Chapter 10 – Burning desires
Miguel listened intently to Madden's story, the SMG clutched tightly to his body. He was intrigued about his father's exploits before he was born. He'd been killed in the summer before during the Fierro gunfight in San Andreas…
"You killed my father!" accused Miguel, the fire reignited in his eyes. He remembered vividly the day's events; how the black vans had surrounded the deal with the Fierro Triads, launching gunmen into a vicious gunfight. Antonio had tried to escape but had been cut down in the crossfire. Miguel had watched as his father had fallen to his knees. He'd ran from his cover, shooting bursts from the nozzle of the AK, trying to reach his stricken father.
"He practically killed me first. He'd owed me the money. And I loved your auntie so" said Madden sorrowful.
"But, you killed my father! All for the money…" Miguel lowered the SMG, grief hitting him. He hadn't done anything to the Maddens, his father had. His Auntie Teresa had died a few years back, so it must have been for the money.
"Trenlock was at your party the other night. Why? When he clearly betrayed you as well" demanded Miguel, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"After I had established myself in Layman, he got in contact with me. He'd joined the police and had started a family. His wife had just left him and taken their daughter to Eastern Europe. His daughter came back to America and now works for me. I know he was doing what he was told too."
"You mean Lucie right?"
"Yes," said Madden quietly, "she is Quentin's daughter."
Miguel ran all of this through his head, his mind spinning. He'd been put through hell, all because of the past.
"You crazy motherfucker" shouted Miguel, infuriated. "You think you can take me on because of what my father did to you! Killing him wasn't enough so you had to reimburse yourself too!"
"This is a business Miguel, I need to cover any… losses"
"That's it, you're a dead man!" shouted Miguel raising the SMG.
"No!" screamed a shrill voice. Miguel turned, the slim, blonde Lucie standing in the doorway. Miguel turned back as Madden ran for the side door. Burst-firing, Miguel targeted the SMG, a trail of bullets shattering the glass in the room.
"Shit" cursed Miguel as he ran for the door, closely followed by Lucie. He ran after Madden as the security alarm went off, armed guards appearing on the floor. Miguel raised the SMG, firing single shots into the blue suited guards, sending them sprawling across the floor. Lucie sprinted after the charging Miguel.
He rounded the corner, meeting pistol fire as he ran. Firing more shots, he blasted through the guardsmen, blood trailing as he saw the figure of Madden reach the secondary lifts. With a ting, the doors closed, Miguel reaching them just in time to see the figure of Madden smile. He slammed his fist against the metal doors, cursing loudly.
"Where's the nearest stairs?" he demanded, Lucie frightful by the wild glare Miguel possessed.
"The stairs will be blocked. It will be quicker to take the elevator down to the lobby" she said, running back down the hallway. Miguel quickly sprung after her, gripping the SMG in both hands.
They reached the meeting room, blue glass littering the floor. They slammed into the elevator, punching in the floor number. It seemed like an age for them to reach the ground floor, both of them breathing deeply to recuperate the expended energy.
The lift hit the ground, halting to a stop, the doors opening gracefully. Miguel burst out of the lift, gunning down the waiting guards. He'd anticipated the move and had decided force would be the best action. Diving to the side to reload the SMG, a few of the guards entrenched themselves behind desks and walls. The lobby had been evacuated; even the sexy blonde secretary had been moved.
Lucie ran to his position as Miguel raised the gun, strafing around the wall, marking the location of the guards mentally. He dashed across to the other wall, a shotgun shell bursting past his face. He'd counted five guards. He peered around the side of the wall, a maelstrom of bullets firing in his direction. The guns began to click as the expended clips choked. It was the noise Miguel had been waiting for. Dashing out into the open, he fired several short bursts before diving into cover again. He's seen the shotgun guard fall and possibly one other, but he couldn't be sure. Risking his life again, he drove to his feet, scanning for a target with his SMG. Catching sight of one of the arms of one of the guards he fired, the bullets tearing through the flesh. Screaming, the guard threw himself around the corner, hurling himself towards Miguel's position. He was met warmly by more burst fire.
