Chapter 39: Waving Guilt Away
The three men walked across the street, heading towards a house that was in the corner. Joe was in the middle and Baggy and Jamie were at his side. Joe's eyes were red and full of thirst for blood. Vengeance was the only thing that will sooth his broken heart. Hard as stone, he knew he wasn't the same old Joe, he was now a father and he'd just lost the woman he loved. He needed to see that murderer dying, and begging for forgiveness, there was no other way he will be calmed down. To hell with Billy and his orders, he will prove to be a man and with no need of Billy. Joe was a man, now, and he wanted things to be settled in his own way.
"Yo, Joey! Are you sure about this shit? Billy's gonna kill us if he knows," said Baggy, his eyes looking around to check if the coast was clear.
"Yeah, man. We better let Billy solve this shit out," Jamie added while he turned around, trying to detect any adversary.
"Shut the fuck up! Both of you! If you are shitting on your pant then get the hell outta here and go and fuck Billy! But tonight, I will take this motherfucker down," Joe hissed his eyes never leaving the house, they were heading to.
"You sure is this Jamaal, guy?" Jamie asked.
"There's no damn black shit on the B Street or the Hall, only in the damn Cutty Macks. And if he isn't the shithead, then, at least he will tell us who did it!" Joe responded.
When they arrived at the house's front door, Joe gestured to Baggy and Jamie to get away, and so they did. Both Baggy and Jamie left him alone, and decided to tell Billy as soon as the sun arise. Joe walked to the steps of the front porch and sauntered towards the front white door. Behind it, Joe could hear muffled laughter, kid's laughter, a television with cartoons and pots colliding in the kitchen. He didn't dawdle in knocking the door, and so he did. Two knocks were needed for somebody to open the door. And when the door was ajar, Joe saw a little chocolate girl with pigtails and a warm grin.
"Who are you?" she frowns, still grinning at Joe.
"I'm Daddy's friend," Joe tilted his head and faked a smile, eyes dark as night.
"Who is it, Tonya?" Terrell's voice came from the inside.
Joe lifted his head up and saw a suspicious black man, obviously Terrell but due to Joe's lack of information, he thought he was Jamaal.
"Tina, Tonya, go upstairs now!" Terrell shouted and without hesitation, Tina lifted Tonya up and climbed the stairs.
"You Joe Darley?" Terrell asked, trying to distract Joe.
"Are you Jamaal?" Joe asked entering the house, with gun in hand.
And before Terrell could answer and get his own handgun, Joe aimed for his knee and shot it. Terrell screams and grunts of pain made his wife, Tina, rush down the stairs, whimpering for the aid of her husband. But before she could land on the first floor, Joe aimed for her left arm and without hesitation he pulled the trigger. The bullet impacted her arm and she collapsed in the stairs first steps.
"Tina!" Terrell screamed when he saw his sniveling wife around a poll of blood.
"Terrell!" Tina cried, drowning in her tears as she saw her injured husband and thought of her daughter.
"Shut up!" Joe interrupted them while he took a few steps ahead, till he was standing in front of Terrell. "So, you are Terrell. Did you killed my woman? Huh? You the motherfucker that killed her?"
Joe's eyes were wild and twirled in insane vengeance while he sneered at the wounded Terrell.
"Yeah! I killed that bitch!" Terrell fearlessly confessed. According to rumors, Joe was a little scared girl that always was behind Billy's protective care.
Joe twisted his neck and located his arm, that held the gun, to his left, pointing toward Tina. Terrell screamed and Tina sniffled staring at the gun and at the man who will terminate her life, making her Tonya an orphanage. Joe pulled the trigger, once again, leaving an bullet inside Tina's heart. Blood all over her as she inhaled the las breath in Earth.
"You motherfucker, son of a bitch!" Terrell cried in grunts, the pain of loosing his wife overcame the wound's pain.
"How does it feel?" Joe asked with his tone soaked in cynicism. "Tell me! Do you feel the poison setting in when you see her dead? Fucking shithead! Are you feeling what I felt when I disconnected her?"
