Danny effortlessly spun the exceptionally long car around in a single, tight and neat 180-degree maneuver and pulled out of the lot, picking up speed as we headed straight down the dark road.

As I watched out my window, I saw nothing. Absolutely nothing. There were no streetlights here, no buildings. Just darkness. How eerie it all seemed. It was as if the entire world had been swallowed up, except this car, which was time-traveling through a black hole or something. The only illumination was from the headlights, making a path about the width of the car itself, and extending maybe fifteen feet in front of us, before it, too, was consumed by the darkness.

I wondered if this was the area that Sonny was referring to when he said 'where it's dark', while he was explaining where he wanted me to 'plug' Jimmy. As inexperienced as I was in those matters, for some reason I just felt that this would be the right place to do such.

"Slow the fuck down!" Jimmy never removed his eyes from the road ahead. "The turn's coming up soon, and besides, you never know when some stupid suicidal deer will decide to jump into the road and end it all."

Danny snickered. "No problem. We can just stop, wrap it up and take it with us. It's been a long time since I had some good venison."

"Yeah?" Jimmy sounded bored. "Well, you may have to wait even longer for it, because if you damage my car it'll be a while before you'll be enjoying solid foods again."

There was no reply from Danny, but the car's speed noticeably decreased.

"Here," Jimmy commanded. Danny made a smooth left turn, then turned quickly again so we were traveling in the opposite direction. We rode in silence for a little while, then I noticed the reappearance of streetlamps ahead, indicating the on-ramp to the parkway. Danny cut the steering wheel to the left and followed them.

As soon as we hit the parkway, regular lighting, road signs, and the other cars around us indicated that the world had fully returned. The Caddy sped up. I jumped slightly when Sonny, who hadn't bothered to look away from his window, unexpectedly spoke. "Everything taken care of?"

No one answered him. Well, he wasn't talking to me, that much I knew.

"Jimmy?" he prodded.

"Yeah," Jimmy finally responded. "I told you it would be. The bar is set." He paused for just a moment. "If you want, give me the key to the house. I'll bring some guys over there and have everything done by the time you get home." He finally turned around, looking in Sonny's direction.

Sonny didn't bother to do the same. "No, don't worry about it. I have some of my own ideas about that. I'll bring them over myself."

Jimmy shrugged one shoulder, and faced front once again. "Your decision." He remained silent for another minute or so before continuing. "There's one other thing, though."

We all waited, expecting him to reveal the 'one other thing' to us, but it seemed that Jimmy had chosen to stop the conversation right there. Was he waiting for someone to ask? Or did he just want Sonny to break out of the trance he seemed to be in, and at least appear to pay more attention to what he was saying?

I shook my head, silently and slowly. He is listening to you Jimmy, more than you know. Especially at times like now, when it seems that he isn't.

"Which is?" Sonny impatiently prompted him to continue.

Jimmy sounded frustrated, as he loudly exhaled before replying, "A couple of Carm… that is, our friends from the city are there. They have a message for you."

"Yeah?" Sonny's voice had softened a bit.

But Jimmy just shook his head. "The message is for you. But they're not sure how long they can wait. I told them that we were on our way."

"How long ago?"

"Right before C came in to get us."

I looked up at the mention of my name, as I heard Sonny breathe out a single word. "Fuck."

And that was the last word uttered by anyone in that car before we pulled up to the bar.

Fitting in well with everything that had happened so far tonight, the scene in front of the bar was just crazy. I don't remember it ever being that crowded before, even on the best of Friday nights. A lot of familiar faces were hanging around on the sidewalk, mostly Sonny's guys, but there were more than a few unfamiliar ones standing around, talking with them. Then there were neighborhood residents and patrons lined up to get into the place, which was something that I'd never seen before.

I cast a quick side glance at Sonny, who finally faced forward, taking the view in as well. His expression was a mix of disbelief, disgust, and I was sure I also detected a good amount of sadness in there. He appeared to be very disturbed by all of this, and it bothered me to see him that way.

Danny pulled the car around the corner to the side of the building. As soon as he pulled to the curb, three unknown men sprinted around the long hood of the car. One opened the passenger door to let Jimmy out. Being a nobody, I opened my own door to hear Jimmy already giving them orders. "No, two guys. I want two guys on every door to the joint, checking everybody who tries to get in tonight."

I walked around the front of the car, taking in the chaos, while being thankful that the chaos seemed oblivious to me. Danny was already out of the car and was talking with Bobby B, as the two of them blocked the driver's side rear door. "We have to be extra alert," Danny instructed. "Anything can come from any direction."

"Okay." Bobby nodded solemnly. "We can handle this, no problem. I feel sorry for any motherfucker that dares to try anything."

Danny opened Sonny's door, glancing up and down the road as he did. Bobby reached in, lightly taking Sonny's arm as he emerged from the car. When he did finally stood up on the well-lit sidewalk, I saw that he was more miserable than ever, and it tore at me.

It was at this point that it became clear to me. If there was only one thing that was sadder than wasted talent, it was the deep regret and hopelessness that one felt when one realizes this living nightmare that your life had become was the result of some careless choices made long ago.

I'd already given my word to Sonny, and right then I vowed to myself as well, that no matter what, I would never let this happen to me.