital, not when they had to call in every gunshot wound that they treated to the cops. I really was trying to stay out of jail and the Doc was around to help with all of that. All I had to do was get to him. The seventh ward was aways away from Chalmette and when I started to feel so tired, I wondered if I was going to make it there.

I had to pull over on the side of the road. I was starting to lose consciousness. I called David and told him where I was. “Just come get me man. I am losing blood and I don’t think I am going to make it to Lucas’.”

“I’ll be right there Marcus. Just hang tight.”

I told him that I would and hung up the phone. Cars on the interstate were passing me by quickly. A big semi-truck passed by close enough to make the whole car move with it. The last thought on my mind was to wonder what had happened. Who was shooting at me and to what end? Was it because of the gang or was it something more personal? I had too many enemies to really know for sure. Whoever they were, I hoped that they didn’t find me here before David did.