"Fuck you!" Terrell spat blood on Joe's jeans as he cried.
"Surely. I'm sure you feel it too! Oh, but you know what, you fucker? Now I know how it felt to kill a good woman. I'm sure you had as fun killing her, as fun as I had killing that cunt."
"You motherfucker!" Terrell exclaimed still lying in the ground, kicked one the coffee tables and pulled out a gun that was hidden underneath them.
Joe shot Terrell's right shoulder but that didn't stopped Terrell. He pulled the trigger and shot Joe's arm, but the bullet only stroke his skin, blood emerging to the epidermis but not too deep to peter out Joe. Terrell's lose of blood became evident as he turned more paler and weaker. Joe pressed his hand against the wound but never freeing his gun. He looked down at an agonizing Terrell and cocked the gun again. He wanted to see him, he wanted him to asked to be spared, Joe wanted to be feared for the first time in his life.
"Tonya, please," was Terrell last whispers.
"See you in hell, motherfucker," Joe ignored but savored Terrell's plead.
The last bullet was introduced inside Terrell's temple, leaving him lifeless, just like his wife. Tilting his head, Joe observed every detail that Terrell's dead body managed to produce. The blood spreading down to his partly open mouth, the inert and unresponsive black eyes, and the motionless deceased that he coveted to see dead. Now, he was dead, his corpse just consumed the revenge. Joe settled scores at his own way, without Billy. Smelling the room spattered in blood, he closed his eyes, and heard sirens wailing from outside. Joe dropped the gun when the door was kicked open.
"Get your hands up! Now!" the police's gruff voice shouted, ordering Joe and trembling when he saw two dead bodies.
Joe slowly turned around to face the officers, who were pointing at Joe with their guns. However Joe forgot about someone, Adele. Aubrey was gone now, but he had something to live for, that little fighter that lies in that incubator. How could he take care of Adele? How could that baby live safe and sound when he's around? He understood he couldn't protect her, there was no way he could protect her. He will never guard her the way Billy did with him. Joe was not Billy, he recognized that he will never be like Billy, no matter what. But in spite of everything, Aubrey, the love of his life, was gone and Adele's rosy face was the only thing he could see right now.
After a couple of hours, the sun arose, shining all over Emma's tangible skin. The windows were wide open and the illumination woke her up. She squinted her eyes, to try to distinguish what time it was and for her surprise it was 1:23 pm. She quickly got up and wandered the house. No sign of Billy and no sign of any boys, outside. That meant only one thing, Billy was damn busy. She coughed and after she inhaled a lungful of air, the headache was unbearable. The hangover was terribly deserved and expected, thanks to her reckless drinking. She headed to the bathroom, for she needed a shower.
After the well deserved sixty minutes under the drizzled shower, Emma got out of the bathroom, wrapped a towel around her and went for the hunt of the clothes she had left in the house. In Billy's room, she found all the clothes she left and without hesitation she started to pick an outfit. Suddenly, she eyes a underwear that was surely not hers.
"Son of a bitch!" she cursed under her breath while she picked the lace black thong up.
She flung the thong away from her sight and then slammed the armoire's doors closed. She felt the furious rage creeping in, conquering her headache. How could he sleep with another woman? Although she was the one who pushed him away, they were still married and he promised to be loyal and he can't even keep his friend calmed and to himself?
Emma kept cursing under her breath while she ran her hand through her wet hair, wondering why the hell she was so pissed since they were not together anymore. She knew this could happen the moment she decided not to forgive him, she knew he could easily make his life; women desiring him was the thing she hated the most. But more than that, the fact that she knew she could never re-do her life, she won't do it and she knew why: because there was no there man she will want that is not Billy.
"And why I want him? Why do I want him?" She stared at the painting that was against the wall.
"How could he fuck another woman while my painting was there? Sick bastard!"
