The Madam Of Suburbia Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Fading Light

I wake in a state of panic and confusion as I can't see shit. I see the faintest signs of light as black fabric covers my eyes. I try to move, but I'm bound to something hard and made out of plastic. I feel the familiar cold steel of handcuffs on my wrist and feet as I try to wiggle. I quickly stop when a shooting pain runs through my body like a lightning bolt. I almost wish I was dead at this point instead of once again being bound and wearing a hood.

As my mind begins to settle, I slowly being to recall the events that lead to my current, fucked up situation. The one thing that sticks out over the ass kicking I got was Amber strolling in, and shooting Richard right in the fucking head without saying a single word. I personally know how cold hearted she can be, but after what Richard revealed to me in that cell, he fucking deserved it. However, she didn't say much to me either, so I didn't get a chance to her why she shot the asshole.

I listen closely to my surroundings, and hear the rumble of tires on pavement. I guess I'm being taking to the swamp as Amber ordered. I hate that word after my last experience in a swamp. I hoping it's one of their safe houses, and she wants me out of the city for a bit after the mess that happened. Also, maybe it's a place for me to heal as she figures out the next move. I know with the death of Juan and Richard, there's probably a major shit storm brewing, and she felt it's best I'm not in the path of the tempest ready to be unleashed on the city.

As I lay there, my ears focus on the radio. The driver is listen to this rock song, and my mind focuses on this one verse:

Bring me relief;

End the misery

Bring me relief

From one ACP.

After all the shit I've seen and been through, that is the only way this fucked up, roller coaster of chaos called my life will end. I had thoughts of ending it myself, but after the swamp, I'm not taking the easy way out of the bullshit I keep being handed. If I'm going to go out, I'm taking out the motherfucker behind the trigger before that single bullet ends mine. Right now, I really want answers about what is coming next so I can prepare myself before the shit unfolding in my future lands on me. I hate not knowing anything when I'm dealing with so many people that don't think twice of ending a life.

I finally break the silence by asking, "Where are you taking me?"

"Nothing you need to be concerned with," someone replies.

"Dude, be glad you're alive. Amber was not happy at all," another person adds.

"What happened?"

"Not on your fucking business. Now, shut up," the first person says.

I fall silent as I go back focusing on the rumbling of the tires. I almost drift into sleep as the noise is almost meditational. However, I snap out of it when there's a loud bang, and the radio goes silent. I quickly notice the tires are slowing down as I begin to smell smoke filling into the cab.

"What the fuck?" shouts one of the passengers. "Did we just blow a fucking rod?"

"I hope not. This damn truck is brand new."

"Pull over in case a fire does start."

A minute later, the brakes squeal as we come to a stop. I lay there in complete silence as I wonder if the car is on fire, and they're leaving me to burn to death as the smoke smells fills the area around me. A minute later, there's two faint cracks, like a firework went off in the distance as I hear two thuds outside. I begin to panic even more know because I don't hear nothing but thunder rumbling in the distance, and birds chirping. There's not even the sound of passing cars.

I relax when the smell of smoke begins to fade, but as the back doors are swung open, I go back into panic as I'm being dragged out of the vehicle. I almost shit myself when I hear two voices I thought I would never here again.

"Put him in the van, and sedate him" Blue says.

"Can't I crush his skull now?" Riese asks.

"Do what I say," Blue orders. "Besides, she wants a chat with him."

"Fucking kill me now because I don't have shit to say to that bit.."

Before I can finish my sentence, something hard hits me on my head, and once again, everything goes black.

The Madam Of Suburbia Chapter 22

Chapter 22 – Richard

I wake up feeling my fucking head was used as a bass drum in a rock concert. The last thing I remember was that shithead Richard killing Juan while making sure to frame me, and tossing me into a van. I look around the room as I find myself back inside some fucking prison cell. I find it funny that every time I turn around, I'm being locked up by one asshole when everyone else wants me to find information on the streets. In other words, if I end up in prison it means I'm doing my fucking job correctly.

A minute later, the door swings open as four men rush into the room. Two of them grab my arms, and pin me onto the cold concrete floor while the other two bound my legs with rope. Now that I'm immobile, they begin to punch and kick the living shit out of me. I wince as I feel steel toed boots against my stomach as their first try to give my face a makeover. I don't know what the fuck I did to piss these assholes off, but if they don't beat me to death, I'm kicking their asses. One of them stomps on my nuts before spitting in my face. The other one kicks me in my chest hard enough that I feel my ribs break. I lay there gasping for air as the assault continues.

