[Authors note: Just a random idea. If you like it I'll continue it, if not then I'll delete it. Please review.]
Bleeding Red
"I'm so tired of this motherfucker jilting me. No one makes a fool out of the Ricott family." The Don voiced loudly from the backseat taking a few seconds to light a cigar and take a long hard pull before glancing at the group around him. As far as he was concerned he was surrounded by safe company but then again he had believed Louis to be family also until the man decided to pilfer such a large amount of cash. Usually he would send someone else to complete his business but not this time. This time he would make a model of Louis. No one would be snickering any longer and if they were the Don was planning on making it eternal. "Mello, we are heading in the right direction, right? I don't have time to be turning around because you don't have your shit together. I have important shit to do later."
The blond shifted slightly at the sound of his own name the leather of his trousers creaking in the silence of the car. "Of course, you've taken over three of his four clubs. There's only one place he could still be hiding for a man that deserted his wife and children. If not then have his women make you your money back dollar by dollar." He faintly heard the sound of chuckling in the backseat. He sighed; at least someone was pleased with the way the night was going to turn. He could certainly be doing without this detour but when duty called it screamed.
The Don continued his chuckling taking another long drag and blowing it out filling the car with its smoke. "I like the way you think Mello. Always ahead of the game aren't you? I'm glad I allowed you to stick around for this long. How long has it been?" He smirked considering Mello to be one of his brighter ideas throughout his history of the Family.
"Six years." He mumbled turning his light gaze back to the passing scenery of bleeding yellow's and reds into the sunset. Someone was going to be put out tonight. He was slightly worried because if it wasn't Louis it was going to be someone innocent of a crime against the family. Many people had perished on the whim of the Don and if he was ordered to tonight then he didn't have a choice but to deliver. "We're almost there."
"What's the name of this dump Mello?" The Don had finally gained composure. It was time for business and everyone riding in the car stoically understood what was to come tonight. There was no one here that hadn't shed the blood for a stranger and tonight was to be no different.
Blue eyes slowly closed, the last thing he needed was more blood covering his hands. "Lemon Lime." He shook his head slightly feeling as the car they all occupied came to a halt. Several others behind it did the same and he felt his fist clench. Right now wasn't the time to begin debating his eternal soul.
The Don nodded as his door was opened for him. "Pray Mello. Don't get sentimental on me now, it's not the time. If someone dies tonight God wanted it so. Pray for their souls. Say Amen Mello."
"Amen."
"You come here often?" The slightly buzzed man began to the beautiful red head working behind the bar. He was only encouraged when the red head flashed him a light smile before going back to his previous task. "Oh so you do. Did an Angel drop you off here, beautiful?" He grinned at his own witty banter watching the other slide around and place another drink in front of the man beside him.
Another smile ran over Matt's lips for several seconds before lessening into a smirk. "Of course, hun. Not only did an Angel drop me off but I decided never to leave." He watched the man fall into hysterics completely missing the sarcastic edge to his tone. He rolled his eyes filling this dumbasses glass again. Where the hell was security tonight?
"Red." The arm around his shoulder was friendly but Matt still felt himself quiver. "Boss wants you onstage next." He leaned forward whispering, "He said bring your special tool and be careful. The man winked before giving him a firm but sociable pat on the back before picking up a stray glass indicating that he would be taking up his duty behind the bar.
Without responding Matt slipped out heading towards the back of the club before pausing to give the drunken man another wink. He had apparently noticed his attempt at a quiet get-a-way and was calling him back. "Oh darlin', it's my turn up front. I expect to see you front and center." His words were flirtatious but his actual tone was deadpan belaying that he wasn't ready to work onstage tonight.
"Of course Angel, I got plenty of money for you. I'm a big deal business man where I come from."
Matt could barely disguise the annoyance in his voice. "Oh goodie." With that he turned firmly heading back though the tables and chairs. The flashing green and yellow lights were probably blinding for most patrons but Matt knew his way well. He slid past the private dance rooms and ended turning down a hallway behind the stage and heading down a lengthy corridor of stairs leaving the screech of new age music and drunken men behind for just a few minutes.
He found himself in the dressing room glancing at others in various stages of undress. Only one person bothered to look up and see who it was that had entered. Typically a patron had to be looking terribly hard to find the secret door that led back to the dressing room and even if they had usually security would grab them before they could even think about making it back here.