Unexpectedly, a crash was heard in front of the room. Emma involuntarily jumped, when she heard another thud. She immediately started to search for Billy's guns, and under the mattress she found a small .9 millimeter. In a second, she cocked it and headed, cleverly, to the door. The towel was still wrapped around her, as her heart started to race and the adrenaline to rush.
"This is it." She thought.
If a Cutty Mack wanted to kill her, this will be the right moment to attack her, but she was trained for this moment. So many bottles she had shot and now, she wanted to shot a real dumbass that even tried to threat her life. She could feel the water droplets drying at her sudden body change of temperature, as she slowly opened the door and tiptoed towards the living room, where the noises came. Then, glasses shattered and that was it, Emma quickly leveled her handgun and pointed to the man who was throwing chairs against the walls.
Billy rubbed his hand against his bald head and sighed hoarsely, his eyes wild dark looking at the deep surroundings, his back in front of Emma.
"Billy?" Emma tilted her head and lowered the gun.
"WHAT?" he barked, turning around to snap at the intruder that dared to interrupt his rage.
She let out a loud snort while she put her gun aside. Billy's nostrils were flaring and his face was red, scowling at nothing, only he knew the reasons why he was angry. But, as soon as Billy realized that Emma was standing in front of him, he twitched his neck and glanced at the broken chair. She placed her hands on her hips as she followed his eyes and saw the smashed chair that she liked so much. Billy exhaled vociferously, as he readjusted his leather coat's collar and glanced back at Emma, this time he couldn't fix his eyes in nothing else but she. Because his wrath consumed his senses, he didn't acknowledge her; half naked.
Lust covered his blue icy eyes, as he took a few steps closer to her. He longed for her, he wanted her back, he needed her and seeing her like that, reminded him of the first time she became his. That evening, she was wearing a towel, wrapped like that, the only difference was the in the moment, innocence transpired through her pores; now, she wasn't that pure, and to be honest with himself: he liked that even more.
"What are you doing?" She frowned when Billy was only two feet apart from her.
He didn't replied, the answer was obvious.
"Billy," she warned walked backwards.
"What? It's not like I haven't seen it before." That was his answer.
He kept walking closer to her, cornering her against the room's doorframe. And when she felt the wall against her back, she flinched, indirectly giving herself to him. But with fear. Fear of liking his touch again, fear of betraying her mother by longing her husband's breath near her. She closed her eyes and before she could inhale the air, Billy removed the gun from her hands.
"Get dressed. We're leaving," he simply said turning around, and not looking at her but only at the gun.
She opened her eyes, and saw his shoulders and back. Emma didn't vacillate on going to the room and change as quickly as possible. But Billy breathed out as he tried to contain himself.
"The last fuckin' time I do this. Next time, I won't give a damn." He whispered, warning himself, warning that gentleman that was inside of him. He warned him, that next time, he will not stay so calm, he will respond like the man he is.
"She's my woman, dammit!" He threw the gun to the sofa and grunted.
He headed to the front door, digging for his Marlboro pack of cigs, waiting for her to came back fully dressed and fighting the urge of kicking the bedroom's door open and throw her to the bed to become one again. But he was aware that he deserved that struggle and torture. He was paying for what he did. The consequences for becoming the notorious gang lord was now surfacing and in the worst way he could probably think. He lighted the cigarette and waited for the smoldering smoke to fill his lungs, so he could exhale it and feel more calm.
"Where are we going?" Emma came from out of nowhere, appearing behind him.
"Get in." He ordered while he walked through the front yard towards the black beautiful Ford Mustang, that was parked in front of the house.
Emma deiced to pocket her phone and to leave without any thing she own, there was no time for a purse. She got in the car and Billy turned the ignition on, making the engine roar as the dangling keys swayed. Billy pressed gas and they left that street to head for the Four Roses. Emma knew this route but she remained silent, it was obvious Billy was in a bad mood and she wanted to get rid of the horrible headache she was feeling.
"How the hell does he survives with all that drinking?" she asked herself glancing at him from time to time. He never returned the glances, though.