"That's enough for now," I hear Richard order. "Bound his hands, then leave us."

They bound my hands with zip tips, and there's one last cheap shot as I'm fucking kicked in the nuts again. I lay there bleeding and wincing with each breathe as Richard stands over me holding a pistol.

"All you had to do was die when that bomb went off," he says as he squats down and presses the pistol against the scar. "Now, I have to dispose of your worthless body the hard way."

I spit blood in his face and retort, "Go fuck yourself you worthless piece of shit!"

He decks me in my jaw hard, causing blood to splatter on the floor. "Oh, I'm worth something to Madam. She pays me nicely for the information I provide."

"You're a worthless pawn overall. That bitch will kill you once she no longer has a need for you," I reply.

"Pawn? Who's the one holding the gun?" he laughs. 

"Too bad you other gun is so small that not even a flea can hold it," I snap back. "How about you act like a real man, and get rid of the gun so we can truly find out who's the bigger man?" 

He decks more one more time before pressing the gun against my temple before saying, “Shut the fuck up. I should have shot your ass a long time ago."

"Do it then!" I shout. 

Richard flips off the safety and holds the gun there, finger on the trigger. A few minutes later, the constant prattle of automatic fire erupts out of nowhere, shattering the awkward silence inside the room. Richard rushes over and swings over the door as we watch someone fall to the floor, blood pouring out of their bullet ridden body. All I can think about as I hear a bullet bounce the steel door is I'm totally fucked because of my restraint as a gang war unfolds outside this cell. I begin to pray the goal of this attack is to take my ass out.

The firing stopped suddenly like someone flipped a switch. Richard stands by the door, holding his pistol with his shaking hands as he nervously tries to look down the hallway. He steps back to stand next me, pistol drawn and focused on the door like he's going to shoot whoever enters. We watch as Amber strolls in the room, pistol drawn, but held down by her side.

Richard lowers his pistol while stating, "Oh, Amber, It's just..."

Before Richard can finish that sentence, Amber lifts her pistol while firing a single shot into Richard's head. He collapses like a house of cards in a stiff breeze. I lay there in a state of confusion and terror as Amber walks over to Richard, and kicks his pistol out of his hand. She pulls out a knife, and cuts off my restraints.

"All you need to know right now is your ass is going to a safe home," she orders. "Until then, I don't want to hear shit from you."

I nod my head as two goons come in, and pick me up off the floor. I wince in pain as my body confirms they did break some ribs. Amber walks over and jabs me with a syringe.

"Take him to the swamp, boys," she says before the drugs knock my ass out.

The Madam Of Suburbia Chapter 21

Chapter 21 -  Out of The Shadows

No matter how much you try to escape the twilight of chaos to find the light of hope, the shadows of your past will always drag your fucking soul back into darkness. I knew that I would be living into the bleak underworld forever outcast into the night when I killed for the first time, but I thought I would have a way out that didn't lead to my fucking grave. Every chance I have to grasp onto a sliver of light, something from the abyss drags my damned spirit downwards into the gloom of despair. Even on days I thought would be able to enjoy some hints of happiness, I'm dragged back into the morbid existence that is called my life.

It's been a month since I was shot, and I find myself looking over my shoulder as I keep fucking wondering who will be the one pulling the trigger. I'm in a fucked up triangle of deceit, but overall, my money is on the Russians. They don't hide behind mask, and I've seen them shot someone when they showed any hint of disloyalty. Even the leader, Demetri, will get his hands dirty. I watched him end someone's life with a frying pan because it was there, and he wanted to enjoy beating the life out of the dealer who stole money from him. Right now, Madam looks like a kitten next to Demetri, and Demetri wants to kill Madam because she's been slowly destroying his supply lines for tantrix.

I stop worrying about my past as I rub my finger over the scar from my bullet wound as I sit in front of a man in a hood while thinking that I mentally need to go back to the creature I became in the swamp. I hate to say it, but not showing emotions for a bit actually made my job and life much easier. Then again, my life was way much easier before I let my walls down to show Amber the human beneath all these scars. Amber is the other reason I feel like I'll never experience sunshine in my life, only infinite dusks. However, right now, I need to go to my dark place as I'm about to do something most men wouldn't have the fucking grapes to do.