"Lookie what we have here, gentlemen." The bright voice of another one of the strippers chimed following Matt's movement through the room. "Tonight must be a special night if Louis has his golden boy prancing around onstage like the rest of us have to. Or has he finally got you paying for that room of yours upstairs." He sneered, "You done fucking him?"
"Red, two minutes until you're up." The call came from the door , "Rosen is finishing up." Matt nodded popping the lock on a large box that sat wedged between the usual boa's and scandalous clothing. Gingerly he reached down pulling out his instruments before the others subconsciously backed off.
"I was just asking. You don't have to go through all of that, you remember what happened the last time we got into it."
Matt smirked, "I'm so sorry that I took favourite from you Lily." He edged past the other and out of the room that instantly began chattering animatedly again.
Lily clenched his fist, "No you're not."
Mello cocked his gun for what seemed like the seventh time tonight before firing off at a group of security guards that were rushing a group of his own men. He was almost annoyed with how many heavies Louis had patrolling the area around his club. With the money he had to be using to hire these lightweights he could have easily paid back old man Ricott with interest. Blood dripped down the side of his face in contrast to his vigilant eyes as their group circled around again giving back the signal that everything was finally clear. The night had just started and he had already killed five men. He shivered at the thought.
"What do you want to do? If he has this many heavies outside imagine what he's got inside right now." Mello made to wipe the blood away in pure annoyance. He should be at his home asleep right now but instead he was out throwing his eternal soul to the fiery depths because of money.
The Don shook his head frowning, "I have you here to think Mello but I understand your point. You do whatever you think you need to as long as I have Louis by the end of the night." He watched Mello nod. "Oh, and try and not kill my new property while you're at it."
The blond gave another brisk nod before snapping his finger. Watching in slight satisfaction he watched the group move out on his order and he followed in silence.
Lemon Lime was a startling stunning club. From a well built two storied bar, private dance rooms and a stage large enough to fit a theater production. The strobe lights flashed a blinding yellow and green high lighting the dancer currently on stage with an exotic and mesmerizing silhouette. The movement of their body was sensual with an allure that kept the attention of those pleasured enough to watch in amazement. Drunken patrons begged loudly for independent attention of the dancer that wrapped themselves around the pole in stunning grace playing lightly off of the music that blasted but at the same time it seemed of its own.
The first shot rang out whizzing past the group Mello stood in and shattering glass behind him. Momentarily Mello's attention was taken from the body as he watched the body of a guard fall heavily from another shot. He could almost make out the sound even though it was provided by his imagination. A glance back behind him and the stage was empty and for a second Mello was almost upset.
It took seconds before full retaliation began and Mello used his heavy combat boots to kick over one of the dance tables and crouch behind it. The original fire seemed to all be originating from one point towards the stage before others joined in. Neither side seemed to be discriminating as they continued despite the patrons and strippers running for cover.
The blond groaned blowing his hair out of his face before crawling across the wooden floor taking measure not to get stepped on by anyone fleeing. A hail of bullets dances across the floor from near the stage that he instantly had to roll to avoid or die in the attempt. He found himself edging out of the roll and locking into a shooting stance to return fire. With the gun battle playing itself out behind him the order to find Louis were lost to him as he followed the movement of the person shooting at him with his own bullets.
Matt growled rolling across the floor to miss the bullets from the man targeting him. He slid in behind an overturned table taking his hiding time to K.O the stooges that were running around in plain sight. He pulled down his goggles and popped out several head shots on the group to take them out.
He turned knowing he was running low on ammo before sitting. He didn't picture dying like this. Maybe a badass shoot out would be awesome but he hadn't expected it.
The fateful cock came to the back of his head as he slowly lifted his hands. The weapons dropped unceremoniously to the ground in front of him and he waited for the kill that he knew was coming.
It didn't come; instead a swift knock came to the back of his head that knocked him out cold.
Mello turned his back on his almost believing that this couldn't be real until he watched several of his men go down. "This motherfucker." He hissed rounding on the man before cocking his gun in infuriation. He bit his lip bringing a swift whack to the back of the others head. The Don would find this one entertaining and that was lucky for him. It was the only reason why Mello didn't kill him here and now.
"The fuck Mello, kill'em! He shot Lakely and Bard and you're just going to let him get away from that." One of his men shouted from the other side of the room still moving to make sure there was no one left to pose a threat.