In a couple of minutes of high speed and a few red lights, they arrived at the Four Roses. They entered but not as a couple but as individuals. Emma went to Sammy and hugged him, she greeted a couple of acquaintances and followed Billy. He lead her to the Darley table and he sat on his usual seat. Nothing has changed. She sat across the table, facing him and grinning, looking around and inhaling the heavy smoke that came from different smokers. The gloomy scene, the dim lights, the smell of hard liquors. How much Emma had missed this dump!
"Hey, Billy boy," a new whore came to the table, slurring the words, fixing her short skirt and eyeing Billy.
Emma rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed by the instant effect that Billy still had on whores. Looks like she forgot about it.
"Why are we here?" Emma asked Billy aggravated.
"I have something to tell you," he sternly stared at Emma, ignoring the blond tramp ,with low leather skirt and a tube, that chewed a gum loudly and waited to be acknowledged.
"Billy! Who is this?" the woman asked while she slipped on Billy's lap.
Billy didn't do anything but his eyes never left Emma's, although Emma was looking at the woman, trying to contain herself.
"Is this family related, because if it is... I don't want that stranger here." Emma said sternly looking at Billy, both were bore into themselves by the stares.
"Look, bitch-" the woman tried to warn Emma but she was interrupted.
"Get the fuck outta here," Billy snarled through gritted teeth.
The woman, apparently, knew Billy's ill temper as she immediately removed herself from Billy's lap and walked away.
Emma cleared her throat, staring steadily at the woman, with a contained grin.
"So, what was it that you wanted to tell me?" Emma asked nonchalantly.
Billy took a cig and placed it between his lips, her eyes following every move he made, but still glued at his lips. He lighted it, and said, exhaling the smoke, "Joe's in prison."
Emma shook her head and tried to focus at Billy's nose or eyes, but her eyes glided down to his lips. "Come again?" she didn't heard what he said.
"Joe's been copped. He's going to trial. The shithead went off killing some damn Cutty and the police got there." Billy said that flatly but flames of fury blazing beneath his eyes.
"What? What?" Emma widened her eyes in disbelief. "How?"
Billy narrowed his eyes at her, and said, "Fuckhead went and took care of things alone, someone called the coppers and they found them. We called some damn lawyer and he said that the least will be five to ten years."
"How many people did he blipped?" Emma asked more absorbed by this twisted news she had lived in a month.
"Two. Look, I assume you will like to take care of Adele till this shit is resolved. But, Aubrey's mom is on my ass, she already picked her up. I want you to visit her and tell me how's she. That old bitch better be treating her good, or I'll- just make sure the baby has everything she needs."
Emma slowly nodded, still in shock but she knew one way or another, that Joe will explode in the worst way.
"Billy Darley." A loud gruff voice stated as Emma looked up and saw a small white blond man.
"Ted." Billy stood up and nodded his head.
"I came to give you some news. Am I interrupting something?" Ted asked, staring at Emma.
"No." Billy plainly said as he gestured to Emma to leave.
Emma, quickly, got up and Ted offered his hand. "I'm Ted. Nice to meet you."
Emma smiled back at his sly smirk while she shook his hand, but Billy interrupted saying, "Good thing you met my wife, Ted."
"You are married, Darley? I can see why," Ted eyed Emma up and down but Billy let out a loud huff.
"Emma, what you waiting for?" Billy snarled to her through gritted teeth.
Emma dashed to the bar and sat on a stool, glancing from time to time to Billy's table.
"Sammy, who is he?" She asked whispering to Sammy while he cleaned some mugs.
"He's from the Hall, the leader. First time here, though." He answered with his accent.
Emma ordered a beer bottle and Sammy didn't wait to please her. After a couple of minutes of drinking, Emma took another sip from the bottle while she hear some heels clicking. The footsteps approached and stopped at Emma's left side.
"Well, looks like I'll be the lucky one tonight." The woman from earlier leaned against the wooden bar glaring at Emma, who ignored her.
"We'll see," was Emma's answer.
"Bitch, I swear, if you are near to him I'll cut you!" the promiscuous girl went to the point by threatening Emma.