I stare at the hood as I wonder how Vlad and his comrades found this man. They claim this man knows who Spreadsheet is, and I been tasked to persuaded this man to tell me what he knows. All Vlad told me was the boss wanted it to be slow and painful, but after 48 hours, end it quickly. I let out a sigh as I get up and walk over to the steel table laid out with tools of the trade, a box of gloves plus a Halloween mask with a voice changer built into it. I slip on some gloves, put on the mask, and turn on the voice box. I also pick up a food grater and the bottle of rubbing alcohol. I smile as I feel my dark side breaking free as I walk back over to the hooded man.

 As I pull off his hood, I stop when I see who I'm about to torture for information. Under the hood is Juan "Buho" Cavellero, the leader of The Alma Tomadores gang, which was Chulapa's biggest distributor in California. I ran with them a few times, and they could smuggle almost anything if you were willing to pay the price. However, they are very territorial, and will defend their turf fiercely. I begin to wonder how many hands are in the fucking pot here in Atlanta. I feel Atlanta will be the war zone when all hell breaks loose since more and more shit is happening here all of sudden.

"Do whatever the fuck you want, but I ain't saying shit," Juan replies.

I notice that his brown eyes stare out into space showing no signs of fear. I put his hood back on, and slump back into my chair almost in tears. I know this man's fucking wife and daughter, and I'm now tasked with torturing him until he either tells me what Demetri wants to fucking know, or dies at my hand. I start to wonder if this is truly a test of my loyalty, or Juan truly does work for Madam. Either way, I think this is some fucked up bullshit. I already watched one friend die, but this time, I'm the one behind the trigger as I have to choose loyalty or friendship.

"One question. Which asshole do you work for? The psycho-bitch Madam or that prick in the DEA?" Juan asks.

"Shut the fuck up," I reply as I try to figure out what I'm going to do in this fucked up situation. Also, his comment has my mind fucking racing now as I try to figure out what he means by the prick in the DEA. I immediately think of Richard because he's truly a fucking prick. However, Amber was the one who was in Madam's organization. However, his statement sounds like there is a rogue agent that isn't controlled by Madam, but does their own fucking thing. I swear to any fucking deity that still listens to my damned soul that I'm tired of one lead turning into another fucking web of more deceit.

"So, can we go ahead and pull the fucking trigger? I'm tired of waiting for my destiny."

"Fuck off. What prick in the DEA are you talking about?" I ask as I feel my anger rising as I picture Richard in my mind.

"His name..."

A gunshot rings out inside the empty warehouse as Juan head slumps down, blood flowing from the fresh bullet hole on the left side of his head. I turn around, and see Richard standing there holding a smoking pistol while wearing leather gloves.

Before I can do anything else, he points the gun right at me and orders, "You do anything besides breath right now, and you're fucking dead."

I sit there as he crawls his way over to me as the pistol stays drawn at my head. As he gets near me, he pulls out another pistol, and jams against my temple.

"Hold out your shooting hand," he states.

I hold out my right hand, and he places the pistol in my hand.

"Now, pull the trigger."

I fire off a round as I realize what this fucking dirt bag is doing. He's making me the murderer since my fingerprints are now on the trigger, and there's residue on my hand. He's also has fucked up any chance of finding Spreadsheets since this was Demetri's only lead. In one fucking second, everything has gone to Hell, and I'll be the scapegoat. I so want to beat this fucking shithead to death with my own bare hands, but the cold steel pressed against my head tells me I'll be dead before I even get out of the chair.

"Here's the deal. You'll tell Demetri that the only information Juan provided is Spreadsheets isn't even in the states, but residues in Switzerland. Also, Amber will know nothing about this chat," he says as he takes the murder weapon from my hand. "If anything comes out, I'll make sure the local cops find this weapon next to his body. Understand?"

"Crystal."

"Good, now stand up slowly," he orders.

I stand up as my hands shake while the anger inside me is burning fucking brighter than a wildfire. I want to snap his backstabbing, but I'm the only witness to his betrayal. This fucker has my nuts in a vice, and there's nothing I can do right now.

"Walk!” he barks. He leads me out of the warehouse, and into the parking lot. I see a black cargo van waiting for us as I feel something hard slammed against the back of my head. The last thing I see is the asphalt racing towards my face.