The blond glared, "Who the fuck cares? Don't kill him. Daniel, come with me." He turned stomping forward his heavy boots kicking glass across the floor in pure exasperation.
Daniel followed without hesitation, "Why not kill him Mello?"
"He may have killed one of our own but he's now the Don's property." He slipped behind the stage where he watched several people run to hide. Instead of rounding around back and heading downstairs Mello took the immediate stairs that led upwards to the top floor. It was here that the participants took their patrons. He rolled his eyes in immediate distaste heading down the hallway reading the names on the doors. 'Lily,' 'Demetri,' 'Ski,' 'Rose," and 'Red." He pausing tilting his head at the slightly askew door.
Daniel leaned past the blond, "What?"
He waved the other off pushing the door open and strolled in. The room decorated in lush and vivid emeralds and crimsons from the curtains to the carpeted floor. A fire burned brilliantly in the fireplace giving off glowing warmth that the rest of the floor didn't possess. On the bed Louis sat quietly under the canopy sipping wine.
Daniel's eager gun instantly flew up as Louis rolled his eyes. "Oh please put that thing away. I know what you're here for. I heard the shooting." He sighed miserably. "Is Red…gone?" He managed the last word barely above a whisper.
Mello growled, "Who the hell is Red? We don't have time for this shit."
Louis glared moving to stand and shoving Daniel's gun out his face. "I believe it would be painfully obvious who Red is." He leaned forward pulling a drawstring beside the mantle above the fireplace. A heavy gold lined curtain slid apart, "My beloved."
Daniel took a step back when he saw Mello pale into a paper white suddenly and breathe the name, "Matt."
"Matt?" He echoed in confusion glancing from Mello to Louis. "Who the hell is Matt?"
"Just tell us where he's hiding." The Don whispered to the red head gesturing that the heavies should release him enough to be able to speak. He watched with a sense of satisfaction as the red heads pain. "Well, if you just tell us we won't have you kill you or any of your friend that work here. Think of me as a kind of liberator."
Matt smirked. "Fuck off. We didn't do anything to deserve you killing and shooting our friends and patrons."
The Don shrugged slightly, "Very sorry about that." He kicked the guns that were removed from Matt. "But it's clear that you were expecting us."
The smirked remained on Matt's face as he shrugged with one arm. "Don't flatter yourself, hun. They're props."
The Don crouched, "You returned fire. They're much more than just props to you." He didn't add the accuracy that he had managed to watch and the fact that he had done duel with Mello and survived.
Matt shrugged, "Maybe I like to play dangerous." He gave another halfhearted shrug.
"Boss!" A voice called over the group. "We caught him. We have Louis."
Matt gasped below the Don. "I told you to run!" He watched in horror as the man was walked in slowly by heavies on either side as a few others moved forward to join the group.
Louis gave the man a fond smile before winking. "You can't run forever Red. Look where running got us, beautiful. We have to face our past. I'll go first."
Emerald eyes narrowed, "Please. I have nowhere to go. I have no one…"
The Don rolled his eyes, "As much as we'd love to watch this Soap Opera. It's getting late and I still have shit to do. Mello…" He watched blue eyes slowly rise. "Show Louis what happens to those who laugh at our family. Show everyone here what we do."
The blond nodded slowly his eyes far away for a second as he reached up with his left hand to hold his rosary for several seconds. His hand slipped away before he bent downward into his boot pulling out a switch blade, "To our brother. We once laughed together." He gestured down. "On your knees." He smirked as Daniel and another heavy forced Louis to his knees. "But once your intention to laugh alone came we will abide by your wishes. Oh, how you laughed." He glided the blade forward into the others mouth after bypassing his teeth. He could feel as the slick edge ran through the cavern of the others mouth leaving a flapping bloody trail in its wake. "And so from here you will foreverly laugh in this life and the next."
Inhuman wails clipped the silence in the room originating from Louis as some of the heavies watched the red head's still body on the floor beside the Don. They believed that he may have tried something but instead he stayed in one place slightly shaking.
"Beautifully said Mello, I couldn't have done better. You know what to do with him at this point." The Don turned his back as the heavies drug a heavily bleeding and panting Louis out the club.
The red head whimpered still unmoving. "Please, take me with him. Please, lease just let me die."
The Don waved his words off, "I would but you have money to make me." He leaned down until he was face to face with the other, "Besides, I like you. I'd like to keep you around for a while."
[Ending note: Please review if you like this story. If not I'll delete it.]