Emma snorted and took another sip, after licking her lips she asked, "You new in this place? Do you know who I am?"
"I don't give a flying fuck! And hell I do! You are the hoe that wants my Billy but I will not let that happen!"
Emma never met the woman's glare, she just looked at Sammy who glanced at them nervously and dreading another fight.
"Lea, you better calm down. Vete ya y calmate, perra!" Sammy defended Emma.
"Fuck you Sammy and your mother!" she showed him the finger and then continued glaring at Emma, "He's mine, do you hear, bitch? He's my Billy!"
She shouted the last words almost as she was saying she could fly and Billy was her Peter Pan. Emma snorted again, and slowly fixed her eyes on Lea.
"Your Billy?" Emma tilted her head frowning. "Lea, I think you are far away from home, go back to your streets, I'm sure you'll have more opportunities with the Johns than in here."
Emma said this a little too high and for that all the bar was looking at them. But Emma didn't feel any eyes on her, she just felt her neck tense and the anger creeping in.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Lea placed her hands on her hips.
"I'm Billy Darley's wife, bitch!" Emma snarled, through gritted teeth, turning to her left to face her.
Lea frowned and after a couple of seconds, she started to laugh, "You are kidding me?"
"Yeah, like hell I am. Look at my laughing face. If you don't mind, I'm drinking a beer here. So, if you still have any doubt, go and try to sneak yourself under Billy's pants and ask him. Although, I think you'll be more lucky if you get out of my face."
"I don't fucking care if you are his baby mama, he'll be mine, you hear? Mine! Maybe I'll even be the second wife, huh? Because I'm sure he didn't told you about our little honeymoon a couple of nights ago. And I'm sure he will come back to me for more, since you can't give him what he needs."
After Lea said that, Emma took another long sip, almost finishing the beer. She wet her lips and in seconds she smashed the half empty bottle on top of Lea's head, leaving her without any defense as she briefly passed out. Blood running from her head as she lied on the floor, maybe regretting what she said.
Emma wiped her nose with her hand, glaring sternly at the unconscious tramp covered in blood and beer. Emma couldn't hear the whisperings and gasps because she was incensed by the thoughts of Billy being with her, and the thong, she found, being hers.
When Emma turned around, she saw a smirking and amused Billy narrowing his eyes at her. She sniffed as she glanced around the room and saw people staring.
"Feisty one, Darley," commented Ted, who stood behind Billy, amused as well.
"Well, are we going?" Emma asked Billy visibly fuming.
Billy grinned a bit as Emma past him by, hastily jogging to the parking lot. Billy followed her and they went to the parking lot, where his car was parked. He grabbed her elbow, stopping her, still she wasn't able to face him.
"I read the notebook." His husky voice said.
Emma winced still giving her back to him, although he grasped her elbow. She turned around, when she remembered the stupidity she did, and said nonchalantly, "And?"
"I read every single page that you wrote to me. Emma, I want you! You fucking know that!"
"Oh, yeah and by sleeping with some whore you showed me that!" She snapped, while he loosed the grip.
"Look, I didn't fucked no Lea!"
"Oh, yeah and you decided to keep her panty for fun!"
"You went through my stuff?"
"You are a fucking bastard, Billy Darley!"
Billy, involuntarily, seized both her arms and shoved her against the nearest car.
"Fucking watch it!" he snarled still grasping her arms and leaning forward her, inches away from her.
"Let me go!" she faintly shouted as he pressed his body against hers.
"When I make a fucking promise, I keep it! And if I did it, no matter if you left me or you've stayed with me, I've kept that vow! And now you come and spat this shit at my face?"
"Let me go," she whispered, while both locked their stares.
"Aw, I didn't wanted to ruin the lovers' evening. But I have some things to settle down with Mr. Darley here."
A familiar voice interrupted their penetrating stares as they were obliged to look at the person who appeared out of nowhere. Billy's neck turned red and tense while Emma gasped at the sight of such a hostile person.