Three left he told himself, not counting the possible casualty. Madden would be long gone by now. Still, there was always a chance. Miguel didn't feel like dying today.
Lucie cowered in the corner, fearful for Miguel's safety. She hadn't wanted Miguel to kill Madden but she didn't want the mobster dead either. She risked a glance around the wall, Miguel willing her to go back. She could see two guards, primed to attack at anytime. They cared not for their fallen comrades, they just wanted to kill the bastard who had started shooting at them.
Lucie dived and fell into a roll before landing next to Miguel.
"Give me a weapon" she said coolly, her eastern European accenting her words.
She snatched the pistol from Miguel and, checking the gun first, rolled out of the cover.
"Crazy bitch" shouted Miguel, attempting to pull her back. Lucie held the gun in front of her, two hands grasped on the handle. She fired into one of the guards, penetrating the man's chest. Calmly, she changed target, firing into the other guard. She got up, striding over to Miguel. She offered her hand to Miguel, the pistol relaxed in the other.
"Nice shooting" he said, getting up from behind the bullet ridden desk.
"My father taught me" she replied smugly.
"Let's go then" he commanded, wading through the rubble. He could hear sirens in the background as he reached outside, the blaring horns sounding nearer and nearer. Miguel scanned the courtyard, spotting the limo at the last minute. Raising the SMG again, he fired, the clasp clicking at the lack of ammunition.
"Shit, shit!" shouted Miguel, the sleek limo speeding off into the distance.
"Miguel, he's not the real enemy" said Lucie, putting her hand on his shoulder "Listen, let's get to your car…"
x
The Infernus sped off in the same direction the limo had headed, its engine rocketing.
"We should go back to my fathers, he'll know what to do" said Lucie, "I know you know."
"That Trenlock's your dad? Course I do" said Miguel cockily, "Who doesn't?"
"But you don't know who the real enemy is" Lucie added.
"I don't?"
"No. If Jack Madden was the enemy, do you think I would save him? No. It's his son Paul who is trying to destroy you."
"What are you talking about?" quizzed Miguel, confused. "I thought Madden was trying to get revenge on my family?"
"If Jack Madden had wanted to kill your father, don't you think he'd have done it sooner? It's been over fifty years. Paul found out about the money Jack lost last year. He felt it was his inheritance. It was his idea about the Fierro ambush."
Miguel stroked the little bit of black hair under his chin, he suddenly felt incredibly drained. He hadn't slept in days and his muscles ached, the strain and pressure he'd put them under was incomprehensible. He'd driven his body to its limits; no amount of working out could prepare him for the strain.
The roaring Infernus cruised down the boulevard, the welcome break pleasing to Miguel.
"Oh fuck!" shouted Lucie. They'd reached downtown. The place was smouldering with fire, smoke drifting down the streets. The sirens Miguel had heard weren't police cars en-route to the Madden tower. They'd been the call of the fire engines. How had they not seen the smoke? The sky blackened as they approached, gaggles of people held back behind barriers.
"Get us to the shop quick!" Lucie screamed. They both knew the source of the fire. Throwing the car around the back streets, scything down the alleys, they emerged near the shop, raging flames licking around the shell. Miguel skidded the car in front of the building, jumping out. He rushed into the garage, shoulder barging the door open. Smoke erupted from the breach, covering Miguel in black and grey dust. The flames were eating through the store, ripping the interior apart, the intense heat forcing the couple back.
"Can you see anyone?" cried Lucie, scanning the smoke-covered room for life. Miguel caught the sight of a hand, held lifelessly in the air.
"Shit, come on, we're going" said Miguel, dragging Lucie away.
"Why, what did you see? Dad!" Lucie screamed, beating Miguel against the chest.
"Come on" Miguel said forcefully, pulling the feral girl back, a red fire engine pulling up next to the black sports car…