Avenged in Blood part 9
My vision was getting hazy. Whether from loss of blood, exhaustion, or an overload of adrenaline I didn’t know. I just knew that I had to keep going until I got out of here or died trying.
Cabrese was awake and staring at me with wary eyes. I was trying to see through the rage I felt and get some answers before my brothers in blue showed up and put an end to it. I didn’t want to think about how today would mean my badge and probably my freedom.
But the chance to get some answers pushed me. Someone in this world had to defend what was right.
Cabrese started to speak. “Your partner die eh? Good thing. He kill my son.” That ingratiating Eastern European accent was grating today. “You kill my other son. Ruin business all over town. You will die too.” “Maybe.” I said. “But not before you.” Another vicious punch dislodged 2 teeth which flew onto the floor a few feet away.
“Who else works for you?!” I screamed at him. “Where can I find them? They are dead too!” Another punch. More blood to join the rest. He smiled up at me and spat blood. This was going to be harder than I thought.
Back on the force we had put together an outline of Cabrese’s organization. We knew about 3 drug houses, 2 prostitution houses, and the scores of blackmail. 2 of the drug houses were out of business thanks to Jack, myself, and the Vice squad. 1 prostitution house was gone, the other almost a rumor; it kept moving around. There was a task force in place trying to fold up Cabrese’s organization. It was slow going with us not knowing the specifics. I had a chance if I could convince him that it was worth it.
Taking down his whole operation would be my personal salvation in all of this. Not only to avenge Jack but to bring down the most notorious crime boss in the city. That would justify all of this carnage, to me if to no one else.
“How many men did you bring here tonight?” I asked almost conversationally. “85, 100?” He replies with a sneer, “Suck it cop. I bring everybody who available.”. “How Many?!!” I shouted and drew my pistol. Sneer. Cock hammer. “
How Many!” I repeated. Spit. Fire. A scream erupted in time with the blood that came from his left knee.
There was no point in being subtle anymore. He could see that my safety was still off and my sanity was close behind. “How many?” I growled. His eyes were squinted shut in pain. “Nine..ninety two..” he got out through clenched teeth and pain. “See, “I said, “That wasn’t too hard was it?’
“They are all dead. I killed them all. You are finished. Where are the rest of your people?”
Tears had joined the pain in his eyes. “All of them?” he asked quietly. “Yes. All of them.” I said. “I have no more sons.” He began to weep. He wasn’t trying to deceive me. His other two sons must have been in the carnage all around us.
I felt nauseous. I left him to weep and went searching for some bandages. My leg was throbbing and starting to bleed again.
I found the storage room and flipped on the light. I was instantly transported to the hospital that night Jack and I encountered the 95th street gang. There were bullets flying everywhere around the alley that we had taken shelter in. We would fire, and they would answer. Jack was hit, I was hit. Neither serious, but both painful.
We knew we couldn’t stay there for much longer. We loaded what was left of our ammo and ran for the entry to the alley. We hit one or two on our escape when Jack fell. They had hit him in the upper chest, a mere inch above the contour of his Kevlar vest.
A few more shots and I dragged Jack into the next alley and grabbed his radio to call for help. It has stopped a bullet too. I put pressure on the bleeding hole and tried to think. My only option at that point was to run. “Come on Marine” I told myself. “Take point and get the hell out of here.” I stood and gritted my teeth through the pain and strain of lifting Jack to my shoulders in a fireman’s carry. I ran.
I ran as fast as I had ever dreamed while carrying a 195 pound person. I wasn’t very fast but I got away from the gang and found a pay phone. I called 911 and explained, before I slumped to the ground next to Jack. I had one hand holding the wound on his chest and the other tracking everywhere at once with my pistol.
Soon the air was filled with sirens. My brothers had arrived and so had the ambulance. The EMT’s patched the wound in Jack’s chest and took both of us to the hospital running fast. The other cops arrested 4 gang members and cleaned up 6 others we had killed. I heard that later after the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital and I explained what had happened to a myriad of doctors. They took Jack to surgery and me to a bed to get sewn up.
Now I was in a similar room looking for bandages and disinfectant. I found both and did some basic battlefield dressings before going back to Cabrese.
This had to be completed. It was time to be finished. Cabrese was done, his business was done. I was about done.
