I have a name for this story now! From here forward it will be knows as
Avenged In Blood
Today, part 6
The pain in my leg was getting worse. From what I could see, the bleeding had stopped but I didn’t want to release the tie. I would probably still have to run. So there I sat, blood pooling all around me. The coppery scent growing almost too strong for my stomach to deal with. Unwashed bodies lay all around me. Stale cigarette smoke and burned gunpowder hung in the air. The few lights that were on in the reception area flickered, giving a horrific scene even more terror, like the old monster movies with the flickering lights in the lab, just before the monster comes.
”No Problem.” I muttered to myself. “This is just great.” Here I sat, waiting for more goons to come storming in. I had drawn my line in the sand, and I had no doubt Raymond Cabrese would respond.
I didn’t know what was taking them so long. That back door couldn’t be that strong. My adrenaline was lagging, I was getting tired. I was almost upset that there were no more to kill. Maybe I had done it and avenged Jack.
Jack Reagan. My partner of the past 10 years. My brother in law. A good father, and a good man. I chuckled thinking back to the first time we had met. It was at a casual pool party that my sister Marie had thrown celebrating her engagement. I was just back from the war, full of Marine machismo and older brother swagger. I wanted to see what this low life sissy who wanted marry my sister was made of.
I saw him. We met. I started a fight. We tussled for a while and both ended up in the pool, floating like a couple of dunces. We climbed out of the pool and dripped our way to a table where we sat down and opened a couple of beers, still warily eyeing each other. Maybe this was over. The party had gone almost silent. They were waiting for us to do something else. I am sure several people were ready to call the police if it went much further.
“You are pretty good.” He said. “I know you were a Marine, how long until you get out?” “I’m always a Marine. I just got out. Headed to the police academy in the fall. Should I kick your ass now and get it out of the way or should we finish our beers first?” I retorted. “Good luck. I am a Marine too. I get out in June. I am signed up for the academy this fall too. My beer is gone.” He said and threw the bottle at me.
I swatted it out of the way as he came flying over the table at me. We rolled on the ground each trying to get an advantage. None came. Blood ran from cut lips and noses. My ribs were on fire as I was sure his were from repeated kicks and punches.
We had just got up again and circled each other when my Dad arrived muttering something about “Damn Jarheads.” And smacked each of us upside the head. I was so stunned that I quit looking for a way to kill Jack. I think he had the same reaction. We just stood and stared at my Dad, standing there in his Navy Seals shirt. “You boneheads done?” He asked. For some reason both Jack and I snapped to attention and yelled “SIR, YES SIR!” like we were privates in Boot Camp.
“Good. Your screwing up the party. Dismissed!” Dad still could command and he did. I relaxed. Jack relaxed. I stuck out my hand. He looked at me warily but must have decided that I wasn’t going to try anything else with my Dad there. We shook. And then began to laugh. We went inside the house to clean up and got to talking. By the end of that evening, I had welcomed him as a brother in law, and as a fast friend. Friends Forever.
Who knew that forever would end tonight in a run-down nursing home with him chasing that scumbag Cabrese.
I snapped back to the now. I heard voices. They had made it in the back door. I could only distinguish maybe 5 voices, but who knew how many were there. I checked the machine gun and aimed over the body of a skinny Chinese guy whose wallet named him Titus Chan. A guy who would never bother anyone again. I saw movement before I registered it was a man. I didn’t want to give myself away before there were more available.
“If they flank you, you are screwed!” the voice of my first drill instructor yelled in my head. “Let ‘em collect then smoke their asses!” I did just that. I could see 5 dead men, all converging in the reception area. “A little closer…” I thought. They all met near the front of the hallway I was sitting in.
I smiled a wolfish grin, and emptied the magazine of the machine gun into them. Smoke cleared, and St. Peter had 5 new applicants.
