Chapter 7: Binge
Leon found himself staring at an elderly bartender, wondering what the old man saw when he looked in his eyes. It had been a week since Leon saved Joey. Leon tried to contact his brother, but instead Vince "Peanut" told him to lay-low for awhile. Leon procrastinated seeing Phil about the money, he had no idea why. No that's not true, he knew exactly why. Katie had dumped him for Carl Johnson. Apparently C.J. was out of the hospital. All Leon could think about now was the song "Big Yellow Taxi."
You don't know what you got till it's gone.
He wasn't sure how he felt. All he knew is that he needed another drink. Another sensation of sweet strawberry and bitter alcohol. Leon noticed a man eyeing him in the bar. He had dark brown, almost black hair, he wore a leather jacket and a pair of beige pants. There was a blank expression on his face.
Leon fixed his gaze towards the bartender, "Who's that guy?"
"Claude, a regular here. Don't mess with him, just let him be,"
"What? Is he dangerous?"
The elderly man leaned forward, his face centimeters away from Leon's, "You know Salvatore Leone? How he died in his limo? How they never got the sonafabitch dumb enough to kill him?"
The barkeep turned around and started polishing glass mugs. Leon looked at Claude. This was the man who killed his father, and Leon could not care less. His father was nothing but a rapist. Leon's cell rang.
"Hey, Vince,"
"How you doin kid? Listen, that weapons dealer says he has some money for you. I told him you would see him tomorrow,"
"Yeah, thanks Peanut. Hey, thanks for payin my tab over at Luigi's place,"
"Forget about it. Hey I want you to meet some people later. They ain't connected, but they're stand up people,"
"Alright, later,"
Leon added Vince to his list of people to meet. Phil, Joey, and now Vince. An hour later Claude was out of the bar. The place was packed now. Leon couldn't help but eye-ball a pretty redhead, who was drinking all alone. She saw him staring. She approached the bar, taking the only unoccupied stool there. The stool next to Leon.
"So,"
Leon said nothing. He just forced a smile. The redhead met Leon's eyes. Her eyes were a deep blue like the ocean. The kind you want to drown in.
"You're the strong, silent type?"
"I guess you could say that,"
"You first time at this place?"
"Yeah. But its gotta be the best bar in Staunton Island,"
"Well, I'm not much of a bar-rat, I wouldn't know,"
Leon knew why she was here. The conversation was painful. It made him want to stop talking. He decided to spice it up by talking about the reason they were both here talking to one another. "You got dumped to?"
"Yeah," a smile widened around her perfect lips.
"Why would anyone do that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Anyone who would want to give up those blue eyes is fucking retarded,"
"He obviously didn't like my eyes,"
"He's probably afraid of drowning in them,"
"What?"
The awkward conversation carried on for about two more hours. Or at least it felt that long. They were both now, stone drunk. Leon remembered her beautiful face, her beautiful half-naked figure. Her smooth, creamy skin. Her head deep in his chest. That's it. Nothing more.
Leon opened his eyes. He looked at his surroundings. He was in a hotel room. And a very cheap one at that. The pretty redhead, was lying still. Leon tried to wake her. He then noticed her neck. A clean, smooth cut along her throat. Leon panicked. He then heard his cell ring. He picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"The Leones hate you. They've followed you here to frame you. Joey doesn't know. Yet,"
He recognized the voice, "Vince?"
"No, my name is Claude,"
